Best of Cake Decorating Stores

Definitely not Willy Wonka fun, this sad, broken and poop brown store looks nothing like what I would imagine a cake decorating store to look like.   And Grumpy and Dopey run it, but never mind, because just being surrounded, enveloped, by the sight and smell of that much sugar makes you Happy!

Before we get to the cups and the cakes of it all, let's just take a moment to raise our eyebrows to the sad and pathetic attempts at kids cakes in Austria?   There is a reason the birth rate is declining - the sperm looks at the egg, and the egg looks at the sperm in the womb in Austria and says "no thank you" before swimming their separate ways.

The reason - MARZIPAN.   Yuck!   Which kid wants marzipan on their cake!   Yuck!

At Bon Bons, a cornucopia of sugar concoctions lies at your disposal.   There are a few things on the shelf but the real treasure lurks behind the counters.   You can get a rainbow array of food colorings, sprinkles, cake toppers, sugar gel pens and more.  

I love sugar pens and have then out at every party.  Kids love writing on each other and licking it off!  

They have stunning cake toppers (it'll cost ya) and give two days they can also make custom toppers based on your designs.

There is no reason to subject your child to an Austrian cake when you can bake a fluffy American one with yummy buttercream icing and princess sprinkles!

Enjoy!
Ruchika

Bonbons Lebkuchen Tortendekor
Wollzeile 26
1010 Wien

Best of Karate Chop Chop

For most people it was Karate Kid that made them aspire to "wax on, wax off."   But for me it was one particular episode of The Flintstones with Dr. Sinister and the "Ah Judo chop chop" that Barney and Fred deploy to escape him that made me fall in love with martial arts.   Who knew it could be that easy!

It was with great ceremony that I took Zayne to his first karate class.   We had the karate outfit - no idea what it's really called - surely not karate outfit, but either way, I loved that it was white.   We show up and the first thing I saw is a row of women, dressed like they were going to an Oprah show, smacking their lips with gloss.   All of them were fluffing their ta tas and frankly I was a little taken aback showing up in my get up.

Their gaze rested on the Sensei, who was SENSEI-tional :-)   He was taking off his jacket and it was as if his muscles were revealing themselves in slow motion.   It didn't take long before I joined the ranks of the mommies smacking their lips and fluffing their _ _ _ _ (rhymes with lips :-).   All in the name of our kids, of course.

My joy was short lived.   The eye candy was to become an eye sore when I saw Zayne had no aptitude for using his ears to actually listen.   When Sensei said "los" all the kids jumped up and ran except Zayne.   He wandered casually down all while checking himself out in the mirrors along the side of the wall.

We went back enough times to see if Zayne would take to Karate.  It wasn't meant to be.  But that was last year.   It seems Zayne is way happier with ski poles in hands instead of running barefoot - Indian traitor - but I think Karate deserves another shot.

The Sensei is fantastic, truly.   The classes are easy to get to and the timings are great.   Check the calendar on the website.

If I recall correctly you can pay for 1 month, 3 months or 6 months.

I look forward to you joining me on mommy row soon.   By the way I go to the one in the 9th district.

Smiles,
Ruchika

Karate Samurai
http://www.kyokushin.at/
For times and locations go to "Zeiten und Orte" on the website menu

Locations:

1090, Roßauer Lände 27	1130, Amalienstrasse 31
1040, Rienößlg. 4/1	1230, Alma Seidler Weg 2
1160, Brüßlgasse 18	2130, Mistelbach

Best of Fabric Stores

Komolka! Not the one in the first district, but the one at Mariahilferstrasse and Neubaugasse. It is 4 floors filled with all sorts of material from the cheap leopard print (great for Halloween costumes) to jute, felt, cotton, satin and the rest. The basement, marked Keller, has all sorts of fabulous stuff on sale. There are also trimmings, buttons and the rest.

Oh, but don't expect friendly service. The frump in the front pissed me off, but Catherine was with me and kept me smiling.

And if you get a chance there is the largest 1Euro store next door. All sorts of 1 Euro goodies to buy. Great present boxes upstairs of all sizes!

