DIY Costumes and Halloween Showoff 2012 with Link Up

'Tis the day before Halloween and hopefully the greatest nightmare of all housewives with children has not occurred.  Did you forget to make, buy, or just can't find the right costume for you or your children?   I can certainly see where that nightmare might occur. And if it has, I can only hope to offer you some DIY costume hope.  I am also asking for our readers to link up to this post and show off your 2012 Halloween costumes! Inquiring housewives want to know.

My son: Greg Hefley the Wimpy Kid
My daughter: The Prissy Ghost
(All ideas inspired by where else?  Pinterest!)

Wimpy Kid

I originally got the idea for the Wimpy Kid from Living Locurto, but I just couldn't get the face to turn out the way I wanted. So then I moved on to actual Wimpy Kid sites and found these downloads! Score! Looks like we may all be a Wimpy Dad and Mom also! I just printed, glued it on black card stock and cut it out. I did not cut out the eyes. Then rather than put the mask on strings I duct taped it onto a Halloween pencil. His middle school is dressing up on Wednesday and he's not that into dressing up, so this was perfect for my almost 12 year old once paired with a white tee, black shorts and long white socks!

Prissy Ghost

This idea came from a pin that I pinned last year. It was off of an etsy shop, so it didn't come with directions. I just made it my own way. That's the fun thing about Pinterest. I made this costume for less than $5! Supplies needed: long sleeve white tee, one piece of 8x10 black felt, black ribbon and Liquid Stitch. Cut a template for your eye and mouth shape, pin it on before you Liquid Stitch and try it on the child, making sure its centered and looks right. Then Liquid stitch it on. In case you haven't figured out, Liquid Stitch is to me like butter is to the Pioneer Woman. Then make a bow and sew or Liquid Stitch it on. Pair it up with a cute white tutu and you have a prissy ghost! Now my daughter has a fun costume, one she can wear to school, and a shirt she can wear again next October! 

These are just a few ideas. 

I have an entire board dedicated to ALL THINGS HALLOWEEN if you would like to browse for other nightmare ending solutions. 

Now I know there are going to be lots of posts this week showing off your princesses, ballerinas, pumpkins, ninjas, and even a few of you will be sporting your own creative adult costumes. I've seen a few and I know our readers would love to see them. I also know that the BIG reveal is not until tomorrow night for some, so this link up will be open until next Monday!

♥Mrs. Hart♥

Wishing you all a safe and creative Halloween like

Cool Chicks Cook ~ Pioneer Woman Style

I'm assuming if you live in Oklahoma (or even the rest of the world) you know who THE Pioneer Woman is. But, just in case you don't...  she is epitome of a real housewife. The lady has got it going on. She is the ultimate blogger, chef, photographer, author and soon to have her own cooking show and movie made about her. Seriously?! Some women have all the luck. The only thing that would make her even "cooler" is if she had the RHOK over to her lodge for a fun night of cooking. Okay, I won't hold my breath or anything.

I've met this woman, twice. And, let me tell you, there isn't a bad thing that can be said about her. I'm pretty sure she's as close to perfect as can be. I may even have a tiny bit of a girl crush on her. I can't decide if it's that or just envy. I hate to admit to being envious so I'm going with girl crush. She is beautiful, after all.

Anywho, our cooking club this month was held at my home. I chose the theme to be Pioneer Woman recipes.  Yes, every one brought dishes made from her recipes. Good LORD almighty.... does that woman not know how to make anything not loaded with calories?! Okay, okay. I'll be honest. There were two dishes brought that could be considered "healthy."  But, there were several that were sinful. SINFUL, I tell you.

Here's the run-down (with links) to the dishes that my amazing group of gals brought:

I made Edna Mae's Escalloped Cabbage. If you like cabbage and you like Cheez Whiz, then you will LOVE this. It was super duper easy (because I needed easy since I had to spend so much time cleaning my house in preparation for cooking club) and paired quite nicely with.....

the Spicy Dr. Pepper Shredded Pork that my precious sister-in-law, Heidi, brought. Mmm... mmm.. mmm.  It's an easy recipe as well. I've made it before and instead of cooking it on the stove top, I put it in the Crockpot. I love me some Crockpot recipes for the summer months. I try not to heat up the kitchen, if I can help it.

