Time for a Change

It's been a little while now (!) since I have updated this blog.  Big News: I am changing jobs now after 17 years with my current position, thru today anyhow, and eagerly looking forward to my new position.  That being said,  I have spent fully 1/3 of my life in my current position and that comes with some angst and anxiety now that I am leaving.  

I don't know about you, kind reader, but change is challenging for me. I am happiest when I know which way to turn and I like familiar patterns.  I really enjoy innovation but the actual change itself is hard for me.  Takes me a little while to get my bearings and I am usually very twitterpated about not letting people down, yup I am a people pleaser, I confess. I will still do the occasional Cayuse Cowgirl project but all good things as they say... 

Like the art says See the Bright Opportunity in Each New Day.  So on those lines, I have also begun writing for Parent Magazine, a local publication of the Eastern Oregonian.  That is pretty neat! I find it very validating that I have truly been able to make sincere strides forward since I got divorced. In less than five years I have gotten my bachelor's degree and am beginning a new career, all at the new 33 which is 53!  

It is kind of funny where we find inspiration. For me, the movie Bohemian Rhapsody was one.  When Miami Beach shares that Fortune Favors the Bold and then Freddy's father's mantra of: Kind Thoughts, Kind Words, Kind Deeds really summed up my ongoing inspirations of #KindnessMatters and #BeTheGood. So that is what I am going to keep on doing, making sure that I strive each day to #BeTheGood, using Kind Thoughts, Words and Deeds as my tools.  ♥Marlee

Fall 2020...

Like many small businesses, the Cayuse Cowgirl has had to make changes. 

Sadly, I will no longer have my products at the wonderful Country Store in Walla Walla. 

However, I do have some thoughts about the future...

Wow, wow, wow AGAIN -2019!  5 months into 2019 even. 

Life is such an adventure.  Since my long ago post I have gotten 2 degrees, working on a third this fall.  Been designing furniture for an exciting new restaurant/coffee bar & lounge.  Pretty excited about that one especially.  I love historic buildings and this is one of the very oldest in my neighboring city.  Doing a fun mix of vintage industrial with a clean crisp look. I will share, promise! Once the pieces have become actual fact rather than a vision in my head and on paper.

My eldest graduates from university in June - a full year early!  She is sooo smart.  My son is in his 2nd year at college studying engineering and becoming a man-no longer a boy.   You know how it is fellow moms, seems like it was almost yesterday that they were naked, running thru the yard with a hose chasing each other on a warm summer day.  Sigh...

Well now in my incarnation 3.0 I am working on improving myself.  Growing, having fun learning about myself again.  Life is so fun, so full of changes.  Never stop trying to grow, learn, love, have adventures...we only life once...that we know of!

Happy summer to you all,

2018-Can You Believe It!

Shocking to me that 2017 is almost over...it has been a very busy year...lots of changes and thinking about what is right for me.  I am studying Marketing and Business and working.  Looking forward to updating my thought processes!

To that end I have let go of the Pampered Chef rep portion of my life...locally people should look to my dear friend Angela -she shared the amazingingness of those products with me initially and does an amazing job always for her customers.

Here's to 2018 being the best it can be for all of us!

Summer Greetings & my Pampered Chef Adventure!

I don't know about you all but my 2017 is going by soooo fast!  I am shocked that it has been so long since I posted...apologies!

Lots of changes for me...good over all for sure!  The one I really want to share with you all is my adventure as a Pampered Chef person.  I have been a fan of Pampered Chef for over 20 years...which is crazy that I am old enough to use numbers like that...LOL!  I think that stuff sneaks up on a person for sure.

My children are both off to college and I was ready for a new adventure plus like a said I just love their stuff.  What really, really sold me was their amazing spiralizer!  I have been trying to incorporate much more veggies in my diet and I love spring rolls...total win, win with this amazing tool.

