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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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December 8, 2015

Paper Angels and Pretty Trees

simply decorated Christmas tree with paper banner

I don’t know about you, but it seems that beautifully decorated homes all dressed up for Christmas have taken over my social media accounts these days. In fact, this week I’m joining a group of bloggers who are going to be sharing some of their favorite holiday rooms. Hosted by The Everyday Home and Town and Country Living, each day we’ll be bringing you loads of Christmas eye-candy.

All Through the House Button

But friends, these days, while I regularly find myself sighing and swooning and maybe even drooling a bit over all of the impeccably decorated trees and Pottery Barn worthy table displays, I can’t help but wonder about something.

Something that seems to be missing.

Cottage style Christmas decor atthepicketfence.com

Where oh where are the ornaments made with Popsicle sticks?

Where are the cheesy ornaments you’ve had since 1972?

Where are the ones made by little hands at school and brought home with great anticipation, eager to hang front and center on the Christmas tree?

Where are the real ornaments?

So, you see, I decided it was high time to show off a different kind of tree.

One where paper angels aren’t relegated to the back.

Using a basket as a Christmas tree stand atthepicketfence.com

Because, you see, I believe that the pretty and the practical can peacefully co-exist.

In fact, I believe that when our decorating is grounded in reality, it might just be even MORE beautiful.

I believe that we can pull out those old family ornaments and display them proudly, seamlessly incorporating them into your decor without hiding them away in the far corners of your home.

And I believe that the best way to blend the old with the new is by putting a fresh spin on things.

Using a fun tree stand, like the basket pictured above, is a great place to start.

And adding a touch of whimsy, like this oversized music sheet paper garland, makes such a great statement.

Vintage music sheet banner on Christmas tree atthepicketfence.com

The thing is, my heart flutters the most when I pull out this type of ornament.

child's paper star ornament

And this one of me circa 1981.

retro style photo Christmas ornament

And when I hang those treasured ornaments on the tree next to sparkly mercury glass jars, they seem to take on a shiny new luster.

hanging mercury glass jars on Christmas tree

I don’t believe that Christmas decorating has to be an either/or situation.

Simple Christmas family room decor atthepicketfence.com

We don’t have to either have really beautiful decor OR use our cherished family treasures.

Simple Christmas mantel decorating idea

I think that that, if we put our minds to it, we can find a way to have the very best of both worlds.

wood corbel and white pitcher on mantel

I want my kids to see that I enjoy being creative in our home and using it as a type of canvas to express that creativity.

What I don’t want is for them to have memories of mommy sticking all of their homemade ornaments on the back of the tree each year. Or not even putting them on the tree at all! Now, granted, for the sake of space some of them do end up on the backside.

simple advent candle arrangement

But, I really want my kids to know that those ornaments are even MORE beautiful, more important to me than anything I could ever buy ready-made at the craft store.

winter tabletop decor atthepicketfence.com

And that preparing our homes for the season isn’t nearly as important as preparing our hearts.

Traditional home style Christmas decor

Thank you so much for meeting me in my family room today At the Picket Fence,

Vanessa signature

Christmas tree with family ornaments atthepicketfence.com

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25 Comments Filed Under: Christmas, Decorating, Good Ideas, Holidays Tagged With: Christmas, Christmas decor, Christmas decorating

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Comments

  1. Nancy says

    December 8, 2015 at 7:15 AM

    I have a tree decorated just like you describe. Treasures made for me by my children and grandchildren. And yes, my daughters ages 47 and 50 still roll their eyes at their mom! One daughter totally refused to let me use one from her early early childhood. Yes, it’s not pretty but it was made by her little hands at age 3.

    Reply
  2. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    December 8, 2015 at 8:31 AM

    So very, very beautiful Vanessa!….Merry Christmas!!!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 8, 2015 at 8:15 PM

      Thank you Shirley! Merry Christmas to you too my friend!

      Reply
  3. TidyMom says

    December 8, 2015 at 9:47 AM

    well said my friend!! and well done!! your tree and home are gorgeous!!!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 8, 2015 at 8:15 PM

      Thanks girl! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Mary Beth|Cupcakes and Crinoline says

    December 8, 2015 at 12:09 PM

    Everything looks beautiful, Vanessa…warm, inviting and real! hugs

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 8, 2015 at 8:15 PM

      Thank you Mary Beth!

