After all that pampering I was more than ready to trip across the Atlantic to LA for 2 hours - yes really - I was going for a 2 hour function - Mariah Carey's baby-shower. I spent the last few weeks talking myself down from the trip with the usual logic "it's very extravagant for a 2 hour function," "you can't really afford to act like a diva swanning constantly across the Atlantic," "there are plenty of other festive moments you can share with your mate once the twins arrive." Did any of it help keep my ass here? Nope. I only needed the tiniest of persuading and I was on that plane faster than Usain Bolt.
On the Saturday Mariah had a few close girl friends over at her crib where we caught up over plates of her delicious Italian pasta dinner. I tried to feel the twins kicking by holding Mrs C's belly for a while, we relaxed in the pool and played with the latest additions to the Carey-Cannon household - 2 new female puppies called Jill E. Beans and Sweetie Pie. The significance of the 2 babies that were born merely days earlier was not lost on us all. This is a fertile house!
The following day we made our way up to the uber plush Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills where Mariah's press and management teams had organised a vision of love LOL! The rooftop overlooking the city had been transformed into a blue and pink themed cosy mirage. Candles everywhere, 2 giant stuffed giraffes and a stuffed zebra, pink and blue cupcakes, balloons, and flowers, a 6 foot long table laden down with gifts from us all and a few from some very famous friends that I spotted, gourmet fast food, cocktails and of course - angel champagne for the guests. Mariah and Nick both had a mix of family members and friends in the place.
I was surprised to see that unlike the baby-showers I'm used to attending "IN ENGLAND" (private Cannon joke!), where it's just the mum-to-be and her mates lounging around casually in tracksuits playing baby games and opening gifts, this was an all sexes welcome very sophisticated soiree where we all rejoiced in the pending arrival of the 2 new babies and the joy of their excited parents.
Mariah's tummy is pretty big right now so even though she looked stunning, we insisted she lay back on a plush white chaise lounge (as if she needed convincing!), and her guests took turns in greeting and catching up with her. MC was dressed in a floor length colourful Roberto Cavalli dress with her mermaid like hair cascading down her back. She may be in the most uncomfortable pregnancy months, going through backache and the such but she will always get it together and look her absolute best. Nick wore a 3-piece suit, which reflected the pink and blue theme.
As soon as we arrived American idol star and music impresario Randy Jackson and artist manager Chris Lighty were holding court. It's always fabulous to catch up with BET Television head Stephen Hill (he was once an MTV bod like moi). Multi media maven for TV, Radio and internet B Scott was looking ultra fabulous. New York's not to be messed with publicist Marvet Britto was bubbly and excited. Actress Phylicia Rashard (The Cosy Show) was adorable whilst catching up with us all. But I was most excited to spot in a corner, by himself, looking a little lost - Nick's work colleague and my idol Piers Morgan! I love this man! As if it couldn't be more perfect I am halfway through reading his latest book - I've read them all. They're hilarious! He started as a showbiz columnist like me (at THE SUN) many years ago and graduated to THE MIRROR editor and has always been a wildly fun, opinionated, totally real person that's taken risks - some that have paid off - others that have seen him fired from his position but like a true winner gets up bigger and better. After his MIRROR humiliation - where he was never proven guilty but used as a scapegoat - he hosted a British talk show and now has gone onto being part of America's number 1 entertainment show "America's Got Talent" as well as taking over from Larry King with his own chat show. That's gangsta! I had someone introduce us. Piers looked as if he couldn't have been more relieved to talk to someone and was really very lovely and conversational. He notoriously says he loves flattery and trust me he wouldn't have been disappointed in my chat. I was shamelessly happy to meet a man I've admired for years. When I finally thought I should probably be polite and leave him alone it took all my will power not to jump up and down with excitement!
I returned to check on my girl and ensure she was good and hung out with the 2 grandmas to be for a while. Both Mariah and Nick's mothers were in attendance looking lovely and graceful, Mariah's in blue, Nick's in pinky peach.
As the night wore down to a close, the Cannons took the mic to thank their guests and make little, cute speeches about impending parenthood, next video and film director Brett Ratner took the mic and made a really funny speech after which we were all handed a goody - bag full of very festive Mariahisms to take home. A great moment to cherish for life. Now those twins just need to hurry and arrive when they're ready cos auntie Jasmine has a list of things to teach them - including the thesis of rainbows, butterflies and swimming in the ocean as well as the fact that I will be reading stories to them all night long! Their English accent is gonna be pipper than their mom's!
Source: Jasmine Dotiwala