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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 20, 2012

Old Shutter turned “Bow”tique!

 

Ahhh….bows and little girls. They go together like peanut butter and jelly. Peas and carrots.

Chocolate and strawberries. Me and chocolate and strawberries. Me and chocolate and strawberries and ice cream.
Me and chocolate and….Ahem…I digress.

repurposed hair bow shutter from at the picket fence

I vividly remember my heart beating faster when I put a bow on my daughter’s head for the first time. Granted they were the headband bows but still…every ounce of femininity in me was thrilled that I had this precious creature to dress up to my heart’s content.

Can’t you just tell how thrilled she was about it?

I loved finding just the right bows for each occasion and when she finally had enough hair to graduate from headband bows to the real deal, the doors of possibilities flung wide open!

And then, there came the day when there was even more hair! Which of course meant, curly bows entered the picture. Oh, the sweetness! My heart hurts looking at these pictures!

Her fine, wispy hair has been a challenge at times but at every turn, those bows have come to the rescue!

But, those bows had started taking over! And I was spending WAY too much time every morning digging through them to find just the right one for that day.

So, a couple of weeks ago I asked for some Bow Storage Ideas on Facebook and there were some really creative responses! It got my mind racing with possibilities and also helped jog my memory, which frankly needs quite a bit of jogging to get going…like jogging around the block a few times.

I had completely forgotten about some old shutters I had stashed away and after digging one out and giving it a good cleaning, I got to work!

In my mind this falls into the way too easy and simple and kinda embarrassed to even be blogging about it” category!

So, all I did was scrounge up some ribbon (it needs to be a thick ribbon like this grosgrain) and weave it in and out of the slats of the shutter.


I hot glued each end onto the shutter to hold them in place…

…hung it on the wall…

…and clipped the bows onto the ribbon!


I was able to sort them by color which will definitely help our morning routine. As my her collection grows I can always add more rows of ribbon or another shutter for that matter!


I decided to hang it behind the door in the kids’ bathroom so that it was easy to access after combing my daughter’s crazy bed head hair.


It doesn’t get much more simple than that folks! And the best part? Why that it was FREE of course!

Thanks so much for joining me at the Fence today

24 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Good Ideas

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Comments

  1. Debbiedoo's says

    February 20, 2012 at 2:27 PM

    Adorable! What a neat idea.

    Reply
  2. Kelly says

    February 20, 2012 at 2:44 PM

    What a great idea! I’m sure that really helps keep them from getting smashed and wrinkled too (if they were put in a drawer). I can’t use this idea, since I have boys though. Ha!

    Reply
  3. Debra @ Common Ground says

    February 20, 2012 at 3:03 PM

    This is such a super cute idea! and your daughter is adorable!

    Reply
  4. Deserae says

    February 20, 2012 at 3:59 PM

    What a cute idea…and very clever! Your daughter is so adorable :o)
    ~Des

    Reply
  5. Catie @ Catie's Corner says

    February 20, 2012 at 5:06 PM

    Cute, cute Vanessa! I love it. I’ll definitely keep that in mind. And I guess I need to buy my daughter more bows. She only has a few, maybe ten. She wears a plaid uniform to school that I keep telling myself I’m going to make bows to match. I think now I HAVE to. haha Thanks for the great idea and the motivation.

    ~ Catie

    Reply
  6. michelle says

    February 20, 2012 at 6:09 PM

    SO cute my friend! My daughter’s hair was the same, so fine and wispy, now it is fine but so THICK nothing stays in. Ok, she is almost 14 so she doesn’t let me put bows in anymore. 🙂
    Have a wonderful week!!
    xoxo

    Reply
  7. Lakeshore Cottage Living says

    February 20, 2012 at 7:08 PM

    Great idea! Only I have a bow addiction and would probably need like 10 shutters…it’s bad. I do have some shutters in the garage though 😉

    Reply
  8. Suzanne says

    February 20, 2012 at 7:17 PM

    My girly girl is approaching her sweet sixteenth, so we are past the bow stage, but I’m trying to figure out how to adapt this great shutter idea to jewelry… will work on that.

    In the meantime, here’s a source for some of the most amazing bows I’ve seen — I think you and your fans will love Doodlebug Boutique! https://doodlebug-boutique.com/

    Reply
  9. Stacy Curran says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:03 PM

    Wow, the is ingenious and adorable and would work sooo much better than the bottomless box I have in my daughters closet!
    Stacy

    Reply
  10. Judy says

    February 20, 2012 at 10:42 PM

    That’s sooooo cute. I remember when my daughter wore bows each and every day. She would call them c…lllll..iiiips. She had a slight stutter when she was very little. She stopped wearing them a few years ago. 🙁 Love your idea for storing them.

    Reply
  11. pbrenner says

    February 20, 2012 at 4:07 PM

    Totally ingenious, and cute to boot! Wish I had a girl to play dress up, but all I have is a smelly 19 year old boy, lol. Love him to pieces though and wouldn’t change a thing 🙂

    Patty

    Reply
  12. Kristin says

    February 21, 2012 at 12:36 AM

    Love the shutter idea! My daughter doesn’t have quite as extensive collection, but we are well on our way! She takes hers out all the time though and they get lost, so I hate spending too much money on them. Do you have that problem?

    Reply
  13. Joan@chocolateandmore says

    February 20, 2012 at 4:51 PM

    Where were you and this idea about 10 years ago when my daughters would let me dress them up all cute and girly. Love this idea!

    Reply
  14. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    February 20, 2012 at 5:25 PM

    Very cute Vanessa! 🙂

    Reply
  15. Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads says

    February 21, 2012 at 1:27 AM

    This is such a simple but cute way to organize bows! How clever!

    Reply
  16. Good Time Charlie says

    February 21, 2012 at 1:45 AM

    Such a great idea. Sigh, my girls are years past the bows stage. We had a major collection going when they would wear them. Home made ones, Gymboree ribbons, I loved them all! Really cute display idea. How fun!

    Reply
  17. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    February 21, 2012 at 2:50 AM

    Vanessa,
    She is a real cutie pie and your shutter holder is just so darn cute. We had so many bows when my girls were little, I always had a bow in their hair. My hubs had a nickname for Haley…BOW HEAD…he thought that was really funny…now don’t let your hubs hear that name:) Thank you for coming to Nifty Thrifty Tuesday…it’s always nice to have you here.

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  18. Mindie Hilton says

    February 21, 2012 at 3:25 AM

    Such a great way to organize your bows. I would love for you to share at Bacon Time’s Friday-Monday linky.

    Reply
  19. Libby at PSA Stamp Camp says

    February 20, 2012 at 7:28 PM

    This is such a great idea! I love it and can’t wait to try it myself.

    Reply
  20. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    February 21, 2012 at 4:26 AM

    I LOVE this idea Vanessa and such sweet photos of your little sweetie!

    Reply
  21. classic • casual • home says

    February 21, 2012 at 6:06 AM

    When our son was little, he always had crushes on the little girls with big bows in their hair 🙂 Nice work.

    Reply
  22. Mr. Smith@TheSmithGarage says

    February 20, 2012 at 11:00 PM

    what a great idea. My daughter has a “drawer-full” – it might be nice to actually see them so she can choose.

    Reply
  23. Shabby chic Sandy says

    February 26, 2012 at 11:35 PM

    That is adorable!

    Reply
  24. Justine says

    February 27, 2012 at 7:37 PM

    Stopping by from the Girl Creative Blog Hop! https://queenofsavings.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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