A shopping blog of cool gift ideas

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

There are some people that can pull an April Fool's Day prank with little effort, and then there are some that need extra help to pull one off. That's where the Prank University book comes in. Whether you want to play an April Fool's joke on a coworker at the office, a friend or a family member, this book will help you get it done.

Pranks like the Doorbell Drench, Silly String Sleep, Wasabi Paste, Plastic Forking and many, many more are listed with step-by-step instructions and ingenious diagrams that'll ensure they go off without a hitch. Each idea in Prank University includes a difficulty rating, cost and number of accomplices needed. Buyer beware–your recipient may use your gift to turn on you!

Prank University starting at $4.95

A new trend I'm really loving lately is the graphic wall decal. Perfect for renters and anyone who wants to change her decor without committing to wallpapering or a DIY paint job, decals are removable and reusable like Colorforms and can be rearranged to suit individual styles and moods.

The Nouveau Flower Decals are a great housewarming gift for the artsy, creative gal–especially one who likes it to feel like spring in her place all the time!

Nouveau Flower - Wall Stickers starting at $24.99

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I love birds. Well, not real ones, but just about any artistic interpretation out there. So naturally I love this adorable little bird desk accessory. And since it chirps when you touch it, it gives you another reason to stop what you should be doing to enjoy a few seconds with your new little buddy. This is a great gift for any student, bird lover or office dweller.

Chirping Bird Paper Clip Holder starting at $14.99 

Spring break is coming up and as far as I can tell, everybody’s looking forward to some beach time. I found the perfect gift for guys heading South for vacation. These super comfy Sanuk shoes will keep your guy looking smooth at school, on the sidewalk and lounging surf side. Made with Sanuk's Barefoot Un-technology, the hybrid sandal/shoe allows your foot to flex the way nature intended.

Wrap a pair of these up for your guy's birthday and he'll soon wonder why he ever wore anything else.

Sanuk Foot Warmer Sidewalk Surfer starting at $55

Here at Gifts.com we carefully select the merchants and products that we feature. So we're proud to announce that one of our merchants, L.L. Bean was just voted #1 in customer satisfaction. I've had my L.L. Bean Personal Organizer for years. In a lot of ways, it represents much of what L.L. Bean stands for–high quality and high value products for those who live an active lifestyle.

The Personal Organizer is a no-brainer, great gift for the traveler. I love it because it holds everything I need when I hit the road. There are tons of compartments and pockets to stash away all your toiletries and it's made from water-resistant 420-denier nylon, so it's pretty much indestructible. Starting at around $20, the organizer comes in a handful of colors and four sizes to suite any kind of travel. Put a monogram on it, and the personalization makes a great gift even better.

Medium Personal Travel Organizer starting at $24.95  

If you haven't seen the YouTube video of Lilly, the World Map Master, it's about time. And if you want your kid to be the next geography genius? Get 'em this Gigantic World Map. The enormous wall map is colorful enough to keep your tot's attention and features fun stick-on pieces ranging from countries to rivers to animals. It's an awesome way to teach little ones about the world—and it'll look great in their bedroom or playroom. Watch out, Lilly, there's a new kid in town!

Gigantic World Map starting at $224.99

One trend that I keep seeing is people gravitating toward stylish laptop protection. Laptop bags, sleeves and packs are all all getting style improvements for safely taking laptops on-the-go. Golla showed off their latest line of gear at CES.

With colorful designs and sturdy construction, their bags are a nice option. Many of the color schemes will appeal more to women, but there certainly are some stronger colors the guys can also pull off. I really like the packs because there are tons of pockets to store all your stuff–camera, phone, iPod, snacks. Golla gear is a fine choice for the style conscious gadget gal (or guy) who loves to make a statement. Stay tuned to Gifts.com as this Golla gear becomes available later this year.

I still remember my first dorm room. Sure, it was tiny and cramped, but, like most college students, I loved making it my own—picking out new bedding, hanging photos of family and friends and choosing just the right art to go on the walls.

These awesome Rococo Wall Decals make decorating any dull, drab dorm room fun and easy. Just peel 'em off and stick on for instant modern decor! Best of all, they're removable and reusable, so you can move them around to fit your mood (and you won't get in trouble for putting holes in the wall…not that I know anything about that!).

They make an excellent gift for an artsy college student or someone who's decorating their very first apartment.

Rococo Wall Decals starting at $58.00