It all started with a cup…

I started watching The Pioneer Woman on Food Network pretty much since Ree Drummond started on there. I loved the idea of an actual down-home cooking show in the midst of all those froo-froo cooking shows that make crap I’d never eat. I had been following her blog and Facebook for quite awhile even before that and decided that her blog is what my blog wants to be when it grows up.

It doesn’t hurt that she lives in Pawhuska, Oklahoma which is like… 65 miles away. Like, I could have seen her when I used to go to Bartlesville, Oklahoma all the time. Seriously. And my sister, a fellow Pioneer freak, has seen the entrance to her ranch…….

Source: My Wonderful Sister Hillary.

But she didn’t go in… Cause that would be too stalker-ish.

So when she came out with her new line of cookware for Walmart I was ecstatic. Like seriously…. I was cavelling. Totally.

But alas… I am not made of money. So I held back.

And I held back. I watched them put the amazingly cute vintagey country chic items out on the shelves and I drooled.

Until one day… I bought my favorite coffee cup (other than my hedgie)

This adorable cup… It’s the Flea Market Country Garden Mug and it retails for $4.38 at Walmart. Walmart.com shows it as in store only, but you can buy a set of four online. Anyways… I was happy with this being the only piece I could afford.

A week or so later I started noticing that the glaze on the inside of my cup was starting to crack. It wasn’t horrible or anything, so I just shrugged it off. A week or so after noticing that, I noticed that the crack had worsened and there were new cracks. I lamented to my sister who told me to contact Ree via her Facebook page and tell her what was going on. Since it was a new brand, she’d (or whoever oversees her Facebook page) would want to know so they could do something about it.

So I sent a message to her Facebook page and really didn’t think I’d get a reply.

A few hours later… I got a reply back!  

Like I said, I dunno if it was Ree, but I was excited none the less. Whoever it was (I wanna say it was Ree because I’m optimistic like that) called me Breanna, but oh well. She could call me chopped liver and I wouldn’t care. LOL. They directed me to email her manager so we could work things out.

So I emailed her manager, Morgan and got a quick response. She said she’d send a replacement mug out soon!

A few weeks later I got a big ole box in the mail. Ripped it open and found a brand new mug AND a wooden spoon from the collection. I know this doesn’t seem like much to some people, but to me it meant a lot. In a day in age where customer service isn’t the highest priority; where it flies by the roadside eclipsed by getting bigger and better products out faster and in higher quantity, the little things get left behind. It meant a lot that they took the time to rectify the situation (even though there really wasn’t one!) and I love the fact that they made me feel special… Like I actually mattered.

That sold me on the entire brand. I decided then and there that I needed as many pieces as possible.

So…. What did I do?

Waited for tax return time!!! Happy Valentine’s Day to me!!!!

I oogled and ahhhed and sighed and exclaimed as I opened each piece.

Not only are they super cute (I got the turquoise shown here) (the pans have butterflies stamped into the stainless steel of the handles) but they’re super sturdy too.

They’re not like restaurant grade or anything, but they’re right up there. The non-stick coating is high grade and well… Non stick. The skillet that they include in the set is a little on the tiny side, so I had to get a bigger (matching) one later on because that’s what I like to cook fried taters in. The cast iron skillet is soooooo tiny and cute. I haven’t used it (or seasoned it) yet, but I will someday lol.

This set opened the flood gates…. I needed spoons, measuring cups, the can opener (which is the best can opener I have ever used); basically everything. I don’t have it all, because I still have to be conservative, but I really want it all. I want the pitcher, the cookie jar, the cake stand (even though I don’t make cakes like that I still want it). OK… I want everything. Then she came out with linens. I haven’t bought many of those, but what I do have I love. Her tea towels are nice and thick and super absorbent. Very high quality.

I can’t say it enough. I love her stuff. I love her cooking. I love her company’s customer service. I love her. Well, ok… That’s a bit much, but I really do admire her quite a bit. And my blog still wants to be like hers when it grows up. Maybe someday!

You know what else I love? My step mum’s quiche. I had never had it before my dad and step mum got married. After that I looked at it like this weird-ass alien pie. What on earth did anyone need with an egg pie??? Then I got over myself and tried it.

Oh. My. God. I fell in love. So I’m sharing the love with you. Pull up a seat and a good cup of coffee and read on. (Recipe is at the end of the tutorial!)

Get your pie crusts ready. I used premade Pet-Ritz deep dish pie crusts. Poke holes all over it with a fork and pre-cook for like 10 minutes or so.