      Reply
  5. Kim says

    December 8, 2015 at 12:23 PM

    Love that gorgeous tree and the other festive details in the room. BTW, your link under the thumbnail is incorrect. I had to just come over to see your post.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 8, 2015 at 12:47 PM

      Thanks so much Kim! I just checked the link and it went through but I will check on it again to make sure. Thanks for the heads up! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Tami says

    December 8, 2015 at 1:06 PM

    Thank you! I just can’t part with the ornaments that hold such precious memories. I love decorating the tree with them and enjoying them all season long! Wonderful post!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 8, 2015 at 8:15 PM

      Thank you Tami!

      Reply
  7. Pam says

    December 8, 2015 at 2:21 PM

    I’m in love with your mantel. Simple and elegant and shouts Christmas without shouting it 🙂

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 8, 2015 at 8:15 PM

      Aww thanks so much Pam!

      Reply
  8. Jennifer@The Chronicles of Home says

    December 8, 2015 at 6:01 PM

    I’ve been thinking the same thing this year. Perhaps one too many years of NOT having the family treasures out. I think next year will be a little different for me 🙂 Your house looks beautiful.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 8, 2015 at 8:14 PM

      Thank you so much Jennifer!

      Reply
  9. Jennifer @ Town and Country Living says

    December 8, 2015 at 6:24 PM

    I love that you don’t push your children’s ornaments to the back of the tree! They’re precious! I love your paper garland on the tree! Thanks for joining the tour, Vanessa!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 8, 2015 at 8:14 PM

      Thanks Jennifer!

      Reply
  10. Pamela says

    December 8, 2015 at 9:08 PM

    As always beautiful Vanessa!

    Reply
  11. Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says

    December 9, 2015 at 7:55 AM

    My favorite kind of tree is one decorated with things the children made or picked out. I use them all every year. Gorgeous tree and beautiful decor.

    Reply
  12. Tonya says

    December 9, 2015 at 5:10 PM

    I love this post, the message here. And as a mom of one grown boy whose handmade ornaments were destroyed when a roof leak caused major damage in our attic, I long for those precious keepsakes every year. I think it’s awesome that yours take center stage and mingle so beautifully with all the other decorations in your home. To me, this is magazine worthy….pottery barn has nothing on you.

    Reply
  13. Danielle says

    December 9, 2015 at 6:43 PM

    So very well put, Vanessa! I couldn’t agree more with you. I love all the pretty pictures too but really we live in our house and I want to embrace the people and the the hearts who share it with me. Who make the holidays so special. My son was so excited to make a santa tree topper.I LOVE your tree and your paper angels and handmade ornaments. Gorgeous home with lots of heart. xx

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 9, 2015 at 8:07 PM

      Oh thank you so much for such sweet and encouraging words Danielle!! Merry Christmas to you and your family! 🙂

      Reply
  14. Anne says

    December 11, 2015 at 8:26 AM

    What beautiful memories you kiddos will have with those precious ornaments. I have to admit, I am guilty of hiding some of mine. But in my defense, most have fallen apart because of age. But in my daughters room, she has her own tree, and on that tree she’s decorated it with a few treasured pieces that are still hanging on. Pieces that she created, and are still meaningful to her. So proud of her, as she’s always known the true meaning of the season. It’s not about the gifts, but why we celebrate the season. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home, and those precious ornaments. May the season be filled with joy for and your family! Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  15. laura@duke manor farm says

    December 12, 2015 at 4:33 AM

    Vanessa, I am a traditional girl at heart I LOVE looking at the homemade ornaments from my kids or from my nieces and nephew who are now in their 20’s. so many magical Christmas memories.

    Reply
  16. Chloe | Boxwood Avenue says

    December 27, 2015 at 12:48 AM

    I have to agree! I think it’s great to feature the kiddies beautiful work AND have your favorite store bought goodies too! I also LOVE all of your white pitchers! This Christmas I decided I was going to start collecting them!

    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
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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
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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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