When choosing a new face cream, I look at the women behind the counter who use and sell the product. The staff at Macy’s Clarins counter have a youthful glow that belies their years, due to Clarins Double Serum ($89 for 1 ounce). Sounds expensive, but Hawaii’s moist climate allows us to apply moisturizers sparingly, making the bottle last a long time. The Double Serum leaves my face looking fresh and natural, even when I’m busy and tired. — Erin Smith, Kailua

Sparkly pouch packs everything needed in a pinch

Thanks to my Pinch Provisions Minimergency Kit, I am prepared for all of life’s inconveniences. Packed into this blinged-out, 2-by-2-by-3.5-inch bag is an adhesive bandage, two Advils, strips of double-sided tape, breath freshener, a sewing kit, dental floss, clear nail polish, hair spray, an emery board, a tampon, lip balm, clear rubber bands, earring backs, a safety pin and towelettes containing deodorant, nail polish remover and stain remover. All of this fits neatly in the sparkly case with room to spare for my own provisions. The next time I spill, snag or have a last-minute meeting, I will be ready.

Check out the variety of colors and styles (there are also options for college survival kits and bride kits) at pinchprovisions.com or sephora.com. My kit, in confetti glitter, cost $16. — Donica Kaneshiro

Vegetarian options served with a side of serenity

Though not a full-time vegetarian, I like to balance out my diet with vegetable-rich options. One of my favorite places to get my fill of delicious, nutritious food is at Govinda’s Under the Banyan, a $13 all-you-can eat vegetarian buffet at the Hare Krishna Temple, 51 Coelho Way in Nuuanu. Leave your shoes at the door and enjoy the open-air seating in the temple’s lush garden or opt for a table indoors. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to hear the melodious chanting of those worshipping while you enjoy a fresh salad bar and Indian-influenced side dishes that complement the main entree, which changes daily.

Visit govindashawaii.com to see what’s being served. I recommend Wednesday for the yummy lasagna. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays; call 595-4913. — Lacy Matsumoto, Liliha

1970s classic rock meets 1950s classic readers

Imagine the lyrics of some of Led Zeppelin’s biggest hits illustrated in the style of classic “Dick and Jane” readers of the 1950s and you’ve got “Everything I Need to Know I Learned From Led Zeppelin” (The Enthusiast, $14.95). In this revised and expanded second edition, author/editor Benjamin Darling juxtaposes song lyrics with original art that shows Dick, Jane and their friends living in a Led Zeppelin-oriented world. He also includes the complete lyrics for 11 of the rock group’s songs.

“Everything I Need to Know I Learned From Led Zeppelin” might not be an annotated reference to the quartet’s music, but it is an entertaining look at it. — John Berger

The pizza the president eats

It’s no secret that President Obama’s Secret Service agents pick up orders from Bob’s Pizzeria at the Kailua Beach Center during the first family’s winter vacations on Oahu. Bob’s is one of my favorite stops after a day at the beach. The “real Boston style” pizza comes with a crisp, thin crust and measures a whopping 19 inches across. Pizzas are made to order and served piping hot, fresh out of the oven. Prices start at $20 for a cheese pizza; slices, which are actually a quarter of a whole pizza, are $5.50 and up.

Find Bob’s Pizzeria next to another POTUS fave, Island Snow, at 130 Kailua Road; call 263-7757 to order. — Nina Wu