Pintertest Kitchen: Tasty Kitchen Edition

Please say that 5 times fast.

Just about a year ago, Mel invited me and a few other blog friends over for a Pioneer Woman Cookbook Potluck.  It was a super fun gathering of friends trying out some fantastic recipes.
I woke up early that day and made Ree's Texas Sheet Cake. It was delicious. It was not only my contribution to the potluck, but also my Pintertest for August.

A few days before Mel emailed us about this year's potluck, officially the Second Annual, I had pinned a White Texas Sheet Cake recipe, which happens to come from The Pioneer Woman's recipe database website, The Tasty Kitchen.

So, technically I cheated.  This isn't an official Pioneer Woman recipe, however I found it through Ree. So, just roll with it.

Like any good Pioneer Woman recipe, there are a ton of ingredients. Most everything you will have in your cabinets and fridge. I had to go out for sour cream. And I already had almond extract.

There is also a ton of butter. Oh the butter.
So much butter at Mel's potluck.
I think the Pioneer Woman would be proud.

Despite the amount of ingredients, it's a very straightforward easy cake recipe.

The frosting is to die for.

I brought a second cake to work a week later, and my coworkers said it tasted like the chocolate frosting on an old fashioned donut. YUM.

My other favorite thing about this recipe is that the frosting is made while the cake bakes. And you get to frost it immediately. This is a HUGE convenience for me, I like getting the cake made and the dishes done. ASAP.

I hope the rest of the girls didn't mind my cheater recipe too much! (Original Recipe Here) I thought it was delicious, and so were all of theirs. Mel's recap has pictures and links to all of the other recipes used, head over and check them out.

(Photo courtesy of Mel)

Linking up with Jessica!!

InstaFriday: Babysitter on Duty Edition

This had a lot of fun activities...

I kicked off my weekend at my favorite coffee shop...I made sure to walk there - not only to save quarters on parking, but also because I'd be having an almond croissant. They cancel each other out you see.

I worked on bloggy stuff a bit (including mug swap assignments, woot!), brought some three journals, and ended up being there long enough to have lunch as well.

Not really a problem.

Later that day I had Thai food with my BFF Julie who was in town from LA. We hit up Thaiger Thai - and got take out. They don't have the most comfy dine in place, but they sure love their bright colors.

Jules and I don't get to see each other except a couple of times a year, but there is something about sitting on the couch talking about grown up stuff with the friend that you have had since you were 8 years old and dreaming of being a grown up.

Sunday Morning we had Church, followed by a graduation/going away celebration for Claire - who is headed off to The Master's College. Her mom makes some mean crock pot dishes. I think they rock.
Which basically means it's technically a Rockpot.

And how fun is it? I love when that thing pops up on the hospitality table. You know it's gonna be a good day.

Also, I got to hold Hayden for the first time since she was brought home.
Girl is way too popular.

Sunday Afternoon there was no Chipotle Sunday, and the Johnson's needed a sitter...

Kayla convinced me to bake cookies with her...which didn't really take much convincing.
But once we started to roll out the dough and realized there was a lot more crumbling and not much rolling going on - she ditched me for My Little Pony. Pinky Pie and Verity are way cooler than a frustrated babysitter pastry chef.

I was able to salvage about 12 cookies...and Rainbow Dash was toast. I got my audience back.
We also had popsicles. And somebody ended up with blue lips and a red popsicle nose.

Monday morning....Starbucks was necessary. Venti. With my super adorable coffee sleeve made by Marie. She has a super cute shop. Chickety check it out.

At Lunch, I ran errands, and checked out Hope Church's PO Box.
We got a postcard from Gospel for Asia.
(One Sunday a month, Hope Church forgoes coffee and treats, and instead uses that money - as well as anything else collected, to go towards building a Jesus well. It is awesome.)
They said they are praying for ME.
How crazy convicting is that?
Also, they use rugged vehicles on the mission field.
Which totally validates Betsy Jim Elliot's philosophy that it is important to be rugged for the mission field.

Um on Wednesday, I tweeted about how I get kinda mad when The Pioneer Woman doesn't pick my favorite photo as the winner in her contests.

She tweeted me back.

No. Big. Deal.

And then, there was the overnight babysitting gig slumber party.
Before Kayla could give me her full agenda of items,
I told them I was going to take them to visit Mylie and Chloe.
Ashlyn doesn't seem to love dogs like Kayla and I do.
But girl probably said Mylie's name 237 times in the short 6 minute drive to my parents.

These girls accomplished a lot in the hour and a half we were there.
Ashlyn thoroughly enjoyed telling Mylie what to do.
And discovered my old Pound Puppies - which I think is helping her inner dog lover come out.
Kayla conducted a cute-ciñera - which I highly suspect is something she learned on My Little Pony.
Apparently Chloe has lost for 5 years straight - because she is too shy.
Mylie has won 12 years in a row (even though she is only 6).
The squirrel line up was part of Mylie's obedience contest.

It's amazing what a little make believe can do.

The girls were sufficiently worn out.
And we all were in bed at a reasonable time.
KK insisted that I join her in her room, and even made the bed while I was getting ready, including her build-a-bear teddy for me to snuggle with.

I may have melted.

We may have also slept with GiGi, Thunder, and 27 Berenstein Bears books...

And then at a not so reasonable time - I woke up to a VERY cute, but VERY awake 4 year old in my face.
I took care of what she wanted, and then tried to go back to sleep.

