I'm sitting at my kitchen table looking at these pictures and I still can't quite believe I was actually there.
There, meaning at
the Pioneer Woman's Lodge, teaching a cookie decorating class on Saturday. I was so nervous that I have no recollection of saying much of anything. But, there are pictures and I had icing under my fingernails, so it must have happened.
Here's the deal, Ree held a contest on her blog, and
4 readers (and their friends) won a trip to the Lodge for a weekend and some
holiday baking.
Click on over and meet them....they are such a GREAT group of ladies; I LOVED getting to know them!!!
By some stroke of good luck, Ree (the blogger who makes me
laugh, cry and hungry every day) asked me to come teach the cookie decorating class to the winners and a few of her friends. ACK!!!
Me?
{I have to admit that when I saw her email, I screamed a little.}
Let me say this....you know how on
her blog, Ree is funny and genuine and down-to-earth? Well, in person, she's all that and more....gracious, warm and welcoming....and FUN! (Was that gushing? I'm sorry, but it's true...every word!)
I arrived at the lodge and met the winners of the trip...and lots of friends who had come in for the afternoon. Wanna see?
We had the most delicious lunch, prepared by Chefs Tiffany & Lia. I love them.
Then, we decorated cookies. And, I learned something. I learned that showing how royal icing takes 5-10 minutes to come to a peak isn't all that entertaining. Next time I will work up a juggling act or something for while the mixer is spinning around.
There is a
great recap of the class and step-by-step cookie pictures over at PW's.
I also learned that thinning royal icing with water a half teaspoon at a time takes an eternity when 24 pairs of eyes are watching. As the old saying goes,
"A watched icing never thins." Or something like that.
This is a little handout for the ladies with cookie and icing recipes and some cookie making tips. The wonderful and talented Amy of
Living Locurto (up above in the red sweater) designed the border! (I'm hoping to have copies that you can download available later this week.)
After the cookies, there was a chocolate class taught by pastry chef Lia. She was AMAZING!!!
Even though I spent the majority of my time making goofy faces like this...
....they let me stay for dinner, too! Beef tenderloin, seafood pasta....absolute heaven.
OH! One more thing, the question I've been asked most since the trip....
Yes, I met Charlie. ♥
So, to recap....
Cookies + PW + amazing ladies + chocolate + dinner at the Lodge = one amazing trip!
Thank you
so much, Ree!!! It was so FUN!
{PS...cookies I brought along for the trip coming up tomorrow.}
i'm so happy for you! looks like you had BLAST xoxo!
ReplyDeleteloved it! loved meeting you! you had my gingerbread man and my lovely hand in your post! :-)
ReplyDeleteA gently *pinch* from across the oceans -
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful time it must have been - creating/laughing/eating.
A time that will stay with you always -
Thankyou for sharing you joy...
And many happy pictures.
ps - Don't you just love Icing under the nails - lolllll
M
Of course, everyone LOVES Charlie! It was so exciting to follow this journey - I can't wait to see what other photos you share from the experience! Congratulations - it was well deserved!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! It looks like you and everyone had a blast. I would be so nervous with Ree there. You looked like it was just a walk in the park. :o)
ReplyDelete@robynski
Congrats, Bridget! Looks like you all had a great time...
ReplyDeleteHow exciting, super happy for you! Looks like you all had an amazing time. Aww Charlie is too cute! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! Your re-cap is just priceless, so glad you had an amazing time. Thanks for sharing and congrats girl!!
ReplyDeleteHow fun for you! It looks like it was a blast for everyone!
ReplyDeleteWhat a blast you had! :)
ReplyDeleteSo awesome!
ReplyDeleteAww Charlie is so cute. Sounds like an amazing experience. I love the decorated cookies. So festive.
ReplyDeleteWOW! I'm so jealous! It looks like you had an AMAZING time. That's so cool!
ReplyDeleteBridget, I just can't stop grinning for you! LOVE your pics, and I love that handout! One of my fonts has been to THE RANCH! Eeek! :) Can't wait to see the rest of your pics! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is so awesome Bridget!! I loved seeing the pictures. What a fantastic experience!!!!!
ReplyDeletexox
Jen
That looks like so much fun! I bet you did a great job! Beautiful cookies!
ReplyDeleteThat looked so fun!!! :))
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting! :D
Oh... that is just so exciting! Sounds like a wonderful day. Looks like everyone had a great time. Well deserved congratulations to you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful exciting day!!! U rock!
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to come up with some stories to tell during the royal icing whipping time in future maybe about the time you were at the pioneer woman's weekend. Sounds like a fun time.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading your blog for ages and was so happy when I was you at Pioneer Woman's lodge! Yay for you!
ReplyDeleteYou look so happy and it looks like such an *amazing* weekend! You are radiant and beautiful in these pictures!
ReplyDeleteYay! My two favorite bloggers together for an excitingly fun weekend! I squealed with delight when it was announced and had fun reading both your and Ree's posts. :) Thanks for sharing your time at the Lodge with us -- and (*giggle*) I'm glad you got to meet Charlie! <3
ReplyDeleteabsolutely THRILLED for you Bridget! i see BIG things in store for your future!
ReplyDeleteOMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's about all that I can get out of my mouth!
You did a fabulous job, and you were absolutely beaming! SO happy for you!
I LOVE how you made us all feel like we were there with you!!
ReplyDeleteI'm still just so excited for you!!! you looked MARVELOUS DARLING!!
I'm so happy for you! That sounds like a blast! I would LOVE to meet Ree and spend time with her on her ranch!
ReplyDeleteand....you were an excellent instructor...your cookies are beautiful! Thanks for all the help! Loved meeting you and seeing all your happy talent!
ReplyDeleteBridget - so much fun!! Thanks for sharing the photos...we were all there with you in spirit.
ReplyDeleteAnd now people who haven't heard of you are studying your every creative move!
ReplyDeleteI still have a big smile on my face for you Bridget! So happy that your blogging dream came true. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's really exciting for you! You too are a really genuine and down to earth blogger. You deserved this opportunity.
ReplyDelete~Tara
Great pics! Thank you for sharing your visit, I was so excited for you. Maybe this will be a yearly tradition.
ReplyDeleteYou look SO beautiful and natural and happy their? THink they could set up a house for you and the boys and you could run UofC from their??? :) I think you and PW are the DREAM TEAM!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove to you!
Amanda
Love the glimpse inside. YAY YOU!!! You're so awesome.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful, wonderful day that must have been for you. I couldn't be happier for you that you got to have such an experience. Don't let anybody tell you differently Bridget, you are one funny girl yourself and have a style very much like Ree. It looks like you two were old (for lack of a better word) friends. Such a great and fun post to read and see. Thanks for sharing your day and making us all feel a little like a fly on the wall that day. BTW, glad you got to meet Charlie :)
ReplyDeleteBridget, I'm so excited for you. What fun! They learned some cooking decorating from the master my friend!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a day that will stay with you forever! You look so giddy in the pictures and the food sounds amazing!
ReplyDeleteMegan
Ahh!! I'm SO glad that Ree chose you as the cookie expert! You're so talented! :) Glad you had a blast!
ReplyDeleteWhat a whirlwind of a weekend for you! You look radiant in the photos and everyone's faces reflect the wonderful time they must have been having.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you have inspired each of the contest winners and their friends and Ree Drummond herself to become cookie bakers & decorators.
Think it is wonderful that this opportunity presented itself for you and so excited for what the future holds in store for you.
Wow! Sounds like an amazing trip - you look fabulous in the photos.
ReplyDeleteYea! Yea! Yea! So when are you coming over to teach me in person with your beautiful self? I'm not the Pioneer Woman but I have a dog.
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous. It looks like y'all had a blast!
ReplyDeleteWow! Wow! Wow!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! This looks like a fabulous time. And, the last tidbit brought tears (of joy) to my eyes.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I think I'd prefer to meet Kitty Kitty. No offense to Charlie of course. :-)
Thank you for sharing! :-)
Love the pictures, and her KitchenAid mixer color. How gorgeous is that?
ReplyDeleteI am incredibly happy for you! She couldn't have chosen a more talented or kind cookie maker!
I am so happy you went to OK because I would have never found your wonderful site if it wasn't for The Pioneer Woman. I look forward to all the new things I'll learn. Your photos are amazing and your creations are out of this world. Have a blessed holiday!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you!Great photos recap:)
ReplyDeleteHow exciting!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing day for you it must have been! I read Ree's post yesterday and can't wait to read more from both of you. It certainly got me in the mood to prep some holiday cutouts!
ReplyDeleteI was so happy to have finally met you in person:-) Love your re-cap!! You are an amazing talent! Did great speaking with all of those people too. Yay!
ReplyDeleteBridget, Bridget, Bridget!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh!!!
I'm!!!
So!!!
Happy for you!!
And a little jealous!!!
That's so very awesome! And, I'm glad you had fun. Although, I never doubted the amounts of fun that would be had for a split second!
That is fantastic!!! I am so happy for you, but jealous I was not a winner. Good job Bridget!
ReplyDeleteAmy Fenster Brown
That is so awesome!
ReplyDeletelovetobeinthekitchen.blogspot.com
How exciting Bridget!! I am so excited for you. I absolutely adore the PW. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog from pioneer woman's site, I am so inspired just looking at your first page! Can't wait to read more :)
ReplyDeletehttp://notsocountry.blogspot.com/
Amazing!!!!! I also found your site through PW!!! Beautiful work!!!
ReplyDeleteCHARLIEEE!!!
ReplyDeleteI bet you had a blast. What a wonderful oppurtunity!
What a wonderful experience!! Bridget you're so witty and charming; you did an amazing job!!
