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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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February 2, 2011

Launch Party Giveaway Day Three. Who Doesn’t Love A Great Magazine?!

It’s Day Three of our At The Picket Fence Launch Party!
That Means Another Giveaway!


First we want to say again today…wow, wow, wow!  Thank you all for your support.  We hit 100+ followers yesterday which is a testament to the kindness of the blogging community.  So, thank you again for all of your sweet comments and friendship!  And cause we love ya all so much here is yet another little giveaway to celebrate you our friends…at the picket fence!



I am a reformed magazine junkie.  I used to get several different ones.  Reader’s Digest. Rachael Ray, Taste of Home, Traditional Home, Victoria, Good Housekeeping…

I realized one day though that I just couldn’t get through them all before the next batch arrived.  That is when I decided to narrow it down to three of my favorites:


Southern Living, Better Homes and Gardens, and Everyday Foods. 

I love these three magazines.  They provide me just the right amount of decorating, crafts, and recipes.  I can actually read through each of them at my leisure over the month.  I actually get a little giddy when they show up in my mailbox!

When they arrive I try to avoid temptation, setting them aside until I have time to just relax and slowly thumb through them.  For example

in the bathtub.


or

 lounging with Zoe…in my Snuggy. And yes she needs a haircut. And yes that is leopard print.  You’re jealous I can feel it. 


or

even while I’m cooking.  My family never seems to mind if dinners a little burned.  As long as I’m happily enjoying my magazines!


I have several years of these magazines saved and they are well worn and much loved.  These three magazines have provided me with great inspiration, creative ideas and delicious recipes.  Which magazines are your favorite?  The ones you can’t wait to arrive?

Heather

We want you to get a chance to enjoy a year’s subscription to one of these great magazines for our third day of giveaways!  Here’s all you have to do:

We are giving you several options….


Tell us your favorite magazine and which of the three magazines you would select if you win. (1st entry)
Subscribe to receive At The Picket Fence by RSS (reader feed) or email subscription.  Sign up located in sidebar. (2nd entry)


Giveaway Three will be open until midnight EST Sunday, February 6.
That’s 2 different ways that you can enter to win a free year long magazine subscription!


All giveaways are now closed!



So c’mon what are you waiting for?

There are still on going giveaways!  Head on over to our TJ Maxx Gift Card Giveaway and our Adopt Shoppe Giveaway!



33 Comments Filed Under: General, Giveaways

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Katie @ OhhBaby says

    February 2, 2011 at 2:43 PM

    I LOVE Better Homes and Gardens! I would love to win that one!

    Reply
  2. Red Gate Farm says

    February 2, 2011 at 3:12 PM

    My favorite is probably Better Homes and Gardens for it’s wide variety of information…. but I already receive that one so I’d be picking Everyday Food which I used to get.

    ~Chris

    Reply
  3. Traci says

    February 2, 2011 at 3:26 PM

    I was the same with with all the magazines & not being able to read them before the next batch came! I have Better Homes & Gardens that I love & I’ve been wanting to get Southern Living but I haven’t so that’s definitely the one I’d choose!

    Reply
  4. Traci says

    February 2, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    I subscribed via email!!

    Reply
  5. Jenna says

    February 2, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    Better Homes and Gardens, baby!

    Reply
  6. Jenna says

    February 2, 2011 at 3:47 PM

    Email subscription complete!

    Reply
  7. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says

    February 2, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    My fav’s are Country Living, Souther Living & Better Homes & Gardens. I do get Everyday Food, but I love to cook and could use some new recipes!

    Reply
  8. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says

    February 2, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    I follow via Google Reader!

    Reply
  9. Kim says

    February 2, 2011 at 4:41 PM

    Hey Vanessa! Congrats on your new venture. I will happily follow along. I would pick Southern Living! Thanks for offering such a great giveaway. Good luck!
    xoxo, Kim

    Reply
  10. 1 Buddha's Mom says

    February 2, 2011 at 5:32 PM

    Southern Living:)

    Reply
  11. stephanie says

    February 2, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    New follower!! I love them all and already subscribe to two, so I’d have to pick Southern Living! Thanks!

    Reply
  12. Honey at 2805 says

    February 2, 2011 at 5:53 PM

    I perfer Southern Living.

    Reply
  13. michelle says

    February 2, 2011 at 6:53 PM

    Oooh I love BHG!!! You guys are on a role and everything is so wonderful here! 🙂

    Reply
  14. Tyla says

    February 2, 2011 at 9:01 PM

    I happily follow via Google reader.

    Reply
  15. Tyla says

    February 2, 2011 at 9:03 PM

    My favorite magazine is Southern Living. I already receive it and BHG in the mail, so I would pick Everyday Food as my prize if I won. Thanks for hosting these great giveaways!

    Reply
  16. Judy says

    February 2, 2011 at 9:07 PM

    Southern Living would be my choice. Great giveaways.

    Reply
  17. Taylor Renee says

    February 2, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    Yes! I would love BHG. I never buy subscriptions but I should since I always pay more to pick one up at the airport/drug store!

    Reply
  18. Taylor Renee says

    February 2, 2011 at 3:24 PM

    And I’m a Google Reader follower!

    Reply
  19. Lynn Richards says

    February 3, 2011 at 1:22 AM

    Hmmmm..that’s a tough call, ’cause they are all great magazines, but I would have to pick BHG!!!
    xo
    lynn
    p.s.
    WAY too much fun, girls!

