The Pioneer Woman

Ree Drummond, known as The Pioneer Woman, writes a riotously funny blog about her life that features her magnificent photography.  She’s also on The Food Network and has authored two cookbooks, a children’s picture book and a touching novel detailing how she fell madly in love, changed course from her planned move from Los Angeles to Chicago and settled down on a ranch in Oklahoma instead.  She is a loving mother to four children and a proud wife to Marlboro Man, her rancher husband.

The Pioneer Woman has been an internet sensation for quite some time, but I just learned of her recently when a friend shared a link to this story: All I Wanted Was a Doughnut.  I was sitting at my computer reading it one night and I had to slap my hand over my mouth so my laughter didn’t wake up my husband. I had to read more by this woman!

I have been perusing the archives of her website, www.thepioneerwoman.com, and I love everything about it. The photography, the entertaining stories, the fabulous recipes…

Oh my goodness, the recipes. If you need some inspiration in the kitchen, her cookbooks are the way to go.  She offers step by step instructions with so many pictures to guide you through the process of making one of her recipes; nothing motivates me to try new recipes like enticing pictures and clear, detailed instructions.

I got my hands on a copy of her novel The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels– A Love Story and I read it in a day and a half.  Ree’s writing is so entertaining and compelling, I could not put it down!

Please take a few of these links and see what Ree Drummond is all about, I promise you it will be a bright spot in your day and leave you hungry for more.  Quite literally, it will leave you hungry. Maybe grab a snack and then take the links…

If you’d pulled up next to me, you would have had a good laugh.

So crank this up while we chat, you know, for a little background music.

We’ve been thinking about changing things up over here to keep this place crisp and fresh.

But first, we need your input and ideas!

So here are some things we’ve been thinking about for The Good Stuff Guide:

• Recipes!  Kid-tested, easy(!), and super yummy.  We’d love to share yours too!

• Posts that include your input – what’s the “good stuff” in and around YOUR home?  What works for you, what ideas do you have to share?  We want to know!!

• Additional posts showcasing great storage solutions, home solutions, great rooms.

Input, PLEASE!

What keeps you coming back to The Good Stuff Guide?  What are you ready for us to drop?  What would you like to see more of? (Sorry for that dangling preposition there.)

YOU are the most important thing around here, so we want YOU to enjoy what you see, and share it with your friends.

So if you could design your own Good Stuff Guide, what would it include?  Please tell us in the comments (or in email, whichever!)

Help, PLEASE!

Email Heidi at heidi@thegoodstuffguide.com or Sarah at sarah@thegoodstuffguide.com with recipes, your brilliant ideas, other thoughts, etc.  We are so eager to hear from you!

Not once.

Ever.

So we planned overlapping trips to visit family this summer in Denver, CO.

What’s a way to get 4 boys who have never met before to bond?

A chance meeting with firemen and their firetruck.

Now that’s a good-bye hug!

Don’t you love how the adorables can bond like that, lightening fast??

Yep, Sarah and I (and our darling mothers!) did too!

I am amazed by the extraordinary talent and creativity of everyday people.  It has never been easier to ‘set up shop’ in America and offer the fruits of your labor to willing and interested buyers.  If you haven’t heard of Etsy yet, you have got to take a look!   Etsy.com is “your place to buy all things handmade.”

You’ll want to search around for specific products that are relevant in your life, but here are a few sites I think you shouldn’t miss:

Erin Kate Creations

Aren’t these Coffee Cuffs awesome?!   Erin’s Etsy shop has three priorities: Style, Quality and Individuality.  “Erin Kate Creations focuses on bringing a parent’s sense of style into the everyday gear necessary for life with little ones. For beautiful, one of a kind, quality Joey Pocket Sling Carriers, Burp Cloth Trios, Car Seat Strap Sleeves, and Coffee Cuffs, shop Erin Kate Creations!”   Shop this Etsy store at: Erin Kate Creations

sophie & lili

The custom, handmade dolls in this store are adorable and so unique!  “Sophie & Lili dolls are digitally printed on high quality quilter’s cotton & handmade by the artist, Jennifer Vallez. Each doll is backed with a complementary print (some new/some vintage) & can be personalized with the name of your choice.”  Shop this Etsy store at: sophie & lili

