The Shower Diva: Where Fun Reigns!

Lumnique Customizable Bridesmaid Candle

What's a bride to do when she wants to give a personal gift to each of her bridesmaids, but doesn't want to give each friend the same thing? We've found the perfect way to give every bridesmaid identical, yet completely unique gifts: a custom candle set from Lumnique. Before you think, A candle? You'll discover Lumnique candles are anything but ordinary. Each one is handcrafted to order and bursting with the characteristics that make your bridesmaid special – because you picked them out yourself! With personalized color, fragrance and messaging, thoughtfulness has never been so chic.

An easy-to-follow website takes you through each choice, starting with selecting an "Intention" quote for the gift card. For bridesmaids, the perfect message is Friendship: "To express my appreciation for your friendship and let you know how much I value the bond we share." Next, have a blast infusing each bridesmaid's personality into her candle. Pick Sunburst yellow for the bridesmaid with limitless energy and Fire red for someone who is passionate and will most likely ignite the dance floor at the wedding. Then, explore twenty rich fragrances from which to choose, including scents bursting with fruit such as Pomegranate and Lime to invigorating Green Tea Lemongrass. After you select fragrance, you'll have another opportunity to create a personal message for your bridesmaid.

Voila! An intensely personal gift. All of the choices you've made will be printed on a lovely fold-out gift card: the inspirational message you picked, the characteristics of the color (Bliss? Friendship) and fragrance choices (Exotic Plumeria? A summer spray of jasmine and gardenia) you made along with your message. If you don't have time to choose color and fragrance, select from the readymade options like The "Ma Belle Ami" (My Beautiful Friend) Bridesmaid Candle which is crafted especially to honor the friendships between the Bride-to-Be and her very best friends. You'll still be able to enter a custom message for your friend.

Two options are available for custom-selected candles and "Ma Belle Ami" candle:

$30 Deluxe Gift Set (plus shipping)
Includes beautifully crafted gift box with Lumnique Candle, Lumnique Matchbox and fold-out gift card with custom messages.

$25 Standard Gift Set (plus shipping)
Includes Lumnique Personalized Candle and Customized Certificate.

Each Lumnique candle is made of soy wax blend that is hand-mixed, poured and cured by order to preserve its fragrance made of essential oils. Environmentally friendly color dyes are used along with a cotton wick, making Lumnique candles clean-burning and fresh. A thick solid, rectangular-shaped glass jar with a lid can be used long after the candle is completely burned. Lumnique candles are every bit a conversation piece as they are an intimate and fun way to honor your bridesmaids.

Tying the Knot Gift Set

It's arrived! The Shower Diva's mailbox is overflowing with lovely gifts to pamper a new bride (or to gift her wedding party during a spa day)! One of our favorites is the glorious tying the knot gift set from The Knot and philosophy. The tying the knot gift set comes perfectly packaged with blue band enfolding a pristine white gift box filled to the brim with generous samples of luscious philosophy skin care products. Tucked beneath raffia, a thoughtful blue note card gives reminders and blessings: "to the beautiful bride to be: tying the knot is the union of two unique threads into a balanced, intertwined, unbreakable bond. an infinite loop. a beloved partnership. a happy marriage." All is joyfully designed to delight a special bride with a splash of decompression time before and after the wedding.

Think of how special she will feel as she pampers herself with each perfectly packaged philosophy product. All her senses will be delighted with a tying the knot gift set containing a wonderful assortment of philosophy's popular skin care line, feminine fragrances and thoughtful product choices:

• 4 oz- purity: one step facial cleanser
• .07 oz eye hope: advanced anti-aging cream
• 4 oz- amazing grace: shampoo, bath and shower gel
• 4 oz- amazing grace: perfumed firming body emulsion
• 30- the microdelivery: mini peel pads
• 1 oz -hope in a jar: moisturizer
• .5 oz kiss me: exfoliating lip scrub
• .5 oz kiss me: clear emollient lip balm
• .5 oz of amazing grace: fragrance

We love the generous sizes—perfect for tucking into a honeymoon get-away bag—and the top-quality products included. It's no wonder amazing grace is philosophy's best-selling fragrance line. It smells feminine, yet clean, not perfumy. The dermatologist recommended skin care products do an excellent job of cleaning, exfoliating and moisturizing, even for people with sensitive skin. Order online at Philosophy.com or pick up a set at your favorite local retailer.

Diva Tip: The tying the knot gift set would make a chic gift for pampering bridesmaids and matrons as a "Thank you!" during a spa day bridal shower!

