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.
1. Bath pillow ensures a comfy soak
It always seems a bit disconcerting to get into a warm bath and feel that hard porcelain against your skin. This three-panel Spa Comfort bath pillow makes it a lot more relaxing and comfortable to luxuriate in the tub, especially for your head and neck. Suction cups help hold the mildew-resistant pad in place. Simply Organized at Kahala Mall and in Kapolei ordered a batch for the holiday season, and last I checked they were discounted to only $10.
—Steven Mark
2. Tasty tea is a snap with nifty pot
With the 16-ounce ingenuiTEA teapot, brewing a cuppa tea has never been easier. Just add the desired loose-leaf tea, pour hot water into the BPA-free, dishwater-safe plastic container and let it steep for a few minutes. Then place the teapot on top of any cup or mug, causing a valve at the bottom to open and releasing the infused liquid directly into the cup. A mesh filter captures all the leaves. One of my favorite tea choices is the calming, decaffeinated Femininitea floral blend by Mary A. Wilkowski that’s made locally with Ceylon black tea, organic, Oahu-grown vetiver root, orange peel, lavender buds, bergamot and blue cornflowers. If you want to make your tea last longer, brew a second cup with the same leaves and refrigerate it. Heat it up the next night or drink it cold. Find the teapot ($25) at Rubber Stamp Plantation in Kakaako and teas ($16) at Rubber Stamp Plantation, Red Bamboo in Kailua, and Kai Ku Hale and The Soap Cellar, both in Haleiwa, or online at hitea-shop.com.
—Nancy Arcayna
3. Spice up your style at Moiliili shop
My wardrobe leans toward dark and conservative, so I like to add a dab of color and quirk when I can find it. Wandering into Himalayan Treasure at 2615 S. King St., I spied these fun elastic hair bands with felt flowers for $3.50 each. There’s so much more at this longtime Moiliili shop, which sells handicrafts from Nepal and Tibet, including cute felt purses and animal pencil holders, antique furniture, singing bowls, incense, wool rugs, bold jewelry and stylish fashions. Call 955-5565.
—Christie Wilson
4. Make memories stick with FunPix
Get in on one of the latest pop culture imports from Japan at the FunPix photo booths on the second level of McCully Shopping Center. Capitalizing on the "purikura" (photo stickers) phenomenon, the booths, which can accommodate groups of up to 10, come with editing screens so you can decorate and customize your pictures. Photo sticker sheets with three to four poses are $8, and three of the FunPix booths are equipped to send photos directly to your smartphone. Visit funpixhawaii.com.
—Chaylin and Chantel Mizuuchi, Aiea
5. Pretty satchel works for day or night
Aoki’s North Shore Trading Co. in Haleiwa is my new go-to shop for gifts. The shop, which opened early last summer at 66-082 Kamehameha Highway, is tucked into a remodeled cottage across the street from Matsumoto’s Shave Ice. In every room there are treasures to be found, clustered together in the nooks and crannies of the charming shop — local foodstuffs, accessories, clothing, notebooks, jewelry and toys, nearly everything priced at a budget-friendly $10 to $15. My latest find is this Stoneflower coin purse ($14) from Mud Pie. With aqua accents, it’s pretty enough to carry on your wrist for a night out and big enough to fit all the essentials. Call 637-6782.
—Donica Kaneshiro