Kids sate need for speed online

With "Cars 2" coming out on June 24 and Cars Land opening at the Disneyland Resort next year, interest in Lightning McQueen and Mater is bound to spike (not that it ever really went away). If your kid can’t get enough of those four-wheeled friends, check out worldofcars.go.com. Kids can sign up for free, create a car and tool around Radiator Springs "chatting" with characters from the movie. The website is targeted at kids ages 6 to 12 and features games, races and virtual events. — Donica Kaneshiro

Meteorites are color-correcting marvel

I fell in love with Guerlain Meteorites before I knew what they did. The pearly illuminating powder comes in a pretty tin better suited to an old-fashioned vanity or dresser top than tossed in with your other makeup. On top of that, they smell like violets, causing our photographer to ask if they were candy. Lucky I was there to stop him from eating them!

Unlike other one-dimensional powders, the pearls come in color combinations that brighten and color-correct complexions. For my cool undertones with splotches of red, I use Teint Rose with mauve pearls to reflect light, green to reduce redness, pink to even skin tone, white for illumination and gold for radiance.

There’s also Teint Beige for warmer skin tones and Teint Dore to bring out warmth in those with yellow, golden or olive undertones. The subtle shimmer deflects light away from flaws, though those accustomed to heavy makeup may not appreciate the difference enough to shell out $57 at DFS Galleria in Waikiki (931-2700). — Nadine Kam

Armstrong site sheds light on food

Wait! You just know that cheesy burger you’re about to consume has too many calories. But how many? And how much other stuff, such as fat, fiber, carbohydrates, protein, whatever? And is it possible to burn it off by the end of the day? Frankly, it’s scary checking out that kind of stuff. It’s also a hassle. Although fast-food places often have printed nutrition information about their products, they generally replace items with "portion sizes" — not the same thing.

Lance Armstrong, the champion bicycle racer, has a foundation that encourages healthy lifestyles and raises funds to fight cancer. There’s a companion website called livestrong.com that contains information on just about any type of food you can consume, and there’s an attendant smartphone app called Livestrong Calorie Counter (free for "lite" users and $2.99 for daily users) that keeps track of your daily caloric intake, plus your caloric burnoff.

A locals-only test of ahi poke, mac salad, bi bim bop, loco moco and kalua pork gives results, even breaking down differences between Zippy’s, Keoki’s and May’s Hawaii offerings. Try it out at www.livestrong.com/myplate. — Burl Burlingame

Cupcake papers are versatile

Make designer cupcakes at home with these festive paper cups available at Flora-Dec for $4.69 a pack. You don’t even need a muffin tin. Just place the grease-proof, heavy-duty CupcakeCreations papers on a cookie sheet, fill halfway with batter and bake. The cups are sturdy enough to fill with snacks for kids’ birthday parties and other occasions. There’s even a shallow version for baking muffin tops (remember the "Seinfeld" episode?) and a square liner perfect for classing up hot or cold hor d’oeuvres. Flora-Dec is at 373 N. Nimitz Highway (537-6194).— Christie Wilson

Godiva is perfection in salty combo

I am a lover of dark chocolate, that sinful — but healthful in moderate quantities! — indulgence with a delightful edge of bitterness. Pair that sweet with a certain type of salty, and you’ve got the perfect decadent snack. This is where Godiva’s Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzels come in. Not just chocolate, but Godiva chocolate! They seem to be out of stock more often than in, though, so snap them up if you’re lucky enough to find them locally. Also comes in a milk chocolate version; 1-pound canisters of either variety are $22 at Godiva in Ala Moana Center (951-4824) or the Waikele outlet store (677-5001), or online at godiva.com. — Wilma Jandoc

5 Things We Love is a shortlist of newly discovered stuff you have got to see, hear, wear, use or eat. What are you loving this week? Send a brief description of your latest favorite thing, where to find it and how much it costs, along with your name and contact info to features@staradvertiser.com.