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TIFF 2013: Inside TIFF Gifting Lounges

15 September, 2013 Nelia

mila-kunis-variety-studio-tiff-2013

Toronto International Film Festival is a tricky time for those who cover the festivities. On the one hand it’s incredibly thrilling to have so many talented people descend upon our hometown, but on the other…running around from film to film, from one interview to another, having to submit articles, and then having the energy to attend late-night parties is not for the faint of heart. But then again…some people would kill for the opportunity to experience it all. So instead of complaining, both media and industry types buck up and survive it all. What definitely helps year after year are the amazing TIFF Gifting Lounges, which offer both celebs and industry insiders a chance to pop in for much-needed hair and make-up touch-ups, mini manis, mini massages, delectable bites and of course, freebies!

Each year, it seems like more and more lounges pop up in Toronto, so even hopping from one to another in an attempt to cover them all may seem like a gruelling task all on its own…but hey, someone’s gotta do it! Below are the highlights from the lounges I got to visit during this year’s TIFF!

1. Esther Garnick PR’s Essentials Lounge

AMM_7863

Essentials Lounge is a much-needed media haven year after year. Its sole existence is to arm the press with the essentials necessary to “survive” TIFF and “recover” once the festival is over. At this year’s lounge, we were gifted with face-savers like Elizabeth Grant’s Essence of Torricelumn treatment to repair and renew tired skin, and Collagen Re-Inforce Rejuvenating Gel Eye Pads to practically erase any evidence of sleepless nights and fatigue. Both worked their magic on my skin all week long! Magic, I’m telling you.

AMM_7850

Our amazing Essentials gift bags also contained hair products from Aveda (smells so good!), makeup from Hard Candy Cosmetics (fun colours to play with), Calvin Klein underwear, Centrum Vitamins (TIFF flu is a thing, people!), Ethical Bean Coffee (for that extra boost of energy), Nike+ Fuelband (to count how many calories one can burn running from one premiere to another), HP Slate 7 tablet (because it’s much easier to carry than a laptop, and just as useful for blogging on the go), and lots more. Needless to say, with thoughtful gift bag contents that are actually helpful during TIFF, Essentials Lounge was a lifesaver for many bloggers and media types covering the festival this year.

2. Variety Studio

susan-sarandon-tiff-2013-moroccanoil

While Variety Studio, hosted by Holt Renfrew and sponsored by brands like MoroccanOil and British Airways isn’t a gifting lounge per se, it was definitely a place to be during the festival. Where else could you watch Susan Sarandon get an intense MoroccanOil hand massage (smells and feels amazing) while holding her dog Penny in her lap, Michael Fassbender (whom I actually missed AGAIN!) getting his flirt on, Jude Law eating brownies on the couch, Matthew McConaughey storming into the room and greeting everyone in his thick Texan drawl, Abigail Breslin talking about her “guy” and looking all grown up while also enjoying a MoroccanOil treatment…I mean, the room was swimming with celebs for days, and I was super lucky to have been able to get a glimpse at what goes on behind the scenes. Plus, Jared Leto smiled at me and I chatted with Demian Bichir, so there’s that.

TIFF-2013-Michael-Fassbender-Variety-Studio-Holt-Renfrew-MoroccanOil

More after the jump!

[Read more…]

Events, Fashion Alicia Cox Thompson, Andrew Lovesey, Debra Goldblatt-Sadowsi, Elizabeth Grant, Essentials Lounge, Esther Garnick PR, HP, Leesa Butler, Michael Fassbender, Mila Kunis, MoroccanOil, NKPR, NKPR IT Lounge, Sally Hershberger, Shoppers Drug Mart, Stylist Box, Susan Sarandon, Tastemakers Lounge, The Suite, TIFF, TIFF 2013, TIFF Suite 2013, Variety Studio

TIFF 2012: Inside TIFF Gifting Lounges

19 September, 2012 Nelia

tiff-tastemakers-lounge

As promised, here’s a little insider’s look into the world of TIFF gifting lounges! And let me tell you, it’s good to be a celebrity, visiting Toronto, and being showered with gifts and pampered to the max! And sometimes other lucky lounge guests enjoy the perks…and then blog all about it! Enjoy!

1. Tastemakers Lounge

The first lounge I visited this year was rock-it promotion’s Tastemakers Lounge. And I was definitely in good company! This year, celebs like Emily Blunt, Kristen Stewart, Adrian Grenier, and Eli Roth stopped by to check out the goodies and get refreshed.

tiff-tastemakers-lounge-adrian-grenier

And there was no shortage of goodies…from sexy La Senza underthings, to stylish Yorkdale offerings (Tiffany’s, anyone?), to yummy Popchips, to even yummier Demeter Fragrances, we could hardly keep up!

tiff-tastemakers-lounge

There were also fun and useful Bobble bottles with built-in filters, sweets from Le Dolci, skin rescue from Indeed Labs (yes, please!), and manpering (man pampering) from John Allan’s! Just like interior designer Hilary Farr, I got my nails did, courtesy of imPRESS, grabbed a hot tea from the Tea Emporium, and went back to work, weighed down by a heavy swag bag. Wish I had an entourage to help me out.

tiff-tastemakers-lounge

Read on for more TIFF swag!

