Holiday Gift Guide: Wii Mini
Well, if you can get one anyways.
Does Paalaa Kai Mean “Wow!”?
There’s definitely a “wow” factor when visiting Paalaa Kai Bakery in Waialua. As in…
- Wow! 4.5 stars on Yelp after 80+ reviews!
- Wow! After all this time on Oahu, how come I’ve never heard of this place?
- Wow! A Snow Puffy?!
- Wow! Where is this place?
- Wow! The parking there is tight.
- Wow! They’re on Twitter and Facebook.
After you overcome the wow factor, settle in and get ready to feast on all kinds of baked goodies. Their signature item is the Snow Puffy.
My best description of a Snow Puffy would be “extremely balanced.” First, there’s the flakiness of the pastry. As it crumbles and melts in your mouth, you get to the cream-filled center. It’s sweet, light, and chilled. The next bite comes across the chocolate swirl. The dense chocolate contrasted with the airy cream and their different forms of sweetness is so complementary. Finally you feel the powdered sugar on your lips, licking off this sweet surprise.
Along with the Snow Puffies, Paalaa Kai offers up many other baked goods.
Of course, you need coffee with your goodies and Paalaa Kai has their mini corner coffee bar.
If you’re visiting the North Shore or taking a “Be Like Barack” mini-vacation, keep an eye out for this sign.
It’s kinda in the middle of nowhere, and you can easily pass it. Look for a tiny but packed parking lot or a bunch of people with telltale powdered sugar on their faces.
Holiday Gift Guide: Starbucks Steel
This is something Chad Ochocinco definitely needs. If you remember, Ochocinco made the news when his Starbucks Gold Card was stolen along with his wallet.
Me? I’ll wait for Starbucks to release an iPhone Steel Card app. 😉
LEGO Minifigures Series 9 Ready for 2013
It sure feels like LEGO has quickened the pace of its Minifigures series. Series 8 came out in September 2012, and Series 9 will ring in 2013.
This set has some fun characters starting with the Chicken Suit Guy. I also like the Cyclops dude, Battle Mech, and the Alien Avenger. The Forest Maiden is good timing the the December release of the Hobbit movie. The Mermaid made up in a Starbucks montage? Why not.
Air Jordan XX8 to Be Worn by Ninjas?
I’m not sure what to make of the silhouette of the newly announced Air Jordan XX8. From initial pictures, I’d say these will be worn by ninjas, by fishermen (they remind me of tabi), or by Snake Eyes from G.I. Joe.
Eight inches tall, a zip up upper, responsive, light, and expensive at $250 a pair.
From a design perspective, there are elements from other Nike shoes. The sheathed upper definitely brings back memories of Gary Payton’s The Glove.
There’s also a feel of the Jordan XVIII back in 2003 when MJ played his last days in the NBA.
The midsole reminds me of a variation of the Air Jordan XVII.
When the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook unveils the XX8 on the hardcourt on Tuesday night maybe initial opinions will change. All I can say for now is #DareToFly.
For more info on the Air Jordan XX8, check out the Nike Blog.
Starbucks Rekindle Filled with Goodies
Have you been to Starbucks 2012 Holiday promotion site, Rekindle? There’s all kinds of goodies waiting for you. First, you’re notified of the day’s gift from the Twelve Days of Gifting. Today’s gift is the great free-coffee-in-January tumbler. That’s right, buy the tumbler and fill it with brewed coffee each day in January 2013 for free!
On select days, visit the Rekindle site and receive bonus gifts like free holiday music from iTunes, share memories on Facebook, and inspirations from the chefs of the Food Network.
To have some fun, you can also build your own holiday house and gift house decorations to your FB friends.
Keep digging around and see if you can find other goodies on the Starbucks Rekindle site.
Holiday Gift Guide: Santa Rocks Shirt
I’m personally digging this Crazy Shirts design commemorating Santa and his one night world tour.
Everyone already knows it, but Santa rocks! Click on the image to order your shirt for the holidays.
Holiday Gift Guide: Alice and Olivia Bike
Target and Neiman Marcus are collaborating on 50 gift items this holiday season. Available starting tomorrow (December 1), these high fashion items are sure to sell well. If you’re not looking to purchase any of these items, I’d steer clear of Target on Saturday.
My 2012 Holiday Gift Guide pick would be this bicycle cruiser for a fun loving female.
Source: target.com via Gee on Pinterest
Hostess Horn of Plenty
With November winding down, I hope this month and the Thanksgiving weekend were plentifully filled.
My Be Like Barack Mini-vacation
Remember back in 2008 when Barack Obama vacationed in Hawaii? Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I had a “Be Like Barack Vacation” on a very miniscule scale. The day started early, picking up passengers, but we forwent the speeches due to the continued drowsiness of turkey’s tryptophan. Then our two-car caravan headed north to Laniakea Beach to see turtles.
Meals weren’t from the cuisine of Alan Wong’s but from the homestyle goodness of Paalaa Kai Bakery. I’d highly recommend the Snow Puffy.
Overpriced movies aren’t just at Ward, they’re everywhere though Wreck It Ralph was a great flick so I didn’t necessarily mind forking out $30. Hey, wait, what? Large bags of popcorn get free refills?!
There was no physical activity like working out, bodysurfing, shooting hoops, or golfing, but that didn’t stop us from getting a shave ice fix. Matsumoto’s was packed so next-door Aoki’s it was. The Sour Pucker was mine.
During our mini-vacation, there were no swanky dinners for us, but I thought the signage on the McDonalds was swankily cool.
So there’s my “Be Like Barack” eight-day vacation crammed into one weekend.
Adobo Dishes Must Not Photograph Well
It just must be that adobo dishes just don’t photograph well, and that’s why adobo spices don’t showcase finished dishes. Exhibit 1 is Noh’s racy Filipino Adobo Mix. Here is Exhibit 2, Mid Pac Foods Filipino Adobo Sauce.
Note the neighboring bottles that show pictures of char siu, spare ribs, and shoyu chicken. But no picture of pork or chicken adobo.
Can You Spot the Honu?
Can you spot the turtle sunning itself at Laniakea Beach (aka Turtle Beach)? Click on the image to enlarge.
