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.

Headphones are a traveler’s dream

At $350, are Bose headphones a splurge? In my opinion they’re actually practical, especially if you travel frequently. I fell in love with these noise-canceling headphones after plowing quickly through two inferior models that broke easily and didn’t offer great acoustics. When I tried on a pair of Bose Quiet Comfort headphones, the efficient noise reduction and soft memory-foam ear covers immediately made for a perfect fit. I use them daily at work and on every plane flight. Find them at the Bose Showcase Store (591-2673) next to Ward Theatres, or check bose.com, where they are sometimes on sale at 10 percent off. — Elizabeth Kiesz­kow­ski

Atavist transforms digital literature

Some say the Internet has given everyone a flea-sized attention span suitable only for Twitter and Facebook messages. But not the founders of Atavist (www.atavist.com), a digital storytelling company that publishes original long-form journalism. The works tell stories of murderers and dreamers, of an idea to farm hippopotamuses so Americans can eat them, of the sinking of the HMS Bounty, of secrets and lovers, and even missing moon rocks. Their stories — which are gripping, detailed and, best of all, stuff you’ve never heard of — are available on smartphone, tablet or computer. You can subscribe to the site for as little as $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year, or buy individual stories for $2.99 and up. I’ve been using an Atavist app on my iPhone to read Brooke Jarvis’ "When We Are Called to Part," which tells the story of the last residents of Kalau­papa. — Mike Gordon

Itty-bitty bottles hold perfect pour

Anyone who brings lunch to the office — especially salads — knows you don’t add dressings, condiments or sauces when you pack your food in the morning; otherwise you’ll end up with a soggy mess hours later. Even if you use those small plastic containers for liquids, a "clean" and well-mixed pour can be tricky — but not with Sistema Sauce to Go minibottles from New Zealand. The BPA-free, dishwasher-safe "sauce pots" hold a little more than an ounce — more than you’ll need in most cases. A set of three is $7.99 from Simply Organized in Kapo­lei and Kahala Mall. — Christie Wilson

Dig into artist’s vivid roots style

I don’t know if Tennessee singer/songwriter Valerie June made any of the best-of-2013 music lists, but her first major-label album, "Pushin’ Against a Stone" (Concord Records; www.valeriejune.com), is the most memorable album I heard last year from any artist outside Hawaii. June’s seductive voice, the vivid imagery of her lyrics and the diversity of "roots music" in her arrangements — blendings of acoustic blues, gospel, folk, bluegrass and rock — set "Pushin’" apart.

Some songs she performs solo, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar; on others she has a few voices and instruments behind her. Her voice can be warm and inviting or aggressive and angry. Her lyrics describe many experiences; the most chilling song of all is her first-person account of a woman’s plans to kill an unfaithful lover and then commit suicide.

If you’re as tired as I am of all the Norah Jones and Beyonce wannabes, you may enjoy "Pushin’ Against a Stone" as much as I did. — John Berger

Anoint yourself with soothing ‘aloha’

Mamalani body powders are hand-crafted by Mele Kalama-Kingma of Kailua from organic ingredients, including pia (arrowroot), olena (tumeric) and essential oils. The powders go on soft, and each one is named after a letter in "aloha": ‘Aka­hai (lemongrass, tea tree and chamomile), Lokahi (lavender, clary sage and grapefruit), ‘Olu­‘olu (rosemary, sage and pepper), Ha‘a­ha‘a (clary sage, patchouli and lime) and Aho­nui (unscented).

Hiamoe, a sleepy-time body powder with awa, Roman chamomile and sandalwood, can also be sprinkled on bed linens to enhance its calming effect. Find all the varieties ($5.99 or $17 in 1- or 3-ounce sizes) at Whole Foods Market, Down to Earth and Global Village in Kailua. Visit www.mamalani.com or find Mamalani on Facebook. — Nina Wu