hotel hana-maui

if i had a million dollars, i probably still couldn't buy the hotel hana-maui but at least i could go on holiday there like the few lucky souls who have vacationed at the intimate resort for generations. this is the hawaiian hideaway for travelers who yearn for the bygone era of the early 20th century and its gracious island style.

those who can afford the splurge will unwind in one of the 66 coveted bungalows steps from the sea and savor the privacy that only a property situated on 67 acres of former ranch land can offer. ready to getaway? a $200 resort credit is all yours if you can book by may 31st and vacation during the month of june.

island bling

what do you get the girl who has everything? how about a little accessory bling compliments of sachi designs? sachi's custom swarovski crystal accessories are for those who are compelled to express their inner celebutante and are willing to pay extra to stand out from the crowd.

in addition to customizing cell phones, sachi also adds bling to ipods, card cases, compacts, belt buckles, pet tags, sneakers and more. if you can't wait (or afford) a custom piece, stop by misfortune at ward centre or the ritz carlton las vegas and take a peek at things already blinged.

lappert's ice cream

i scream, you scream, we all scream for . . . lappert's ice cream? thanks to the miracle of 2-day shipping, you can order lappert's super premium ice cream online and savor every bite of local favorites like kauai pie, kona mocha chip or caramel coconut macadamia nut no matter where you call home.

of course, you just may scream when you see the shipping charges ($73 for dry ice?) so don't forget to check if an ice cream shop stocking lappert's is nearby before you order. the money you save on shipping can be spent stocking up on a few extra pints so it's a win-win for everybody*.

*with the exception of the shipping company, of course.

{update | dec 11th, 2009: while updating this post, i discovered that lappert's hawaii is operated independently from mainland-based lappert's (which is known as just lappert's, natch) so the photo has been updated to reflect the ice cream made in small batches on kauai . . . shipping, alas, is still pricey}

spa day

flowers for mother's day? been there. done that.

okay, start passing the collection cup and give your mom what she really wants for mother's day: a day at the spa. elements spa & salon has oodles of packages created just for mom like the hot mama & like mother like daughter (if a trip for two is in your budget). and, elements didn't forget moms-to-be (and neither should you) so pre-natal massages are also available on their spa menu.

the star-bulletin has a nice background story on elements' owners who stepped away from their careers at a local law firm to be their own bosses in the beauty biz.

{update | dec 2009: elements changed ownership last year; more details can be found here}

flower power

anthurium & ti

if you have a ph.d in procrastination, this is just a friendly reminder that the clock is ticking if you haven't ordered flowers for mother's day yet. for those who prefer the personal touch, click over to emi's flowers & gifts where they not only send you a photo of your chosen arrangement, but they'll also keep your order on file to help you avoid sending the same arrangement twice.

for future reference, emi's also rewards the uber-organized and will include a little gift with orders received 5 business days in advance. just remember that your mom should be in honolulu, hawaii kai, kailua, kaneohe, aiea, or pearl city or you'll have some explaining to do on sunday.