Sneak Peak Week ~ The MTV Movie Awards

It’s Sneak Peak Week at the MTV Movie Awards and the perfect time to give my fans a behind the scenes look at my recent gig creating swag for GBK’s Luxury Gift Lounge Honoring the MTV Movie Awards Nominees and Presenters.

My story is a little tongue in check, in keeping with the fun and games that is the MTV Movie Awards, but please know I was seriously honored to be able to participate in the celebrity gifting for this long running event that made its debut in 1992, and quickly debunked the myth that celebs are too concerned about appearances to let their hair down. The spoofs, the kisses, the general mayhem that is the MTV Movie Awards are unforgettable pop culture moments and managed to loosen up, if only a teeny bit, almost every awards ceremony out there (lucky for us).

So, here’s to the MTV Movie Awards, the illustrious Golden Popcorn and what has turned out to be a really fun personal and business experience. And in case you were wondering, my vote for “Best Kiss” is going to Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdam!

SCENE 1

It’s January 2012 and the depths of winter in Sterling, Alaska. Or wait maybe it was “Drop Dead Gorgeous” in Belize. Anyway, I am “Desperately Seeking” marketing opportunities. Suddenly, I’ve “Got Mail.” It’s an opportunity to include my wire wrapped pendants in the celebrity gift bags at GBK’s luxury gift lounge for the MTV Movie Awards. Holy “Batman”!

  

SCENE 2

Cut to studio. Suddenly I am my own “Horrible Boss” and have crazily (“Crazy Like a Fox”) committed to creating a staggering 100 unique pendants for some of Hollywood’s hippest celebrities. And I have less than five months to do it. Working “9 to 5”, I am definitely “Romancing the Stone,” as my pliers become my most “Lethal Weapon”. As I wrap wire in graceful curves around carefully chosen natural, raw gemstones including Fire Agate, Iridescent Labradorite, Druzy Crystal Agate, Turquoise, and Citrine. When I get to my favorite, Picasso Jasper, I can’t help but think of “The Matrix”.



Picasso Jasper



Citrine

Labradorite

SCENE 3

Gifting at the MTV Movie Awards is not just about making pieces for the swag bags. I also have to create an eye-catching display for the gift lounge, so that celebs stopping by can see, feel and try on my pieces. I’ve commissioned a special wood display piece, but in an almost “WTF Moment”, it has not arrived and the shipping date is drawing near. With “Total Recall”, I think of a beautiful piece of driftwood I collected on the beach in Belize last winter. I find it, cut it down to size and give it a coat of acrylic for a soft natural luster. Voila, I’m good to go.

SCENE 4

It’s “Freaky Friday”. I’m fast at work packaging my beautiful pendants, with the help of my four year old granddaughter who has agreed to help (and who is very good at giving directions for a four year old).

The routine is box, b-card, bio, organza bag, ribbon—performed at record-breaking “Speed”. One after another, after another and suddenly what once seemed like “Mission Impossible” is DONE!

CUT TO FINAL SCENE

It’s time for a “Cocktail”, and what could be more apropos than a delicious “Buttered Popcorn.” Here are two recipes for you to enjoy while you’re watching the Awards.

Buttered Popcorn (by Aricka Johnson of Sedalia Mo)

This cocktail tastes exactly like a Jelly Belly Buttered Popcorn jelly bean.

1/2 oz Frangelico
1/2 oz Disaronno Amaretto
1 oz Bailey Irish Cream - or other variant
1/2 to 3/4 oz butter shots
Glass: Old Fashioned or chilled liqueur glass

Pour all ingredients into shaker, add ice, shake or stir (whatever you prefer) and strain on the rocks or into chilled liqueur glass with no ice.

Note: add more or less butter shots to taste.

Hot Buttered Popcorn (Randy Tarlow, Los Angeles)

5 oz fresh popped popcorn
2 oz Hangar One Straight 
3 oz organic raw butter
0.25 oz sea salt, 8 oz sugar, 10 oz water, 6 oz mineral water, 4 oz sugar, 0.75 oz egg white, 1 tbs caramel

Heat popcorn, sugar, salt, water, butter in pot. Simmer and strain into glass with caramel, sea salt rim. Add vodka. Whip foam ingredients with immersion blender then spoon over top. Drizzle caramel over top with a pinch of sea salt. Serve along side of fresh popcorn.