June 3rd is my birthday, so I decided to do something different here on the blog and share 27 fun things about me.
Why 27? You figure it out:). 
1. I was born in a Christian family and made the decision to have my own personal relationship with God when I was 14. Being a Christian has defined every aspect of my life. It is awesome to walk through life with God, in moments of joy and through heartbreak too.
2. My parents are really young. I am the oldest of six. I will never take my family for granted. My parents are my heroes and great examples. My siblings are my best friends. We have so much fun together.
3. I absolutely adore my husband. He is my best friend and my soul mate. 
4. I have been told that I am an "old soul" and I agree. I love old movies like "Little House on the Prairie", "Road to Avonlea", etc.
5. Introvert. I enjoy having "alone time" and being alone energizes me.
6. Type A personality. I'm very determined and like getting things done. "Proceed" should be my middle name. I like to be organized.
7. I spent my 21st birthday and 1st wedding anniversary in the ICU.
8. Went to Haiti, Ukraine and Russia on mission trips. I love to travel and dream of going all around the world someday.
9. Attempted to adopt 2 children from Russia. Adopting has been my dream since I was a teenager.
10. Favorite food: Savory - potatoes (Potato Pancakes, Potato Bacon Pie, Potato Chicken Casserole). Sweets - simple things like Plum Coffee Cake, Blueberry Muffins, Gusinie Lapki. Favorite Cake - Medovik.
11. Registered Nurse. I've worked on Oncology and Telemetry Units.
Right now I have a very interesting job. I work as a Nurse in the Transfer Center, which means I facilitate transfers from one hospital to another, if a patient needs it. Example: Patient has a brain hemorrhage, but the hospital doesn't have a neurosurgeon. They call me, I call the neurosurgeon that is on call at the other hospital, connect the specialist with the ER or other requesting physician, they decide if the patient needs to be transferred. I also make sure that the receiving hospital has available beds to accept the patient, etc. It's a really cool job and I have really awesome co-workers.
12. During Nursing School, I worked nights on a Pediatric Unit. I absolutely loved it.
13. I love to read and would rather spend money on books than clothes. The library and the bookstore are my favorite places to hang out.
14. Even though I am an introvert and can "seem" quiet and shy, I enjoy public speaking.
15. I sang in a band.
16. Don't like to bake. Ha! That's usually a surprise for most people, since I bake so much and do all sorts of fancy desserts.
Nope. Baking frustrates me.
17. I taught Sunday School for a few years.
18. I'm not a fashion diva. My fashion style is functional and classic. I like to be in style and have cute clothes, but I believe that one purse that goes with everything is sufficient and if I have one black skirt I don't need another:). My makeup is very natural looking too.
19. I shared a room with my sister, Elina, for 19 years.
20. My husband and I don't have any credit cards and the only debt we ever plan on having is a mortgage, and hopefully not too long. We started listening to Dave Ramsey a few years ago, went through Financial Peace University and it changed our life in an incredible way.
21. My favorite date night - relaxing at home.
22. Curious and adventurous. I like trying new things. I've made homemade puff pastry, homemade bagels, homemade ginger ale, etc. I even went parachuting.
23. Favorite kitchen tool - sharp knife.
24. I spent most of my childhood outdoors. My parents own 100 acres of land and my siblings and I spent all our free time exploring, building forts, hiking, swimming, sledding, etc. Every spring we planted a huge garden. I didn't even mind weeding. I dream of having a garden of my own someday.
25. In my opinion, the expression "I'm bored" should be banned. How is it possible to be bored? There are a million things to do.
26. Until I was 18, I always had long hair. One day, I chopped off 13 inches and have kept it pretty short ever since.
27. My dream is to be a mother.
Hi Olga! I found your blog as I was browsing through random pictures on Instagram! Love reading all your posts about your family and cooking! You're in inspiration!!
Welcome, Nadia! Thanks for stopping by. I am so glad you decided to visit my blog.
Hi Olga! I see that you are holding a baby in your Christmas photo; but I cannot find any updates on your a couple on purpose blog. The last update I see was Jan 2013, almost a year ago! Please direct me to where I can read more about your story 🙂 Someone here mentioned that you blogged about going to Italy..I cant seem to find it. Thank you very much and your stories and cooking really inspire me! 🙂
Hi Alina!
You can read an update here and here. Here's the post about Italy as well.
Olga,
I just found you while looking for a fish recipe, which I will make tonight. We have much in common ethnically and cooking-wise- and my sister shares your birthday. God bless in your journey to grow your family - you and Sergi will be in my prayers. Keep the faith and keep cooking - it's what our people do!
Hi WakaMama!
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to write. Thanks for your prayers. God bless you too.
Hi Olga,
I am so exited i found your blog a few days ago. All your recipes look amazing; i already tried a few and my family and i loved them all. And what's so cool about you is that besides being a great cook you are a godly woman and a loving wife, that's so inspiring:)
By the way, my birthday is also on June 3rd and i got married at around the same age as you did but i'm 2 years younger.
May God bless you and your family abundantly and keep you strong in faith.
