Operation Tubetop

I'm up! It is 7:30 a.m. on New Year's Day. Tired? Yes. But I'm feeling ready for this year! 2012 was an interesting year. I started working again, the Kid started daycare, the Kid infected us with a multitude of diseases. It was by far the most exhausting year, even challenging one, but I think 2012 was a "prep" year. Meaning, I think I've laid the groundwork for something absolutely awesome in 2013. Something, anything! And it wouldn't be a New Year's Day post without a list of resolutions. I like resolutions because I like lists. Lists keep me sane. I list everything. I list you not. 1) Get to my final goal weight! Over Christmas I set my mouth on high and hoovered everything on sight. Good thing we don't own rodents, they wouldn't have survived. I went a little nutso with the cookies and the cakes and the hot chocolate and the White Russians and the candy and the pasta and the pizza and the cheese and the... well... you get the point! ...

I love giving gifts. It truly is a joy for me. Yes, receiving is awesome but giving, in a way, is so much awesomer. I like to search for the perfect gift. I spend time thinking about the person I am buying for. Sometimes it is a challenge but that is the whole fun of it. Sometimes I make gifts because sometimes someone has everything they want so sometimes a handmade gift just fits the bill. It isn't about the money, it is the thought. I have received so many awesome gifts throughout my life. Just yesterday, during our office Secret Santa, I received a spectacular gift (it helps that one of my bestest friends in the world is a co-worker and happened to pick moi and she knows me so so so well). I got this! SQUEAL!!! Dresses for everybody! I'll Oprah you all with dresses! This book comes with patterns! I be so psyched!!! But yes, while receiving is great. Giving is awesome. Last year, I have to admit, I was disappointed with the Husband's gift giving. Before you call m...

As women, we all have to do it. It ain't fun but it is neccessary. This holiday season I am reminding you to visit your gyno- it could save your life. Breast exams too, ladies! I had my appointment yesterday. In Austria you go every 6 months for a punani check up. I always feel like I should have had a couple of drinks before the appointment. I rarely let the Husband hug me until I've had a couple of glasses of wine and yet I'm expected to be completely sober while being fondled by an almost stranger? Where's the romance? I like to dress up before my appointments. My doc has an incredible looking waiting room, with incredible looking patients and I refuse to feel like a hobbit once again. See below for Winter outfit for gyno visit. Note the Chanel earrings. I do not have genital piercings nor the feeling of joy about seeing the dr. Going to the gyno is not fun and in Europe, it is even more awkward for this North American. They don't give you gowns. One time ...

I love Christmas films and I feel like I am cheated if I don't get to watch my favourite ones every year... And these are my absolutely must-see favourite ones! Love Actually- This film makes me bawl like a baby being raised by me. I watched this when the Husband and I were dating and the funeral scene gets me every.single.time... Oh and the scene with Emma Thompson listening to Joni Mitchell after she realises her husband (I forgive you Alan Rickman! I love you...) has cheated on her... oh dear. I die. Elf- My sister sent me this DVD a few years ago and it is already a classic... according to people on Christmas message boards. Will Ferrell is amazing as an Elf and some of the one-liners are incredible. Love love love. "You sit on a throne of lies." National Lampoons Christmas Vacation- I watched this on Monday for probably the 20th time. Juliette Lewis in her best role. Chevy Chase is still my closet crush. This film still makes me LOL and those reindeer eggnog mu...

It was such an incredible weekend. A weekend I have been dreaming about since having birthed the Kid. Saturday was spent making cookies while the Kid spent hours opening and closing the fridge. At one point he tried to sit in it. Hot flashes, kiddo? We listened to Christmas music and played and it was all so Norman Rockwell Christmas perfect puke a candy cane some kind of wonderful. On Sunday we had friends over for dunch and we set up a wrestling ring for the kids. It was funny to see the Kid interact with another toddler on his home turf. Initially I was a little worried but at the end they seemed to have bonded. Our son, sigh, kept hiding the other kid's Hot Wheels in the fridge. We're so proud... For the dunch, I made baked fajitas, pizza in a Christmas tree shape, bagels and salmon (cause we got to represent the Jewism), quiche and salad. And of course, sugar cookies. Here is the Christmas tree pizza. There was a lot of dough left, so I made this innapropriate chee...

I made this the past week and I was worried at first that it was a little too tablecloth-cult-tunic like but then I added the green ribbon belt and voila! Christmas dress. The colours are amazing but the camera doesn't show that. And the pictures aren't very flattering and I hadn't put on lipstick yet... But this is the dress. Second shot One colleague said I looked like something out of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy... vintagey and Mad Men-esque. I shall marry him one day.