Enjoy!
Smiles,
Ruchika

http://www.komolka.at/
Mariahilfer Strasse 58
1070, Vienna
Tel: 01 523 71 84
Opening Times: Monday to Saturday 9:30 to 18:00

Best of Christmas Activities for Kids

Christmas time is just my favorite time of year in Vienna. I don't even mind bundling up because the beauty of it all keeps me warm inside. I know, I'm totally cheesy, but Christmas time does that to me. I'm Hindu married to a Jew and I love decorating my home in Christmas decorations and getting the tree and singing carols.

I digress.

Back to Christmas activities for kids. Well, it is so simple and no one I know, knows about it. Right inside the Rathaus is the most awesome setup for kids. Just walk through the Christmas market and go into the Rathaus through the front steps and make a right. You'll see a small door and enter. Inside there is an information stand where you buy tickets. Euro 1.50 for baking cookies and Euro 3.50 for the other activities. The kids are taken into booths where two professionals help them with the activity. They paint candle stands, can make tissue boxes, decorate candles, paint picture frames, bake cookies and so much more. You can sit back on the benches and watch them with some punsch. The activities start for kids 4 and up.

And could you ask for a more perfect gift for the grandparents!!!! A picture frame painted by their grandchild with a picture inside.

My favorite is the baking cookies one because they get a cute hat (which they keep) and they get a delicious bag of warm cookies on the way out.

Here is the link. They do this every year. And the best part is that it's rarely crowded, there are clean indoor bathrooms and it's warm. They are open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on most days.

Check here for more details!
http://www.christkindlmarkt.at/Christmas-Workshop.26+M52087573ab0.0.html

Smiles,
Ruchika

Best of Face Painter (Incredible)

Larissa is not just a face painter, she is a true artist. I was intent on doing a dinosaur theme for Zayne's birthday and I know he likes nothing better than immersing himself in a character. I contacted Larissa and told her I was doing a dino theme and she said to leave the rest up to her.

Well, to my delight she showed up in a Safari outfit and painted the most astounding dinosaur faces. She even had a book of dinosaur face illustrations that she did specifically for the party and the children were thrilled. I myself couldn't resist and sat down to a ferocious dino face.

I thought, how hard could this be and got myself a set of professional face paints. I did a butterfly on Aiyana's face and Zayne said "nice monster mama." Clearly there is significant skill involved here and Larissa is the master! I bow down to thee.

Check out her website!
http://schminkfee.de/

You can contact her via e-mail at info@schminkfee.de or by phone at +43-681-10762068

Best of Party Decoration Stores

One major pet peeve of mine is the lack of stuff to make for an awesome birthday party, or halloween party or any theme party your brain can imagine. So after two years here Catherine came to my rescue with Witte!

I have driven by this place a million times and the Linke Wienziele right at Naschmarkt and never seen it. That's because it's so unlike a party place on the outside - BORING. But once inside you are swept up with balloons, and costumes and all sorts of decorations. It's a one stop shop and I didn't even know they got that concept in Austria.

Normally I run from place to place to get balloons, and snippets of decorations and costumes. No more. And they have a ton of stuff for halloween.

So don't just make do with Toys R Us or order from the States and pay ridiculous taxes (as I have), go to Witte.

Smiles,
Ruchika

http://www.witte.at/
Jux Witte
Linke Wienzeile 16
1060, Vienna
01-586 43 05

Opening Times
Monday to Friday 9 - 18 hr.
Sat. 9 - 17 hr.

Best of Gift for Small Children

If you are headed home for the holidays and want to take back something unique for that special niece or nephew back home that is MADE IN VIENNA then head to Herzilien Wien.

They have adorable tees for boys that are great quality and really cool for under 30 Euros. I particularly love the matching pjs they have that make for a great father's day gift. And their dresses...ohhhh, their dresses! They take inspiration from the dirndl but are modern and cool. There is really nothing I don't love in the store! And the owner speaks English.

Herzilien Wien

Wollzeile 17

1010, Vienna

Tel. +43 676 6577106

www.herzilein-wien.at

www.wollzeile.com/herzilein-wien

info@herzilein-wien.at

Opening Times:

Mo-Fr	10:00-18:30
Sat	10:00-17:00