New Band Spotlight: Amber Wild

Love or hate Kiss’ 1997 album “Carnival of Souls”, “I Will Be There” is one of its underrated deep tracks. It’s a ballad Paul Stanley wrote, pledging a fatherly vow of faithful presence and support to his son, Evan. As one might surmise, if not expect, the two of them bonded over music. Paul taught Evan to play guitar and Evan lived and toured with his father throughout his life.  

Twenty-seven years later, Evan is all grown up and making his own way in the music world with a band called Amber Wild. During the pandemic, Evan had an insatiable itch to be in front of people on stage. When the restrictions were lifted, he connected with his fellow bandmates: Marshall Via (guitars and vocals), Jake Massanari (bass), and Thomas Lowrey (drums). Together they developed their sound in the Los Angeles club circuit and had a festival debut at Aftershock in Sacramento. They were even invited to play the final nights of KISS’ End of the Road Tour! 

To speak more about their sound, heavy metal/hard rock new site, Blabbermouth.net, praises them as “the right amount of familiar and fresh, crafted with fiery twin guitars, thunderous drums, and raw vocals filtered through a kaleidoscope of influences” in light of their two singles–”Breakout” and “Silver”–that were released in October 2023. Evan, and no doubt his bandmates, were born and bred with a love and dedication for music across the decades, making their influences broad and numerous. If you feel the same way, this band is up your alley! I feel “Breakout” and “Silver” elicit traces of Thin Lizzy, The Darkness, Green Day, and Kiss, of course. Personally I also see hints of Paul in Evan’s stage mannerisms when I watch live performance clips from Instagram. Others have even commented that he has his dad’s voice. 

The rest of their influences are to be discovered very soon and throughout the summer! Another single titled “Getting Started”, dropped May 8th, seems to draw on Tom Petty and the Beatles while not being too stark a contrast from “Silver” and “Breakout”. Two more singles will release between June and July and a full EP will drop in September. So this post or blog may be updated accordingly. Evan seems pretty vocal through is social media stories about his many faves and inspirations too.

To follow and support Amber Wild, they’re active on all social media as @amberwildband and release across all music platforms. As of this writing, a small selection of merchandise is available for pre-order at amberwild.store. More still, share them with other music lovers you know! They’re sure to tour beyond LA if/when the interest and fanbase is large enough!

“Turn the Lights Back On” For Billy Joel

As a classic rock lover, I’m amazed at the longevity that the greats have maintained. Some of them either started or found their stride in the nineteen-sixties and seventies and are still going strong in their sixties and seventies. When it comes to bands, Bon Jovi’s debut was released forty years ago. KISS just (more or less) retired their live concerts after a fifty year stint. Lynyrd Skynyrd reaches their sixtieth milestone this year and Pink Floyd hits that point next year. The Rolling Stones have everyone beat with an active span of seven decades! What’s kept them going for so long?! Whatever their answers may be if you asked, surely some degree of meeting expectations plays some part, be it with expectations associated with popular demand, reinventing their sound, relevance, lineups, new generations of fans, or just contractual obligations.  

However, one great, who has been adamant about retiring the music-making juggernaut, has unexpectedly released new material! Singer-songwriter Piano Man, Billy Joel, first hinted at the prospect December 19th, 2023 during a Madison Square Garden residency. The buzz picked up in the latter half of January when a teaser posted on his TikTok account, announcing February 1st as the release date of a new single titled “Turn the Lights Back On”.

A backgound canvas on Spotify also teased the upcoming release. Photo mine.

The single comes thirty-one years after his last pop album, River of Dreams–which even ended quite neatly with a track named “Famous Last Words”, as if to close the book on his writing career at the time. Then over the following years, Joel has gone on various records saying he was not interested in putting out any more work. According to a New Yorker article, he wanted to call it quits altogether in 2010 for a combination of age, health, and personal reasons. That is until the 2012 Hurricane Sandy relief concert seemed to kickstart a revived interest in him. The aforementioned MSG residency started in 2014.

