Posts categorized as Gifts

“Paula! Mercury is in retrograde this weekend, be careful.” My friend called out. “Oh shit, thanks!” I shouted back as I swung the bodega door open. Sign talk is everywhere in Rockaway – on the boulevard, on the beach, on your board, at the gym… waiting for the shuttle.  “He had a great aura in the water today.”  “Why are there so many Aries in Rockaway?” But wait… what is your rising sign?” “Crystals.” I’m a novice. I didn’t know what Mercury in retrograde ment until like two years ago. […]

  Gift giving is part of the holiday season – for better or for worse. My intentions are to give meaningful presents but then end up delaying because I haven’t thought of that perfect gift idea. Then I’m scrabbling. If this sounds familiar “the gift of food and drink” is a great last minute solution. Let’s get the juices flowing… fancy coffee, tea, seltzer, kombucha, wine, beer or liquor. I say fancy because I’d suggest buying higher-end. Purchase something the recipient would not often splurge on. For your friends and […]

This August heat! Watering our gardens at this point in the season is crucial. We’ve spent months caring for our veggies and now it’s make or break. Inconsistent watering will affect your tomatoes. I’m having a problem with my heirloom tomatoes… I have blossom-end rot. This is a common problem that often affects larger varieties simply because they take longer to mature. But blossom-end rot can also affect cherry, grape, and other smaller varieties. Blossom-End Rot Blossom-end rot is a physiological condition (not fungal) caused by environmental stressors.  Most often […]

Little known fact, I’m obsessed with the classic sitcom Frasier. I’ve watched all 11 seasons at least five times. Honestly, I lost count. One episode that pops in my head often is called Selling Out  (season 1, episode 9). Frasier signs with Bulldogs’s agent, the fierce Bebe Claser. She persuades him to accept commercial endorsements but Frasier, being Frasier, is confronted with an ethical issue. He doesn’t feel comfortable endorsing a product he hasn’t experienced and enjoyed. To deal with this conundrum, he tests out the advertiser’s products to determine […]

Disclaimer: One week I’m writing about coconut oil and the next this. I hope you guys don’t think I’ve totally lost of my mind… It was an hour before my parents were arriving to go out to Bungalow Bar for a Father’s Day brunch when a friend of mine texts saying “There’s a hatchling bird on the cement in front of Key Food. It can’t even lift its head.” My stomach got sick. I took a few minutes, “Am I willing to go through this?” I don’t know how I […]

Stop by and say hello this Sunday at Gottscheer Hall. We’re selling house plants in recycled cans. There are some great vendors this spring, check’m out.

We recently caught up with Rockaway residents Beth Waytowich and Tara Mckiernan, co-owners and creators of  the End of the A Mobile Boutique. Yes, we’re talking about an on-wheels fashion boutique servicing the Rockaways! Here’s the scoop… Q: What was the inspiration for End Of The A Mobile Boutique? The inspiration for the name ‘End Of The A’ is Rockaway being the last stop of the A train. The idea for a mobile boutique stemmed from Tara and I wanting to turn our love for fashion and the beach into a business. Rockaway […]

My sister made this amazing collage of my mother placidly watching over the food at our wedding, 4 years ago today. It’s surreal and awesome!

Tomato reader Nicole, from San Jose California shared with us her Bridal Shower Wine Basket photos.  She came across our post “For the Newlyweds Who Love Wine – Bridal Shower Gift” and used it as inspiration for her own beautiful gift basket (pictured above). Nicole took it one step further adding wine glasses with “Mr.” and “Mrs.” painted on. I asked Nicole how she made the glasses… I used a Sharpie paint pen (medium tip), typed out the letters on the computer in the  font and size that I wanted, and […]

I woke up sleepily last Tuesday morning, opened the fridge to get milk for my coffee and noticed mini cute tupperwares.  A few blinks later, I saw they were filled with an interesting butter spread and pesto! Food surprises are  one of my favorite things.  As soon as I tasted ramp in the butter, I knew this was the tasty work of my friend Jen, and that The Forms had dropped the treats off in the middle of the night while working in our studio – like a food Santa Claus! I remember Jen telling me […]