A shopping blog of cool gift ideas

As American citizens come together to celebrate Independence Day, it's good to give thanks to those who serve our country every day. Recently, I spoke with my brother, an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, and asked him how the units celebrated the Fourth during his tour overseas.   

"Overall, the Fourth is just like any other day overseas.  A lot of units will probably throw together a BBQ from whatever food is available.  I remember some guys in the chow hall making a mini Statue of Liberty sculpted out of what appeared to be butter."

Patriotic and resourceful, our guys and gals deserve to be saluted for their service.  Send them an ecard today with your thanks.  The GroupCard is fun option because you can select a military design, upload photos and have multiple people sign it.  And to really make their day, follow up with a care package full of our top military gifts for troops stationed abroad. 

Still struggling to find a gift for Father's Day?  No sweat!  I've been keeping tabs on the greatest gifts for Dad, including all the options guaranteed to arrive by Sunday.  Here's a handy round-up of top last-minute gifts for Father's Day:

• Fighter Pilot Simulator for Two:  Your mission - give Dad a nickname and send him off to get his wings.  Better yet, join him for a day of virtual air combat and non-stop Top Gun references.
• Beer-of-the-Month Club Subscription:  It's the gift that keeps on giving and more than makes up for forgotten birthdays.  Choose between 3, 4, 6 and 12 month subscriptions.
• Grilling Greatness Gift Basket:  All the ingredients he needs to earn the title of Top Chef Grill Master.  Be sure to order by Friday 12PM EDT.
• Gifts.com Gift Card:  When in doubt, let him decide what he wants.  Whether it's tickets to the big game, his latest gadget obsession or a new set of clubs, this card gives Dad permission to treat himself.

With Mother's Day, birthdays, graduations and weddings, sometimes Father's Day, which is this Sunday, can get lost in the shuffle.  But Dads deserve their day, and the Gift Gurus have pulled together a great selection of last minute gifts to treat your dad to a super Sunday. 

Being a globe trotting Gift Guru, I would love to take my dad on a trip around the world for Father's Day. But since I'm running short on time (and money), this Around the World Beer Bucket will have do the trick instead.

This manly steel gift basket comes filled with everything a beer lover needs: six imported brews (from Stella to Newcastle) and some great salty snacks, because what's a beer without bar snacks? I have a feeling most lager-loving dads will appreciate this worldly gift, even if it doesn't include a passport.

Heads up, procrastinators!  Order this basket up until Friday, June 13th 7PM EDT and you can be assured it will arrive in time for Father's Day.

Around the World Beer Bucket starting at $89.99

Tick tock, tick tock.  Mother’s Day is just hours away!  Whether you are a procrastinator or simply forgot that Mother’s Day is this Sunday, the Gift Gurus can offer you one final lifeline.  Order a gorgeous bouquet from 1-800-Flowers by Friday noon EST and have it delivered to your mom just in time.  She’ll love this pretty Sorbet Bouquet presented in a stylish clear vase wrapped in a tea leaf.

While you are at it, make sure to check out their Martha Stewart Collection and schedule delivery for all those birthdays, anniversaries and thank yous that always seem to slip your mind.

Over the flower thing?  Here are more fabulous gifts you can still order by noon EST on Friday and get to Mom in time:

• For Caffeinated Mom:  She’ll love drinking her morning cup of joe from this Wicked Cool Mom Mug.
  
• For Sentimental Mom:  Let her keep loved ones close to her heart with this Mom Heart Locket.
• For Chocoholic Mom:  Satisfy her sweet tooth with this decadent Chocolate Mousse Torte.
• For Impossible-to-Please Mom:  Let her decide exactly what she wants with the Gifts.com Gift Card. 

Procrastinators, you are a lucky bunch this year.  Even though Mother’s Day is this Sunday, you still have time to send Mom something special.  The Gift Gurus have pulled together a selection of last-minute gifts for Mother’s Day. Order one of these today (right now, why are you still reading this?) and look like you’ve been thinking about Mom all year long.

If you want to go beyond the standard flowers and chocolates, look for a gift basket that matches Mom’s interests.  For moms with green thumbs, this Garden Treasures Gift Basket comes complete with 6 tools in a nice canvas bag plus some sweet treats including our all-time favorite cookie, Snickerdoodles.  Whether your mom is a chocoholic, a tea lover, a beauty junkie or a top chef, there are plenty of gift baskets to suit her style.  But hurry up and order by Thursday noon EDT to get your gift to Mom on time. 

Garden Treasures Gift Basket starting at $39.99

If you still don't have a gift for Valentine's Day (that's today!) you're in trouble. But don't run out to the drugstore just yet. I've got the perfect last minute gift idea for you: a romantic hot air balloon flight. It's quick and easy to set up but will look like you spent a ton of time planning—and isn't that what you want?

You'll enjoy a calm, peaceful ride over beautiful countryside–an ideal backdrop to a very romantic excursion. By the time you land, your sweetheart will be on cloud nine. Which is way better than where a box of cheap chocolates will get you. Print off the certificate and line up a date for your ride now and present it to your Valentine over dinner. You do have a dinner reservation, don't you?

Hot Air Balloon Flight starting at $200

Face it: You're a hypocrite. After all those lectures about him forgetting your birthday, you completely forgot to pick up his Valentine's Day gift. How do you let him know you care if you don't have any time to go shopping before tomorrow? Drive the point home with private golf lessons.

Send him out solo to correct his slice or join him for some quality time on the green. He'll be pleased as a punch shot to see you go beyond putt-putt. And if he's not a golfer? You can check out other couple activities in our guide, Six Experiences to Spark Romance; they all make great last minute gifts because you can print them out to hand to your S.O. instantly. Whatever you choose, you've got a definite hole in one.

Private Golf Lessons starting at $125

Did you know that a single bouquet of flowers can not only brighten your sweetie's day, but can also help in the fight against AIDS? Every Hallmark Believe Bouquet from (PRODUCT) RED includes nine gorgeous red roses, leucadendron and papyrus, grown and arranged by African farmers. Each message card reads, "Believe in a thousand impossible things you've never believed before."

More meaningful than a bouquet bought at the corner market, the inspiRED bouquet is a perfect last minute Valentine's Day gift that expresses your love and charitable heart. 

Hallmark Believe–Hallmark RED Bouquet starting at $49.95

Uh-oh, it's been a crazy month with the Super Bowl, Super Tuesday, Mardi Gras and all the hoopla following and now it's almost Valentine's Day and you've just realized you still haven't gotten your guy or gal something special.

Don't worry, the Juniors Chocolate Covered Heart Cheesecake is the perfect last minute, mouth-watering treat for your Valentine. Handmade by the Expert Bakers at Juniors in Brooklyn, the New York heart-shaped cheesecake is covered in enough decadent chocolate to satisfy the biggest sweet tooth.

Juniors Chocolate Covered Heart Cheesecake starting at $49.99

Forget Kama Sutra and oysters, if you want to give a real aphrodisiac to your Valentine this year, check out the mouthwatering Theo Organic Chocolate Gift Set. Each piece is made by hand with only the purest ingredients and Fair Trade cocoa beans. From sensual rose and aromatic lavender to spicy jalapeño and hot ceylon cinnamon ganache, the sexy and innovative flavor combinations are designed to arouse pleasure and warm the heart.

Save the champagne for another time, the box of Theo Organic Chocolates is a last minute gift that will be intoxicating enough! 

Theo Organic Chocolates starting at $42