• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Shop My Home
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

March 11, 2011

Inspiration Friday Party No. 6

Six! Really!  I tell ya the weeks fly by in the blogosphere…don’t you just love that word…blogosphere.  I feel like Elf…“blogosphere..that’s fun to say!” Okay sorry, got off track a little! 

First, we want to offer a quick apology for last week’s link up mishap for the first group of you who linked up.  It seems they were changing servers in the middle of our party and somehow “lost” the images to all the links that were there before the change over.  We do not anticipate this happening again but…okay we’re just going to believe it won’t! grin!


Second, we want to invite you to enter our Etsy Shop of the Month Giveaway sponsored by the wonderful Kelly and her Etsy Shop Cotton Breeze.  The giveaway is open through the weekend!  So take a second to throw your name in the hat for a $25 credit to Kelly’s store!

Third, we will state once again in case you in anyway doubted our sincerity how honored we are that you link up your fabulous, awesome, creative and of course always inspiring projects, crafts, recipes, stories and devotionals!

If it inspires you in anyway we want you to share it!

So it is our pleasure to once again welcome you to

Our linky guests have begun to make it almost virtually impossible to *choose* projects to feature!  The bigger the party gets the harder this task becomes.  As you know from past Inspiration Fridays, we try and focus on newer guests to the party and people we haven’t featured before.  If we have featured you in the past, we’d love you to grab the “I’ve been featured” button on our sidebar!  We might have to start using a random generator to pick features I tell ya..they are all that good! 


~So onto the the feature portion of Inspiration Friday~


Up first we have a feature that caused us to stand up and take notice because we both have been wanting to do something like this in our own homes.

Lesha over at The Uncluttered Lifestyle transformed this:


yikes!


into this!!


Oh Lord, be still my beating heart!  “Lesha, if you hear noise in the night and your buffet is gone it wasn’t us I swear…oh by the way I get dibs on it first Vanessa!” To see how Lesha took this worn out neglected dresser and turned into this beautiful buffet visit her post: Dark vs. Light the Battle is Over. She will share all of the details with you!  Also say hi, while you are there.  She has entered the blogging community just recently and we want to welcome her!


Up next we have Dianne from The Inspired Housewife.  Dianne shared with us her “ugly lamps” that she rescued from a Habitat for Humanity Resale shop. 



 Head over and follow her on her journey to save these lamps from a life of hideousness on her Save the Lamps post.  She took these “butt ugly” (her words..grin) lamps and through some elbow grease and paint


Transformed them into these beauties!

There is nothing ugly about these lamps anymore!  We think they would be right at home in a Pottery Barn catalog!  You can read more about Dianne’s ugly lamp transformation here: The Ugly Lamp Reveal

We love posts that show us how to take what is often a difficult but necessary aspect of home design and turn it into something attractive and functional!  Heather at Tallgrass Design does just that!  How many of us have or have had these horrible little basement windows.  


They are a necessary design element but they are just not very pretty. Heather first covered the window with contact paper per instructions from The Thrifty Decor Chick then proceeded to add these


and then these


to create a faux window that gives the allusion of a nice large window in the basement


Doesn’t this look like the perfect place to curl up with a good book?  You can read more about Heather’s great idea on her: Basement Window Solution Post

And one last post to get you in the mood for spring and Easter and chocolate…okay so we’re always in the mood for chocolate around here.  This post is great because it’s chocolate without the guilt!

Jennifer at Closet Crafter shared with us these adorable stuffed chocolate bunnies!  


For real, we thought they were chocolate when we saw the photo.  They are just too precious!

Jennifer shares step by step instructions on how to make these “chocolate bunnies”

on her post: Chocolate Bunnies!


We think these would look so cute in an Easter Basket, don’t you?  Thank you Jennifer for sharing the tutorial on this!

Now don’t forget to grab your “Featured At” button ladies!
Now it’s time for you to share you Inspiration with us! Please take a moment to read the instructions and then link up your favorite posts!

We can’t wait to be inspired!

Love the girls at the fence,


After linking up to Inspiration Friday click the graphics below and pay a visit to our other
Friday Party Friends!

The lovely Courtney at French Country Cottage


And our beautiful friend Alison from Stuff and Nonsense

Let’s get this party started! 

It’s so easy to link-up…here’s a few rules to help you:


  • Friend At The Picket Fence in some capacity
  • Link Up any post you’ve written that has Inspired You and will Inspire Others-it can be a home improvement project, craft, recipe, story, devotional…if it inspires link it up!

  • Be sure to link back to your original post and not just your url (main blog address)

  • Please post our button (code in the sidebar) or a text link on your blog so others can join in the fun!
  • Visit another guest Okay we are trying this different ways.  So if you would do us the honor of following this one step for sure, it would be a gift to us!  Please try and visit at least the link directly above and below you!  We are trying so hard between writing posts, homeschooling, and taking care of our families..grin..to visit everyone’s posts. Sometimes we miss one and for that we apologize.  It makes us feed good knowing others are visiting people as well!  Thank you..it truly means a lot to us! 

So go on now and link up!



