5 Things We Love is 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.

Gentle gingerbread flavor adds seasonal flair to classic truffle
I look forward to the seasonal flavors offered during the holidays. There’s colorful peppermint ice cream, gingerbread-flavored Oreos, pumpkin lattes and, my favorite, candy cane truffles from Godiva. This year, however, I have a new favorite: Godiva’s gingerbread truffle. The delicate, hand-rolled, milk-chocolate morsel is coated with a gingerbread powder, giving it just a hint of gingerbread flavor while letting the smooth chocolate remain the star. For those worried about their weight, the truffles — which also come in dark chocolate and black Tahitian pearl vanilla mousse — run $2.50 a piece, so that may help with calorie control. — Michelle Ramos

Maintain supple skin with hyaluronic acid
There’s no miracle for reversing signs of skin aging. The trick is to start with good genes and avoid such bad habits as smoking and stepping into sunlight without SPF protection. But keeping skin hydrated is half the battle, and for that there is hyaluronic acid. In the body it’s a naturally occurring component of connective tissue. In the skin it keeps collagen moist and elastic, preventing it from drying out like a rubber band. Two products boasting high concentrations of hyaluronic acid are Eve Lom Intense Hydration Serum, $95 at Nordstrom, and local spa Beauty Elements’ Cell Boost, which keeps skin hydrated all day and night ($78 by mail order at www.beautyelements-hawaii.com). My trick for using either product is to apply it to my fresh-washed face to lock in moisture. At night I follow with a heavier cream to prevent evaporation. In the morning I love what I see enough to leave the house without foundation. — Nadine Kam

Slurpable shape makes gelato sundae a fun treat
With spaghetti already a classic among kids, this fun dessert version will deliver double the enjoyment. It’s called spaghetti gelato, featuring vanilla gelato that’s gone though a press to create "noodles," then topped with strawberry-raspberry sauce, whipped cream and white chocolate sprinkles. It’s the most popular coppa, or sundae, served at Kahala Mall’s Il Gelato, which offers gourmet gelato and sorbetto in a wide range of flavors that incorporate locally sourced fruit, house-made sauces and waffle cones. A generous helping of spaghetti gelato, at $7.50, is more than enough to delight two kids of any age. You’ll also find panini and specialty Italian drinks. The gelateria, located near center stage, is open during mall hours. Call 732-3999. — Joleen Oshiro

Riveting Vietnam War book details saga of doomed base
Countless books have been written about the Vietnam War. Philip Keith’s new book, "Fire Base Illingworth" (St. Martin’s Press, $25.99), is the most compelling and emotionally charged book I’ve read on combat in Vietnam since Dr. Ronald Glasser’s "365 Days" more than 40 years ago. Keith combines gripping narrative and vivid imagery so skillfully that it’s easy to get sucked into reading it in a single sitting. Here’s the story: The Army built Fire Base Illingworth, a poorly designed and inadequately manned temporary base, in a location that senior commanders knew the North Vietnamese Army would have to attack. The brass then left it in place for longer than intended, against the urgent recommendations of the senior officer there. The NVA attacked on April Fools’ Day 1970. "Fire Base Illingworth" documents the short life and death of the young soldier for whom the base had been named, provides a riveting moment-by-moment account of the battle, analyzes the action and details the military cover-up that followed. A 38-page epilogue provides short biographies of key figures and brings the lives of the survivors up to the present. — John Berger

Tummy Butter pampers new mommies
Sometimes when all the attention is focused on the new arrival, people forget to pamper mom, too. Lanikai Bath and Body’s Tummy Butter, made from cacao and shea butters blended with kukui nut oil, aloe vera and allantoin, soothes stretched skin during and after pregnancy. It goes on smooth and has a calming lavender fragrance. Part of the Lanikai Baby line, it’s $15 for a 7-ounce container. Lanikai Bath and Body is in the Kailua Shopping Center, 600 Kailua Road; call 262-3260 or visit lanikaibathandbody.com. — Nina Wu