My-sweet-friend-that-I made-while-having-physical-therapy-who-just-so-happens-to-also-be-a-blogger-and-I-love-her (Whew, that was a mouthful. Try to say that three times really fast!) - Amy from Mamie's Quilts brought the Sweet Cinnamon Scones. I'm guessing she had some fits with them because she posted the following video in our Facebook group. *giggle*



The two recipes brought that could be considered healthy were brought by my sweet neighbor, Sheri, and by our very own RHOK, Mrs. Montgomery AKA 6 Happy Hearts. Sherri made the Greek Salad, which is truly delicious. I made it for Easter dinner and everyone raved about it. I can never have enough of it. Mrs. Montgomery brought Shrimp de Gallo. I seriously can't seem to say YUM enough when talking about all these recipes.

Sarah brought the Marlboro Man's Second Favorite Sandwich. It's all kinds of scrumptious. Cowboys, cowgirls, dudes, dudettes, gangs and even white trash would love this sammy!

Michelle and LaDawn brought two very (hang on, I'm going to look for a synonym for "yummy") scrumptious dips; Hot Crab Dip and Hot Artichoke Dip (this recipe is in her cookbook). You should make these the next time you need to bring an appetizer some where. Oh, and if you need an appetizer to wow the socks of your guests then be sure to try what Cheryl brought...... Stuffed Mushrooms. (BRB- that's "be right back" in text talk - looking for more synonyms) Okay, they were TASTY, MOUTHWATERING and down right DELECTABLE. This has turned out to be quite the vocabulary lesson, hasn't it?! You're welcome.

Oh, but we aren't nearly finished. Fawn brought Pioneer Woman's Blackberry Cobbler with ice cream. Who doesn't love a warm cobbler topped with ice cream?!

I've saved my two favorites for last. I'm sure what made them my two favorites is because they are wickedly sinful. They made my mouth happy. They made me Ooooh and Ahhhh. They made me eat more than any one should be allowed to eat in one sitting. Are you sitting on the edge of your seat, with your mouth watering, just waiting to hear what they were? The hairs on my arms are standing on end just remembering how good it was that night and left-overs the next day..... Mmmmmm......  Drum roll, please.....

Olive Cheese Bread AND Milky Way Cake. Gaw, I'd give my husband's right foot for some of both right about now. It's THAT good.

The Cheesy Olive Bread was brought by my newest friend, Jennifer. Jennifer has quite a story. You can follow her on her blog, Seeking Simplicity. She lost her 12 year-old-daughter, Haley, to Cystic Fibrosis in June, 2008 and continues to do everything she can to raise funds and awareness to bring a cure to those still suffering with this awful disease. She is fascinating, beautiful (inside and out) and strong. STRONG, I tell ya.

Laura, my wife, if we swung that way, because she can do anything... cook, bake, sew, etc.,  brought the Milky Way Cake. The girl did not disappoint, yet again. This.cake.is.to.die.for. (Do those periods make the point that it was really that good?!) I've looked for a synonym to describe just how yummy this cake is and there isn't one. Well, okay, I guess orgasmic comes close. Hey, don't you judge me. Make it and see for yourself.

We love P-Dub. And, thanks to her, I think we consumed close to 10,000 calories that night. That's okay. We won't hold it against her. Instead, we'll keep making and eating those awesome recipes she posts.

~Mrs. Albright
Now living in sweats (because my jeans are too tight) like.....

The RHOK Reads - Pioneer Woman - Final Chapter

So, here we are...at the final chapter of BHtTW. 
What are your thoughts?

Anybody feel like the last part of the book was kinda rushed?  I felt myself wanting more...more details, more description.  However, I still really loved it. 

What did you think of the book as a whole? The ending?

