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Health & Fitness

Pre-Emmy Style/Part 3: A Salute to America's Real Stars


Because duty called (with my other assignments and deadlines), I was not able to arrive at the Style & Beauty Suite at Avalon Hollywood until 2:30. However, I realized before I set foot inside the historic Avalon in Hollywood, anchored by Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) that there was something truly special about this particular pre-Emmy suite. Though the Army-issue Tonka “T-Rex” truck and American flag display at the entrance were pretty impressive, they did not prepare me for what was going on inside.

 

Dan Nevins, U.S. Army Iraq War Veteran and a guest of honor, was on stage detailing how the Wounded Warrior Project did not just make a difference in his life, but in effect, made him whole again during his lengthy recovery process. The organization went beyond the call of moral support, with its members pushing Nevins out of his bed and back out into the world through endurance-oriented outdoor adventures, including white-water rafting, rock climbing, canoeing and participating in a 600-mile benefit ride from New York to Virginia. He describes the backpack of clothing, toiletries and playing cards they brought him early on as the most important gift he’d ever receive.

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During Nevins’ discourse, celebrities, reporters and vendors were immobilized, the reality of the charity’s real, tangible benefits for service personnel sinking in.  From that point forward, people were not just interested in the array of great products assembled by event planner Amy Malin and her team, but also several of them that were being gifted to other beneficiaries of Wounded Warrior Project’s services and purpose…giving servicemen their life and self esteem back.

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The beauty product sponsors were particularly gung ho about lifting mens’ spirits and appearance with their lines. Marco Berardini and his team from EVOLUTIONMAN (www.evolution-man.com/) offered mini men’s facials as well as stylish travel bags of their products, while the representative from ATZEN (www.atzen.com) skin care was particularly excited about how their medical grade skincare could reverse the effects of some of the harsh conditions their skin endured during their time in country, with such ingredients as Hyaluronic Acid, Peptides, resveratrol, protectants and plant extracts.

 

For the servicewomen, wives and female celebrities, Manna Kadar Cosmetics (www.mannakadarcosmetics.com) offered touch-ups and samplings of their mineral color cosmetic products and Beauty Simplified System skincare. If they had the whole afternoon to spare, and many of them richly deserved it, they could spend a blissful day at a satellite of Spa del Rey (www.spa-delrey.com), located at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey, Spa del Rey, known for its use of products such as Natura Bisse and other organic and vegan products. After massages and facials, some treatments using the latest technology, they could venture upstairs to experience some primping from The Nail Garden and the spokes-stylists of Surface (www.surfacehair.com), a collection of hair and skin care products just getting established on the American West Coast.  Organic, gluten-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free and 100% vegan, the expanding line, which also includes a men’s collection and a range of products that prompt hair growth and thickening, was as intriguing as it was attractively packaged.

 

The food selection was as conscientious as it was delicious.  The main courses were provided by Veestro (www.veestro.com), a Thousand Oaks-based home food delivery company specializing in chef inspired, plant-based meals delivered straight to your home anywhere in the US.  Their most popular dishes—vegetarian enchiladas, Indian Red curry, Quinoa Soup, Kale Caesar salad—were the highlights.  Fond of Cake (www.fondofcake.com), another ambitious West Valley company, delivered the goods on desserts with some outstanding vegan and gluten free cupcakes. Chocolatier David Bacco was a chocolate sommelier of sorts while Atlanta-based Sweet Surrender (www.sweetsurrenderfudge.com, focusing on fudge in interesting flavors) offered many nice ways to be naughty while dedicating their efforts to helping the homeless in the USA.   If you wanted to indulge in a more healthy way, you could try out This Bar Saves Lives (www.thisbarsaveslives.com), whose proceeds benefit malnourished children.

 

At this Style Lounge, fashion literally met function.  The Hong Kong-based iiJin (http://iijin.com, pronounced "e-gene"), one of the innovators of the platform sneaker, will be opening its newest fashion destination on Robertson Boulevard in West Hollywood. The store will be stocking their signature sneakers as well as stud-embellished Birkenstock-style sandals, flip flops and a clothing line, making its Asian-influenced (yet extremely wearable) mark in the mostly Euro-centric expanse of West Hollywood. Closer to home, Los Angeles-based Vine Street Market, USA (www.vinestreetmarketusa.com) touted their eco-friendly and utterly packable shopping bags in sturdy cotton and fun, 80’s inspired prints.

 

In keeping with the day’s theme, Roma Boots (romaboots.com) not only got attention because of its colors, but also its cause. Similar to Tom’s Shoes, for every pair of Roma Boots sold, a brand new pair is donated to a child in need. 10% of all sales proceeds go to its Roma For All Foundation to help Romanian children get an education to eventually break out of their cycle of poverty.

 

Ali's Collection, by Chicago-based Alicia Mohr (www.aliscollection.com), features precious metals, semi-precious stones, leather and resin forged into interesting pieces that are both edgy and elegant. While Mohr notes the company sources supplies from US companies whenever possible, she notes she wants her firm to be a good global citizen, and to honor that, recently launched a program that features the designs of artisan associations from developing countries alongside her designs.

For more information about the Jacksonville, Florida-based Wounded Warrior Project, visit woundedwarriorproject.org


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