Operation Tubetop

I have a new laptop! Hurray! The Husband was a superstar and bought me one today. I think he got annoyed with my deep sighing and me cursing the old laptop. The old one is close to 6 years old and it was time. This new one is so pretty.... so thin...so light and the keyboard looks kind of like faux wood. Well done, Husband, well done. Now I will be spending the next week trying to figure out how to use it. Anyway, it is Saturday afternoon, the Husband has headed to the park with the Kid and I have some alone time and a chance to do some writin, y'all. Oh and hey, I have automatic spell check on this new baby. Hurray! Anyway, here is the weekend wrap up containing all sorts of stats from this past week. Woot! Interval jogging sessions: 6 (I went twice last Sunday because I woke up drunk and had to sweat out the weissburgunder (we were invited to a friend's place for a dinner party but due to sick nanny, I just ended up going. The host served a goat cheese quiche with roa...

Since the last trip to the hospital, we have had some struggles with the Kid. It doesn't help that for about 3 weeks I chased him with a thermometer or held a mirror under his nose when he slept. He was clingy and a little moody and definitely seemed to regress a little. All totally understandable. But for the past week, he has mellowed again and we are seeing progress and most importantly; a big smile on his face. Back before we went through everything that we have gone through, I used to say "I want him to be a doctor or a lawyer." No, I used to say "I want him to be happy." but also "A happy doctor or lawyer." Last winter/spring, when we were struggling with the old daycare and he was having meltdowns every other day, and he would kick and scream in anger and the future looked incredibly bleak, I would cry in my therapist's office every other Saturday. Deep and terrible sobs. She asked me "What do you want for him?" and I stopped a...

It is 5:05. I'm sitting in my robe. I am cold. It is dark but I am going to put on some clothes soon and head out for a jog. I am at the end of my week 2 training. Last night I met up with a couple of friends for the 1 minute walk, 4 minute jog for 25 minutes thing. We sang Shake it Off towards the end because 3 mommies running down the street does not draw nearly enough attention. We had a quick drink and then I headed home for some foot cooling gel and pyjamas. Last night I finished the Born to Run book that I mentioned the other day and I am even more motivated than ever to keep going and I am really starting to love jogging which I never thought I would say. This is kind of like me saying "Yes, Crocs are an awesome fashion statement. Lagerfeld should create a line." NEVER EVER! And so, I now put on my hot pink running shirt, my green sweatshirt and my eggplant sweat pants because one doesn't see colour in the dark and get myself geared up for the 1 minute wal...

I'm a big supporter of local businesses. This is why I drink so much darn Austrian wine. I decided to try out an online shop named Bliss by Iman that was suggested on the Women of Vienna Facebook page. I immediately loved their stuff and the prices are great! So for this March giveaway, I am giving away this bracelet! Plus another little surprise from the same shop. Here is the picture from the website because picture taking is not my thing. I also bought myself this because I deserve it (sure you do. Shut up, me). And I am obsessed with antler bling. They also sell their wares at the Wunderladen which I will try and check out next week. I'm really loving their stuff and I like that you can choose different string colours with your order online. The deer antler bracelet? Hot pink, because yes. Here is their awesome site: http://www.blissbyiman.com/ Anyway, the star bracelet plus another piece could possibly be yours by doing the following: Share the Operation Tu...

If you know me or read this blog, you know that I am a crazy person that wakes up around 5 most days. I'm not happy about it but I need to do it. You see, if I woke up when the Kid would wake up, I would be an angry angry person. I need at least 30 minutes of absolute silence paired with celebrity gossip before I can be human and that is the main reason I get up so early. Before child, 6 was my average wake up time so I always have been a bit of a morning person. Not a happy morning person, but a person who arises early in the morning. I am now into my second week of interval training. This morning I did the 1 minute walk and 4 minute run for 25 minutes. The first bout of running almost sent me into an asthma attack but I slowed down my pace and by the 4th cycle, I was kind of in the moment. Kind of. I don't listen to music because I am currently using my cellphone to keep track of the intervals but I have decided that when I complete my 8 weeks, Imma buy me an MP3 playa. A...

