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!

4 - office mates can count the days to their next holiday on emi ink's desktop calendar. {$13; find at the wedding café at ward warehouse & menehune mac's windward mall holiday pop-up.}

5 - handpoured hawaiian lip balms by maoli perfumes (created by mama coco's keiki) will keep lips kissable with xmas cheer. {$5; first 50 orders receive 50% off with secret code hapahale. offer good sitewide and ends when the 50th order is placed or on fri, dec 24th.}

6 - remind time-crunched friends to live in the moment with little hand, watch faces remade with vintage embroidery by machinemachine. {$36}

back soon with the aloha friday scoop!

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}