GIFTING SUITES: 2010 GOLDEN GLOBES

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GOLDEN GLOBES SUITES 2010

Yes, it’s that time of year to tell you about how the glamorous people of Hollywood prepare for the Golden Globes. I’m glad to say that many of the usual gifting suites are going strong, while welcoming a new one to the mix, which included Clarence and his pals. (Dogs.)

Being that it was also my birthday week, I had time to get to only five, but they were all spectacular! Let’s get right to the highlights. (As always, if you need a primer on just what these suites are about, please check-out my Gifting Suites 101 column, in the Gifting Suites section of this site.)

BOOM BOOM ROOM

This child-and-baby-centric one, created by Jayneoni Moore, was so special, and featured two of the nicest sponsors EVER, that I have to give it its own column. So, please check it out tomorrow because you won’t want to miss these great finds, especially if you’re a parent.

The rest of these wonderful suites are in the order of my visits.

MADISON AND MULHOLLAND

I love that this one has never been held in the same location twice! It’s always a surprise. And so well-organized. This time, it was in a private residence in the flats of Beverly Hills, and had a very comfortable lay-out, making use of all the downstairs rooms, including a giant kitchen where Joe’s Pizza fed us, as well as a beautiful backyard and patio. www.joespizza.com

In addition to picking up some swag for themselves, each celebrity created a bag from the available products, and included a personal signed item that they brought along, to auction off for charity on the website, www.ClothesOffOurBack.org, beginning in mid-January 2010. It’s really a wonderful idea. I hope a lot of the funds go to helping Haiti recover.

Here’s the scoop on some of my favorite offerings:

Verragio Diamond Ring–I think I’m engaged…to Verragio designer Barry Verragio! I’ve actually never even met him, but his company gifted gorgeous diamond rings! (Their philosophy is, “A beautiful mounting should only enhance the beauty of a diamond in the same way a beautiful dress makes a woman even more beautiful.”) It is the absolute most generous gift I’ve ever seen at a suite!!! And trust me, if ever I do get engaged, this is exactly where Mr. X will be getting my ring from. If Barry won’t get too jealous, that is. www.verragio.com

Clutch For Cures Purse–these K. Peer-designed purses are not only beautiful and functional, each one benefits a charity. Many are actually themed to an exact charity; for example, the one made out of an Audrey Hepburn Elle Magazine cover benefits research on colon cancer, the disease which took her life. Clever, generous, and attractive–too bad that describes these purses and few men we all know! www.clutchforcures.com

REUSE Jeans–these jeans are made from the excess material that jeans makers usually throw-away. The cloth is re-wound to make it all new again, and saves thousands of gallons of water in the process. They’re really good-looking, too! www.reusejeans.com

img_6527Forever Lily Perfume–I don’t wear fragrances because of bad asthma, but if I did, this would be it, just because of their gorgeous display! The duo manning the table even matched the packaging! There’s a lovely story of unexpected adoption to go along with it, which you can read on their website. www.foreverlily.com

Peeka-bu Intimate Grooming Mirror–this is the most unique product I’ve found in a while–a mirror to help you shave…your crotch! If only I had already owned one that morning! www.peeka-bu.com

Herbasway Products–one liquid concentrate that you add to water helps fight aging, the other helps slim you. I just may make a cocktail out of both, every night! www.herbaswayspa.com.

Sakura Silk Exfoliant–if this new exfoliant from Japan makes my skin look anything like Stephanie’s, (the rep at the suite,) I’ll be able to attract 20-year-old guys again! www.sakurasilk.com

Casa Noble Tequila–Mr. X recently became a fan of coconut rum, but before that, he enjoyed a shot of tequila every now and again. With these beautiful bottles and choice of three formulas, I think the worm-juice just might entice him back inicio. www.casanoble.com

SECRET ROOM

I was glad to see that it was once again held at the SLS Hotel, so I was familiar with the lay-out. There appeared to be more sponsors than ever, so, though I tried really hard to get to them all, I have a feeling I missed some. Here are my favorites:

img_6534Paris Jewelry–designer Debra Moreland’s creative mind must be working overtime because I’ve never seen so many different, and beautiful, pieces from one designer!!! It was way too hard to choose just one item. Stylists must go wild over her! I know mine would…if I had one. www.parisstyles.com

CroftgateUSA Car Care Products–I sure wish I already had these high-performance eco-friendly car care products, especially the waterless car was spray! Then I could have valet-parked my little old car with pride. The best part about them is that I don’t have to Tom Sawyer Mr. X into doing my car anymore. And I loved that they came in their own compartmentalized bag, complete with soft cloths www.croftgateusa.com

Shaboom Cosmetics–I was literally drooling when I spied their “Drag” line of very sparkly eyeshadows. Then I found-out they’re for guys!!! (The company is head-quartered in San Francisco.) I would have gladly worn them all anyway, but marveled over the sparklers for so long that I forgot to get any. (I did get face make-up for men, though–maybe I can send it to the beautiful Adam Lambert!) Best of all, the sale of them benefits a charity called One Mama, whose mission it is to help “families in poor communities improve their lives through family planning, education, and sustainable economics.” www.ShaBoomProducts.com

Jagorb Nail File–this is one of the simplest, smallest gifts ever at a gifting suite…and I love it!!! It’s a round nail file, which is perfect to bring on a plane. (The pointy kind get taken away by security.) Brilliant idea. And what a great goodie bag item for all events, especially because they come on a chain and in fun colors. www.jagorb.com

Hylunia Skin Products–my facialist always recommends Vitamin C serums, so I can’t wait to try this one. And both girls who manned the booth are fellow Capricorns, the most fun people, if I do say so myself, so we were all celebrating our birthdays that week. Hopefully this serum will ensure that none of us look older than we did last year. www.hylunia.com

Sugar Lips Cosmetics–these glosses look great, but, since the company describes their products as “erotic,” I’m not quite sure where to put them!!! Hopefully, Mr. X will figure it out for me. www.eroticcosmetics.com

GBK SUITE

It had been a while since GBK did theirs at the Mondrian Hotel, where I’m totally comfortable, so I was happy to arrive there once again. I think this is the only one that’s held in actual suites!!! What a concept!

