Mineral lessons from a master

What's not to love about Sephora? Not only do they offer sensational products, not only is it an ideal place to spend an afternoon—not to mention a paycheck—but they're also a terrific source for free online beauty advice.

Last week Sephora University played host to Leslie Blodgett, founder and CEO of Bare Escentuals, who hosted a mineral-makeup master class packed with useful tips for lucky onlookers. But here's the best part: our lovely friends at Sephora captured nearly a half-hour of highlights and posted it on their beauty blog.

This was Sephora U's first-ever master class—let's all hope it's the first of many!

The Fabbies are here!

The Emmys, Oscars, and Grammys are all now behind us, but there's still some fierce competition to enjoy. Introducing the Fabbies, the first-ever, blogger-organized awards to recognize the Web's top fashion, beauty, and lifestyle blogs.

And no, Getting Underneath isn't among the nominees this year, but we can still cheer on our fave cyber-hangouts for the latest fabulous dish (and plot for victory next year).

Just click on over to fabbies.org and sign up. You'll then be able to vote for your favorites in 12 categories, including Men's Fashion, StreetStyle, and Accessories. We're a little sketchy on the tallying and winner announcement process, but we'll definitely keep you posted.

May the most fabulous blogs win!

(Hat tip: All About the Pretty)

Team Sugar gets a little brainier

How do we love the Sugar team of bloggers? Let us count the ways ... 1. FabSugar, 2. BellaSugar, 3. BuzzSugar ... okay, we don't have time to name them all, but you get the idea.

Now our favorite online community has grown by not one, but two sensational blogs that help us explore the brainier side of fabulousness.

Got questions about money management, financial planning, investing, or career development? SavvySugar has the answers, presented in plain, simple English that we can all understand.

And if one of your resolutions for this election year is to be more politically informed and/or active, cast your vote with CitizenSugar, your source for the latest and greatest (or not-so-great) from the 2008 U.S. presidential race as well as the political scoop from around the world.

We feel smarter already!

Spring trend alert: candy-colored cobblings

The holidays are officially over, and no sooner had the last whiff of holiday rum punch vanished from his lair than our friend Manolo the Shoeblogger set to work getting us ready for the fabulous footwear of Spring 2008.

For this week's trend, the focus is color—and not just any color, dearie. This spring's shoes offer a rainbow of jellybean-inspired hues, from juicy orange to sunset purple to walkin'-on-sunshine yellow. We just went gaga over these kickin' Enzo Angiolini peep-toe pumps, and we can't wait to see what other crazy chromatics the season's alchemists come up with.

In fact, Manolo (again, Shoeblogger) himself has gone so far as to deem 2008 "The Year of Color." If it's true (and who would dare to doubt the Manolo?), then fasten your seatbelts, ladies. We're in for a wild, wacky, wonderful ride!

Hot blog: Manolo's Shoe Blog

No, he's not acclaimed shoe designer Manolo Blahnik ... in fact, no one quite knows who he is ... but if you love shoes, you'll love Manolo and his Shoe Blog.

Start with an encyclopedic knowledge of all things fashionable. Add a dash of caustic wit and an odd but amusing obsession with all things Hasselhoff, and you've got Manolo's Shoe Blog, one of the Web's hottest spots for fashionistas, celeb-gossip junkies, and anyone who enjoys a little humor with their footwear.

Here's what he has to say about this stunning pair of Dolce & Gabbana pumps:

With these shoes on your feets it is always the summer evening on the Amalfitano coast, with you and your consort (who is the image of your husband, only taller, without the little belly, and somehow, inexplicably, Italian) driving in the tiny sports car to this little restaurant on the beach, where you will be served grilled langoustines, crisp white wine, and this fabulous crusty bread baked by the owner’s mother.

It gets better. Click on over and see for yourself.

Kristopher Dukes hearts Citrine by the Stones!

We’re long-time fans of Kristopher Dukes’ blog—click on over and you'll soon see why. Take a keen eye for all things glamorous, add a radar-like ear for the latest buzz, top it all off with a sharp tongue for telling it just like it is, and you’ve got one of the hottest, sassiest sites in the fabuverse.

Apparently, we also have very similar tastes. Just a couple of days ago, the fabulous K gushed about an equally fabulous piece from one of our favorite jewelry houses, Citrine by the Stones. Designed by sisters Mary, Michelle, and Joanne Stone, this unique line combines sharp, powerful angles with feminine curves to create a bold, unique statement. Their inimitable pieces have graced the pages of top publications including Vogue, Elle, and Harpers Bazaar, and have earned fans among fashionistas such as Madonna, Mischa Barton, Jennifer Lopez, and Rihanna.

Keep on shining, Stones!

Hot podcast: Hip Tranquil Chick

If you think being a devoted yogini requires trading your stiletto heels and Lancôme lipgloss for Birkenstocks and Chapstick, then Kimberly Wilson would like to have a word with you.

Actually, she'd like to have three: Hip Tranquil Chick.

Author of a book by the same name and owner of Tranquil Space, one of Washington, DC's hottest yoga studios, Kimberly delivers a weekly podcast dedicated to helping us integrate a vibrant yoga practice with the fabulous lifestyle of a modern girl on the go.

Available via the blog and on iTunes, Hip Tranquil Chick podcasts are like cozy, heads-together-in-a-coffee-shop visits with a girlfriend, one you really admire but don't find perfect enough to hate. Each podcast features "On the Mat," which guides us through a specific yoga pose or sequence, "Off the Mat," which covers topics ranging from fall fashion finds to ayurvedic medicine, and a groove-a-licious podsafe tune to close the show out with style.

And with a new edition posted every Sunday night, Hip Tranquil Chick lets you start your workweek informed, inspired, and deliciously tranquil. Check it out.

Hot blog: Go Fug Yourself

Think you're having a bad style day? The pick-me-up you need might be just a mouse click away.

Slide on over to Go Fug Yourself for a peek at the most recent fashion disasters sported by your favorite celebs—you know, the ones with the highly paid stylists and the army of other professionals dedicated to making them look good?

Seriously, if the words "damn, I look cute" don't pass your lips within the first five minutes of your visit, well, you're just not human.

Better yet, each pic is served up with the most shamelessly catty commentary this side of high school, courtesy of "Fuggers" Heather and Jessica. Here's what they had to say about Jennifer Connelly's look for the premiere of Reservation Road:

It's like Laura Ashley married a Poison video and then got really inappropriately drunk at the wedding and threw up all over Jennifer Connelly. And, bless her, she's putting on a happy face about it, but inside, you just know she's thinking, "Damn, I hate the 80s. If Frank Whaley thinks this is some kind of coded message for him to call me, I'm going to cut a bitch."

So the next time you look down at your outfit and ask, "What was I thinking," rest assured that it could be much worse. You could be wearing this.

Pets get a little Sugar of their own

Are you crazy about your kittycat? Passionate about pooches? Or just ardent about animals in general? If so, the Sugar family of blogs has a new spot just for you ... and your cuddly friends.

Yes, the same talented team that brings us FabSugar's fashion finds, BellaSugar's beauty beat, PopSugar's paparazzi pics, and more now has a blog just for pet lovers:

PetSugar is your go-to site for all things fabulously furry, feathered, and finned. Whether you're already a pet owner, dreaming of one day owning a pet, or just in need of a cute pick me up, PetSugar is the place for the latest and greatest pet news, product reviews and yummy treasures that will make your pets come running. Your lovable pet can also become a celebrity on the site!

Click on over to PetSugar today—it'll bring out the animal in you!