Do you think you could ever write a "tell-all" book about your life?  I'm not sure I would feel comfortable disclosing some of the more private moments of my life.  I wonder how MM felt about all that?

Were you a PW follower before reading the book?  If not, are you now?

Did you know that there is a blog called PWSux?  I think that's when you know you've really made it...when someone feels the need to hate you on a blog.

In other news, The Housewives will be at El Guapo's in downtown T-Town tonight for National Mom's Night Out!  WHUT?! WHUT?!  If you're attending, we're looking forward to hanging out with you!  We'll be sure to do a thorough post about the happenings here on the blog soon!

Hope you are all having a splendid week!

~Mrs. Edwards

...who is in desperate need of a Mom's Night Out!  Bring on the adult beverages.  Who's driving?

The RHOK Reads - The Pioneer Woman - Week 4

So, week 4...Part 3 of Black Heels to Tractor Wheels.

Ree's life is anything but boring. 

I have to admit and come clean that I've been wrapped up in another book of sorts and it has me totally preoccupied.  I haven't even finished Part 3 (go ahead, shoot me now), but I know that Ree and MM get married...and that their honeymoon is, shall we say, eventful.

Seems as though something is always going wrong for Ree...she's a magnet for "magical moments".

What was your honeymoon like??  Eventful?  Blissful?  Disaster?  You ended up pregnant?  You did have one or you didn't have one?  Or your not married, but your ideal honeymoon looks like...Tell us about it.

Since, I'm a perpetual procrastinator...and easily distracted these days, thanks to my recreational reading, that didn't include The Pioneer Woman this week; we'll have to wrap up our Black Heels to Tractor Wheels next week.

...so, read to the end, if you haven't already and next week we'll wrap it up!

~Mrs. Edwards

who honeymooned in Jamaica at the young age of 20...at an all-inclusive Sandals resort (that didn't card you)that offered yummy banana creme drinks that you couldn't taste the rum in...mine was "eventful" and lovely.  Oh, and I lost the key to our safe in our room and we had to pay $100 to get our stuff out...but it was the morning of our departure, so they had to mail it to us...wedding rings, watches, bracelets, diamond earrings.  It was nerve-racking!  I think I had my first holy-crap-i-might-be-pregnant a week after we got back.  I was SO naive.  I laugh at that girl often.  Tell me about yours.

The RHOK Reads - The Pioneer Woman - Week 3

This week we've been reading Part 2 of Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman.

I really loved these chapters.  Ree's inner dialogue is still one of my favorite things about this book.

I loved the part in Chapter 10 where she was at MM's cousin's wedding.  She was wearing a butter colored wool suit...in the summer...in Oklahoma.

Now, all of us good Okie girls know that wool and humidity do NOT mix.

I'm thinking Ree's desire to find the perfect outfit overshadowed her better judgement in fabric choices.

When she's standing stripped down in the bathroom at MM's grandparent's house, and MM comes looking for her and decides to wait for her outside the bathroom...and then Tim shows up...and she begins her silent prayer, I died laughing.

"Lord, please take me now.  I no longer want to be here.  I want to be in heaven with you, where there's zero humidity and people aren't punished for their poor fabric choices." 

Absolutely hilarious.  Have you ever had an experience like that?

Ree's tip: vodka + orange juice = truth serum.

Through the next chapter or so, we get a glimpse into the daily happenings between Ree and the MM.  They cook dinners, watch movies, and take long drives around the countryside. 

What is up with the bra-and-panty wearing grandma mowing her lawn??!!

The next thing we know, MM nonchalantly stops in the front yard and says "Oh, hey...by the way, wanna get married?"

Ree goes over all the things that implies...married women have short hair and get it "fixed" at the beauty shop...and make casseroles...and wear yellow gloves to do the dishes.  She thinks about it for a few more minutes and then just as nonchalantly says "yep"...in true Oklahoma fashion.

I guess I was waiting on some passionate-romantic-at-sunset-out-on-the-ranch-kind-of-proposal, but that'll work too. :)

What did you think of the proposal?

