The Pioneer Woman comes to Texas!
The rumors are true. I did, indeed, meet The Pioneer Woman, and the experience was, as she would say, “blogworthy.”
The morning began with me trying to decide what to wear. What do you wear when you meet a blog celebrity? One of the most famous bloggers of all time? Who tweeted you a week before?
Cowboy boots, of course.
With the perfect outfit selected and my hair in place acting all crazy, I set out for my long journey. I drove and drove and drove a little more. The roads were nuts. I was texting Chelsea, who told me part of I-45 was closed down. Excuse me, what? Needless to say, we were a little later than planned. Our scheduled time of arrival was 11:00. By the time we got there at 11:30, the place was already filling up quickly. I had to stand in a very long line to get my cookbook. While I stood there, I noticed this Dutch oven:
But I was too nervous to write down a question. What if my question was picked? What if she thought it was dumb? No. I couldn’t.
Chelsea’s friend Kelly said to us, “My question is, ‘How many Dutch ovens do you have?’” Ooh, good one. I wish I’d thought of that. Maybe then she’d give me that one. I need one.
After I got my book, we saved ourselves some seats (so far Kathleen, Chelsea, Kelly, and I had met up). I was craning my neck, looking around for other bloggers in a room that was rapidly beginning to like a sold-out rock concert. You know, if you replaced the scary black-eyelinered people with stay-at-home-moms.
We had some lunch and waited. Then we waited a little more. We were all getting antsy and jittery when suddenly, the crowd went wild. Ree had arrived!
She answered some questions and said something hilarious about Marlboro Man going commando. You have to love this woman. She’s strikingly gorgeous, yet not afraid to tell you about her sweaty Spanx. I adored her instantly.
Then we waited until it was our turn to get in line to get our books signed. We had red tickets, which meant we were in the third group to meet Ree. There were a lot of groups. They told the last group to prepare themselves to be there until 6pm or so. Listen, meeting the Pioneer Woman is a big deal!
We bumped into Taryn!
“No paparazzi, please.”
Cheesing it. Also, how cute is Darla on her pink cell phone?!
The closer we got to Ree, the more nervous I became. My hands were sweaty, my heart was beating a hundred miles a minute, and I had butterflies in my stomach. I was 10 people away. 5 people away. OHMYGOSH ONE PERSON AWAY.
Me: “Hi. IloveyouItweetedyouonthenightbeforeThanksgivingbecauseIranoutofcocoaandyoutweetedmebackanditwasmazing.”
Ree: “Oh yeah? What did I say?”
Me: (sweating profusely) “You said, ‘I’ve been there more times than I care to admit.’”
Ree: “Oh yes! I remember. Sorry I didn’t offer you much help.”
Then we chatted for about 2 more seconds and she signed my book. Then I threw my arms around her and we took a picture. And I wanted to hug her and braid her hair and make friendship bracelets with her. But I couldn’t. There were other people behind me, after all. So I graciously moved along. But for the next hour or so, I was on a high. I had just met The Pioneer Woman! And she kind of halfway remembered my tweet! Life was too sweet!
I tried to explain it to Michael like this:
Me: “It would be like if you met a sports star.”
Michael: “Like who? Kobe?”
Me: “Sure. She is to me like Kobe is to you.”
Michael: “Honey, that’s not even the same thing. She’s not as famous as Kobe!”
Me: “TO ME SHE IS.”
It was a wonderful day. I left with a fabulous cookbook, a free (and cute) T-shirt, and a huge smile on my face. But more than that, I was reminded anew that this thing, this “blogging thing” that most people don’t “understand,” and they don’t know why I want to spend all this time blogging and sharing my life with complete strangers, and they just don’t get why it means so much to me – blogging is serious business! Pioneer Woman isn’t famous because she is a supermodel (although she could be, she’s so gorgeous!) or an actress or invented the cure for a disease. She’s famous because one day she decided hey, maybe I’ll write stories about my life and cooking and put them on a blog, and throw some pictures in there for good measure. And now, 12 million page views per month (give or take) later, she is a celebrity. A blog celebrity. And that makes this small town girl with a blog from Texas smile.