The Christmas Cookie Club: A Novel

by Ann Pearlman

It's likely you'll smell the cookies baking as you tuck in with Ann Pearlman's The Christmas Cookie Club: A Novel.Pearlman cooks up a fictional novel loosely based on the yearly holiday cookie swap she's been part of for more than a decade. (Recipes are real-life, but not the characters, Pearlman insists).

Local landmarks, visions of creaming, sifting, decorating and packaging of the yearly cookie booty weave through the life stories of the "Cookie Club" members. What better way to nibble your way past a steaming mug of tea and plate of sweet treats than the twists and turns Pearlman sifts into her novel?

The Christmas Cookie Club is a group of twelve women with come together yearly with small gifts and twelve dozen cookies to exchange. The twelve relationships run the range from fragile, distant, inseparable, protective.

Their winter afternoon is spent oohing over the tempting treats and sharing stories that intertwine through past year.

Each baker's story begins with a recipe and ends with a wide-angled look at her personal ingredient The ingredients themselves punctuate the telling: part history, part chemistry, part observation. Pearlman touches on betrayal, love, trust, waning affection and more as she matches ingredient with metaphor.

Tuck the Christmas Cookie Club into a gift basket for the new bride. She'll treasure its recipes, whip up a delicious cookie or maybe even invite you to be a member of her new holiday tradition! Order online or pick up a copy at your local bookstore.

Baking Stones

Wrap one of these stones up with a copy of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day for your favorite Bride-to-Be. It will be a superior Bridal Shower gift appreciated for years to come.

Baking stones are one of those kitchen essentials that are addictive to cooks. If they're unfamiliar with using a baking stone, they'll start out using it to heat up boxed pizza. But, the first time they try baking bread or cookies on it, they'll be hooked. Next thing you know they're whipping up fresh scones for breakfast and experimenting with dog bone recipes. Baking stones are probably the only kitchen tool that actually causes people to bake more. It's not their fault, it's just the baking stone makes such delightfully crisp crust and wonderfully chewy but never doughy centers. It is the secret to fabulous artisanal breads and brick-oven pizzas that gets better over time as the stone becomes seasoned. We have actually known cooks to weep when their decades-old stone finally cracks.

Thing is, all stones are not made alike. Buy a cheap stone and you'll be disappointed when you don't get the results you want and the dang thing breaks quickly. Buy a high-quality stone and your favorite Bride-to-Be will enjoy years of happy baking.

In our quest to find superior baking stones, we turned to the experts at King Arthur Flour (if you haven't tried their baking mixes, you're missing out) and inventor Mark O'Toole, who created an interesting version called FibraMent. Here's what we learned:

	Traditional Clay Stone from King Arthur Flour	FibraMent Stone
Thickness of at least 1/2" for superior heating and longevity?	Yes!	Yes!
Material made of?	Clay	Secret proprietary formula approved by NSF Intl. for baking materials.
Made in America so we're confident it's made of safe materials and has been fired properly?	Yes!	Yes!
Turns out superior baked goods?	Yes!	Yes!
Easy to care for and clean?	Yes, and this stone can handle being exposed to a bit of moisture and will dry and perform wonderfully.	Yes, but the manufacturer warns strictly against exposing it to any moisture at all.
Seasons so it becomes more non-stick over time?	Yes!	Yes!
Can be kept in the oven all the time to increase the heating efficiency of your oven?	Yes!	Yes!
A tried-and-true product?	Yes! In fact, this stone is manufactured by the company that holds the original patent for "pizza stone" and is raved about by home bakers.	Yes! The material in this stone has come to be a favorite of commercial bakers. It's used to line the interior of commercial ovens in bakeries and pizza restaurants that use deck ovens

So which stone should you buy? Either is great so ...

If you're looking for a supplier with a friendly staff who knows all about baking and can supply you with superior flour and yeast, dough storage containers, peels, and incredible recipes – go directly to KingArthurFlour.com. The have been the home baker's best friend for decades and they've been making superior flour products since 1790. You cannot go wrong buying from King Arthur's. They offer clay stones in 13" and 15" rounds online or by calling 1-800-827-6836 and you can pick up a copy of Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Daywhile you're on their website.

