Hug-Lovin' Hippo from Hallmark

From the very first second, these hippos touched the shelves in the Hallmark stores... a buzz could be heard in the hippo collectors group. Also, some colleagues told my husband they had seen a hippo. It is not surprising, because a huge Hallmark store can be found just around the corner from the office. I thought I was doing a great job... not giving in to the urge to buy it. Repeating the "no more plushy hippo" mantra. Even passed the shop a few times... just pretending I did not see it! Till a box was delivered shortly before Valentine's day.... all wrapped in pretty pink tissue paper... there she was! Wiggling her cute hippo butt, asking for a hug! If you want to see and hear her: please click: Hallmark Hippo. 

Thank you Sheila and John, for the cutest hippo ever. She makes me melt a little, every time I see her. She is the embodiment of Hippo-Happiness... you can never have too much of that!

 

Hippo Cupcake

Not very tasty, but super cute! As all hippo lovers know, it is always fun to look for hippos, well... anywhere... especially on the internet. It is amazing what you can find. Sometimes the most strange and unexpected hippos... but always ones that make you smile... like this one I found on Pinterest: Crochet Amigurumi hand-picked by Pinner, made by Mriek. To be honest, the original picture shows a cow and a horse too... but they will have to find their way to another blog. I love those colored sprinkles on its head.... the icing on the.... hippo!

 

ZORTZ

Zortz was found at a local Arts and Crafts Fair, last fall. Of course, he comes with a little story. If you collect something, you will know this feeling. First, the excitement of seeing a stand or display where you suspect you will be able to find, whatever it is that you are looking for. Then the few moments of eagerness, looking at least twice at everything (just to be sure, imagine overlooking it!), followed by disappointment if you are not lucky, or excitement if you do find it. I think, the seller (Max Gyllenhaal) saw my disappointed face... "What are you looking for?" he asked me. "A hippo...." I answered, with a slight sigh. That sigh would translate in "you probably are going to tell me, you do not have a hippo, which I already know, because if you had, it would be out there..." I did not expect to hear: "I do have a hippo, I am not sure if I brought it with me today, let me check." "Huh?" I never expected that. And there it was... Zortz was found! Although each creation of this artist is called Zortz, I think it is the perfect name for a very cool looking hippo!

 

His card reads: The gift of grab. I am Zortz. I am made from foam latex rubber and given the power of speech through the household tool, the clothespin. Squeeze the clothespin behind my head and I will open my mouth to hold notes, toothbrushes, keys and more! Each Zortz is handmade by Max in Brooklyn, N.Y. Max Gyllenhaal.

Check out the website, and get your ZORTZ !

Skinny Hippo?

Once in a while, a "surprise-something-hippo" find its way into my mailbox. A few weeks ago, that surprise came all the way from the Provence, France, wrapped in a bright red envelope. The cutest magnet, reading: Mon régime commence toujours le même jour: demain, which translates to: My diet always starts the same day: tomorrow. I think it is a very appropriate for hippos. To me, skinny hippos do not make sense at all! Dear Anneke and Hans, thank you so much for thinking about me, and making me smile. Oh, and before I forget, I think Buurman needs a "hippo-dress-up-suit", just let me know his size! LOL