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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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October 21, 2016

When Cost Leads to Creative Decorating

We have a saying in our house. ‘Just because we can doesn’t mean we should.’

At the heart of it is our desire to teach our children how to be good stewards of their resources. How to stop and really think about each purchase and whether or not it is the best use of their money.

But sometimes this lady wrestles with taking her own advice. Because when I get a decorating idea in my head it’s really hard to not move forward at full throttle to achieve the look I want.

Fall fireplace decorations atthepicketfence.com

 

And as fall wove its way through my house this year I was spending a shameful amount of time dreaming about how amazing it would look to have a GIANT chalkboard over my family room fireplace. I even had the perfect quote to write on it all picked out. I scoured all of my usual local haunts but continued to come up empty handed as the only available chalkboards were just not quite big enough.

So I took to the interwebs in my search and spent more shameful amounts of time trying to find the GIANT chalkboard I envisioned in my mind. And I did find some. But they were expensive…really, really expensive. I found the absolute cheapest one among those expensive chalkboards and even went so far as to put it in my online shopping cart but I just.couldn’t.do.it.

I couldn’t spend the money. And it wasn’t about whether or not I had the money in the bank to spend on it. It was about whether or not I should use that money to buy a chalkboard that was probably going to end up in my attic for most of the year only to be taken down for the occasional photo opp.

I sat on my couch with my finger hovering over the ‘purchase’ button and stared up at the painting above my fireplace. And that’s when it hit me.

white french country styled fireplace makeover atthepicketfence.com

What I really wanted was something that exact size. And wouldn’t it just be so handy if that painting could serve a dual purpose.

Hmmmmm….

The wheels began to turn and the creative juices started flowing and it dawned on me that maybe my favorite painting could actually be the answer. What if I were to turn the back of it into a chalkboard?

I hopped up and raced over to take a peek at the backside only to discover the most delightful surprise.

The back was already painted black!! Oh sure, I knew it wasn’t actual chalkboard paint, but a quick test with a piece of chalk confirmed to me that it would definitely do the trick.

All I had to do was paint the area (using paint I already had on hand) around where the painting was attached in order to create a kind of frame around my faux chalkboard.

The quote went up and as I stood back to admire it I couldn’t believe that I had achieved the look I wanted without spending a dime!

Cozy fall fireplace decorations with an oversized chalkboard

The thing about stewardship is that it really doesn’t have anything to do with the amount of money you have in your pocket. It really has to do with how you are going to spend it.

Is it wrong to buy something new for our homes? Of course not. But being good stewards involves wisdom and wisdom is what we need to apply to every decision we make, even if it’s about a chalkboard.

Wisdom is what kept me from clicking ‘purchase’ on that expensive oversized chalkboard I found online. It prevented me from putting money into something that really should be used for other things.

I believe that stewardship is what leads us to resourcefulness. And resourcefulness and creativity go hand in hand.

Fall farmhouse style family room atthepicketfence.com

After all, just because we can doesn’t mean we should.

Thanks so much for meeting me and my faux chalkboard here at the fence today,

Vanessa signature

11 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Good Ideas Tagged With: budget decorating, decorating

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Comments

  1. Cindy says

    October 21, 2016 at 3:15 AM

    I too struggle with the exact same problem you do…we want what we see in our mind and we want it right now. But how you literally “turned it all around” was amazing! A beautiful sentiment…a lovely fall season to you…

    Reply
  2. Shelley @ Calypso in the Country says

    October 21, 2016 at 5:09 AM

    What an amazing idea! You are so resourceful – and I love the quote!
    Shelley

    Reply
  3. Esther says

    October 21, 2016 at 6:18 AM

    Sometimes the ideas I come up with are the most creative part of my art. I always say I have one good idea a day. Sometimes I have to give them away for non-art. You thought it through and came up with “one good one”.

    Reply
  4. Carol Neibling says

    October 21, 2016 at 6:46 AM

    I just went thru that problem. I wanted (needed) a replacement for my serger so I could make some microwave potato potato bakers for some gifts. When I went to the store I couldn’t get over how expensive they were. Finally I chose the less expensive one and it works just fine and one of these days it will go in the cabinets. I would rather use that money to help a family at Christmas time.

    Reply
  5. margaret says

    October 21, 2016 at 8:29 AM

    What a great idea! Good stewardship can be applied to our time, money, and so many other things.
    Thank you.

    Reply
  6. Bonnie says

    October 21, 2016 at 11:26 AM

    What a wonderful reminder to consider first whether there might be a better price or if I’m able to make it myself or to ask myself if I really need it before making any purchase. I’m on a very tight budget and it truly makes me happy and helps my bank account too when I am resourceful.

    Reply
  7. rose l. says

    October 21, 2016 at 12:23 PM

    Lovely home.

    Reply
  8. Melanie says

    October 23, 2016 at 4:37 PM

    Amen!

    Reply
  9. Julia says

    October 29, 2016 at 8:28 PM

    First I love your faux chalkboard and the quote! Second I did something similar today. I wanted a pretty bottle for my kitchen counter to put olive oil in and found one while shopping last week but the price was a bit much. As I was cleaning my kitchen this morning the prettiest bottle ever caught my eye – one that I have had for awhile and it’s perfect for my oil and didn’t cost a cent!
    Also I’m buying your book as gifts for my daughters!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      October 30, 2016 at 6:48 AM

      Isn’t that so wonderful when you discover the perfect thing right under your nose and for free?! Love that you shared that with us Julia and thank you so much for wanting to give our book as gifts. We are honored and humbled!

      Reply
  10. Clive Osborne says

    November 8, 2016 at 3:15 AM

    Great post. We love repurposing things and moving items around the house for a new lease of life. Too often we buy things just to throw something else away.

    Reply

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“Ah, Lovely October, as you usher in the season “Ah, Lovely October, as you usher in the season that awakens my soul, your awesome beauty compels my spirit to soar like a leaf caught in an autumn breeze and my heart to sing like a heavenly choir.” Peggy Toney Horton.

Happy October dear friends! 🍂
On Monday my heart just felt so heavy. Yes, the po On Monday my heart just felt so heavy. Yes, the pouring rain outside contributed to my feelings. But the primary cause was this overwhelming flood of thoughts about how much in our world and in our culture is going off the rails. I’d planned to make pumpkin bread that day but I was tempted to just curl up in a ball on my bed, pull the covers over my head and pretend that this would actually solve something. I didn’t give into that temptation though. Instead, I got out my favorite pumpkin bread recipe and found that, as I worked and prayed and hummed worship songs, my spirit began to settle. When the world feels very loud, the demands of family and home can actually help to quiet our souls. As each family member walked through the door later in the day, they commented on how wonderful the house smelled. It’s better than any fall candle in my opinion! And I knew that the extra loaf that I get from the recipe would be a welcome treat for my widower neighbor. So, if your heart is feeling a bit unsettled this week too, maybe this recipe will come in handy!

Pumpkin Bread:

Ingredients:
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
3 cups white sugar
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7×3 inch loaf pans.
In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.
Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 🍂
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
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
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