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.
Post Office honors Cash with commemorative stamp
Stamp collectors and country music fans alike will appreciate the newly released commemorative stamp honoring country music legend Johnny Cash. Sold at post offices in sheets of 16 for $7.36 per sheet, the Cash stamp in the latest in the U.S. Postal Service’s "music icons" series. It commemoratives the "Man in Black," who died 10 years ago, with an appropriately dark and somber design. Collectors will want at least two sheets — one to show the front with the 16 "Forever" stamps and a second to show the larger version of the design on the back, which is the same size as the sleeve for one of the 45 rpm vinyl singles Cash sold in the millions.
-—John Berger
Brush-dustpan combo handy for small jobs
This compact brush and dustpan combo is perfect for quick cleanups like bread crumbs on the table or that little bit of sand that gets tracked into the house after a day at the beach. The brush snaps neatly into the dustpan, keeping the two from getting separated and keeping most of whatever you scooped up in the dustpan until you empty it. The entire unit is small enough to fit in a kitchen drawer or glove compartment. It’s $7.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond.
–Steven Mark
Adorned aprons delight hostesses with the mostest
I was looking for a present for my "has everything" girlfriend when I found these reversible, one-of-a-kind Italian Pastries hostess aprons by artist Lynda Sandora. Each one is meticulously sewn with recycled vintage embellishments such as handkerchief edging, Bakelite buttons, pins and unique trims, and has plenty of pockets. The aprons come in pastry boxes for gift-giving and heirloom storage. Prices range from $100 to $170, but the look on my girlfriend’s face when she opened the box was worth a million bucks. She uses it all the time. I got another one for my sister-in-law and hit the mark again. Find Italian Pastries hostess aprons at Magnolia in Kahala Mall and Silver Moon Emporium in Haleiwa.
–Steve Wehrman, Waialae
Root cover-up masks skunk-stripe look
I refuse to give in to the gray, and there are some great color-in-a-box options at drugstores. But there are times between touch-ups when you catch a glimpse of gray in the mirror and begin to feel self-conscious or want to look your best for a special night out but aren’t ready for another round of harsh chemicals on your hair. Color Wow! Root Cover Up earns its name (and the exclamation point) by providing no-mess camouflage in between dye jobs. Simply brush on a dye-free powder that blends perfectly with your hair color. The pigment adheres to the strands but isn’t sticky or oily and doesn’t shake loose — it even lasts through shampooing. The Color Wow! compact, good for 60 applications, is available in blonde and three shades of brown for $27 at QVC.com; regular retail price is $34.50.
–Christie Wilson
Easy-fixing Go-Soup revives nostalgia for Campbell’s
I have a lifelong relationship with Campbell’s soup, ever since my mother made chicken with Cream of Mushroom for small-kid-time family dinners. Now as a grown-up, I’ve become a fan of Campbell’s Go Soup. These microwaveable single-serving bags are incredibly convenient for a quick meal. Just thinking about Creamy Red Pepper with Smoked Gouda and the other five varieties makes me want to go, "Mmm, mmm good!" I usually pick up at least a couple of bags at my neighborhood Safeway when they’re on sale for two for $7.
–Gary Chun