.:Meet the Ritchies:.

Our friends Hagen & Morgan had a baby girl! Welcome Matilda Grace, we can’t wait to meet you!

I worked a lot this weekend for our big meetings at work next week. I hope that I have done my part for my group and made it easier for them to share their vision with the execs. It was fun tapping into the ol’ graphic artist juices again, I haven’t done that since school really. It doesn’t come easy for me, but I enjoy it once I get a vibe going.

Rudy is doing figure 8′s in the living room as I write this… he gets that from his Yorkie side I think…

My best friend Brandee and her beautiful son Silas came to town on Friday and I got to spend the afternoon with them. We did a little shopping and Brandee got the call she’d been waiting for, offering a job that she was hoping for! It was an awesome day and it was s o much fun to see them!

It was also with Brandee and Silas that we visited Yo Cream for the first time. Several flavors of frozen yogurt, with the option of swirling them together, complete with a plethora of toppings equals greatness. If there is one near you, I highly recommend it!

I have officially taken over the workspace – we moved the computer desk into the play room/tv room/office. This means that I can spread my sewing stuff all over the room, which is kind of funny because that’s how it was even when the computer desk was in there. Just ask my husband (thanks for letting me have my craft explosions and invading your space more than once, luvs you!) … (Andi, stop making those gag noises, I can hear you from here!)…

I had a cup of coffee each morning this weekend. If you remember, I gave up caffeine a few weeks ago and I have been doing surprisingly well with it. I drink herbal tea at work and my headaches only lasted that first week. I feel like I am sleeping sounder, too. I am a dreamer, both awake and asleep but here I specifically mean while sleeping. And it doesn’t seem like I have been having as many dreams since I cut back on caffeine. But on the weekends it’s harder to resist it and this weekend, apparently, I was very weak.

Claire and I picked out new shower curtains last week, and we chose a plastic one with the world map on it for the inside curtain. I am learning lots of Geography. Mark is having a problem with staying in the shower too long because he gets too engrossed in the map.

Veda got her hair cut at her Mom’s this evening, it’s now an adorable bob! We are excited to see it!

My favorite things from the Grammy’s tonight: (I started watching an hour late because we always watch Extreme Home Makeover from 8-9pm)

• the Michael Jackson tribute song

• the dress Carrie Underwood was wearing during this tribute

• the little boy that was with Jay Z and Rhianna when they accepted an award..(update: he is the son of Beyonce’s sister Solange, his name is Julez and he’s 6)

could you just eat him up!?

• the Dave Matthew’s Band performance (with the exception of his weird bird-like dance moves in the middle of it)

• Jeff Bridges, that guy is the coolest.

• Eminem. The dude is super talented, despite his snarky persona. (and he is impossible to do Karaoke to, trust me – I tried…haha)

I believe the Grammy’s have bitten off more than their producers can chew because the last several years that I have caught them on TV, I am always amazed at how terrible the production is. There are awkward moments all over the place – microphones not working, spotlights on the wrong people, presenters missing their cue. It’s annoying, to say the least. I feel like they spend enough money on it that they should at least hire the most talented producers around, right?

I bought a large bag of candy hearts at Target on Friday and they are about almost gone. I do love me some candy. It’s not all me though, Mark is helping.

It’s late, I’m going to go to sleep now. Have a great week! See you back here very soon!

xoxo

Claire has recently become interested in Microsoft Word.  I discovered this today while cleaning up the play room to move the desk in and make it a tv room/office:

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! Oh my goodness, this made me laugh so loud. First of all, those of you that know our daughters know that they are the exact OPPOSITE of each other when it comes to temperament. Claire is a spit-fire, as they say – the apple does not fall far from the tree. I was a pill when I was younger, I slammed doors, I screamed really loud, I cried A LOT (my poor parents!). And Claire has been super sensitive from the get go. Veda, however, is as even keel as they come. Nothing gets this little one rowled up. I have never seen her throw a fit. She does have opinions, that’s for sure. She just does not have a temper, of any form.