Yet, for all the refreshed interest in his shows and existing content over the decade, new music has always seemed like another matter. He told Billboard in 2007 that he “doesn’t rule out the possibility…” He just didn’t have the motivation nor “the compulsion to write songs in pop form” at the time.  Then, Joel told the New Yorker in 2014 that he felt he’s “had his say,”  [and] he’s “not crazy about going into a recording studio and doing that kind of life again, or taking on another project where there’s other people involved, arrangers and orchestrators and conductors and producers…” As recently as 2017, he briefly discussed the matter again with Stephen Colbert on late night television, again reiterating how he feels that he’s said all he can say and adding that the twelve albums he’s released (to date) is a “nice, round number”. 

However, he admitted to Rolling Stone at one point that he has “a lot of music that no one’s ever heard and no one may ever hear if I don’t decide to do something with it.” Perhaps he’s made up his mind, found some fresh motivation, and something new to say now.  He just hopes he didn’t wait too long to turn the lights back on, as his new song lyrics go. The single has a classic Billy Joel vibe, reminiscent of his style on earlier albums, like Cold Spring Harbor, Streetlife Serenader, or Turnstiles: simplistic, clean vocals, piano-driven, and even a touch romantic. Yet, the sound is still fresh. Better late than never, but fans couldn’t love it more! 

As of this early February writing (just hours after the single dropped), there’s no definite indication as to whether a full-fledged album or project is in the works following the release of “Turn the Lights Back On”. What is known though is that Joel will debut the song live at the Grammys on February 4th. (Check out this “story of the year” clip for more details about his comeback!) He will also tour this year with guests like Stevie Nicks, Sting, and Rod Stewart. This same tour will also take him to Cardiff, UK this summer. Additionally, the Madison Square Garden residency is slated to conclude July 25th.  

Billy Joel is one of the classic rock greats who are still going strong in some way and he’s one of my personal favorites! As vocal as he’s been about not stepping back into the music business, many fans–myself included–can hardly believe he’s decided otherwise, even if it is just for a single right now! It’s nice to hear the good old Piano Man in a new way after all this time! The song is now available everywhere music is streamed or purchased! A vinyl pre-order is also available from his website store.

A music video for “Turn the Lights Back On” was released on February 15th, comprised of real and AI-generated “flashbacks” of the Piano Man throughout the decades. He’s also made appearances with Colbert again and Howard Stern to talk about his new song and his return.

Sources:

Billboard article

New Yorker article

Rolling Stone article

ToastPop’s Favorite Apps for a Better You in 2024

It seems that technology is a permanent fixture in everyone’s lives. To some, this may be an excuse to not live healthy or put health on a lesser priority, but it is actually a great way to stay healthy! If you own any iOS or “smart” device, like a cell phone, tablet, or even a watch, then you already have the bare minimum to start a healthier lifestyle! Paired with the right apps and programs, you can be well on your way to a better you! These are some of ToastPop’s favorite health and fitness programs on the market as of 2024, if not some of the best overall! 

Yoga Studio

Sleep Cycle

Exercise

• FitOn- FitOn is a digital wellness platform offering a wide variety of workouts ranging from cardio, stretches, yoga, pilates, HIIT, dance, and more! You can search and pick based on your preferences in intensity, length of time, target area, or activity. All free and no equipment necessary!  

Other resources for diet and well-being are offered as well, like tips and advice for meals and nutrition, personal trackers, and social networking in and outside the app. The base program alone has enough for a user to take advantage of, but FitOn Pro subscription gives you exclusive music, personalized meal plans, and offline downloads. 

• Yoga Studio- The world’s leading yoga app selected by Apple and Google as Editor’s Choice. Yoga Studio is a great resource for anyone interested in the exercise. It offers guided classes you can follow along with and an option to create your own routines. It’s all very simple to use too! Essential classes and custom classes are free while additional classes come with a yearly or monthly subscription. 

Diet

• Wondr Health- Wondr Health is the app extension for a weight loss program of the same name. The app is a toolkit for your progress with the Wondr program, featuring trackers for weight, meals, water, and activities; lessons, reminders, checklists, an in-platform network to talk to coaches and other users, and much more! 

