ikea

The IKEA just opened last week and I have already been twice. I've been waiting since last summer to get patio furniture . Here is what we decided on:

sisters

Here are all the Ricks girls, wearing our lockets from Liz (thanks, Lizzy). We had such a great time together.

moma

Here are some pics from my trip to the MOMA with Betsy (Mom).

lunch with old roomies

On Tuesday last week, my good friend and old roomate from college, Karen, drove up from Pennsylvania, leaving her two cute kids with the in-laws, just for a reunion in NYC. We then met our other old roomate , Ellen, for lunch who brought along her new baby, Sonja. It was such a lovely day; I didn't want it to end.

memories

While cleaning out the basement, I found this old photo of Matt and I before we got married. I love finding unexpected memories.

the slam book

I've been working for days, cleaning out the basement and in the process I've found some "gems." One of these gems is a Slam Book where you and all of your friends were supposed to answer certain questions honestly. I've decided to transcribe some choice statements from this Slam Book. These statements have never been published; remember you heard it here first. Enjoy the bona fide spelling errors.

Elizabeth Ricks

Describe yourself in 3 words: "Pretty, crazy, cofortable"

Favorite pastime: "Getting knew stickers"

Birthday and Zodiac sign: "November 29, 1979 Topax" (like the tampon?)

Favorite Singer/Group: "Celeste Ricks" (wow, Lizzy . . . thanks)

Favorite Actor/Actress: "Shirly Temple and Dick Van Dyke"

Most embarassing moment: "When I got 12:47 on the mile and was the last one"

Cutest Girls: "Rebecca Silber, Christine J., and Moshey"

Cutest Couple: "Celeste and Eric" (don't tell Matt)

Favorite Song: "Every Little Step"

Favorite Movie: "Citty Citty Bang Bang"

Favorite Food: "Kesh" "Geodzyods" (I think that's gyozas)

Biggest Flirt: "Jessica Callagari"

Craziest: "Sara Elise"

Best Bod: "Mrs. Braun" (hubba hubba)

I Hate . . . : "Dunkers" (what?)

Wishes:
1. Be rich
2. Have 5 children

Celeste Ricks

Describe yourself in 3 words: "smart, full of life, fun"

Favorite pastime: "reading classics"

Best moment: "when I found out I got the part of Clara in the Nutcracker"

Favorite Singer/Group: "50s music"

Favorite Actor/Actress: "Clark Gable, Vivian Lee and Bette Midler"

Most embarassing moment: "when I accidentally walked into the boy's bathroom"

Favorite song: "Flying Free"

Favorite Movie: "Gone with the Wind, Meet me in St. Louis"

Favorite Food: "qusants and hash browns"

I hate . . . : "people who show off"

If only: "I didn't have to go to school"

Wishes:

1. To become a dancer
2. To marry a wonderful man (and hansome)

(check and check)


Traci Garff

Describe yourself in 3 words: "crazy, wierd, fat"

My best moment was: "Shaun asked me out"

Favorite pastime: "skiing"

Favorite singer/group: "Beach Boys, Nirvana, Nillons"

Favorite actor/actress: "Kirk Cameron"

Biggest Flirt: "Jessica Shrier"

Sexiest: "me (NOT)"

Craziest: "me"

Favorite food: "cucumbers"

Favorite songs: "life is a highway" "playground"

Cutest couple: "Wes and Chris"

Cutest guys: "Shaun (Lake Tahoe), Wes, Matt"

Most embarassing moment: "you'll remember"

I love . . . : "Mooshy and Chris" (Moshy was my little sister Becca's nickname)

I hate . . . : "sluts (in general)"

If only. . .: "I could marry a tall blone. cute!"

Wishes:
1. have all the wishes I want
2. to return to God
3. to have a good life

leaving on a jetplane

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go . . . I leave for NY tonight on the red-eye. Here is my list of to-dos in NY:

1. Clean out my parent's basement and garage

2. Go to H&M

3. Hang with my sisters and bro, Spence

4. Spend the day with my old roomies from college, Ellen and Karen

5. Do a little thrifting

7. Have breakfast at Petite Abeille

That's all I can think of for now. Ta-ta.

forever21

I know, I'm almost thirty, but that doesn't stop me from loving Forever 21. And now that we have a new, two-level store in town, I had to spend a few hours there today (as it is the beginning of the month, and I have a fresh, self-imposed, clothes budget to spend). My real excuse for going was to pick out a birthday present for my sister, Trina. Mission accomplished (not in the Bush sense).

mueslix

Growing up Matt's family had good friends who lived on a farm in Switzerland (complete with goats!). From this idyllic setting emerged one of our now favorite Thomas family recipes: mueslix. Now I'm not talking about the stuff you buy at the health food store that comes in a box, I'm talking about the real McCoy. A few years ago I happened to introduce Betsy to this recipe and she turned into a mueslix-nazi, going so far as to take her mueslix with her on trips and refusing to eat anything but her homemade mueslix for breakfast every morning. If you don't believe me, ask her about it (she'll bear her mueslix-testimony for you). Then I found out that my brother Christian got hooked as well. I can understand the appeal, but I can't eat it everyday; it has so much fiber it is like getting a colonic. I thought I would post the recipe because I just finished making it to bring to my potluck breakfast at work tommorow. Matt and I often eat it for dinner in the summer too, especially on a hot day; if eaten for dinner we serve it with cheese toasts on the side made with delicious Crumb Brothers bread.

Here's the recipe:
3 cups oatmeal
3/4 cups wheat germ
1/2 cup ground almonds
1 fresh lemon squeezed
1 fresh orange squeezed
1 28 oz bottle of sliced peaches with juice
1 granny smith apple grated (peel and all)
1 pkg frozen raspberries
1 container plain yogurt
vanilla extract
almond extract

Mix all together then sweeten with honey or brown sugar to taste. You can also add any other fruits you like.

blooming peonies

Despite the cool chill and rain that came last night our peonies bloomed. They are my sister, Liz's, favorite flower. Wish you were here, Lizzy!