So for Claire… to be telling Veda… that she needs to “keep a contained attitude” (and I have NO IDEA where she came up with that description because I have never said that phrase in my life)… is about the funniest thing you will ever hear (or read, as the case may be).

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend! My husband is the greatest, he made all three meals today and just finished up in the kitchen, prepping a pot roast for dinner tomorrow. I know, right? Can you say A M A Z I N G? Yes, and it’s spelled M-A-R-K.

xoxo

I just made duct tape!  In Photoshop!  Thanks to this handy dandy little tutorial!  I am preparing for a big meeting next week at work, hleping my designers have the most kick butt presentation.  Our category is called City so I thought I would try this out for an urban feel.  I love it!  Even if we don’t end up using it anywhere, who doesn’t like duct tape?

What’s your favorite tutorial?  I’d love you to share!

xoxo

This should have been posted yesterday, the 24th … instead, it is belated …

Happy Birthday Bill & Chuck!

I love this photo, Bill shared this with us last summer and I just think it's the most precious thing I've ever seen! This is Bill and Chuck when they were in an elementary school play. I think they are foxes? tigers? I'm not sure, but it's cute.

We celebrated with dinner and a sundae last Thursday! Happy Birthday my awesome father-in-law!! We love you!!

Last night after Mark and I made a very delicious dinner, we went to Casa Naranja with our friend Andy. It was another awesome experience, with great service and impossibly delightful food. I don’t think there’s anything less than fantastic on the menu. Since we had just eaten a big dinner before going out, we were not all that hungry. But after having been there for about an hour we decided to order the baquette chips with feta and caramelized onions, and what our server Robby recommended, these spiced and fried garbanzo beans. I can’t even tell you how good these were. It was sort of a like a corn nut, very light and fluffy with this super tasty cajun spice coating them. Andy called them “sexy beer nuts” and I could not agree more! I am hoping to learn how to do this process so that I can serve them at our next get together. Do you have any idea how it’s done at home, without the use of fancy restaurant equipment? If so, I’d love you to share!

Then we went over to the restaurant owner’s home to a gathering and I did something for the very first time in my life. I rocked the mic. That’s right, I karaoked my heart out for the first time and IN FRONT OF my husband. This is huge! I always envisioned me with a microphone at karaoke, in front of everyone I knew, would be something like Cameron Diaz performane in My Best Friend’s Wedding. But thankfully, it wasn’t horrible like that. It wasn’t grammy winning either. But I had a blast! It was also, coincidentally the first time Mark had done karaoke in front of me. But I get mini private concerts in the living room with just him and his guitar, so I felt very satisfied with that. We even sang a few numbers together! We were not able to pick the song because it was a set of DVD’s that had a random mix. I believe the most fun I had was singing Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated” with Mark. That was good stuff! I wish we would have had pictures from that part of our evening, but I only took my camera out at the restaurant. Regardless, here are a few for sharing:

Oh my goodness. My husband is so handsome I most of the time cannot handle it.

The space in back at Casa Naranja, there are the hammock chairs and swings at the floating bar I was telling you about.

Andy and Mark, they were very supportive of my karaoke performance that evening, they were very kind.

presenting... the sexy beer nuts! Yum!

To everyone who reads this,

I want to tell you about my daughter Claire’s 6th grade class at Parkrose Middle School here in Portland.  This year the Outdoor School funding was taken out of the budget, which means that in order for all 239 students to attend Outdoor School in the spring, we parents and staff and community have had to do fundraisers.  Unfortunately our deadline is fast approaching, and we aren’t anywhere close to our goal.  

If you or someone you know would like to sponsor a child, the cost for the 2 night/3 day camp is $172 per student.  Our greatest hope at this point is that we will be able to arrange a couple generous corporate sponsors.  But as we write letters and send emails, the clock continues to tick.  Any little bit will help.  To donate, please contact me and or go to the Friends of Outdoor School website at www.passonthememory.org and be sure to put Parkrose in the notes with your payment.  Friends of Outdoor School works with the Portland Metro area to make Outdoor School a reality for local schools.