If you're looking for a larger stone or prefer a rectangular stone, opt for FibraMent. Since they manufacture for commercial kitchens, they offer sizes all the way up to 19" round and 18" x 24" rectangles. They also offer Barbeque Grill Stones and Countertop Oven Stones. Order online today!

aerolatte®

Know a latte loving Diva who is about to marry? Wrap up her favorite brand of coffee with this little frother and she'll be blessing your name each and every morning. The aerolatte® not only makes righteous foam, it's super convenient. This little battery-operated wonder is designed to be able to sit upright on its base (we keep it next to the coffee maker at all times) using only 1 1/2" x 1" of space and when you're ready for a designer coffee, it's ready to go. Just lower the whisk deep into your milk, switch on the aerolatte®, and rotate the whisk slowly around the perimeter of your mug, raising the aerolatte® as the froth begins to grow. It takes something like 15 or 20 seconds to produce a gorgeous head of froth - no steam required. Rinse it clean and commence enjoying your delightful beverage.

If you want a really serious foam tip the aerolatte® at a slight angle, slowly raise it to the top of the milk, then lower it and repeat the process until you have all the thick, creamy foam you want. Within minutes you'll have a cappuccino any barista would be proud to serve.

Prefer a frappe? The aerolatte® is perfect for that too. You can even make a quick milkshake or fancy hot chocolate with it. In fact, aerolatte® is so convenient, one of the more enterprising members of Team Diva found a brand new use for it. Seems she keeps her aerolatte® on the shelf above her kitchen sink right next to her French press. One evening her dinner recipe called for two eggs beaten until foamy. Instead of crossing the kitchen for a fork, she grabbed her aerolatte®, figuring it couldn't hurt to try. She proudly reported the next day that if you tip the aerolatte® at a slight angle - just like you would to produce a very thick foam of milk - it makes short work of beating eggs. Give you any ideas about your next batch of egg nog? Yeah, us too.

The most strenuous thing about the aerolatte® is choosing which style you want. It comes in a sexy chrome version, sleek black, silver satin finish, a playful cow print called the aerolatte® mooo, and a professional stainless steel model. Each style features a durable metal shaft and whisk and batteries are included to get you started frothing. Order today, the website will direct you to a number of online retailers. Prices vary but the standard versions are under $20 at all the retailers we checked and the professional version was about $24.

Diva Tip: The aerolatte® website features recipes from Italian gourmet Marco Finnochiaro you won't want to miss. Print instructions for specialty drinks like Gran Crema©, Espresso macchiato©, Caffe alla Cesare©, and Caffe Coretti© on pretty recipes cards and include them in your gift package.

Donvier™ Ice Cream Maker

Ice cream aficionados rejoice! The Tools for Cooks® experts at Cuisipro® make it super easy to whip up premium ice cream, sorbet, or frozen yogurt at home. Wrap this up for your favorite Bride-to-Be and watch it become one of her kitchen favorites!

Here's how it works: Keep the Chillfast cylinder of the Donvier™ Ice Cream Maker in the freezer until you're ready to make ice cream. Mix up your favorite gourmet ingredients, pour the base into your ice cream maker, and turn the handle 3 or 4 times every 2 to 3 minutes. In less than 20 minutes you'll have a quart of ice cream heaven! You don't need any salt, ice or electricity, which makes the Donvier™ enjoyable to use.

One passionate ice cream lover from Team Diva likes to incorporate her ice cream maker into family movie night. Since the ice cream maker is completely silent to use, she gets everything ready before the movie starts. Her Dad usually volunteers to stir during the first part of the movie because this ice cream maker reminds him of making ice cream as a child. As the on-screen action progresses, bowls of fresh ice cream are passed around and enjoyed. After the movie, clean up is a snap because everything except the Chillfast cylinder can go straight into the dishwasher. She's so happy with her Donvier™ Ice Cream Maker, she actually gave away her previous electric model. She said it was noisy and no fun to use so she never bothered hauling it out of the cupboard. This version is easy to use and gets everyone involved making ice cream–and memories–together. They've been experimenting with sherbets, gelatos, sorbets, frozen yogurts, and everything else they can dream up! Since she controls the ingredients that go into the recipe, she also controls the amount of fat and sugar her family eats!

Diva Tip: Partner the Donvier™ Ice Cream Maker with Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book, Cuisipro® Ice Cream Scoop & Stack and/or The Pampered Chef's Food Chopper to create a premium gift for your Guest of Honor. Read all about Ben & Jerry's recipe book and check out how we used the Ice Cream Scoop & Stack for this month's recipe. Visit us next month with an easy click of your mouse (be sure to bookmark our site!) for a full review of the Food Chopper. This Ice Cream Maker has us breaking out all sorts of handy gadgets as we chop nuts and stack up towers of our favorite flavors. Thankfully, the included recipe book comes with some "light and healthy" versions or some of us would be wa-a-a-a-a-y off our diet by now!