Feel free to discuss any of the questions I've brought up...or go off on your own tangents...that's fine too.  Remember comments and blog posts (that are linked up) count towards a Pioneer Woman Giveaway!

If you write up your own post, be sure to stop back by and link up!

Let's read Part 3 for next week, shall we?!  Sounds good.  See ya then!! 

Mrs. Edwards

...who's been known to partake of the "truth serum"...once or twice.

The RHOK Reads : Pioneer Woman - Ch. 6-9

Soooooo, we've been reading the remainder of Part 1 of The Pioneer Woman's Black Heels to Tractor Wheels.


What do you think so far?!


I'll tell you what my favorite thing is so far and then you can tell me what YOUR favorite thing is so far.

Deal?

Ok, so my favorite thing about BHtTW is Ree's inner dialog.  I LOVE the way she talks to herself...in her head.  It cracks me up.  Her wit and humor just explode on the pages.  It just draws me in and I devour the chapters.

If you're anything like me, you were *swooning* again this week.  So much romance and new, young love and chivalry...ahhhh...so sweet.

One of my fav quotes from this week's chapters was in Chapter 7.  Ree and Marlboro Man had just had a hot steamy date in the back of a pick-up truck.  Ree told him that she wasn't moving to Chicago.  MM drove her back into her parents' home on the golf course and they kissed at the door...passionate kisses, as always. When Ree is going inside the house she thinks to herself..."if this wasn't love, I reflected, then love should just be discontinued entirely."  LOVE that.

MM tells her that he doesn't want her leaving.

Chicago is cancelled indefinitely.

Then Ree starts professing her love for the MM.  Telling everyone.  Including J.

I don't know about you, but J was starting to get on my nerves.

Glad that seems to be over.

I was cracking up in Chapter 8 when she was looking for something to wear to her 5am date with MM and the rents.  She was searching through her closet looking for a piece of clothing that didn't scream "CLUELESS CITY GIRL!"  "CLUELESS CITY GIRL!"  "CLUELESS CITY GIRL!"  LOL.  Thank goodness for her little sis, Betsy, leaving behind a few items that were less city-fied.

The she put her car in the ditch, with MM's mom in tow.  awesome.

"I was Lucille Ball.  Lucille Ball on steroids and speed and vodka."  Oh, Ree.  You crack me up!  She survives the day and feels like she belongs on the ranch.

Then her dad drops the bomb.  Ree is questioning love.  She had been "excommunicated from her exalted position in the Church of the Stable Home".

MM does what he does best...takes charge.  Ree loves that.  (me too.)  He makes her laugh. (girls really love that.) She realizes that as uncertain as she is about love and the lasting effects of it, she is incomplete without MM.

He would "prove to be her savior, her distraction, her escape in the midst of troubles..."

PW Tip of the week:  spoons in freezer for reduced red/puffy eyes.

So, what's your favorite part so far?  Fav quote? 

You can either tell us all about it in the comments or write up a post of your own!  Remember to snag our button, stop back by, and link up your post!

Let's up our game a little this week and read the entire Part 2!  

Happy reading, y'all!

-Mrs. Edwards

The RHOK Reads : Pioneer Woman - Ch. 1-5

This week, we were reading Black Heels to Tractor Wheels chapters 1-5.

So, what do you think so far?

I'm LOVING it!  I have to tell you that I've been preoccupied by a few other books this past week, but I stopped to read BHTW and I'm in love.  The way Ree tells the story is so captivating...just like her blog.  I feel like we're BFFs and she's telling the all the juicy details of her dates.

You guys feel free to tell me any of the juicy details of your dates.  I'm a good listener.  I love juicy details.

I think my favorite part of the book so far is in Chapter 4.  Ree got lost on the country roads after leaving MMs house after a date.  She was so caught up in her thoughts that she couldn't find her way back to the main road.  So, she gives in and calls MM.  Of course he comes to her rescue.  After leading her to the highway...he stops his truck and gets out...

Then this is it...my favorite part and I quote...

