While meandering through shutterfly.com‘s catalog of photo mugs, ornaments and more, I found this adorable made-to-order gift wrap printed with eight photos in a repeating design. There is even space for a message. It was just too cute to pass up. Options include designs for Christmas, birthdays and baby showers. Order a 6-foot roll for $29.99; a 10-foot roll is $34.99, plus shipping and handling. — Michelle Ramos
Paper kit tranforms into 3-D cityscape
Paper Punk’s Urban Fold kit is a geometry lesson in disguise. The kit comes with 48 colorful paper punch-outs that fold easily into 3-D shapes. Once the blocks are folded, the fun really begins, whether you need a dream house for Barbie or an urban landscape for your army invasion. There are hundreds of stickers to personalize the cityscape, or follow instructions to make international landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and the Empire State Building. It’s the perfect tactile challenge for kids obsessed with "Minecraft" and the parents who want them off their electronic devices. Pick it up for $24.95 at paperpunk.com. — Donica Kaneshiro
Drink mix serves up frozen chocolate hit
Whenever I’m in New York, I make an obligatory stop at Serendipity 3, a restaurant known for its generous portions and delicious desserts. One of my favorites is the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate. It’s a sweet treat perfectly suited for Hawaii’s hot weather, so when I’m home and the humidity is high, I pick up the mix at SoHa Living at Kahala Mall and 539 Kailua Road, where an 18-ounce cannister is $24.80. The mix comprises a blend of 14 exotic cocoas. Add to a blender with milk and ice and enjoy. — Jermel-Lynn Quillopo, honolulupulse.com blogger
Fast-moving thriller tells tale of danger, intrigue in Tokyo
Barry Lancet’s thriller "Tokyo Kill" (Simon & Schuster, $25) is a worthy sequel to his first novel, "Japantown." In this tale of historical intrigue and violence, Lancet’s protagonist, Jim Brodie, an art dealer and PI who is fluent in Japanese, inherits a Japanese security firm from his father. Brodie is in Tokyo looking for a rare ink print when he is hired to protect an elderly Imperial Army veteran. That seemingly simple assignment drags Brodie into a lethal hunt for a cache of priceless artifacts that disappeared in the final days of Japan’s brutal occupation of China during World War II. It also entangles him with the yakuza, the Chinese secret service, Japanese war criminals, ruthless kendo masters, the Chinese underworld and racist Japanese police officers.
The author, who has lived in Japan for 25 years, tells the fast-moving story in chapters that are so short it’s easy to read "just one more" and then read several more before you know it. Catch up with the Brodie series before Lancet’s third book, "Pacific Burn," is published in February. — John Berger
Gluten-free goodness comes in cookie form
I’m not a crybaby, so when my doctor said to stop eating gluten, I just bit the bullet. No sense whining at pizza joints or pasta restaurants — order a salad and enjoy the company. But I won’t lie, there are a few things I miss badly. One of them was Walkers Shortbread, that buttery perfection of a cookie made in Scotland. Now I’m doing a happy dance, for Walkers has created a gluten-free line that tastes almost identical to the original, save for a crunchier texture. The cookies aren’t on Hawaii store shelves yet, but you can buy them on amazon.com for $4.69 a box or $29.94 for a pack of six. — Joleen Oshiro
A shortlist of newly discovered stuff you have got to see, hear, wear, use or eat. Please keep in mind that featured products may be in short supply and may not be available at all store locations; prices may vary. Tell us what you are loving this week by emailing features@staradvertiser.com.