Blogging,  Marriage Confessions,  Random,  Travel

The Pioneer Woman: My New BFF

For those of you who aren’t so into the blogging world, allow me to introduce you to The Pioneer Woman.

Not that she needs any introduction at all.

Photo by Ree Drummond.
Photo by Ree Drummond.

The Pioneer Woman is Ree Drummond.   She lived in Los Angeles on sushi and wine in three inch heels when she met a cowboy, who she calls Marlboro Man.   She married Marlboro Man and moved to his cattle and horse ranch in the middle of Oklahoma.   Her blog follows her daily life on the farm raising her four kids, a bunch of cows, a lot of horses, some herbs and flowers, and a basset hound named Charlie.   While her life is not extraordinary, her positive view on life and her ability to find the humor in the everyday makes her instantly uplifting and incredibly down to earth.

She’s like the Oprah of the blogging world.

Part of Ree’s blog is a cooking page where she shares mouthwatering recipes, complete with pictures of food that will make you want to stop whatever you are doing and eat.   Its her cooking page that seems to be getting the most attention these days (although I am still loyal to her main personal blog myself).   From her blog, Ree recently came out with a cookbook full of vivid images of her life on the ranch mixed in with recipes that are heartwarming to read about and belly-filling to feast on.

To buy Ree’s cookbook from Amazon.com, click HERE.

As part of her cookbook signing tour, Ree visited New York on Saturday.   We live about an hour and a half outside of Manhattan and so Chris and I packed up the Bean, grabbed my copies (yes, that would be multiple copies…), and headed down to New York to meet THE Pioneer Woman. P-Dub.   P-Witty-Ditty.   P to the Double Ditty.

So you don’t think that I dragged Chris along, Chris reads PW almost more than I do.   He loves her photography page.   He loves her cooking page.   He loves her main page.   And I think he loves her red hair.   (And I think he was personally saddened when she recently dyed it a lovely shade of brunette…)   So, fear not.   I did not drag him.   He went willingly.   Very, very willingly.   Almost too willingly.

But that’s another blog post for another day.

Ree was signing at a bookstore in the Chelsea Market and she was starting at 11:00 AM.   I thought we’d roll out of the house around 9:00ish.   Apparently Chris had different plans.   Which is why at 5:00 AM – before even the Bean cracked his eyeballs open – he was violently pushing me out of bed.

Which is why Bean and I look so happy in this 5:00 AM photo.

Oh, I didn’t mention that?   Yeah.   Chris was taking pictures at 5:00 AM.   Thanks, babe.

By some minor act of God, we actually made it out of the house and to NY in record time, thanks – in no small part – to my mad driving skills in Manhattan.

Okay, so it was also thanks to the fact that Chris got us up so freaking early that there was absolutely no traffic on the roads.   In New York City. Chris likes to be on time.   Its one of our most obvious differences.

But I didn’t care how early it was.   Once I got in the car and in the city, I was so darn excited to meet PW I didn’t even care what time of day it was.

We parked the car at a lot across the street from Chelsea Market.   I originally planned to put Bean in his sling for our adventure.   Not only because I wasn’t sure where we were going and if a stroller would fit, but also because it was freezing outside (try 20 degrees…) and I thought it would be warmer.

But apparently either Bean or I had put on some weight since the last time we tried the sling thing because I could not fit him into the sling to save his life or mine.   I pushed, I pulled, I poked.   And Bean didn’t budge.

As you can see, I brought my double chin along with me.   She’s a HUGE fan of PW.

I finally gave up on the sling and threw Bean in his stroller instead.   I covered him with 10,000 blankets and promised him ponies if he could just hang in there for a few minutes while we crossed the street and headed into the market.   I don’t think he believed me, but he hung in there like a champ.   Like a very cold little champ.

We got to Chelsea Market and, much like the roads, it was pretty quiet in there.   But I kind of liked it.   The market is full of small, independent, gourmet cafes and specialty food shops.   There are fresh veggies and fruit and a fish monger and a fire breathing leprachaun.

(Not really on the fire breathing leprachaun thing actually.)

But you know what we did find in Chelsea Market?   We found Melissa d’Arabian from the Food Network!   I watched her on The Next Food Network Star and she was always my favorite.   She was running to the Food Network studios, which are on the second floor of Chelsea Market, but she stopped and talked with us for about 10 minutes about Bean and the Pioneer Woman and how she wished she had some make up on.   She was lovely and it started my day off right!

Because we got there before the crowds of people…or even just another person…we took advantage of having several fresh bakeries at our fingertips and we stopped for a little breakfast.   Beanie was really excited.   He doesn’t usually see this much action before noon on a Saturday.

He actually doesn’t see much action at all.   Ever.

