We post-marked our tax returns just in the nick of time and for some lucky tomatoes there may be a refund check heading your way. Well before you rush out and spend it on something frivolous, like food, read Stacy Francis's savvy advice this week on how to use that money for the long run, in Be Savvy about Your Tax Refund.
 
Laugh yourself silly
And, because it is "Happy Thursday", we've posted a new installment of the "Louise Log", the web series we are loving about a neurotic (and caffeine-addicted) NYC wife/mother who has a high maintenance husband, a tight budget and an over-active inner voice. 

 

And we are mesmerized by Isabella Rosallini's series of shorts where she re-enacts the sex lives of bugs. This week, snails. Who knew? Check them out at 3T.TV.  
 
Yoga and Pilates is so sissy girl 
We tomatoes love our yoga for exercise and meditation, Pilates for long lean limbs, strength training for our muscles, and aerobics for everything else. Well let us tell you, after one session of Krav Maga, yoga and pilates is so sissy girl.  Krav Maga is the unarmed combat system of Israel's defense and intelligence agencies and has been adopted by the CIA, US Homeland Security, the FBI, the Secret Service and other macho kinds of guys. But now it's becoming a self-defense and fitness phenomenon for the rest of us, especially women. Not only does it teach self-defense, but it's a workout that promises you'll get in great shape by building awareness, speed, strength, power, endurance, body conditioning, balance, coordination and flexibility. 
 
Freeze, Flee, or Fight
The head tomato and PTA Mom showed up with some trepidation for our training session with Krav Maga instructor James Sherman in his midtown training studio.  James' clients include singer John Mayer, Olympic Gold Medalist Coach Judith Rifken, models, and corporate executives, in addition of course to the professionals whose jobs are to protect and defend. James is one of only six Americans certified in Israel by the Israeli Krav Maga, and he's the only one certified in New York. After completing intensive training over hundreds and hundreds of hours in the Krav Maga Association's grueling training camps, he returned to New York where he offers training classes and private lessons.  James is a former investment banker, Boston University football player and a New York Sevens Rugby Champion but now spreading the word about Krav Maga is his mission.
 
James starts each class with this basic - be aware of your surroundings and try not to get yourself into dangerous situations in the first place. Like wandering around totally absorbed in our digital devices oblivious to potential dangers. James then moved quickly into physical attack mode. So what did we do when James simulated strangling us? We froze. And we couldn't flee, so the next hour was spent teaching us to fight. By the end of our hour session we had our dukes up, were kicking left to the groin, hurling punches in the vunerable neck area, and gouging out eyes. We also fended off a knife attack and an assailant with a gun. Whew!  See why we needed that martini? It was definitely empowering and we can't wait for another lesson. We've posted the photos and the details on James and his mid-town training facility at our web site. And here's the best part. James is willing to put together a special training class just for tomatoes too. Get all the details . 

 

Here's to kicking some butt.