Setting up an account of course allows you to use this app. Visit the Wondr Health website to learn more about their program. Membership might even be free or discounted through certain workplaces!

• MyFitnessPal – Now you don’t need an iOS device for this because they have a website that does the same thing, but this app makes it very simple to track weight loss, manage your diet, connect with other people wanting to stay healthy and lose weight, and it has just about every feature someone on-the-go looking to stay healthy would want. Try it free for a month and pay for a monthly or yearly subscription if you like it. 

Well-being

• Sleep Cycle – Adequate rest is vital to a healthier lifestyle. Sleep Cycle is an app that monitors your motion while you sleep and determines when you are in your lesser sleep cycle (meaning you aren’t in as deep a sleep) and it goes by the time you set to be woken up. It gradually wakes you up by playing your choice of sound, music, or regular alarm noise. This app is important because it wakes you up on time and does it in a way that makes you feel like you have gotten a great night’s sleep every time! Try it for a week before committing to a monthly subscription.

• Flo- the most popular female health app. While its primary feature is a period tracker, it provides a ton of other resources to help you better understand your body, hormones, cycle stages, changes, and well-being. Though not intended to replace visits/appointments with your own provider, its informational material has been created by female health specialists and experts. This app also includes in-platform message boards (or chats) and even a feature your partner can download if trying for pregnancy or better intimacy. 

A free subscription tracks your cycle and symptoms, provides some health insights, and access to the chats. A premium subscription offers more access to the informational content, the AI health assistant, and a daily well-being plan. Trial periods, monthly, and yearly subscriptions are offered, and worth the investment!

Adequate health and well-being are important these days, especially in light of the last few years. When utilized correctly, the interconnected relationship between daily life and technology can help us improve and maintain our physical, and even emotional, conditions! While no investment in yourself is too small, nearly all our preferred apps/programs should fit into most budgets with their combination of free, trial periods, and subscription-based offerings. 

Enough scrolling social media; start making your smart tech work with you and for you to a better you!

Making Playlists with a Spotify Alchemist

Listening to music has been one of my constant habits and hobbies and I’ve always had an affinity for playlist creation, even before Spotify made them as easy and awesome as they are now. If I had another life or could restart my professional life, I’m sure I could be a pretty good radio/music DJ.

My Spotify Wrapped/Me in 2023 results identified me as an alchemist. “Listening is your laboratory.” The description declares about me. “You create your own playlists more than other listeners do…” Looking at my library, I have fifty-five original playlists as of this writing and thirty-eight Spotify-curated ones! I don’t know if I should be ashamed to admit that a lot of my days don’t start or end without one of my playlists! 

The best summation I think I can give for why I have so many is that playlists make it easy to access and organize my listening interests. I’m constantly adding and changing my library too! For instance, several lists are dedicated to one artist or band I love. Others are seasonal or thematic, like for Christmas, trick-or-treating, love songs, breakup songs, or my favorite Disney tunes. A few were created for specific purposes, like wedding receptions, bridal showers, working out, sleeping/relaxing, or volunteering with preschoolers at church. 

As an audiophile and “Spotify Alchemist”, what I love, I love a lot and I’m always looking for more! So, I wanted to share some of my secrets to exploring music and playlist-making. 

• Nothing is wrong with playlists focused on one band/artist/genre, but broad or creative themed lists can be pretty fun–like pump up jams, girl power, road-trippin, or decade party. Brainstorm and add songs you associate with the idea you decide to work with. 

• I also like using the smart shuffle or recommended options. Both of these operate with Spotify’s AI/algorithm programming to make suggestions it thinks will fit based on your tastes and selections. To activate smart shuffle, tap the shuffle icon twice. A star or diamond shape will appear next to the criss-cross arrows. The recommendations show up when you customize a playlist. You can either touch “add to this playlist” at the top or scroll through the options at the bottom of the list. 

