hello!

from pigs to bears: my short life story

hi, I’m Oksana!!! creator of lil’recipes.com.

who am I exactly? I am a mom of two miniature rock stars, a working corporate executive, and a wife to a quirky man. The Rocky Mountains are in my backyard, with a pet bear on a rare occasion. I am a hiker, boxer, hustler, creator, and wine drinker. I have even run my share of half-marathons. Often tackling DIY projects around the house, there is little time to watch TV.

Coming from a very traditional eastern European upbringing, pigs, cows, and chickens were my friends. Lots of them. My mom was a gifted self-taught cook. With culinary genetics in my favor, I inherited some decent skills. Unfortunately, I would rather spend time in the Rockies than in the kitchen.

Some little known facts that make me, well…me!

1. I come from a tiny village in Poland but have Ukrainian roots. Pig pens, a wolf packed forest and towering haystacks were my daily playground. I am not sure how I survived.

Some fun fact about my time in Poland:

• • My older sister had to drag me out of a swamp once. Skipping on a ledge that separated the murky water and gravel road, I slipped and didn’t know how to swim. After the rescue, we ran home, our soggy, marshy clothes clinging to our bodies. We never said a word to our parents.
  • My childhood friend was a pirate. He had to wear an eye patch for a few months. Why? I may have defied orders, scaled a fence, bumped a heavy steel beam that came tumbling down…and grazed my friend’s face, within an inch of his eye. Oops…
  • I was a surgeon. Well – not quite. I used to operate on my sisters’ favorite dolls and stuffed bears to see what was inside. So that totally counts.
  • My father owned the first convenience store that sold liquor in my communist hometown. I can thank him for my entrepreneurial spirit.

2. My older sister and I, one year apart, were often mistaken for twins. A misconception that we used to our advantage on many occasions.
3. I was the lucky chosen one to get the coveted bowl haircut growing up. That picture of a boy? Yep, that is me at age 6.
4. I am the middle neglected second child. I have three sisters. They are my world. Before my 18th birthday, we were orphaned. This tragedy made us inseparable.
5. I met my husband in grade 9. “Ahhh, high school sweethearts? “How sweet!” you say. Well… not quite. He dated my high school best friend for two WHOLE months. I was not his biggest fan. And by a fan, I mean I kind of hated him. Only after attending the same college did we begin to hang out. After three years in “friendship” territory, I made the first move.
6. I am one of the first employees of an award-winning water management consulting firm that has grown to over 100 full-time staff. Along the way there have been a few awards won for leadership and sustainability.
7. I am a mom to a boy and a girl. Both are very spirited, independent, and stubborn. They love to channel their inner rock star with heavy metal screeching, headbanging, and enthusiastic guitar playing. They are only toddlers but I swear, there are moments when they are rocking out that I have flashes of them onstage as hipster teenagers.
8. I DO NOT LIKE TO COOK. There I said it! Having children killed the joy of making meals. Life is too short to hate the one thing that you are likely going to do every day for the rest of your life.

My current motto: