Cuisine Cube Subscription Box

Posted on August 12, 2015 by James Agee Posted in Food .

Do you like to support businesses that bring high quality products to your doorstep each and every month? Then Cuisine Cube would be perfect for you. They offer a a wide range of products that are really delicious. The box I recieved had Goodie Girl midnight brownie cookies, and the best part is that these gluten free cookies are based in Tribeca NYC. They are extremely accessible for an anytime dessert. Next on the snack list is Long Island NY based and family owned Kitchen Table Bakers parmesan mini chips. These chips are made entirely of cheese and boast a bold flavor.

To add to the assortment, you have Bjorn Quorn sun popped popcorn made in the Hudson Valley. This sun popped corn is tasty and energy conscious. Another great addition to the box is Sfoglini Pasta Shop’s Emmer Reginetti pasta. This organic grain pasta is grown at Lakewood Organic Grain and milled in NY state. It has a nutty flavor and is packed with fiber and protein which makes it a perfect companion to your favorite sauce.

Green Point Trading Company’s Black Bear spice rub is an all purpose seasoning named after a campsite in New York’s Catskill mountains. It can be used for veggies, burgers, meat or spice up beans. Last but not least is Gatherer’s Gourmet granola which I found is great for a snack or breakfast. The granola is made from premium ingredients including quinoa, coconut, and dark chocolate in Schenectady NY.

This high quality, gourmet snack filled cube is the perfect gift to yourself or someone special. I am truly impressed by the quality of the items in this subscription box, and would not hesitate to recommend it to you. For more information or to subscribe and get $10 off your purchase with code “10OFFTOASTPOP“, visit www.CuisineCube.com.

Toast Pop Travels: The Pandorica

Posted on August 24, 2014 by kejohns323 Posted in Food .

Brace yourselves! Because the subject of this travel post takes you through time and space!

Well, sort of…and as far as I know, none of the ToastPop staff has ever been here, but us Whovian staff would surely be thrilled to hit it up sometime! The Pandorica is a brand new Doctor Who-themed restaurant in Beacon, New York that just opened in July. While The Pandorica as known in the show meant no good for the universe, the eatery of the same name is in a good way the most interesting thing to have graced the Whovian universe (after the season eight premiere this weekend)! A Nerdist review that first covered the location says that the décor expresses many odes to the show: Van Gogh’s “Exploding TARDIS” painting hangs in the dining room, it has a TARDIS restroom and a TARDIS mural, the menus are outfitted with the look of the blue box, and even some of the selections themselves are inspired by and named for references from the shows (Although the “fish fingers” are actually French toast sticks, served with with custard!).

My travels this summer have led me to some low-key, casual restaurants, and this imaginary/virtual trip to The Pandorica is not much different in atmosphere. This place offers live musical entertainment, and even cosplay events from time to time! And its great for Whovians of any age! Not only does the Pandorica gain ToastPop’s approval, but the newest faces of Doctor Who, Peter Capaldi, Jenna Louise-Colman, and Steven Moffat, visited recently and loved it!

Plan your trip to Beacon and The Pandorica!

The Pandorica Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Pandorica/819377074747184?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal

find directions and business hours, and what’s going on

“Doctor Who’s Cast Reacts to New York’s Newest Doctor Who-Themed Café” (article): http://www.grubstreet.com/2014/08/doctor-who-cast-peter-capaldi.html

What did the stars have to say about The Pandorica?

Beacon city website: http://www.beacononhudson.com/

Take your own virtual trip to Beacon and see it for yourself!

Beacon, NY Trip Advisor page: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g47291-Beacon_New_York-Vacations.html

Plan a real trip to town through Trip Advisor. Check out what accommodations and other attractions Beacon has to offer, and what others have said about them.

A scene from “The Pandorica Opens” (season 5, ep. 12): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ecycHAZtaM

Watch an iconic moment from Doctor Who surrounding the restauraunt’s namesake. Shared here for the fun of it.

Write What You Know

Posted on August 17, 2014 by Toast Pop Posted in Books .

They say write what you know. So I did.

After practically a decade as a journalist I’ve racked up some pretty valuable life experience. Traveled the world and back, mostly all on my own, but there’s one place that holds quite a special place in my heart. Some might even call it novel-worthy 😉 That’s a little town called Sleepy Hollow, NY.

Yep, THE headless horseman Sleepy Hollow. I never knew it really existed either until I got my first magazine job in a town nearby. I moved in with a co-worker into a big, charming old apartment complex in what we lovingly dubbed “The Hollow.”

And then we discovered the cemetery.

The true definition of AWE-some, this place is simply breathtaking, with mausoleums built into the rolling hills, surprises around every twist and turn like graves that date back as far as the Revolutionary War and those of quite a few “celebrities.” Including this guy…

Washington Irving's Grave

As I started to experience night terrors that involved spiders and even once a man (who looked over at me while I slept on our couch one evening), I began to wonder where these things were stemming from. I knew I needed to get down on paper some of the answers that I was coming up with.

That’s how my first book was born—inspired by this amazing little town along the Hudson River and some very strange dreams. It’s the story of two young magazine editors, one of which experiences some of the same visions I was having. But I pumped all that full of steroids and voile! You have a novel my friends! Is it autobiographical? Yea sure, maybe some of it. The rest is only in my crazy 12-second fantasies…

I don’t want to give too much away, so I will say no more. But if you want to win a free copy, signed by yours truly, be sure to get in on the Goodreads Giveaway going on until Sept. 8.

Or you can buy a copy at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or even at my publisher’s website, Black Bed Sheet Books! I hope you all enjoy it and would love to know what you think. Even if you hate it!

You can contact me and follow along with all things AnnMarie at my blog, www.authorannmariemartin.com.

Thanks so much to James and the Toast Pop team for allowing me to do this little guest spot!

About The Author: AnnMarie Martin is the author of the book The Hollow, she has traveled the world as a reporter and continues to share her writing talents with the world in her writing.

4 Discount Fragrances for Women Who Love to Travel

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Toast Pop Posted in Style .

Travelling is a great activity you can give yourself. It’s one of the best investments you can buy with your hard-earned money. Of course in every place you’ve been, you want to be reminded of the culture, the surroundings and the food. Believe it or not, there are discount fragrances for women that will remind you of what it’s like being in those places one more time.

Venezia by Laura Biagiotti

A romantic place filled with culture and passion, Venice is revived through Laura Biagiotti’s Venezia for women. Inspired by Saint George’s bell tower located in Venice, Venezia’s bottle is designed after the said tower in burgundy and gold combination. Enormously popular in the 1990s, this fragrance has been well-loved by women who enjoy themselves spraying a spicy, woody, warm and oriental scent. On top of that, the Venezia is accentuated with juicy Italian fruits such as plums and peaches. Add vanilla and that’s an extremely seductive perfume you don’t want to miss.

Parisienne by Yves Saint Laurent

Bonjour Mademoiselle! Reminisce the streets of Paris with its quaint cafes, must-have macaroons, opulent designer shops and of course the romantic view of the Eiffel Tower. A woman who tavelled to Paris knows that being in the place of love and fashion means living the life of the chic and daring. A confident woman struts her way to Paris – she’s confident and definitely in control. Parisienne is highly feminine with sensual notes of sandalwood, rose and blackberry.

Laila by Geir Ness

Nature and the freshness of flowers – these are the elements Laila by Geir Ness brings. You are lucky to be one of the few who experienced the cleanliness and radiance of Norwegian mountains. His mother as his inspiration, Geir Ness bottled Laila to create a mesmerizing fragrance that combines wildflowers found in the Norwegian mountains plus fruity essences that truly capture a woman’s femininity and grace. It’s simple, clean and unmistakably Norway.

Bond No. 9 So New York

City lights, fashion and metropolitan culture – New York is just the place to be. It’s the place that stays awake from sun up to sun down. Don’t forget your experience of hailing their famous yellow taxis, skyscrapers as well as hot chocolates and coffees all day. Bond No. 9 So New York encapsulates the day-to-day living in the Big Apple. Its scent is so much different from your usual floral or fruity women’s fragrance as you will be reminded of New York’s finest decadent desserts, frothy lattes and chocolate goodies. The scent also adds a kick of cocoa powder, espresso accord and hints of spices to warm up that delicious scent of New York.

Travelling is an essential part of your lifestyle, so don’t forget to bring any of these discount fragrances from Beauty Encounter when you travel. Looking for handy fragrances? You might just win a set of miniature Dior or Calvin Klein fragrances from Beauty Encounter. All you have to do is visit their Facebook page to know more about this month’s giveaway.

Donna’s Bounty Herbs and Spices

Posted on September 25, 2012 by James Agee Posted in Food .

If you love tea as much as we do then you are sure to love Donna’s Bounty Herbs and Spices. They have everything from bagged tea to loose leaf tea in either decaffeinated or regular as far as their tea selection goes. Aside from their suburb teas, they also offer herbs, spices and extracts. One of the great things about this shop is that everything is super fresh because they only make small batches at a time, this means your not ordering something that has been sitting on a shelf for weeks at a time, it’s all fresh!

The natural ingredients in their teas really makes all the difference in the smells and flavors. There really is no comparison in a store bought bag of tea that has been mass manufactured to a hand packaged fresh bag of tea from Donna’s Bounty. The flavors in a single cup of their tea are robust and bursting with taste. One really cool thing about Donna’s Bounty is that they are a New York State Department of Agriculture inspected and licensed facility and they guarantee that their products will taste fresh, not many independent tea companies can brag about that!