At about $60, the 1-quart Donvier® Ice Cream Maker is very reasonably priced and we note that it has earned 4-½ stars on Amazon! Pick one up online or at your favorite local retailer.

Tyler Morris Wooden Serving Tray

Beautiful, practical, and constructed for many years of serving breakfast in bed or drinks on the deck, this Wooden Serving Tray from Tyler Morris Woodworking is just about as perfect as a Bridal Shower Gift gets. In the interest of total disclosure, let’s start by admitting Team Diva may know how to decorate with fine wooden trays, but has no idea how to judge the craftsmanship of a fine wooden tray. We do, however, know some fine carpenters so we took it to our favorite furniture maker and asked his opinion.

Turns out those sexy little accents on the corners work are called “splines,” which are little pieces of wood that hold joints together. If you look at the darker tray you will see each spline has an outline made of a different color wood. Basically, they make a spline sandwich of two different woods, fit the spline sandwich into the corner of the tray, and sand the corner so perfectly smooth it’s hard to see the seam. Impressed, we asked how this was accomplished with such tiny bits of wood. Fine carpenter smiled enigmatically and said, “Practice.” He explained the splines are not just beautiful accessories; this type of corner assembly is very durable.

Fine carpenter also says although this tray is made of genuine hardwood, it will be very easy to maintain. We asked if the wood needs to be oiled periodically and he said, “No, it’s been finished with lacquer. Basically all you have to do is keep it wiped clean and don’t leave a wet spill sitting on it. This tray will last for years and look good.” Nice!

Fine carpenter asked how much the tray sells for and we reported $75—$99 depending on the type of wood chosen. He declared it “absolutely worth the price” citing high grade of wood used, craftsmanship, and grace of the design. Ever willing to go the extra mile to quality test on behalf of Diva Darlings everywhere, we loaded our gorgeous tray with refreshments and headed out to the back deck to use it as intended—for our enjoyment.

You can choose from Oak, Maple, Cherry or Walnut and the tray is generously sized at 20” x 14”—which is enough room to hold a platter, pitcher and four drinking glasses or breakfast in bed for two.  We found the best prices at The Bed Tray Shoppe.

Diva Tip: Want to create a show stopping presentation when you give this tray as a gift? Tie three to five bouquets of dried herbs with a bit of pretty ribbon. Use a bit of tacky putty to affix them at an angle in left corner of the tray. Wrap the tray in cellophane wrap and tie a big fabric bow across the right half of the tray.

Purslip® — The undergarment for your purse!

Did you ever spend years wishing you had a solution to an exasperating problem? Then one day you found someone had invented the solution and you couldn’t fall over yourself fast enough to buy one? That is exactly what happened to one Shower Diva staffer when she saw the Purslip®. She came back from a meeting raving about meeting Janine Meyers and this cool new product we just had to see.

Darlings, she was so right.

The Purslip® is an interchangeable purse organizer—basically, an insert that you can move from purse to purse. With Purslip® you can change purses 8 times a day if you want to because you can move all your stuff from bag to bag in seconds! No more arriving at dinner and realizing you left your cell phone in your daytime purse. No more being stuck wearing a brown bag with your black shoes because you didn’t have time to swap purses. If you want to buy a couple of fun purses to freshen up your wardrobe – do it! You’ll be able to change your purse to match your outfit as often as you want to.

Doesn’t that sound like a perfect Bridal Shower gift? We thought so, and when we saw them in person we were convinced.

The first thing you notice about Purslip® is the gorgeous satin polyester fabric. It’s rich and smooth to the touch and has just enough shine to tantalize the eye. The seaming is strong, but smooth and unobtrusive, and there’s a bit of braided cord on one side to make it easy to pull out of your old purse when you want to change bags. A mesh interfacing gives enough body to the sides that it doesn’t flop all over and spill when you pull it out (we had the clumsiest Diva on hand test that feature and she moved it between bags without losing a thing). Inside, there are 4 credit card pockets, 2 larger pockets that are big enough for cell phones or compacts, a zippered pocket for your “personals,” and a pen pocket. 

Purslip® comes in your choice of Ebony or Champagne and a whole range of sizes. There are short, wide versions for your barrel purses, square versions, a couple of rectangular versions, and a large version for big purses and totes. The Aurora is rectangular at the base and the Josephine line is oval at the base.