Take Flight Boutique

Find great gifts here for teachers and graduates, with a charitable bonus!  “Take Flight Boutique is PROUD to support HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS! 5% of all proceeds will go to Homes for Our Troops. This foundation builds specially adapted homes for severely injured veterans. HFOT is a national non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization. To learn more, please visit www.homesforourtroops.org.”  Shop this Etsy store at: Take Flight Boutique

Miss Polly’s Piece Goods

Gorgeous crib bedding for your little one’s nursery!  It never even crossed my mind before my twins were born that I could have crib bedding of my own design!  From the shop owner: “Design your own baby crib bedding from fabrics you love to create a one-of-a-kind nursery.  Preparing for the arrival of a new little one is such an exciting time! Some of my fondest memories are connected to rare quiet moments in the nursery with each of my babies. It’s my pleasure to help you design and furnish a special place to create your own memories.”  Shop this Etsy store at: Miss Polly’s Piece Goods

Becky M on Etsy

She writes: “I love custom orders. You can check out my “sold” section or my Flickr pictures for more options of food. If you see something you like, please contact me. Thanks.  I’m honored to say that for the 3rd year in a row my felt food will be in the Chicago Children’s Musuem Summer Block Party Exhibit!”  Shop this Etsy store at: Becky M on Etsy

Do you shop Etsy?  What’s your favorite store?!

If you have an Etsy store, be sure to leave a link so we can check it out!

So if you need one last GREAT idea for the moms, mimis, nanas, grandmas in your life, this is IT.

Take Flight Boutique has gorgeous, reasonably-priced, fun things for you to choose from – so let’s take a stroll…

I know you’ve heard me talk about this Custom Photo Necklace ($65) before, but it’s just because I love mine so very much that I need to mention it again.  P.S. You can make a Custom Artwork Necklace too.

I bought this Keep Calm and Eat a Cupcake ($26) tote immediately upon seeing it.  It makes me smile, probably because it is so true.

There are tons of other gorgeous totes to choose from too.  I use them for everything, friends.

This Blessed Mom Silver Disc Necklace ($42) can also be personalized with Mimi, Nana, etc.

Just like the totes, there are many other Silver Disc Necklaces to choose from.

The history nut in me loves this old WWII Keep Calm and Carry On Purse ($38).  Needless to say, it’s a good reminder to always keep things in perspective.

And you can win my 2 favorite words: **Shopping. Spree.**

(Are they not yours???)

Giveaway

One lucky, lucky winner can win a $50 shopping spree at Take Flight Boutique simply by leaving a comment by Friday, May 6th. I’ll choose the winner using Random.org and announce it on Saturday.

Because I just LOVE comments, here’s how to gain extra entries (please leave them as separate entries):

1. Do you subscribe by email or RSS to The Good Stuff Guide? I love my subscribers, so you get an extra entry. Wahoo!

2. Email 5 of your friends about The Good Stuff Guide and tell them what a rockin’ website this is. We’d love to have them join us!

3. “Like” The Good Stuff Guide on Facebook and receive the latest news and your chance at additional giveaways. (I LIKE you too!)

4. “Share” any recent post from The Good Stuff Guide on your Facebook wall by clicking ‘Share’ under our Facebook posts with links to The Good Stuff Guide site.  This makes a visit to our site just a click away for all your Facebook friends – the more the merrier…

(Feel free to do them all – that’s a total of 5 entries!)

Good luck!

Now just to choose…  Which one is your favorite?

And today it’s a Treat, Treat, Treat!

You know when you wander through a really great gift store, and everything is so pretty, and feminine and light?  That’s exactly how I feel about Take Flight Boutique.  So let’s wander together, shall we?

This is the Aqua Tote ($20) that I bought immediately.  I just love this old WWII graphic from England.  It’s just as cute in person!

The Triple Crown Necklace ($20) is cut crystal glass on an 18-inch silver chain.

The Once Upon a Fairytale Tote ($20) is whimsical and vintage.

I just LOVE these gorgeous Egg Birdnest magnets ($7)!  I wouldn’t be able to leave the store without these folks!

Here’s Melissa’s son modeling this cutey-pie Retro Black Cassette Tee ($15).

Okay folks, listen up for this one, because you’re going to LOVE this…

YOUR ADORABLE’S ART!  Made into a necklace.  Need I say more?

I will – it’s $30 and I think that is very fair!  Now which art to choose….