• I might incorporate any deep cuts I know if they fit the playlist theme. Deep cuts are basically the “other” songs on an album that were not released as singles. If you aren’t familiar with a complete album though, you’ll need to take some time to listen through.

• I sometimes find music through friends, family, or other media. This is fairly self-explanatory, and a good way to include and connect with others too. Here’s how it might look in “real-time”:
  • My sister is a Swiftie who’s rubbing off on me. (Taylor was number three out of my top five artists this year.) 
  • Once, a little girl in preschool requested “Spidey music”–or music from the Disney Junior show, “Spidey Amazing Friends”. 
  • At some point, my Instagram feed started showing me reels from new or little-known music artists. This is how I discovered Spin and Deskjobs, bands with songs that were that were number two and number four of my top five this year.
  • If I hear a song on the tv or radio that piques my interest, I’ll identify it with Shazam, open it in Spotify, and save it on a list. While watching the finales of “The 100” and “Lucifer” a couple summers back, songs performed by Scala & Kolacny Brothers caught my attention. 

• Some of my “discoveries” go to their own playlist at first. I’ll listen to it every so often to decide if I’m going to keep them or where in regular rotation they may fit. It might also be a playlist of cool, misfit songs as well. 

My top songs

My top artists

I hope these tips help music lovers cover new ground and better acquaint casual users with Spotify’s potential. It’s been one of the easiest platforms to explore, create, and curate audio media! 

Happy holidays and happy listening! 

Explore Local History through Arcadia Publishing

Many interesting things are said about the study and development of history. Most know the George Santayana quote: “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Yet, Martin Luther King said, “We are not makers of history. We are made by history.” More still, John W. Gardner makes a good point in that ““history never looks like history when you are living through it.” But history maker Thomas Jefferson claims to have “like[d] the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.” 

Whatever your approach to history, the many books from Arcadia Publishing can provide a unique light on it. Their publications, largely in pictorial format,  have reconnected people to their community, their neighbors, and their past by offering a curbside view of hometown history and often-forgotten aspects of American life. Their books contain hundreds of vintage images and captions from a variety of historical archives. With over seventy different historical subjects, their content spans every state in the U.S. and the Canadian territories, delving into many areas including ethnic heritages, architecture, sports and entertainment, business, government, food, conflicts, and more. There’s bound to be an interesting title for most niches. 

Speaking from reading the titles on my local history, I’m in awe of seeing what my region was like over the last two centuries up to even several decades ago! Most West Virginians know that parts of the state’s civilization were born out of developments of the Great Depression, the New Deal, industry, and/or wartime. Yet on the flip side of the coin, many of these areas have also stagnated, declined, or became obsolete through dwindling supply and demand, modernization, urbanization, and/or urban decay. Lord Acton claimed that “history is not a burden on the memory, but an illumination of the soul”. Arcadia Publishing’s books definitely illuminate the Wild and Wonderful’s old soul by preserving the memories of:

•  early lodging accommodations in Southern West Virginia;
•  the formation and perpetuation of Arthurdale; 
• Huntington’s flourishing beginnings as an industrial shipping port;
•  the development of three major towns in Putnam County along the Kanawha River (I’ve lived in two out of three of them, so this one was my favorite);
•  the industries that established South Charleston;
•  and downtown Charleston’s once-vibrant city life.

Anyone wanting their own look at history can find Arcadia’s books and information in several different ways. The easiest way would be direct from their website—volume discounts are available if you let them know you’re interested in purchasing a large quantity. Many of their titles may also be available at a convenience store, gift shop, or even library near you. Or if you’re a retailer yourself, they offer an opportunity for you to sell their books. They’re also active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram so you can keep up with their latest publishings and promotions. 

Winston Churchill said that history will be kind to him for he intended to write it. In the same way, we shouldn’t be so ignorant of history and not treat it like a burden. The Arcadia Publishing books make it a little easier to see what made us so hopefully we can make better dreams of the future!

The Ninja Creami Wins over Fast-Food Frozen Confections!

