A shopping blog of cool gift ideas

Yes I will admit it – I am a certified “Gleek.”  The show is cheesy, unrealistic and cheesy (worth saying twice.) And I love every minute of each episode!  Any show where the underdog gets to win AND sing is a show I have to watch. 

They all sound great in the soundtrack – better than they did at the World Series. But who cares about that because Glee doesn’t belong in the real world – it’s where we go to escape from the real world. And this new soundtrack does the trick in between episodes! It's a great little gift to surprise the music lover on your list. 

Glee: The Music Soundtrack starting at $11.55. 

I figured since Gift Guru Dan T,  already showed his love for the Yankees, I'd share some of my favorite Phillies fan gear gifts. Now that things are heating up with the World Series, us Phillies fans like to find every opportunity to show off our hometown pride.

Being a Phillies fan in New York is no easy task but at least I can take comfort in staying warm while I watch the game with this Phillies Therma Base Knit Hat. It's even thick enough to drown out the boo's I'll be hearing all night. Besides awesome fan apparel, if you really want to surprise him/her, send them a special bag of Custom Philadelphia Phillies M&M's.  They come in a variety of colors and even a special edition World Series Edition for the big win. Check out our Phillies Ultimate Fan Shop to deck out your loved ones in Red and White! 

MLB My Team M&M's Candies starting at $10.99.

After checking out the new DJ Hero game, I have to say that it will bring new life to “Last Night a DJ Saved my Life”. The DJ Hero turntable controller immerses you into authentic DJ culture allowing you to scratch, cross-fade, and beat match. Customize your mix with a variety of effects and samples transforming a face in the crowd into the life of the party. It features online and offline multiplayer competitive and cooperative modes.

Mix and scratch over 102 individual songs, highlighted in over 93 exclusive new mixes that blend genres of music, including hip-hop, electronica, R&B, Motown, pop, and rock. DJ Hero brings the hottest artists including: Black Eyed Peas, 50 Cent, Justice, Marvin Gaye, Beastie Boys, N.E.R.D, and more. Whether you’re a real DJ, want a new challenge different from RockBand or Guitar Hero, or just love music, you’ll be hooked on this game in no time. DJ Hero is guaranteed to be a hit among teens, college kids and young adults this holiday season. It’s definitely on my Top 10 Gifts for Teens and Hottest Holiday Toys for Teens lists.

DJ Hero Bundle with Turntable starting at $119.00. 

The Fall Classic is underway and regardless of whom you’re pulling for, you’ll want take this time to do a gear upgrade.  Fortunately, we have team gear stores with the sweetest team products around.  Whether you’re looking for fan apparel, team memorabilia, or team home and office décor, we have a great selection to suit any fan. Since I’m a huge Yankees fan, two products I really like are the Yankees coaster set (with real dirt from Yankee Stadium inside!) or for the real die-hard fan, a bag of Yankees outfield grass seed (the same grass grown at the stadium).

But the classic fan gear that every fan of a World Series team should get is the commemorative World Series authentic cap- the same one worn by the players on the field.

New York Yankees Authentic On-Field Cap starting at $35.99.

Shopping for guys can be very tricky, and finding the perfect gift for my fiancee is even harder.  But you can assume that most guys love a good glass of whiskey, and with these cool Whiskey Stones, their cocktail will never get warm.

While most drinks get diluted quickly when you put ice in them, these whiskey stones will stayed chilled to the last drop. Made from carved soapstone, these stones retain their temperature whether you chill them or heat them up depending on your drink. So whether it's bourbon on the rocks, or a steaming Hot Toddy, this unique gift can be enjoyed year round, or even slipped in his stocking. 

Whiskey Stones starting at $20.00.

Our electronics and gadgets have taken over every room in the house, the kitchen is no exception. A fun product out there is the Talking Coffee Maker. 

Activate the machine and it will ask you, “Would you like to set the coffee brewing time?” and will then proceed to prompt questions that will set your machine.  Based on your responses, the Talking Coffee Maker will have up to 10 cups of your morning joe ready for you exactly when you want it. I’m not great in the morning, so I tend to be a little light on the AM conversation, but a quick chat with a Talking Coffee Maker might be worth it.

