The Eyes Have It

Have plans to party for the new year? If so, do your eyes a favor and pick up a shimmering palette to make them pop with festive flair.

From bold golds to chic silvers, prettifying your peepers with rich, sparkly eye shadow creates drama while brightening your face for a flattering effect.

Check out a few of these palettes that will have all eyes on you:

Bare Minerals 'The Playlist' Palette available at www.beauty.com for $40

Bobbi Brown Onyx Silver Eye Paint Palette available at www.nordstrom.com for $45

Smashbox 'Girls On Film' Smokebox Palette available at www.smashbox.com for $42

Guerlain Ombre Eclat Eyeshadow Palette available at www.nordstrom.com for $59

Lancome Eye Brightening All-In-One 5 Shadow Liner Palette in 'Mauve Cherie' available at www.sephora.com for $48

Bobbi Brown Party Shimmer Brick available at www.nordstrom.com for $40

Nars Night Series Eyeshadow Palette available at www.saks.com for $55

Dior 5 Coleurs Eyeshadow Collection available at www.nordstrom.com for $59

Shimmer Cubes Palette available at www.thebodyshop-usa.com for $22

Do you enjoy playing up your eyes with shadows?

Steal Vs. Splurge Sears-Style

Back in the day, Sears was pretty much synonymous with tools and household appliances. Now, it's also home to some of the hottest fashion brands such as the Kardashian Kollection, UK Style by French Connection, and Apostrophe.

From sexy LBDs to statement-making accessories, you can find incredibly fashionable items for less that are comparable to hot-off-the-runway designer duds. If you're a true fashionista who likes to be frugal, please don't sleep on Sears. You'll be surprised at what you'll find.

Check out a some of these hot buys for less:

Kardashian Kollection Women's Open Back Ottoman Dress with Zipper Detail available at www.sears.com for $58.99

Vs.

Betsey Johnson Cotton Lycra Lace-Up Sheath available at www.betseyjohnson.com for $268

Kardashian Kollection Multi-Bead Necklace available at www.sears.com for $18.20

Vs.

Gold Silk Cube Bead 3-Strand Necklace available at www.endless.com for $98

Apostrophe Women's Ruched Scarf available at www.sears.com for $12

Vs.

Missoni Pure Wool Scarf available at www.farfetch.com for $196

UK Style by French Connection Women's Wool Blend Cape available at www.sears.com for $56

Vs.

Calvin Klein Button Front Belted Tie Cape available at www.calvinklein.com for $149.99

*Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was provided by Sears or Glam Media for this post.

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Sears.

Have you ever bought fashions from Sears? 


**BTW - The winner of the Essie nail polish is Yvonne! Congratulations! Please send me your mailing address.

Dazzling Holiday Shades for Your Digits

Want to make your nails a knock-out this holiday season? Essie is always my go-to brand for brilliant shades. Their eye-catching colors always have the perfect saturation and pigment that make my digits pop.

Plus, it typically lasts a week at minimum without chipping.

As Gold As It Gets - gilded lamé, Shine of the Times - scintillating opalescence, A Cut Above - shattered pink diamond glitz, Pure Pearlfection - Decadent Iridescence,  - disco mirror ball chaos

What is your favorite color from this Holiday 2011 collection?

**One lucky reader will win one of these dazzling shades. Simply leave a comment and a winner will be randomly selected and announced on Wednesday.

BGG's Christmas Wish List

If you celebrate the holidays, now's the time to catch those last-minute deals and stock up on cool gifts and stocking stuffers for everyone on your list.

Here is a round-up of what I'd love to see under my Christmas tree:

Chloe 'Ethel' Leather Tote available at www.nordstrom.com for $1,350

O's Best Advice Ever! available at www.amazon.com for $19.95

Forzieri Hot Pink Leather Gloves available at www.forzieri.com for $87

Papyrus Bird & Butterfly Gift Box available at www.papyrusonline.com for $17.95

Christopher Kon Credit Card Wallet available at www.lastcall.com for $35

Lord & Taylor 14K Gold Initial Pendant Necklace available at www.lordandtaylor.com for $162.50

Victoria's Secret Thermal Sleep Shirt available at www.victoriassecret.com for $39.50

Have you started your holiday shopping?


Btw, the winner of the Aveeno prize pack is Becky! Please send me your mailing address. Congrats!

Tyler Perry's Doing a 'Good Deed'

This February, Tyler Perry will attempt to woo moviegoers with his newest film, Good Deeds, starring the filmmaker, Gabrielle Union, and Thandie Newton.

The film will follow the journey of Wesley Deeds, a successful and wealthy businessman, who takes a look into his "perfect" life and discovers that he needs to take action to lead the life that he's always dreamed.

Check out the trailer:

Will you be heading to your local theater to see this movie? Are you a fan of Tyler Perry films?

Hoop Dreams

Trends come and go, that's why I try stick to classic pieces that will endure season after season. No one wants to look back at photos and immediately identify the year it was taken based on what you're wearing.

However, after a recent chit-chat with a couple of friends, I'm starting to question whether one of my most beloved "quintessential" accessories is as  "timeless" as I thought.

As I reached to adorn my ears with a pair of thin, 14K gold medium-size hoops, a couple of my fashionista friends quickly quipped, "Please tell me you're not wearing those 'J. Lo' earrings circa 2001."

