Supper Club

Image via 100 Layer Cake 

Days are longer and the nights warmer so in mind, summer is officially here.  Summer motivates me to spend more time outdoors especially in the evenings.  I recently was scrolling around on Pinterest and saw so many great ideas for entertaining outdoors (I am a sucker to twinkling lights) and I thought it would be so nice to have some friends over while we sit by candlelight, conversate, and eat delicious food.  I love to cook so combined with my love of entertaining I started reading up on supper clubs.  What is a supper club you ask?  After some research here is the best description I found:

Supper club:  exclusive social club that focuses on food and the people that share it.

There are really no rules to it and they can be done several different ways, such as:

• Host:  Can be the same host every time or the host duties rotate through the members of the group.  
• When:  Should be openly organized with the members of the club on how often everyone meets.  Successful supper clubs have reoccurring dates like every 3rd Sunday for example.   
• Meeting Ground:  Up to the current host.   It can be the same place each time but the hosts can alternate.  Many are held at the member's homes/backyards, restaurants, parks, rec rooms, etc.  
• Food:  Theme is decided by the current host.  The host can prepare served courses or members can make it potluck style and each member brings a food item.  A menu or potluck theme is sent in advance to the members.
• Decor and Atmosphere:  Optional, but I do think it would be fun to dress up a table with little inexpensive add-ons and add music to set the mood to make it feel like a special night.  
• Cost:  To not burden the host every member pays in advance if its not potluck style.  Limits can be set up with the members.  Cost should be openly discussed so no one feels awkward.  A lobster dinner is probably going to be more expensive versus someone making burgers.  Price can change/vary host to host.  The cost should cover the meal and possibly beverages.  You can keep the cost down by having everyone bring a bottle of wine or exotic beer to the event.

I am really seriously thinking of starting one up friends in San Diego.  I will be fishing for interest on our Facebook and Twitter pages.  And to be honest who doesnt love hanging out with friends and eating?  Sounds like a great time to me!

Love,

First Gen Fam

Pregnancy Fashion Challenge

Couldn't resist putting this one up of Maksim and I

Blazer - Zara

White button-up shirt - Forever 21

Red pants - Cotton On

Ballet flats - Sam Edelman

Bag - Cromia via Marshalls

Rose gold watch - Micheal Kors

This pregnancy I seriously vow to dress "cuter" even though all I want to be in is pajamas.  Whether it be for work or a stroll around town, I want to look put together, not like I am borrowing clothes from Stan.  So I have presented a challenge to myself to spend 10 minutes of each day to plan my outfits.  I get up for work at approximately 4:45am.  Picking out an outfit when the sun won't even show its face is the last thing I want to do, therefore my outfits tend to be really similar and just blah in my opinion.  I seriously do not even know what fits anymore so maybe the first day I do this challenge I might need an hour to just try things on.  Even at 17 weeks pregnant I have a teeny-tiny bump and have to get used to dressing this new and growing body.  Everything fits differently and most of it not for the better lets just say.   I have a hard time associating anything fashionable or cute with being comfy but somehow I will have to find a happy medium.  Maternity clothes are most of the time pretty fugly so I really try not to buy any unless I really run out of options.  So with the help of this blog I plan to at least put up one post weekly with my outfit of the day so I keep on track.  So hopefully you won't see any pictures of me wearing my pajamas in the next several months!

Best,

First Gen Fam

Flea Market

Love the blue glassware

Stan rummaging through some vintage toys.

Maksim trying on some stunners.

I get all my succulents at the flea market.  Tiny ones are just $1.

Week 17 and my baby bump is getting more noticeable.

Since I can remember I always have had a love of flea markets.  My father used to take me as a child and I would look for anything shiny to purchase.  That obsession hasn't really changed but translated into a love for vintage jewelry.  I collect, wear, and use vintage jewelry for my business so I always have an excuse to go.   You have to have a open mind when you go to a flea market and no shopping lists are allowed.  You never know what you will bring home so it's an adventure in itself.  I  get such a high from rummaging through glassware, paintings and vintage trinkets.  I am a minimalist so I talk myself out of many possible purchases, plus my house is only so big too.  I try to hit up flea markets wherever I am in my travels too.  So far we have been to some in Paris, Austin, San Francisco, Cleveland, and the list goes on and on.  The colors, food, eclectic people, and the chance of scoring something totally original have me coming back for more all the time.

This past weekend was a lazy one but we did get out to head to Kobey's Swap Meet for some good exercise, fresh hot mini donuts and we also came home with a few goodies.  They included water gun and 3 Hot Wheels cars (newly packaged) for Maksim for whopping total of $4.  Stan and I got to take home some fresh fruit and veggies but no vintage treasures this time.  That will not stop us from coming back in a month's time though.  Happy treasure hunting!

Love,
First Gen Fam

Birch Aquarium

I love these two.

Last weekend we had the pleasure to visit the Birch Aquarium at Scripps UCSD.  It was a perfect place for to take a toddler. We just let him run free and there was much to distract him from running off.  Maksim visited each aquarium exhibit on his own and pointed, oohed and ahhed, at the wild life that swam by. Everything there was bright, colorful and simply stunning.  We saw tropical fish, sharks, seahorses to name a few.  We had fun with many of the interactive exhibits (though some of us got wet) and even got to touch a starfish.  I really love how the photos turned out above but they really do not do this place justice.  You have to go for yourself!  I highly recommend visiting the Birch Aquarium whether you have kids or not.  You won't regret it! 

