#5 Someone Else: Melissa Ehret
A new feature of Some Sundays! Plus a coastal hideaway, small rebellions, and must-visit spots to save to your Oregon coast Google map...
Someone Else is a new feature of Some Sundays: Once a month, I’ll ask people I really like and am inspired by some questions about what they like and are inspired by. 🙂
Melissa Ehret is a designer with a knack for bringing considered clarity to everything she touches. She’s a key player on my dream team at work — and was instrumental in shaping the new look and feel of Some Sundays.
With a home base on the Oregon Coast, Melissa and her husband, Jesse, recently opened Bodega Taproom & Bottle Shop in Cannon Beach. It’s a sun-filled, wood clad hideout that serves craft beers, wine, and cider that are hard to find anywhere else on the coast.
Today, I’m asking her about some of her favorite things, best advice, and what’s been inspiring her lately. Let’s get into it!
Favorite all-purpose layer.
My favorite and most worn article of clothing when the temps start to drop is the Topo Designs Mountain Shirt Jacket: It’s the perfect layer for coastal days or chilly desert nights. The side pockets are in the exact right place and are big enough to hold lots of things when I adventure around. It’s well-constructed and has a nice weight to it, but is also really soft.
Favorite sweater for cool coastal summers.
The Sonnie Sweater by Curator SF is a go-to in my closet. I got mine at Short Wave in Astoria — my favorite coastal boutique. The chunky cotton knit feels luxurious, drapes beautifully, and looks polished. It’s slightly cropped and pairs well with my high-waisted denim. Just cozy perfection.
Perfect cup of coffee.
I make pour-over, using Sleepy Monk’s Monastery blend (roasted in Cannon Beach and delivered to my door), with cream and a little sugar. I usually only have one cup a day. Two on the weekends if my morning isn’t too hectic.
Go-to way to shake off a funk.
Slowing down and being in the moment helps relieve pressure when it starts to build. A hot shower, a good nap, a long call with my mom or a close friend, some floor time with my rabbit, or a good conversation with my husband can help a lot.
I’m lucky to live close to a little beach where very few people go, so taking a walk and appreciating the water and trees and birds can do wonders for my mental health.
If I have more motivation, I’ll take a bike ride. I think riding a bike is like drinking from the fountain of youth: fresh air, independence, endorphins.
Best advice.
Follow your instincts. Don’t get wishy-washy or try to please other people when it comes to your own endeavors.
A lot of people think they’re doing you a favor by pointing out all the things that could go wrong. But taking courage, and deciding that whatever decision you make is the right decision for you, gives you confidence and strengthens your judgement over time.
A change you’ve made for the better.
It’s been a few years now, but I let my natural hair color grow in as a small act of rebellion in the complex game of beauty standards.
I have a lot of silver hair for someone my age. I used to dye my hair, for fun or to achieve a certain look. But then it became more about covering gray. A movement toward embracing natural gray was one of the positive things to come out of the pandemic, for a lot of women.
It occasionally makes me feel self-conscious, or think I look old. But ultimately it’s just me. And it looks cool. My husband loves it, which helps.
Last thing you purchased.
Gold hoop earrings from Short Wave in Astoria. They were a bit of an impulse buy, but I’ve been wearing them every day and I love them.
A recent good read.
I picked up a book of short stories in Joshua Tree this year called Desert Oracle by Ken Layne. For the past three years, I’ve spent a week in the desert over my winter birthday, and desert life has a weird and fascinating history. Strange things happen out there, and these stories capture a lot of that. This collection leans into the solitude of open spaces, weird things people do, environmental conservation, and unearthly phenomena.
Something you’re really into right now.
I’m really into taking photos. I’ve always loved capturing beautiful scenes, but my husband and I just opened a little taproom and bottle shop in Cannon Beach called Bodega, and I’m in charge of the visuals and storytelling for our online presence.
The Oregon Coast offers an incredible backdrop — and with life being busier than ever, these photoshoots give me the opportunity to play in the water and put my feet in the sand multiple times a week. Without them, I’d miss out on a lot of beauty and wonder.
Favorite local spots to hit up at the coast.
Pacific Way Cafe in Gearhart: They make a flaky breakfast pastry topped with roasted veggies that’s so comforting and filling.
Raintown Vintage Collective in Astoria: My go-to for vintage shopping. It’s as “Portland” as you’ll get on the coast, but with more affordable prices. If vintage denim is your thing, this is the place!
Favorite scent.
Fresh lilac. Is there anything better? It’s so fleeting and can’t be reproduced, which makes it more special. I’m also obsessed with rose geranium. It’s citrusy, fruity, and spicy. I could rub these leaves all over myself every day.
Favorite TV series to watch with Jesse.
Our favorite show this fall is a new one: The Penguin. We both love the Batman movies, especially the Tim Burton-directed ones. This show combines some of our favorite genres — crime, mystery, drama, action. Colin Farrell isn’t usually my thing but, as Penguin, he’s really captured something unique.
Episodes are released once a week, so it’s something to look forward to watching together with a bowl of popcorn.
Go-to source of inspiration.
Nature, hands down.
Living in the PNW is a special thing, especially being right on the ocean. It’s lush and rugged and supports so much life. The weather evolves each day in unexpected ways. The tide changes the beach every few hours, the sun reveals crabs in the shallows, the fog drifts in and land disappears. It’s a reminder that change is inevitable, and part of life.
The days that Melissa comes into our Portland office from the coast are some of the best of each month: she’s so good at genuinely connecting with everyone, and I’m always curious to see what she’ll wear. How good is that signature sweater? Her outfits are 🤌.
📍 As a full-time resident, Melissa knows all the best spots to visit on the Oregon coast. In addition to the ones shared here, we’ve made a Google Maps list that you can save to your own account!
Make sure to check out Bodega when you’re in Cannon Beach — it’s dreamy!
⭕️ In a First Among Christians, Young Men Are More Religious Than Young Women It may have something to do with #ChurchToo and the perception of Christianity as “one institution that isn’t initially and formally skeptical of [young men] as a class”? (gift link)
⭕️ Chappell Roan’s Gift to Middle-Aged Moms “Before her, the last thing you’d hear me say is ‘touch me, baby’ — I’m touched out. I’d prefer everyone to leave me alone.”
⭕️ I Got Next: Banishing Venmo Brain in Friendships I felt this big-time when my family benefitted from the huge generosity of our community as I was recovering from two surgeries last year. What if, instead of payback ping-pong, it’s all just part of a loving loop of mutual generosity?