So, this was a big morning for him.

After our breakfast, we moseyed on back to the bookstore where a couple more early birds had arrived.   We jumped in line and Chris was happy to find that we were 6th.   His work here was done.   At first I was a little irritated.   I mean, it wasn’t even 9:00 AM and here we were.   But later when the line of people stretched down the market and outside and then half way down 10th Avenue, I was secretly sort of glad that Chris had been such a taskmaster.

Around the time we got settled in our spot in line, Beanie decided that this had been enough excitement for a while, so he went for a quick little walk with Dad and promptly fell right asleep.   Good job, Beanie.

By the time the bookstore opened at 10:00, we were getting antsy.   By 10:45 when they let the first 10 or so people inside the bookstore to line up to get our books signed, we were on pins and needles.   There was her table!!   I could see it!

Of course, this was the exact moment that Bean decided, “Hey!   I’ve over this!   Let’s go somewhere with more stuff to chew on!”   And that’s when he had a meltdown.   Right there.   In the front of the line.   In the bookstore.   About three feet from Ree’s table.   Thankfully, she wasn’t there yet so I started pacing the bookstore with him, trying to shove juice down his throat or a binky or a toy or packaging peanuts – anything to get him to calm down so that he wasn’t screaming when PW walked in.

Finally, I got him under control and not a moment too soon because in she came with her ensemble of family members (though, sadly, no Marlboro Man or Punks…) and her publicist and someone from TLC who I am guessing was doing a profile piece on her?   She sat herself down at her table and started signing right away.

She was just the nicest.   Just the way I hoped she would be.   Just the way I image her to be when I read her blog.   She spent a few minutes talking to each person and she showed genuine appreciation to people for being there.

And before I knew it, it was our turn.   And there I stood.   Face to face with my blogging hero.

Hello, Ree.   Would you like to be my best friend and let me live with you on your ranch?   I could live in The Lodge with Chris and the Bean and you could cook for us every day.   I would walk Charlie for you and help you clean up when a cow poops on your front porch.   And at night, we could curl up on a couch under a big cozy blanket and sip red wine and talk about love and life and what the appropriate amount of blush for daytime wear should be.

In actuality, when face-to-face with Ree, I thanked her for all the traffic that her blog sends me when I leave a comment there.   And for being so happy with her life and inspiring me to continue blogging as a way to stay happy in my own life.   She asked about what my blog was (shameless plug for me…) and when I told her, she said that she sees me commenting all the time and that she had always wanted to check out my website.

Ree, if you’re reading this I’m so glad you finally checked it out!   Now, please link to me from your blog.   I’d be happy to let you crash my server any day…

For the record, the fact that this photo is blurry could be the biggest tragedy of my insignificant little life.   Especially because my hair actually looks good.   And so does Ree’s.   And we part it on the same side….

Come back, Ree!   We have to take another picture!   And then you can take me back to your cattle ranch and cook for me!   Or we could go shopping together!   Or we could discuss the travesty that is our laundry piles!   Or we can talk about which side to part our hair on tomorrow.   Whatever you want, Ree!   Just come back and re-take this picture!

I’m not really one of those people who gets all revved up about celebrities.   Right or wrong, I see them as normal people who just got really lucky. They don’t dazzle me and I don’t obsess about them.   But I make a large exception for Ree.   And not just because she is a blogger.   I make an exception for Ree because she took something that she loved doing – this silly little blog – and has turned it into a career and even a lifestyle.   I’m sure it hasn’t been easy.   I’m sure she struggles with the same challenges everyone else does to achieve a goal.   But she’s doing what she loves.   And to me, that’s pretty darn inspirational.

43 Comments

  • Niki

    I love the Pioneer Woman’s blog. (And yours!) Been reading her for several months or so now. Pretty cool that you got to meet her. She seems very nice and down to earth.

  • Beth Ineson

    I am soooo jealous! I live in Indiana and Ree is not coming here. BOO! However, I am glad you got to see her. You deserve it.
    You know, I think I actually got your blog link from her site? Maybe from a site she is linked to? I am not very blog savvy, so I usually only look at things Ree has on her site. Maybe it was from one of your comments. Anyway, GOOD FOR YOU LITTLE MAMA and keep up the good work. The Bean is precious, really precious…. Peace, B.

  • Alexandra

    Ok ~ so I TOTALLY saw you at the signing on Saturday morning. You, Chris, the Bean, the WHOLE fam!! I saw you all walk in the bookstore when they brought your group in and then I saw you guys when you walked out (I was in the third group they brought in and waiting by the door when you walked out). I was going to say hi ~ but thought that it might seem sort of stalkerish (is that even a word?). Anyhow. It was really cool to actually “see” you guys! And PW! And on the same day!!! In your photo of the people waiting in line my hubby is the one with the brown suede jacket on with his back to you ~ I’m sorta on to the right ~ you can only see the corner of my blue-ish scarf! Anyhow ~ funny story. Wasn’t Ree the greatest? I was sort of star struck and really didn’t know what to say!!
    Glad you got to meet her!!!

      • Alexandra

        I know it ~ I really should have. Oops. I saw you and then it clicked – OF COURSE you’d be there since you live so close and are in CT. We stayed at my hubby’s parents place in Greenwich on Friday night and took the train in early on Saturday morning. We were in line by 9:45! ha! I thought it was going to be packed by then ~ but I’m so glad it wasn’t!!! We were in and out by 11:35. I promise that next time I randomly see you walking around NYC I’ll say hi ~ like that’ll ever happen again. Have a wonderful Christmas 🙂

  • Claudia

    Hi! I am so jealous/excited that you met Ree! I live in California and I am dying for her to come back and visit her old town or something so I can meet her and Marlboro Man and the punks =D I plan on buying her cookbook soon too. I’ve been following both of your blogs for about 6 months now since my boss introduced them to me just before she got married (she is starting her own blog soon too!). I am madly in love with the Bean; he is the cutest thing in the world.
    I’m so glad you got to meet her! Say hi to Chris and the Bean!

  • Terri A

    Oooh I’m so jealous! PW isn’t coming anywhere near Ohio on her book tour! Lucky you! I actually found your blog through Pioneer Woman. And I may or may not have spent a few lazy days reading through both your archives and PW’s. And how cool is it that your husband follows PW!?!? My husband just doesn’t get the whole PW phenomenon.

  • whitney

    Did you know that I live an hour away from Ree? And that one time, my mom, my friend and her mom set out on an expedition to find their ranch? We failed. Mostly because we got distracted by The Cheesecake Factory and didn’t have time to complete our mission because, hey, we’re talking cheesecake here. Anyway, that’s a fun little tidbit. Come here and visit me and Ree. We’re good company. And I’m sure you and the Bean are, too.

    Chris, Husby and Marb Man can go do something….manish, while we 3 redheads dish and blog about it.

  • Candice

    I checked out her site once a while ago and just didn’t “get” what the big deal was, but the way you describe her and her blog makes me want to give it another go (which I will).

    And I totally get how you feel about her. If I ever met Rebecca Woolf from girlsgonechild.net, I think I would just stammer all over myself and insist we should be best friends and then apologize for not being cool enough. LOL

  • Patty Ho

    Hi Katie – I have been reading your blog for a while now (actually found it through Ree’s) and I adore your blog. I think Beanie is just the cutest too. Am glad that you got to see PW. I wanted to go to too but that did not work out =( and I would totally have been stalkerish because I was hoping to get a glimpse of you and your family although I would have been too shy to actually say hello for fear that you would think I was a weirdo!! I knew you would post this asap so I got to see my BFF through you. Thanks a lot. One day maybe I will be in line coming to you for a signing. Happy Holidays!

  • Christina

    Yay! The day she was in Dallas (actually, the evening…her signing started at 7 pm.) we flew in from Florida from our Thanksgiving vacation. We went straight to the bookstore, the line was crazy long, and they were keeping the store open late just for the signing, so we took our kids home, got them tucked in, and then I headed back to get my book signed. I ended up being about 20 from the end of the line. It was around 1 am when she signed my book, and I forgot all of the things I wanted to say. She was super nice, though, and all smiles, even at that late hour. She stayed until the last person got their book signed. I kind of felt bad, like a selfish punk, for making her stay up so late. But she was a trooper. Hopefully she got to sleep in the next day. I bet that makes you extra glad for your early arrival, and being so close to the front of the line! I’m glad you got to meet her. She’s a hero!!

  • Jessica

    Pioneerwoman’s site directed me to yours in about May and i’ve been following you ever since because, let’s face it, you’re really funny and I appreciate that 😉 I live in OKC and am planning on going to see her Tuesday! I just wanted you to k ow I really enjoy your blog and your cute family. Oh and your funny tweets 😉

  • Erin

    Too fun! Glad you got to meet her! Wish she would come here, but nobody wants to come to Nebraska in the winter…

    And by the way, she should have read your blog by now! C’mon PW, always lots of laughs over here at MC!

  • Ilana

    oh gosh that is so exciting! I wanted SO BADLY for Ree to come to Florida. But I guess its okay. I probably would have fainted if I’d met her. Or otherwise offered her my first born child. Or CRIED.

    So..uh…when are you going to start writing your first book? If you come down to SOUTH florida for a signing, I promise I’ll try not to blubber all over you in joy.