Perhaps a fantastic cup of tea doesn’t interest you. If that is the case then you will be pleased to know that their mulling spices are also superb. Mulling spices are great for adding to juices and ciders, especially for the Fall season! They also offer a very large selection of herbs and spices that you can use to cook with. There really isn’t much that you can’t find at Donna’s Bounty Herbs and Spices. If you like fresh teas and ingredients and high quality products then you should visit them at their Etsy shop online or their online eBay store! For more information on the wide variety of products offered or to place an order outside of Etsy or eBay send them an e-mail at Dhonsing@nycap.rr.com!

4D CityScape—A New Kind of Puzzle

Posted on May 4, 2012 by kejohns323 Posted in Uncategorized .

Major world cities can finally be in your hands with 4D CityScape puzzles! In more than one way, this puzzle series brings new dimensions to a puzzling hobby. Two foundational layers create a geographical map of a particular city. A third layer

New York City puzzle

brings an element of time, so to speak. While referring to an included Time Poster that features the date of each major building, you get a fascinating look at the evolution and development of the city you’re assembling!

New York, Chicago, London, D.C., Toronto, and Vegas are some of the metropolises offered in this award-winning puzzle collection. Hong Kong, Tokyo, Paris, Berlin, and Sydney are the newest models. They are sold internationally in stores and online. Choose where to buy to find a store near you or an online retailer. 4D Cityscape fans can stay connected through Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter.

4D Cityscape products are puzzles, history lessons, and a complete city replica. They make great gifts and souvenirs, especially for the traveler and history buff. For the kids or the puzzle hobbyist, these bring a new kind of fun and challenge, along with a learning experience. 4D CityScape practically makes the world your own!

For Fashionable Women

Posted on February 6, 2012 by kejohns323 Posted in Style, Uncategorized .

If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then the gorgeous bejeweled pieces from BonBon Oiseau will be life-long companions! Designer Deborah Stein affirms what Marilyn Monroe sang through her Brooklyn-based company. Inspired by world travels, Deborah Stein encapsulates visual and cultural sophistication in her hand-crafted designs. BonBon Oiseau maintains a fantastic assortment of original, high quality pieces that are perfect for any formal ensemble!
Stein’s various collections are exquisite, but diversely priced. The least expensive pieces are the iconic tie and money clips, all about $52. The key chain set-the Porte Cles Collection- runs at about $54 to $55. Lively gem-stacked and threaded earrings are anywhere from $58 to $475. The feathered hair pieces, flowery pins, and corsages vary from $100 to $200. Beautifully colored and accented bracelets range from $128 to $500. The beaded and charmed necklaces are offered from $140 to $250. Bridal adornments are also sold with prices available upon request. All the mentioned pieces can be found on the main site, bononoiseau.com. Many more diamond studded accents can be found on its sister site, bonbonoiseau.bigcartel.com. The jewel collections are also sold in stores in the United States, Europe, and Japan.

Jewelry is the friend that makes you look good, and fashionable women around the world have befriended BonBon Oiseau jewelry and hair adornment. Accessorize your wedding party, your prom gown, or your party dress with bold color and modern style. Once you have your own bit of this collection, it will be your default cohort for all the dressier occasions.

*Blogger’s note: All mentioned prices are in US currency and before shipping tax.

Apple Gets Planted in Grand Central Station

Posted on December 18, 2011 by kejohns323 Posted in Tech .

Everything is bigger in New York City-the buildings, the crowds, the traffic congestion, and now Apple’s newest retail store. According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple opened a new store in the Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, New York last week at 10am on Friday, December 9th. This makes the fifth Apple store in New York City and one of three-hundred worldwide. It overlooks the main concourse on the east and northeast balconies. According to Apple, 2,500 people awaited the store’s grand opening and had received nearly 4,000 visitors before noon. To date, this is the biggest of Apple’s stores; spanning 23,000 square feet.

While the store itself has all the necessities of your typical Apple store, aesthetically it’s conformed to the style of the historical landmark. One feature very unique to this store would be the fifteen minute” express classes” on the use of Apple’s products. These classes are intended for commuters who are looking to kill time between departures. Also offered through iPhone apps are self-checkout and personal pick-up services for the customers on the go.

Even though Apple is not sharing revenues (unlike other venders in the building) with the Metropolitan Transit Authority- the company owning the Grand Central Terminal- they believe Apple’s presence quadruples rent and will strongly increase foot traffic to other retailers in the same area. Apple is shelling out $180 per square foot over their ten year lease on the space. Apple’s bill for the commercial space also includes paying $5 million to buy out the lease of the prior tenant, $1.1 million for yearly rent, and $2.5 million for construction. This is certainly a big bite for the big apple! The next time you’re experiencing the enormous grandeur of the city that never sleeps, stop by Grand Central and see Apple’s huge new store for yourself!