GIFTING SUITES:EMMYS 2008

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EMMY SUITES 2008

This year, I made time to attend seven Emmy Suites, and have a lot of info to share. So, if you don’t have time to read about everything in one sitting, I beseech you to return to finish it up because there are so many worthy participants for you to know about. Here’re the highlights:

GBK  SUITE

Gavin Keilly’s suite is still the gold standard. They seem to have the most celebrity visitors, (I saw Julianne Hough and Jean Smart) and offer the most primo gifts. And this time it was held in actual suites! It was at the Mondrian Hotel and though I’m a frequent diner at the lobby level Asia de Cuba, I had never seen a guest room here before.

Because there were so many rooms, I have a feeling I didn’t make it to every sponsor, so I hope they forgive me and I’ll get to them first next time around.

The most important gift we got, in my opinion, was from Save the Tatas, a charity that supports breast cancer research and education. It’s a special soap to make it easier to do monthly self-check breast exams, and therefore such a simple little gift can potentially save some lives. I even saw a sponsor in another un-related suite wearing their tee-shirt! www.savethetatas.com

I’ve run out of time to describe all the gifts in detail this go-round, so here’s a list of some of my favorite gifts, without the usual clever commentary:

Leap Frog–wonderful interactive children’s books. www.leapfrog.com

Juku–gorgeous hand-painted display dolls. www.jukucouture.com

Rock Our World–health-giving rock salt lamps. www.rockourworld.net

Envirosax–pretty bags to take to the store, which I used immediately. www.envirosax.com

Booseh–beautiful black tops with rhinestone necklaces built-in. Jean Smart and I chose the same one, and I wore it on my very next show. www.booseh.net

Laguna Beach Jeans–with gorgeous hip details. www.lagunabeachjc.com

Beco Baby Carriers–I may get pregnant, just to use it. www.becobabycarrier.com

Rough Roses–I received two really happening leather belts. There were so many styles, I had to have their great-looking sales coordinator Lauren Federman pick them out for me, though I’m sure they still looked better on her. www.roughroses.com

PATRICK MELVILLE

This was by far the most relaxing, peaceful, soul-nourishing suite I’ve ever been to! I seriously had trouble leaving, especially when I kept seeing those gorgeous, welcoming beds at the villa at the Sunset Marquis Hotel where it was held. Even more welcoming were the personnel. It’s seriously what I imagine heaven to be like. Not a sourpuss in the bunch. And they were from all different companies! Maybe the key was that most of them aren’t from L.A.

This was a beauty suite and pampering is what we got. I’m sick that I had just had my hair colored for my show a few days before, because I would have loved to do it here. But I got a fabulous treatment courtesy of Biolustre. Then Patti Harrison (not to be confused with Patti Boyd Harrison), styled it with products from Belegenza using the mouth-watering FHI blow-dryer. Actually, I had so much hair, it was more of a team project! I felt like such a star. www.biolustre.com www.belegenza.com

And we received said FHI Turbo Blow-dryer as a gift! It was by far my favorite one of the week. Now all I need is one of their top-rated flat-irons, and my looks will be secure for a long time to come. (At least, from the back!) www.fhiheat.com

To help with the view from the front, Dr. Juhi from NY did facial acupuncture, the first time for me. It really didn’t hurt at all, and I was grateful to lie down for a few minutes, especially on the breezy patio of the villa. When she saw the results, she said, “Damn, I’m good.” A girl after my own heart. She laughed, though, when she saw that the needles in my stress points had popped out! Visiting Gifting Suites is a stressful job, but somebody’s got to do it.

To finish me off perfectly, so I could attend the opening night of Dolly Parton’s new musical, “9 To 5,” Rebecca of Napoleon Perdis did my make-up. Since she was already booked to do the same at the actual Emmys the next day, I felt special indeed. www.napoleonperdis.com

 

DPA GIFTING LOUNGE

This was my first time at this lovely one on the penthouse roof of the Luxe Hotel Beverly Hills. It’s run by Nathalie Dubois, who I’m told is the originator of gifting suites. I got the scoop from my favorite person there, Barbara Moore, who was repping several fabulous products, including jackets by Blu Horse and children’s dental care by Dr. Fresh. www.bluhorseclothing.com www.drfresh.com

She said that Nathalie and her friend, who’s married to David Carradine, with whom I did a film years ago, (six degrees…) came up with the idea on a trip to France many years ago. I hope we’re all grateful they did. I know I am!

