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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 8, 2011

A word “for” our sponsors…

 
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Each month we will be sharing  our fabulous sponsors with you and some of their incredible talent through their products!  Among the many wonderful things that have happened since starting our journey with you, has been the opportunity to work with some amazing businesses. And we feel honored to be connected with such great companies!
Up first we’d like to introduce you to our newest sponsor. Not only is she a fabulous blogger she’s also become a dear friend! When Ann unveiled her new etsy shop, we were so impressed with her talent and attention to detail! We are so excited to have Ann and
joining us here At The Picket Fence!
Ann, has the most beautiful pillows and other linens for sale in her shop! Check out some of these beauties you can purchase right now!
Country French Linen Toile Pillow Cover Zipper Closure 20 x 20 Cream, Blue and Taupe Gold, Orange and Cinnamon reversible pillow cover zipper closure 20 x 20

Apple Green Christmas Stocking Cuffed Ribbon Hanger Lined 16 in. long Red Homespun and Red Ticking Christmas Stocking Cuffed Ribbon Hanger Lined 16 in. long

We’ll take one of each please!! Would you like one of Ann’s beautiful items? Well stay tuned because next week we will be hosting a giveaway from Sutton Place Designs for our friends here At The Picket Fence! Head over and visit Ann’s lovely shop to see all of the other lovely items she has for sale!
We were also excited to work with the next company a few weeks ago.  Maggie is the owner of
The Lime Bow -          Specialty Boutique
The Lime Bow and she’s only 17! We love the entrepreneurship  shown by this young lady and she’s extremely talented! Here are some of the bows from her Fall Collection:
 
and from her Christmas Collection:
 
You can see many of the other beautiful bows Maggie has for sale over at The Lime Bow!
 
We started working with this awesome company shortly after we launched and we think they are just fabulous!
Simple Stencil
The Simple Stencil has the most incredible stencils…truly something for everyone!
simple stencil 1 simple stencil 2
both of us have used their stencils several times and we are so pleased with their product! If you’re looking for some great lettering for your walls or projects please check out The Simple Stencil!
We are always so impressed with the lovely items available at
unexpected Elegance
Unexpected Elegance specializes in vintage or antique items and create one of a kind pieces from the “unexpected!” Angela always has beautiful and “unexpected” items for sale in her shop.
 h a n d m a d e  Birch Napkin Rings with Metal Numbered Plaques
We love these homemade birch numbered napkin rings! They would be so beautiful among an autumn table setting!
Burlap Damask Handbag with Yellow Embellishments
We also think this jute/burlap bag is just lovey and so unique!
Visit Unexpected Elegance for even more lovely and unexpected items!
If you love all things vintage you’ll love The Old Block House Cherished Hearts Vintage
We just love these  beautiful grain sacks!
 
Old Blue Jar Ball Mason Quart - One Jar Rolling Pins Farm House Vintage Set of 2
and look at the lovely colors in these Ball jars and Rolling Pins! Just lovely!
You can find many more vintage items at Cherished Hearts Vintage!
Our next sponsor is so talented, but not only is Andrea from Signs by Andrea talented she’s a sweetheart too!
Signs by Andrea
When Heather admired a sign that Andrea had linked up to Inspiration Friday..Andrea sent it to her!! Um, hello…how sweet is that! Andrea has a sign to fit any need or budget and can even customize a sign for you.
firstnames3ftcollage
Here are some of the Fall signs that Andrea has available right now:
 
Visit Signs By Andrea to see all of the lovely signs she has available!
We were excited about the opportunity to work with two of our favorite online stores!
Joss & Main Dresses from Shabby Apple
If you are not a member of either of these fabulous retailers we invite you to visit them through our links in our sidebar under sponsors! 
We are so grateful for the privilege of not only working with these incredible companies but also for the friendships which have developed with them as a result.
Please pay these talented folks a visit and let them know the girls from the fence sent you!
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of At The Picket Fence we’d love to have you as part of our team! We are currently offering a special advertising rate for the remainder of the fall!

$5 for Fall

If you sign up to advertise with us anytime during October or November* for a 2 month commitment we will offer you a sidebar ad for $5 for each of the months, that’s $10 for two months of advertisement! If you are a current sponsor of At The Picket Fence you can also purchase this special price to add to the end of your current contract! That’s a great deal folks! *Two month time period will begin from day of payment.

For more information you can visit our Advertise With Us page or email us for specifics! We’d love to have you as a sponsor of At The Picket Fence!

And another big thank you to our lovely sponsors and to you our READERS for supporting At The Picket Fence by paying our sponsors a visit! We appreciate you!

dual signature 
Inspiration Friday Graphic1
Don’t forget Inspiration Friday is still going strong through the weekend! Join us there to share your inspiration with us!!

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4 Comments Filed Under: Etsy, Sponsors

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Confessions of a Plate Addict says

    October 8, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    Beautiful things! There really are some creative ladies in blogland! Hope you are having a great weekend!…hugs…Debbie

    Reply
  2. Ann from On Sutton Place says

    October 8, 2011 at 4:37 PM

    Thanks for the plug girls! I consider both of you dear friends as well. It’s really nice of you to publish a post such as this. So appreciate it!

    Reply
  3. Judy says

    October 8, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    Those are all beautiful. I’m off to check out more of their stuff.

    Reply
  4. Jann Olson says

    October 9, 2011 at 3:43 AM

    Wonderful! There are some very talented ladies (and girls) out there!

    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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