"He didn't say anything at all.  He opened my car door, pulled me out of the car, and kissed me as I'd never been kissed before."

If you did not S-W-O-O-N when you read that, you should check your pulse...you might be dead.

Plausible Questions/Writing Prompts for this week:

• While reading the first chapter, and reading about all of Ree's exes, could you identify with any of them...have you had a J or a Mr. B or a Kev in your life?
• Anything surprising you learned about Ree?
• How would you have handled ex-boyfriend, J?
• Ever experienced that strong of an emotional pull from someone you just met? 
• Do you believe in "love at first sight"?
• Tell us about a past dating experience.

Feel free to answer one or all of these questions in a post on your own blog!  Grab our snazzy button (Thanks, Mrs. Sinclair!) and link up with us today!

For next week, we're going to read the rest of Part 1, chapters 6-9.

I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts, comments, and feedback!

Mrs. Edwards,

smitten by the Marlboro Man

The RHOK Reads - Pioneer Woman - Week 1

Hello, fellow RHOKstars...and readers! 

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Hopefully everyone has picked up their very own copy of Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman...PW...PDub.


If you haven't bought, downloaded, or checked-out your book, don't panic.  You still have time!  We're going to start this week reading chapters 1-5.  So, you still have time to get your book and start reading!


You know what is SO COOL about Ree?  Besides the fact that she is THE Pioneer Woman...and she's beautiful...and funny...and uber cool?  She's a blogger.  I think it's something that the majority of us can identify with.  The beginnings of this book started on her blog as weekly installments chronicalling her love story with the Marlboro Man.  Some of you who are long time followers probably remember reading some of these stories on-line at ThePioneerWoman.com. 


Your assignment for the next week is simple.  Just read the first 5 chapters.  That'll get us half way through Part 1.  I think it'll be a breeze.  Ree's writing is so easy to read...it's just flows so naturally.  Next week, we'll post some discussion questions over the first 5 chapters.  You'll be able to discuss them with us in the comments or create a post of your own discussing the chapters.  We'll have our snazzy button up that you can grab...it'll be fun!


Remember for every time you comment or post during our RHOK Reads posts, you'll be entered in a Pioneer Woman giveaway, that will include a PW Cookbook among other things!


Also, if you have questions you'd like to submit for discussion, shoot us an email and we'll include them in the next week's blog post (giving you a shout-out, of course).


We love crowd participation!


First 5 chapters...GO!


Happy Reading,
Mrs. Edwards

The RHOK Reads

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Yep, you read that right.  We read.

We're hoping that you do too, or that you would at least be willing to read a little with us!  We're going to start a little blogging book club titled "The RHOK Reads".  I'm not sure if this will be a monthly meme or just an every-once-in-a-while thing, but one thing I know for sure is that it's going to be fun!!  Swearsies.

For our inaugural book, we've chosen none other than the The Pioneer Woman's novel, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels.  It is Ree's account of how she went from a city-girl to a country-girl in rural Oklahoma.  She's a wife, mom, housewife, amazing cook, baker, blogger, and now author of a best-selling book!

Synopsis (from B&N website)

"That's when I saw him—the cowboy—across the smoky room."

"I'll never forget that night. It was like a romance novel, an old Broadway musical, and a John Wayne western rolled into one. Out for a quick drink with friends, I wasn't looking to meet anyone, let alone a tall, rugged cowboy who lived on a cattle ranch miles away from my cultured, corporate hometown. But before I knew it, I'd been struck with a lightning bolt . . . and I was completely powerless to stop it.

Read along as I recount the rip-roaring details of my unlikely romance with a chaps-wearing cowboy, from the early days of our courtship (complete with cows, horses, prairie fire, and passion) all the way through the first year of our marriage, which would be filled with more challenge and strife—and manure—than I ever could have expected.

This isn't just my love story; it's a universal tale of passion, romance, and all-encompassing love that sweeps us off our feet.

It's the story of a cowboy.
And Wranglers.
And chaps.
And the girl who fell in love with them."

