Beautiful Hair Bling With Holiday Sparkle At Super Low Prices

Hair bling for the holidays.

We can't think of a prettier way to add a little romance and sparkle to the spirit of the season.

It's cheap and just a couple of lovely hair combs or bobby pins can boost your do into the elegance category. Just look at actress Diane Kruger. She loves playing with hair accessories and braids and up-dos to show off her beautiful blonde locks and strong bone structure.

And you don't have to go budget overboard, either. Faux crystals, silver filigree, and rhinestones add lots of sparkle, too, on all kinds of hair texture, length, and style.

These hair bling accessories also make for very nice Christmas gifts, in case you're looking for a few ideas.

We found some here:

DCNL Crystal Flower Mini Combs, at Sally Beauty stores, for $7.99 a pair.

Karina Renaissance Filigree Bobby Pins, Silver, at Amazon.com, for $6.00 a pair.

Just a reminder: When wearing hair bling accessories, keep the rest of your ensemble simple. Don't add a strong piece of jewelry that competes
or clashes with your sparkling do.

Even Angelina Jolie Wearing Butt Pads?! And How's Your Badonkadonk?

Lately, all we hear about and see, are stories regarding ample butts, and how to acquire one. We, at BeautyTipToday, wrote about the butt obsession,too. Just check our November archive and the padded panty article.

Meantime, we are re-visiting the badonkadonk discussion, because Star magazine printed a convincing photo of actress Angelina Jolie at a recent event, dressed to the nines in a sexy, red satin gown wearing a, er, padded panty. Allegedly.

We were shocked. Angelina Jolie is so lovely, that we never thought she would resort to any kind of faux curves. And of course, we cannot prove that she is wearing a foam, padded panty, but according to Star, the 36-year-old Academy Award winner is "flat in the back." And, "She wears butt pads to give her skinny figure some curves, but they show if she wears silk," says an insider. "Some companies don't even want to lend her clothes for events anymore."

Not sure we buy the part about designers not wishing to let the gorgeous brunette wear their gowns on the red carpet. We find that hard to believe.

Let us also say, that if that is a 'panty booster,', well, the woman is still stunning, flat butt or round butt.

And might we add, too, that even A-list celebrities do not have perfect bodies. They might come extremely close, but they, too, have insecurities.

So many women are buying the padded panties, as they see curvy behinds like Jennifer Lopez' and Kim Kardashian's constantly in the spotlight.

By the way, if you desire a more ample rump, you, too, can try a little padding in the caboose. Frederick's of Hollywood has a very popular padded panty called the Booty Booster ($28, at Frederick's. And this one has gotten great reviews.

We are going to go on the record now and state, we would NOT wear a padded panty. Padded bra? We plead guilty...How about you?

Jewelry Trend: Shiny Metal Link Love

It's all about the links, ladies!

It can be bold or just a little soft, but whatever you do, show us some link love the next time you buy a piece of jewelry.

Think links.

Sportswear designer and Project Runway judge, Michael Kors, features the classic links in many of his jewelry collections, including bold link bracelets and rings.

We know, the chunkier the link, the more expensive it is. But you don't have to spend all your money on real gold or silver. We found some eye-catching jewelry that's shiny and pretty, and won't burn a hole in your wallet.

If you're on a budget, we've found a cool website that will buy you some link love at very affordable prices. It's called GirlProps.

Look at the Pewter Chain Hoops we found for just $7.99. These are beauties, measuring at 1 7/8" in diameter. Plus these earrings are made right here in the USA. World News anchor Diane Sawyer would be proud. She's urging every American to buy at least one product made in the USA for Christmas. And there you have it.

GirlProps has a nice Chain Reaction collection of shiny metal links, including chunky gold and silver bracelets and necklaces. Take a look here.

Can someone say, cute stocking stuffers?!

Must Have Beauty Tool: Darn Good Pencil Sharpener

If you have a stash of eye pencils, both slim and jumbo, then you obviously must also possess a pencil sharpener. And we're not talking about the sharpener that fine-tunes your writing skills.

Every gal NEEDS a darn good pencil sharpener. And you DON'T have to spend $50 for one, even though some brands can cost that much.

We like a dual pencil sharpener----one side for your slim eye pencils, and the other for your jumbo eye pencils.

And our advice: Don't keep the same pencil sharpener around forever. Buy a new sharpener at least once a year. These sharpeners dull over time with daily use.

Not every single eye pencil you buy is going to fit into your sharpener, but you can always buy more than one type of sharpener. And just because you purchase a certain brand of sharpener, doesn't mean you have to stick with that same brand of eye pencil. We have found, that MOST eye pencils fit into MOST pencil sharpeners.

Having said all that, we have 2 excellent, inexpensive pencil sharpeners for you to try. We own both:

1. N.Y.C. Dual Pencil Sharpener($.99, at Walmart stores). A sturdy, little sharpener, this beauty tool does deliver precision. Can't beat the price!

2. Milani Duo Sharpener($3.99). This one promises to give your pencils a very sharp point. It has a plastic cover to catch the falling pencil shavings, and even comes with a little cleaning tool. We found one at Cherry Culture.

