A shortlist of newly discovered stuff you have got to see, hear, wear, use or eat. What are you loving this week? Send a brief description of your latest favorite thing, where to find it and how much it costs, along with your name and contact info to features@staradvertiser.com.
1. Cookie chips lighten snack time
These are my new favorite snack! HannahMax cookie chips are all-natural with no trans fats, preservatives, GMOs, or artificial flavors or colors. The cookie chips are thin and crispy and about the size of a Chips Ahoy cookie. They come in four flavors: original, chocolate chip, cinnamon sugar and sea-salted peanut butter (my favorite!). A serving size of five cookies is only 130 calories, making it a nice treat for people who are still counting post-holiday calories. Find them in the bakery section at Safeway stores for $4.99 for a 6-ounce bag. —Kat Muranaka, Waipio Gentry
2. Seal containers with whimsical lids
These soft, floppy lids are fun and fanciful, but most important, they work amazingly well. Just place them over any bowl, cup or pot, press down lightly to create a little suction and the silicone material sticks to the rim and forms an airtight seal. They’ll work on any hard plastic, metal or ceramic container with a smooth rim. From Charles Viancin, a Paris designer, they come in various sizes and take their shape from forms of nature, such as a lily pad or hibiscus for circular containers or a leaf for rectangular pans. A pair of the small hibiscus lids is $10; the 11-inch sunflower is $20. At the Compleat Kitchen at Kahala Mall. —Steven Mark
3. Wraps offer light, quick rain cover
Lightweight, waterproof Rainraps are perfect for Hawaii’s intermittent drizzles when you don’t want to bother with a heavy coat or jacket. Weighing only 8.8 ounces, the hooded, reversible wraps come with a travel pouch and in 10 delightful color combinations — great for travel, watching your kid’s game, or dashing from the bus to the office or home. Pick one up for $60 at Silvery Moon, 1125 S. King St., 593-9883; www.rainraps.com. —Christie Wilson
4. Quench thirsty skin while you sleep
If your skin is looking parched, try The Face Shop’s Raspberry Roots Sleeping Mask. The thin gel uses a whole lot of plant seed extracts and yellow Himalayan raspberry to keep skin moisturized overnight. You can use it alone or to seal in your favorite serum. I especially love it while traveling, which can seriously dehydrate your skin. I slather it on extra thick before I fall asleep on the plane so it’s slick and shiny (nobody’s looking anyway). Just rinse off upon arrival and you’ll look as fresh as if you were teleported to your destination rather than just endured an 11-hour flight. At 3.37 fluid ounces, it complies with TSA carry-on rules. It’s $16 at The Face Shop in the McCully Shopping Center and Ward Warehouse. —Nadine Kam
5. Go green with reusable paper towels
I want to do my part for the environment, but flimsy recycled paper towels aren’t necessarily eco-friendly. For one task, I end up using more sheets than I would have with a traditional paper towel. Luckily, I found another alternative: Bambooee, a reusable towel made from organic bamboo. While I’ve been using — and liking — Bambooee for about six months now, I haven’t been able to test the company’s claims that one sheet can be machine-washed and reused 25 times — the sheets usually end up being thrown away by folks who don’t know the towel isn’t a one-shot deal. If they just paid attention, they’d notice its thickness and sturdiness. Bambooee claims one 20-sheet roll replaces 60 rolls of traditional paper towels. At $9.95 a roll at Williams-Sonoma at Ala Moana Center, that’s substantial savings; visit www.bambooee.com. —Joleen Oshiro