I am obsessed with Village Vitamin E and Coconut All Over Body Cream. In the winter my skin is horribly dry, scale-like if you will. After trying out various types of body creams, I finally discovered Village a couple of years ago and every Winter I slap this shit on allover. It is thick and takes a few minutes to rub in but it doesn't leave a greasy residue or make it difficult to open door knobs. I love this stuff. The Husband hates body creams, face creams, and lip gloss. It's his kryptonite... Winter is a cold and lonely place for him. On the other hand, I'm all supple and coconutty.

The Christmas markets are absolutely spectacular in this city and while we used to go all the time every Christmas season, it is harder with a toddler and we have avoided them for the most part. Crowds, carriage, angry two year and a crowd hating Tova is not a good combo. So I decided to ask the Nanny to stay later so that I could surprise the Husband with a date night at one of the Christmas markets. We met up at 6, had some Glühwein and picked our ornaments. As a kid we used to do this at the German and Austrian markets and now The Husband and I do it every year and now for the past 2 years we pick an ornament for the Kid as well. This is the one I picked out. I lurve it. But anyway, after the market we headed to our favourite local restaurant and had dinner. It was snowing and it was so freaking perfect. I've realised that even though we spend plenty o time in the evenings just the two of us, it makes a huge difference to actually go out and enjoy each other's company...

The other night I was tucked in bed and thinking about Christmas. I freaking love Christmas and well Hanukkah, too. Hi Mom. But Christmas growing up was always amazing. We would open gifts on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meant a Santa gift as well and Chinese food in the evening (that's Jewish right there). Santa gifts were great and I can't wait for Raphael to be aware of Santa so that I can blackmail him in the months leading up to Christmas. "You touch that lamp one more time and Santa won't come. Or he'll come and take Teddy to work in his sweatshop. That's right, walk away from the lamp. Sucker." But as I thought about Christmas past, I came up with a theory as to why Santa usually stays clear of Jewish houses... Two words: Jewish mothers. Think about it. Santa's pretty successful. He's got a multinational corporation, staff, and is famous. Ergo, the perfect son in law. Picture Santa showing up at the Rosenbaum's. Mrs. Rosenbaum wou...

As I mentioned previously, this week's goal was to complete 3 Pinterest things I had pinned. I got to do 2. This was the original idea: So cute! But all I had was a long camel coloured V-neck sweater so I decided to do a slight change. I cut out a heart shape in the back and attached the ribbons there. It was so super easy to day and I love it. See below. Now I must find more sweaters! MORE!! I'm going to be doing this for days! Maybe I could do a men's verision... instead of ribbons, maybe leather and sweat. Love.

Day 4 of being a housewife. The Kid is at daycare and our super duper Nanny picks him up at 3. I'm living the dream kids, living the dream. For the past 4 days I have dropped off the Kid, headed to the gym and have gotten my fitness on. It feels incredible and I am going to use every minute of these 3 weeks to do what I need to do. In other news, I did almost have to smack a bitch yesterday and I am not a violent or confrontational person. At the gym, in the women's section, there are 3 crosstrainers. 2 have "handles" to pump your arms and one doesn't. Even though I usually don't use the arm things I prefer the machines that have them. 35 minutes in, a woman came over and told me I should use the one without handles since I was wasn't using them anyway and she needed to use them for her workout. I gave her my glare and told her in my scary voice that I would be done shortly and continued on for another 5 minutes. Fuming. I got off slowly and headed to th...

So I made the supposedly best White Chicken Enchilada ever and I have to say it was pretty darn good... The one downside, I don't think I can eat cheese again for a while. The dish is sinful and I think it might be a once a year dish. I actually followed the recipe to the letter and I am currently suffering heart palpatations. You can find the recipe  here  and down below is the picture of the finished product. I don't think I can look at it right now. The cheese, it kills. I plan to spend the afternoon making low fat blueberry muffins and searching for my Spanx.

Day 2 of not working and I am in Heaven! The Kid's lung infection has cleared up and he is back at daycare and I have all the time in the world. Yesterday I hit the gym, met friends for lunch, made quiche and then met a friend for drinks. So this is what A Real Housewife does! Bliss. On Saturday night we (I) decorated our apartment for Christmas and it is rocking. Please note pictures below. If you have a white fake Christmas tree, you might as well go over the top tacky. And the Husband picked this up on Sunday for me... He knows me so well. As I mentioned last week, I's got some Pinterest stuff to do. Tonight I am making the so-called best white chicken enchilada eva and I am curious if this is true. I will post my review tomorrow. The rest of today will be comprised of a gym visit, Christmas card writing, shopping for Christmas gifts and most likely a quick stop at a Christmas market because Mommy hasn't been to one yet. My life rocks!!