    Try, being the operative word here.

    Ilana
    http://www.IlanaWrites.com

  • earthtone

    Hey Katie, I received your xmas card! Awesome!(guess who’s my blogging hero). I’m sure Ree is great but somehow I could never stay at her blog..I dunno why(Sorry PW if you are reading this!)…but I’m stuck to yours.. 🙂 the xmas glued it…feels personal.

    The blurry picture of your family and Ree? The guy at the back got the best deal.

  • Danimezza

    I have to agree with some of the ladies, I didn’t really get PW. I love homely blogs and PW is a bit too big, a bit too… commercial if that makes sense. I can’t believe she never got a chance to read your blog, I look at every new blog that leaves a comment or follows.

    I’m sure she’s lovely and I’m glad you got to meet her and I think I would have the same reaction if I got to meet you 🙂

    Love the photo of you shoving Bean in the sling.

      • Katie

        Chris read somewhere that she received something like 14 million hits a month. That’s a TON of readers and a LOT of comments. I can’t even keep up with my own readers and I’m nowhere NEAR that number!! I cut her a little slack for that, I think.

  • Melissa

    OMG Katie, I only read Pioneer Woman because you linked to it on your site! She should totally be thanking you. I mean, where would she be if it weren’t for you, me, and three of my friends?

  • MrsEAM

    I am sooooooo jealous that you got to meet PW!! Her book tour isn’t coming far enough south (into Florida) for me to go to a signing and I’m so envious!

  • EmilyC

    You are such a lucky duck!! I’m so jealous that you got to go to PW’s book signing 🙂 She didn’t come to the deep south where I live so I’m having to live it through you. Thanks for sharing your trip with us. Oh, and I loved the Christmas card that you emailed, it was a great picture of your family – but where’s Molly? Looks like Lucy was determined to get in the picture, too cute! Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

  • Carla

    I’m jealous you guys went into the city to see her! I live 90 out of the city too (in CT as well) but the thought of leaving that early in the AM in the bitter cold with my little peanut was enough to keep me home. I read PW and your blog daily and love them both!

  • Noelle

    I found Ree’s blog because of your link to it. Every morning before I begin any work, I have to read your blog, Whitney at The Glamorous Life of a Houswife, and Pioneer Woman. I think it’s because I always have wished that I was a natural redhead. I’m so excited for you that you got to meet Ree! I wish she was coming somewhere close to me on her book tour.

  • Katherine

    I love PW, and her book is def on my Christmas list. I wish I had gone to see her here in Atlanta. Nice work on getting there so early!! A friend of mine went to see her here and she waited for like 4 hours – but I don’t think it was 4 hours ahead of opening, it was just 4 hours period ugh!

    ~Katherine

  • Jordan

    I actually just started reading PW a few months ago from the link on your blog! Just this week I spent an entire day reading her love story- all 40 something parts of it! I felt like I had just read a crazy romance novel. It was a good way to put off studying for finals, and now I am alllll about PW. (I even made one of her recipes the other day)

  • Heather O.

    AHHHHHH!!! How great is that!? I am one that found you via PW too! You are so lucky to have met her. I wish she would come to NW PA.

  • Lynda

    Lol this whole post is funny. My husband hears me talk about blogs all the time and he thought Ree and I were good friends. lol. As a Christmas surprise he took me from Pitts to West Chester to get my book signed. It was a wonderful surprise. I made him stand with me to get our picture taken. I was a wonderful experience but a 15 hr day was a little much. Would have been nice if people wore their sites on shirts then you would know who is who. lol Glad to hear we both had a great weekend.

  • Lesley

    YEAH REE!! I got to meet her in Minneapolis and you are right-she’s is as nice as you imagine her to be! Totally the Oprah of the blogging world!

    Happy Holidays!

  • Bethany

    Your blog is my favorite and I found it off of PW’s blog (which I also love!). I saw your tweet that you guys were on your way to see her and I was so excited for you!! What a great early Christmas treat 🙂 Thanks for sharing and writing about your experience – it was fun to read!

  • Heather

    Cool! I actually found your website through PW. If you look at the Houston post, she posted of picture of us – my daughter is the one she called Shiloh! She told us that she is actually releasing black heels in about a year with a whole second part. can’t wait!!!

  • Nona

    I have to say you are so lucky!! I was out of town when she came close to my neck of the woods!! I did see she will sign all that is sent to her so thats what I will do.
    The bean did so good I am happy you had such a great time.

  • Brooke

    Chris was so smart to get there early. She came to Dallas in early December and did an evening signing. We waited in line for over six hours, but she was worth every minute. I wish she was my BFF too!

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