Doesn't that sound super romantic?!  I can't wait to start reading!

Mrs. Albright, Mrs. Montgomery, and some other RHOKers went to the recent book signing at the Mayo Hotel.  You can read about that in yesterday's post!

We'll start reading next Thursday (March 31), so that gives you a whole week to find your book (or download it)!  I've seen it at Super Target and Barnes and Noble.  You can also purchase it on Amazon.com (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels - click the title).

Each week we'll assign a certain number of chapters and there will be some discussion questions you can ponder while you're reading and come back here and chit-chat with us about them.  You can even snag our button and write your own post as we read (or as a final review).  We'll open up a McLinky each week for you to link up with.

As an incentive, each time you comment on The RHOK Reads posts and/or link up with your own post, you'll be entered in a Pioneer Woman Giveaway!  I'm not sure what will be included, because I'm just flying by the seat of my pants here, but it'll be great.  Promise!

I'm really looking forward to reading with you guys! (because I'm totally geeky like that)

~Mrs. Edwards

...and a nerd.

Pioneer Woman and I Play a Game!

Okay, we really didn't. But, it sure looks like I am in these pictures. Good Lord! Why do I have to be so demonstrative with my body language?

Let me back up just a minute. Last week some friends and I went to Pioneer Woman's Black Heels to Tractor Wheels book signing at the Mayo Hotel in beautiful, historic downtown Tulsa, OK. My girls and I had been wanting a chance to visit the Mayo Hotel. It's GORRRGEOUS! And, of course, we weren't about to miss the chance to see Ree again. Yes, AGAIN. And, guess what?! She remembered me from the last one. That took my cool factor to an all new level! ;-)

If you've never been to one of her book signings there is one thing you must know. GET THERE EARLY. This one started at 6:30 and we got there at 5:00. We did not get our book signed until 9:00! (There was still half a room left after us - poor souls!)

We really didn't mind the wait too much though. The entire six hours I was out with my friends was spent laughing. Not just a chuckle here and there, but full on LAUGHING OUR BUMS OFF kind of laughing. The next day my face actually was sore from the laughing the night before. That, my friends, is indeed some good medicine.

One of the hotel employees asked us if we would let two elderly women cut in front us of when we got close to the front. Of course. We respect the elderly, but other women who try to cheat and cut in front of us we will so call out on the blog! We are sweet like that. If you don't think I'll do it then read here and then the apology here. 

These two "young" ladies were delightful. My friend Tracy, who is a true goofball, buddied right up with them. She had them (and herself, I think) convinced they were triplets named Mary, Jerry & Terry! Right off the bat, Tracy squats down and starts talking to them and this is the first thing I heard:

Tracy: "So, do you follow Ree's blog?"

Mary: "Gosh, no. I don't even have a computer."

Tracy: "Oh, so you're just here for the drinks, too?!"

That girl had us (and, them) laughing nonstop. Before long, one of the ladies tapped me on the arm and said, "If this girl ever writes a book, will you let me know so I can buy it?!" Uh, oh, Ree! You might have some competition. *snicker*

It cracked me up that Tracy even got in their picture with Ree. LOL!  I did make sure to get pictures of them with just Ree though. Ree even asked me to email them to her. There's that cool factor again. Ha!

While we were waiting for valet to get our car, we met another group of fun women. We took turns taking each others' pictures on the beautiful staircase at the hotel. We hit it off so well that we all met up next at McNellie's for some sweet potato fries. It was there that we learned they live in our same small suburb! What a small world we live in. It's always fun making new friends. 

My new friends. 

My old friends. Ha! I kid, I kid. 

Here we are with Ree and her brother Mikey. Both are just precious. She is just beautiful inside and out.

Now, for the pictures that look like I was playing some sort of game with Ree. It's okay to laugh. I certainly did. 

I warned you...  I'm pretty sure I would not know how to talk if I didn't use my hands, or my body for that matter. 

~Mrs. Albright

Playing games with the Pioneer Woman like a......