Weekend in Pictures

The cutest picture of the weekend.  Maksim planting a sweet kiss on his cousin Milana.

Arcade fun for cousin Adam's Birthday.
A little gardening with Mama.  Our tomatoes are coming in great!

Celebrating Grandma Irina's Birthday.

Weekend Instagram Photos

1. Mama's much needed Pedi  2. My munchkin  3. Pizza lunch  4. Maksim trying to communicate with his sibling  5.  New bracelets  6. Maksim's cool tattoo

Love,
First Gen Fam

Sushi Date

Our sushi date followed by Pinkberry. Now this was the best date ever, sorry Stan!

Maksim already has a big personality but here are some new things he is doing:

• Not really new but he constantly is trying to tickle us.  He says ta-ka-ta-ka-ta-ka!!!!  Super cute and giggly.
• Toothbrush obsessed! He is constantly stealing our toothbrushes. At least he has good hygiene. 
• He sits on his mini toilet and makes a "shiiiii" noise to mimic the sound of pee coming but no real pee to hit the toilet yet!
• He recently dumped a bag of Doritos on on floors and then danced on the chips. The crunching was music to his tiny ears. Oh, did I mention he was eating them too at the same time. What a clean up!
• He is talking more than ever. Do I understand him? Well honestly......not all the time.  I just figure is a 4th language he is learning
• He is a stage 4 clinger all of a sudden. Mama and Papa obsessed! 
• Talking about obsessed, The Mickey Mouse obsession continues and grows!
• He loves, loves, loves looking at family photos and pointing everyone out.  
• Best of all when we come home we are greeted with hugs and kisses. The best ones in he world and they make us melt!!

I love you Maksim more than the best fitting jeans, more than a day at the spa, more than that Rebecca Minkoff bag, more than all the awesome vacations Papa and I have shared, more than a clean home.......Maksim, I love you more than anything. Love, Mama 

Love,
First Gen Fam

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