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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 https:///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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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?
“Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you “Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you make.” Statements like this from my kids fill me with so much joy and such a sense of assurance that my role as the maker of this home is one that makes an impact on them in both big and small ways. It’s not just sheet pan shrimp boil. 

It’s nourishment
It’s time together around the table
It’s laughing as we try to get the butter sauce out of the pan
It’s a memory
It’s an imprint on their lives 

The ordinary act of making a meal becomes EXTRAordinary. And I try to keep that in mind as I do this task day in and day out, year after year. 

***

Ingredients: 
1 pound baby red or yellow potatoes
Green beans or corn (4 ears cut in half) whichever you prefer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt and pinch of black pepper 
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
Crusty bread for dipping 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Put potatoes, shrimp, sausage and green beans or corn on baking sheet. Pour butter over top. Sprinkle with old bay seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Bake for about 12 minutes or until shrimp is pink. 

#shrimpboil #sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #homemaking
Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and lig Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and light cocktails! My husband is my own built in bartender and he put this together the other night. 

2 jiggers of gin (you could also use vodka) 
*you should do a jig when using a jigger 😉*
Crushed ice 
Grapefruit tonic 
Squirt of lime 
Sprig of mint 

Easy and so refreshing!! ☀️

#cocktails #summercocktails
There is something magical about the late summer e There is something magical about the late summer evenings. Maybe it’s because we have a greater sense of the fact that these long days are slowly shortening and we want to savor them as much as we can. I know I intend to do just that. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful August so far dear friends!
Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our hou Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our house all summer long. We’re big on the ‘build your own’ method of making dinner especially on very hot days. Simplicity for the win! 
#recipes #easydinner #easydinnerideas #homemaking
In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grou In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grouping of beats. No matter what else a piece of music has in terms of its pitch or tone, the rhythm never changes. Its the stabilizing force and brings order to a composition that would be completely chaotic without it.

The same can be said of rhythms in our lives and in our homes. When everything else feels out of control, rhythms and patterns provide us with stability and something that we can rely upon to give us a sense of security in a very insecure world. But, too often, we associate the rhythmic things we do in our lives as merely tasks to be gotten through rather than gifts which provide much-needed balance.

Whether it’s making the coffee every night before we go to bed or doing my devotional in the morning before the rest of the house wakes up or watering my garden, these simple tasks provide a rhythm to my day that is truly grounding. 

What’s something that you do that you would classify as a rhythm or pattern in your week?
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