{come what} MAY

Happy May! First post in a while and first post in the brand new month. This IS my birthday month - 12 days baby! - and I'm gonna be the big old 2-3. Scary huh. Ok not really because I still feel like a small child. I've started to reflect on the past year but when I did I immediately thought of my New Years goals I set for myself (thank goodness I blogged then otherwise they'd be lost in the abyss of my brain). And here's best news: I've already accomplished (almost) four!

1. Start and consistently post in my blog: considering I haven't had a functional computer for the past two months I'd say I've done quite well!
2. Take a trip outside of Oregon: I took a pseudo-spring break weekend down in Arizona and just got back from Laramie, Wyoming of all places. I drove out there with my girl Emily since she got her big-girl dream job at a hospital out there. Definitely farrrrr to much driving but always a fun adventure!
3. Perform Somewhere: Ok this one is bittersweet, but I sang at my Nana's funeral with my sister and brother in law a few weeks ago. It was such a beautiful service and wonderful celebration of her life. She is so missed and loved, but I praise the Lord I will see her again one day. 
4. Move out of Corvallis: Ok, I still live here. BUT I got a paid internship in Portland for the summer, aka I'm moving to Portland!!! I'm so stoked because the Lord pretty much threw this in my lap and I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity. This also mean I get to live with my other twin pug, Ruthie...we've literally been talking about living together since she graduated last year and moved back up to PDX. 

All this to say God has really blessed me even  in this first quarter of the year, and I'm stoked for what the rest of this spring has in store. The weather so far has been BEAUTIFUL and warm! This is unheard of for the Willamette Valley this time of year (I'm still in shock) so obviously this means another stylish spring ensemble was long overdue....and I promised I'd throw in some royal blue so here you go! 

Oh I also want to mention this entire outfit cost me less that $50. I'm a bargain hunter always and forever. 

[dress: $8, Old Navy - or as I call it old naval | Shirt: $14, TJ Maxx]

{ Veggie Pizza }

Officially done with my last first week of classes PTL! Today I just wanted to have a quiet and relaxed evening and was just craving pizza like no other. I considered ordering, I considered buying a frozen pizza [I'm a sucker for those lean cuisine ones], but I decided that I should just use my woman skills and make one!

So I went to the store, got all my yummy fixings, came home, and went to work! I always forget how much I love cooking and have no idea why I don't do it more. And personal pizzas are small and cute, and let's be real, cute foods are way fun to cook/bake! Also, why don't I drink more wine? It's amazing. And I love it. Mmmm fermented grapes! Henyways, my pizza turned out amazing so clearly I had to share my simple simple secret. Oh and did I mention it's pretty darn healthy? Win!


All you need is:
- store bought pizza dough (I use whole wheat because it's healthier and I think it tastes better)
- 1 tbsp light Alfredo sauce
- veggies of your choice (today I used zucchini, broccoli, spinach, yellow pepper, and tomato)
- 1/4c Italian shredded cheese blend (or whatever cheese you want)
- a bottle of wine to occupy yourself during baking time

Just follow the pictures and enjoy! Happy weekend everyone!

[nom. nom. nom]

Well. I'm getting my music on. This is embarrassing.

Wow two posts in two days? Who I am, a real blogger? I'm not mad. Hopefully you're not either. 

Well I can't decide if this is totally embarrassing or not but I really wanted to share music at some point on here. So I did it! No I don't have any fancy equipment, just me sitting in front of my computer (supppppper high tech) so you know the sound quality is ridiculously good ;) 

I LOVE this song, "Your Great Name" by Natalie Grant, and my dad and I did it at church this past fall. I was hoping we could record it together over Easter weekend but time just go away from us. I'm trying to decide if by posting this I can now check off my "perform in front of people" new year's goal I had...it borderline counts. 

Please keep in mind I just decided to do this randomly when I realized I had great acoustics in my new dining room  - I just moved into an adorable new place for spring! Literally one take, called it good, and that's that! And I had to throw in a picture to make it a video so just excuse the car selfie. Alright in the process of writing this entirely unnecessary and run on description I have decided this is a little embarassing. Oh well. That's the point of this whole blog right....free to be ME! Hah. So here's me :)

Identity Crisis

Warning. This is not a fun and fluffy post. It challenged me to even articulate this. I hope it challenges you.

I can guarantee we have all wrestled with the issue of identity. Who are you? What defines you? What makes you who you are??? I'll whole heartedly admit that to this day I struggle with this. It's funny to hear what people say when you ask then to describe themselves, their identity. Even looking at my own "About Me" section I define myself in such small and worldly terms. I have defined myself by my field of study, my passions (which are apparently only fluffy and sparkly things..what?), and who I love, Jesus (which is not worldly, obvs).

It's just so curious that we often define ourselves by things that can be taken away instantly; upon things that are clearly temporary but are being used as a definitive and supposedly permanent descriptor.