One last thing. As I was sitting around, waiting to meet Ree, I was tapped on the shoulder. I turned around, and there stood a lovely young woman whom I didn’t recognize. She told me she found my blog on Google (her name is also Lauren and she’s from Texas, so there you go!) and is now a reader. She recognized me and wanted to introduce herself. I freaked out (geeked out is more like it), hugged her, and probably made a fool out of myself and/or creeped her out. I’m all, “A blog fan who found me completely at random and then recognized me in public!” I mean, when you put it in the perspective of The Pioneer Woman and Dooce, maybe it’s nothing. But for me, it meant a lot and I’m so glad the other Lauren from Texas decided to say hi.
xo
I AM JEALOUS.
and i love how Chelsea has one hundred cookbooks.
Erin
December 9, 2009 at 2:54 am
Ok, so I had no clue who the Pioneer woman was until you mentioned your tweet the other day, so you can congratulate yourself for introducing me to her blog
No I don’t live under a rock, I’m in Dublin, Ireland… I’m also a terrible cook so cooking sites don’t help much.
Yvonne
December 9, 2009 at 5:42 am
Hey! I love your writing style! I saw PW in Nashville last night. I’m hoping my gift makes it into a tweet or onto the blog! Wheee! I agree…she is like meeting Kobe.
Shay
December 9, 2009 at 7:05 am
I know who Kobe is. I do not know who the Pioneer Woman is. I apologize in advance.
And congrats on being a blog-celebrity.
Joe
December 9, 2009 at 8:43 am
OMG. OMG. OMG! You are so lucky! I would love to meet her, although I would just end up being a splochy red sweaty nervous mess.
And PFFT to your hubby she is WAY cooler than any althlete – at least thats what I tell Mike, since he doesn’t get it either haha
emilyjpaterson
December 9, 2009 at 9:06 am
You are too adorable sometimes.
I once saw a blogger that I recognized in NYC but I was too awkward to go up to her.
sarah
December 9, 2009 at 9:18 am
How fun that you were able to meet her! And what a great story about somene recognizing you out and about.
mandy
December 9, 2009 at 9:24 am
P Dub > Kobe
Thank you for being my friend even though I have devil eyes.
See how I changed my name from “Chelsea” to “RootsAndRings”… is that cool? I thought it might help you remember who I was.
RootsAndRings
December 9, 2009 at 9:25 am
you pretty much lived my dream right there.
rachel
December 9, 2009 at 9:34 am
It’s me! The other Lauren, from Texas! LOL!
It was lovely to meet you! You are even more gorgeous in person and super sweet too. You totally did not geek out. My sister, who was waiting for me when I introduced myself to you, told me I was the geek for doing so, lol.
Loving all the pics!
Lauren
December 9, 2009 at 9:37 am
Im so jealous! i wanted to go to her book signing here in Austin and wasn’t able to make it. boo.
Kelly
December 9, 2009 at 10:40 am
That’s so exciting! I don’t know if I would ever want to be that big, but I think that she is definitely savvy and in charge of her own little empire! SO cool you got to meet her & had such a great time!
Kyla Roma
December 9, 2009 at 10:47 am
Love the pictures! I so wish I could have met you ladies in person, but I had a blue ticket and knew I’d be in the first group so I didn’t show up until about 1:20pm. I figured it was going to get a little crazy.
I was a complete dork when I spoke to her, too! I;m sure she thinks all of her readers are a little weird.
HoustonGurly
December 9, 2009 at 11:20 am
I wanted to hug her and braid her hair and make friendship bracelets with her. HAHAHHAHA! BEST LINE EVER LAUREN! although i have no clue who the pioneer woman is (i know, i know, forgive me) – its exciting that you got to meet her!
kym
December 9, 2009 at 12:23 pm
If you got recognized in public form your blog, then I think that makes you a minor blog celebrity in your own right!
And Ree/PS is just darling. I emailed her my link where I blogges about seeing her in Austin and I’m crossing my fingers that if she ever gets around to posting about the event, my link will make it up there!
Sturgmom
December 9, 2009 at 12:47 pm
“I wanted to hug her and braid her hair and make friendship bracelets with her”
That definitely made me laugh OUT LOUD at work!! Even though I’ve never met you in person I can totally imagine you doing that.