Love,

First Gen Fam

Little Locks

Before and After. Now he looks a tad more sophisticated, mu-ha-ha!

Haircut in process.

When I see a little mullet growing in on Maksim I know it's time for a haircut.  We headed to Little Locks in La Jolla again for his second haircut.  We asked for Melissa because she was so fast and patient when we brought him in for his first cut.  She is like Edward Scissor Hands, she works with some crazy speed.  I can't rave more about Little Locks. They are a kid hair salon with a toy boutique in the front and its just utterly adorable. While you wait kids can play with the train table in front and toys around the boutique. Kids can pick the type of chair they want to sit in whether is a red race car (Maksim's fav) or a four runner. I come prepared with plenty of fun snacks for Maksim so he sits still. Surprisingly he was soooo good.  I kid you not.  I don't think he would ever just sit there for me like he did for Melissa.  He watched Little Einsteins on the flat screen above, played with the steering wheel of the car, and ate the raisins I gave him.  He even didn't mind when she started using the buzz cutter.  He really amazes and surprises me sometimes. Maybe he likes getting pampered like his Mama. The new haircut is really cute and makes him look much older.  Great experience and we will be back in a couple months.

Love,

First Gen Fam

Turkey Lasanga

I wanted to take a break and put up one of my favorite recipes for Turkey Lasagna. It can easily be replaced by beef or even made veggie.

I like the idea of making everything from scratch, but really?  Who has the time?  With a full time job, a toddler and being pregnant there is just no way that is going to happen. I am a big believer in semi-homemade cooking (not to steal Sandra Lee's thunder or anything). It's quick and produces a result that is tasty and I ask those to try figure out what ingredients are not from scratch!  This lasagna is a perfect example of semi-homemade, its not hard to make but it does require a good amount of time for prep and layering in my opinion.  Initially it takes a lot of time but with all the leftovers you'll save time on making dinner on nights after.  The end result is one heavy dish (wouldn't want to drop it my foot) and its super yum-o.

Turkey Lasagna
1 lb ground turkey
1 package lasagna noodles
1 large chopped brown onion
5 diced garlic cloves
1 - 16oz pkg mozzarella shredded cheese
1 - 16oz tube of ricotta cheese
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
1 egg
1 diced tomato
1 can of pasta sauce (pick your fav flavor we love garlic)
10 fresh rough chopped basil leaves
1 tbsp italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 425.
2. Boil water and cook lasagna noodles according to instructions.  When done lay them flat on a towel to cool.
3. Heat a large pot or skillet on med-high and add oil olive.  Add garlic and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add onion and cook for 5 minutes.
4. Add ground beef to the pot and cook for 10 minutes or until done.
5. Add diced tomatoes and pasta sauce.  Cook for 10 minutes.
6. Add italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste.  Stir in basil and reduce heat to low and simmer for 8-10 minutes.
7. In a mixing bowl combine ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, and egg.  Mix until creamy.
8. Spray a 9x12 pan with Pam or grease it with olive oil so the lasagna does not stick.
9. Add a thin layer of the meat sauce to the bottom of the pan then line single layer to lasagna noodles on top.
10. Add a layer of meat sauce over the noodles.  Follow it with a layer of the ricotta cheese mixture.
11. Sprinkle a layer of mozzarella cheese next.  Add another layer of noodles and repeat steps 9 and 10 until you reach the top or no until you run out of ingredients.  The last layer should be meat sauce mixture and a layer to mozzarella.
12. Place the lasagna pan on a cookie sheet to avoid overflow.  Place in oven and cook for 40 minutes.
13. Remove and let cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting into it.
14. Bon appetit!

Enjoy!

Best,

First Gen Fam

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Good-bye to Cleveland

Maksim loving the neighbor's trampoline.
My father recording our time together.  Father and I.

My Aunt and Maksim.  They had a blast together.  He calls her Baba-boo.

My favorite photo.  My Aunt, Father, and Maksim.  The photo scream joy!

Finally the last blog post about our Cleveland/Pittsburgh trip.  There were so many pictures I had to share them in several posts.  Our trip was full of excitement with my best friend's wedding and hanging out with family we have not seen in over a year.  We all learned many new things on this trip such as:

• Traveling with a toddler wasn't so bad.  Maybe because I always expect the worse. See my tips with traveling with a toddler here.
• Maksim learned the word "No" (thanks to Stoja's triplets)
• We as a family need to get a place with a "real" backyard.  Maybe a move is in order?  It is totally up in the air!
• Maksim loves trampolines as you can see from the photos above, hence why we need a yard.
• My hair is so silky smooth in Cleveland; it has to be the water.  
• Cleveland is green!  Really, really green in the summer.  I forgot that but my nose quickly made me remember.  My allergies were out of control!  
• We are loved.  We are so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends.  A big thank you to my wonderful Father and Aunt for making our trip the best and taking care of Maksim!

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Love,
First Gen Fam