Last week had me in bed most nights by 9. Wild partying? No. Just complete and utter exhaustion from my first week of interval training. Ergo, only one post was posted. Friday morning we had a kid therapy session and since it was the Husband's birthday, I stayed for the session, then took him to kindergarten and then hoofed it work. Next week, the Husband's in charge. Friday afternoon/evening was wonderful. I met the Husband at 4:45 and we were supposed to go to Champions for a drink but it didn't open until 5 so I suggested a drink in the Marriott lobby and that was fun. And then the bar was open and we went for a small drink there and that was fun and then we made our way over to Satrapezo; one of my favourite restaurants in Vienna. The service is always impeccable, the food is wonderful and the prices are amazing. Don't ever go changing fabulous Georgian restaurant. I took the Husband there for the first time and we ordered a bottle of rose. He skimmed the menu ...

So, everyone has an achilles heel/Kryptonite. I have weaknesses; shoes, when the Kid cries, cheese. But if you want me to do something with you? Get a couple of drinks in me... "Hey, Tova! There's a new..." "YES! YES I WILL!" "There's a new S and M club in town." "Oh." Or. "Hey, Tova. Let's climb this fence to check out a cemetary after hours. "Capital idea! Oh look, the police." I've definitely agreed to do some wild and stupid stuff back in the day and yet, I topped myself last Saturday. I was out, I had had a couple of drinks and then I fell under the spell of the power of suggestion. My friend suggested a 5K run at the end of May and I was like "YES! YES I WILL! A MILLION TIMES YES! And you should probably put a reminder on your phone that I said I would do it because I will probably forget." I spent a large majority of the night telling strangers that I was training for the BIG ONE. The w...

This was a long week but a good one. Tonight I am heading out for dinner with a friend and then heading to the Vienna Expats 10 year anniversary party at the Golden Harp. Vienna Expats was a lifeline for me so many years ago and I got to meet so many great people! It is also crazy to think that almost exactly a year ago, I had my birthday party in the same place. This year I am pretty sure I won't be recreating the shower/chair Flashdance scene. Cringe. But, hey, you never know. So this was my week: Number of early morning walks: 6 (yes! Feels so good to be doing this regularly again!) Bikram sessions: 1 (last Sunday and I hope to go again tomorrow) Being yelled at by a constipated child: 5 Number of book chapters completed: 1.5 Beautiful e-mails and pm's from people reading my blog: 5 (thank you, compliments are everything) Times I have wondered why my make up brushes are wet: 3 Finding out that the Kid licks my make up brushes: 1 Moving make up brushes to high...

Gah! I keep writing these random posts because I haven't had to time to sit down and actually write a post about just one thing. I have been busy so I haven't had the normal healthy experience of thinking of strongly worded letters to send to customer service reps and/or restaurants. So, instead, I am doing another ole Keyword Post! Off we go! Hair appointment: This Friday is finally my hair appointment. I am super psyched and I am also currently chilling a bottle of sekt in my fridge to bring with me. Yes, it's a thing to drink in hair salons here. This country is amahzing. I'm still trying to decide on a red. I keep going from Joan from Mad Men to Emma Stone in The Help . These are important issues, guys! Spray tanning: I am so excited! I saw a post a while ago about a woman who does spray tanning in Vienna. I have been a couple of times in the past; first time I thought I had accidentally stumbled upon a porn set and the second time was the hottest day of th...

It is no secret that I adore living in Vienna. Sure, there are times where I want to scream; times often include standing in line at the bakery when people cut in front of me or the fact that children are often seen as a nuisance or the fact that seeing people smile is very very rare or that time I was blamed for having a c-section. But after a total of 14 years, Vienna is truly my home and I cannot imagine living anywhere else. Spring is just around the corner and then Vienna really turns into paradise. Ok, there is my hayfever that comes around this time and the sewer smell becomes a little bit more pronounced but on the plus side, sidewalk cafes start to open and restaurant courtyards pop up and suddenly you feel you are in a bustling city once again. This past weekend was a lot of fun. We had friends over on Friday for dinner and that was a lot of fun. Early Saturday morning I went for a walk and decided to take a different route. I walked down to the center. I walked down Kärt...