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1. It’s a universal truth. Cats love boxes. However, showcasing beat-up empty Amazon boxes on one’s living room floor isn’t exactly tantamount to stylish decor (not even shabby chic). Enter Kitty Cardboard’s whimsical designer boxes. The colorful boxes currently come in three designs — a beachy Purradise; the Jungle Box and Meow-ter Space. The boxes’ strategic cutouts can offer an ideal vantage point while plotting an ambush or to keep an eye on things while napping.
Since I’m currently cat-less, I took the Meow-ter Space box over to the cat contingent at the Hawaii Cat Cafe on Kapahulu Avenue. Immediately, inquisitive kittens hopped right in and poked their heads out of the cutouts as a toy was dangled outside the box.
Cats are hard to read. So I can’t say if they were over the moon about the box, but they seemed pretty content with their new playhouse/hideout. For every box purchased, the company donates a box to an animal shelter or pet organization. Each 14-by-14-inch box is $24.99 at kittycardboard.com. — E. Clarke Reilly
2. My best friends and I are celebrating a milestone birthday this year and I wanted to do something special to make the occasion a memorable one. I was so excited when I heard about the website Cameo.com, which lets you book a personalized video shoutout from your favorite celebrity. The price varies by celebrity, but the $199 I spent to get a message from *NSYNC’s Lance Bass was well worth it to me, especially since my friends and I really bonded over our love for the boy band back in the day. A week later I received a video from Lance through my email. I played the short video during a gathering to celebrate our birthdays and everyone was shocked and amazed. OMG, Lance actually said our names! Not only that, he reminded us that he was also celebrating the same milestone birthday. There are thousands of actors, actresses, athletes, musicians and reality stars on the website who will record messages for any occasion. Some notables are Charlie Sheen ($550), Troy Aikman ($500), Marlon Wayans ($500), Flavor Flav ($250), Freddie Prinze Jr. ($150), Jennifer Love Hewitt ($150) and even Caitlyn Jenner for a whopping $2,500! — Charlene Robinson
3. The United States Postal Service is continuing to issue interesting limited-edition commemorative stamps. Two current favorites honor the battleship USS Missouri and the universally-known children’s television show “Sesame Street.”
The USS Missouri, currently berthed in Pearl Harbor, has a special place in American history as the site of the Japanese surrender which officially ended World War II in 1945 and as the place where Cher shot the music video for her pop chart hit, “If I Could Turn Back Time,” in 1989. The Missouri stamp ($11 for a sheet of 20) commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Missouri’s commissioning.
“Sesame Street,” which premiered as preschool entertainment on national public television in 1969, went on to become one of the most-watched children’s television shows in the world. The show’s 50th anniversary is being celebrated with a sheet of 16 stamps ($8.80); each stamp features a different character.
Both sheets of Forever stamps are available at usps.com or at your neighborhood post office. — John Berger
4. I’ve long been a fan of U.K. clothier Ted Baker’s spunky, retro-chic designs. The label’s well-made, cheerful offerings float my boat — so it’s a delight to find that the stand-alone Ted Baker boutique at Ala Moana Center offers swimwear and aloha shirts, tailor-made for a day near the water.
“Maariee,” $165, the balconette swimsuit pictured, incorporates a “Hedgerow” pattern that can be found in cover-ups, dresses, even a men’s tie and pocket square — a charming way to coordinate on vacation.
Men’s short-sleeved cotton shirts include pleasing details, such as contrasting fabric on the inner collar and yoke; the “Patrick,” $155, with its palm-and-panther print, is flattering and cool, in both senses.
Find them at Ted Baker, Ala Moana Center; 951-8354 or online at tedbaker.com. — Elizabeth Kieszkowski
5. Mark Jonathan Davis had been better known until now as his alter ego, faux lounge singer/comedian Richard Cheese, whose repertoire consists of traditional Las Vegas lounge-style arrangements of songs such as “Baby Got Back” and “Down With The Sickness.” Davis’ newly-published book “Fonts in Paradise” shows a completely different side of the man in the tiger-stripe tuxedo.
It turns out Davis lived in Honolulu for a while several years ago. While here he took an instant interest in photographing the vintage motel and apartment signs that proliferated in Honolulu in the 1950s and 1960s. He shares his finds with this book.
Davis enhances his photos with a concise social history of the era that produced them. He also relates his experiences in putting himself in the right place at the right time to get the 250 photos featured in the book.
One of the most interesting stories reveals the history of a sign that was almost completely hidden for many years by a building that had been put up almost directly in front of it. Davis’ account of the last-minute efforts to save the sign when the entire block was scheduled for demolition adds an unexpected element of suspense to his heartfelt celebration of historic island art. The book costs $24.95 at amazon.com. — John Berger
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.
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