28 Comments Filed Under: Good Ideas, Inspiration Friday

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « This, That and The Other!
Next Post: A Winner and our Blog of the Week! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Becca says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:17 AM

    DARN! I *soooo* thought I was going to be first linking up. 🙂 I am drooling over the transformation of the dresser. Wow! And, V, when YOU hear someone in YOUR house in the middle of the night, it’s me stealing it from you! LOL. Thanks for hosting, ladies! Becca

    Reply
  2. Natasha says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:18 AM

    Thanks so much for having me today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

    Reply
  3. Vivienne @ the V Spot says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:19 AM

    Thanks for hosting! If it’s any consolation to Becca above me, this is the first time I’ve EVER been the first person to link up. Ever. 🙂
    Again, thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  4. Michell @Girl in Air says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:37 AM

    Thanks for hosting each week

    Reply
  5. Shelley says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:45 AM

    Thank you so much for visiting my blog and inviting me over here! I can’t wait to look through your blog 😀

    Shelley

    Reply
  6. Rachel says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:56 AM

    Thanks for letting me link up to my first link party…. Hope to have some new creations up soon. 🙂

    Reply
  7. The Uncluttered Lifestyle says

    March 11, 2011 at 1:46 AM

    Hi Vanessa and Heather! Thanks so much for honoring me with a featurette (not a real word, but I like it). Working on table I’m hoping to finish in time to link up.

    Reply
  8. Lynn Richards says

    March 11, 2011 at 1:53 AM

    Hi girls!!! ahhh, my favorite party of the week!!! My tummy is growling looking at the chocolate bunnies and I am aMAZed at what people can see in ugly pieces of furniture. Unbelievable.
    thanks for hosting!!
    xoxox
    lynn

    Reply
  9. Kristine~Lakeshore Cottage Living says

    March 11, 2011 at 2:06 AM

    The buffet and those lamps have me speechless! Wow! I will have to go and check those out.

    Thank you for hosting!

    Reply
  10. Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says

    March 11, 2011 at 2:31 AM

    Hi, Ladies! Thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  11. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜ says

    March 11, 2011 at 2:51 AM

    Thanks girls for hosting your partay! Great features too!

    Reply
  12. The Polka Dot Closet says

    March 11, 2011 at 4:20 AM

    I am your newest follower and linking up for the first time. Thank you for hosting this party!

    Carol

    Reply
  13. Dianne says

    March 11, 2011 at 4:22 AM

    Thank you soooo much for featuring my lamps..I would like to clarify..I did not call them “butt ugly” Those were my best friends words…I would never talk like that…heheee…

    Reply
  14. Heather says

    March 11, 2011 at 6:16 AM

    Thank you so much for featuring my Basement Window Solution! I’m grabbing your button now to put on my blog!

    Reply
  15. A Vintage Vine says

    March 11, 2011 at 6:30 AM

    Girls, thanks for hosting, you two are the best! Love this blog!!!

    Reply
  16. saltbox treasures says

    March 11, 2011 at 6:41 AM

    Hi. Just found your blog and your Friday party and linked up for the first time. I look forward to joining future parties. Thanks for hosting.
    ~ Julie

    Reply
  17. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:23 AM

    What a great transformation on that dresser!! Wow! Thanks so much for hosting ~ I’m all linked up!! 🙂

    Reply
  18. Sarah says

    March 11, 2011 at 9:37 AM

    I love this link party and that dresser is seriously lush! Thanks for hosting!!

    I am compiling a list of link parties and i hope you will drop by my blog and add this one!

    Loves,
    Sarah. x

    Reply
  19. laxsupermom says

    March 11, 2011 at 12:44 PM

    Wow! Talk about some terrific inspiration! I love that faux basement window – what a great idea! Thanks for holding this party each week.

    Reply
  20. alison says

    March 11, 2011 at 1:03 PM

    i’m all linked up and loving partying with you girls!

    blessings,

    alison
    stuff and nonsense

    Reply
  21. The Hopeless Romantic says

    March 11, 2011 at 1:43 PM

    Hi ladies, im Bonnie, ur lastest follower. Found ur blog purely by accident, and so glad i did! Thanks for allowing me to link up. Now that i know where u are, ile check back……..Im pasting ur button in my sidebar for easy access……….til next time….Bonnie

    Reply
  22. Jodie says

    March 11, 2011 at 3:12 PM

    Thanks for hosting. I am linked up and following now. Just found your blog today. I love a good transformation, that dresser is beautiful!

    Reply
  23. Katherines Corner says

    March 12, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    Love this post!!!!!! thank you for the linky too. Hugs

    Reply
  24. kara@elements-interiors.net says

    March 12, 2011 at 2:37 PM

    LOVE that dresser! Uuuuuhhh, Vanessa, if YOU somehow end up with that dresser…aaaaand, YOU hear a Bump in the night only to find that dresser GONE…it SO wasnt ME :-O Just sayin! Thank you for hostessing! Ive linked up a couple of things! Love you guuurlzzz!!!

    xoxokara

    Reply
  25. Santa's Gift Shoppe and Ideas says

    March 12, 2011 at 8:36 PM

    Hi..I’m Barb… I am your newest follower. I hope you will get a chance to visit my blog @ santasgiftshoppe.blogspot.com
    & get inspired by something for your family/home. I hope you will follow me as well. I am also still pretty new to Facebook & would really appreciate your creative support by becoming a “Fan” & “Like” it. Thanks so much!!
    Nice to meet ya new friend!!!

