Saturday, March 31, 2012

These boots are made for walking...

These boots are made for walking...


and that is the absolute truth.  (I may have done too much walking which is why a moment of rest is always appreciated.)

Over the years, I've owned several pairs of boots so when Country Outfitter gave me the opportunity to review a pair of boots I knew that I'd be selecting a pair of Ariat's as they are so comfortable and these boots did not disappoint.

I also knew that I wanted a pair of square toe boots so I was very impressed with Country Outfitter's selection of square toe Ariat boots.

Don't you love the red stitching detail?  I know I do!

Although I didn't receive my first choice, I was so excited when my boots arrived.  It has been a few years since I had a new pair of boots.  OK, more like a decade (I truthfully don't know where the time is going.) so I couldn't wait to take them out of the box.


Since my boots are brand new, I've been a bit apprehensive about wearing them around the farm.  You see once something goes to the farm, it has the tendency to never leave and I still want to wear my boots other places.  So for now, I've been wearing my boots for my full-time off-farm job; however, I have no doubt that they will soon become my official farm boots because they are so comfortable. 

Can you tell comfort is important in my life?  I mean I like fashion, but comfort often wins out so thankfully these boots provide style and comfort.  (I will be honest that I thought that the black looked more like patent leather in the picture on the website than they do in person, but such is life as the comfort more than makes up for this.)
 
Thanks again to Country Outfitter for this opportunity and if you aren't in the market for boots, don't worry, their website has a huge selection of all sorts of things from boots to apparel to home decor so be sure to check it out. 

Although Country Outfitter, a retailer of Ariat square toe boots sent me these Ariat Whip-Lash boots to review the opinions are mine and mine alone, as always. 

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Sunday, March 25, 2012

The Farmer and his Carhartts

Oh how The Farmer loves his Carhartts.  He has Carhartt jeans, shorts, t-shirts, coveralls, coats, and hats.  He maybe even has some socks.  Needless to say, chances are he is wearing something Carhartt made almost every day if not every day.  So when I had the chance to share something from Carhartt's new men's line with him, I knew he would be eternally grateful.

And I knew this jacket would be perfect for him on and off the farm with its waterproof breathable technology, snap removable hood, and multiple storage pockets. 



So whether he's headed to the barn with the help of his youngest assistant, Little Sissy,


or checking on our mother pigs


or carrying a bag of feed


to feed some of our pigs


I think The Farmer is happy


and Bubby can't wait for it to fit him. 

Thank you again to Carhartt and The Real Farmwives of America and Friends!


To win a Carhartt of your own, please visit www.realfarmwivesofamerica.com to sign up for their giveaway. Good luck!

PhotobucketCarhartt did provide me with this product to review, but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.



Wednesday, March 14, 2012

5 Easter traditions from the pigpen

It is hard to believe that we are only a few weeks away from Easter.  Personally, it seems hard to believe that it is already the middle of March, let alone almost time for Easter.

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to attend Blissdom and visit with the awesome folks from Hershey's Bunny Trail.  In fact in a few days, a special Easter basket will be arriving filled with a few of this peigpen's favorite Hershey's Easter candies like Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs and Cadbury Creme Eggs and Mini Eggs.  Thanks Hershey!!

In anticipation of this special Easter basket, I thought I would share a few of our family's Easter traditions. 

In the afternoon on the Friday before Easter, Good Friday, the kids decorate Easter eggs with my mother-in-law. 



The kids look forward to this each year as my mother-in-law goes all out in making sure they each of plenty of eggs to decorate with all sorts of colors and such. 




This year will be Little Sissy's first year to color eggs and I can't wait to see the smiles on her face.


On the Saturday of Easter, my in-laws host our family Easter complete with an egg hunt for all of the grandkids.


This usually involves the whole family in some manner whether it be helping the kids or hiding the eggs.

I can't believe how much Little Sissy has changed in a year. 

On Easter morning, the kid wake up to find their Easter baskets have been filled by the Easter bunny.  


Big Sissy, Bubby, and Little Sissy each have their own unique Easter basket.  Thanks to an idea from a former co-worker, they each have the Longaberger Easter basket from the year of their first Easter.  I hope they will each treasure their special Easter basket as they get older and have a similar tradition with their own children. 

If you look closely, you will see Little Sissy's chocolate moustache thanks to the Easter bunny.

The biggest part of our Easter weekend is being able to attend mass to celebrate the reason for the season.  We don't often hear this saying during the Easter season, but it applies just like it does at Christmas.

 And my last tradition is one we also have at Christmas and was started by my mom... a new Easter outfit for each of the kids to wear on Easter morning.  However, I must admit I often space getting a picture of the kids in their special outfit so hopefully I will remember this year as I'm excited about their coordinating outfits.

This picture was taken on Mother's Day 2011 as I spaced taking the picture on Easter. 

What Easter traditions does your family have?

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Thursday, March 8, 2012

6 reasons every day is ag day at the pigpen

Every day is truly ag day around the pigpen.

Let me tell you how...


1.  We start every day with the futures of these 3 amazing kids on our minds.  Truthfully everything we do is so that they can have a bright and wonderful future in agriculture or whatever career path they choose.

2.  The Farmer and I "work" in agriculture every day.  It is is our day job, our business, our lifestyle, and our passion.


3.  It has been the passion for generations before us and we are reminded of their sacrifices, sorrows, and joys daily.


4.  On our family farm, one of our top priorities is raising pigs the best way we know how so that our family and yours can enjoy healthy and nutritious pork.

5.  Each and every day we make the best possible decisions for our environment and the land so that it will be around for future generations as the land is not ours.  It is simply our job to take care of it for the next generation.

6.  Being a farmer is hard work, but we wouldn't change it for anything because every day is ag day and we are truly blessed.
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Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Peanut butter cup fluffernutter blondies

As you know I've developed a sort of love affair with the delicious dessert from the kitchen of Cookies & Cups.  From her salted caramel bars to her caramel swirled M&M brownies, I'm in love.

One of her delights that made everyone at the pigpen smile was peanut butter cup fluffernutter blondies.


They are absolutely delish!

Ingredients
1 cup butter (2 sticks of butter), room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 t. vanilla
2 eggs
1 t. baking soda
2 1/2 cups flour
1 t. kosher salt
2 cups coarse chopped peanut butter cups (10.5 oz bag)
3/4 cup Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Cream


Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. 

Cream butter and peanut butter together.


Add sugar and brown sugar to the creamed butter and peanut butter and beat until light and fluffy.

Add in eggs and vanilla on a medium speed.

Stir in baking soda, salt, and flour until just combined.

Fold in the peanut butter cups.


Spread the batter in the pan.

Drop the marshmallow cream on top of the batter.  (This is much more difficult than it sounds.  I used a spoon to scoop the cream from my measuring cup and tried my best to randomly drop it on the batter.)


Swirl the marshmallow cream into the batter with a knife.  (Once again, this is much more difficult than it sounds as the batter is very thick and dense unlike a brownie or cake batter that is much more fluid.)

Bake for 30-35 minutes until the toothpick placed 1 inch from the side comes out clean. 


Cool in the pan on a wire wrack and Enjoy!!!!

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