My husband and I bought just the right home for us when we got married last year: it was reasonably priced (just before the interest rate hike), move-in ready with room to grow, situated in a quiet, suburban neighborhood in a town not far from work, family, and other places we like to be…and half a mile from the nearest Dairy Queen.  

We love sweet treats as much as the next person but we’re also trying to be more health- and budget-conscious as newly-married, home-owning individuals. Our Blizzard temptations took a hike a lot more easily once we were introduced to the Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker! All of our frozen confectionery cravings can be satisfied with additional settings that prepare milkshakes, smoothies, sorbet, and gelato as well. 

A device bought from a major retailer will include a booklet with recipes and tips; I found a free app that features recipes, and YouTube has plenty of tutorials, but it’s also fun just to play with your own ingredients. Somebody else we know with a Creami recommended using pudding mixes for bases. My husband and I will either crush cookies or chocolate candies in a food processor to use as a base as well or crumble them for add-ins. I’ll mix yogurt with berries or bananas for my own smoothies too. We can make an ice cream that matches the consistency of most Dairy Queen treats in a fraction of the time it would take to order and have it prepared in-store! Using our own ingredients, our desserts can be a lot healthier too!

Toast Pop Travels through West Virginia!

James and I are from West Virginia: the wild-and-wonderful, Civil War-born, thirty-fifth state admitted to the Union. Summers are always special here because June 20th is the anniversary of the state’s existence. Two-thousand and twenty-three is even more so because the year marks West Virginia’s one-hundred and sixtieth birthday! In honor of the milestone, James and I want to show you the cool places our own backyards offer to visitors, newcomers, and natives alike!

Tudor’s Biscuit World

Tudor’s Biscuit World is a small fast-food chain that originated and now dominates the Mountain State. Their restaurants serve hearty biscuit sandwiches, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s a place that many are curious about and find that the place is certainly worth the hype for its value, service, and atmosphere. More still, many of their breakfast sandwiches are named for West Virginia’s culture, like the Miner and Peppi–homages to the coal mining industry and the pepperoni roll; or the Ron and Mary B–named for State House employees who were regular customers at the original location in Charleston. While others are named for the major college sports teams, like The Thundering Herd for Marshall University, The Mountaineer for West Virginia University, or The Golden Eagles for the University of Charleston. With over sixty locations throughout the state, one is sure to be along your way! 

For more info: http://www.tudorsbiscuitworld.com

(Additionally, I contributed to an article about Tudor’s in WV Explorer magazine)

Mothman Museum

Scotland has the Loch Ness Monster, the northwest U.S. has Bigfoot, and West Virginia has Mothman! The world’s only museum dedicated to him is found in Point Pleasant! Among their exhibits are rare archives about him and mysterious happenings that occurred in the town in 1966 and 1967; press clippings, video footage, and articles connecting him to the Silver Bridge disaster and UFO activity; the prop collection from the Mothman Prophecies film; and more. Their merchandise store sells all things Mothman from shirts, to books, to Christmas ornaments. Next door is a cool statue and a themed escape room is in the works. 

The rest of Point Pleasant is a cool, small town as well with several small businesses, preserved vintage architecture, and a nice park dedicated to the area’s Native American heritage. Additionally, the city is home to a Mothman Festival in the fall. 

More info: https://www.mothmanmuseum.com/

The state museums

Take a deep dive into state history at one of the free museums operated by West Virginia’s Department of Arts, Culture & History. Charleston has the West Virginia State Museum, situated in the capitol complex. Wheeling is home to the West Virginia Independence Hall. Moundsville has the Grave Creek Archeological Complex. And Clifftop is the location of Camp Washington Carver. 

For more info: https://wvculture.org/agencies/museums/

Oglebay Festival of Lights

Oglebay any time of the year is an experience. It’s a two-thousand acre park in Wheeling that features lodging, dining, sports, shopping, and a zoo, among other things. During the winter season, they host one of the nation’s largest holiday light shows featuring over three hundred acres of festive displays along a six-mile drive!