So visit Take Flight Boutique, an Etsy store, and I know you’ll find many more items to tempt you.

And the best part, Melissa donates 5% of all proceeds to Homes for Our Troops. This foundation builds specially adapted homes for severely injured veterans. HFOT is a national non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization.

Giveaway

You can win a $40 Take Flight Boutique shopping spree just by leaving a comment by Friday, August 27th and I’ll choose the winner using Random.org on Saturday, the 28th.

Here’s how to gain extra entries (please leave them as separate entries):

1. Do you subscribe by email or RSS to The Good Stuff Guide? I love my subscribers, so you get an extra entry. Wahoo!
2. Email 5 of your friends about The Good Stuff Guide and tell them what a rockin’ website this is.  We’d love to have them join us!
3. “Like” The Good Stuff Guide on Facebook and receive the latest news and your chance at additional giveaways. (I LIKE you too!)

(Feel free to do them all – that’s a total of 4 entries!)

Good luck!

A little *shopping spree* of beauty just for you.

The Riviera Coin Necklace ($79)

Initial Charms ($34)

Deco Drop Earrings ($39)

The Vintage Cluster Ring ($39)

Stackable Deco Rings – Set of 3 ($49)

Giveaway

You can win a $40 Stella & Dot shopping spree just by leaving a comment by Tuesday , August 10th and I’ll choose the winner using Random.org on Wednesday, the 11th.

Here’s how to gain extra entries (please leave them as separate entries):

1. Do you subscribe by email or RSS to The Good Stuff Guide? I love my subscribers, so you get an extra entry. Wahoo!
2. Email 5 of your friends about The Good Stuff Guide and tell them what a rockin’ website this is.  We’d love to have them join us!
3. “Like” The Good Stuff Guide on Facebook and receive the latest news and your chance at additional giveaways. (I LIKE you too!)

(Feel free to do them all – that’s a total of 4 entries!)

Good luck!

Be sure to check out Stella & Dot to see more beautiful baubles!   Special thanks to rep Kelli Robinson for this fun giveaway!

Oh, and there was one among us who got married this weekend.

Here we are upon just meeting up:

And here’s the blushing bride:

She really was just that happy all weekend.

What can I say?  It was heaven.

I love that quick banter among old friends trying to cram a year’s worth of new babies, new jobs, new houses, gossip, and loads of hysterical laughter into 2 days. It’s never enough time, but I leave with just enough fuel to get through until next year.

Oh my goodness do they mean the world to me.

So for the ceremony we got all gussied up…

And rode the chairlift up the hill to the wedding ceremony.

Despite the rain (it is after all, lucky for a new marriage), it was a gorgeous ceremony and I wish I had the priest’s homily to share with you here – it was among the best I’ve heard and a great reminder to cherish and celebrate our marriages every day.

Here’s to new beginnings!

And of course, to the lifetime friendship with great girlfriends.

‘Til next year…

This year, we actually split the event into 2 parts.

We wanted to put our adorables to work decorating sugar cookies, but also wanted to be kid-free when we did the heavy cooking.

So we got it all set up and let the mayhem ensue.  FYI, trays are excellent for keeping sprinkles somewhat contained.

Slave labor is so worth it…

Productive little souls.

The next morning while the adorables were away at preschool, we really got to work:

Lisa made these scrumptious melt-in-your-mouth Lemon sugar cookies.

Gretchen made these white chocolate chip and cherry cookies that were rich and yummy.

Gretchen also made these coconut thumbprint cookies with apricot jam. Dee-lish.

Wendy made these carrot cake inside-out cookies. I’m telling you…

And I made these gooey white & butterscotch & regular chocolate chip & coconut mess.  We needed some chocolate in the mix so I could stay sane.

What do you make every year?  What are your favorites?  We could use some new ideas!

Hello Girls Weekend 2009!

This is our 10th or 13th anniversary of Girls Weekend depending on how you count.  We missed Laura this year, who was busy off having a baby somewhere.

Well, we do know where, but we missed her.  See you next year Laura.

So we traveled up to Northern Michigan and politely asked someone’s parents to leave their beautiful house on Lake Michigan and we spent the next 3 days laughing and talking and laughing and sharing ideas and laughing.

This was one of our 2 ventures from the deck.  Talk about motivation.

So gather your girls and check out Traveling Mamas for your own Girls Weekend ideas. Seriously free laugh therapy.