1. If you’re a random plant-killer like me, then Pilea is a houseplant you just might love, too, once you find one. Pilea peperomioides — aka Chinese money, UFO and pancake plant for its flat, circular leaves — has been so close yet so far since last spring, when I discovered it on a website for gardeners, with the dreaded fine print for Hawaii folks, “ships to contiguous U.S.”
The hunt did lead to a pile of Googled trivia: Pilea traveled from China to Norway in the ’40s by way of a Norwegian missionary, then once there graced many a Scandinavian home. A current darling of plant collectors, fans tout its sculptural, playful silhouette, with leaves that appear suspended every which way toward the sun, and ease of care. It’s hardy, unthirsty and thrives in indirect sunlight — perfect for green-thumb wannabes.
Bonus: It self-propagates, gifting you with keiki; thus another nickname “pass-it-on plant,” as it provides bounty to share with friends — or to nurture as backup should those brown thumbs take hold.
Recently I stumbled upon a store with a small batch and felt like I’d struck gold. A limited supply of plants in 4-inch pots is available at Koolau Farmers on South Beretania Street, Paiko in Kakaako and Home Depot in Iwilei; call to confirm stock. Prices range from $7 to $38, depending on the maturity of the plant. — Ruby Mata-Viti
2. Long before he became the breakout star of Netflix’s “Queer Eye” reboot, hairstylist Jonathan Van Ness was the fierce and fabulous host of the Emmy Award-nominated “Gay of Thrones,” posted Tuesdays on the comedy video website Funny or Die.
Van Ness’ hilarious weekly recaps of HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” which just launched its eighth and final season, are only a few minutes long and feature clips from the real show as he fusses with a guest’s hair while engaging in campy and sometimes profane discussions of the juiciest plot points. George R.R. Martin, Margaret Cho and Rachel Bloom are among those who have sat in his chair.
Firmly rooted knowledge of pop culture and “GoT” is a prerequisite in order to keep up with the rapid-fire repartee in which various characters are referred to by such names as “Miss Cleo” (the all-seeing Bran), “Baby Kill Bill” (Arya) and “Blonde Cher” or “Vintage Mia Farrow” (Cersei, depending on the wig).
Although “Gay” is an irreverent tribute to the game-changing fantasy show, Van Ness is clearly a serious, devoted fan. Now, where are my dragons? — Christie Wilson
3. Mad about matcha and Dr. Bronner’s pure green products, I was thrilled to discover Dr. B’s green-tea bar soap. The soap is colorless but fragrant with natural green tea and certified organic/fair trade coconut, palm and olive oils. The matcha-green wrapper is post-consumer recycled paper. To reduce my plastics profile, I buy bar soaps, and take empty plastic bottles to refill with Dr. Bronner’s liquid soaps from dispensers at Kokua Market. They don’t have green tea yet, but offer lovely lavender, peppermint and fragrance-free. About $4.39 for a 5-ounce bar, $5.49 per 8-ounce bottle, at Longs and Down to Earth. — Mindy Pennybacker
4. You know how, once in a blue moon, something’s so charming you can’t resist it? That happened to me when I saw this most adorable dish at my neighborhood Foodland. It’s a microwavable ceramic bowl — it even comes with a vented cover — decorated with animated, smiling local-food favorites like sushi, chili rice and Spam musubi.
The best part is inside. Clean your bowl, and you can say hello to a Hawaii version of the maneki neko (good-luck cat), complete with a flower on one ear, a fish in one paw and an ukulele at the ready.
The dish is part of Foodland’s new Maikai line of products that includes snacks, drinks, totes, towels and dishware. The 6-inch bowl holds about 2 cups. A word of caution: The bowl gets hot when microwaving. Be ready with a potholder or some napkins to carry it. It’s $7.99 at Foodland locations. — Joleen Oshiro
5. I’m a cookie junkie, partial to chocolate chip. Especially the chewy variety — lightly crunchy, golden brown on the outside and chewy in the middle. Loaded with chocolate chips. When I need an afternoon pick-me-up at work, I don’t have to go far. The Subway sandwich shop at Waterfront Plaza has just what I need. Darryln Yamaguchi bought the eatery a couple of months ago and bakes the delicious treats to perfection.
When I crave a little crunch, I get the ones with M&Ms baked inside. But I usually stick with the basic chocolate chip cookies — my weakness. Each cookie is 80 cents, but I often get the deal: three for $1.99, including tax. (This happens a couple of times a week.) I share them with my coworker Martha Hernandez. And guess what? She can’t resist when I offer her a hit. She takes just one. I eat two, of course. — Michael Rovner
Please keep in mind that featured products may be in short supply and may not be available at all store locations; prices may vary. The information presented represents the authors’ opinions and experiences; your results may vary. Tell us what you are loving this week by emailing creilly@staradvertiser.com.
