Easter Sunday

Hi lovelies! I'm sorry I am soo behind on blogging! Over the next week I'm going to catch up!

I hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend. I had 2 Easter brunches this weekend, and I am kicking myself that I didn't take more pictures of my family!! I didn't take any!

These are the only little Easter decorations I have. I got the banner from Target and the bunny and eggs were gifts from my mom :)

I am loving all of the cherry blossoms this spring!!

Easter brunch number one was at my Cousin's home. There were lots of goodies! I made a dump cake from the pioneer woman. I didn't take a picture of it because it wasn't very pretty but it was sure tasty! I made the cherry and pineapple one but instead of white cake mix I used cherry chip cake mix. It is super easy to make, but one tip I have if you make it is to make sure you cover every inch of the cake mix with butter! It only bakes where there's butter and I didn't realize that so I had to add butter and then it baked a little uneven.

We made some crafts that my Aunt discovered on Pinterest. Her sample in the top picture turned out really well.

Mine, well it was more of a Pinterest fail haha ;)

On actual Easter we had a brunch at my parents' house. My mom used her special place mats that she bought in the Caribbean when she got to go on a cruise with my dad.

My mom and my youngest brother cooked. I wish I had taken a picture of the cream cheese stuffed chocolate dipped strawberries my brother made!

My nephew had his very first Easter basket. As you can see he's a busy little boy ;)

My sister-in-law put a very soft, personalized bunny in his basket. So cute!

What I wore: Dress: Old Navy (old) // Cardigan: Old Navy (old) // Rain Booties: ASOS (old, similar) // Bracelet: Charming Charlie

I did manage to get a picture of Joel & I. Unfortunately it was after it started storming! It was raining and thundering so we took a picture under the covered deck.

My mom & I made a quick shopping trip to our favorite shopping area, bridgeport village, Friday after I got done teaching and I got the bracelet at Charming Charlie. It was so cute I couldn't leave without it!

I couldn't go home without snapping a picture of this little cutie :)

I love that we celebrate Jesus' resurrection in the Spring. It's a reminder that we can be made new again through Christ because of his ultimate sacrifice. He gave his life in exchange for ours, so that we may be forgiven our transgressions and be made clean in Christ. New life comes in the spring, and new life comes through Christ at any time.

I hope you all had a Lovely Easter.
Happy Monday!

More Than You Think I Am

It's finally SPRING BREAK!!! Sorry for the lack of posts. I've been busy & sick...and lazy. I sat down with the intent of writing this post a couple of weeks ago and I am just now getting around to writing it out and finishing it.

The whole basis of my blog, is to have an outlet where I can express myself, and maybe even show a different side of myself that others may not recognize in me. I tend to be shy and quiet in new situations or when I feel inferior. I can be socially awkward. I've bee labeled "sweet, cute, quiet". Not necessarily bad qualities, but sometimes it feels like I've been put in a box. That's why I started this blog. For those of you haven't read my original post, the title "Closet Hippo" comes from most people thinking that hippos are just lazy and fat funny looking creatures. I grew up thinking hippos were fairly harmless, and then I saw a documentary when I was a teenager showing that hippos are actually ferocious beasts. I have identified with hippos ever since.

So when the song "More than you Think I am" by Danny Gokey came on the radio, right away I was thinking "Yeah! I'm more than you think I am!" Then I listened to the song more and it hit me: God is more than I think he is. That is what the song is saying. How often do I put God in a box? I get caught up in my circumstances and I shut God out of the equation. I'm too busy trying to prove myself and show that "I'm more". If any being were to deserve to have a chip on their shoulder, it's God--it's Jesus. God is kind and loving, and he's the ferocious protector.



You always think I'm somewhere on a mountain top
But never think behind bars
You'd be amazed the places that I'd go to be with you
Where you are

So forget what you've heard
What you think that you know
There's a lot about me
That's never been told

I'm more than you dreamed
More than you understand
Your days and your times
Were destined for our dance
I catch all your tears
Burn your name on my heart
Be still and trust my plan
I'm more than you think I am
More than you think I am

Rumor has it there's a gavel in my hand
I'm only here to condemn
But let me tell you secrets you would've never known
I think of you as my best friend

So much has been said
Even done in my name
But I'm showing you now
Who I really am

I'm more than you dreamed
More than you understand
Your days and your times
Were destined for our dance
I catch all your tears
Burn your name on my heart
Be still and trust my plan
I'm more than you think I am
More than you think I am

Let me open your eyes to see the heart of me, differently
Come closer than you've ever been
Let me in like never before
Bring me every broken part
The wounds and scars of who you are
And hide in me and you will see

I'm more than you dreamed
More than you understand
Your days and your times
Were destined for our dance
I catch all your tears
Burn your name on my heart
Be still and trust my plan
I'm more than you think I am
I'm more than you think I am
More than you think I am
More than you think I am
I'm more than you think I am

Happy Monday!