Buy a set of all three sizes in the Aurora or Josephine styles and you’ll have a beautiful gift for your Guest of Honor for 10% less than you’d spend buying the three sizes separately. Or, buy the size your favorite Bride-to-Be would use the most and fill it with useful essentials she’ll need as a Mrs.

Shop online today.

Diva Tip: Do you already have a purse you absolutely love, but wish it had some pockets inside? Stop digging around in that mishmash at the bottom of your purse every time your cell phone rings! Purslip® transforms any purse into an organizer bag! Or, Diaper Bag for moms on the go! One for the wipes, the other for Diapers, another for your personal appointments!

Rituals Skin Care™ Women’s Shaving Kit

Every Bride-to-Be wants to look her best and this time of year, smooth silky legs are a must. But, shaving can be very rough on skin. The last thing a Bride-to-Be wants is razor burns, bumps, nicks or ingrown hairs. Not pretty! Our recommendation? Gift her with a Rituals Skin Care™ Women’s Gift Set.

One the darling Divas on our staff can’t say enough about this shaving kit. Before she found Rituals Skin Care™, shaving was not an option. Razors literally tore up her dry, sensitive skin. So, she had to wax—which meant waiting for her hair to grow long enough to be waxed. Poor dear spent a lot of hot summer days in long pants. Then, she met Rituals Skin Care™ founder Linda Dickson and came back raving about this product because now she can shave. Her legs look beautiful!

The kit is packaged in an attractive vinyl travel bag and comes with:

• 1 oz. bottle of Anti-Irritation Pre Shave Oil, which creates a protective barrier between your skin and the razor so you can achieve a very close shave without burn or chapping. Plus, it seals in moisture when your skin cells are super-hydrated from your bath or shower and contains an organic antiseptic that heals and soothes superficial cuts and razor irritation instantly.
• 2 oz. jar of All Natural Shaving Cream with Coconut Oil. This deliciously grapefruit-scented cream makes a thick, moisturizing foam that suspends the hair upright so your razor can reach the very base of the hair.
• 2 oz. jar of Organic Milk and Honey Lotion for After Shave, which is rich in Tamanu Oil and Vitamin E, cool, creamy, and never greasy. Its anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties will leave your legs feeling smooth and comfortable.
• A luxurious handmade Anti-Microbial shaving brush. The brush is amazing — it gently exfoliates your skin so there are no dead skin cells between your leg and the razor and lifts your hair away from your leg to deliver a closer shave.

By the way, the Pre-Shave Oil makes an excellent all over moisturizer and the Milk and Honey Lotion is a superb facial moisturizer. Order online—the kit is usually $95, but it’s on sale right now for $75. Also, check out their Spring newsletter for expert shaving tips!

Waterford® Crystal Wedding Heirloom Perfume Bottle

There’s something almost magical about the fusion of minerals and glass that creates ornamental crystal and Waterford® has been setting the standard in fine quality serving ware and crystal décor since 1783. Their elegant Wedding Heirloom Perfume bottle, like everything Waterford® sparkles with a silvery-white brilliance that lesser-quality crystal simply can’t equal. Deep-cut diamond patterns and a gracefully curved shape are topped with a heart-motif stopper to make this an exquisite gift your favorite Bride-to-Be will cherish – and eventually pass down to her children.

Order online or at your nearest Waterford® retailer. $100.

"Give Me Sugar" Haute Hostess^® Aprons

Divas, WOW! These Haute Hostess® Aprons will turn the Bride-to-Be into a glamour puss with the simple tie of a sash. Just try it on and it will become immediately apparent that designer and southern socialite Elizabeth Scokin knows a thing or two about making a woman look hot, hot, hot. (Or is that haute, haute, haute?) Honestly, one of our staff members tied it on when she was wearing jeans and a t-shirt and suddenly she looked like a flirty, fabulous party girl. We suspect the secret lies in carefully constructed gathers that cause the skirt’s tulle netting to pop up in a fashion reminiscent of Dior’s classic "New Look."

The skirt is topped by a wide silky ribbon sash that ties in front. A faceted rhinestone ball dangles from each sash tip where it bounces and winks with every step. Rows of metallic rickrack trim finish the look.

No wonder fashion-forward celebs like Tory Burch and Beyonce (and Scarlet, and Naomi, and...) love Haute Hostess® Aprons. Gift a Bride-to-Be or Bachelorette with this apron - it’s the easiest way we know to turn any shower into a Hollywood-style soiree. After the wedding, your favorite Bride-to-Be can use it whenever she's entertaining. It would be lovely at a dinner party and lovelier worn alone to entertain the groom.

