True Life: I Attended the Emmy Awards, and Here's What Happened . . .

I scored not one but three golden tickets: to the VMAs, Emmys, and Governors Ball Emmys afterparty.

I spent my luxe weekend at the Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles. They were clearly aware that I wear the pants!

Before the award festivities began, Essie kicked off the weekend with a nail-art bar. I went with this french manicure with a chevron twist.

I wasn't able to attend the VMAs — I worked POPSUGAR'S Live Viewing Party for the telecast — but did get in some spa action before the show at the Ritz-Carlton's lush spa. Those chairs are even comfier than they look!

Guests were greeted with goody bags. Caress, Degree, Tresemmé, and Dove provided a warm welcome for the weekend.

No outfit is complete without some essential pieces of bling, so Nina Dobrev and Shailene Woodley's stylist Ilaria Urbinati helped me pick out a pretty accessory to show off.

This is a close-up of the Bare Collection ear cuff Ilaria Urbinati helped me pick for my VMAs outfit.

Prior to the VMAs, I sat down in the hair and makeup chair for some full-on glam time, courtesy of Tresemmé.

Obligatory selfie after my glam session! Of course I went with dramatic lashes.

Mmm — milk and cookies! Sweet dreams before the Emmys . . .

Here's a look at Downtown LA, my home for the weekend.

Morning! Dove kicked off the Emmys with a little mimosa action.

A way to a girl's heart? Coffee, gourmet breakfast sandwiches, and these adorable dove-shaped omelets.

Dove is launching a new body wash that provides more lather without stripping your skin. I got to test-drive these babies before the Emmys, and even with an airbrush tan, my skin felt softer and smoother after using these products.

After breakfast, Micaela Erlanger — who styled Hayden Panetierre and Michelle Dockery for the show — accessorized my Emmys gown with this gorgeous piece from Erickson Beamon.

Violet Grey's headquarters on Melrose Place provided a calm, quiet sanctuary to relax and get my makeup done.

Photo op! (I rocked a jewel-tone Monique Lhuillier dress from Rent the Runway.) The red carpet was pure chaos, and there were lines just about everywhere to get photos with Emmys paraphernalia, but this shrubbery was a nice substitute.

Finally! I got inside the Nokia Theatre! Before the show, producers came out to give the audience a few tips about the telecast. This year, due to feedback from past winners, they did away with the countdown clock and instead informed the nominees they'd have 40 seconds to speak. They were very adamant about not using music to dismiss winners from the stage — but said they'd have to if speeches ran long. The telecast was expected to run two hours and five minutes without commercials.

While you're watching the show, there are hoards of Emmys patrons in the lobby of Nokia Theatre getting cocktails and congregating with colleagues. During commercial breaks, actors float from aisle to aisle to greet fellow nominees and close friends.

In the women's restroom, glass vases full of makeup products sat on the counter for guests to take at their disposal. Why can't every public restroom provide this luxury?

During commercial breaks, the house band played covers, from The Bee Gee's "Stayin' Alive" to The Rolling Stones's "I Can't Get No Satisfaction." It's superpeppy and loud! Like a last call, the house lights flashed twice to warn patrons to get back to their seats for the telecast.

You could have heard a pin drop in the theater during the Robin Williams tribute. Many audience members were emotional during Billy Crystal's tribute. Unlike the other commercial breaks, which were quite rowdy, in the moment the house lights came up after Robin's memorial, everyone remained silent as a small gesture for the late entertainer.

Following Robin's tribute, my phone died. After watching Breaking Bad and Modern Family win for best drama and comedy series, respectively, we exited the theater and headed to the Creative Arts Ball and Governors Ball at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

As you walk up, you're greeted with waiters holding trays of Champagne for you to sip before entering the facility. Walking in, we passed Louis C.K. and January Jones.

To keep the soiree lively, a band performed top pop hits while attendees enjoyed at a three-course meal.

Each table included a directory of who was seated where. (I clearly had to figure out where Mr. McConaughey was stationed.) I didn't see Matthew, but I did see Claire Danes, Michelle Dockery, and Julianne Hough!

Dinner included a beef filet and mashed potatoes served inside a baked potato. Dessert was on another level — a s'more that consisted of Chocolate Pop Rocks, torched marshmallow fluff, and Alunga whipped ganache.

In addition to the s'mores we were served, there were chocolate and candy stations set up. Guests could grab a small takeout box to fill with raspberry truffles, white chocolate marshmallows, chocolate-covered pretzels and more.

That's a bottle of wine patrons received upon their departure from the party, courtesy of The Academy. I also scored a takeout box full of candy and a pouch of makeup items including a purse-size bottle of L'Oréal Elnett hair spray, mints, mascara, and lip gloss. All in all, it was an amazing, action-packed weekend!