Hiking in Corvallis Oregon

 It was so nice this weekend, that Joel & I decided to go for a hike in the Corvallis area.

 And when you go for a hike in Oregon on a nice day, you do things like run into a collegiate logging sports competition.

 We stopped and watched for a while. It looked like they were having competitions to see who could chainsaw through this log the quickest with the cleanest, straightest cut.

 There were many different paths we could have taken, but since it was getting late, we ended our hike at this pretty view before heading back to our car.

 Overall, we hiked for a couple of hours.

 I love the Oregon wilderness. I am so blessed to live in such a beautiful state!

 People who don't live in Oregon, don't know what they are missing out on.

 What I wore: Leggings: Target // Shirt: Old Navy // Shoes: Nike

 I love this man!

 No makeup!

Nothing refreshes the soul like time spent in the beautiful outdoors!

Happy Monday!

Saying Goodbye at McMenamin's Old Church and Pub

Last Sunday, my family went to church--Old Church Mcmenains in Wilsonville to have a send of for my younger brother who is headed of to India for 3 months. He is going to be the camera man for a documentary called Trading Dishes (check it out here!)

My brothers

The Fam.

Mcmenamin's restaurants are always decorated so cool.

It was such a beautiful day out, the sun was gorgeous! Perfect weather for pictures :)

Me & my brothers in age order, obviously not height order haha.

I love my family!

Happy Tuesday!

Oscars 2015

Well, I have to say, I thought this year's Oscars Awards Ceremony was a tad on the boring side. I didn't really think there were any to die for drop dead gorgeous dresses like last year, and most of the movies that were up for nomination, I hadn't seen yet (aside from Grand Budapest Hotel). I have scanned through some red carpet looks and I picked out the ones I liked, which was only 8. So here are my top 8 in no particular order.

 

 These 4 dresses were in my top 8 because: 1. They all have a yellow hue, which is one of my favorite colors and it is usually not worn. 2. Sparkles, shimmer, floral. That is all.

These 4 dresses were in my top 8 because: 1. Classic & Elegant 2. Octavia Spencer: Full coverage

Maybe someday I'll have my act together and throw a super cute Oscar party, where we drink champagne, dress up, eat classy appetizers, and make predictions. Today was not that day. 

I'm really not ready for Monday this week, but...

Happy Monday anyway :)

 

Fashion Friday

My goodness, we have had some beautiful weather this week!

We had Monday off from school for President's Day so I took advantage of the free time and bit the bullet and got a walk in appointment at the salon down the street from me. I couldn't handle the mullet anymore! I don't know if I will ever grow my hair long again because I HATE the transition stage. I didn't color it because I wanted to go to my dear friend who usually does my hair for color. It feels so good to have short hair again!

 What I wore: Sweater: Target // Leggings: Forever21 // Boots: Nine West (old)

 Happy Friday!

Favorite Things February

Today I am sharing some of my favorite purchases from the last couple of months. 

Many of my purchases are from Target. This is what happens when there is a Target

one minute away from where you work and you have time to kill between work and coaching

on a weekly basis. You end up making impulse purchases. 

These leggings are from the juniors section in Target. I have started to like crazy leggings lately. I can't really wear them to school or anything, but I like to wear them when I teach dance classes at the studio or when I take Zumba classes. They are fun.

I also bought this Pacifica face wash at Target. I've been blessed with fairly nice skin so I haven't really used a ton of face wash products in my life, but I love this one! First of all it smells heavenly. It smells like coconut and vanilla and almond cherry, I love using it simply because it smells so good. Second, it really does a great job at removing makeup and it is gentle and feels good on my skin. Last, the packaging is pretty ;)

I have been eying this rug from Urban Outfitters for about 2 years now! They had a sale on rugs in January and I had enough money saved up from teaching dance classes so, even though my husband doesn't really like rugs, he went ahead and let me get it. It's not a super nice rug, it kind of a cheapo material, but for our rental house it is perfect. I love the colors and it covers up some of the ugly old green carpet.

I have never really been a candle person, but  lately my husband and I have started to like them. I purchased this candle at Target after smelling the entire isle. It smells sooo good. It also is pretty strong so the whole downstairs smells lovely whenever we light it. I'm not really into scents like "spun sugar" or "bubblegum", this candle smells sophisticated and romantic if you could put those two words into a scent.

I bought these leggings on line from Dance wear Solutions because I wanted to wear them for Valentines week, either to teach class in or for Zumba or something just for fun. Unfortunately, my husband and I lost our mail key so these beauties were sitting in my mail box for almost a week until we found it yesterday. Oh well, I guess I will get to where them for Valentines next year, in the mean time I will most definitely wear them for dance!

Last I have another Valentines impulse purchase. This is little adorable pink cans of sparkling wine. I love to give them as gifts because they are so cute. So, I bought some for myself for Valentines day. I haven't drank them yet. I will save them for a special occasion where I am feeling extra girly :)