My Vanna White moment with the key presented to actress Amy Adams for a one-year lease for the charity she works with, Ghetto Film School.
Last week I had the honor of being invited by Honda to attend Variety magazine’s 2nd annual Power of Women luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
I’ve never been to Hollywood or Beverly Hills so I was pretty excited. I arrived that afternoon at the Montage Beverly Hills, an absolutely gorgeous hotel! As I was waiting to meet up with Alicia from The Mommy Insider in the lobby, I saw Janice Dickinson walk by and had my first “you are not in Nashvegas any more” moment! I spent the afternoon shopping on and off Rodeo Drive with Alicia (no I did not buy ONE THING!) It was fun, though, to peek into the windows of gorgeous stores like Tiffany and Versace, although we ultimately ended up on the normal street with stores like the GAP and Pottery Barn.
The next morning we were all treated to getting our hair done at a place called Dry Bar, where I pretty much felt like I had died and gone to good hair heaven.
A few minutes after arriving at the luncheon we were already spotting stars like Anne Hathaway and Ricki Lake. As we walked around the lobby a nice looking guy walked by quickly and headed downstairs and then after someone ribbed me with their elbow I realized the guy was KIEFER SUTHERLAND.
I then did what any 41-year-old woman who suddenly channels her inner 18-year-old does…I posted an OMG status on Facebook.
I then spent the next 30 minutes vainly trying to get a picture of Kiefer Sutherland without appearing to be a super dork from the hills of West Nashville. Unfortunately, this is the best shot I got:
I am slick, no? I guess I can cross paparazzi off my bucket list.
The thing I most enjoyed about this event, besides the company of some amazing bloggers and getting to star gaze, was the fact that this luncheon honors women in Hollywood for their philanthropic work. Each honoree gave a touching presentation and at one point toward the end of the luncheon a young cancer patient featured in an incredibly moving video from Art of Elysium came on stage with Eva Mendes. Her head shaved and walking with crutches, she confessed that she was unable to eat at the luncheon because she was scheduled for surgery that day. There wasn’t a dry eye in the HOUSE and she received a much deserved standing ovation.
A big thanks to Elizabeth from Traded My BMW for a Minivan for driving me and Tiffany from Bloggy Moms around the Hollywood hills that afternoon where we all brushed up on our Valley Girl speak and I got the obligatory photo of the Hollywood sign!
Here is the full list of the 2010 Variety 2nd Annual Power of Women Honorees and their charities:
- Amy Adams (Ghetto Film School), with whom I got to shake hands with and present a key for a year’s lease for a 2011 Odyssey for Ghetto Film School
- Jennifer Garner (Save the Children), who seems very down to earth
- Katie Holmes (Dizzy Feet Foundation), who brought along her adorable little girl, Suri
- Diane Lane (Heifer Intl.), who was there with Josh Brolin and who later was attending the screening of her new movie Secretariat (busy lady!)
- Eva Mendes (Art of Elysium), who is just gorgeous and whose mother I got to chat with ever so briefly
- Management 360 founding partner Suzan Bymel (Global Creative Forum), who happens to be Kiefer Sutherland’s and Anne Hathaway’s manager
(L-R) Niri, Alicia, me, and Tiffany about to head to the Variety Power of Women luncheon
Here are are the wonderful bloggers I shared this experience with (I hope you’ll visit each of their blogs!):
- Elizabeth Peterson, www.TradedMyBMWforaMinivan.com
- Alicia Hagan, www.themommyinsider.com
- Nirasha Jaganath, www.mommyniri.com, my test drive buddy earlier in September in La Jolla (read the scoop on my review blog)
- Tiffany Noth, www.bloggymoms.com
And the two red carpet blogger correspondents:
- Jodi Grundig, www.momsfavoritestuff.com
- Kari Ellen Aceto, www.agiveawayaddictedmommy.com
A big thank you to the PR, marketing, and social media team at Honda for organizing such a lovely trip and to Lipo in a Box, based here in Nashville and sold on QVC, for providing my comfortable shapewear for the luncheon.
Disclosure: Honda paid for my travel accommodations to and from Los Angeles, as well as for my hotel and meals while I was in Beverly Hills. The opinions expressed in this post are mine, and mine alone.
Not to be a buzz kill, but I hope they give them the car at the end of the year. I’m pretty sure Honda can spare a minivan. They can give me one, too, if they’re feeling extra generous! My 2000 Odyssey is getting a little quirky (the interior lights come on when I turn left. I’m not joking).
Um, wow! What a fabulous trip! I would have been trying to paparazzi like crazy (while trying to look cool and nonchalant of course)
I’d pretty much convinced myself that I wasn’t going to be too sad that I couldn’t make it on the trip until I read your post. Sigh. But I’m so glad that all of you had such an amazing time though – you all look gorgeous in the photo!!
EG, you have got a point!
Uncommonblonde, yes it was fabulous. And yes I was trying to be all cool and nonchalant. Tee hee.
Deb, we missed having you join us!
I would have been a complete dweeb at that event. How cool!
I am definitely a dweeb but it was fun to dress up and be glamorous for the day!!
Wow, I would have been star struck too! You look so good in your fab blue dress!
What a cool trip. I would have been trying to get pictures too. It is funny how that long ago star-struck girl emerges when close to someone famous. Enjoyed seeing the pictures.
What a terrific event, thanks for sharing the pictures with us! That blue dress was a killer!
It was a fab event, and it was so much fun to share with you!
I would have been trying to get pictures too. Interestingly, people long ago star – struck close to a celebrity girl. Glad to see these photos.
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