Holiday Gift Guide: Music from Rihanna
Time for Christmas shopping is just about over. It’s way too late for online orders to arrive, and if you can’t find anything in the local stores, what are you going to do? How about online orders that are available immediately? Something like handpicked tunes for a music fan.
Here’s my collection of highlights from Rihanna’s discography.
This is by no means comprehensive, just some of the songs in my iTunes playlist. While you’re listening in, take notice of Rihanna’s album artwork. You’ll see a progression from a fresh face in the music industry to a veteran vixen.
A Sign of the Apocalypse
While our reality did not encounter the Mayan-foretold end of the world, the world of the Autobots must be in turmoil. I discovered this gruesome battle scene where it appears the Autobots leader Optimus Prime met his doom. Prime was wiped out by a swarm of Swifters!
Rally Autobots, rally!
Why I Need to Stay Away from Kicks Sites
This is why me and my (lack of) willpower needs to stay away from kicks web sites — the Nike LeBron X Prism.
Holiday Gift Guide: Oakley 3D Glasses for “The Hobbit”
When watching 3D movies at the theater, why settle for their cheesy, flimsy, ill-fit glasses? Thanks to Oakley, you can get a high quality experience wearing their own 3D glasses. These are thematically designed for The Hobbit but not so overtly and are a must for serious (and stylish) movie goers.
Holiday Gift Guide: Happy
Time to get gifts is quickly running out, and although it’s the happy holidays, it may not feel so happy at times. So… why not give the gift of Happy? More specifically, The Happy Movie. Yes, it’s a real movie, more like a documentary exploring what it means to be happy.
Does that idea make you happy? Then how about a free gift of Happy? Starbucks Pick of the Week is a free rental of The Happy Movie. So grab a few of the cards then send out the redemption code to those in your life who need a free gift of Happy.
I’ve Been Yelp-pinned!
Thanks to the confident Q-chi, I have a mini-collection of Yelp Elite mini buttons.
Yay! Thanks and Happy Holidays to Yelp (Hawaii).
Thanks Scion Hawaii!
So I didn’t win one week with the Scion FR-SÂ but let bygones be bygones and let’s all move on. And moving on is even easier after winning a goody bag from Scion Hawaii’s Twelve Days of Christmas social media giveaway. Each day, Scion Hawaii has been posing a question to its Facebook fans and one participant is randomly picked. Guess who won Day 6? 🙂
The winnings come in this small Scion pouch.
But this pouch is stuffed. There’s a Scion-branded stand for a tablet, ear buds, a key chain, and the greatly-timed Ala Moana gift card with $50.
I was hoping for keys to this…
But hey, I’ll still take my prize pack! There are still two more days of the contest so be sure to become a FB fan of Scion Hawaii. Thanks again, Scion Hawaii.
Because Every Door Needs Swag
Say what? Swag for your door? I was thinking this kind of swag, not this holiday foliage type.
Well, if your door needs swag (traditional or arrogant), Safeway got your back.
At Ala Moana Again
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?
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.
Chilewich placemats. Never saw them before, but I liked the designs, but no, I didn’t buy any.
Wandered downstairs to ride the not-often-seen flat escalator. Where else in Hawaii can you ride one of these?
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.
But the KD5 wasn’t the real prize. This was.
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.
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.
And definitely not under $100 is this special edition Viktor & Rolf Bugaboo Chameleon stroller. Yes, its handles are leather bound for the driver.
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
Back in October, I supported the Hawaii small business Manoa Chocolate on Kickstarter, and today was time to collect!
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.
Holiday Gift Guide: Starbucks Verismo
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.
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).