When doing spring rolls I have learned it is all about the prep...so I get all my veggies spiralized, the carrot, english cucumber or zucchini, poach my shrimp in lime juice with minced garlic, julienne some cabbage or iceburg lettuce, sweet red peppers & sweet onions, make lime wedges and have fresh basil and yummy slices of avocado on hand.  I simply put the strands of rice vermicelli into very hot tap water and put a lid on the container right when I start my prep.

Then you just quickly dip your wrapper into a bowl of room temp water, lay it on your plate and start assembling & wrapping your rolls.  My favorite dipping sauce, by far, is a mixture of 2 parts Lighthouse Ginger Sesame dressing, 1 part soy sauce with a dollop each of Garlic Chili Sauce and Sesame Oil - so yummy!  I use this also on any leftover veggies or vermicelli threads as a cool sauce...tasty with just a little kick to keep you alert!

I hope you have enjoyed this little tutorial.  My plan is to try and share a product I love and how I use it each week.  So many things have me excited...next week is the cold brew coffee maker and how I do iced summer coffee...very refreshing!

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you will enjoy these little tutorials...it is a bit out of my comfort zone but 2017 is all about learning new things for me!  Enjoy your weekend!

Designs with OnlineLabels.Com

As you know...I like to make pretty things...that are extremely functional as well.  To that end I have launched my designer portfolio with www.onlinelabels.com.  I would love to help you with any design need you may have...contact me thru them, or via facebook or with an email thru this link.

http://www.onlinelabels.com/designer-marketplace/designer-profile.aspx?F=1&DMDesignerID=167

Changes

Our eldest graduates this year and our baby the next.  Many new changes coming for our family in 2016. Sending wishes for positive change in this new year and many thanks for all the support and love in years past.

Please check out my upcoming Square & updated Etsy storefronts for new decor and design...&
Happy New Year!

BBQ Buckwild Giveaway!

Jump on over to the BBQ Buckwild site to win some cool swag in celebration of May being National BBQ Month!  Plus, please be sure to like us on Facebook!

Crushing on our friends at Fillmore Container

We just love our buddies at Fillmore, excellent products, excellent customer service, excellent pricing.  BBQ Buckwild and the Cayuse Cowgirl salute their quality products!

8oz & 4oz Jars and one piece lids from Fillmore Container

BBQ Bottles, Lids and Shrink Bands from Fillmore Container.

BBQ Buckwild & the Cayuse Cowgirl...Catering 2015

We are evolving, learning and growing in this adventure we call BBQ Buckwild!  Please think of us for your next event...we can do it all or just a part of your special party...give us a call!

Gift Boxes...V.2014

Gift Boxes Available Now: 

(7"x9") Small Gift Boxes are $25 alone or $35 including shipping, which will get you one of the following combinations:

Option 1: Two 12oz Sauces ...your choice our Last Chance, Bandit, Buzz and Cayuse Cowgirl Whiskey Sauces.

Option 2: One 12oz Sauce -your choice of Last Chance, Bandit, Buzz or Cayuse Cowgirl AND one 8oz Candied Jalapenos.

(8"x10") Medium Gift Boxes are $40 alone or $50 including shipping, which will get you one of the following combinations:

Option 1: Three 12oz Sauces ...your choice of our Last Chance, Bandit, Buzz and Cayuse Cowgirl Whiskey Sauces.

Option 2: Two 12oz Sauce -your choice of Last Chance, Bandit, Buzz or Cayuse Cowgirl AND one 8oz Candied Jalapenos.

Option 3: One 32oz jar of Candied Jalapenos.

(9"x11") Large Gift Boxes are $55 alone or $75 including shipping, which will get you one of the following combinations:

Option 1: Five 12oz Sauces ...your choice of our Last Chance, Bandit, Buzz and Cayuse Cowgirl Whiskey Sauces.

Option 2: Four 12oz Sauce -your choice of Last Chance, Bandit, Buzz or Cayuse Cowgirl AND one 8oz Candied Jalapenos.

Option 3: Three 12oz Sauce -your choice of Last Chance, Bandit, Buzz or Cayuse Cowgirl AND one 32oz jar of Candied Jalapenos.

