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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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August 25, 2014

A Tour Through Blogland…

 

If you read a variety of different blogs, like I do, you may find yourself wondering what makes the bloggers behind the blogs tick? How do they come up with their projects? How do they determine their style and what they are going to write about each day.  Maybe you’ve even wondered that about ME!

I was so excited when my dear friend Yvonne, from Stone Gable, asked me to join her for this fun Tour Through Blogland Series!

Stone Gable

If you aren’t familiar with this talented, and more importantly funny, kindhearted and warm blogger, than you are in for a treat! Be sure to visit Stone Gable today!

Me 11 - BLOG

 I was asked to answer FOUR questions about myself to give a glimpse to the inner workings of my brain (can be a scary place occasionally) and how I come up with ideas for the blog!  Then I’ll be introducing you to THREE of my blog friends that will share their answers next week!

1. What am I working on?

I know it’s still August but I am already swimming in pumpkins, mums and the color orange.  I have FALL on the brain!  Fall Home Tours are just around the corner and I am already transitioning the house from my summer decor to autumn decor.  There is a lot of discussion on social media these days on, “when is too soon to start thinking about the next season” but in blog world, where much of the seasonal ideas and inspiration come from, we have to always be two steps ahead!  I can’t wait to share this years Fall ideas an decor with you!

Southern fall front porch

Fall 2013 Front Porch

 

2. How does my work differ from others in my (lifestyle blog) genre?

This is such a difficult question to answer because there are so, so many talented bloggers out there! I think one way my (our) style differs is that we love to weave a story in with our projects.  We want to inspire people to find their inner creativity, that we believe the Creator, has instilled in everyone.

You may get a recipe, but you’ll also get a side of some encouragement  for your heart or some humor (we love to laugh at ourselves) along with it.  Like when I shared about my “beautiful” 1987 white and gold checkered lamé homecoming dress and showed you how to make White and Gold Decoupage Pumpkins.

white and gold decoupage pumpkins

 

With us….you’ll always get a story, for good or bad! ha!

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

The short answer….because when you feel full of creativity you have to let it out!  Both Vanessa and I have always loved to express ourselves through our homes.

Lemon-Lime Dessert Shots

Whether that was decorating, crafting, cooking or just writing we feel passionate about surrounding ourselves with beauty and inspiring others to do the same.

Inspire

4. How does your writing/creating process work?

The end of the process ends right here.  Sitting here at my breakfast table typing up a post for the blog.  In fact this is where I am sitting right now typing the answer to this question.

Summer Home Tour Breakfast Room

The beginning of the process can start anywhere.  Wandering the aisles of a store and seeing something that I KNOW I could DIY for cheaper.  Or in the middle of the night with a moment of inspiration! Maybe it’s a small nudge from God to share encouragement with a fellow mom who needs to know we are all on the same path, trying to do the best we can.   The in-between is where the work lies.  The creating, the photographing, the editing.  It is FUN, don’t get me wrong, but it is also work to take an idea from conception to conclusion.  But it’s rewarding work…and we wouldn’t trade it for anything!

 

Now three of my blogging friends will introduce themselves to you! You can see how they answered the four questions above on Monday, September 1st!

My lovely friend Heidi, from Parties for Pennies is a “party girl” through and through….

Parties for Pennies

“Hi! I’m Heidi Rew and I love to party. I know that probably sounds like a sorority line. But on my blog, Parties for Pennies, I like to show you how to throw caviar-style parties on a hot dog budget. I’m a Georgia peach that loves champagne, watermelon bubble gum, and fun aprons. Hope to get to know you better, too. Until then…party on!”

 

If you need to know it, then my friend Anna, of Ask Anna, will have the answer….

Ask_Anna_Moseley

“I’m a girl that never thought she’d end up as a blogger. I’ve always loved cleaning, organizing and decorating but I never dreamed I’d be able to help people on a large platform. My blog, Ask Anna, is filled with lots of tips to make cleaning, organizing, decorating, party planning and more, simple and easy for everyone. It absolutely makes my day when I get a comment from someone, that something I posted made a task easier and/or helped them with their problem. I’m a wife and a mother of 2, a 5 year old and an adopted 16 year old. Each day is a new adventure for us as we try to figure out our lives as a blended family. A year ago, when we adopted, we moved into a new home so we have spent the last year demoing, remodeling and designing a house for our new family.”

and last but never least my friend Leslie, of Chaotically Creative, who has found ways to be creative in the chaos of life….

lesley chaotically creative

“Hey Ya’ll I’m Lesley of Chaotically Creative and I blog with my mom Denise. On our blog we are finding the keys to calming the chaos of life. And when we find them we teach you through tricks and tips that are simple and affordable. We write tutorials on subjects like organization strategies, kid-friendly design, DIY and gardening which help make your life just a little bit easier. We understand that life is chaotic! We also know a thing or two about challenges. Not only do we write about the fun stuff but we get honest about the real stuff. Like challenges with anxiety, struggles with food addiction and chaos in general. Through these real life experiences we foster a community of growth and mutual support with our readers. We love hearing your stories and hope you join us today!”

