The Shower Diva: Where Fun Reigns!

Susan Newton, The Shower Diva

Where did 2009 go? As we exhale from the turkey and begin holiday preparations, it's a time to reflect and I'd like to thank you once again for being part of The Shower Diva's growing community. If you're new to our site, welcome! We have been busy this year keeping our pulse on the hottest shower and party trends - while setting some ourselves - to help you create fabulous showers easily and stylishly.

A hearty thanks to all of you who contribute greatly to our success. You have been so generous by freely sharing your suggestions, stories, photos, and wonderful ideas with our readers; you have made our newsletter richer and beautiful. A special thanks to those of you who have become recent fans of TheShowerDiva.com through the hotteset new social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, and DivaDarlings.NET or through my personal blog. Your eloquent testimonials and your recommending TheShowerDiva.com to your family, colleagues and friends has led to an increase of readership and community through your outreach of love.

As with last year, it's still difficult for many Americans. "We're not out of the woods yet!" as they say. This falls in line with a theme that has been coming up as a re-occurring trend. It's a classic, and when times are tough, we tend to opt for tradition and stability.

The kitchen is the heart of the home where plenty of conversations have been held. The dining room is a comfortable place to relax, eat, unwind and share the day with loved ones. What better way for us to embrace security right now in our own lives than to serve a homemade meal, break bread with loved ones and host a baby shower or bridal shower around a kitchen? My theme this month is centered around just that theme! A recipe-themed shower!

 

2009 Highlights

I have always enjoyed designing special themes for friends. So when Victoria Recano enlisted my help in designing creative baby and bridal shower themes for the events she has thrown it was fun. And when it was her turn have a baby shower of her own, I was thrilled to be able to create something extra special for Victoria herself! And then on top of that to be included and part of her showerin February was such a treat for me. Then to make things even more exciting I found out from Natalie of the Hot Moms Club and Victoria that The Shower Diva City Block Diaper Cake Centerpieces would be featured on WeTVs New Hit Series Platinum Babies on its Premiere Episode in November 2009!

I blushed when Victoria gave me a shout out, thanks so much!! What a sweet friend! Victoria and Tom's baby Emme is so adorable, have you all seen her picture???

In March, Brooke Fox and Monti Carlo interviewed me on the number one radio station in Seattle, "The Ladies Room" -- MOViN 92.5 . Brooke was in a quandary over how to throw Monti, a not so girly girl, a baby shower. At first it seemed a Baby-Que might be the answer to her co-ed shower, but upon further discussion, we ended up coming up with an "Organic Bookworm-Themed Shower" designed especially for the couple's first baby boy. Read more!

One of my favorite expos I enjoyed speaking at this year was the Indy Baby + Toddler Expo from Bebe Paluzza. I met some great people including the SMOTY Award-Winning Jenn Kempmeier and the audience was super! We played games and I gave away thousands of dollars worth of prizes and gifts from BadaBadaBingo Fun Games Co!. With the assistance of Katie "The Right Hand Diva" and Jessica from Celly Smellys, I am sure the audience left with enough knowledge so that everyone felt confident in that they too could throw a successful baby shower with the grace of a diva!

This year I was honored with a listing on the Mum Squad from Bebe Paluzza which is comprised of "Mums" who are outstanding business owners. (Blush, thank you Jenn!)

In Fall, I along with my co-host Melissa Moog, ItsaBelly Baby Planner, hosted a Baby Sprinkle for CBS Koin News Anchor, Jenny Hansson, complete with Starbucks Baristsas, a Licensed Masseusse (Erin Beauchamp), Cupcakes from St. Cupcakes, Chatty Cookies, Preggatinis, Scrapbooking fun by Scrappin Getaway, and Karolines Nannies to watch the kids while we all had grownup time!

I am now honored to be part of and post shower expert advice on Brooke Burke's ModernMom.com. I would like to continue to invite you to be part of our social networking site created just for you, [the shower hostesses, brides, grooms, newleyweds, moms, moms-to-be, dads, dads-to-be, grandparents, aunts, uncles, guests and more!]: DivaDarlings.NET. Our mascot, Diva Darla runs that network and as we watch it grow, we also watch as the love continues to spill over. Throughout 2010 we will continue to run contests and have even more giveaways than ever! So be sure to sign up if you haven't already done so. It's free to join and it's really fun to meet the other members!! Join groups, start blogs, get in on forums. You can even host your own private online shower too, complete with RSVPs, while uploading pre-during-and post-photos, videos and more!

I hosted Nickelodeon's Worlds Biggest Online Baby Shower for ParentsConnect.com, which took place on Wednesday, December 16th from 10am-5pm EST. There were so many great prizes, including a baby shower bundle from BadaBadaBingo Fun Games Co! Through all of our combined efforts, it was you who made it the huge success, so thank you, thank you, thank you! Over 4000 people RSVPd to the event. And on the day, over 1100 were able to sign up and get into the party! Of course, if you've ever been to a diva party you're used to standing room only and ya gotta get there early!!

I am in the process of completing a custom game for actress and former Dancing with the Stars contestant, Melissa Joan Hart, which is for her SweetHarts shop in Sherman Oaks, California. It's coming out beautifully!! I hope that each one of you when you plan your Hollywood tour, make this one of your final destinations. It's a sweet shop filled with goodies, ice cream and candied delights!

"Susan's games are so creative. I love what she does!"
~Melissa Joan Hart

Finally, my wish for everyone is that you have a warm, wonderful and safe holiday season no matter what religion, if any, that you celebrate. And I hope and that peace fills your heart and soul. We all need that soft place to land at night. So often we can take the simplest pleasures and gifts for granted. It seems only when they are taken away that we realize what we had. Let's hope for a good future and the best today, whatever that looks like. We can all find gratitude for what we have, be it big or small, as we are all blessed in different ways.

I am thankful for you, and I am thankful so very much for my family. I am thankful for a place to be still and for a place to just be. It really is all about the love, no matter where we go.

"I wanted to get pregnant just so I could have a Susan Sparkle Shower!"
~Jenni Hogan, KIRO TV, Seattle (She was a newbie hostess when I came in and helped with Stephanie Stricklen and her shower for Jenny Hansson's first Baby Shower in 2006 - Now she is pregnant and I am looking forward to doing something very, very special for her spring baby!!)

Happy Holidays. Here comes 2010!

---

About Susan Newton

Susan Newton is The Shower Diva. She created this website to help women and men throw the best parties for their friends. You can read more about Susan "The Shower Diva" here.

We would like to thank our sponsor BadaBadaBingo Fun Games Co! LLC for making it possible to bring TheShowerDiva.com to many thousands of people. If you are interested in helping support this website, limited advertising opportunites are opening up in 2010. Please inquire here. They will be reviewed on a first come basis and content must be approved and be applicable to our readers' interest. Happy Holidays!!