Please note: All options have a 10 day estimated delivery time-thank you!

Its Fall! Time for the Awesome .....

This is going to be soooo much Fun! 

 We will have our wonderful BBQ Buckwild Sauces plus our famous

 Cayuse Cowgirl Candied Jalapenos and a few select pieces for sale...

plus I created these lovelies just for fun!

Come join the festivities & I hope to see you there!

What a Summer! & Announcing our Recipes Page

Happy Almost August Friends!

This has been such a busy summer...I used to think my days were busy until BBQ Buckwild came into our lives.  The Mastermind and I are still working our day jobs so it makes for a Summer Marathon with all the events that we have done since we got our professional smoker this spring.  She came April 27th (please note my last post!) and we have been running ever since.  This is her below:

Since then we have done  the BBQ Buckaroo Challenge (her second week with us-placed 2nd!), two weddings, two concessions booths( one for baseball one for a car show), a half dozen + tastings with local wineries, a class reunion, a graduation, the Pendleton Relay for Life Survivors Dinner, an FFA Function plus multiple private dinners on top of that - Wowsers!

The Mastermind loves this smoker, she has even made him enjoy cooking chicken...a miracle in itself!  His smoked chicken breasts make amazing chicken salad! For the Holidays we are planning on smoking turkeys with our seasonal Spicy Cranberry Sauce...so yummy!

We are happily providing sauce to over 20 locations now!  Truly this has been just an amazing summer.    Our children are our right hands...our son is the Mastermind's main helper when it comes to smokes and making sauce and our daughter helps out with this as well plus helps me do our amazing Candied Jalapenos on top of her other jobs!

We have had many requests for recipes from our customers and we are happy to announce the launch of the BBQ Buckwild Recipes Page!   We will update regularly so if you come across one you like be sure to copy it that day as they will change with each update.

We just want to say again how blessed we feel at all the positive feedback and encouragement we have received.  We are a work in progress and your feedback and support mean a lot - Thank You!


PS If you are interested in where we got this beauty...she was a custom build from Lonestar Grillz out of TX.  Chris & Amber are terrific people and make a truly quality product!

Spring....

I love Easter...it has to be top three of my favorite Holidays.  Flowers are blooming, the colors are all my favorites, everything is fresh and clean.  I love decorating my Buffet for the holidays and so this is how Easter Sunday looked at my house this year!

My Pretty Buffet!

My teenager version of Easter Baskets.

Carrot Cake with Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting...YUM!

And we finish with the Cayuse Cowgirl's Famous Candied Jalapeno Deviled Eggs!  

Awesomeness & Happy Easter Everyone!

PS Click the link to see BBQ Buckwild's Amazing Meat !

Well Hello!

No Excuses...I have been lax on the posting.  It has all been for good reasons though.  BBQ Buckwild & the Cayuse Cowgirl have been busy!  No slowing down for us in January!  We have 3 more shops we are carried in plus we have been having the best time with 9Rocks Vodka and on 2/28/2014 we will be at Sno Road Winery doing tastings!  What a blast!

I am bringing some new things to the Country Store this week plus we now offer our BBQ Buckwild BBQ Sauce now in my booth-see its on the 2nd shelf almost in the center of the photo!  Contact me and we will meet up if you need some of my famous Cayuse Cowgirl Candied Jalapenos!

Thanks so much to Kyla from the Country Store for sharing this photo of my booth...bringing over an adorable vintage stove and some super cute benches this week too!

Please contact us if you need anything at all...email or facebook both work wonderfully!

Dreaming of Belle...

Earlier this year I purchased a 1968 Belle Travel Trailer...she is so sweet, just the right size and I am in love!  My kind husband has pulled most of the old interior out...she is going to serve multiple functions but we have left her kitchen in place to keep that nostalgic feel.  She will function modern but look vintage from the outside and from the sales window.  We probably can not afford to get her mechanicals taken care of this year but she will get her furniture built out and get painted inside and a new window for sure this summer.  Plus a new hitch...her old one died...we will get the new Trailer Valet style hitch helper.  The large side window will get replaced with a slider style window that is about 4" taller so it will balance out the other window in the front and this will serve as her sales window counter.