Never one to take people's fashion opinions too seriously, I defended my accessorizing decision and went on my way. While I'm a fan of studs too, I will never give up the occasional hoop.

Check out a few BGs who apparently like jumping through hoops too:

Tracee Ellis Ross & Lauren London

Jada Pinkett-Smith

Gabrielle Union

Rihana

Oprah Winfrey 

 Halle Berry

What do you guys think? Are hoops timeless or have their run their course? Do you opt for more subdued styles such as studs? What are some of your favorite classic pieces? 

All That Glitters: Cute Clutches for the Holidays

Now that the holiday soiree season is in full swing, it's time to grab a sparkly clutch and head to your Yuletide shindig in style.

Whether sequined or satin, a sleek and chic handbag will ensure that holiday decor won't be the only thing lighting up the night.

Alexander McQueen Classic Skull Clutch available at www.zapposcouture.com for $1,379

BCBG Max Azria Crystal Mesh Disco Wristlet $98

Top Choice Sequin Clutch available at www.nordstrom.com $20

Celuch Clutch available at www.aldo.com for $35

Elena Clutch available at www.anthropologie.com for $98

Kate Landry Glitter Case Jeweled Push-Lock Clutch available at www.dillards.com for $55

Women's Sparkle Clutch available at www.uggaustralia.com for $170

La Regale Clutch available at www.amazon.com for $266

Lu Lu Townsend Stone Clutch available at www.dsw.com for $59.95

Santi Audrina Clutch available at www.amazon.com for $99

Do you have any holiday party plans?

And The Winner Is...Plus Another Giveaway!

The winner of the Mally Roncal, "My Favorite Things Collection," is Areeba!! Congratulations, please email me your mailing address.

Since we're feeling a bit in the holiday gifting spirit, my good friends at Aveeno would love for you to try their haircare line - Nourish + Collection with Active Naturals Wheat Complex below.

They're the kings of moisturizing and use the same technique and quality approach to nourishing consumers' strands.

Simply leave a comment and a winner will be randomly selected and announced next week!

News: Brandy Set to Join the Cast of 'The Game'

Brandy fans will be happy to hear that the R&B superstar is making a comeback to scripted television. The former Moesha star is set to join the cast of The Game as Jason's (Coby Bell) sassy, bar-tending love interest, Chardonnay, when the new season premieres in January.

The new season of The Game begins Tuesday, January 10, at 10pm ET/PT.

Looks like there's even more reason to watch the top-rated series!

Will you be tuning into The Game when it returns to BET next month?

Get Beyonce's Glow

Did you catch our favorite BG mom-to-be, Beyoncé, on Friday's episode of 20/20? If not, you missed her dishing about how she's curbing her pregnancy cravings and why she's keeping her due date secret. While her growing bump was the focus of the interview, the singer's glowing skin stole the show.

Famed makeup artist, Mally Roncal "beat" Beyoncé's face into perfection with the beauty essentials found in her "My Favorite Things Collection," ($59.50) which will be available December 9th on QVC.

Since Mally is busy building her makeup empire and beautifying R&B beauties like Beyoncé', she can't personally give us that flawless, camera-ready look, but she can share her tips (see below). Plus, all of the products she used are complementary to all skin tones so you can recreate the makeup magic in the comfort of your home.

Check out Mally's simple steps:

− Start by using my concealer to brighten under the eyes or any other place that needs help.

− Next, use my subtle highlighter and contour powder to really bring out your inner beauty! The highlighter lifts the face and even illuminates the eye area. The contour powder instantly makes you look like you lost five pounds.

− For eyes, I opted for my creamy, shimmery eye shadow, bulletproof Eyeliner and my secret: Volumizing Mascara.

− To create glossy, Beyoncé worthy lips, I used my High Shine Liquid Lipstick.

ONE LUCKY READER will win the kit ($59.50 value) before its debut. Simply leave a comment telling me if you're going to incorporate shimmer into your holiday looks this season and a winner will be randomly selected and announced on Thursday.

Iman Launches New Powder

No other brand knows how to speak to our makeup needs like IMAN Cosmetics. The regal Somalian beauty is back with a brand-new translucent powder that leaves skin flawless. Just in time for the holiday shopping season, this oil-absorbing, silky, light-weight powder makes for the perfect stocking stuffer.

Plus, it has skin-enhancing agents that work to improve and even one's skin tone.

IMAN - Luxury Translucent Powder, available at www.drugstore.com for $20

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?

NEWS: World AIDS Day

There's a startling statistic that was featured in a recent article in PARADE that states: AIDS as being the third leading cause of death among African-American women in their 30s and 40s, and the number of new infections among gay and bisexual black men under 30 increased 48 percent between 2006 and 2009 (the latest U.S. figures available). This epidemic’s epicenter falls in the South, where poverty and lack of affordable health care are thwarting education, testing, and treatment.

The fact that we're the largest part of the demographic that's disproportionately suffering from this preventable epidemic, speaks volumes. That's why it's so important that we BGs educate ourselves and spread that knowledge to our loved ones near and far so that our mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters, and friends can stop dying from this deadly disease.

Have you been tested? If not, do so TODAY.