Talking Coffee Maker starting at $99.95.

Today marks the beginning of the Scorpio Zodiac, and being a Scorpio myself, I like to think I have a little more gifting insight this time of year. Scorpio's are said to be lovers of all things dark and mysterious, passionate in life, and lovers of style. Ok, I'll take that. So we've rounded up a number of great gifts to appeal to this temperamental zodiac sign.

One of my favorites is this hidden book camera, for the Scorpio's who like to sneak around. The case resembles a book bind but when you unlock it, it turns into a little camera. Genius! We also have a guide for the guy Scorpio's in your life. So if you are feeling stumped to find that perfect birthday gift, just remember to look to the stars. 

Book Camera and Film starting at $35.00.

For the first part of 2009, Littlest Pet Shop for Wii was glued into our console. My daughter (7 years old) was addicted to unlocking all the LPS animals and conquering every mini-game. So you could imagine her reaction when I told her that a second LPS game for Wii was coming out.  Needless to say, in anticipation to the game’s arrival, I’ve seen a big improvement in her listening skills and her room has been quite clean.

She’s going to fall in love all over again with “Littlest Pet Shop: Friends” for Wii. The game is all new yet quite familiar. This time the game revolves around a party planning and preparation narrative.  Think about it, party planning with decorations, cake and ice cream combined with adorable LPS pets, the game’s a sure-fire hit. The game includes all new customizable pets, new mini-games and brand new LPS worlds that will keep her in LPS heaven for the foreseeable future. Now that may not seem like a good thing, but if used responsibly, “LPS Friends” could mean continued good listening and a clean room!

Littlest Pet Shop Friends starting at $36.99.

Over the knee boots are taking “over” this fall and winter. Trendanistas everywhere will be clambering for their very own pair of the season’s hottest footwear. 

Just be sure that these boots are paired with jeans or more conservative hemlines. Pairing a tunic and tights with these suckers might get her and her date arrested. I’m just saying! I love these wedge heel suede numbers for girls who like a little lift but aren't wobbling around in stilettos. It also gives it a more casual look, because the style stands out already. Check out the rest of our selection for all your fall footwear needs. 

Naughty Monkey 'Entertainer' Over the Knee Boots starting at $144.95.

A few days ago the Entertainment & Devices Division of Microsoft hosted their first annual “Open House” in NYC. Microsoft’s latest and greatest products for the home, office and car were on display as was their signature entertainment products- Xbox 360 and the Zune. Of all the products at the event, I was probably most excited and curious to see the new(ish) Zune HD.  Luckily, for event attendees, there was a brand new Zune HD in our gift bags, so I’ve had the player for a few days to test drive. Here are some of my impressions.

For starters, the Zune HD is aesthetically gorgeous. The sleek design is highlighted by a brilliant 3.3 inch OLED HD touch screen. The crispness and clarity of the screen are impressive. The touch screen works smoothly and is intuitive. My videos and music look and sound great. The player has an FM tuner, but a real highlight is it also has an HD radio, which is a huge bonus. HD radio allows for clear digital broadcast of your favorite FM stations plus you can tag songs you hear on the radio for easy purchase. Zune HD is a Wi-Fi device too so, amongst other Wi-Fi applications, it’s quite easy to buy and stream content from the Zune Marketplace when you’re away from home.

Speaking of which, the Zune Marketplace allows for purchase of the Zune Pass (subscription). So, for example, for about $15 a month, you can (essentially) rent as much music as you’d like to your Zune and permanently keep 10 of these downloads.  That allows for an unbelievable opportunity to explore and try (or buy) new music. The Zune comes in 16GB and 32GB versions. I’m lovin’ the Zune HD and I’m pretty sure any music nut and/or gadget fanatic will love the abundant style and versatility the Zune HD offers.

Zune HD 16GB Digital Media Player starting at $219.97.