happy hale*days 2011: budget edition

a freelance deadline kept me unexpectedly away this week, but i am delighted to be back to prove that gifting can still be pretty even on a budget!

let's have a peek at 2011's most fabulous presents under $40 . . .

1 - every girl will want to make a date with gypsy's newest underpinning. {$34; save 20% off sitewide with secret code gypsylovesyou. offer ends mon, dec 19th.}

2 - malie organics' roll-on perfumes will delight eco lovelies with scents reminiscent of paradise. {$29; spend $200 and receive a complimentary scent and free shipping with your order. offer ends sat, dec 17th.}

3 - bikini loving beach goddesses will adore a kini pouch by acacia which is sewn of the same gorgeous fabric that lines their flirty collection. {$30; find in-store at i heart hanalei.}

more possibilities for your gift list after the jump!

Click to read more ...

and the winner is . . .

amanda of honolulu who will soon be wooed by maui soap company's pikake gift set!

alas, there was only one to share but you can sniff out your favorites at island stockists including accents at the royal hawaiian hotel & st. regis princeville, blue hawaii in ala moana, mana foods in paia, and whole foods hawaii (kahala & kahului).

for faraway friends missing hawaii, the entire lineup of luscious soap bars and moisturizing elixirs made in makawao are only a click away. plus, the online shop offers complimentary shipping when your order tallies up to $75 . . . something to remember if you are on the lookout for gently priced scented delights for your nice list this xmas.

happy congratulations amanda!

{mahalo alana & conor for treating the h|h 'ohana to your handmade bliss!}

maui soap company giveaway

once upon a time my kitchen temporarily turned into a little laboratory while formulating batch after batch in my quixotic quest for handmade beauty perfection. so i have lots of love for all the indie alchemists who magically transform everyday and exotic ingredients into pampering elixirs.

last year while scouting for holiday gift ideas, i happened across maui soap company's stunning bars which mixes a creamy base with sherbet colored slices of soapy goodness. alana and conor, the makawao sweeties behind the line, embrace an artisanal approach to soapmaking and handcraft all their offerings in small batches with a blend of soothing botanicals and opt for organic oils whenever possible. plus, ingredient list sticklers will be happy to find a paraben-free label.

to celebrate the launch of their signature gift set, one lucky reader will soon find a maui soap company moment in her mailbox featuring a trio of lotion, body butter, and soap (two bars!) plus an exfoliating sponge. seven scents are currently offered so you must peek the product page to find your favorite!

find all the giveaway details after the jump.

Click to read more ...

island crush: scented alohatherapy

a kiss of the islands without the side effects of synthetic scents? yes please! kai and kalani, the keiki creators behind maoli perfumes, just introduced a quartet of solid fragrance balms formulated with essential oils and tropical absolutes infused in a good for you & the planet shea butter base.

the handcrafted scent memories are made in small batches (with help from mom & dad, natch) and already have me dreaming of lei stands, pikake blossoms, ka'u oranges and roasted cocoa beans.

sigh . . .

$28 online. (+ free worldwide shipping!)

hey mama! 2011 gifting guide

popping in to share a few last minute possibilities . . .

1 - the just launched orchid collection from malie organics will delight moms who love tending to the elegant petals. {$25 and up}

2 - hardy succulents look quite refined when potted in porcelain by lanikai pot & plant. {$32.95 at owens & co.}

3 - the kala'e wallet is one of the anticipated new arrivals to sig zane's coveted line of leather goods featuring the hilo designer's signature prints. {$175}

4 - locavores will savor a fresh brewed cup of first flush green tea harvested from the slopes of the mauna kea tea farm. {$19}

5 - vintage rope salvaged from the falls of clyde keep mana pods' handblown recycled glass terrariums aloft so the petite plantings can capture some island sunshine. {$40; also stocked at super citizen in chinatown}

6 - waimea chocolate company produces artisanal chocolate macadamia nuts from ingredients grown in hawaii with varieties ranging from milk to dark and fixings like hawaiian chili pepper and black lava salt. {$8 to $21; find at sweet paradise chocolatier in wailea}

introducing agua de flora

while scouting for effortlessly romantic valentine bouquets the other day, a click led me to agua de flora, a botanical perfumerie tucked away in a charming yellow cottage on maui. it turns out my stroll through paia town during our maui getaway last spring happened on the boutique's opening day, but, unlucky me crossed hana highway a few blocks too soon to say hello to the lovely ladies at wings hawaii before closing time.

although a visit to agua de flora will have to wait until maui beckons again, the shop already woos with descriptions of its artisanal handcrafted fragrance notes which can be worn alone or layered to create a signature scent. the petite roll-ons are au natural with each bottle filled with blends of hydro-distilled petals, plants and resins. the concentrated elixirs require a little alchemy but the old world process retains the healing properties of each plant to enhance the wearer's well being.

additional fragrance poems tempt from the garland collection's in-house line of perfumes . . . especially ocean flowers and its intoxicating mix of mimosa, neroli and tahitian lime. even more intriguing is the possibility to book a private consulation with ashana, the shop's proprietor and scent goddess, to create a custom scent portrait just for you. quite a besotting gift for your dear valentine or maui-bound sweetheart. 

let's have a peek at the exquisitely packaged offerings, shall we?

kama'aina suffering from vog wafting over from kilauea will want to explore the vog away collection which is formulated to ease symptoms and aid breathing.

while the online shop is nicely stocked with many fragrant possibilities from the boutique, not all offerings find their way online so do inquire if you are searching for an elusive scent.

the valentine's salon on friday evening will be a lovely introduction for maui friends with the launch of agua de flora's newest elixirs including a chocolate rose scented delight.

the price tag for smaller potions starts at $23 with custom perfumes topping out at $200.

• where: 161b hana hwy, paia
• shop hours: tue to sat, 11:30a to 7p

p.s. the romantic storefront is also home to the loveliest potted flowers.

happy hale*days 2010: beauty edition

because everyone has at least one beauty junkie on their gift list:

1 - letarte recently introduced two skincare formulas to pamper parched skin - vanille polynesia blends shea butter, vanilla and sugar into a sweet scented lotion while 'alia hinu mixes argan and coconut oils to hydrate thirsty skin. ($54; shop online w/ free 2-day shipping on continental u.s. orders placed by wed, dec 22nd or in-store at the paia flagship)

2 - cleanse & moisturize your locks with ola's pure shampoo & conditioner formulated with coconut milk, kukui nut oil, and taro extract. ($19; shop online or search for a local stockist)

3 - soap fans will love maui soap company's gorgeous handmade bars made with certified organic oils and essential oils. ($6.49; online only shop online or find at mana foods in paia & whole foods on oahu)

4 - lanikai bath & body mixes green tea leaves and hawaiian sea salt to create its botanical body scrub. ($22.50; shop online & at the kailua flagship)

5 - mini roll-on perfumes from saffron james come in five intoxicating scents inspired by the islands. ($35; shop online or find at soha living in kahala & select anthropologie shops)