Makeup for a blond moment
Even if you didn't love "Legally Blonde," you'd be lying if you said you weren't a little jealous of its bubbly heroine, Elle Woods.
She's got a great car, an extensive wardrobe (even if most of it is bubblegum-inspired), a cool job and, in the end, the perfect guy. And we don't know about you, but we plan to hit the theater July 2 to find out what happens when Elle heads to Washington, D.C., in "Legally Blonde 2."
One thing we know for sure: She'll look just as good as she did in the first film, thanks to makeup artist Jeanine Lobell, who created the Stila cosmetics line.
And since Stila products made Elle look so good, Lobell thought she'd share the wealth with the rest of us; two new sets of "LB2"-inspired makeup feature three eye shadows, a blush and a lip gloss. (Whether you're blond like Elle or brunette like Vivian, one of the sets will work for you.) Both "look books" are available exclusively at Sephora stores or www.sephora.com for $45 each. While you're at Sephora, pick up a Tickle Me Pink Brush set ($45) -- five makeup brushes in Elle's signature color.
And if that's not enough movie tie-ins for all you "LB" fans, drop by a Sephora near you for a Stila makeover in late June. Call 877-SEPHORA to find a store near you that's hosting the makeovers.
Candid cards
We don't have to tell you that teens have some pretty serious issues to deal with. But sometimes all it takes to get through a tough time is knowing that someone else out there is facing the same thing.
That's where "The Diary Deck" comes in. The deck of 50 cards (Chronicle Books, $14.95) is a spinoff of The Diary Project (www.diaryproject.com), a Web site that allows teens to post their thoughts on everything from dating to death.
Each card features an excerpt from a teen's diary, along with questions about the topic at hand.
For instance, one girl's entry about school violence is followed by questions like "What or whom do you turn to when you're scared?" and "Have you ever felt afraid to go to school?"
Body image, sex, stress, friendship and tons of other topics get attention as well. If you're lucky, there's a caring adult around who will want to hear your feelings about these issues.
But at the very least, it's your chance to talk to your friends about scary stuff or even just spend some time inside your own head -- the deck includes a journal with questions to get you thinking.
Look for "The Diary Deck" at bookstores and online booksellers.
XBecky Sher writes Hype for Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. You can write to her at bsher@krtinfo.com.