Pose your cute (ohmigodtheyresocute) measuring cups (and measuring pitcher) with your out of the oven pie crusts. Let the pie crusts cool and ooh and ahh over the cups LOL.

Fry up your bacon! (This is my bigger PW skillet).

Drain and crumble. Get rid of most of the grease in the skillet, keeping back two or three tablespoons of grease for later. Wipe the skillet clean.

Fry up your sausage! Drain the sausage and empty the grease from the skillet. Wipe down the skillet again and return to heat.

Chop your onion with your awesome PW knife. I dun have the PW cutting board when I’d go to get it, my Walmart was always out so I took it as a sign that I didn’t need it lol.

Throw in the grease from before. Add the bacon grease back into the skillet and sauté the onions and garlic until softened and fragrant.

Then notice that the PW spatula you’re using says “Love is the key ingredient <3” and awwwwww.

Oogle out your measuring cups again…

Little more…. These things are so danged cute.

and yep……… some more…..

Get back on task!!!

Drain your onions on some paper towel, because they’re kinda well…. Greasy….

Get out the batter bowl you got yourself with the pretense that you got it for your mom…

Crack yo eggs and add some nice heavy half and half. Gah! This is gonna be so gooooood!

Add all your yummies like cheese and spices and mix up.

I am so glad this tastes better than it looks….

Cause yeah, it don’t look good at all….

Add all the yummy to the pie plates. Top with cheese and an X of bacon I guess. You might want to cover the crust with a little aluminum foil so the crust doesn’t burn. Now you bake.

Admire your salt and pepper shakers and the awesome utensil crock.

And the super cute measuring cups again as you put them away because you didn’t end up using them.

Finally! The wait is over! And yes, they’re a little over-done anyways. Pfft. But they were still fabulous!

This makes me drool just looking at it.

So yeah. You should go out and buy all the PW stuff. I know I want to….

This is no way endorsed by Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman. Although I wish it was. I would like to be adopted by Ree. Ree… I’m here… LOL

OK now on to the recipe

The Bomb Breakfast Quiche

(For one deep dish pie crust. If using two crusts just double the recipe)

Preheat oven to 375

6 lg eggs, beaten

1/4 c half and half

1/2 medium onion chopped

1 tsp garlic, minced (to taste)

12 oz sausage or bacon, browned and crumbled

1 tsp parsley

8 oz shredded cheese of choice

Salt and Pepper

Punch holes in crust with fork. Place on cookie sheet and pre-bake for 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown.

Beat eggs, half and half, parsley, salt and pepper. Stir in onions and garlic, sausage or bacon and half of the cheese.

Pour into prepared pie crust. Top with remaining cheese. Cover edges of crust with foil and put into preheated oven. Cook for 15 minutes, remove foil. Cook for additional 10 minutes or until knife inserted into middle comes out clean. Let sit and cool a bit before eating. Enjoy!

Polish Review: LynBDesigns

I’ve featured LynBDesigns on the blog quite a few times. I love her polishes, customer service, nail care etc. And the two polishes that I recently purchased do not disappoint!

Defender of the Downtrodden is up first. A Downton Abbey (don’t shoot me, I’ve never seen a single episode LOL) inspired polish, Defender is a beautiful sheer white polish with a subtle hint of holo.

It does take three or more coats to reach opacity, but the dry time is very minimal which helps.

This one is taken with flash and it truly does sparkle.

Potter is listed as a “black jelly linear holo with both taupe and purple micro glass flecks.” It definitely has a lot of holo shine to it!

GAHHH!!! So prettiful!!!!

And man the application is like silk. Opaque in two coats, but I put on three just to be sure.

All in all these are fantastic polishes and a true credit to their respective fandoms!

Check out these and countless other polishes at LynBDesigns’ Etsy Page. Also frequent her Facebook page as she is constantly having sales!

Polish Review: Literary Lacquer

I have always been a champion of Literary Lacquer. Amy, the owner, is a very dear friend of mine who releases mind-bogglingly wonderful polishes one after another without fail. Her customer service is always spot-on and she’s well… She’s just the salt of the earth.

Her holo polishes are unrivaled. Literary Lacquers has had one of my favorite holographic formulas since I started dabbling in the polish world. They’re super pigmented, super sparkly and flawless.

I’ve been hiding under a rock for awhile, and dropped out of touch with dear Amy and the rest of the polish world. A couple of months ago, (tax time, y’know lol) I was perusing through the wares and happened onto something I hadn’t seen before.

