A shopping blog of cool gift ideas

Dog lovers like to spoil their pets every chance they can get, whether it's the coziest bed, tasty treats, long walks, and wardrobes spiffier then their own. But how far does one go in pampering their pooch? For the ultimate indulgence, there's the Day at the Spa Robe. 

This luxurious and soft robe comes in an assortment of colors and features a waist tie and little tassels. They'll think they've died and gone to doggie heaven. It's a great gift for your little dog or for the dog lover in your life. 

Day at the Spa Robe starting at $10.99

Recently, while I was on the hunt for some hot holiday gifts at a trade show, this cool Earbags Sprigs Banjees Wrist Wallet caught my eye. I decided to give it a test run of my own over Memorial Day weekend. Being a weekend adventurer I went everywhere — rode my bike all around the city, walked the beach, and hit a couple of BBQ's. While I pedaled away the wallet held on tight. It's a little tricky cramming everything in there, but once I figured it out, it was smooth sailing and I enjoyed every minute of my holiday weekend without once worrying if I dropped my wallet along the way. It's the perfect gift for an travel enthusiast or the person on the go. 

Earbags Sprigs Banjees Wrist Wallet starting at $14

It's officially the first day of summer, and it seems like the season is stacked with all sorts of celebrations. Fourth of July is just a couple of weeks away, and there are always a zillion weddings, graduation bashes, barbecues, baby showers, pool parties and more. Luckily, Philosophy has just come out with a line of gift sets that will suit your every warm-weather need (as if we didn't love Philosophy enough already).

The sets' themes run the gamut from thank you to congratulations to beach party. Which means you can show up wherever with the perfect gift in hand. My favorites are the Summer Skincare Rescue Pack (take it to make up for crashing at your pal's beach house all summer) and the Lip Gelato Trio (so appropriate for friends embarking on a European vacay—or, um, pretending to go on one). Wow, I love how these take all the guesswork out of summer gifting!

Summer Skincare Rescue Pack starting at $35.00
Lip Gelato Trio starting at $25.00

When you hear the words "eco-friendly fashion", people often think of some dowdy hemp sack, but this beautiful and striking blues charm necklace is anything but. Made from recycled glass, these large circle pieces make a dramatic fashion statement and an instant conversation starter.

If wearing pretty jewelry helps out the world even a little, then hey, I'm happy to make the sacrifice! Just in time for the holiday party season, the designer is also launching a high-end line featuring gold links instead of silver, so start saving your pennies now.

Blues Charm Necklace starting at $195

When it comes to jelly shoes, I had a pair in the '80s and then another in the '90s and well…apparently it's time to buy another pair. This time around jellies have been given the designer treatment, so they're more comfortable and better looking than the ones I sported.

I especially love these colorful Maui Jelly Flip Flops by Kate Spade. The sandals are just as cute as the jellies of old (brightly colored, made of rubber, easy to clean) and yet much cooler (literally, as they actually let your feet breathe). They'd make an awesome gift for graduation or a summer birthday for the Trendanista in your life!

Maui Jelly Flip Flops by Kate Spade starting at $60.00

Like most grads, I kept the tassel from my cap as a keepsake, but the only display it got was on my rearview mirror. If only I had a more fashionable graduation keepsake that I could sport year round.

Well, girls and their obsession with being fashionable will never change and they don’t have to, even when it comes to saying sayonara to senioritis thanks to Juicy Couture grad jewelry. This cute collection of charms, bracelets and rings all come stamped with 2008 so she can remember her graduation year in style.

My favorite is the Limited Edition Pennant Charm. It features a pastel enamel pennant embossed with the words Juicy Class 08 and a tassel accent. It's the perfect way to say congrats to the Trendanista graduate. I'm sure she’ll think of cooler ways to sport this stuff than in her rearview mirror!

Limited Edition Pennant Charm starting at $42.00

Who says you have to look like everyone else on your big graduation day? This awesome Dr. Seuss Graduation Cap makes it easy to grab the right cap after you throw yours in the air. Perfect for the class clown, it's made to match the cover of the popular "Oh, the Places You'll Go!". And with a cap like this, you may not know exactly where you'll go, but you know you'll definitely have fun getting there. 

Dr. Seuss Graduation Cap starting at $12.99

There's really no denying that college is an exciting time in a person's life. There are new friends, new activities, more freedom and independence, and the chance to even sleep-in and have Fridays off with the right class schedule. The not so exciting part, though, is the sudden lack of space. Sharing a single dorm room, often the size of a walk-in closet, can be a challenge. But with a lot of organization, some strategic planning, and products designed for small spaces, it doesn't have to be so bad — and can even be kind of fun.

The Dahon Folding Bike is perfect for a high school graduate going off to college in the fall who may not have room to store a traditional bike. He or she will love the ease of getting around campus without sacrificing crucial storage space. Not only can the bike be housed conveniently and out of the way, but it can be easily folded and transported in the trunk of a car, which will be perfect for those trips back home on long weekends!

Dahon Folding Bike, Espresso starting at $399

What do you get the grad who's always been a class clown? Not some boring old dorm fridge, that's for sure. But this USB Mini Frig is a different story.

Any jokester will appreciate the wonderful absurdity/genius of this one-can-only cooler. Just put the bevvy in the retro-looking device, plug it into the computer, and within seconds, you've got an ice-cold drink without even having to leave your chair! Which means it's perfect for the lazy college student. Not to mention an awesome graduation gift for the grad with the Best Sense of Humor.

USB Mini Frig starting at $24.99

One of the best things about college is receiving care packages from home. I used to look forward to a care package as much — if not more — than putting a hard test behind me or blowing off steam at a party on the weekends. My favorite packages were filled with sugar and snacks that made the all night cram sessions a bit more bearable.

The Off to College Gift is just the gift to get a new high school graduate off on the right foot. Filled with dorm life essentials like a small hammer and screwdriver kit, a collapsible clothes hamper, first aid kit, a "how to" book for laundry, and my fav, plenty of snacks, it has all the things a brand new college student will need — and appreciate! — in those first few weeks of the new semester.

Off to College Gift starting at $29.95