    Reply
  26. Buttercup Bliss says

    March 13, 2011 at 3:53 AM

    Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your blog! I am still fairly new at blogging – your blog is one of my very favorites! Of course, it tickles me that you love all things southern!

    Thanks also for your blogging hints that you have posted recently. I still have a lot to learn.

    Again, I think your blog is awesome. I nominated you for a Stylish Blogger Award. Check out my blog for details at http://www.buttercupbliss.blogspot.com

    Lisa

    Reply
  27. Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia says

    March 13, 2011 at 3:53 PM

    Thanks for letting me join in on the fun a little late 🙂
    Hope you ladies are having a fabulous Sunday!
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply
  28. Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia says

    March 13, 2011 at 3:53 PM

    Thanks for letting me join in on the fun a little late 🙂
    Hope you ladies are having a fabulous Sunday!
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Courtney ~ French Country Cottage Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

layered rainbow twirl spring skirt

Latest Recipes

Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze April 19, 2023
  • Console Table Refresh March 24, 2023
  • Laundry Room Makeover February 23, 2023
  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023
  • Nostalgic Christmas Home Tour December 10, 2022

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom and the principles upon which our country was founded. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables t I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables to pit next to our outdoor couch and when I spotted these plant stands at @walmart from their @betterhomesandgardens line I knew they would be perfect…and they are!! 👏🏻 This is not a sponsored post. I’m just happily sharing this great find and why we should always be open to thinking outside of the box when it comes finding solutions for our decorating dilemmas.

Now we’re ready to head into this beautiful weekend! ☀️
What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
Today feels like one of those days that is worthy Today feels like one of those days that is worthy of a chef’s kiss. Blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, perfect mid-70’s temps, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I walk around my yard to see the status of my flowering plants.

This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

But, as I was exiting a store, I passed a couple who were in their late 60’s/early 70’s and holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. I happened to glance over just as the husband lifted his wife’s hand up and planted a kiss right on it. It was a moment that reflected such love and tenderness and it was made sweeter by the fact that they weren’t spring chickens. I felt honored that I had been the one to observe and appreciate that moment.

What an incredible thing it is that as humans we are able to hold so many emotions in our souls all at once. To feel sorrow for the pain a friend is enduring, grieve the decline of a culture drifting further from the Lord, ponder how to navigate a challenging school situation, marvel at and enjoy the beauty of creation right outside my door and feel joy at getting to see a tangible example of lasting love while walking through a parking lot.

I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here are some highlights…

*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

*Saturday was filled with getting our outdoor spaces spiffed up and my guys got our new table put together!

*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

*This glorious weekend ended with some ferocious rounds of UNO-corn (a hilarious version of UNO) and brownies my sweet daughter made for our dessert.

How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
I am absolutely and completely a better version of I am absolutely and completely a better version of myself when the sun is shining! Raise your hand if this is true for you too.

And, not only do I feel myself seeming to physically rise up from a slumbered state to greet the sunshine we've been longing for, I find that it seems like my house is rising up too. Every room, every nook and cranny (even though I now see dust bunnies that I missed during my cleaning on the dreary days), every leaf and flower outside...it's all coming to life and breathing fresh hope into my spirit. What a gift it is to be able to enjoy this home in all of the seasons of the year and of our lives. Now, I'm going to head outside and clean our deck and maybe there will be some time leftover for those dust bunnies!
I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispenser I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispensers! They come with pre-made labels for SO many different options and would make a great Mother’s Day gift! I love how they add a bit of pizzazz to my kitchen. And they go perfectly with some of my antique accessories like the little dish my mother in law gave me for salt and pepper and the tiny toothpick holder which belonged to my great grandmother. 

If you’d like the link to order them, just leave a comment with the word ‘bottles’ and I’ll send it your way. They’re even on sale right now! 🙌🏻
The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This is what I’m thinking (and sometimes saying out loud) every time I pass my dining room window and see my lilac tree bursting forth. I should probably just go full Paul Revere and ring a bell while I shout the news for all to hear. I’m sure my family would love that!

Lilac season is so bittersweet because it’s over way too soon but, fortunately, I’ve figured out how to capture the deliciousness of the fragrance by making my own lilac scented room spray. It’s SO simple!

Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka.

Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

This sweet little project was first featured in my book Life in Season and is definitely one of my favorites.

Have the lilacs started blooming where you live?
The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard ar The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard are at their peak and I’m here for it!
It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the gr It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the greatest joys of this stage in my parenting journey is getting to see the results of the years spent pouring into my children. The worry, the sleepless nights, praying, questioning our decisions and learning to trust in the Lord Who loves them even more than we do. We definitely didn’t do everything right, but what an an amazing experience it is to watch them become these incredible teens/young adults. My tip this week might seem simple, but I believe it can make a major difference in the lives of our children, in our homes and maybe, just maybe, in the culture too. 🌸
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence