I think you all know by now what a fan I am of GBK events, and this one was no exception. Held once again at the L’Hermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills, this suite was comprised of four different areas, which were all kept pumping by the beats of DJ Morgan Hildebrand<\/strong>, who played a lot of great music from my wonderful hip-hop club promoting days.<\/p>\n Of course, I love a suite that feeds us, and GBK always does just that. This time, Corazon\u2019s Custom Catering<\/strong> treated us to their Filipino-French fusion sandwiches, salads, shredded beef crostini appetizers, (which I just could not get enough of!,) and for dessert, the favorite of most of the guests–poached peaches and plums on a sweet crust. When I come up for air in a month or so, I’ll try to do a complete review of them for you, especially because they’re located in Culver City, where I was the restaurant critic for the Culver City News for several years.<\/p>\n Once our stomachs were satiated, we finally got to the gifts. There were many more than these, but here are the highlights for us, beginning with the Presenting Sponsor:<\/p>\n Photo by Alice Farinas.<\/p><\/div>\n Michael Todd True Organics<\/strong>\u2014This company, where everything is USA-made, were gifting their Soniclear Cleansing System, which features a brush that’s touted to stay cleaner than others. Alice, who’s also a make-up artist when she’s not working with me, declared it \u201crevolutionary\u201d and \u201cgenius!\u201d And she would know! I<\/em> just loved the purple-and-green look of all<\/em> their products. www.michaeltoddtrueorganics.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Alice Farinas.<\/p><\/div>\n The Artisan Group<\/strong>\u2014This group of artists is practically a gifting suite all by themselves! Each bag they gave-out included at least a dozen and a half gifts, with everything from stationary to jewelry to handmade soaps. Opening each gift really does boggle one’s mind; how can these artists consistently come-up with beautiful, clever, interesting designs\u2026and execute them?! Each item is lovely and appreciated, but I had a quartet of favorites in my bag. The beautiful HairJems<\/strong>, which is like a jeweled chopstick for your hair, gave me the most wonderful feeling; it reminded me of a stunning friend who wore just a plain<\/em> chopstick in her bun, back in the day. But since I’m not even close<\/em> to as good-looking as she was, having this Swarovski crystal-adorned stick will make up for that a bit. Then there was a bracelet from Hecho Por Liz<\/strong>, that was filled with good luck charms. It was just kismet that it found its way to me, because I can’t tell you how much I need that right now! I already wore my gorgeous new sapphire blue Swarovski crystal drop earrings, from Estylo Jewelry,<\/strong> receiving the most compliments I’ve ever gotten on a piece of jewelry! And lastly, I could not believe that the Grapeseed Company<\/strong> makes little dropper bottles of homemade botanical anti-aging skincare! I<\/em> can barely boil water for a cup of tea! If we guests got nothing else at this suite, the Artisan Group gifts would be enough. Actually, more<\/em> than enough! www.theartisangroup.org<\/a><\/p>\n Unleash The Psychic In You<\/em><\/strong>\u2014British psychic and leadership coach, Joanna Garzilli, was gifting the second edition of her book on the topic. Even better, guests also got a certificate for \u201cAn Intuition Blueprint Reading\u201d from her! I think I better wait a bit, till all my current problems clear-up in the next month or so, so then she can hopefully see a bright future for me. If I do it sooner, it might ruin her spirit for everyone else! www.joannagarzilli.com<\/a><\/p>\n Can you find Karen in this picture? Photo by Alice Farinas.<\/p><\/div>\n Skinny & Co. Coconut Oil<\/strong>\u2014Alice, who’s very into health products, (which must work because she always looks great!,) was ecstatic when we came across this company. She said, \u201cIf you’re not familiar with coconut oil, it’s amazing. You can put it on foods like peanut butter and banana bread, as I do, and also use it directly on the driest areas of your body and face. It miraculously softens even the toughest skin. It’s truly a great product to have in your home!\u201d Maybe she should work for that company instead of this e-zine! www.skinnycoconutoil.com<\/a><\/p>\n Kind Soap Company<\/strong>–Anything that pertains to kindness is all right with me! My friends always think that my favorite thing to hear about myself is that I’m funny, but it’s really that I’m nice, good, or kind. Nothing is more important than that. So, I already felt simpatico with this company, even before I learned about their all-natural bath and body products, which are kind to the earth as well as your skin. www.kindsoap.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Alice Farinas.<\/p><\/div>\n Foster Grant<\/strong>\u2014Alice hadn’t seen these sunglasses, now with 100% UVA\/UVB protection, since the “whose behind those foster grants” ad-campaign of yesteryear! So, she was \u201cpleasantly surprised\u201d by the \u201creally updated styles!\u201d She remarked that they have \u201ceverything now, from\u00a0hip and trendy\u00a0to sophisticated.\u201d www.fostergrant.com<\/a><\/p>\n Brow Art 23<\/strong>–Being totally make-up-obsessed girly-girls, we deemed this goodie bag, containing a glamorous eye shadow palette, lipstick, mascara, brow gel and powder, an angled applicator brush, and a mirror to use it all with (or course!,) our favorite gift at this suite.\u00a0www.browart23.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Alice Farinas.<\/p><\/div>\n Barry\u2019s Gourmet Brownies<\/strong>\u2014This display was located in the perfect area for the guests; just as our energy was waning, there were several flavors of these delicious gourmet brownies to sample to help ramp our strength back up. They’re so rich and fudgey that “Barry” was smart enough to provide a spoon with each bite! www.barrysgourmetbrownies.com<\/a><\/p>\n Crescent Hotel<\/strong>–There are few people who love hotels as much as I do. I’ve spent everything from one night to several months in various hotels, and loved every second of those stays. I don’t care if they’re far away or right here in town. So, I can’t wait to use my cert for a night and a breakfast at the very classy Crescent Hotel in Beverly Hills. I’ve attended many a soiree there, so I’m happily anticipating the luxury to come. www.crescentbh.com<\/a><\/p>\n Beauty Kitchen<\/strong>\u2014They were gifting a pretty bag of Bath soak, which Alice desperately needed that night because of the crazy way that her day began! The name of the contents is “Take a Breather,” which we all need to remember to do! www.heathermarianna.tv<\/a><\/p>\n As always, GBK had a charity component. This time, they were:<\/p>\n GO Campaign<\/strong> is a grant-making organization. www.gocampaign.org<\/a><\/p>\n Cops 4 Causes<\/strong> is exactly what it sounds like it is! www.cops4causes.org<\/a><\/p>\n Environmental Media Association<\/strong> educates the global public on environmental issues, which is a cause I<\/em> took up in my fourth and final college. www.ema-online.org<\/a><\/p>\n Mutt Match LA<\/strong> rescues and rehabs homeless dogs of all breeds. www.muttmatchla.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" GBK EMMYS GIFT LOUNGE [Note: The Emmys have come early this year, and with them, the attendant gifting suites. I managed to make it out to five of them. Each one gets its own write-up because I don\u2019t want any of you to miss even one item I\u2019m telling you about. So, please make<\/p>\n![\"Photo](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/IMG_1008.jpg\")
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