[Read more…]

Beauty, Events, Fashion, Freebies, Shopping Adrian Grenier, Agyness Deyn, Beauty, CANFAR, EGPR, Essentials Lounge, Events, Freebies, Good Cause, Hilary Farr, Milos Raonic, NKPR, NKPR IT Lounge, Patrick Demarchelier, rock-it promotions, Shopping, Tastemakers Lounge, TDot TV Lounge, TIFF, TIFF 2012, Yasmin Warsame, Yorkdale

TIFF 2012: Patrick Demarchelier at the NKPR IT Lounge!

8 August, 2012 Nelia

patrick-demarchelier-BazaarUS-1992-09

After weeks of rumours, it has finally been confirmed! Iconic French photographer Patrick Demarchelier is going to set up a photo studio at the NKPR IT Lounge during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival! Having been lucky enough to check out the awesome lounge last year, and knowing how cozy and intimate it is, I can’t help but get super excited at even the remote possibility of being shot by Patrick-freaking-Demarchelier!

Will this crazy dream come true? I guess we’ll find out in September!

Photo Credits: Patrick Demarchelier for Harper’s Bazaar

Events, Fashion NKPR, NKPR IT Lounge, Patrick Demarchelier, TIFF, TIFF 2012

Shopping: Kobo Wi-Fi Touch

7 October, 2011 Nelia

The other day, as I was passing through The Bay, I noticed…Christmas ornaments peeking out from behind the curtain! GASP! It feels like summer just packed up its bags, and already there’s Halloween-a-palooza all over the place, and apparently Christmas on its heels.

While browsing NKPR TIFF IT Lounge offerings back in September, I walked away with an amazing gift – Kobo Wi Fi Touch! If, like me, you want to get your Christmas shopping done sooner rather than later, I want to make sure that you check out the Kobo Wi Fi Touch ($139), and consider giving it to a book lover in your life. They really might not know what they are missing!

Though originally, I balked at the idea of owning any type of e-reader. I cannot express how much love I have for my new Kobo! I still love the smell, feel, and look of real books, and I definitely own my fair share. But living in the city, though has its privileges, leaves very little room for an extensive personal library. Kobo solves that problem! My 2GB version has room for around 1000 books on it. That’s right. ONE THOUSAND BOOKS in one tiny little reader! Which also is quite a relief…because I hate lugging heavy books in my bag!

Kobo is stylish, lightweight, super-portable, easy to use, and it will actually make you read more. How? Well, simply because e-books are much cheaper than regular books. Had it not been for Kobo, I would never have discovered The Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner! If you loved The Hunger Games, you will LOVE The Maze Runner! I tore through the first two books (The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials) in days on my Kobo, and finished reading the advanced copy of The Death Cure soon after. Fast-paced, thrilling, full of mysteries, and downright scary at times – The Maze Runner trilogy was an awesome read, that I did not want to put down, and with the final book coming out on October 11th – you really should get reading. You won’t have to suffer the painful wait for the next book to come out – you can read them back to back!

More after the jump!

[Read more…]

Gadgets, Shopping books, Daniel H. Wilson, Gadgets, James Dashner, Kobo, NKPR, NKPR IT Lounge, Robopocalypse, Shopping, The Death Cure, The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials

Beauty: Stila Waterproof Liquid Eye Liners

24 June, 2011 Nelia

After searching what feels like forever for a perfect eye liner, I have finally found The One. We’re getting married in September. Thanks to the lovelies over at NKPR, my newfound eye liner for life is Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner ($20)!

What I loved about this liner in particular is how easy it was to apply. No more struggling with the tip, no more unsightly smudges, or worse yet, split lines. Stila liner does the job in one sweep – no fuss, no mess. Just as promised on Sephora’s website: “The thin, marker-like tip is easy to use, even for the beauty beginner, and delivers any look (from a thin line to a bold, dramatic stroke!). It goes on smoothly without skipping, smudging, or pulling, and lasts all day!” True story. Another great thing about this product is that even though it’s waterproof, it is not impossible to remove. I hate having dark make-up circles left over from waterproof mascaras, etc, but with this liner it’s not an issue.

I also tried Stila’s Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner ($22), which comes in 8 fun eye-candy shades – perfect for a night out. My current fave is definitely the Bora Bora, but next time I’m planning to pick up Curacao too. If you want just a hint of a sparkle, than Starry or Sequins shades are a way to go.

If you’re looking for an eyeliner, and haven’t had much luck, like me. I wholeheartedly recommend Stila products, because I know you won’t be disappointed…or your money back. Ok, not your money back, but if you hate it, you can yell at me on Twitter. Deal? Now go and try it already!

Photo Credits: Stila

Beauty, Shopping Beauty, Eye Liner, NKPR, Shopping, Stila

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WHO IS NELIA?

Nelia Belkova is a Toronto-based fashion and lifestyle blogger by night and a financial analyst by day. She loves to travel, read gossip sites, eat sweets, and cuddle up to her husband and her cat on the couch. Read More…

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