5 Things We Love

Just bead it at BeaDazzle

Nothing gets beaders more starry-eyed than a visit to a bead shop. Crystal beads, pearls, glass, gemstones, silver — talk about sensory overload. Expect that experience, times 10, at BeaDazzle, where beads are strung with bargains. Through Sunday, for instance, buy one strand of Chinese crystal beads and get one free. The same goes for plated findings, shell pearls and millefiori beads. For those who shop regularly, there’s a $20 BeaDazzle membership that supplies a year of discounts, such as half off retail strands and packaged Swarovski crystals. BeaDazzle is in Harbor Center, 98-027 Hekaha St., known to area residents simply as "behind Cutter Ford." Call 834-8088. — Joleen Oshiro

Chopping digital fruit sweetly satisfying

I’ve got a secret — I’m a ninja. OK, I’m a Fruit Ninja and my real secret is the amount of time I’ve wasted swiping psychedelic slashes across the surface of my smartphone screen, halving coconuts, bananas and watermelons in the pursuit of a new high score. It’s nearly impossible to explain the appeal of a game that has nothing more to it than chopping fruit while avoiding bombs. But with more than 10 million downloads of the free app from Halfbrick Studios, I’m definitely not alone in my addiction. Future generations may mock the popularity of an amusement that is practically a touch-screen tutorial, but with a quickly expanding line of 3-D games and toys carrying the "Fruit Ninja" logo, the app isn’t likely to spoil anytime soon. — Donica Kaneshiro

Noodles in the round fits the pot, hits the spot

The makers of Hoo Roo Rook brand ramen have a clever solution to the problem of trying to cram a square block of instant ramen noodles into a circular pot, breaking the strands — they produce the noodles in disc form. The Korean noodles aren’t fried and no MSG is used, so the taste might be lacking for some, but it also means the calorie and sodium counts are lower than many other brands. Nong Shim’s Hoo Roo Rook used to be available at Palama Supermarket but seems to have disappeared since I first discovered it, so your main source will have to be the Internet: Amazon.com sells boxes of 40 packages for about $47 with free shipping; also available is a subscription option for delivery at regular intervals. — Wilma Jandoc

Bada bing, yea-ah! Crime boss takes Norway in Netflix series

It’s "The Sopranos" meets "Fargo" in Netflix’s first original series, "Lilyhammer," released last month for on-demand streaming. Steven Van Zandt brings his best mafioso scowl and swagger to this often hilarious fish-out-of-water tale about a wiseguy in witness protection in the picturesque Norwegian town. Before long he’s opened his own version of the Bada Bing! club and is juggling a growing criminal enterprise with newfound domesticity. While not as finely crafted or as dark as the HBO mobster saga that also starred Van Zandt, the eight-episode "Lilyhammer" is solid entertainment. — Christie Wilson

Local author weaves words and images that linger

"Reflections From The Heart" by local author M.L. Ursetta is a delightful, easy-to-read book of poetic and inspirational verses and Hawaii photos. It’s a small book but its powerful message stuck in my mind. I found it at Native Books/Na Mea Hawai‘i at Ward Warehouse and Island Treasures in Koko Marina Center for $14.95, mailing envelope included. — Vickie Yuen, Hawaii Kai