For more info: https://oglebay.com

The Greenbrier

The Greenbrier Resort has been a historic getaway destination since 1778, attracting presidents, celebrities, royalty, and business leaders from all over. An upscale resort, accommodations are offered in 710 signature rooms and 33 suites. Amenities include dress codes, golfing, spa services, 11 bars, 9 restaurants, clubs, a clinic, and over 55 indoor and outdoor activities for all ages. 

For more info: https://www.greenbrier.com/

Bramwell

Bramwell has roots in the coal-mining industry. In the 1800’s, it had the largest number of millionaires per capita in the United States. As such, many of the homes have been preserved and are open for public tours. Other great offerings in town are the Bramwell Corner Shop, Pipestem Park, and the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System. 

For more info: https://wvtourism.com/bramwell/

Princeton

Princeton is another town where history, art, and culture intermingle. There, one can find the Princeton Railroad Museum, Those Who Served War Museum, The McNutt House, The Chuck Mathena Center, and plenty of boutiques, galleries, and shops. James recommends the Blue Ridge Bee Company, a company specialized in honey and bee-keeping goods. 

For more info: https://wvtourism.com/company/city-of-princeton/

Hope you’re enticed to visit and explore more of the Wild and Wonderful we live in! 

Happy 160th Birthday, West Virginia!

Toast Pop Travels: The Air Force Museum

Ohio gave birth to Wibur and Orville Wright, the men who gave birth to modern aviation. Over a century later, they’re honored in the National Museum of the United States Air Force among three hundred and fifty other aircraft, missiles, and other artifacts related to flight’s history and development. With free admission and parking every day of  the week, this is a great place to spend one or two days while in Dayton, Ohio! 

Situated on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the museum is home to over eleven galleries that highlight aviation’s contributions to wartime conflicts and scientific developments in the field. Several craft are furbished to allow visitors to walk through the hulls and peek into the cockpits. Some even have models or simulations of the aircraft driver’s seat. My personal favorite was the Presidential gallery, a display of the aircraft that carried America’s leaders. Even some momentos like dishes, itineraries, and menus are shown. 

A Centennial exhibit honoring the museum itself is planned to open May 20th. 

Other attractions and amenities at the museum include: free guided tours; virtual and audio tours; touchscreen games and information panels; some hands-on STEM integration activities; handicap access and motor carts; an Aviation Hall of Fame; a gift shop; and concessions. Out on the grounds are the Air Park, with a playground and exhibits of Boeing aircraft, a control tower, and Nissan Hut from WWII; and the Memorial Park with statues and plaques for those who gave their lives in the Air Force. For a fee, visitors can get tickets to experience one of their 3-D or VR simulator rides or the museum’s own movie theater with specialty films. 

This museum is very much “Toast Pop approved”! I can’t think of any other feature destination this budget-friendly and steeped in heritage! Just wear good walking shoes and don’t forget to look up as many displays are structured overhead!

images from my trip

The Wright Brothers display

The Wright Brothers display

Don’t forget to look up!

There’s plenty of great photo spots!

From an exhibition featuring flight uniforms

Inside the Aviation hall of Fame

A view inside a cockpit

inside an aircraft

myself in a cockpit

missles

near a space shuttle

One of the presidential aircraft

Around Memorial Park

Plan your visit to the Air Force Museum!

https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/

Find business hours, get directions, preview exhibits, review rules and FAQ’s,  check the movie listings and schedule, and more!

https://www.facebook.com/AFmuseum

Like/follow for updates and events.

https://www.daytoncvb.com/

Find more to do in Dayton! 

Toast Pop Travels: The National Corvette Museum

I’m not a huge car person, but thankfully the men in my life are! Growing up, my dad worked for a couple automotive production plants and also owned a 1974 C4. My husband is a commercial truck driver but he knows his way around civilian vehicles quite well himself, having tinkered with mine since we’ve known each other. 

My husband’s work has taken him through Bowling Green, Kentucky countless times but two years ago, we were finally passing through for pleasure after Thanksgiving and had time to stop at the National Corvette Museum–someplace he’s been wanting to go, and one I genuinely enjoyed myself given to some extent by my dad’s associations with the classic vehicle. 