As I was waiting for my car, I spotted one of my favorite TV actors, Rico Rodriguez, who plays young Manny on Modern Family. I don’t care to meet most actors, but I actually stopped Rico and his posse to let him know how funny he is! The guy in charge of the valet parking even asked me, “Is that the kid in the poncho?” I loved that he described him that way, because the poncho episode is my favorite. I could not stop laughing at Manny’s weird dance. And I’m happy to report that Rico and his family laughed at everything I said. Good thing I made it brief, for once!

Here are some of the GBK gifts that are as fun as Manny:

img_6550Hard Candy–this main sponsor of the suite gave-out goodie bags filled with my favorite products–make-up and nail polish! Emily Kate Warren, their make-up artist from New York, replenished my eye-liner for me, then gave me the liner pencil. Perfect. www.hardcandy.com

Vintage Glo Jewelry–one-of-a-kind necklaces and rings, fashioned from vintage pieces. Really creative and lovely. www.vintageglo.com

2NiteVodka–this gorgeous display was manned by guys to match. And I’m sure the vodka is great, too. www.2nitevodka.com

Revitalash–in addition to their eyelash enhancer, they have a product called Hair, to thicken head hair. That’s the last thing I need, knock on wood, but I know a ton of guys who’d like to trade in their meat yarmulkes. www.revitalash.com

Tocca Fragrance Products–the winner of “prettiest display,” for me. Classy candles and bath gels that I don’t want to open the packaging to use! www.tocca.com

Perfect Cami– beautiful shimmering camisoles in the perfect color for my eyes, turquoise. www.perfectcami.com

Celsius Beverages–beverages that burn calories!!! I just may go on a liquid diet of these drinks until I look like the skinny “girl from TV” that I was for so many years. www.celsius.com

BUDDHA BARK LOUNGE

This is the new kid on the block, and centered around beauty, for us and our dogs, since it was held at the Chaz Dean Salon, which is a secret hide-away on a private compound in West Hollywood. It was so fun that I wish Mr. X had come with us! But I didn’t need him because Clarence got invited, and is always the best date anyone could ever have.

This was the suite’s virgin outing and I must commend them for a great job. I’m so glad I saved it for last because I got to just relax. Though they had a few actual gifting booths, (which were mostly for our dogs,) this suite concentrated on services, which is the only thing many of us attendees really care about. We all have enough possessions already, but who can ever get enough beautifying? Certainly not I.

Buddha Bark did feature the one product I really, really want and need, but it’s being sent to me, so I can’t tell you about it until I try it out and make sure it’s as fabulous as I thought. Hint–it’s sort-of a pet bathroom.

So let’s get to the glamour. First I had my hair washed with Wen Products. Clarence and I actually both chose the Sweet Almond Mint ones. (Seriously–it works on pets, too.) www.chazdean.com

Karen with her boloved Clarence, and new best friend, Flavia Wallman.

Karen with her boloved Clarence, and new best friend, Flavia Wallman.

Then my new best friend, the ever-so-pleasant Flavia Wallman, (whose hair is almost as long as mine, so she knew just how to work with it) blew it in a different way, so it was straight, but with some body and bottom wave. It looked very feminine.

Without even messing up my new ’do, Galya Krigel, of the Healing Rose Center in Woodland Hills, did a mini-facial with Dr. Hauschka products. I discovered those years ago in Aspen and still love them. I’m just hoping she made my skin look as flawless as hers is. www.HealingRoseCenter.com

After I dropped Clar at the Wizard Of Paws mobile dog groomers that they had conveniently parked right there on the premises, I took a few minutes for a mini-massage from Kimberly Garcia. I wish I had realized she could have given Clarence one, too!
www.thewizardofpaws.net

It was getting a tad awkward to carry Clarence and the gifts, so Maggie Bags came to the rescue with a “Tote Of Many Colors.” Boy did that make suite life easier! And the bold-colored stripes resembled all the blankets I used to crochet for my kid friends. With all the births of my new buddies last year, this bag reminded me to brush-up on my creative skills. www.maggiebags.net

Before I left, I made time to sample the delicious cupcakes from Swirls. The chocolate ones are the best I’ve ever tasted! If you’re my pal, I’m sure you’ll get to taste them at all my parties from now on. So, this would be a great time to be-friend me. Especially if you’re Nick Lachey. (That last idea has nothing to do with the cupcakes, though.) www.swirlsdesserts.com

Unfortunately, we had to leave before the human/dog fashion show began, because Clarence and I had to put on a show of our own–showing our luscious locks to Mr. X at home, and chilling after a successful Suites Week.

Please don’t forget to check back here tomorrow to read about all the amazing children’s finds from the Boom Boom Room. The sponsors seem to get more creative every year.

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