PW - Welcome to my frontier!

Ree Drummond may very well be my favorite #girlboss ever! I have to say, finally visiting Pawhuska after a decade of reading her blog and of watching her cooking show on Food Network these past several years, I was dubious as to whether or not all the hype would live up to my enormous expectations.

Well, um...it did.

Her show's catch phrase is "Welcome to my frontier!"

We definitely felt welcome!

Now, more than ever, I am in awe of what this seemingly simple Oklahoma-living, kid-raising, Marlboro Man-loving cook, wife, mom, and business owner has accomplished with such grace, poise, and low-key fanfare.  You walk in The Mercantile (otherwise known as The Merc) and instantly feel as though you've stepped into the home of a very close friend. From the gift wrap counter, to the colorfully displayed shelves of dishes, novelties, and linens, to the friendly sales clerks dressed in sharp, black button-down shirts with strands of PW's signature turquoise beads - it all bathes you in a warm, fuzzy feeling of belonging, of truly being a part of her frontier.

Mom and I both picked up this first issue of her new magazine. Y'all. You NEED to stop by your local Walmart (this is so not a Walmart plug as much as it is pure endorsement on the part of PW!) and pick up your own copy. It has been a very long time since I have read a magazine from cover to cover, but that is exactly what I did with this one! The articles are relevant, the editorials are heart-felt, and the pictures are just pure Americana. And in today's climate - who doesn't need a bit of THIS in their life?

Just this weekend my niece referred to me as a "fan girl," and I guess - even though I am a full grown, soon-to-be 50 year old, I am indeed a fan girl. There is something to be respected about a person with a dream that is totally centered around her family, her principles, and her desire to leave a positive imprint on the world around her that completely inspires me.

Maybe - from one transplanted gal to another - there is something about her that further encourages me to press further on my passion here at the B&B. To take heart that great things take great time to create, to nourish, and then to flourish.

The belief that these things are worth the time, the effort, the worry, and the sweat.

To know that in my own small, small way I love to say to others, "Welcome to MY frontier!"

Girls' Trip 2017: Pawhuska, OK Day T W O

We woke up on Friday morning, sipped coffee (okay, I think maybe I was the only one that did), and chatted through our adjoining rooms. Free of a specific timetable, we relished in our "girl time," dressed leisurely, ate breakfast in Bartlesville, and then set out again for...you guessed it! - Pawhuska.

An easy 25 minute drive, and a gorgeous one at that, and then we quickly realized that Fridays in Pawhuska are not like Thursdays. Parking spaces were scarce, The Merc was pretty much body to body, and the line to get into the restaurant (our goal for that evening) was three times as long as it had been the day before.

Still, it seemed as though every single person in The Merc were as happy to be there as we were. Not only that, but each salesperson (wearing the signature black button-down with PW's turquoise beads) were happy too. Each was helpful, friendly, and eager to make sure that everyone had a pleasant shopping (or browsing) experience.

After a few more purchases (and another Spicy Cowgirl!) we decided it was time to get in line for dinner. Sarah and Elizabeth took one for the team and braved the looooong line in order to snag a table for us while Mom and I relaxed upstairs in the coffee shop.

(First 2 minutes waiting in line...)

(The picture they texted near the end of the 40 minute wait...)

The staff of The Merc had even considered these poor, hot souls who were braving the elements of a summer in Oklahoma, and had bins of sunscreen available to those who were waiting in line outside, as well as employees who frequently stepped out of the building to hand umbrellas to shield their customers from the intensity of the heat. Details, people. These folks thought of them ALL.

The. Wait. Was. Worth. It. Behold...

Every bite was as delicious as the last and we all left with a bag of leftovers (which we enjoyed again as a late night hotel room snack) and a feeling of supreme satisfaction that this trip had lived up to - and even exceeded - our expectations.

Even though we had to load up, eat one last lunch together, and then say our good-byes, it was a Girls' Trip for the books, for sure! I'd like to say we'll do it again next year, but it will be so very difficult to top the joys and laughs and pure delight from this one!

Girls' Trip 2017: Pawhuska, OK! Day ONE

For Mom's birthday - 73! - this year, my daughters-in-law and I decided to take her on a little road trip. Not just any 'ol roadtrip, mind you, one to visit The Mercantile in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, home to the Pioneer Woman herself!

We made our reservations in nearby Bartlesville a good three months ahead of time. Yes, The Merc has generated THAT MUCH visitor traffic; if you want to plan a stay, make sure to allow a good few weeks in advance unless you're willing to stay in Tulsa and drive in from there.

Mom and I rolled out of Northeast Texas about 7:30 am, and met up with Sarah and Elizabeth - leaving from Dallas - in Bartlesville. We ate a quick lunch in a nearby cafe (don't remember the name - the food was great; we were just in a hurry to get to Pawhuska!) and then headed for The Merc.

Y'all.

The Merc DOES NOT DISAPPOINT.

 

Since we arrived on a Thursday afternoon, the shop itself was not overly populated, even though the deli/restaurant was still commanding a long line outside. In complete awe, we wandered around for several hours, trying on hats, picking up all sizes of scoops, admiring hand towels and linens, and fawning over the endless tables and shelves that fairly oozed all things Pioneer Woman. We were in heaven!

My initial thought was to browse for items of interest on Thursday and then make purchases on our return trip on Friday. Um...nope. I finished perusing with several amazing little finds in my bag, and then I joined the others upstairs in the coffee shop/bakery.

Y'ALL.

Again, words fail me. You MUST visit in order to understand just how wonderfully this Pawhuska project has come together! From 3-4 carefully arranged seating areas, to the unique table tops, to the hospitable and helpful baristas...the upstairs experience was equally thrilling as the downstairs one had been!

I slowly sipped on a Spicy Cowgirl (recipe in future post!) while I glanced around, drinking in all PW's family photos strategically placed around the large, open space of exposed, historical brick. While it allowed you to get the feel of Ree and Ladd and their amazing family, friends, and ranch, even more - it welcomed you in like a giant hug. You were inclined to sink into a seat and sit awhile.

Somehow...I imagine that is just what PW had in mind...

Vegas, Baby!

We did something highly unusual - but highly needed - the very day I finished up this school year. We left the ranch for a mini vacay! We don't do this often, for sure not as often as we should, so we were super excited for a few days away from our normal B&B operations and chores.

I finished up at school at 10:30 am and we drove to Dallas that very afternoon, and caught a midnight flight to Vegas. This makes it sound almost spontaneous, but if you know either of us, you know that spontaneous for us means a month of prepping. LOL. This trip was actually a combination birthday/anniversary gift to me from Mike. The cherry on this very fun sundae were tickets to Celine Dion, my all time favorite vocalist.

This was the view from our bed; I must say it was every bit as dreamy as this photo suggests. I could have stayed tucked in these amazing white sheets, dozing every now and then, only waking to catch a view of the magnificent columns of Caesar's Palace and Celine's gorgeous face on the marquis.

But if we had done that, then we would have missed all of this:

 

And the FOOD, y'all, oh, the food! So beautiful, so delicious, so decadent...just what two tired business owners needed to refuel, relax, and enjoy our time together.

Seeing Celine was the perfect ending to a perfect day. Celine. Does. Not. Disappoint. It was pretty cool that our hashtag (along with our faces) made it onto the jumbotron! Notice how relaxed we look - that's what a mini vacay will do for you!

 

            

This was the perfect little getaway for the two of us. We came home rejuvenated, inspired, rested, and SO READY to see our pupper dogs! It was a toss up on who was the happiest - Thoreau & Bronte or us!

XXOO,
Staci