Hahaha, you’re awesome, Lauren!
steph anne
December 9, 2009 at 2:29 pm
My blog is nowhere near as famous as the Pioneer Woman’s or yours (OH MAH GAH you are TOTALLY more popular than me!).
But the first time someone recognized me in public because of my column/blog, I nearly crapped my pants.
I am so jealous you got to meet her! You have awesome pictures. And are just awesome in general.
Meghan
December 9, 2009 at 9:24 pm
I love your post about meeting Ree! As I told Chelsea, I am jealous of you guys. She won’t come to KY no matter how nice I tell her we are…and we have horses…
I’m at a conference for work right now and today when we gave our intros we were supposed to tell something interesting about ourselves. I almost said, “I’m a blogger” but I didn’t because a) I don’t know if other people think that is interesting/cool, and b) I didn’t want these people who should know me on a professional level looking for my blog. But who knows, I might have very well missed an opportunity to meet other bloggers. Somehow I doubt it. (I ended up saying that my 5-yr anniversary was on Friday and God willing I’d better get home from this conference in time for my anniversary. I’m sure I sounded real grateful to be here).
Jill
December 9, 2009 at 11:08 pm
aww looks like you had a lot of fun.
P.s. I want her cookbook for my birthday 
Katherine
December 9, 2009 at 11:52 pm
I totally had the same experience trying to explain her to Drew. And getting recognized from your blog too? Basically that was your best. day. ever.
Taryn M. Peine
December 10, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Have you made anything from her cookbook yet?
And that’s so cool that you got recognized for your blog in public! I don’t know how I’d react in that situation…
Just Fine Just Dandy
December 10, 2009 at 8:08 pm
It’s so funny how guys and certain people don’t get blogging!
I’m glad you had such a lovely time, that she remembered you and that you even met another blogger there. How cool is that!?
Any chance you’ll consider Vegas 2010 (bloggersinsincity.com)? If not, we’ll have to do a meet-up another time so that next Christmas Michael won’t have to ask “who is Nora?”
Also? Love your cowboy boots!
Nora
December 10, 2009 at 11:24 pm
You all look gorgeous.And she’s not kidding. Spanx DO get sweaty. Ah ha ha
Kristin
December 11, 2009 at 1:37 am
i definately recognize the boots on the left.
What a rockstar day!!!!!!
Lyndsey
December 11, 2009 at 2:09 pm
P.S. I can not begin to tell you how jealous I am that you went to an awesome event with my two best girls and I wasnt there. Tear.
Lyndsey
December 11, 2009 at 2:10 pm
so, is this like the best moment ever?
Honeycutt
December 12, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Ahhh soo cool that you got to meet her! It would be neat to hang out with lots of bloggers at something like that
Bethany
December 12, 2009 at 9:17 pm
LOVE the boots! We all wore ours also!
Nice to meet another Houston blogger!
Tiffany
mylitter.com
Tiffany
December 13, 2009 at 10:20 am
I got to meet her also. I really wanted to give her a hug, but restrained myself now I am jealous of your arm around her, ha ha ha.
Sweet Pea
December 13, 2009 at 11:06 am
I was there too! I think I saw y’all-anyway, I’ve read all y’alls blog! That was so much fun, you made me laugh.. what a great day.
Anna
December 13, 2009 at 11:17 am
I’m so jealous (and I love your blog)
Natalia
December 13, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Looks like you had a ball – it always hits me how many bloggers America has compared to Australia… and somehow reassuring to know that you have the same “can’t understand the blogging thing” there as I do here!!!
You are gorgeous and your boots rock too. So no wonder you are a little famous also. What a funny situation… Congrats!
BB
Bush Babe
December 13, 2009 at 4:39 pm
It really is hard to explain to your S/O how it feels meeting someone like Pioneer Woman. Because “It’s like meeting Kobe and wanting him to come over and spend the night” really just doesn’t do it.
And I know what you mean–I was wishing she wasn’t quite so famous so I could take her out for sushi afterwards!
melissa
December 13, 2009 at 7:12 pm
So glad you’re all better from the appendectomy.
These are the best pictures of you and your bloggy friends. Thanks for sharing your experience with PW.
Guess what? I actually had the first comment on her Bars blog today!!! Whoop! That’s how crazy I am about her site. Thanks again for sharing.
Southern Gal
December 14, 2009 at 3:40 pm