The latest
My Protégé
My step-niece, Jamey came to visit from Illinois and wanted to learn how to make dreamcatchers so she can bring them home for her friends. So I picked up all the items and taught her how to wrap them (though I just ended up wrapping them), add beads, feathers, and lastly stones. She did a great job adding the feathers, I’m so proud of her for not only her dreamcatcher-making skills but also for her kindness and thoughtfulness. We made five unique dreamcatchers as gifts to her best friends.
Painting for Niko
I painted a personalized canvas for my sweet nephew, Niko. It now hangs beautifully in his room. Acrylic on canvas, 36x48.
(Also notice my book, Happy Goodnight, which I wrote and illustrated!?)
Goodbye, Grandma
On Friday, March 30, we said goodbye to our beautiful grandma Tamara Aleksandra Bashmakova. She was a doctor when she was younger, a singer/dancer when she was older and a diva, always. She loved to be surrounded by beautiful things, loved to perform and sing for people and if you were lucky, you got to hear her. We will miss her generous spirit but thankful it lives on in our memories that we will cherish forever. Dosvidanya, grandma, we love you so much.
Grandma in her favorite reading chair
My twin sister, Vika and I with our beloved grandma
Happy Birthday, Brody
Happy birthday to my sweet little Brody Bird, wherever he may be. He would've been 11 years old today, just cancer took him from me on June 14, 2016. I think of him and miss him every second of every day.
Lazy Sunday at my Parents Retreat
This weekend, we had a birthday party for my sister's boyfriend's daughter, Jamey, who is turning 6. My parents had it out at their house since there's plenty of space and a pool. Lots of kids, plenty of babies and thirsty adults were in attendance and big fun was had by all, especially the vodka shots my dad initiates! Today, the house is clean and quiet and back to normal. I love sitting by the pool in the morning sun, reading, reflecting and relaxing (the three R's!).
Family Trip to St. Petersburg
Every year, I travel by myself out of the country to celebrate my birthday. This year will be a little different with a Gomelsky family trip to our birthplace, St. Petersburg! I haven't been back since we left when we were 5 years old, so it will be special to see where we hail from with the whole family. Even my sister's boyfriend, Jim is coming along!
St. Petersburg, Russia
Free Bird
This morning, Vick and I went on a hike at Mandeville Canyon that Brody and I used to do all the time and spread his ashes from the top of the mountain. Surprisingly, I felt at peace and didn't even cry! I knew Brody would be so happy to be free and spread in one of the places he loved so much.
It was a beautiful hike and bittersweet, knowing I will never to return.
One Year Passed
One year ago today, my sweet little Bird flew away. He had many names: Brody Bee, Brody Bear, Brody Bird, Bird, Little Brownie, Munchkin, Happy. Then there's the turkey series, coined by my sister: Turkey, Turkey Pie, Turkey Sandwich, Turducken (her favorite). But Bird is what stuck the most. I miss his sweet, gentle nature, his kind caramel honey eyes, his happy smile. But most of all, I miss being his mom. I miss taking care of him, of making him delicious food (organic beef, salmon, even pork bellies), I miss our long hikes, our meditations together and I miss his beautiful face looking at up at me. He was such a unique boy with his one white paw (my friend use to call him Michael Jackson). He was so unique in fact that I'd often get stopped on the street with people asking me what kind of dog he was (Corgie mix) and commenting how beautiful he was. I was such a proud mama with my beautiful, well-behaved boy. He was so sweet and calm, almost cat-like. Even people who weren't necessarily dog people were drawn to him. He just had a way about him. I was so lucky to have him in my life, he made it so full and happy. I love and miss him beyond words but know he is always with me and I am still learning to live with him in spirit.
Still Recovering
Last Saturday, the Gomelsky family joined the Davidovich Family for an epic Russian night out at Romanov's in Studio City and I am still recovering! We have been planning this night with our friend Mark to introduce our parents for months and months and it finally happened! The table was filled with potatoes, meats, caviar and pickled things. There was extreme dancing, extreme entertainment (with acrobatics no less!) and of course, the vodka was flowing very, very, freely! Oh what a night!
And so it begins...
Vika and Jim enjoy vodka and laughs
Salut!
My Gomelsky
I finally got my Gomelsky! This watch was originally a smaller, square faced model but Shinola was having production issues with it, so it was no longer available. This new, larger malachite face is the updated model and I love it more than the first one. A beautiful gift from my sister, Victoria (who the watch was named after) , I wear it with pride!
The Eppie Sneed model by Shinola
The Parents Come to Visit
I just moved into my new place in Mar Vista and my parents came to visit, with my dad in Full Gomelsky Action no less! They loved the place!
Leonard and Natasha Gomelsky
A Very Gomelsky Chrismakkah
Celebrating the first night of Hanukkah and Christmas Eve with my wonderful family. Grandma Tamara didn't want to join us (She's 92 and doesn't like to leave her home these days) so we brought her gifts and spent some time with her. We made it home just in time to light the menorah and start our celebrations! Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah from the Gomelskys!