We suppose there's just so much one can say about something as simple as an eye pencil sharpener. But many of us tend to ignore the beauty tools required to help our makeup do what it's supposed to do. And we think that a darn good pencil sharpener is a must-have in every cosmetics bag.

An eye pencil sharpener makes for a cute stocking stuffer, too. Hint-Hint.

Short Cropped Hair Is Sexy, Too: See Fall/Winter Trends

Beautiful hair doesn't always mean, how long you can grow it. In fact, some of the sexiest styles for the Fall/Winter 2011-2012 trends are the short, cropped dos a number of models were showing off on the runways.

A playful, pixie cut is not easy to wear, but for the gals who can pull this neck-baring style off, it's an amazing look, one that puts your gorgeous features front and center.

Check out the photos here, courtesy of Elle.com. From the top-- a messy crop at Anna Sui, a sexy slick-back at Oscar de la Renta, and a very feminine pixie at Cacharel.

We adore all 3 short-cropped styles! There are so many ways to wear the short do. And you save on styling time, too.

Okay, not every guy is going to dig the boy cut. Actress Michelle Williams says that, men don't like her short hair. She recently told Elle UK: "I've really grown into it - I feel like myself with short hair. And it's been a really long time since I had long hair, five years.

"Of course, the only people who like it are gay men and my girlfriends.

"Straight men across the board are not into this hair."

The actress says she keeps it cropped in memory of her late husband Heath Ledger who liked her in short hair.

"I cut it for the one straight man who has ever liked short hair and I wear it in memorial of somebody who really loved it."

Good for Michelle, and here's to short cropped hair for Fall/Winter2011-2012!

Lady Gaga's Beautiful Complexion Comes From Spinach And *** !

Lady Gaga has a beautiful complexion. At least that's what many people say when they meet the 25-year-old superstar.

A reporter for Elle magazine dared ask the talented singer how she maintains such flawless skin amidst a very hectic career and lifestyle.

And in the November issue, Gaga lays it all out, crediting 'orgasms and spinach' for her smooth complexion.

Okay, Lady Gaga is either a smart-ass or sweetheart giving out a couple of important beauty tips. We don't know what to believe. This might have been a little tongue-in-cheek, but then again, Gaga seems to hold nothing back and lets the public into her private business So, we will take the award-winning songstress at her word.

So, can eating spinach really give you perfect skin?!

There could be a point to Gaga's beauty vegetable. Spinach does contain lots of 'good anti-oxidant stuff' for skin......like lots of iron for energy, and Vitamins A, B, C, E and K, all known for keeping the skin clear and encouraging collagen/elastin production.

Take a look at the chart we found about this luscious, leafy green. Plus, spinach is LOW in calories---41 in a cup.

Do we eat it raw or cooked?

We were surprised by the answer, but, believe it or not, according to WHFoods.com, "Spinach is only one of three vegetables we recommend boiling to free up acids and allow them to leach into the boiling water; this brings out a sweeter taste from the spinach. Discard the boiling water after cooking; do not drink it or use it for stock because of its acid content.".

Read more about this amazing, beauty veggie at WHFoods.

Okay, Lady Gaga, spinach IS great for a beautiful complexion, after having seen that spinach chart above. And as far as orgasms are concerned, well, there is some truth to that, too. Some experts claim that good sex delivers nice skin, because blood circulation is improved, and that means more oxygen to the complexion, giving off a healthy glow.

Need we say more?

Champagne Diet Gets You Skinny For Holidays: Ho Ho Ho!

The Champagne Diet. You CAN drink AND lose weight!

You can either call this a screwball concept, or just pop open a bottle of bubbly and see if the lbs. disappear.

No, the Champagne Diet is not routed in deep scientific theory but it is a plan that helped one young, NYC woman melt away the fat in a tasty, healthy way.

Let's take a closer look.

December 1st arrives this Thursday, and for many, December is the most sociable month of the year. The drinks will be flowing, and what better time to raise a glass of this low-calorie beverage to celebrate and get skinny.

Cara Alwill Leyba, who works for MTV, created the Champagne Diet after struggling with her own weight for a number of years. The 31-year-old writer had been on several well-know diet plans, but none of them kept the lbs. off.

"You name it, I’d done it," Cara says. "Atkins, Weight Watchers, Dukan. I’d been chubby since I was a child and hated it. I constantly felt down about my weight.".

A friend suggested to Cara to have a flute of champagne and diet sensibly, rather than eating on the run and grabbing a glass of wine.

And when you think about it, champagne is a smart choice. There are about 100 calories or less in a glass. And the alcoholic drink is an elegant selection, one that signifies class, glam, and wealth. In other words, a sip of champagne is a self-esteem booster.

Champagne also tastes great with any kind of food. Cara suggests a diet plan that ranges between 1,200 - 1,400 calories per day.

"I encourage 'glamourizing' your meals," she says. "Don’t order the fatty cheeseburger with fries and cola. Instead, get a smoked salmon bagel with a mixed greens salad and a glass of Champagne. Start putting the best into your body."

Learn more about Cara Alwill Leyba at her Champagne Diet website. She has 4,000-plus followers and a wonderfully written blog that explores dieting, weight-loss, and life in general.