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Gee Why

About Gee Why

https://www.pulpconnection.net

Addicted to passions and pulp

Posts by Gee Why:

At Ala Moana Again

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One more week closer to Christmas means one more shopping session at Ala Moana. This time, we went early to capitalize on Macy’s sale and early opening. The crowds are tolerable at 8am (that’s one hour after Macy’s opened), but the parking cones in the structure were blocking the stalls nearest Macy’s for some reason.

Anyways, what did I see this past weekend? Even the high traffic (and slow throughput) Starbucks in Macy’s had a few free-coffee-in-January tumblers still available. I wonder if these will be discounted at some point?

ala-moana-sbux-tumbler

Macy’s sells Kitchen Aid mixers in a variety of colors. From the looks of things, the pink version is “hot.” I can’t imagine anyone trying to shoplift these heavy mixers.

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Pink Kitchen Aid Mixers

Chilewich placemats. Never saw them before, but I liked the designs, but no, I didn’t buy any.

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Chilewich Placemats

Wandered downstairs to ride the not-often-seen flat escalator. Where else in Hawaii can you ride one of these?

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Since I was nearby Champ’s Sports, I figured I’d stop by to see any new releases. Champs was about to open at 9:30, and there was a small line waiting to get in. I learned that this new Kevin Durant KD5 colorway dropped.

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KDV Bright Crimson, Volt, Wolf Grey

But the KD5 wasn’t the real prize. This was.

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AJ 11 BRED raffle

The Air Jordan 11 “BRED” are releasing next week and with all the chaos that’s recently accompanied Nike releases, there are new policies in place. Instead of lining up for the release, Champs and Foot Locker implemented a raffle system where random shoppers are picked to purchase the new release. Since I was there, it was kismet that I got myself a ticket. 🙂

Shopping at Nordstroms is so much fun. I don’t actually think I’ve bought anything from this upscale retailer, but you definitely get a different point of view shopping here. Here’s a great example.

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Gifts (We Love) Under $100

Okay, okay, it really says “Gifts We Love Under $100,” but I read it as “Gifts Under $100.” Under a $100?! Only at Nordies!

What’s probably not under $100 at Nordstroms are these sequined (bedazzled) UGGs.

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Sequined UGGs!!

And definitely not under $100 is this special edition Viktor & Rolf Bugaboo Chameleon stroller. Yes, its handles are leather bound for the driver.

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Viktor & Rolf Bugaboo Chameleon Stroller

What was supremely surprising walking Ala Moana Center? The number of out of order escalators. Still. I encountered a few in the past few weeks, and they were still broken. Not just one or two, but four were busted.

Will there be one more visit  to Ala Moana before Christmas? I doubt it since I think we’re done shopping. But you just never know…

Here are even more pictures from our shopping spree.

Got My Manoa Chocolate

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Back in October, I supported the Hawaii small business Manoa Chocolate on Kickstarter, and today was time to collect!

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Manoa Chocolate

I stopped by the store to pick up my bean-to-bar chocolate. Unfortunately, they weren’t fully stocked with their entire product line due to the demand of the Holidays. But fortunately, they did have three of their best available (and I did get to sample others). My three picks are the Lavender, the 72% dark chocolate Peru, and the coffee-infused Breakfast Bar. I did like the new Pineapple Chili chocolate (which was being made), but you have to endure that building smolder from the ghost chilis.

I saw the new grinder in action which was the direct result of Kickstarter pledges. This guy can churn out 60 pounds of chocolate compared to their original 8-pound grinders. With this extra capacity, you’ll soon see Manoa Chocolate bars at Whole Foods Markets.

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Soon at Whole Foods Markets

Holiday Gift Guide: Starbucks Verismo

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Starbucks

Individual coffee cup brewers aka K-cups are here to stay with its enormous growth and popularity. So of course, Starbucks had to get into this lucrative market but also one up the competition with its Verismo system. Besides brewed coffee, the Verismo line can craft espresso and latte drinks, upscaling your K-cup experience. Combine the right pods and pull your own Starbucks espresso. That’s pretty awesome.

Starbucks

What’s even more awesome is the Verismo is now on special for a great Christmas deal. Get $50 off the Verismo 580 and $100 off the more industrial Verismo 585. If you order online, you also get a free box of Starbucks pods, all with free shipping.

If you visit a Starbucks or Macy’s, there’s a good chance you can try out the Verismo. Here’s a latte made just for me in a matter of minutes. What can I say, but it was yummy with just the push of a button (okay two pushes – one for the milk and one for the espresso).

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Verismo made latte

Seen at Ala Moana

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With Christmas approaching quickly, we’ve been spending more time at Ala Moana. Surprisingly, things are changing just as fast at the mall as I’ve noticed new things each time.  Here are some shots.

I’m sure I’ll be heading to Ala Moana one, maybe two more times before the big day so I’ll see what else changed in this short time.

Name These Stores

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Can you identify these stores by the billboards in their entryways?

What store is this?
Sorry for the crooked picture

The first one is easy to find with the #sochill So Cal taglines. Lesson learned from Store #1, in your next photo session, all you Bettys be sure to lift up your dude’s shirt just because.

And honestly, I don’t remember what Store #2 is.

Gilly Hicks Toned It Down

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Maybe only because it was early on a Sunday morning did it seem like Gilly Hicks (Ala Moana) was toned down. There were no models greeting us at the doorway (nor did I find @abaggy). All the youthful employees were quietly busy folding and refolding clothes.

Overall everything seemed more muted. There was still that dramatic tone within the store, just not as acute as before. The store looked better lit, and the music not as loud, or maybe because the store wasn’t packed with people? Anyways, this shopping experience wasn’t as disorienting as my first visit.

During this quieter time, I observed a few more things. Each room is equipped with several ceiling mounted speakers. Some are small, but it looks like midrange or even powered Tannoy subwoofers are in each room.

The lighting inside while dramatic is confusing. What color are these clothes?

What color is this?

I also realized there is only one area to ring up your purchases. Yep, the set of registers all the way in the back is it. During this toned down Sunday morning, basic business etiquette was forgotten. There was a lone clerk working a single register with a long queue forming. And the single clerk was tied up ringing up a monstrous order but did not call for backup. Why? I don’t know. So I wandered the store looking for other workers and feigned ignorance asking where the checkout line was. When the young employee told me where I knew the registers were, I not-so-cunningly replied back, “You mean the one with the real long line?!”

She asked, “There’s a long line?” and I had to ask the rhetorical question if there were any other checkout lines to drive home the point. Needless to say more employees started streaming out of the Gilly Hicks catacombs and all three registers were now in action.

On the way out, I had to spritz some Gilly Hicks perfume in the air for victory. 🙂

Listing My Holiday Gift Guide 2012

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While I’m using Pinterest to capture ideas and inspiration for my 2012 Holiday Gift Guide, I’m trying out Well to list my posted gift ideas. I signed up for Well a while ago, and I’m checking out what it can do.

Here’s a brief description of Well:

Well helps you collect and share the things you want to do. Experience a new kind of list: beautiful, social, and fun. Oh and it’s totally free.

Here’s my list of 2012 Holiday Gift Guide posts embedded below.

Holiday Gift Guide: APE

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In this case, APE stands for Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur, and in this book, Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch show you how you can write and publish a book in these changing times. Even better, you can quickly gift this eBook on Amazon or its Kindle service (free for Prime members!).

I’ve only started reading my advanced copy (thanks Guy, NEENZ, and Net Galley), and so far I’ve learned that writing a book is all about you, not me. Will you be reading Pulpconnection the Book soon enough? I have more reading to do!

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