I designed her logo this summer as well and I have to say it is so hard not to put it on her right now!  Being a girl of the west I wanted Belle to tie in my family heritage with our BBQ Business and the play on her name was just perfect...so here is Belle's logo:

 

which nicely compliments our BBQ logo:

I foresee lots of this style:

please note the use of white to brighten, but she is basically going to be a really nice kitchen on wheels so this will also come into play...with some comfie seating options for when she is off work:

 

The three sink layout above will be in her front nose and will lose the upper shelves because the window will be there and have all white open shelving with a sink skirt so it will be softened up by the fabric...the counters will be butcherblock tops or stainless, she will have cute window treatments...our goal is that she be a classy addition to a wedding in all shades of white, grey and wood with fun vintage accents....I can not wait!   Since her plumbing won't go in this year she is going to be a pretty backdrop and show room for our BBQ Sauce and other products we make.  She will be at a show in June and perhaps a wedding in May.    I will keep you updated, she comes home in March and then we will start working on her again.  Too cold in Eastern Oregon to work in January or February...

 

Here is to New Years Wishes & Dreams!

 

 

All I Want for Christmas Is....

Candied Jalapenos for ALL!  We are stocked up for the holidays on our amazing Candied Jalapenos.... and the more you buy the better the price! Additionally, for those in your life that cannot get enough we now have a limited number of Magnum Jars of Candied Jalapenos! 80oz of Candied Jalapenos goodness-YUM!  Contact us view BBQ Buckwild Facebook Messaging to Order Yours Today...Plus we are having a BBQ Buckwild Tshirt Giveaway...sign up on our facebook site by Thanksgiving to win!

Fun Prizes...for FREE -OH MY!

Cayuse Cowgirl and BBQ Buckwild are proud to partner again this year in this amazing sale, so please like our sale on FACEBOOK for more updates! PLUS.... (scroll down)
               

 

 

be sure to come because.....

 

98% Done!

Ok here is the look...sans some trim & hardware...of the kitchen.  

 

 

Our fancy new Verona stove ...installed with cabinetry!  Pretty proud of the little piece on the left...a heavily modified island from Ikea to match the Varde piece we already had...did a pretty good job if I do say so myself!

 

Here is our Breakfast & Baking Bar where our old stove used to be...lucked out and found some more of our vintage handles on Ebay...those should be here this week plus the under cabinet lifts I ordered from Walmart.com...Whitmore shelf lifts...should put it all into place nicely!  This is also a Varde piece from Ikea...I am sad to say it looks as if they are phasing out this line...which is a bummer because they are mostly real wood...and came with the butcher block top which is now an added feature.  I was kind of nervous ordering this piece, the specs said it was going to be about 5" too wide for this area but from the photo it looked as if those five inches were all overflow from the top...which they were!  So we trimmed it down and skipped the center shelf so we could put the microwave down underneath the center drawer and I use gallon jars to store dry goods in bulk...basically it has exactly the look I was going for...vintage with a modern twist!   Thanks so much for following along!

 

 




Progress on the Amazing New Verona Stove!

I remembered!  We are about the 1/3 mark on the mini kitchen remodel.  This is where the new stove will go, the hood vent has been hung and vented, part 1 of the Gordon's work.  Waiting for the mirror backsplash being installed by C&H Glass and the electrical half (part 2) of the work done by Gordon's Electric of Pendleton.  Fingers crossed that should all be done by Friday!  Those guys are all amazing and so nice about working with each other's schedules.  It is appreciated!

So this is what it looks like right now...be prepared...it is NOT pretty!

 

 

 

but remember, this amazing Verona stove is going to fill in that ugly spot:

 

 

It is scheduled to arrive on Monday....

then we are going to go Buckwild Baby!