Anna Vecherenko

Sofia’s current play zone favorites (5–12 months). Simple toys and setups that help with tummy time, reaching, rolling, sitting, and exploring — nothing extra, only what we truly use.

Starting solids in the U.S. — my second-baby approach: first foods, simple routines, and the feeding essentials we actually use (updated as we go)

Pregnancy gave me many things… and back acne was one of them 🥲 It was the kind that makes you avoid open-back tops and feel self-conscious for no reason. I focused on barrier-friendly basics and acne ingredients that actually make sense for body skin — and it worked. Here I’m sharing my exact routine + the small habits that made the biggest difference (especially if you’re pregnant or postpartum and your skin is acting up).

My daughter started school as an immigrant kid in a new country, new language and completely new system – and it was a lot. These are the books that helped us talk about separation, big feelings, new classrooms and missing mom during the day. We read them before bed, on rough mornings and after hard days at school. They don’t magically “fix” everything, but they give language and pictures for what our kids feel inside. If your child is starting school, switching schools or adjusting in a new country, these stories might help you too.

I’ve struggled with acne my whole life. Back in Eastern Europe I survived thanks to good estheticians and regular in-office treatments. But when I had to emigrate and kept moving between countries, I didn’t always have access to a trusted skin doctor – so I had to finally understand my own skin and build a routine that actually works. Every product in this list is part of the real routine that helped me calm breakouts, support my barrier and keep my skin as clear as it’s ever been. If you have acne-prone, sensitive skin and feel lost without a cosmetologist on speed dial – this is the system that’s been working for me.