5 Things We Love: Sweet and spicy pineapple, Timex watches, and more

1. Maui Preserved LLC is doing its part to help preserve pineapple farming on the Valley Isle by jarring chunks of fresh fruit from Maui Gold Pineapple Co. with Hawaiian chili pepper, cane sugar and water.

Though the product is called “sweet and spicy” pineapple, it’s way more spicy than sweet. You might consider it a spicy, acidic fruit bomb of a snack that packs a wake-you-up punch.

The company suggests using the product on pizza, in barbecue sauce, for pineapple fried rice and on sandwiches — in addition to eating pieces right out of the jar.

Everyone’s taste varies, but you have to love the mission of Haiku-based Maui Preserved, which makes value-added food products from local farmers, including pickled onions and a variety of hot sauces.

A 10-ounce jar of pineapple chunks costs $10 at the Haliimaile Distilling Co. in Haliimaile where Maui Gold still grows pineapple. You can also find it online at mauipreserved.com. — Andrew Gomes

2. Mary Wilson is the only woman who was a member of the Supremes from the group’s earliest days — when they performed as the Primettes — through their record-setting years as the biggest “girl group” of the 1960s and on through their final tour in 1977. She was recently in Hawaii, with Waikiki concerts Aug. 2-4.

Wilson told much of the story in her 1986 autobiography, “Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme,” but with “Supreme Glamour” (Thames & Hudson) she’s sharing the visual side of the story. Drawing primarily on her personal collection of Supremes gowns and accessories, Wilson documents the Supremes’ evolution as fashion icons as well as chart-topping hit-makers. Thirty-two sets of gowns and accessories are shown in exquisite detail along with dozens of photos of “the girls” in concert, posing for publicity photos, rehearsing or relaxing backstage.

Add Wilson’s straight-forward narration and “Supreme Glamour” is the definitive coffee table book on the Supremes. The hardcover book, which is set to be released Sept. 17, costs $40 and will be available at bookstores and online where books are sold. — John Berger

3. In honor of the 60th anniversary of Hawaii’s statehood last month, Timex released four new attractive watches made in collaboration with traditional Hawaiian tattoo artist Keone Nunes. Based on Timex’s Scout field watch, Nunes created designs inspired by traditional Hawaiian tattooing and Polynesian culture. Triangular niho niho patterns or ihe spears are debossed on the watches’ leather straps while the dials feature a koae ula (red-tailed tropicbird) design. The symbols are associated with protection, guidance, courage and safe travels.

“Hawaiian tattoo artistry is a practice you approach with intention, since it has the power to transport you back to the root of our heritage,” Nunes said in a statement. The symbols on the timepieces were selected to connect wearers to their roots, he said.

Available in four different color and pattern combinations, each watch costs $109 at timex.com. — E. Clarke Reilly

4. Over the past year or so, many cosmetic brands have launched their own shimmery illuminators, designed to make the user look dewy and slightly flushed. But the standard-bearer has to be NARS, which released its peachy-gold Orgasm Illuminator ($30) in 2010. The color is designed to look good on light or dark skin tones — apply on cheekbones, the bridge of your nose or anywhere you want to glow. I’ve also discovered the Afterglow Lip Balm ($28) in a pinker version of the blend — released last year in a pretty rose-gold case, it’s glowy, and can be layered for more or less color.

Find NARS at Bloomingdale’s, Ala Moana Center (800-3659), at other cosmetics counters or online at narscosmetics.com. — Elizabeth Kieszkowski

5. Flipsy.com — which describes itself as “the leading online pricing guide that provides accurate values for books, devices and other items based on current market trends” — helps sellers determine how much their items are worth and features a search engine that compares current buyback offers. The site also offers a trove of free articles on topics ranging from the value of phone insurance to guides on finding out if your Star Wars action figures or VHS tapes, for example, are worth pots of money.

For vinyl record collectors, Flipsy’s article, “Are Your Old Vinyl Records Worth Thousands? Here’s How to Sell Them,” is an excellent reference for would-be sellers, and for people who want to appraise the value of their collection as well.

The author starts by listing some of the world’s rarest records — the Beatles’ “butcher album” from 1965 can be worth up to $125,000. The article also covers what factors make a record valuable, how to properly store records, how records are graded for value, how to determine the value of what you have and where you can sell them. Go to 808ne.ws/flipsyvinyl. — 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.