For the Bride-to-Be or Bachelorette, choose either the Courtney or Sarah versions. Then, if you want to dress up the rest of the Bridal party, choose a colorful version that will match or complement the wedding colors. Order online at HauteHostessAprons.com. They will arrive beautifully packaged in black and pink tissue with a Haute Hostess® Apron gift bag included. $100

Diva Tip. Tie "Give Me Sugar" Haute Hostess® Aprons around the chair backs at your Bridal Shower or Bachelorette Party to dress up the room. During the festivities, you can give them as prizes or simply gift the wedding party with them at the end of the party.

America the Beautiful - Annual National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass

Does your favorite Bride-to-Be prefer a hiking date over dinner and dancing? Does she love to curl up next to her sweetheart in a tent, rather than a downtown hotel? Does she define going “green” as getting out oftown and into the forest? Here’s an original gift idea! Give her an Annual National Parks Pass. She and her Groom will have access to, and use of, any Federal recreation site that charges an entrance or amenity fee for one year, beginning from the date of sale.

Annual passes cost $80 and admit the pass holder and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas. The pass holder and up to 3 adult guests are admitted at per person fee areas (children under 16 are admitted free).

It’s a year’s worth of natural, historical, and cultural wonders and supports the maintenance of our priceless Federal recreation areas. Just right for the Bride-to-Be who would rather wear hiking boots than high heels! Purchase America the Beautiful passes online or at any national park by calling 1-888-ASK-USGS, ext 1.

The Goddess Next Door Bath and Body Products

Good Goddess! Ladies, you’ll love these bath and body products from The Goddess Next Door.

Inspired Goddess, her shea butter formula hand and foot cream, smells just like a mint ice cream cone. Deeply moisturizing and delightfully soothing, this mint-infused cream rejuvenates tired hands and feet and soothes dry, itchy skin. It’s perfect as a massage cream. Sensuous Goddess bath salts have a slightly spicy floral scent that is luxurious to bathe in, but not cloying. It makes a delightful exfoliant and like all her products, it is handmade and all-natural. Divine Goddess whipped sugar scrubmoisturizes and exfoliates in one step and has a sweet scent remniscent of maple candy. You won't believe how yummy it smells and how pretty your skin looks after you use it. These are exclusive to The Goddess Next Door so you won't find them anywhere else.

If you're creating a pampering spa product for your favorite Bride-to-Be, make sure you include The Goddess Next Door bath and body products. Our friend Juanita, who received these products for Christmas says, "When people find out about this stuff, The Goddess won't be able to make it fast enough!"

Inspired Goddess hand/body cream is $15.95 for an 8 oz jar and Sensuous Goddess bath salts are $18.95, and Divine Goddess whipped sugar scrub is $19.95 for hefty 16 oz. jars. You can order online or call The Goddess Next Door at 503-803-8404.

While you're at it, check out The Amazing Hot Heart Massager, also available from The Goddess Next Door.

Lucky Rainbow Napkins

These beautiful napkins, dyed in rich colors to minimize stains, will light up any Bride's table. Lucky Rainbow Napkin Co. hand cuts the napkins out of 100% cotton French terry cloth, which is soft, absorbent and machine washable. Plus, unlike linen napkins, these don’t need ironing! Just pull them out of the dryer, roll both sides toward the middle and secure with the included ties or use your own napkin rings. Each napkin is approximately 11” x 19” and they come in your choice of six intense colors. Buy online in sets of 8, 12, 18, or 24.

Buti-Bag Bundle

Brides-to-Be will love this for keeping their makeup and other small essentials organized (Or Mothers-to-Be might like it for diapering accoutrements!). The Bundle is a versatile, top-quality bag in some of themost classy fabric choices we’ve seen.

Buti-Bag offers The Bundle in 17 styles of cotton shell fabric, all of them so beautiful that it’s hard to choose a favorite. The polyester lining and trim is so smooth you’d swear it was silk. It’s 9.5" x 27" and has pockets everywhere! We love that it hangs over a door so everything is right at hand when it’s open. It's perfect for carrying make-up too! Double-reinforced bindings, sturdy construction, and metal hardware make it well worth the price, since it will last for many years. This gift will take your favorite Bride-to-Be from the church dressing room to the honeymoon hotel and become one of those essentials she can’t imagine living without!

Order online at butibag.com today or call 704-372-1009!

