Drink a refreshing start to Saturdays
One new thing I love is the refreshing Falooda drink that Dina’s Garden sells on Saturday mornings at her stall on the top tier of Kapiolani Community College’s Farmers Market. This yummy drink is originally from Persia, but is also a favorite in India, Pakistan and Myanmar. The Hawaii version contains soy milk, rose syrup, Thai basil seeds and pistachio ice cream. It is really most delicious and a unique drink I look forward to every weekend. It costs $3 for a large glass. The Thai basil seeds are the most amazing things to swallow. Try it, you’ll love it! — Robin Loomis, Honolulu
Site offers easier listening online
Fans nostalgic for Radio Free Hawaii can close the lid on Pandora Internet radio and log on to radioparadise.com. This eclectic, commercial-free online station invites you to rate the music, and iPod users can even record with Tune In Pro. It’s almost as much fun as Radio Free Hawaii’s Monkey Time and it’s free, though the California husband-and-wife team that runs the site gratefully accepts donations. — Alex Kendrick, Palolo
Accessories fit for mother and child
Babies love to tug on mom’s jewelry — I had to have a prized necklace repaired twice when my son was a grabby tyke — so even though my kids are long grown, I adore these Teething Bling discs that caregivers can wear like a pendant. Made of nontoxic silicone and strung with a silk cord, the dishwasher-safe teething jewelry by SmartMom is my go-to baby shower gift. Some of the pendants closely resemble turquoise and other semiprecious stones, and the new Sports Edition features NFL team colors! Buy Teething Bling bracelets ($13) and necklaces ($21) at Leloa Baby Collections & Keiki Boutique at Ward Centre or at www.smartmomjewelry.com. — Christie Wilson
Toy fulfills tank-battle fantasies
Chinese toy manufacturer Heng Long makes an assortment of 1/16-scale, radio-controlled battle tanks that are loads of fun mostly because they’re armed with Airsoft cannons that fire Airsoft pellets, the same type used in toy guns. You might ask yourself, "Why would I possibly want one of these things?" and the answer is, "You don’t want ONE, you want TWO so you can fight it out with your significant other, friend or 10-year-old nephew." Each tank comes with a large, rechargeable battery, a small box of pellets and a radio controller that requires eight AA batteries. Pictured is the RC KV-1 Russian Battle Tank. Most models sell for around $100 on amazon.com. — Dave Swann
Post-its now in a stickier version
I can multitask pretty well and stay reasonably organized, but, boy, do I need lots of help. My lifeline comes not in the form of smartphone reminders but in low-tech Post-it notes. I’ve amassed layers of them on the desktop next to my keyboard bearing to-do lists, notes, appointments and phone numbers, and I glance at them throughout the day to prevent anything from spilling out of my brain. The only problem is that I anchor each note with adhesive tape that leaves a residue. Now, 3M has a full-adhesive version to keep them secure without extra help. A packet of 25 3-by-3-inch notes is 99 cents at Fisher Hawaii, 450 Cooke St. Visit www.fisherhawaii.biz. — Joleen Oshiro