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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 13, 2017

Take Your Mantel From Fall to Christmas

I know, I know, it’s kind of late in the game to be sharing with you how I transitioned my mantel from Fall to Christmas, but maybe you still haven’t decorated your mantel for Christmas (I KNOW there are a few of you out there!) or maybe you want to tuck the ideas away for next year, or maybe you’re just going to enjoy the reassurance that you aren’t the only one who is trying to do things as simply and cost effectively as possible in your home.

Waaaayyyy back in September when I began to plan out how I wanted to decorate my mantel for Fall, I realized that I could save myself a lot of time and energy if I would take an intentional and strategic approach so that I could easily transition the decor into the next season.

Here is how it looked for Fall…

I layered it with faux greenery like eucalyptus, lambs ear and other foliage in similar colors. Then I added in red apples and white pumpkins. In the urn, dried lavender is simple and natural.

This literally only took me a few minutes to pull together and I loved the simple beauty of this look. Which is why I really wanted to keep it going right on into the holidays.

Here is how it looks for Christmas…

All I did was take out the pumpkins and add in some bleached pinecones, some white berry sprigs, a few faux juniper berry branches and a strand of twinkling lights. In the urn, I simply replaced the dried lavender with winter-y looking greenery.

It doesn’t get any easier than that folks!

And, it doesn’t get any more thrifty than that either! Not only did I save myself a ton of time but I saved money as well having one mantel design cover two seasons.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and again, I’m never going back to stressful seasonal decorating. It felt so liberating this year to take an approach that was much more simplified and relaxed.

You can see more of how I implemented this approach in my full Christmas home tour.

And for more thrifty ideas and inspiration just in time for Christmas check out all of these from the Thrifty Style Team!


An InLinkz Link-up


I hope you are all having a wonderful, not-too-stressful Christmas season so far!

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

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Previous Post: « Winter Decorating in the Dining Room
Next Post: A Charmed Life »

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Comments

  1. Bliss says

    December 13, 2017 at 4:29 AM

    Soooooo…. I trimmed some cedar from the yard, even had my husband lightly flock it when he did the tree. Where did it go, I haven’t seen it since! I have a tray of ornaments at the foot of my bed and how pretty yours looks with the cedar hanging over the edges. I must have meant to do that right?

    Reply
  2. Deborah says

    December 13, 2017 at 9:24 AM

    Just so elegant! Love it

    Reply
  3. Norma Rolader says

    December 13, 2017 at 11:27 AM

    Oh my just beautiful and thank you for sharing

    Reply
  4. Cindy says

    December 13, 2017 at 1:41 PM

    It’s so beautiful Vanessa, and I love the simplified approach to decorating. Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  5. Julie says

    December 13, 2017 at 8:27 PM

    Vanessa…I think it’s so cool how you took the exact photo twice so we could compare the 2 seasons. You gave me some ideas for next year! Your last photo of the tree & dresser is stunning. XO

    Reply
  6. Kristi says

    December 13, 2017 at 8:33 PM

    So beautiful Vanessa! Simple but totally elegant. Happy Holidays!

    Reply
  7. Lisa Mothersead says

    December 16, 2017 at 5:08 PM

    I really like that and so smart. I was actually thinking about my fall mantle the other day and how with minor changes, I could have easily transitioned it to Christmas. I think because we just repainted all our main interior rooms, I got it in my head I needed to do some new things. But, new things cost money, and I didn’t overspend but probably didn’t need spend as much as I did. I enjoyed this post and thanks for encouraging us to keep it simple and be smart.

    Reply
  8. laura janning says

    December 17, 2017 at 5:15 AM

    Vanessa im with you. the simplified approach makes me think that I lost 10 lbs as well!! your mantel is just lovely and to think how easy it was to transform from one season to the next. merry christmas to you and your precious family.

    Reply

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Happy first day of Autumn!! šŸ‚ Here’s a super Happy first day of Autumn!! šŸ‚ 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.ā€

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. šŸ‚

#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!! šŸŽ

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. šŸ‚

#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.

ā€œThe grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.ā€ 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. šŸ‚

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
ā€œAs the alluring song of September begins to whi ā€œAs the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.ā€ (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! šŸ‚

#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 šŸ¤

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, ā€œWhoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.ā€

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