Wedding Day Survival Kit: An emergency crisis abatement kit for the big day

If there's one thing that every bride wants on her wedding day, it's to look her stunning best. Hard to do when she's two minutes from the aisle and suddenly realizes she has the worst case of static cling ever seen in the developed world. Or her hem has fallen on one side. Or nerves have upset her stomach. Make sure your Bride-to-Be is prepared for any crisis with the Wedding Day Survival Kit by Mr. & Mrs. A stylish train case holds 30 emergency essentials such as static remover, double-sided hem tape, antacid – even a set of extra wedding bands! Plus, after the big day is over, she can tuck it into her honeymoon luggage. Voilá! Traveling chic insurance!

Kits are available for the entire wedding party at amazon.com.

Plane to See Security Bag: Clearly a good idea!

Ever been in the security line at the airport trying to fish your purse-sized lotion bottle out of the bottom of your carry-on bag so you can stow it in an "airline-approved" Ziploc bag? And then you have to dig out your lip balm? And your perfume? While the passengers behind you in the line shift from foot to foot? Not stylish, darlings. Which is why The Shower Diva recommends this clever little see-thru bag designed to help your Bride-to-Be sail through airport security. It's airline-approved and reusable. Add a few clear travel bottles for her shampoo and other necessities and she's prepared even if she reaches her honeymoon destination before her luggage does.

For more information go to http://www.spoonsisters.com

Sugar Scrubs: Indulge the Bride-to-Be

For serious skin rejuvenation nothing compares to a sugar scrub. Unlike salt crystals, which have sharp corners, sugar can be used to gently exfoliate the entire body and moisturize at the same time. It's fantastic for rough knees and elbows, preps skin for tanning, and can even be used for shaving. Our favorite sugar scrub trick is to use it to revitalize tired, dusty feet before going out in sandals. It's the perfect pick-me-up for busy Brides-to-Be and her Groom will love the sweet fragrance of sugar on her glowing skin.

Make your own or choose your favorite at GCDSpa.com

The Most Elegant E-cards on the Web

After I received my first Jacquie Lawson e-card, I immediately ordered a subscription. I was absolutely blown away by the breathtaking illustrations and captivating music that accompanied the animations. These e-cards by Jacquie Lawson are beautifully rendered, unique masterpieces in their own right. Each card is set to carefully orchestrated music. I hope that you will find them as enchanting as I do.

Send a gift of Jacquie Lawson e-cards to your friends. Why not gift the Bride-to-Be (or Mom-to-Be for that matter) with an annual subscription? Or gift yourself with a subscription! Prices at this time are $10 annually or $16 for two years. You may send as many cards as often as you like throughout your subscription. No limit! You can even keep an address book. There is an automatic email reminder that you can easily set up so you'll never again miss an important date such as a birthday or anniversary!

Towel Cakes for Bridal Showers (2-tier)

These beautiful, elegant 2-tiered towel cakes are constructed lovingly by hand to look amazingly like the real thing! This is an upscale extra shower gift that can pose first as your table’s centerpiece! Place Cymbidium orchids, hydrangeas and candles alongside this chic work of art and voila! – You’ve added that designer’s touch.

The 2-tiers are comprised of two bath towels, hand towels and face cloths. It comes complete with a keepsake topper, flowers, doilies, pearls, spray, doves with two rings, bells, bride's kerchief, garter, ring pillow and ribbon.

Choose from 1-tier up to 4-tiers. Found on BadaBadaBride.com these towel cake prices range from $54.95 to $144.95. The 2-tiered cake featured here is $79.95.

The Message Matters

Another inspired, original way to gift the Bride-to-Be in your life is to get her a subscription to ILiveInspired.com. For $47.88 a year, I Live Inspired will send daily uplifting text messages to the bride’s cell phone.There are many categories from which to choose, including a 12 step recovery daily message, teachings from the Dalai Lama and more. A category that caught our eye was Inspired Parenting. This is a great choice for the Bride-to-Be who is entering into a blended family situation. There are daily tips for living “green,” meditation and stress reduction and even a daily message for quitting smoking. A Living Inspired text message subscription is an innovative addition to a bridal shower gift. If you’re really flush, one of these subscriptions would be a great shower favor!

Bobbi Brown's Bridal Kit

Every bride needs a make-up survival kit so why not gift her with one of the best – Bobbi Brown's Here Comes The Bride Bridal Kit comes in a sleek white case with interior pockets and mirror which includes Ivory Eye Shadow, Black Ink Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner, a Short-Handle Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush, Black No Smudge Mascara, and Pink Sugar Shimmer Lip Gloss. Plus, there's room to add your own favorites.($75)

This excellent gift idea is one that will take the bride through her wedding, the reception and straight into honeymoon launch! What's more, these products last awhile, so she won't have to restock her travel kit for awhile!