The museum is on the aptly named Corvette Drive and can be seen from Interstate 65. It’s also a quarter mile from the Bowling Green Assembly Plant, where Corvettes have been produced since 1981. Plant tours are a possibility, though separate from the museum admission and experience, of course. The 115,000-square foot facility showcases over eighty models throughout its seventy-year production, along with other displays of the company’s history and memorabilia. They’ve even dedicated an exhibit to the collapse of its Skydome floor in 2014–a sinkhole developed under the floor of that section in the building, and swallowed eight rare and one-of-a-kind Corvettes among other debris. The area with extra precautions, and displays have been integrated to illustrate the sinkhole location, a simulation of the disaster, some of the geography behind it, and the recovered or damaged vehicles after the fact. 

images from my trip

A brief history of the brand name

the sinkhole exibit

one tape strip outlined the sinkhole, the other outlined the cave beneath the floor

This is close to what Dad had when I was a kid

A current, limited-engagement feature is a gallery for the Legendary Creations of Carl Casper, the man behind “The Batman Returns” Batmobile, Turbo Shark Corvette/ Cosmic Invader, Young American Dragster/ 51 Merc “Knight Cruiser” and more exotic custom creations. Also, an education gallery opening April 28th will offer hands-on STREAM activities for younger visitors to enjoy. 

Amid cruising the showcases, hungry visitors can dine at the museum’s Stingray Grill that serves diner-style burgers, salads, desserts, and drinks. The museum’s Corvette Store offers Corvette accessories and car care products in addition to typical souvenirs. Right in the lobby is a Corvette driving simulator in which participants drive a C6 on a virtual racetrack. The real driving experience is offered seasonally at the NCM Motorsports Park across the highway.

Even if you’re not a car geek, time here at the National Corvette Museum can be time well-spent with any vehicle enthusiasts in your life! This attraction gets “ToastPop Approval”! 

Plan your visit to the National Corvette Museum!

https://www.corvettemuseum.org/

Buy tickets, book tours (or even hotels), view the Stingray Grill menu, preview exhibits

https://www.facebook.com/corvettemuseum/

Like/follow for special updates and events

https://www.visitbgky.com/

Find more to do in Bowling Springs!

https://corvettestore.com/

Shop online for official Corvette merch!

ASMR: ToastPop Girl’s Favorite Sleeping Trick and ASMRtists

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

General tips for falling asleep often entail a combination of drinking or not drinking certain beverages, avoiding naps or not napping for too long, taking medicines or supplements, exercising and/or relaxing, breathing or laying a certain way, maintaining a regular routine or doing things at a certain time, limiting electronics, light, diet, room temperature before bed or in the bedroom…All the do’s and don’ts are exhausting enough, especially if the efforts outweigh the intended benefits. However, one recommendation you won’t find on many lists is ASMR media (or just ASMR for short), a recent, but effective phenomenon in the world of sleep-inducing tricks and habits.

 If you’re familiar with white noise, ASMR can be more intense and more sensory-oriented. ASMR is an acronym for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, which are pleasant tingling, static, or goosebump-like sensations triggered by particular sights or sounds. Some compare the tactile feelings to a brain massage, or even a brain or ear orgasm and the emotional responses tend to be euphoric and sedate.

ASMR media is either audio or audio-visual productions that cater to triggering/inducing ASMR sensations.YouTube, Twitch, and Spotify are big outlets for it. What makes it unique are the sights, sounds, and even equipment used to produce the sensory responses. ASMR content creators will use either two microphones or binaural microphones and techniques to simulate a three-dimensional environment. The triggers they perform can be sounds or actions like:

• keyboard/typing or button-pushing sounds 
• finger, nail, or surface tapping, touching, tracing, or scratching
• manipulating soft-noise items like paper, fabric, bubble wrap, containers of liquid, rice, sand, etc. 
• personal attention (i.e. grooming/self-care, putting on makeup, performing a check-up or exam, speaking compliments, conversations, or positive affirmations)
• soft or repetitive voices, whispering, or mouth sounds
• a combination of triggers in a roleplay/cosplay

