Since it is Wednesday, I thought a #WCW (Woman Crush Wednesday) post would be fitting. My #WCW is Ree Drummond, also known as the Pioneer Woman. Because of this woman, I have fallen in love with shabby chic kitchen decor, flowy tops, and heavy whipping cream.
Dear Ree (can I call you Ree? I feel like I can),
A couple of years ago I stumbled upon one of your recipes on Pinterest. After following a link to your blog, I fell in love. I had never watched the Food Network. In fact, I cringed over the thought of watching it. However, I couldn’t get enough of your blog so I binged watched all of the episodes of The Pioneer Woman over the course of a weekend. It is now set to record on my DVR.
I feel like I owe you a letter since you have changed my life so drastically.
First of all, you were my Food Network gateway drug.
I began with watching your show and now I have the Food Network turned on all the time. My 2-year old even asks if he can watch “food.” I never make anything I see on the shows. However, I have picked up a few tips from you and the others. For example, I now put sugar in anything with tomato sauce. I also dump heavy whipping cream into everything. While those may not be the two most healthy habits, they are so, so, so very delicious.
I also love that your recipes are genuinely mom-friendly. I work 40 hours a week and have a 2-year old. I am not going to make ketchup from scratch. I love that you use a lot of ready-made ingredients because while it may not be the most healthy (yes, I know — sodium, preservatives, blah, blah), it is realistically the only way I can manage to make dinner and not have McDonald’s happy meals every night.
Secondly, you are so relatable.
You are so pretty but in an attainable way. You are also full of surprises. I love when you talk about being in college and your time as a hippy vegetarian. While your television persona can sometimes come across as the stereotypical housewife, there are wonderful little nuggets that shine through telling your viewers that you are an independent and feisty woman (after all, you are a redhead). And don’t even get me started on your Pioneer Woman line at Walmart. I have seriously bought almost everything. I love the fact that you released it at Walmart. You could have chosen some boujie store like Pottery Barn or Williams-Sonoma, but no. You know your fans.
Lastly, I have to talk about your role as a mother.
In all seriousness, you amaze me with how well-mannered your children are. Yes, I know it is a television show, but there is a genuineness in your interactions with them that you just can’t script. I love the fact that they are home schooled but not in a weird way (ahem, Duggers). You gave up your makeup artist because you wanted to spend more time with your family instead of heading to set an hour early. You don’t take things too seriously. You make more money than I will ever dream of making. Yet, you can laugh at yourself and openly share your #fails (like when one of your kids passes gas on camera).
Your biggest fan,
Sarah
Ree is my favorite!! When I make a super amazing recipe for dinner, all I have to do is say “Guess whose recipe?” and my husband immediately says “Pdub!”. Never had I had one fail on me. Have you read her love story book? It’s so cute!
I love Ree! She was actually one of the first blogs I ever followed, but more for her free photoshop actions!
High Five! Thanks to Ree I actually LOVE cooking now. I have every single one of her cookbooks and use them often. She is so great and so easy going. OH and her line at Walmart…AWESOME! I so replaced my every day dinner ware with her red line. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Love ree!!!! Most of her recipes are simple and delicious! Everything always turns out amazing!