    Reply
  20. Jan at Jewelry4Change says

    February 2, 2011 at 6:34 PM

    Hi! I heard about you on DIY By Design and have signed up to follow you. 🙂
    Jan http:///www.jewelry4change.blogspot.com

    Reply
  21. Jan at Jewelry4Change says

    February 2, 2011 at 6:36 PM

    I like each of these magazines, but I think I’d choose Everyday Foods. 🙂 Congrats on the new blog!
    Jan

    Reply
  22. SavannahGranny says

    February 3, 2011 at 4:35 AM

    Please enter me in the giveaway. My favorite magazine is Traditional Home. I would love an extension of my Southern Living magazine. Thanks for the generosity. Hugs, Ginger

    Reply
  23. Connie says

    February 3, 2011 at 9:30 AM

    My favorite magazine is Create and Decorate. It is the only one that I subscribe to at the time. If I win this I would love to have a subscription to Better Homes and Gardens!

    Reply
  24. Connie says

    February 3, 2011 at 9:30 AM

    I am an email subscriber!

    Reply
  25. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    February 3, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    Southern Lady is my fav and if I’m the lucky winner…I would pick Southern Living for my daughter Haley.

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  26. jkjkjkb says

    February 3, 2011 at 10:29 PM

    I LOVE Family Circle & would LOVE a subscription to Everyday Food 🙂 Kim B.

    Reply
  27. jkjkjkb says

    February 3, 2011 at 10:30 PM

    I’m already a faithful email follower 🙂
    Kim B.

    Reply
  28. jkjkjkb says

    February 3, 2011 at 10:30 PM

    I’m already a faithful email follower 🙂
    Kim B.

    Reply
  29. Melanie says

    February 4, 2011 at 5:00 PM

    I love a lot of magazines so it would be hard to pick just one but I guess I will go with Better Homes and Garden. Or a cooking magazine;-)

    Reply
  30. Melanie says

    February 4, 2011 at 5:01 PM

    I subscribe through google reader.

    Reply
  31. Katie says

    February 5, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    This is an awesome giveaway!! I would get Better Homes and Gardens! I love their stuff!

    Reply
  32. Patti says

    February 6, 2011 at 8:03 PM

    I already get BHG and would love to receive Southern Living! I’m a follower.

    Reply
  33. Roxanna says

    February 6, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    I already subscribe to BHG so would have to choose Southern Living. I am a google reader follower. Thanks for another great giveaway.

    Roxanna
    roxemor@aol.com

    Reply

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Instagram post 18118328449043115 One of my favorite Christmas songs is ‘O Holy Night’ and while each word, each lyric is as familiar to me as the back of my hand, there is one line that somehow, until recently, I managed to never really pay much attention to. It says, “Long lay the world, in sin and error pining till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.” Think about that for a moment. Our souls are longing to feel their worth. Prior to the arrival of the infant King in Bethlehem, the world waited, pined, engulfed in their sin and their error. And it was only through His birth, death and resurrection that our souls would experience their true value, their full worth.

Titus 3:4-7 says, “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” The world tells us that our worth is based entirely on the external, on what can be seen. We’re not measured simply by our existence but rather by what we can offer.

But, thousands of years ago, when our Savior was born, we were told something very different. Before he walked among us. Before he performed miracles. Before he challenged the leaders of the day. Before he was betrayed. Before he was sacrificed. Before he rose from the dead. Before all else, he simply appeared. And it was through his lowly, humble, anything but royal appearance that our souls were given the opportunity to experience the fullness of their worth. It is only through being in his presence that we are able to feel the full magnitude of our value.

Who he is allows us to know, really know, just who we are.

We are beloved.

We are cherished.

We are worth it.
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But, hey, at least I can take comfort in the soft glow of twinkling lights and having my halls decked for Christmas!

Today on the blog I’m sharing the details of my soft and simple mantel decorations and I’d love for you to stop by! ✨
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There are so many expectations and we put so much pressure on ourselves to create magical memories. And for years I have felt the added weight of wanting to make sure my family had opportunities throughout the month to grow in their relationship with Christ.

We celebrate advent and read all of the appropriate Baby Jesus books and encourage a spirit of generosity and heavily emphasize the real reason for the season.

But sweet friends, I want to remind you today that one month out of the year does not a strong relationship with the Lord make. December doesn’t define our faith in Christ.

For our kids or for us.

There are 11 other months in the year. 11 other months to live out our faith in front of our children. 11 other months to pray with them. 11 other months to help them wrestle through their questions and add depth to their walk with the Lord. 11 other months to encourage them to have generous spirits.

Let’s stop putting so much pressure on this one month out of the year. Let’s be surprised at the ways we might be able to celebrate the baby in the manger without a dozen countdown calendars. Let’s give our kids some grace when they are focused more on gifts because…well…they’re kids after all.

And while we’re at it, let’s give ourselves some grace too.

Grace when we think we should feel all the warm fuzzy feelings about Christmas but we really just want to take a nap.

Grace that reminds us that this month will soon be over and we will have a brand new year ahead of us.

A new year filled with big moments and little moments and everything in between.

A new year to draw even closer to our Savior.

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Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
2 oranges
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup white wine.

Instructions:
Wash and pick over berries, removing any that are soft. Peel and dice oranges removing any seeds. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and continue cooking until cranberries pop open and mixture is thickening.
For best flavor, prepare and let stand for several days before using.

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But at every step of the way I find that the enemy of my soul tries to keep me silent and what should be so simple (writing two paragraphs giving an overview of the book or writing an outline) ends up being paralyzing. He whispers words into my ear that are lies tinged with just enough truth to tempt me to keep silent. “You're first book didn't sell well enough so why should any other publisher take a chance on you? They won't care that it wasn't really your fault." "You write a lot about home decorating so why would you have any authority to talk about scripture?” And that's how satan works...he is masterful in his deception, weaving our fears and insecurity into the lies so that we are much more likely to believe them. And if we believe them, we stop being obedient to the Lord and the callings He places on our lives.

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What’s been the best part of your day today? ❄️
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