Thank you so much, Mariana! I am so humbled by your kind words. I really hope you'll find this blog useful.
I'm so pleased to meet someone else with the same birthday:). May God bless you and your family also.
Olga, just recently discovered your blog and was absolutely stunned first by your selections of recepies and blog organization, second... I never write on forums, but your personal story really surprized me, I guess there is definitely something in the name... I can relate to almost all 27 points of yours, never met anybody look some similar to myself. Anyway, it's too late to say "Happy Birthday" now, but I still wish you abundant God's blessing in your new role as a mother, enjoy every moment of it, it's worth it!
Thank you, Olya! I appreciate that you took the time to write. I always think it's so much fun to connect with people that we can relate to and have a lot in common with:).
Dear,
I just discovered your website yesterday while looking up Russian recipes. I am from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, have been living in Michigan, US for the past 4 years, and absolutely LOVE Moscow and St. Petersburg. Recently my boyfriend and I started a journey into Thai (his favorite type of food) and Russian (my top favorite trip destination) cooking, and here we are, meeting each other!
I printed over 30 recipes from your website today and I am SO excited to try them all! I am an avid baker, and have been pushing myself to learn how to cook, since one day I want to have a family and be able to cook healthy for them. I have a facebook page, in case you want to take a peak at the things I make.
I loved reading about you, we have so much in common. I am also an introvert, love reading and libraries, strongly agree with you that "I am bored" should be abandoned (so many things to do!), dream of being a mother, love cream cheese, etc etc!
Thank you for sharing these amazing and SO detailed recipes with us, and also bits of your life. You know, with so many recipe websites out there what really called my attention and my heart towards your was that every recipe has pictures and detailed instructions. My #1 kitchen muse is Deb (Smitten Kitchen), because she is all that, but you just got #2 now! 🙂
<3 Have a wonderful day!
Hi Cy!
I'm so touched to read your comment. Thanks for taking the time to write:). I am so glad to hear that you find the website useful. I'm thrilled that you like the step by step recipe approach. I'd love to hear what you think of the recipes once you try them:).
I will!! Thanks for your reply! Hope you have a wonderful day!! 🙂
Hi Olga, you've had a busy June with the birthdays, anniversary and your latest post about traveling to Italy, how fun.
I do have a question though, you mentioned that your favorite tool in the kitchen is a good sharp knife. I didn't think of it that way, but that's so true. I am always sharpening or having my husband sharpen knifes for me. I am on a mission to find a good Chef's knife. Is there a favorite you have?
Hi Oksana,
Yes, it really was a REALLY busy month!
My favorite knives are iCook knives, from a company called Amway. My husband and I are distributors, but I honestly have never used better knives. I never recommend something unless I use it and love it myself. It really is my favorite kitchen tool. Many times when I cook in other people's kitchen, I will bring along my own knife:).
Thanks. I'll be looking into that. I've heard of Amway before, but never iCook knifes. I'll do some research on that. I wish I would remember to bring my own knife to my mom's kitchen when I help cook there, hers always seem so dull, and give me quite a workout, even after sharpening them. Maybe I can give her a good knife for a gift, that would be a gift that keeps on giving(or cutting). Thanks again
That's a great idea, Oksana! Your Mom would probably appreciate it too:).
Great post Olga, reading through it, I realize how you and Natasha are so much alike :). It would be great to meet you and Sergi some day :).
That would be awesome! You never know, it might happen sometime in the future. If you're ever in Florida, you're invited to stop by. Maybe we'll attend a blogging conference together too:).
Happy Be-lated Birthday! Wish you a lots of Gods blessings! A lot of things you said about yourself are things I would say about myself....:)
Thanks for sharing your list of 27 things about you, I've learned a lot about you 🙂
Happy Belated birthday & may God bless you all the days of your life.
Guess what ? I don't like baking either, I don't have the patience to BAKE anything but I LOVE cooking for an army if I have to 🙂 lol
I'm wishing you that #27 would come true very soon!! God bless!!
Happy birthday Olga:)
I enjoyed learning more about you and I hope your dream comes true. The Lord works in mysterious ways...
Your blog is one of my favorites. I too am a nurse. I work in women services and surgicals. I am also an introvert and have a cookbook habit. I buy baking books off amazon.
Olichka! Happy birthday dear! Thank you so much for all these great recipes. I have come a long way in cooking/baking because of you. May God bless you and your family and fulfill all your heart's desires. I am praying for your adoption process; God knows whats best for you and He does everything for the good to those who love Him. Best wishes!
Snow
HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLICHKA!! :)) You are such a sweet and beautiful girl!! May God richly bless you on your birthday and may all of your dreams come true! May He blesses you with many beautiful children and prospers you in each and every way! Thanks so much for the wonderful job you are doing here on this blog, you are such a hard working woman, and I absolutely adore your cooking/baking skills!!! Keep up the great work! Be blessed,
- Mariya
Happy birthday! I enjoy checking out your blog daily and look forward to trying many of your recipies! God Bless You And Hope You Will Be A Mother Soon!