It's been Real 2012...

I must say looking back on 2012 was a FANTASTIC year.. 

And not only because I got hitched to the man of my dreams,

but for several other reasons as well.

Here are a few highlights looking back over the year.

First and foremost, me and Mrs Amber got back together!!

This dear friend is absolutely amazing, I must say.

You won't believe how we met and how she new Coach before even meeting me!

(That's a WHOLE 'nother blog for sure!)

We have joked about having our own cooking show.. well actually Amber would have it and I would be the one learning. Folks would definitely be in stitches!

(I think we should really try and get that started.)

I visited Texas for the first time for Advocare Success School..

I must say it was a HOTT one!!

Our kitchen got finished!!...

And with that came a dishwasher! Whoo hoo! No more washing in the utility sink!

Mara went to Advanced Basics class and passed her CGC exam...

Rescued a horse..

Meet Trio.. 

He is looking better than an ever, has gotten his spunk back, and has a full winter coat right now!

I got to see my favorite girl Miranda and the Pistol Annies in concert this year..

Yeee HAAAWW!!

 VOTED!!

 Surprised my Mom for her 50th..

Had one amazing shower after another and another..

SO THANKFUL for everyone blessing us with these showers and gifts!

Had an awesome engagement photo session..

Had the most amazing wedding..

We were so blessed with a beautiful day, sweet spirit, and love from all of our friends and family. Such a special and unforgettable moment in our lives. 

Honeymoon'd in Ocho Rios, Jamaica..

"Noo problem Mon!"

And, we visited the Biltmore for the first time!

What an awesome wedding gift!

I do feel very BLESSED and I am sooo THANKFUL for all of these moments..

I'm even more thankful for the health of both Coach and I to be able to partake in these moments. 

I pray for each and every one of you a healthy, blessed, prosperous 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See you there!

Beef Stroganoff... It's Whats For Dinner

Tonight I decided to get a little wild in the kitchen and try a NEW recipe, in our NEW crockpot, using our NEW kitchen utensils.

Now don't get too excited because I certainly am not a professional in the kitchen. I think I wish I was a professional in the kitchen. Coach would certainly LOVE that. 

It was quite hysterical in the Hopper kitchen tonight.. Well for you about to read this it may be but for me.. it was not so hysterical.

And they aren't BIG things but when these little things start happening, it can become very frustrating..

For some reason it never works well for me to get the trash out of our trash can.. 

I mean SERIOUSLY how hard could it be??!!

But for WHATEVER reason the bag always gets stuck and it always tears...

And in the process, one of my fake nails came flying off.

OUCH!!!!

 Maybe someone is trying to tell me the wedding is over and I don't need them anymore.

I brought in the dog's water bowl from outside and was getting them some water when I spilled half of it in the floor and half of it in my furry slippers.. 

This is the second time I have spilled water today.

After cleaning up the water, I went to stand up only for my head to meet the corner of the cabinet that holds our microwave. Talk about wanting to come U.N.G.L.U.E.D.

BUT. My husband (it's been fun using this word) needs dinner and instead of just heading to bed at 6:00, I continued on this 

BEEF STROGANOFF shenanigan.

I got this from my Mom at our Kitchen shower!

The cookbook has devotionals!

Does anyone else HATE onions? I DESPISE them.. right along with coconut.

But because I LOOOVVVEEE my HUSBAND so much, I added them in the recipe like it called for because he loves them so much.

I thought I would be using our new Pampered Chef cutting board (which I did a little bit) to chop the onion, but then I remembered our food chopper------

And decided it would be SOOOO much easier!

I was right.

Browning the lean deer meat and onions.

Add the next 5 ingredients after garlic into the crockpot...

I thought I was going to get to use our pampered chef garlic clove crusher but of course, I couldn't find the fresh garlic I just bought yesterday at the grocery store. Who knows where it's at.

And sweet Sox decided to keep me company at the kitchen. She is such a sweet Pup. 

