HOT TIPS : IT'S ABOUT TIME ...

Tonight's the night to change the clocks. Oh, sure, you could simply move your old watch ahead to get that extra hour of daylight, but maybe it's about time for a new face.

Now, before you get ticked off, consider a playful watch or two (or three) from the new Hello Kitty collection, above. These fresh faces have plenty of character, plus digital display, athletic or dainty designs, and can be worn in multiples up the arm or solo. They're $20 to $25 at Sanrio Surprises, FAO Schwarz and Zany Brainy stores.

For a more elegant way to keep an eye on the time, slip a pair of Paul Fredrick's new gold-plated Working Watches into your French cuffs.

Then when you're bored at some black-tie, rubber chicken dinner, you can check the time by checking your cuff links.

They're $79.50 on the Paul Fredrick Web site at www.paulfredrick.com, or call the catalog company at [phone].

- Barbara De Witt

Dental hygiene comes out of its shell

Is that a turtle in your mouth?

Getting kids to brush their teeth is still a hassle, even with glittery, bubble gum toothpastes, and part of the problem is the slender toothbrush. Little hands need a bigger brush, and the Bite `N' Clean Turtle Brush makes it easy to hold, and maybe more fun. Designed by periodontist Dr. J.E. Phillips, the colorful double-bristled brush allows the child to use his natural chewing instinct to clean his teeth and massage gums at the same time.

The turtle toothbrush is $12.95 plus $3.95 for shipping, and is packaged with two travel tooth brushes with protective covers. For more information, call [phone].

- Barbara De Witt

The Duke - what a doll!

Oh-Johnny-Oh!

The ruggedly handsome star of umpteen westerns, John Wayne was always the Duke - never a doll. Until now.

That's right, pilgrim - the Duke has been immortalized into a 21-inch one-of-a-kind talking doll by the Franklin Mint, complete with solid silver spurs and packin' a pistol with real silver bullets.

A real cowboy-in-the-cupboard, the John Wayne Portrait Doll comes with a 60-second voice chip featuring the star's voice from the film ``Honcho.'' Yep, you can even hear him deliver that legendary line, ``A man's got to do what he thinks is best.''

Now for the bottom line. Unlike G.I. Joe and Barbie, there's only one Duke, so you'll have to bid on him. The auction will be held April 10 at the Odyssey Ball at the Beverly Hilton hotel as a fund-raiser for the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Los Angeles, but you don't have to attend. Just call [phone] to place your bid.

Oh, you want to get gussied up and rub shoulders with the Duke's family and fans? Tickets are $350 each, and the number to call is [phone].

- Barbara De Witt

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

Photo: (1) no caption (Hello Kitty watch collection)

(2) no caption (Bite `N' Clean Turtle Brush)

(3) This talking John Wayne doll will be auctioned on April 10.