Wedding and Staycation Weekend

We headed up San Luis Obispo to attend our dear friend's, Ben and Jamie, fabulous ranch wedding.  It was a wedding straight out of a magazine.  From the barn reception to the little details of like twinkle lights and mason jar cups it was really something to see.  Best of all we got to see many old friends and celebrate the night away.  Thank you for having us Ben & Jamie.

On the drive back to San Diego we stopped at a farm to pick some blackberries.  You cannot get anymore organic than that.  We stuffed our faces as we picked the sweetest, ripest berries ever.  I took another two days off of work to spend some time with Maksim and my Aunt Mika.  The rest of the long weekend we got to go to brunch at the famous Hotel Del Coronado (to die for!), headed to the beach, attended a family BBQ and enjoyed the San Diego Safari Park.

Blackberry Picking

Hotel Del Coronado Brunch and Beach

Family BBQ

San Diego Safari Park.  Maksim and Ashvin.

Love,

First Gen Fam

Fall To Do List

Maksim enjoying the local pumpkin patch in 2011

Summer is still in effect in San Diego but with the rest of the country cooling down for Fall it gets me thinking of all the things I want and need to do this season.

Fall To Do List:

1. Visit a pumpkin patch with the family.  Great photo opportunities plus my favorite color is orange.
2. Visit the Wild Animal Park because its way to hot to go in summer.
3. Take Maksim trick-or-treating.  Got a costume I am dying to put on him.
4. Go pick some apples and why not stop and get some apple pie too.
5. Head to the New Children's Museum.  Every 2nd Sunday is free admission.
6. Plan Maksim's 2nd birthday party.
7. Get everything ready for the new addition to the family.  Clothes, bottles, diapers, etc, etc.  This is a whole other to do list I have to create.
8. Get a new family photo of all 4 of us.

Love,
First Gen Fam

My New Hair Tool

I hate blow-drying my hair.  I never been able to achieve that blow-out look nor the smoothness that my hair dresser creates.  And yes, I have used fancy hair dryers, hair products, round brushes, etc.

I came across the Infiniti Pro by Conair Spin Air Rotating Styler and it had so many good reviews that I went to my local Bed Bath and Beyond store with my handy 20% coupon and got one last week.  Mind you I have wavy hair, its nothing like Gisele Bunchen's but more of a white trash stringy-kinky wave look (not pretty).

This is an accessory to your blow dryer.  It's a tool to "finish" or "polish" your hair and not a necessity to have but a nice "extra" in my opinion.  I am not coordinated enough to work a round brush and hair dryer so this handy NO-TANGLE brush is great.  Keep in mind you want your hair to be 80% dry.  The brush does not exude as much heat and power as a regular hair dryer so I did not have to worry about burning my hair.  I either do a rough dry with my regular blow dryer first or let my hair air dry.  I have even slept with my hair wet (with Moroccan oil added) and was able to use the brush in the morning with my damp wavy hair.  It even smoothed out my most stubborn underneath sections that are extremely wavy. It still takes me longer than a regular blow dryer (I have fine hair; not thick but not thin) but the results are fantastic and last me all day.  A little effort is definitely worth it in my opinion.  It took some time getting used the pressing the buttons for the rotation but like anything you get the hang of it.  My hair dresser still gives me the best blowout but this tool really gets my hair close.  It achieves a really smooth, shiny, kink-less, and healthy look.

Love,
First Gen Fam

The Hottest Weekend Ever

My good boy getting his 3rd hair cut.  See the video here.

 Maksim has a new puzzle obsession.  He isn't half bad either.

Maksim and Mickey are inseparable as you can see from the above picture.  He gets in his car, grabs his pal and says "bye-bye Mama."  Not sure how he picked this up but now he also says "I'm stuck" or "Help, I'm stuck!"  It is pure comedy.  Oh, and did I mention he loves bacon and Prosciutto smoked by his Grandpa Perko.  The stuff seeps into his pores.  He smells half middle aged man and half baby with that garlic and Johnson's baby shampoo combo.

The weekend was really hot.......hot as in >100 degrees so I preferred to stay indoors with the air conditioning on.  Stan and I got to get some sushi with old friends one night and I did brave the pool (with Maksim) for about 30 minutes on Saturday before I decided to run away from the heat.  Sunday I had the pleasure of attending my good friend's wedding on Mission Bay.  I acted as the photographer (not professional by any means) and snapped some really nice pictures (thanks to my Canon) that I cannot wait to share with the couple when the get back from their honeymoon.  Congrats to David and Angelica!

Love,
First Gen Fam

Maksim's Hair Cut 09/15/12

He was such a good boy for his 3rd hair cut.  He sat patiently and asked if he was "all done" and requested some bubbles from his Papa for entertainment.  I cannot believe at 21 months he can sit still with a buzzer at his head.  He truly amazes me at times.  Luckily, Mylisa at tHAIRapy Salon works fast with those scissors.  Also, how cute is that little pouty lip?

