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Sheri Block, entertainment writer, CTV.ca

Sept. 7 -- Pre-TIFF assignment: Making pampering a priority
With only two days before TIFF officially begins, I spent the morning working hard to get ready for the madness -- you know, by getting my nails done, my hair styled and my eyebrows threaded.
I realize that getting pampered doesn't sound like a priority when there's so much still to be done before TIFF starts, but looking good will help me better cover the festival (or at least that's what I told my editor).
I was invited to attend the first ever "Essentials Lounge For Media" created by Esther Garnick PR as a way to prepare journalists for all the long hours and late nights covering screenings, press conferences and red carpets.
"Everything in here is useful to that 10-day push. No one really has the time to get their hair treated or their nails done or their shoes looked after or anything else when they're in the thick of things," says Garnick.
"It's the trenches, it really is for the media. Everyone's got to wave hi, speak loudly, shake hands -- they've got to stand out, too, because they've got to get their sound bites and interviews and get their stories."
Held at downtown Toronto's Ra Sun Spa, my first "assignment" of the day was eyebrow threading. I've heard about this ancient method of hair removal and how effective it can be, but was always a little scared it would hurt. I've instead been opting for waxing, which is probably just as painful but over much quicker.
I told my esthetician Sharly I was apprehensive but her keen eye and expert thread yielding made it a (nearly) pain-free experience.
Next up was an express manicure with Tina, who did a rock star job painting my nails a deep purple. It was hard to completely relax though when all I could think about was how the work was piling up back at the office and my email inbox was overflowing. But with wet nails, I had to resist checking my Blackberrry. Maybe I should paint them more often (!)
Before leaving it was time to get a quick touch-up on my hair with Alain Larivée, the Canadian Creative Consultant for John Frieda. He showed my how to keep the humidity from ruining my ultra straight hair, which includes using the right products and only flat ironing small sections at a time.
But as much as I love my straight locks, Larivée says curls and waves are going to be ruling the red carpet this year when it comes to the celebrities. Half up, half down looks will also be popular, with an emphasis on glam.
And after I was looking and feeling fabulous, it was time to dash off to my next assignment – a sneak preview of the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Check back to CTV.ca on Thursday for a first look inside the spectacular new home of the film festival!

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100830/tiff_sheri_notebook_100831/20100912?hub=TorontoNewHome