GBK’S PRE-EMMYS GIFTING LOUNGE 2017
GBK’s Gifting Lounge returned to the lovely rooftop of L’Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills. Lisa, my contributing writer on this one, (whose comments are in quotes throughout this article,) had never been to that venue before, and commented that there was a “beautiful view of the Hollywood Hills and downtown Beverly Hills” from up there. She added that, “A pleasant breeze wafted over the proceedings,” making the atmosphere even more special.
Speaking of special, I think this was the most celebrities I’ve ever seen at a suite! They were everywhere we looked! The gift-givers must have been thrilled with the turn-out! We spied: SNL’s Leslie Jones (who has the easiest name to type, so I think her for that!,) comedian Tituss Burgess, fabulous dancer Allison Holker, (from both major network dance shows!,) and the absolutely gorgeous Gleb Savchenko, who got saddled with someone named Sasha Pieterse, (don’t worry—no one else ever heard of her, either,) on this new season’s Dancing With The Stars! There were many more than that over the two days of the event, but Lisa and I had to turn our attention to the gifts, to see what those celebs were receiving!
So, here are those highlights:
Blooming BHMBG—I think that every looks-conscious show business person in the lounge was interested in this high-frequency facial massager, that works with LED light. The reps told us that using it for a few minutes day and night will, from what Lisa gleaned, “energize tissue, improve wrinkled skin, reduce pores, and improve skin troubles, in general.” Wow—that’s a lot of goodness right there! Lisa commented that “this looks like every girl’s dream come true for healthy, vibrant, and clean skin.” She also noted that “a little bit of work will reap a lifetime of rewards!”
Texere Silk—I spied these beautiful silk pajamas and stunning painted kimonos from across the room!!! Lisa noted that the items are “made from earth-friendly, renewable resources,” and since she’s an artist, she extra-appreciated that the kimono is “printed with a lovely traditional Japanese watercolor.” I was just excited that the blue pajamas match my eyes! www.texeresilk.com
Crown of Light—This diamond company obviously could not gift diamonds, so to show the guests their famous special gem-cutting technique that is used in all their jewelry, they gifted a giant similarly-cut crystal, which Lisa said is “a sparkling addition to a dresser, an elegant candlelight dinner table, or even just a window sill, (to reflect the light.)” Great ideas! www.crownoflight.com
Cali’Flour Foods—These healthful cauliflower pizza crusts just keep getting better and better! I now bake them up at home, to know that I’m eating something good for me that’s also delicious. Shocked, are you, that I make any food at home? Trust me, I’m as surprised as you are, but these are the easiest things to make. And two crusts come in each box, so Mr. X and I each get our own pizza at the same time, so there’s no wondering how much the other one already ate, (which is what I’m always doing because he eats sooo much faster than I do!) But they’re not even just for pizza anymore—there’s a whole range of desserts and other treats you can make from these bases. Okay, my mouth is now watering for them—I have to quickly go make some more!!! www.califlourfoods.com
Mission Belt–These adjustable belts were one of the hits of the lounge! (As was their adorable stylish rep, Lukas!) Lisa said that she’s never seen anything like them before! She assessed them to be “chic and sophisticated in their styling and materials.” She went on, “The other thing I like about them is that there is no visible wear and tear from undoing a toggle every time, so the belt will always look fresh and new.” That’s because there are no buckle holes—you close them with a special system that I can’t really explain; you’ll just have to experience it for yourself. They come in leather, nylon, or canvas, and fyi—the FAQs on their site are a riot!!! www.missionbelt.com
Pilot Pens—Since I’m a colors freak, and Lisa is an artist, we were thrilled to see that this famous pen company had many new colors to share with the guests. We tried some of them out right there, and Lisa said, “I like them because they are reliable (they never skip, the colors are rich and legible, and they come in different widths,) and as an artist, they suit whatever project I’m working on, from concept to completion.” I just thought of how great they would look in my color-coded appointment book! www.pilotpen.us
Bouquet Bar—These are elegant orange boxes that you send to people as gifts. Inside are all kinds of delectable treats. The nice rep was giving guests samples of some of the candies in their boxes, and now I’m eternally hooked on chocolate-covered gummy bears!!! I think I have to hate him for that! Lisa didn’t try any, but just looking at them she said, “The treats look so tasty that you might be tempted to send yourself a gift!” I hear ya, sister!!! And we know what my box will contain, don’t we?! www.bouquetbar.com
iMaxAlarm—I was very impressed with these key-sized personal alarms that sound really loud when pulled, and so was Lisa. She felt that they would be “especially comforting to have close-by while hiking near wild animals.” I think the idea of them is really to help when you’re being attacked by a person, but I think everyone will feel safer in every way with one of these little gadgets on hand! www.imaxalarm.com
Vita Cup—These most pleasant sponsor reps ever were introducing the guests to their vitamin-infused coffee and tea pods. What a clever idea! Lisa tried some of the Dark Roast French right at the event and said it was very good. But she felt that even more important than the taste is that her coffee “included my daily vitamin dose.” www.vitacup.com
Burke Williams—Lisa is semi-new to L.A., (she’s been here just six months!,) so she had never heard of this famous spa before. They gifted certificates for mini-treatments, so she’s now “looking forward to a little pampering and relaxation.” I’m with her on that! www.burkewilliams.com
Sellebrity book—The author of this book, Kofi Nartey, was on hand to sign them for the guests. He’s an expert in luxury real estate for athletes and entertainers. I was glad to hear him say the “entertainers” part because if it was just for athletes, that would certainly let me out! Unless obsessive sport-watching counts! www.thenarteygroup.com
As always, GBK’s events benefit charities, and the two this time were:
Animal Wellness Foundation—Lisa talked to these reps for a long time, who were there with real dogs, actually, trying to get them adopted. Afterwards, she told me that “you know when you adopt one of these rescues that you’re getting a healthy pet.” www.animalwellnessfoundation.org
Face Forward—This is a non-profit organization that’s looking to put a face to physical violence in order to help stop it. Binge-watching Big Little Lies all night right after the Emmys made me realize just how much people need an organization such as this one! www.faceforwardla.org