It would mean so much to these kids!  For these 6th graders, an opportunity to grow and learn as they will do at Outdoor School will be life-changing.  Just ask any 7th grader.

Thank you so much for your time!  I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
~Melissa

Today I took the girls to the mall, along with their Auntie Andi, so that they could use their gift cards to Build A Bear received from their Aunt Amy. Wow, they have some pretty awesome Aunties! What I love about the Build A Bear workshop is that all the employees of that store take their jobs very seriously. We have been there a few times (we have a rewards card, for crying out loud), and each time we have a great experience! From the lady who sits there and pushes the plush animal of your choice onto the tube as it fills your new friend with fluff, to the people who walk around and make sure you are finding what you are looking for (seriously it is a sensory overload, there’s so much color everywhere! And everything you can imagine for dressing your new little stuffed buddy). And even the people who check you out at the end and share with you great news, for example today we received 20% off our total! Which was a great surprise! It was good fun as always, here are a few pictures I took of the process…

Once they each picked out a friend and had them filled with fluff, it was time to pick out some clothes...

Claire's bear didn't really need clothes, as it was printed with peace signs all over but she did pick out a little shirt...

Veda picked out a cat that had sparkly yarns in it's fur, so of course it had to have the leopard print outfit to go along with the shine...

Auntie Andi got a kick out of the undergarment offerings, there were boxer briefs, boxers and even...the tighty whitey's...

Then it was time to enter all the information in the computer so they could print out their birth certificates, the girls picked names and then promptly changed them, in the car, on the way home...

Thanks Aunt Amy for the gift cards!

xoxo

Me: Are you left-handed Veda? (As I notice that she is painting with her left hand)

Veda: Um..(thinks for a second)..No.

Me: When you write you write with your right hand?

Veda: Yes.

Me: Oh … but you’re painting with your left hand?

Veda: Just trying it out.

This is one of the million things I love about Miss V. She is a free thinker. She loves to try new things and it’s rare when you will hear her complain about anything.

I must be the luckiest girl on the planet really, getting to have two ladies nights in one week!

Our good friend Morgan is going to have her second child any day now, in fact she is hoping with all her might that it will be this weekend. But only the baby knows when it will really happen. Until then, I am checking facebook often to see any status updates! Haha…oh facebook. Anyway, she had requested one last hoorah before the baby’s arrival so we all met up on Thursday night at this fabulous little establishment called Casa Naranja. Coincidentally our friend Andy helped build the place, so I like to feel like we have some ties to it. Which is awesome considering everything about the place is fantastic! Food was super delicious and unique, and best of all – AFFORDABLE! Yeah! The staff was kind and took well to a table full of women giving them a hard time (like when Sara decided to nickname the waiter D.B., which stood for Date Balls, which are the most delightful little creation for your tastebuds!). The outside area in back was fully enclosed for the winter weather and protected against the elements. It was like nothing I had ever seen before, there were hammock chairs and a floating bar with hanging swing seats. I know, right! It was very cool and I am so excited to go again, especially when the weather warms up! It was a great time, as always. I love the ladies in my life, as I said – lucky, lucky, lucky!

So adorable.. Morgan and her sister Rachel

Amber and Sara

All I see when I look at this picture, is my thigh... but also pictured are Rachel, Morgan, Amber, Sara, Constance and myself (and my thigh... *sigh*)

And it’s true, I got to do this two nights in a row, except that the second evening included a much younger crew! I took the girls, along with Claire’s friend Haley who was having a sleepover, to see the Chipmunks Squeakquel movie. It was cute, but I feel like the thing that saves me about those movies is that they are only 90 minutes long. The girls had a great time, and that’s all that matters. We also stopped by a mini-mart on our way and got drinks and candies so that we only had to pay for admission and popcorn. This probably saved us about $30, seriously. Thank goodness for large purses!

Happy friday friends!  I have finally updated my long neglected etsy site – I would love for you to take a look!

Inspired by this cutie pie wearing one of my bonnets…

photo of Ripley, courtesy of her talented father Jeremiah L. Scott @ www.endhaven.com