ReplyDeletegreat pictures! looks like a fantastic day:-) I'd love to come to a cookie decorating class led by you!!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh Bridget, looks like you had a wonderful time! And by the looks of those cookies your class was a complete success, see... Ree knew what she was doing when she chose you for the job! ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing experience it must have been. Your cookies are works of art.
ReplyDelete-Gina-
CONGRATULATIONS BRIDGET!!!!!
ReplyDeletewhat a great trip! you must have been in seventh heavan! the lodge for the weekend!!!!
i remember the cookies you made for Ree at the Book signing in Houston and how you impressed all of us who got to sit near you and talk to you!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
now to go read about your weekend on PW's site!
i know you've not come down off that cloud yet have you? :)
Wow, it must have felt like a dream! Looks like you had an amazing time. :)
ReplyDeleteWow! What an amazing experience! It is so heart warming to watch fantastic things happen to fantastic people! Thanks for letting us all share in the fun! :)
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you Bridget...it looks like you have such a great time!
ReplyDeleteAnd the cookies looked pretty tasty too!
So happy for you and so super jealous!!! Haha I love that you met Charlie!!! You are fabulous.
ReplyDeleteAmazing picture! Looks like it's just smiles there 24/7. Good luck with the juggling act:)
ReplyDeleteI am SOOOO happy for you!
ReplyDeleteWhat well-deserved recognition! I was wondering when my two favorites would finally get together, and now it has happened!
You are beautiful!
Ree's write up of your cookies and the party was terrific, and so is yours. Congratulations on the invitation to teach and on being so talented...I've long been a fan!
ReplyDeleteI heart Charlie too!!!!
That is so cool!
ReplyDeletelooks like you really enjoyed alot
ReplyDeleteIt looks EVERY bit as exciting as it sounded!! Congrats again!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats!!! Looks like a blast!
ReplyDeleteI saw Pioneer Woman's post about your cookie decorating class at the lodge. I was so excited. I have always wanted to learn how to decorate cookies the right way. I ran to Wal-mart to get the stuff and started today. I had some left over food coloring from a cake and used those. I remember what you said about the colors tasting funky--you were right. The cookies turned out beautiful, but the ones with red icing tasted awful! I am going to buy the americolor. I enjoyed making cookies and can't wait to make more.
ReplyDeleteTHAT is so cool, Bridget!
ReplyDeleteOh Bridget, that was such a sweet post. I am so happy for you :) Ur recap was a treat to read, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing time teaching a cookie class at PDub's ranch! Wish I could have been there! I am planning to make a batch of your cookies tomorrow...I have a cookie and cupcake decorating party on Thursday! Thanks for all your inspiration!
ReplyDeleteBridget!
ReplyDeleteBridget!
Sweet Sweet Adorable Bridget!
My heart is BEAMING!
My eyes are tearful!
I am THRILLED for you!
I know you must have cracked everyone up when the royal icing was whipping!
I would pay a $1000 to take a COOKIE class by YOU!
WHat a JOY you must have been in that kitchen!
Sprinkles+Icing+Cookies+BRIDGET=HEAVEN! xo
How fun for you. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteBridget- I am SOOOO thrilled for you. I know how much you like, wait LOVE Ree, and to be able to go there, I bet you were on cloud 9! You are so awesome at what you do- I would have LOVED to see you work your cookie magic in person! Ree is the queen of blogging, but you my friend are the queen of COOKIE BLOGGING! :) Woo-Hoo!
ReplyDeletewow! this sounded GREAT! i am jealous but i thank you for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteBridget, that blue wrap sweater you wore looked fabulous with your hair and lipstick. Nice work.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Two of my favorite food/cookie bloggers together.
ReplyDeleteWoo-Hoo, Bridget! It looks like you had an amazing trip! LOVE the photos!
ReplyDeleteI'm so late to the party with this... I was so busy over the weekend that I am still trying to catch up. But, had to leave a comment and say I'm sooo thrilled for you. Loved reading all about your trip to see Ree!
ReplyDeleteI am so thrilled that you were able to go and share your fabulous talent with so many lovely ladies, Ms. Ree included. Seriously doing the happy dance for you still sweetheart!
ReplyDeleteHow fun! I can't wait to get the pdf hand outs for myself!
ReplyDeleteIt was so good to meet you! Your talent amazes me. Thank you so much for teaching us how to "flood" and stuff.
ReplyDeleteI so wanted to be there!! But I'm going to try it tomorrow with my 6 & 8 year old granddaughters tomorrow. Went to kitchen supply & bought the big pans, went to candy supply store & bought supplies. Hmm...wonder if we can do it all in one day? Just one batch....mainly for the memories but it would be nice if they turned out well, too!!
ReplyDeleteYou have an awesome site, and this post was great! It sounds like a great time; I found myself smiling the whole time I was reading your post and looking at the pictures.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you!!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great memory :)
I am so happy for you!!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great memory :)
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ReplyDeleteBridget, that is so amazing!!! Of course you are the perfect woman to do a cookie class! I'd love to meet PW but I'm mostly jealous that I didn't get to decorate cookies with you!:)
ReplyDelete