Until said cute 4 year old (who may also be deaf and not so bothered by loud obnoxious toys) was playing with her noise-making toys at 5 am.

Noisemaking toys were put away and replaced with the oh-so-silent book.
Berenstein Bears of course.

And as I was about to go to back to bed (except a different bed, because the 8 year old's limbs were now flailed all over where I was sleeping), I was informed of all of the activities that would take place upon my departure.

Including Grandma CC coming over in the morning and giving her candy.

(I believe she was trying to get rid of me ASAP,
 after all I only gave her a cute dog to play with. 
This girl wants CANDY)

So, in summary,
a fun week.
Lot's of babysitting.
For kids who love my puppy.
And make waking up at 4:45am kinda fun.
And coffee.
A lot of coffee.


And remember when the Pioneer Woman tweeted me?
We are BF4L - After all, we go way back...
to February...
Still waiting for that Ranch invite, Ree.

Linking up with Jeannett. As always :)

The P-Dubb Club!

On Tuesday, I went out on a limb and responded to a Facebook invite to join the very talented Candace of Prokopets Studio* - who happened to shoot my sister's wedding with her adorable husband Vitaliy - to meet Blogging Royalty, Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman at the book signing of her first novel, The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels--A Love Story

I have met Candace once - it was on the wedding day - where she was the most incredible photographer that I could have asked for for my baby sister. She took care of my sister that day, in ways that I had hoped to do, but wasn't able to, because I was dealing with a gallbladder-gone-rogue and was just doing my best to make it through the day without collapsing, or turning a deeper color of goldenrod.  She made sure Laura looked beautiful in each picture, she kept everything organized and the day running smoothly.

I knew I would have fun meeting P-Dubb, no matter who I was with, but I was excited that Candace didn't think it was creepy that I accepted her open invitation. (this was a very good start)! She organized the logistics, and we met up with her friend Trisha and headed into San Francisco to grab some grubb, and hang with P-Dubb.

The drive up went smoothly, and quickly, as the three of us talked non-stop about all of the Pioneer Woman trivia we could think of! Charlie, Cowboy Josh, Butter, and her brother Mike were just a few of our favorite topics.

We found street parking directly in front of Chevy's, which was directly across the street from Books, Inc., and enjoyed a very affordable Happy Hour dinner! Candace is a Chevy's connoisseur and gave us the best tips on what to order, and also noticed the funky vinegar taste to the salsa. (Replacement was subsequently requested!).

We eyed the other tables with large groups of ladies, donning sweaters with ruffles, DSLR's with ruffles, and ruffles with ruffles, knowing that we were in Pioneer Woman territory! Once we were finished we headed over to find out how we were going to make Ree become our BFF and score an invitation to the lodge (and maybe a date with Cowboy Josh).

There, we met up with another of Candace and Trisha's friends, Claire. She had figured out what we needed to do - get a ticket for the meet & greet group - we were letter I. Claire had H. When you think of the 26 letter alphabet it doesn't sound so bad, but when you look at a room of a couple hundred women, you realize you wish you had thought to check in at the bookstore BEFORE dinner (lesson learned).

Candace ended up doing a quick recon mission, and scored us seats along the wall at the very front. As in, directly to the right of where the Pioneer Woman would be speaking. This was definitely not a problem for any of us.  We met a few nice people while waiting for Ree to arrive. And I (as non-creepily as possible, but yet, probably still creepily) introduced myself to Mel of The Larson Lingo. And a few moments later the Pioneer Woman herself, with her absolutely adorable entourage of her two daughters, sister-in-law, niece, and mother-in-law (yes Marlboro Man's mama!), arrived!

She was as tall as she describes herself to be - and on top of that was rocking some serious 3 inch heels! All of the ladies looked absolutely gorgeous, and Ree and her team entertained the crowd with some Q&A for almost an hour. Ree was gracious and kind, answered each question honestly, and openly - including a few "insider secrets" about the potential movie, Reese Witherspoon, and what her life is like behind the scenes.

After the Q&A, P-Dubb was in it for the long haul. She autographed her little heart out, she complimented each and every person that came up to her table, she took multiple pictures with them as well. I know this because (like a total non-creeper, right?) I sat there directly in front of her for two plus hours until group H was called. (With the exception of a quick walk around the store, where I as non-creepily as possible introduced myself to Keri of Forever Folding Laundry).

Claire & Candace had to take off, so that left me and my brand new friend Trisha holding out for BFF-dom with Ree. We ended up talking to Ree's sweet daughter Petunia Paige about her adorable outfit (seriously Paige, where did you get that belt?), and life on a book tour.

 

And then, finally, it was my time at the table with Ree, where I kept repeating to myself "do not say anything weird, do not say anything weird" (I also received a few encouragement texts throughout the day to the same effect. Apparently, there was an incident with John Piper, where in an awkward silence I may have mentioned seeing some cute videos of his grandkids on YouTube - totally NOT creepy right?)

Ree, my new BFF, signed my cookbook (The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl) 

 

And graciously smiled for a glamor shot photograph with me.

And again with me & Trisha! (Two new friends in one adorable photo)

Moral of the Story: When you are BFF's with P-Dubb, like we obviously are, you can hang out in the creeper VIP section. She will even chat you up between fans, wave to you, and ask you to make sure her back isn't too sweaty. I mean, that's what friends are for, right?

I guess our invite to the lodge is in the mail?






*Yes that is my beautiful sister in the very first photo that comes up on their site!

Wordless Wednesday: Blogging Royalty Edition

More to come... :)