A shopping blog of cool gift ideas

Sure, toys have come a long way since I was a child and Barbie was still the main kid on the block, but like a classic hamburger, sometimes the old-fashioned stuff is even better than all the new bells and whistles on the market. I have so many happy memories of fun-filled hours with my Etch a Sketch, Lite Brite, and Colorforms—so much so, that I want to pass along the tradition of these creative toys to a new generation.

A replica of the original 1951 Colorforms set would make a perfect birthday gift for kids of all ages. Show your child there’s fun to be had without electronics and crazy sound effects, or get nostalgic with a “kid” your own age, remembering a time when plastic shapes + a glossy surface = hours of creative games, puzzles and activities!

Original Colorforms Set starting at $30

Anyone who knows anything about interior design knows that one of the keys to creating the right ambiance is good lighting. I can’t tell you how disappointing it is to walk into a home or restaurant for a dinner party and discover that the food is phenomenal, the guests well-dressed, the décor is lovely, but the lighting is all wrong! And with so many different lighting options, such a faux pas really is avoidable.

Even in small rooms, people can still create the perfect mood with smart lighting. This glow light table, for example, is perfect for the urban dweller with limited space. Radiating a mod orange glow from a frosted glass tabletop, it’s high on design and function. And it elimnates the need for a lamp altogether. The glow light table would make a perfect housewarming or birthday gift for the modern design lover!

Glow Light Table starting at $128

Dogs have always been man’s best friend, but more than ever now, dogs have become our babies. You know what I’m talking about—you see those couples walking their designer dogs with designer duds and you just know they’ll be tucking their beloved pooches into plush doggie beds every night for years and years to come.

If that’s a little too posh and over-the-top for you, why not spoil your “baby” with homemade baked goods? Hey, if kids get warm cookies after school, then it’s only right your dog should, too. This Dog Lovers Gift Basket takes gourmet doggie treats to the next level with doggie brownie mix, a doggie biscuit mix with a bone shaped biscuit cutter and a doggie cake mix. With a few toys for good measure, this is the perfect birthday gift for your favorite dog owner who loves to bake!

Bake Me Lots of Treats Basket starting at $59.95

Drinking games have gotten a whole lot more sophisticated since the college days when we drank bottom-shelf liquor straight from the bottle. With these beautiful rocking vodka glasses that always seem about to tip over, you don’t even need to touch the vodka to feel the effects of the game.

The glasses are rounded on the bottom so they sway from side to side. Sometimes it seems like a cruel trick because you think your drink really is about to spill, but their bases are stable enough that you can safely fill the glasses all the way to the top! Careful, though—drinking games may have gotten more sophisticated since college, but there’s still nothing cool about a hangover.

The rocking vodka glasses are a perfect host or housewarming gift for someone who loves to entertain. If you’re really feeling generous, throw in a bottle of the good stuff and ensure an invite to the next big party!

Set of Rocking Vodka Glasses starting at $40

The Discovery Channel’s 20th Anniversary of Shark Week is officially underway. Am I watching? You bet. Am I going into the ocean any time soon? Not a chance. What I love about Shark Week is how the lineup of suspenseful shows can simultaneously terrify and educate you.

A nugget from last night’s kick off: annually there are on average four human deaths at the jaws of sharks each year as opposed to 40 millions sharks killed by people each year. No wonder they’re pissed.

Anyway, there’s no denying the fascination with these fish. The Discovery Channel has just released the Shark Week 20th Anniversary DVD Collection. The four DVD set includes 14 classic shark programs including “Shark Hunter: Chasing the Great White” and “Anatomy of a Shark Bite.” This DVD set is perfect for anyone who’s glued to Discovery Channel this week. I know it’s summer, but this gorgeous box set is the perfect way to get a nice jump on holiday shopping too.

And if 11 hours of gruesome shark programming on DVD is a little heavy for the youngsters, check out the Shark Reef Aquarium and see if your goldfish are as freaked out by sharks as people are!

The key to a kid’s birthday party is usually an amazing cake. And if you know a mom who’s in a panic about not being able to make an edible 3D replica of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts Castle, you might be able to save her. Give her a set of these animal stand up cookie cutters so she can bake a batch of 3D animal cookies instead. With a bit of frosting artistry, any kid would run to get their hands on these playful treats.

If you’ve got a kid who likes to cook (or if you want him to learn), this is a fun project to get him in the kitchen too. And if you’re really brave, you could host a cookie decorating party for the kids. You do the baking and they’ll do the decorating–just be ready to clean up the frosting and sprinkles explosion.

StandUp Animal Cookie Cutters starting at $19.95

I’m a huge Simpsons fan. I’ve been on board since the first season so I’ve been counting the minutes until the Simpsons Movie hits the big screen. And while I’m at it, I might just treat myself to some new Simpsons merchandise! I’m already the proud owner of such fine pieces as the Simpsons Magic 8-Ball, the Simpsons talking golf club head covers and the talking Krusty the Clown doll, so what’s next on my wish list?

I’ve got my eye on this new book, the Simpsons Handbook: Secret Tips from the Pros. It’s a detailed artist’s manual that will help any amateur draw everyone from Bart to Marge. I also rounded up a bunch of other great options in my Ultimate Simpsons Gift List. Check it out!

TGIF. You’ve got your paycheck in hand and we’ve got a few ideas on how to blow it—on family and friends, of course. But feel free to treat yourself, too. Nothing wrong with a little self-gifting.

For the weekend kickoff: Keep the cold ones cold at the backyard party with a patio beverage tub.

For the frugal fashionista: A Libertine for Target top–you gotta get this new collection while it’s hot and before it sells out.

For Simpsons fans: A donut shaped radio that Homer would love.

For a rainy day emergency: Download a free instant-gift, this paper craft will save you from kids who are having an “I’m bored” breakdown. (via teensygreen)

For the trendy music lover: A retro-feelin’ mix tape makeup set to stop, fast-forward and rewind her beauty routine.

For the caffeine addict: A single cup coffee maker so she can get her morning dose fast.

One of my favorite pastimes in college was creating and listening to mix tapes. My friends and I would spend hours deliberating on which songs were mix tape-worthy and then we’d throw them in our cars and listen to them on long summer road trips.

Now that I’ve had an iPod for a couple of years, I’ve transferred that creative energy from making mixed tapes into creating playlists for commutes and workouts. And with the iPod Roadtrip Charger, I can easily juice up my iPod in the car stereo and listen to new school playlists with all my friends again. Awesome!

The iPod Roadtrip Charger would make an ideal gift for the music lover in your life—or better yet, someone you’re planning a road trip with!

iPod Roadtrip Charger starting at $69.99

If you need a way to beat the heat, we’ve got water games for every skill level.

For the rookie: Soak these Barraki squid balls in water and throw them at your unsuspecting opponent for a big splash. Super easy for any kid to master, but expect these to come bombarding right back at ya.

For the sharp shooter: A stream of soaking water is good, but being able to fire off a blast of ice cold water is even better (unless you’re the target of course!) and the Super Soaker Aqua Shock Arctic Blast can do just that. The owner of this one will have the whole neighborhood running.

For the aqua sniper: See ya super soaker! Take a more sophisticated approach to your water blasting game with a remote controlled water cannon. Throw it in the pool or lake and use your spy skills to sneak up on innocent rafters and sun bathers.