See you back here soon and as always, than you  for meeting me….at the picket fence!

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8 Comments Filed Under: Behind the Blog Series, Community

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Janelle@The Peaceful Haven says

    August 26, 2014 at 6:40 AM

    So many lovely ideas that inspire me! Thank you so much!

    Reply
  2. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    August 26, 2014 at 9:14 PM

    So lovely to hear a little more about you sweet Heather! You are such a bright spot in the blog world!!!!! Thanks for the very kind shout-out!!!
    xo

    Reply
  3. HVAC says

    August 26, 2014 at 10:18 PM

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    August 27, 2014 at 2:59 AM

    Howdy are using WordPress for your blog platform?
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  6. Suzi says

    August 27, 2014 at 9:07 AM

    Just alerting you that when I click on Ask Anna it takes to YOUR blogpost 5 pumpkins 5 ways.

    Reply
  7. Klaus says

    August 27, 2014 at 10:27 AM

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Trackbacks

  1. A Tour Through Blogland - Parties for PenniesParties for Pennies says:
    September 1, 2014 at 4:42 AM

    […] I was so excited when my friend Heather, from At The Picket Fence, asked me to join her for this fun Tour Through Blogland […]

    Reply

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The very last Christmas decorating to be completed and one of the most important since there’s nothing I love more than welcoming people into our home this season.

I bought the wreath for $15 from a wonderful local vendor, reused my favorite bells and added a velvet bow in the color I’m carrying throughout the house this year.

Do you buy a fresh wreath each year or do you use a faux wreath on your front door? 

#frontdoorwreath #christmaswreath #christmasporch
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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.

Gobble, gobble!! 🦃
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Take the base recipe up a notch by using a full stick of butter, extra tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and an extra 1/2 tablespoon of Lawry’s seasoning salt.

I guarantee you’ll never go back!

You’re welcome. 😉🎄

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The great debate on social media over whether or not Christmas decorations should appear before Thanksgiving is one I just let roll on past me. Because I am so unbelievably thankful for this life, my family, my friends, this country, this home and most of all my Savior. 

Having my home all ready to welcome the next sacred season doesn’t take away one iota from my ability to express gratitude on the official day set aside each year where we do that collectively.

And when the last slice of turkey has been eaten and all of the leftovers put away, I’ll be over here ready to be fully present in the month of December and soak up every bit of it! 🦃🎄
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“My children have grown up seeing antique books on a coffee table, vintage toys in their bedrooms and even pieces of furniture that were all passed down from one generation to the next. But as my nest gets closer and closer to being empty, I’m keenly aware of the fact that many of these cherished items might not be as welcome in the homes of future generations.”

*Read the rest over at @cleartruthmedia*
All of my CTM articles are saved in my highlights
Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked it better when I just talked about decorating and didn’t mention anything else. This person preferred me to keep any opinions or convictions to myself and just focus only on content about home decor, crafts and recipes. Aside from the fact that I’m always astonished that people feel so free to say things like that, I do agree that it would be a lot easier and more palatable if I didn’t talk about things like a Biblical Worldview, apologetics and the nature of reality itself. For one thing, Instagram wouldn’t throttle my account with its algorithms that are skewed to diminish voices like mine. It would be much easier to be so tethered to this app that I change everything I post to fit into its preferred framework. I would be asked to be part of influencer groups and activities like I was years ago. But I’m not that person anymore. Yes, the core of this community will always be an emphasis on homemaking which will include decorating and recipes but I can’t separate that from the core of who I am as a follower of Jesus Christ.

It would be so much easier for me to just show you the latest Amazon products I’ve bought and tell you to “comment” to get the links. But I’m not called to take the easy path. Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”

I truly believe that so many have been lulled into thinking that the narrow gate wasn’t really all that narrow. But, it’s never been more obvious that it really is. And every day I seek to stay on that very narrow way.  More than ever before, I believe that our world needs to know that there is objective truth and a solid foundation to stand upon as we navigate our lives. My role as a homemaker is predicated on that foundation and everything else flows out of it. Talking about these things isn’t going to get me lots of views here. 

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✨ Read the full article over at @club31women ✨

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More than ever before, I can see just how much people are needing the hope found in Christ and that will always be the focus here. 

So, while you may not see me unpacking a massive, new tree or telling you to “comment for the link”, what you will see is encouragement to turn our hearts to what matters the most and let that reflect in every corner of our homes this season and all year long. 🌲

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #homemakerschristmas #club31women
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