{"id":23670,"date":"2016-06-29T16:11:34","date_gmt":"2016-06-29T16:11:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/?p=23670"},"modified":"2016-06-29T19:34:22","modified_gmt":"2016-06-29T19:34:22","slug":"partygifting-suite-girlfriends-champagne-spa-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/partygifting-suite-girlfriends-champagne-spa-party\/","title":{"rendered":"PARTY\/GIFTING SUITE: GIRLFRIENDS & CHAMPAGNE SPA PARTY"},"content":{"rendered":"

GIRLFRIENDS & CHAMPAGNE SPA PARTY<\/h1>\n
\"Karen<\/a>

Karen Salkin with former pro basketball player Raymond Sykes. Photo by Alice Farinas.<\/p><\/div>\n

I\u2019ve always loved the BET Awards, but I\u2019m usually too busy to enjoy any of the activities that precede the show for a few days. So, this year, I was thrilled to be able to make the time for this wonderful spa party a couple of days before the show.<\/p>\n

The title said it all\u2014there were plenty of gal pals, sipping on the bubbly, while enjoying many spa services, and part-ay-ing! It was really fabulous.<\/p>\n

The event went down at the iconic Castaways restaurant in Burbank. Any chance to go there should be taken; you\u2019ll feel like you\u2019re out of town!<\/p>\n

The Girlfriends & Champagne Spa Party is my absolute favorite kind of award show event\u2014it featured several beauty services, all-day food, and even a few gifts! There was nothing more we guests, (which included my usual contributing writer, Alice,) could have asked for.<\/p>\n

\"DJ<\/a>

DJ Cold187um. Photo by Alice Farinas.<\/p><\/div>\n

And DJ Cold187um<\/strong> (but what does his moniker mean<\/em>?,) kept the happening vibe going throughout. He played everything from the hip-hop classics that brought me back to my club promoting years to all the dance songs of right now, and at the perfect volume for us to hear each other, but be moving and grooving during those chats.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what we experienced there, in chronological order:<\/p>\n

\"Karen<\/a>

Karen Salkin’s fabulous new gel nails. Photo by Alice Farinas.<\/p><\/div>\n

The Pin Twins manis<\/strong>\u2014The second we saw the word \u201cgel,\u201d we rushed right over for long-lasting manis from fraternal twins, Robin and Taylor. I always wanted a twin, so I loved talking to them about their relationship. And about their mobile nail services, too, of course! They also make the cutest pins that feature stiletto nails in different ways. Taylor did Alice\u2019s mani, of which Ali said, \u201c It looks amazing; so natural.\u201d Alice chose a light pink, which is perfect for her professional grown-up job, but they added some zest with a sparkly silver accent nail on each hand. I, on the other hand, went full-on glam with my uber-sparkly sea green mermaid-looking choice. It\u2019s perfect for new my swimming obsession! www.thepintwins.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Manly Handz<\/strong>\u2014To the name of this mobile spa company, Alice added \u201c…and then some!\u201d As we were getting our nails done, I looked out the door to my left, and noticed a big guy giving someone a chair massage. I said right away, \u201cI want him<\/em>!\u201d And, when my turn in the chair came, I was lucky enough to get him! Dijon Kennedy may have looked<\/em> laid-back, but OMG\u2014can that guy work out your back knots! And all the while rocking shorts and very cool shades. When I saw the name of this company, I laughed so hard, because that\u2019s exactly what it is\u2014big, manly men doing the massage honors. Alice, who chose to have her feet worked on instead of her back, told me, \u201cI received the most amazing foot massage ever from Eddie Harris. He knew exactly all the right pressure points.\u201d I knew<\/em> she was in heaven when I saw her sitting there, smiling, and sipping the refreshing lemon drink they offered everyone who visited them. www.manlyhandz.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Now that we were relaxed, we visited a few of the gift sponsors. Here are the highlights of those:<\/p>\n

\"<\/a>

Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

Afrowear<\/strong>\u2014As soon as I saw these hot-looking cap designs, I knew the krump-dancing Mr. X had to have one! It was hard to choose among all the great designs, but, for perhaps the first time ever, he loved my pick. He put it on the second I got home that night, and I have a feeling it will be his #1 for a long time. I just hope that I<\/em> am, too!\u00a0 www.afrowearapparel.com<\/a><\/p>\n

My Celebrity Smile teeth whitener<\/strong>\u2014This mobile service gave us little gift bags containing things to help our smiles.\u00a0 Duh!\u00a0 In there was a toothbrush, whitening pen, and another, more involved, whitening system.\u00a0 I wish they could give a kit to every person in show business!!!\u00a0 www.mycelebritysmile.org<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Alice Farinas.<\/p><\/div>\n

Hot Thang Candles<\/strong>\u2014I love the name of this company! So clever. There were so many delicious fragrances to choose from, but, after taking a whiff of them all, Alice and I both choose the coconut-ty \u201cSweetheart.\u201d (Isn\u2019t that cute of us?) She said, \u201cIt smells so sweet and yummy, and will make any room feel beautiful.\u201d I second all that, (of course,) and add that I love that the melted wax can be used as a moisturizer!\u00a0 www.hotthangcandles.etsy.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Coco Covalle Spa<\/strong>\u2014These couldn\u2019t-be-easier-to-use at-home masks, (from yet another pair of fabulous sisters, of whom I\u2019m deeply envious,) make getting your skin refreshed so much easier than going out to a spa. But these collagen-infused beauties (the masks, not the sisters,) will make you feel as if you had!<\/p>\n

And then, it was back to services for us:<\/p>\n

\"<\/a>

Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

Caricatures by George<\/strong>\u2014We both had our caricatures done by artist George Huante. Alice said, \u201cIt was such a unique treat to have your likeness as a cartoon character.\u201d I\u2019m<\/em> just grateful that he gave me a small nose! He must be a mind-reader, as well as an artist!\u00a0 www.georgetoons.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Royal Treatment Pampering Service<\/strong>\u2014As Alice noted, it’s just that! We\u2019re so glad that we ended the day with these wonderful table massages.\u00a0 Owner Antone Murray had worked on my back in the past, so I knew I was in good hands, (pun intended.) But something funny happened this time. As I was lying there, enjoying the energy work that healer Megan Blackwell was doing on my back and shoulders, I felt someone all of a sudden working on my left leg!\u00a0 I wondered how she could be doing that. And then I realized it was someone else<\/em> massaging my leg, which was wonderful. But then, a third person began working on my right<\/em> leg! How amazing was that?! I remember thinking, \u201cThis is the greatest experience of my life!\u201d\u00a0 (Thanks, Curtis Clarke and Mario Salinas!)\u00a0 Alice said of Curtis,\u00a0who also worked on her<\/em>, \u201cI told him I have bad sciatica, going down my leg, and he knew exactly what to do to relieve it.\u201d www.getroyaltreatmentps.com<\/a><\/p>\n

And we ate, too! Here\u2019s what we had:<\/p>\n

\"<\/a>

Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

As we entered the party, the very first thing we saw was a huge chocolate fountain. And to my delight, it was surrounded by lots of chopped fruit, which is just about the only think I can eat at parties nowadays. Later on, there was a lunch buffet. Because we spent so much time luxuriating, we missed out on most of those items, but we really enjoyed the mini chicken quesadillas, and Alice said the turkey sandwiches on artisan bread were \u201creally yummy.\u201d She was also a fan of the mango iced tea that was served \u201call day long!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"<\/a>

Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n

Sugar & Spyked desserts<\/strong>\u2014We saved the best for last. Even though I don\u2019t drink, (which means I can’t try Tamara Anderson\u2019s wonderful, creative, and popular desserts,) I always love seeing her anywhere<\/em>! I honestly think that she may just be the happiest, most pleasant, upbeat person I\u2019ve ever met! She instantly puts smiles on everyone\u2019s faces. But the rest of crowd was clamoring for her treats<\/em>, including Alice. She\u2019s sampled some before, and said, \u201cThey never disappoint. Sugar & Spyked being at an event always guarantees the most delicious and decadent liquor-laced sweets.\u201d There were all kinds of mini treats, including cake pops, cheesecake, and even a run sundae, all with a bit of alcohol in them. And I was thrilled to see some brownies and cookies without<\/em> it. It was very kind of Tamara to think of us teetotalers! www.sugarandspyked.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Before I end, I have to give a shout-out to someone I enjoyed meeting there, even though she wasn’t doling-out gifts or services. She was at the event to let people know that she teaches \u201ccharm,\u201d a very under-appreciated art, if you ask me. I can\u2019t find any info on her on the web, so I don\u2019t know the specifics of just where she does this, or anything else to tell you about her campaign, but with kids being so rude nowadays, because that\u2019s what they see in the media, and in their own families, I feel that every<\/em> child in America should take charm school courses at some point in their lives. So, big props to that lady for reminding us of it.<\/p>\n

And there you have it!\u00a0 I loved finally being a small part of the BET Awards week-end, and can’t wait to be back next year!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GIRLFRIENDS & CHAMPAGNE SPA PARTY I\u2019ve always loved the BET Awards, but I\u2019m usually too busy to enjoy any of the activities that precede the show for a few days. So, this year, I was thrilled to be able to make the time for this wonderful spa party a couple of days before the show.<\/p>\n

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