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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
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  • 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

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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

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Happy first day of Autumn!! 🍂 Here’s a super Happy first day of Autumn!! 🍂 Here’s a super simple centerpiece that you can make in five minutes (or less) with just a few pumpkins and extra faux greenery. Let’s spend less time decorating and more time enjoying this season. It’s my favorite!! 🧡

#fallcenterpiece #falldecor #centerpiece #fiveminutedecorating
"Define your day", she told me as I held my newbor "Define your day", she told me as I held my newborn son. My mom and I were talking about how blurred my days and nights had become and how easy it would be to just stay in my pajamas 24/7. She encouraged me to make an attempt to put on 'real' clothes in the morning even if they were just nice sweatpants (bonus if they were clean!) and to throw a little bit of makeup on. That simple advice helped chart a course for my years of motherhood that continues today. And recently I began thinking about how critical it is that we not only seek wisdom from those ahead of us in our stage of life but that we are willing to apply it as well.

So, I asked this question on my personal Facebook page; "What is something you feel you've done well to create a peaceful/meaningful home for yourself and your family?" The catch was that the question was geared towards women in the 40+ age range. The responses came flooding in and were so wonderful and insightful. So, I'm going to be starting a new series where I share this wisdom with you and will include the first name of the woman who offered it. 

Today we start with Alison who said "I learned to set my alarm early to get up and moving before my kids woke up. I showered, got dressed and did my devotions while the house was quiet. It set my heart and perspective for each day.”

Is this something you do in your life too? What wisdom would you offer to a mom of young children?

I truly think our culture would greatly benefit from more women in different seasons of life being willing to invest in each other. 🍂

#wearthehomemakers #homemaking #motherhood #parentingwisdom
If bread pudding is on the dessert menu at a resta If bread pudding is on the dessert menu at a restaurant I’m definitely ordering it! It’s one of my all time favorite treats. So I decided to try my hand at making some here at home with a little fall twist and it was SO delicious!! 🍎

Ingredients:

6 slices of day old bread (french, sourdough or even brioche works great)
2 cups of heavy cream
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon bourbon (optional)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
For the apples:
3 peeled and chopped apples of a tart variety
1 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons flour (or corn starch)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350
Cut bread into cubes and place in a greased 8 1/2 x 11 baking dish
Whisk together in a bowl the eggs, cream, vanilla, rum, cinnamon and nutmeg and then pour it over the bread cubes. In a separate bowl, mix together the apples, brown sugar and flour/corn starch. Pour the apple mixture on top of the bread mixture making sure to spread the apples evenly across every part of the bread mixture.
Bake for 45 minutes. 
Enjoy!

#falldesserts #breadpudding #fallrecipes #desserts
When one kiddo wakes up not feeling well after onl When one kiddo wakes up not feeling well after only a week of school, you take the opportunity to make Saturday a truly restful day. Pancakes on the griddle, puttering around the yard admiring the way the limelights have begun their autumn journey from white to green to pink. Sprinkling touches of fall around the house a little bit at a time. Savoring the slowness of it all and taking care of my people in this place that provides us all with a respite from the world even if just for a day.

Hope you’re weekend is off to a great start and that you make it a priority to slow down for a bit and soak up the beauty around you. 🍂

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #falldecorating
As summer slips into fall, I can’t help but thin As summer slips into fall, I can’t help but think about how grateful I am for the reminders all around me of God’s Sovereignty over everything including the seasons. It can be challenging in our world today to trust that there isn’t a single thing happening that surprises Him.

In a way, decorating my home to reflect the changing season serves as a tangible reminder of this trust. Even something as simple as seeing a pumpkin on my mantel or a basket of mums on the coffee table fill me with peace because they represent the things that remain constant and true.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8

#wearthehomemakers #homemaking #club31women
I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! 🍂

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls 🍤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. W Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. We woke up to the sound of chainsaws and rushed downstairs to find that our backyard neighbors were having two of the huge trees that line our shared fence removed. These trees have been here longer than the neighborhood and no, they weren't dead or causing damage to roofs, foundations, etc. They were beautiful and gave us wonderful privacy. We had no notice of this happening so this came as quite a shock. Because we were given no notice, we didn't have the chance to cover our outdoor furniture or plants and everything is now coated in a thick layer of sawdust including the fresh bark we recently put in the garden beds. And now our lovely privacy is gone, replaced by a direct view of an above ground pool and RV. I know, I know, it's totally a first world, privileged kind of problem to have. But, now we have to spend thousands of dollars on plants to try and recapture some semblance of privacy. Now we have days worth of clean up to do after we had JUST done a massive freshening up of our backyard. My overarching feeling has just been weariness at the way our world is today.

I think about how often we try to do right by people, to be respectful and courteous. To be thoughtful and considerate. And it’s not reciprocated. How its starting to seem more and more like people have just given up on those seemingly small niceties. And my soul just feels heavy. Because I feel like so much of what used to be common courtesy is not so common anymore. Drivers on the roads are angrier and more reckless than ever before. Red lights being run are an everyday occurrence around town. On our recent family vacation, I heard more people using the F word out in public than ever before even while around children. Where are manners? Where is kindness? I'm finding myself being surprised when someone is thoughtful because it seems like a rarity. And that's just all on a micro, local level. Don't even get me started on the insanity in our world/culture. After I returned from grocery shopping (which can also be soul crushing), I found myself desperate for a reminder of the truth. 

*Part 2 continued in the comments.*
How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully grasp our strengths or our weaknesses until we are put to the test? Little did I know how much I would love my role as a wife, mother and homemaker until I became one. And that in my endeavor to do those roles to the best of my ability, it would bring to the forefront gifts and talents and blessings that I use outside of these walls.

As I water others, I’m watered too because it brings such joy to care for those around me. But it can also make me see more clearly the areas in which I’m lacking and be a very humbling reminder of how much I still need to grow and learn.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Have you done any ‘watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ‘watered’ you in return?
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