We went into the actual suites for services. Straightaway, I got a mist tan from the darling Samantha Land of HB Skin Spa in the OC, courtesy of Infinity Sun. She did it the best of anyone ever. I wasn’t even sticky for the day, as I’ve been with all the other tans I’ve had over the two years I’ve been doing it. www.infinitysun.com www.hbskinspa.com

There were more services to be had, but unfortunately, I hadn’t portioned enough time for this venue. I know to next time.

My favorite gift here was so simple–a beautiful 3-compartment jewelry dish from Timree, and up-and-coming artist, who also had the prettiest gift cards with see-through envelopes, so the people at the Post Office can enjoy looking at loveliness, too. I hope to feature her artwork on this site sometime soon. www.timree.com

SECRET ROOM

The lay-out of this one was perfect for linear thinkers such as me–it was in a square, which made it easy to get to every sponsor. I wound-up spending the most time here. And coming away with the most goodies, as well.

The highlight was getting new lash extensions from Kelsey Clay of Beauty Heaven in Irvine. They were a little different from the ones I’m used to and were equally beautiful. Long-lasting, too. www.beauty-heaven.net

Second to that was seeing the handsome Alex Mazo, of “Dancing With The Stars.” I’m kicking myself for being too shy to talk to him. Debbie Gibson was at this suite, too.

I was thrilled to get a manicure and gifts from Dianna Morris of Pampered Hands, a house calls service. Lovely girl. www.pamperedhands.com
After all this work, I was thrilled to see my favorite Vava Water. The owner told me that they’re starting a skin care line as well. Maybe it will be at the next suite. www.vavawater.com

Speaking of skin care, I received many products from Modele of Canada, where everyone looks great, so there just might be something to it. www.modeleskincare.com

MAIN EVENT

I spotted only one celeb here, but he’s the one I was happiest to meet–Elliot Yamin from last season’s American idol. My mother loves him, and wouldn’t watch this past season since he wasn’t on anymore. He couldn’t have been nicer. I’m kicking myself for not asking for a picture with him! I actually started tearing-up talking to him because I love his journey to the top so much.

I met him on the way in, so I just kind-of floated through my time there. It was held in the beautiful backyard of a big Hancock Park home, but it was a hot day, so I just did a quick run-through. The happiest group of sponsors were in the shade, so I spent the most time there, on both counts.

The fabulous make-up artist, Dmitri James, started his own make-up line, Skinn, and I wanted it all! If his lip plumpers give me the same Angelina-type ones that he has, I’ll be all set! www.skinn.com

Tassi had the best headbands for holding back as much hair as I have when washing-up or doing make-up. www.tassicompany.com

And Beautylash MD is what I’ll use to regrow all the lashes I think I’ll lose when my new false ones finally come off. www.beautylashmd.com

 

ALIVE

As the organizer explained to me, this really wasn’t a gifting suite–more to let people know about “green” choices. Therefore, I have no gifts to let you know about, which makes my job here easier.

I did have two interesting treatments, though, courtesy of Ventura Center For Healing in Encino. The girls who set them up for me couldn’t have been more adorable. And while I was lying there having the calories sucked out of me (from my mouth to God’s ears), I heard them be equally accommodating to anyone who inquired about them, no matter how low down the Hollywood totem pole they may have been.

First up was a foot bath that pulls poisons out of your body. The water is clear at first, then winds up looking like mud. I wasn’t that disgusting, though–mine was still somewhat clear. Maybe it’s cause most suites weren’t serving anything, so I was low on poisonous substances!

Then they wrapped my body with heat and frequencies, which are designed to make you lose weight. I don’t think I did, but I hope to try again in their near-by spa. I’ll let you know what happens. No matter what, it’ll be nice to spend time with such pleasant people again. www.VenturaCenter.com

 

SMG

This one was a little different this time. It was in a big empty retail space in sunset Millennium, and wasn’t so much about celebs or gifting, but seemed to be a shopping for charity event. That was a nice idea, but I didn’t have the time to spend shopping and trying things on, so there’s not much to tell. Which I’m actually grateful for because now instead of spending a lot of time writing about it, I can start resting up for the January suites for the Golden Globes and SAG Awards!

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