Cremes. Beautiful, silky smooth, unfettered cremes. And they were all so beautiful. It was so hard to just pick three. I didn’t want to pick just three. But at $9.50, while not as expensive as some of the others, was still a little bit for me to spend. So I held tight to my girdle and only ordered three.

And those three have hooked me. So I’m setting aside as much change as I can to purchase some more.

So… Without further adieu, here are the beauties I purchased.

From l to r  Breathing Dreams Like Air; Irene and Bluestocking Romance (can you tell which one is my favorite?)

First up I have Irene; listed as a “seductive deep red creme polish”. It’s opaque at two coats. This blood-red vamp of a color is just so yummy… Even on my little nubbins!

It would make a fabulous jelly sammich, which I am going to try out sometime!

Just for S&G’s (shyts and giggles) I decided to throw LynBDesigns’ B-Matte topcoat over it and it didn’t fail to impress one single bit. Dry time on this and the other two polishes are next to nil.

Breathing Dreams Like Air is a Great Gatsby-inspired lilac-grey creme polish. I’m not one for lilac in general, but this just called my name. Plus I have a hidden love for The Great Gatsby lol.

This beauty honestly only needed one coat, but I did as directed and two was sheer perfection.

Lastly… Beautiful, beautiful Bluestocking Romance. One coat and perfection. I was amazed. But so pleased. I can’t wait to use this once my nails get a bit longer.

Evidently these are all polishes that stamp well; but I wouldn’t know because I don’t stamp… I’ve tried, but ugh… I suck so badly at it that I haven’t tried it again and it’s been close to four or more years, lol.

You can find these three beauts and countless others in Amy’s Etsy shop. You can also stop by her Facebook page and show her some love as well!

Polish Review: P.O.P Nail Polish

I have SIX GORGEOUS polishes to share with you from P.O.P Nail Polish.

Ranging from $3 for minis, to $8 for full size (with a medium in there as well!) they’re in the medium price range of my Indie Designer List.

The formula P.O.P uses is phenomenal; dry time is nil and the finishes (some are matte and I’ll get to that in a second) are breathtaking.

Pyrrhus is listed as: "a Medium to Dark Red Matte, from my Smoke & Mirrors Collection. These are a one coat, smooth, and creamy formula.”

It only took two coats to reach complete opacity with this stunner. While it looks more red in the bottle, it leaned toward orange with my skin tone.

Eeep! For a matte it certainly is gorgeous! I don’t think I’ve ever come across a sparkly true matte polish.

When you apply a high shine topcoat it really, really shines.

 

Next up is Dark Denim, another in the Smoke collection of mattes. Two coats as before.

With a topper it just sparkles.

Even without a flash it shines! *drool*

My next beauty up is My Portrait. Listed as: “My first collection inspiration, is from the work of the incredible, "Tamara De Lempicka." The color is inspired by her Work Titled "My Portrait." This is a beautiful glowing Dark Teal!” And it doesn’t disappoint.

Opaque in two coats, I had to shoot this with a flash because of the horribly sporadic nature of the lighting in Kansas. We’re in the middle of our “Can’t Make Up Our Mind” Season LOL.

Next I have Dragonfly Wings, a beautiful color shifting topcoat that can be worn by itself or with another polish for added sparkle.

Here I’m showing it in natural (cloudy) lighting using Literary Lacquers’ Bluestocking Romance as undies. I LOVE it. Index finger has a bit heavier coat than the other three.

*babbles incoherently* OMG. Shown with flash.

Light coat.

Heavier coat. Still beautiful.

OK the next two are my favorites from the polishes she sent me!

*sigh* Heliotrope is listed as “an intense Plum/Purple Mega Holo” and it doesn’t fail to please. It flashes in the bottle, even in indirect light.

As I was saying… OMG… Three coats to reach complete opacity, then a layer of topper.

OMG! Could it be?! I actually found a moment of sunlight?! And maaaaaaaaaaaan it’s a stunna!

Lastly I have Atlantis, listed as “an intense blue mirror” it almost has a foil-like look to it. Which is stunning. And y’all know how much I love my blues!

This is shown in (rare) sunlight. I tried to go with a flash but OMG it blew it out something horrible LOL. Two coats is all this stunner took to shine.

It’s sooooo prettiful!

 

All in all I am super impressed with these polishes. You can find the ones I’ve listed and more in her Etsy shop. Make sure to tell her The Good Witch sent ya!