ASMR also has a “word-of-mouth” quality to it. The phenomenon took off around ten years ago, so science is still trying to dissect it and explore its effects. But what’s been gleaned from early research and anecdotal reports is generally positive:

• ASMR is an interesting combination of both arousal and relaxation. The physical sensation is typically accompanied by feelings of happiness, calm, or sleepiness.Some people also report pleasant feelings of relaxation, calm, sleepiness, or well-being.

• Its best-known application is as a treatment for insomnia. In one small survey, 82% of respondents in a survey reported that they used ASMR to induce sleep.

• ASMR may ease people to sleep by reducing stress, improving mood, or distracting them from intrusive thoughts.

• It can help the brain release endorphins and neurohormones, promoting relaxation and theta brainwaves and leading to deep, healthy sleep.  

• ASMR appears to activate regions of the brain associated with calming, sleep-inducing hormones like dopamine and oxytocin.

• People who enjoy ASMR often report reduced anxiety, fewer headaches, lower blood pressure, and more. It even seems to promote chronic pain relief. 

• Even Google has taken notice. In 2016, searches on their browser for ASMR tended to peak around 10:30 p.m., regardless of time zone, when people are winding down for the evening. “ASMR sleep” was also one of the top related terms.

If you want to give ASMR a try, here are my favorite ASMRtists: 

On YouTube and Spotify

Gibi

Recommended recordings: New to ASMR? Click Here! Her video for newcomers; Pulling Stuff out of Your Ears, various stickpoint objects are stuck in her microphone, or in your ears, and she gently removes them; Fixing Your Malfunctions, you’re a computer/machine/robot in need of tuning up; Patterns on Your Face; Unintelligible Whispers

The links are to YouTube but you can search the same titles to find them on Spotify.

FrivolousFox

Recommended recordings: Plucking, Poking, and Petting; Inaudible/Unintelligible Whispers

The links are to Spotify but you can search the same titles to find them on YouTube.

I have a couple Spotify playlists specifically for ASMR if you’re ready for more ASMR experiences:

ASMR-Whispers, Tingles, and Tickles – includes a variety of ASMRtists, including Gibi and FrivolousFox

Gibi playlist – exclusively Gibi content

Only on YouTube

Jodie Marie

Recommended recordings: Doing your Makeup/Personal Attention/Brushing/Trigger Words; Just Relaxing with You/Gentle Ear Triggers, a simple roleplay where the two of you have a relaxing sleepover.

Daisy Banaisy

Recommended recordings: her alien roleplay, you were abducted onto the alien’s ship; you become friends and travel the universe together.

Softlygaloshes

Reommended recordings: her alien roleplay, you end up on the alien’s planet and her character cares a lot for you; her astronaut roleplay, you are a sick alien she examines and helps.

I also have a YouTube playlist featuring all the listed creators and more.

DaisyBanaisy alien roleplay

FrivolousFox

Gibi

Jodi Marie

Softlygaloshes alien roleplay

A few more tips

• I recommend using headphones or earbuds to best experience the effects of ASMR. Make sure both ear parts are working. You might even consider investing in headphones for sleeping. Make sure they’re charged before extended use; some may “talk” to you when the battery is low. 

• Once you’ve started ASMR on your preferred device, limit any further light exposure by either turning off the screen or setting the device facedown. If you don’t want it running all night, you might set a sleep timer. 

• The only downside to streaming ASMR directly online is that the ads may wake you up if you don’t have an ad-free subscription to the service or if auto-play is left on. 

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/autonomous-sensory-meridian-response#benefits

https://www.nebraskamed.com/neurological-care/asmr-videos-are-exploding-online-but-what-is-asmr-and-does-it-work

https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/consumer-insights/consumer-trends/asmr-videos-youtube-trend/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/asmr

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASMR#

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/noise-and-sleep/asmr