Diva Bonus! – view Bobbi's online video – Make up Tips for the Bride!

Dropwise Essentials

If you've got a daring, darling Bridezilla on your hands, you can't go wrong by gifting her with an array of aromatherapy products. Check out Dropwise Essentials, the manufacturer of pure aromatherapy and all-natural personal care products,

These all natural products are:

• Free of petroleum and synthetic chemicals
• Made with certified organic ingredients
• Formulated with 100% pure essential oils
• Earth-friendly and cruelty free
• Pharmacist endorsed.

You'll find everything from aromatherapy spa kits, lip balms, diffusers, body oils and more! Products are priced way nice, too. For example, the deluxe spa kit is only $55. That's not bad, ladies! Not bad at all!

TestTube™ Beauty

A Bride-to-Be's beauty regiment doesn't come without a hefty price tag, but what's a girl to do if there's no budget? Gift her with a subscription to TestTube Beauty and watch those stress lines melt away! She'll get 4 hefty TestTubes of top drawer beauty products to sample four times a year. Price: $29.95 x 4.

Some recent product samples sent out by TestTube were from Estee Lauder, Actifirm (Morning &Evening Skin Care Regimen), Obagi System (Professional C-Serum), Dr. Brandt (Laser in a Bottle) andSkinMedica.

TestTube says of its product program, "The TestTube™ Sampling program is designed to provide our customers with a unique array of sampling products. All products are subject to change based upon availability. The TestTube™ you receive may include different products than are currently listed on our website, however, the value of the TestTube™ products in each tube will always significantly exceed the subscription price."

I love it when goodies exceed my expectations!

Add to the bride's gift package a subscription to NewBeauty magazine. It comes straight from the people who set up the TestTube program. Price: $29.95 for one year

This beauty combo of TestTube products and magazine subscription would be a great Spa Shower theme gift for the Bride-to-Be in your life.

Bridal Beauty Essentials Package

In case you have no idea what a bride's beauty regiment might be, take a look at this rundown from Physician's Skin Solutions Bridal Beauty Essentials Package.

• Six months prior to your wedding date, setup a consultation with a Board-Certified Physician that specializes in progressive skin care.
• Do your research to determine your options.
• Use products that have been recommended or prescribed by a Board-Certified Physician, as there are many effective products that are only available prescribed by a Physician.
• Use the prescribed skin care products as directed and do not falter on the regiment.
• If you choose to tan, use a hypoallergenic self-tanning product that is prescribed especially for your skin type and coloration.
• Apply hypoallergenic prescription level sunscreen on a daily basis or as directed.
• Drink plenty of water and cut down on caffeine consumption if possible.
• Take your vitamins!!

We're not hyping this website nor recommending that you watch every episode of TV's Nip/Tuck or Extreme Makeovers! We just want you to know what kind of pressure brides are under these days and how enormous her expenditures can be. Make it easier on her with a subscription to Test Tube Beauty!

Rose Bouquets from 1-800-FLOWERS.com

Pricey but nicey
and still a good deal
if you stop to remember
these roses are real!

If you're contemplating centerpieces for an upscale Valentine bridal shower or bachelorette, take a hike over to 1-800-FLOWERS.com and check out this elegant rose bouquet. It comes in a dark amethyst vase outfitted with a sassy bling ring napkin holder. It's even got a ring display box on the side! Place two white candles in silver or crystal candle holders on either side of the bouquet and VOILA! You've got elegance! Use white, pink and red decor accents wherever you can for your February shower. Don't forget to give the bouquet and napkin ring to the bride to take home!

Bling Ring Napkin Holders

Snap up some of these bling ring napkin holders and make your table Diva Divine! Red, gold or white napkins will pop your table decor into the stratosphere! There's nothing like festive Valentine's Day red to cure the winter blues. Place red candles and white hydrangeas afloat in crystal bowls on your table. Let the bling sing! If you're opting to go chic but are on a budget, check out Target.com or your favorite discount mart for inexpensive white plates, cups, saucers and red accent platters. Don't go paper or mismatched china. Oh no....

• Diamond Ring Napkin Rings are 4 for $48.00
• Prodyne JUBILEE Acrylic Diamond Napkin Rings are 4 for $9.99 (AN-60)