To ear, divine

These folding Skullcandy Lowrider headphones — a gift from my teenage son — are easily stowed in my purse and are more reliable than earbuds, which I can’t seem to keep in place. The on-cord microphone and control switch allows me to pick up calls and to pause, play and change song tracks without touching my iPhone/iPod. My street-survival senses also like the fact these lightweight headphones are not of the noise-canceling variety, keeping me alert to approaching cars and muggers. They’re $40 at surf shops and electronics stores. — Christie Wilson

You see ’em at the museum

You’ve likely "driven" past your house using Google’s "Street View" software — Oh no! Why didn’t I mow the lawn that day! — which allows Internet browsers to wander neighborhoods all over the world. It works wonderfully well, particularly in conjunction with Google’s mapping interface.

Now the company has applied this software to some of the major art galleries of the world. You can wander through the galleries at your own speed, and original works of art can be accessed in higher resolutions. The sites include the Tate Britain in London, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.

Now, if the traveling Google Cam would just do ‘Iolani Palace, they wouldn’t need so many booties for visitors. — Burl Burlingame

You’ll flip over this cam

The pocket-sized Flip Ultra HD video cam by Cisco is a lightweight device you can toss in your purse. While it might not have as many whiz-bang features (or as big a view window) as larger video cameras, the Flip is pretty much idiot-proof. There’s an on/off power button and another to start/stop recording. You can effortlessly zoom in, zoom out, replay and delete. A built-in flash drive allows you to easily transfer videos to your computer or laptop.

Ideal for all of those YouTube moments, the Flip comes in a 4-gigabyte version that records up to one hour and another with double the storage. Available at big-box and electronics stores for $129 to $149. — Nina Wu

Hey, baby, nice cupcakes!

If you are looking for unique and sexy desserts for Valentine’s Day, then pick up a copy of Joanna Farrow’s new book, "Kinky Cupcakes" (Octopus Books, $12.99). The book features naughty cupcake designs like "Dominatrix Delights," decorated with handcuffs and a key, or "Kinky Boots," adorned with thigh-high boots. If you prefer more innocent romance, decorate with the "Love Birds" design (two doves and hearts) or "Je t’aime," topped with fancy candy hearts.

Basic cupcake recipes, decorating techniques and instructions are included. The designs would be perfect for a bachelorette party, too. Available at Barnes & Noble or at amazon.com — Nancy Arcayna

Baby steps

Though the trend in children’s footwear has shifted decisively in favor of the ubiquitous Crocs, I still love dressing my toddler’s tiny feet in Robeez. The whimsically stitched leather and suede shoes feature graphic animals and flowers in bright colors. The elastic at the ankle ensures the shoes stay on no matter how much your keiki kicks, and the soft sole is perfect for building balance in new walkers. And you can toss them in the washing machine. Adorable and practical — you can’t beat that. Robeez are sold at Ohana Daze in Mililani Town Center for $22.99 and Baby Emporium at 614 Cooke St. for $24.98. — Donica Kaneshiro