Love,
First Gen Fam

My Hair: Before and After

As you can see from the "before" pics my hair needed some major help especially since I did not have a decent hair cut since the beginning of the year.  My ends were stringy and my layers lost in a sea of split ends.  Though I hate cutting my hair because I have been growing it out forever, it does look and feel so much healthier.  Jaime my stylist from Richard Joseph Salon added much needed layers and a long side bang.  We decided with adding more blonde to add some low lights to give my hair more dimension and the regrowth won't look too harsh because realistically I probably won't be back to see her until way after the baby comes (probably January).  She was able to keep pieces of my natural color while blending the colors to lessen the ombre look that I have grown tired of.  The result is a perfect "bronde" (brunette+blonde) color.  The pics are taken from my phone but I will post some better ones soon when I am all done up.  Have a great weekend.

Love,
First Gen Fam

New Products I Love...

Since I am limited to buying any clothing at this time due to my jolly-physique I have been on a beauty product kick.  Here are some of my new favorites:

Wet n Wild Megalast Lipcolor

I love all the makeup trends from the coral to the new fall burgundy lip. There is no easier way to update your makeup than with lipstick.  If I wear any color on my face you will see it on my lips.  I hate to invest in a lipcolor that I may wear a couple times in a season so I stay away from buying them at the departments stores in which they are usually 20 bucks a pop.  After reading many blog reviews I found a cult following for the Wet n Wild Megalast Lipcolor.  For $1.99 each my wallet is happy and it satisfies my need to update my makeup bag.  They claim that these last up to 4 hours and glide on easily.  So far so true.  I ended up getting the following colors:  Carrot Gold, Ravin' Raisin, Sandstorm, and Purty Persimmon.  Check out this blog to see swatches.

Caudalie Anti-Dark Spot and Radiance Set

Due to pregnancy I am definitely producing more pigment.  No it is not in a form of a tan but rather dark spots on my face.  Since I cannot use a retinol product during pregnancy I had to find something else and fast!  With regular visits for facials at Irina Skin Care and the Caudalie set above my face is finally normalizing.  I dont expect a miracle or something overnight but the use of the product have given my face a nice, healthly dewy look while lightening spots on my face.  It smells wonderful as well and I would use it even if I didnt have dark spots to give myself the dewy complexion.  Its $$$ but currently so worth it for me.

Love and Beauty by Forever 21 Nail Polish

This nail polish is $2.80!  Cheap and I swear its the next best thing to a Shellac polish.  They have all the trendy colors and it is long-wear.  Even after a week my nails had no chips.  A-mazing and guilt free.  

MAC Liquidlast Liner

I love a good cat eye.  My problem has always been that after a couple hours the perfect wing is smudged or completely gone due to my oily lids (and yes I have tried primers).  I have found the holy grail of eyeliners for oily lids!  It stays put and when I rub my finger over it, it doesn't even budge.  I truly love it but getting it off is like trying to remove permanent marker.  You better have a good makeup remover that can take off waterproof products.  

Love,

First Gen Fam

Hair-spiration

Long side swept bang-spiration.

I am so looking forward to getting my hair done tomorrow.  It's just in time for the 3 weddings I am going to back to back weekends.  Getting my hair done is probably my favorite form of pampering.  I have been sporting the ombre look for some time now and I think its time to step away from it gradually.  I want more blonde and the ombre less severe.  Maybe more of a color melting since I do want some of my natural mousey brown color mixed in.  I am after all having a baby in 2 months so the maintenance has to be medium to low.  As for the cut I have been growing my hair out ever since I  can remember. It grows so slow, its genetic and being pregnant does not make it grow any faster unfortunately. I will take an inch off and my layers have to be freshened up for sure after a summer of chlorine and sun. My bangs have been growing out as well and I am thinking of cutting them once more.  I want more of a long side swept bang so I can still pull them back though I am tempted to cut blunt straight across bangs like Jessica Biel.  Bangs do hide a multitude of sins, like wrinkles and any pimples that come my way. Decisions, decisions.  I will have to do a before and after post.

Best,
First Gen Fam

Sea of a Weekend

This past weekend was all about Seaworld.  I swear to you it had to be Maksim's best day yet.  He sat through the whole Shamu show.  I really didn't think possible but the kid was amazed and soaked (we sat in the splash zone).  He learned new words there like penguin, turtle, and Shamu of course.  He did all his favorite things at the park, he ate (the food was really good), got to play with water, run around and scream whenever a sea creature passed him by.  It was the cutest thing ever and I am so glad we upgraded to the two year pass.  See you soon Seaworld. 

The rest of the weekend via Instagram:  1. Mika, Maksim and I at the flea market  

2.  My flea market treasures  3.  Maksim has his Greek girlfriend  

4. Maksim and Papa at the Greek Festival  5.  Tiny Greek dancers. 

6.  My little Hercules

Love,

First Gen Fam