I think she new I needed some extra love after hitting my head. 

cook the noodles!

Add the sour cream and flour!

YYEEAAAHHH... Iv'e got nothing.

Dinner is served!!!

Don't let the presentation fool you.

The bread was good.

I'm sure it was just the chef.

Truth be known.. I took about 2 bites.. added some Parmesan.. took a couple more bites.. ate the bread and trashed the rest.

What do you do when all else fails???

YOU EAT A BIG FAT FROZEN REESE CUP!!

and ignore the roots.

Cinnamon Ornaments

 We had company last night! 

My auntie Mimi and cousins Gigi and Knox. It's so nice having family around. 
And these guys are a hoot to be around and will keep you in stitches. 

Mimi called and needed some cookie cutters and I just happened to have some from a few years ago..
Target I do believe from the $1 section.
 And quite honestly, I don't know that they had ever been used before. Shh.

They wanted to make ornaments for their church and for gift boxes. I thought it was an awesome idea!

The house smelled so good with the cinnamon but unfortunately I could not treat myself to any of the dough. AAANNDD, I am so glad that my aunt was in the kitchen when I was about to dive in. 
You see. I wasn't paying attention to the ingredients at first, (I was finding them decor items) and GLUE is apart of the recipe. 
OOPS. 

Speaking of recipe here you go:::

1 C ground cinnamon
1 TBS ground cloves
1 TBS nutmeg
3/4 C applesauce
2 TBS GLUE

1. In medium bowl, stir together cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Mix in applesauce and glue. Work the mixture with hands for 2-3 minutes to form a ball. If mix is too wet, add more cinnamon. If mix is too dry, add more applesauce. 

2. Lightly dust a clean surface with cinnamon. Roll out dough to 1/4 thickness. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and use toothpicks to make a hole at the top for hanging with ribbon. 

3. Dry in slow oven for 200 degrees for several hours or air dry in a sunny spot for 4-5 days.
When they dry, decorate with gingham and/or ribbon.


They got busy on the mixture and I got busy with the camera!

Kylee wishing for something to fall! You don't want this toxic mix girl!

Bake bake bake!

This is where Mara stays when ANYONE is in the kitchen.. She wants first dibs!

Time to decorate!

Our sweet girls! 

(Don't you love Sox's crossed paws?)

I am waiting on the finale from Mimi... I can't wait to see how they turned out!

Fun Foxy & Fifty

I'm not quite sure how in the same year I got married, 

my brother turned 16 two days after our wedding,  

and my Mom turned the

BIG 5-0!!!

But we ALL survived! 

The wedding was a blast, Kolton got a truck, and 

Mom was clueless about her SURPRISE PARTY!

I was a little nervous someone would accidently slip at the wedding.

We had it last Saturday, at the city Clubhouse in the town I grew up in, and with help from our cousin and a dear friend of Mom's, they got her there with no trouble at all! 

I don't think anyone really wanted the job to get Mom there. She has a record of changing her mind about things at the last minute.. Did I say that?

Great job, gals!!!

My Pop did a great job on the Chicken Stew, Marcia handled the rest with Potato Soup, Taco Soup, Cornbread, Chocolate Pies, Peanut Butter Bites and Strawberry Cake. Some of Mom's favorites! 

And I must say, it was ALL delicious!!! 

Yours truly took care of the decorations.

Don't let the tissue poms fool you either... Oh they are so pretty for decor but Martha Stewart can have them!

Black for fifty and pink is Mom's favorite color!

Dessert table..

Flowers and Poms..

Food table.. (the soups were warming)

Love the napkins..

I was so happy this came together!

Balloons...

Everyone waiting..

And the leading lady has to have a tiara and boa!

SURPRISE!!!

She doesn't look 50 at all! 

I found it a MUST to bling the candle!

A few funnies! There were more but I may not make it to my next post if I shared! Teehee!

Friends for life!

I would say it was a great time had by all!

Happy Birthday Mom!