HOT TIPS : COOL STUFF FOR EASTER BASKETS.

Byline: Barbara De Witt

What? You haven't filled the kiddos' Easter baskets yet?

With the bunny's big day just hours away, Miz Hot Tips has a few last-minute suggestions. Children with discriminating tastes will expect to have the new, blue marshmallow Easter Peeps (lilac is sooo last year) and jelly beans with a bite ... like the new fruit-juice flavors from Starburst, available at markets everywhere.

Greeting cards are getting more popular, and American Greetings has a very collectible new line inspired by the jeweled Faberge eggs from Russia. The original eggs were created in 1884, when Carl Faberge designed an Easter egg made of precious metals and gemstones for Emperor Alexander III to give to his wife, Czarina Maria. There are 24 different embossed card styles to choose from, but if you're looking for something closer to the real thing, Macy's has miniature jeweled egg pendants that are pre-boxed for the holiday.

Miz Hot Tips also suggests Riviera's new collection of hair ornaments for girls of all ages, at department stores, including pink flower-covered headbands, colorful hair ``spring'' headbands with multiple teeth that give hair height and texture. More glam, and a tad more pricey are Tarina Tarantino's Austrian crystal-covered barrettes that are small enough to hide in a plastic egg. The same ones worn by Claire Danes and Drew Barrymore, you'll find them at Nordstrom stores and also Jennifer Kaufman boutique at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles.

For little hands: After the kiddos eat all their Easter candy, they'll need to brush their teeth really well, and Kindertools has just the ticket. The tooth brush is designed with a small plastic gripper-style so tiny fingers can easily brush. They also have similar grippers for spoons, forks, paint brushes and crayons, priced at $3.49 at Ralph's markets. Or you can order direct by calling [phone].

Surgery background music: Just in time to celebrate ``General Hospital's'' 35 years on the air, Walt Disney Records has produced a CD and cassette featuring the opening and closing themes, love themes and other music from the venerable ABC-TV series about lust and love in the hospital corridors. It's called ``The Music of `General Hospital,' '' and you can buy a CD for $16.98 or cassette for $10.98 at music stores.

Space cadets:Want to wear the same clothes seen in the new sci-fi flick ``Lost in Space''? They're from the Spiewak fashion collection, available at Neiman Marcus and other specialty stores and also will be seen in Tom Hanks' new HBO production, ``From the Earth to the Moon.''

The perfect place to wear your space gear? The re-launch of Tomorrowland at Disneyland. It's an all new galaxy of never-seen attractions that opens in late May.

Daily News Staff Writer Carol Bidwell contributed to this column.

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Photo: Colorful ``spring'' headbands lift and define hair.