![\"Leslie](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/IMG_5152-e1506475560236.jpg\")
<\/a>Leslie Jones, in the middle in yellow, getting gifted. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
Speaking of special, I think this was the most celebrities I\u2019ve ever seen at a suite! They were everywhere we looked! The gift-givers must have been thrilled with the turn-out! We spied: SNL<\/em>\u2019s Leslie Jones\u00a0<\/strong>(who has the easiest name to type, so I think her for that!,) comedian Tituss Burgess<\/strong>, fabulous dancer Allison Holker<\/strong>, (from both<\/em> major network dance shows!,) and the absolutely gorgeous Gleb Savchenko<\/strong>, who got saddled with someone named Sasha Pieterse, (don\u2019t worry\u2014no one else ever heard of her, either,) on this new season\u2019s Dancing With The Stars<\/em>! 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!<\/p>\n So, here are those highlights:<\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Blooming BHMBG<\/strong>\u2014I 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, \u201cenergize tissue, improve wrinkled skin, reduce pores, and improve skin troubles, in general.\u201d Wow\u2014that\u2019s a lot of goodness right there! Lisa commented that \u201cthis looks like every girl\u2019s dream come true for healthy, vibrant, and clean skin.\u201d She also noted that \u201ca little bit of work will reap a lifetime of rewards!\u201d<\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Texere Silk<\/strong>\u2014I spied these beautiful silk pajamas and stunning painted kimonos from across the room!!! Lisa noted that the items are \u201cmade from earth-friendly, renewable resources,\u201d and since she\u2019s an artist, she extra-appreciated that the kimono is \u201cprinted with a lovely traditional Japanese watercolor.\u201d I<\/em> was just excited that the blue pajamas match my eyes! www.texeresilk.com<\/a><\/p>\n Crown of Light<\/strong>\u2014This 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 \u201ca sparkling addition to a dresser, an elegant candlelight dinner table, or even just a window sill, (to reflect the light.)\u201d Great ideas! www.crownoflight.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Lisa Politz, as is the big one at the top of the page.<\/p><\/div>\n Cali\u2019Flour Foods<\/strong>\u2014These healthful cauliflower pizza crusts just keep getting better and better! I now bake them up at home, to know that I\u2019m eating something good for me that\u2019s also delicious. Shocked, are you, that I make any<\/em> food at home? Trust me, I\u2019m 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\u2019s no wondering how much the other one already ate, (which is what I\u2019m<\/em> always doing because he<\/em> eats sooo<\/em> much faster than I do!) But they\u2019re not even just for pizza anymore\u2014there\u2019s a whole range of desserts and other treats you can make from these bases. Okay, my mouth is now watering for them\u2014I have to quickly go make some more!!! www.califlourfoods.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Mission Belt<\/strong>–These adjustable belts were one of the hits of the lounge! (As was their adorable stylish rep, Lukas!) Lisa said that she\u2019s never seen anything like them before! She assessed them to be \u201cchic and sophisticated in their styling and materials.\u201d She went on, \u201cThe 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.\u201d That\u2019s because there are no buckle holes\u2014you close them with a special system that I can\u2019t really explain; you\u2019ll just have to experience it for yourself. They come in leather, nylon, or canvas, and fyi\u2014the FAQs on their site are a riot!!! www.missionbelt.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Pilot Pens<\/strong>\u2014Since I\u2019m 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, \u201cI 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.\u201d I just thought of how great they would look in my color-coded appointment book! \u00a0www.pilotpen.us<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Bouquet Bar<\/strong>\u2014These 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\u2019m eternally hooked on chocolate-covered gummy bears!!! I think I have to hate him for that! Lisa didn\u2019t try any, but just looking at them she said, \u201cThe treats look<\/em> so tasty that you might be tempted to send yourself<\/em> a gift!\u201d I hear ya, sister!!! And we know what my<\/em> box will contain, don\u2019t we?! \u00a0www.bouquetbar.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Lisa Politz.<\/p><\/div>\n iMaxAlarm<\/strong>\u2014I 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 \u201cespecially comforting to have close-by while hiking near wild animals.\u201d I think the idea of them is really to help when you\u2019re being attacked by a person<\/em>, but I think everyone will feel safer in every<\/em> way with one of these little gadgets on hand!\u00a0 www.imaxalarm.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Lisa Politz.<\/p><\/div>\n Vita Cup<\/strong>\u2014These 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 \u201cincluded my daily vitamin dose.\u201d\u00a0www.vitacup.com<\/a><\/p>\n Burke Williams<\/strong>\u2014Lisa is semi-new to L.A., (she\u2019s been here just six months!,) so she had never heard of this famous spa before. They gifted certificates for mini-treatments, so she\u2019s now \u201clooking forward to a little pampering and relaxation.\u201d I\u2019m with her on that! www.burkewilliams.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Sellebrity<\/em> book<\/strong>\u2014The author of this book, Kofi Nartey, was on hand to sign them for the guests. He\u2019s an expert in luxury real estate for athletes and entertainers. I was glad to hear him say the \u201centertainers\u201d part because if it was just for athletes<\/em>, that would certainly let me out! Unless obsessive sport-watching counts! www.thenarteygroup.com<\/a><\/p>\n As always, GBK\u2019s events benefit charities, and the two this time were:<\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Animal Wellness Foundation<\/strong>\u2014Lisa 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 \u201cyou know when you adopt one of these rescues that you\u2019re getting a healthy pet.\u201d\u00a0 www.animalwellnessfoundation.org<\/a><\/p>\n Face Forward<\/strong>\u2014This is a non-profit organization that\u2019s looking to put a face to physical violence in order to help stop it. Binge-watching Big Little Lies<\/em> all night right after the Emmys made me realize just how much people need an organization such as this one!\u00a0 www.faceforwardla.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" GBK\u2019S PRE-EMMYS GIFTING LOUNGE 2017 GBK\u2019s Gifting Lounge returned to the lovely rooftop of L\u2019Ermitage 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 \u201cbeautiful view of the Hollywood Hills and downtown<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>