O-Dub cooks with P-Dub

My only gift request for Mother's Day was The Pioneer Woman's Cookbook. Lucky for me I got it and our meals almost all this week have been from it.

If you don't know PW, you should. In fact, leave here NOW and go there! You will not be sorry. After you visit (for about 12 hours it could take to drool and ooo and ahhh) come back and read here what I'm doing.

What I'm doing is making lots of the recipes that are in this book. I'll share everything I make and I'll be sharing the ratings of my family. I'm far from a great cook, but I'm hoping that with PW's help I can become one.

Here's the cookbook. And you can get it HERE on Amazon or grab one at your local store, that's what the hubby did.

The great thing about this cookbook is that it really is more than a cookbook. It has stories and fun things about great tips and tricks. What I love most about this cookbook is something I've yet to photograph and show you, but oh I will. I love that she has picture of every single step of making something! Now you must know right away it's REAL cooking, there's really nothing low-fat/cal in here and well, that's just the way I like it!

Ree, aka PW, is so funny and smart and talented and just well overall awesome. It's as if I know her or have known her for years. I wish that I had. Lets get onto my making of her things.

Monday we had a normal burger dinner but I made PW's Pineapple Upside Down Cake for dessert.

notice my fine china...hehe

I really shouldn't post that picture. It does NOT look yummy there, this is a two day old slice. While it doesn't look as ooey-gooey as it is, it sure tastes even better a day or two after baking. I just stored the leftovers in a container and the family has had a slice every evening.

Here's the ratings from the fam

Hubby gives the pineapple upside down cake

4.5 GOLDEN WHISKS

Girlie gave it

4 GOLDEN WHISKS

I gave it

4 GOLDEN WHISKS

The Good: This cake is ooey-gooey. Oh man it's got the butter and brown sugar! YUM!!! I just love pineapple cooked too, so that's a HUGE plus for me!

The Bad (not really): I think next time I'll add more pineapple juice to the actual cake part, I wanted more of the taste in there.

The Ugly: I need a bigger iron skillet! This calls for a 12-15 inch. Well Momma thought that's what I had, but uh... a bunch of bubbling brown sugar on the bottom of the oven later, I realized it's only 10 inches and I overflowed the thing. Until I get a bigger skillet I'll just put less of the batter in there and maybe make a smaller one in another pan - GENIUS! Maybe that's not so ugly afterall!

REMAKE? DEFINITELY!

Tomorrow we'll chat about Sour Cream Pancakes... oh just you wait!

Fun with friends

If I don't know anything else, I know that Girlie has some of the best friends EVER! What I also know is that they have UH-MAZING parents! EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM! We're blessed like that!

Well a few weeks ago one of her friends had a little princess playdate on a Friday evening. It provided great fun for the girlies but it also gave Momma & Daddy a great date night! Thanks M!!!

A's Mom just shared the photos with me so I had to blog about it. It seems that the girls had an absolute BLAST!!


They had a pizza picnic...




Played ring around the rosey...



rolled down the hill... so much fun



snuggled and watched a movie...

had a princess fashion show... note: this staircase is gorgeous but honestly the whole house is TO DIE FOR! Just breathtaking, I'm uber jealous!

They all looked beautiful and love getting together

A & Girlie are great friends. She says that she's one of her besties!

What I love most about these girls is their sillyness! It's top notch! Just like all of them.

Thanks for having Girlie over M. I love that these girls spend all day together but still love being together afterward. That's a sign of true friendship and I hope it never ends!!!

Look what I've been doing

I've been busy making invitations lately and I want you to see them!!!

Go to my invitation blog HERE and check them out. Today's post is so much fun! Well, at least I think so, but I'm biased!

Puppy Love

Girlie and our American Bulldog, Vegas, have a VERY close relationship. They adore each other like jelly adores peanut butter or butter enjoys bread (or butter enjoys anything for that matter) don't you just love butter?

But, butter isn't why I'm posting today... though I could.

I want to share with you a few pics of Girlie and her beloved pup. I shouldn't really call her a pup. I should call her a small horse, really. At 120lbs she's topping the charts of dog into equestrian world. Too bad Girlie can't get some fun riding on her. Not that she hasn't tried!


Look at this... PURE LOVE (be warned...all pics taken with phone... not the greatest)

Although this almost looks like attack of the 120lb killer dog... but Girlie is laughing, not in pain!

But this.... this is hilarious!

I do love them both so very much! Too bad you can't claim your dog on your taxes. She's as big or bigger than some people... come on IRS!!

You are my sunshine

This morning girlie had a ballet recital at school. She participates in a great program called KidSkills. A ballet teacher comes to preschool once a week and they learn ballet. It is fun for the girls and it saves Mommas & Daddys from having to fit something in after school. She's enjoyed it now for 2 1/2 years. We had to miss last years recital, she had strep. However, we were certain to make it this year!

They showed us all their moves.




Then they preformed their cute little recital to "You are my sunshine"

This one.... she IS my sunshine!!!

Look at her belting out the song! She sang the loudest, which is very out of character for her, she's normally very shy around crowds.

I love the way her eyes are closed here like she's really loosing herself in the dance :)

"you'll never know dear HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU!"

Of the girls except for the small girlie in the black/red top not holding up her sunshine are really good friends. She loves these girls.

I'm so proud of her and the other girls, they did such an amazing job!

WHA??????

Girlie can't believe that it's May already. She also can't believe the amount of flooding our city has gotten over the past three days.

While that picture is hilarious, the flooding situation is the direct opposite. So many people lost everything they owned. Worst part is they didn't have flood insurance. They say it's the worst flood we've seen in 100 years. Opryland Hotel is under water, as well as The Grand Ole Opry and the Opry Mills Mall. Downtown was flooded as well and has now lost power. This historic flood will most definitely have a lasting effect on everyone here.

If you want to help, and it would mean so much, you can visit Nashville Red Cross to donate. And for you animal lovers around I know that the Humane Society could use some help as well!

Most importantly we need your prayers! Prayers for a quick recovery, prayers for people that have lost it all and prayers that the community will come together and be Gods hands during all of this.

If you haven't seen much coverage check HERE to see pics of the devestation.

We appreciate your thoughts and prayers during this time.

Skater Girl

Yesterday after church we decided to take Girlie roller skating. She's never tried it before at a rink. She had a pair of skates that fit over her shoes awhile back but we missplaced one and so the story goes. This was her very first time really skating. She LOVED it!

I have TONS of pics to show off how much fun we had!

So excited to get out there and try it.


Thinking about stepping down

Daddy trying to get his groove back hehe

Wasn't long and a little girl came up and asked if Girlie needed help. She grabbed Girlie's hand and they skated together for awhile - so cute!

I took this one with my cell phone. I love how everything around her is moving but she doesn't appear to be :)

She fell, A LOT, but she was super determined and got right back up.

Still going...

and going...

and going!

Look at her look of determination. She was serious!

I love her arms here! SO CUTE!

She was trying so hard and would "really" skate a few times and then fall or decide she wasn't doing it right lol

but those wee skates... those things are adorable!

We'll definitely be going back. Momma didn't get on skates this time as to take pics of the first adventure. Skates and my cameras wouldn't have mixed! Yes I said cameras. I had my "big" camera, my flip cam and my cell phone LOL I was packin'!

My skater girl! She's not afraid of anything!