THE DPA PRE-OSCARS GIFT SUITE 2020

I had not been to one of Nathalie Dubois’ events in a long time, so I was very happy to make it out to this one.

Her pre-Oscars Gift Suite was in the Luxe Hotel on Sunset. That place is always a delightful location, from the pleasant valet parkers, to the little complimentary candy bar right as you enter the premises, to the beautiful Brentwood Room and adjacent patio where the DPA event was held.

My contributing writer on this one is Stacey, who tells us, “As soon as we walked in, we could feel the enthusiasm and excitement for this glamorous weekend!  The indoor-outdoor space was bustling with uniquely-dressed guests, speaking in multiple dialects.” I especially enjoyed that international aspect of the event, both in guests and sponsors, because I have friends around the world. Every time I heard someone speaking gorgeous French there, I missed mon ami patineur sur glace, Philippe Candeloro, and realized just how much I need to brush up on my romance languages!

There was so much going on at this DPA suite, including food and services, all of which I’ll tell you about in a minute. But, of course, the main attraction was the wonderful items that Stacey and I discovered there. So first, here are the highlights of those:

Deafmetal–This is the most clever product I’ve seen in quite awhile. It’s beautiful jewelry for…hearing aids! So the name is perfect, too. Created by Finnish designer Jenni Ahtiainen, these fabulous accessories are earrings and chains that attach to the back of the hearing aid. You have to see them in person to admire the full genius of these creations. And, by the way, when I noticed one pair of absolutely stunning regular, non-hearing-aid-attachment earrings on the table, I discovered that Jenni designs those, as well. So her vision is a boon for the hearing-impaired community and the fashion one, in general. Now I just have to get her to move to LA and become My New Best Friend! She’s someone who might actually keep that title for more than a few weeks! www.deafmetal.store

Shalia Botanicals—Stacey enjoyed meeting the reps of this company that she says “offers science-based, wellness-centered products designed to empower the user to experience even greater happiness and joy. Ummm…yes, please!!!”  They gifted a “lovely duffel bag” containing their famous Blessed Kit, which consists of a few of their CBD-infused products, which Stacey learned are “aged in authentic Bourbon barrels.” Both our favorite is a colorless powder sunblock that comes with its own connected brush. Stacey exclaimed, “It’s so convenient, and perfect to carry with you everywhere you go, especially in sunny SoCal. This is an absolute daily go-to!” www.shaliabotanicals.com

Fallen Stars—I’m not into basic diamonds because of how the workers who mine them are treated around the world. So I was thrilled to meet this jewelry company who uses Herkimer diamonds, which are made from quartz which is mined…in New York! They were letting each guest choose his or her own pendant from among the various unique stones. No one could go wrong with any of them!

Tomboyx—The whole time I was looking at this underwear, I was jealous because I love wearing Mr. X’s shorts, and I thought these are for guys. But I should have noticed the name, and realized that “Tomboy” refers to us girls! When I checked-out their website, I realize they make their designs to include every body type! How kind of them. And it gets better—Stacey noted that their wares are “ethically-produced in woman-owned factories that pay living wages. Hallelujah!” I second that! www.tomboyx.com

The A Method—This skincare line that was created by a dermatologist, (so you know it’s authentically medical grade,) was gifting a duo of their main products in an attractive signature-orange package. Stacey said, “The TCA Retexturizing Cream and Collagen Boost Peptide Eye Cream will come in handy after this whirlwind glamorous weekend!” I think everyone in Hollywood will agree! www.theamethod.com

Sparti Scents—Nathalie’s guests were the very first to know about this upcoming product! Stacey said, “I love that these fragrances are packaged as sticks, so they can therefore be popped right into one’s purse! Each of the items on display are distinct in their pretty colors and clean scents.” I just love being the first to know about them! www.spartiscents.com

HAAS Wellness Center—This beauty services establishment located in Glendale gave each guest a gift certificate for one of their luxurious facials. Stacey can’t wait to try one because, as she says, “This wellness center offers the latest in skin care technologies and techniques!” www.haaswellness.com

