A shopping blog of cool gift ideas

Pampering your pooch just got a lot more posh than tasty biscuits and fleece-lined dog beds. Now your pup can enjoy the same luxurious treatment that you do at your favorite salon. The Posh Pooch Set includes Juicy Crittoure Shampooch, Coif Fur Conditioner and even a hush brush packaged in a fancy kit (no doggie bag for your furry friend!). 

Treat your pooch to a special grooming that will make him or her the envy of the dog park! And go ahead and add those tasty biscuits to really make your pup feel pampered–after all, man's best friend deserves it, right?

Posh Pooch Set starting at $55

No doubt preschoolers are better served with more time reading books and less time in front of the TV. But if there were ever a perfect reason to spend a little time in front of the TV, it would be to watch classic kid's stories come to life with Scholastic's Treasury of Storybook Classics DVD Set. 

This 16 DVD set has 100 award-winning and classic children's stories including Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Corduroy and Curious George Rides a Bike with celebrity narrators such as Sarah Jessica Parker, James Earl Jones and Forest Whitaker. I just wouldn't advise watching all 15 hours in one sitting. A great gift for book-loving kids 2 years old and up (as well as their parents!).

Scholastic's Treasury of Storybook Classics DVD Set starting at $99.95

It may be fall, but that doesn't mean the sun is hibernating until next summer. There's still enough solar energy to power a race car! This fun and educational solar-powered outdoor racing set is a great way to teach kids about the environment as they speed their sun-powered micro vehicles down the expandable race track. Another lesson learned might come from the fact that it's still warm enough to play outside!

Solar-Powered Outdoor Racing Set starting at $19.99

It shouldn't come as any surprise that I love nice things and I'm crazy about upgrades. If my favorite brand of sheets adds so much as two more threads to their count, I'll buy a new set.

So when I tasted Bellagio Sipping Chocolate for the first time, I knew it had to replace standard hot chocolate for me. Watch my video to see how delicious it really is, especially when it's in the form of a chocolate martini! Like a melted chocolate bar, the Bellagio Sipping Chocolate is rich, creamy, and incredibly decadent. A great host or hostess gift for any chocolate lover this fall and winter!

Bellagio Sipping Chocolate starting at $20.40

Some things never change from childhood to adulthood: ice cream sandwiches still hit the spot, summer vacations are always too short and waking up early just doesn't feel as good as sleeping in late. Luckily, alarm clocks have gotten a whole lot cooler since I was a kid and with something like the Discovery Space Projection Alarm Clock, waking up early can actually be fun!

The futuristic clock projects time and space images, like a full moon, starry sky, or Saturn, onto ceilings and walls. Kids can wake up to three different spaceship sounds instead of an annoying buzzer. A great birthday gift for the student studying the solar system or that budding astronaut in your life! 

Discovery Space Projection Alarm Clock starting at $29.95

There are a handful of gifts that, given to a young woman on her birthday, will be sure to make her entire year: a 12-month supply of chocolate, a star-studded birthday bash thrown by yours truly, and a comfy, stylish cashmere sweater.

This Canterbury of New Zealand women's v-neck cashmere and wool blend sweater makes a statement in bold navy blue and ivory stripes. Whether it's paired with jeans, a skirt or worn under a blazer it always says 'cozy chic.' Throw in a few chocolates, and I bet your birthday girl won't even notice that the paparazzi didn't make it to her party again.

Canterbury of New Zealand Women's V-neck Sweater starting at $128

Now that the Red Sox captured their World Series title, why not let your dog help show off your love for Boston. This Red Sox jersey will make your pup the cutest fan.

And if you have a friend who's celebrating the win, instead of buying him the typical World Series championship gear, give him this jersey for his pooch instead.

Boston Red Sox Baseball Jersey for pets starting at $32.95

When is a bowl not just a regular bowl? Take a look at these gorgeous Brazilian agate bowls whose beauty and size present many possibilities. Use them to catch keys and loose change, hold jewelry or other small mementos or serve snacks in them at a cocktail party. They can even be left empty and displayed on a table or windowsill where the sunlight can illuminate their unique pattern.

Your friend who just moved will love these agate bowls as a housewarming gift (now she’ll have a place to store all that loose change she found when moving the couch)!

Agate Bowls starting at $50

Here in New York, the weather is just starting to feel like fall, but the season's hottest fashions have been hitting the streets since well before Labor Day. As usual, animal prints are a big trend this year. Maybe cheetah print shoes and leopard print leggings aren't her bag, but how could that birthday girl in your life resist a funky zebra ring?

The zebra Murano glass fashion ring is daringly bold and wildly chic and perfect for the style loving woman who wants to make a statment without screaming it from a rooftop!

Zebra Murano Glass Fashion Ring starting at  $115

With so many of my friends having babies, you can bet I've seen my fair share of toys. So it's rare that one actually catches my eye. But this Haba Little Friends First Playset is in a league of its own.

The adorable playset comes with a menagerie of toys, like a charming wooden mouse rattle and a plush kitty ring. And they all wrap up neatly in a precious carrying case shaped like a house. Baby will love it for its soft critters; Mom will love it for its old-fashioned appeal. Make it your next baby shower gift.

Haba Little Friends First Playset starting at $58.49