1. When our son was little and we took him leaf peeping in Vermont, he complained that he didn’t see what the fuss was all about. Later, we learned the poor kid literally couldn’t see those reds and pinks: He was colorblind. Fast-forward to last Christmas, when his wife gave him EnChroma sunglasses, which claim to help 80 percent of colorblind people see more colors. He put them on, went for a walk and delightedly reported that for the first time he saw pink — in the sunset sky and a jogger’s cap — and the green in a traffic signal.
Although colorblind wearers won’t see colors the way the rest of us do, the sunglasses act as filters blocking certain wavelengths of light, which “helps to maybe differentiate colors a little easier,” said Brian Kubo, an optometrist at Costco Hawaii Kai. Glasses start at $349 at EnChroma.com.
— Mindy Pennybacker, Star-Advertiser
2. I don’t know why Christmas is the only time when decorative lights are deemed appropriate. Mod Lights ($28) are attractive and fun, and surprisingly bright with tiny LED bulbs strung on a bendable wire. Urban Outfitters at 2424 Kalakaua Ave. in Waikiki carries other kinds of light strings as well, such as Glow Wire, a coil of light that resembles neon, and Gem Lights, which look like illuminated jewels on a wire. Prices range from $16 to $40. Some are powered by battery packs; Mod Lights come in a 15-foot length equipped with a water-resistant plug for outdoor use.
— Steven Mark, Star-Advertiser
3. One of the challenges of drinking wine at social gatherings is keeping track of your glass. I’ve seen repurposed coat-check tickets and handmade charms hanging from glass stems, and have watched friends scrawl their initials with lipstick to tell glasses apart. Thank goodness for Tipsy Tags, which brilliantly use magnets embellished with snarky slogans to entertain wine drinkers while keeping glasses from getting mixed up. Affixed to the rim of a wine glass instead of the stem, the charms are both easier to track and make a statement with phrases like “wine diva,” “hot mess” and “toasted.” Other options include charms that look like jewels and Scrabble game pieces, and more wholesome images like the American flag or Santa Claus. Prices start at $14.99 for a set of four at tipsytags.com.
— Jason Genegabus, Star-Advertiser
4. Crusty, chewy, delicious — the loaves at Breadshop, a Kaimuki bakery that opened in December, are the epitome of what a handcrafted, rustic bread should be. Baked by Honolulu native Chris Sy, who has worked at such illustrious kitchens as The French Laundry in Napa, Calif., and Chef Mavro, the City loaf, pictured, is sourdough white, a Country loaf is sourdough wheat with a taste of rye; both are $8. Breadshop, 3408 Waialae Ave., is at the corner of Waialae and 8th avenues, with parking in back. Beware: The bread is so delicious and so in demand, it often sells out. Get there early or consider a subscription. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Visit breadsbybreadshop.com or message Sy via Facebook at facebook.com/breadshophnl (there’s no phone).
— Elizabeth Kieszkowski, Star-Advertiser
5. My son loves Hot Wheels cars, but those plastic tracks that never quite fit together make me crazy. InRoad Toys’ PlayTape makes setting up roads in our living room easy with printed rolls of paper tape that sticks to our tables, carpets and laminate flooring and removes without a trace when playtime is over. The tape is reusable but, of course, loses some stickiness with each use. Rolls of tape are available in 2- and 4-inch widths, and come in road, off-road and train track designs. Separately sold packages of curved road pieces allow streets to easily turn and intersect. Sets start at $4.99 at inroadtoys.com.
— Donica Kaneshiro, Star-Advertiser
“5 Things We Love” is 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 by emailing features@staradvertiser.com.