Linger Fragrance Primer—I love the name of this product because years ago, when I was still doing my TV show, a lovely British fan told me that, at first, she wasn’t even meaning to be a regular viewer, but that whenever she came across an episode of mine, she just had to “linger!” Because of her beautiful accent, I’ve loved that word ever since! In this case, Linger is a spray you use before your perfume, to have its duration be extended. Stacey dubbed it, “Such a smart idea!” www.lingerfragranceprimer.com

The Honey Hive—Although the full name of this company’s website makes it appear that soaps are their main products, this cute young Massachusetts-based female entrepreneur was gifting a trio of what Stacey calls “delicious” lip balms, in one convenient little burlap bag. With all the chatting and lip-smacking everyone was doing that day, I’m sure they came in handy! www.thehoneyhivesoaps.com

You know that I love a gifting event that’s kind enough to feed us, and DPA did just that, in style. There were tasty specialty chips and two kinds of bottled water, but the pièces de résistance were these three:

Carvery Kitchen—Stacey tells us, “This WLA deli/catering company offered yummy bites for us to sample, which, after a day of hard work meandering around a gifting suite, was welcomed sustenance. We nibbled on their famous brisket, which, had I been wearing any, would’ve knocked my socks off! Seriously, this was comfort food on another level.” I went equally nuts over their pulled pork and salads, and they sent me home with one of their brownies to share with Mr. X, which made me a bigger fan of this eatery! (I’ll try to do a full review of the place for you in the near future.) www.carverykitchen.com

Dreamy Creations—This dessert company was offering delish mini cupcakes to sample on site, (with an image of a nominated film topping each one,) and sent each guest home with a little “cupcake in a jar,” which I had never seen before! Stacey told me, “These yummy cupcakes do not disappoint!” www.dreamycreations.com

Twinkle Brown Sugar—This Asian tea bar from Huntington Park was on site whipping-up fresh milk teas for us in a choice of three flavors. Stacey gushed, “Such refreshing and pretty tea drinks. The combination of flavors, and the pretty, colorful layers in the mango/lemonade one, offered a work of art in each cup. It’s a fashion accessory on its own!” www.twinklebrownsugar.com

We were also happy to take advantage of the two special services at the DPA suite, both near the end of our visit, just when we needed these little pick-me-ups the most:

Truth in Hand— I knew this tarot-card-and-palm reader was the real deal when she told me that I do more for others than for myself! But when she told me that I have to make a clean break with something in my life holding me back, (which I’m taking to mean the overload of items in my house,) I actually thought that Mr. X had met her before and told her to say that! (He, of course, did not. But now he’d love her!) Stacey explains the experience thusly, “Lisa Greenfield is an ‘Intuitive Coach’ who uses your hands to guide her into your soul. She’s able to read so much about you just by looking at your palms. She also uses Tarot cards to learn more about you. Aside from her tools, Lisa clearly has a gift that she is able to tap into during her conversation with you.” We both came away richer because of the readings. (And, of course, shallow moi totally admired her beautiful nails! I’m not joking about that—lovely hands are important in her line of work.) www.truthinhand.com

Synergy Heals–These two buddies, Andrea and Katherine, were on-site, doing Reiki energy-clearing on the guests who were game. I had the full treatment, while Stacey said, “Just standing next to Andrea had a calming effect on me!” It was the perfect way to close-out the day for us.

DPAsuite benefitted a couple of charities, both of which we were most interested to learn about. They are:

Kids In The Spotlight—Stacey chatted with the rep for a bit, and explains about them: “Through a collaborative partnership with some of Hollywood’s heavy hitters, this organization endeavors to empower foster kids through filmmaking. From concept to execution to hosting their own film festival, their philosophy is that ‘exposure to the arts is advancement for life!’ ”  www.kitsinc.org

Sierra Club—Stacey was very interested in this organization and tells us, “The Sierra Club is the most enduring and influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. Their mission is to explore, enjoy and protect the planet. They work round the clock to get stronger environmental and energy laws that will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, protect our oceans and fragile coastal environments. While this feels like a no-brainer in this day and age, sadly, the work never ends. They gifted us with a super cute coloring book of the National Parks. Such a great idea to remind us all of the beautiful National Parks around our country; from Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, to Yellowstone National Park, to Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska, I may just use the book as a to-do list, and see how many I can visit. We get so caught up in our busy lives, that sitting down to color these beautiful pages will be a welcome retreat, until I can actually visit each in person.” What she said. www.sierraclub.org