Alaric Turns Two + Mom’s One Line a Day Outtakes

Published March 11, 2017

Alaric Turns Two + Mom’s One Line a Day Outtakes

My baby boy has just turned two! To say that time flies is to say nothing. This year was so much fun! Him a year ago and now are almost two different kids, he made so much progress, it’s mind-blowing! First of all, a year ago he was not even walking, we did not sleep through the night and he would only say mama occasionally. Right now he is running around, sleeps all night and says “I luh u, mama”, “no do that, mama” and probably a 100 different words and sentences in 3 languages!

Mine

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Children See. Children Do. A Day in Life of a Toddler.

Published February 17, 2017

Children See. Children Do. A Day in Life of a Toddler.

The other day we went on a walk around the neighborhood like we always do. This time it was special because for the first time in weeks it wasn’t raining. We’ve always liked walking, we just grab a camera and get outside to explore. When I look at these pictures later, they make me smile. I love capturing candid daily moments that become the sweetest memories in the future. Children do grow up too fast and it’s important to cherish those moments. Duh.

Mine

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Snowboarding in California: Mountain High

Published February 10, 2017

Snowboarding in California: Mountain High

Russian/Русский

Seeing the snow in California was on my unofficial wish list for a while. California is a huge state and there are plenty of opportunities to see snow if you live up north. But for a SoCal resident like me it was never a priority or rather, it’s not the first thing that comes to mind when I think about how to spend my weekend.

This winter had a lot of rain which apparently means that there’s a lot of snowfall in the mountains. It seemed like a good enough reason to finally explore local snowboarding opportunities. Recently, we organized a Fit Club at work and for our second outing (first was a hike along the ocean) we decided to do a Snow Day. It was such a great idea! Not only did we get a chance to hang out outdoors but we also had a really fun road trip.

Travels

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In Search of Fall: Escape to Big Bear Lake, CA

Published December 2, 2016

In Search of Fall: Escape to Big Bear Lake, CA

Russian/Русский

I miss season change. Even though it is actually awesome to always have great weather as it happens to be in Southern California, there is definitely something special about the feeling of a fresh start every few months. In search of fall we recently took a trip to Big Bear Lake.

Big Bear has such a different vibe from LA. Beautiful scenery, fresh air, quietness and cozy cabins make it a perfect weekend getaway. To me, Big Bear is also special because it reminds me so much of Russia, particularly Altai – a beautiful region not too far from my hometown. Going out of town in the fall is a wonderful change of scenery.

Travels

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Stay Golden

Published November 21, 2016

Stay Golden

Russian/Русский

So far, this fall has been incredibly warm. At first, I was grumpily mumbling that it’s about time for sweater weather, but now I have fully embraced it and have been soaking up every bit of sunshine we get. Last weekend, after all the morning chores and laundry, instead of our regular neighborhood walk we decided to take the train to the beach and arrived just in time for golden hour. It was such a lovely evening! From watching the bright red disc sink in the horizon to catching Alaric right before the waves got too close again and again, it was so much fun! He kept running into the water with no hesitation, so fearless! The water by the way felt pretty nice and some people were even swimming. There was also someone surfing and oh boy, surfing at sunset must be even more magical, the golden light was so gorgeous!

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3 Tips for a Great Pumpkin Patch Experience

Published October 26, 2016

3 Tips for a Great Pumpkin Patch Experience

Russian/Русский

Ever since the days started getting shorter and the pumpkin spice lattes appeared at Starbucks, I have been excitedly awaiting the opening of the pumpkin patches. We had so much fun last year that now it’s one of my favorite family traditions. Before moving to California, I didn’t really like fall, but now that I’m here my mind has changed. That’s probably because the weather is perfect here. It’s still warm and dry and the sunsets get more dramatic and vibrant, and, even though it’s too hot for a sweater, it makes everything so cozy.

This year we went to the same pumpkin patch as last year, Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch! I’ve seen a few pumpkin patches around town and this one is still my favorite! It’s pretty big yet off the beaten path. You get into the fall spirit and totally forget that you’re surrounded by the city.

All Things LA Mine

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Day at the Museum: LACMA

Published September 23, 2016

Day at the Museum: LACMA

Spontaneous weekend adventures are my favorite! And how lucky am I to be living in the city with unlimited options? The other day we randomly decided to go to a museum which is something we never really do but why not? We went to LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) and while we didn’t actually go to see any exhibitions except for one we accidentally sneaked in, we still had a fun day out.

The LACMA lights always look cool. It’s funny how they became famous thanks to the multiple music videos and movies. For me they are special because the first time I came to the US during my Work & Travel Summer I lived nearby and since then every time I visit I get sweet nostalgia of that fun and life-changing summer.

Free Things To Do in LA: Getty Center

Russian/Русский

The other day I was looking through the photos on my computer and realized that I haven’t posted anything about our recent trip to Getty Center. We didn’t have any plans that weekend and coincidentally Uber was 50% off so we decided to take advantage of that and do something fun. We settled on going to the Getty Center and it was a great choice! The admission is free, we didn’t need parking because we took an Uber so here’s to another virtually free and fun thing to do in LA.