A shopping blog of cool gift ideas

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.

Now that wedding season is in full swing, it's time to start making your gift checklists. With engagements parties, bridal showers and wedding gifts, it can be quite taxing on your poor wallet. Get more bang for your buck with these reversible table tea lights. 

Literally two gifts in one, these colorful holders are perfect for holding tea light candles and when you flip them over they become taper holders. It's the chicest way to spruce up any couple's table. And for under $50, you can save all those extra dollars on occasions in the near future, like baby showers. 

Reversible Taper Tea lights starting at $29.95.

Here’s a great (albeit slightly cutesy!) Bridal Shower gift for the couple.  This "Say I Love You" couple pillowcase set is the perfect balance of cutesy and fun for young newlyweds.

Featuring whimsical drawings depicting the different ways couples come together, you can choose which scenario best fits the couple-to-be. Also choose from matching mug sets for those early risers. It's a great alternative to traditional monogramming for a unique Bridal Shower gift.

"Say I Love You" Couple Pillowcase Set starting at $30.00. 

It may sound old fashioned to get the bride-to-be some cookbooks, but it’s usually a much needed gift that is rarely asked for. This Bride & Groom Cookbook: Recipes for Cooking Together from Williams-Sonoma includes everything to get the couple acclimated to cooking on a regular basis. 

There's also book on entertaining – from Holiday Dinners, to barbecues, and cocktail parties. There's practical checklists and even tips for musical accompaniment. So even though they're newlyweds, they can be old pros at entertaining. It's the perfect Bridal Shower gift for the couple.

Williams Sonoma Bride & Groom Cookbook: Recipes for Cooking Together starting at $34.95.

These days, my life is so jam-packed that I barely have time to take photos, let alone print them and arrange them in an album. It's a sad by-product of our modern digital lives, I guess, but it's important when we have special occasions that we remember to slow down, capture those moments on film and keep them in a place where we can always enjoy them.

That's why I love the idea of giving beautiful photo albums as gifts for special events. These keepsake monogrammed photo albums would make a perfect bridal shower gift and a great reminder to the bride to slow down and savor this exciting time in her life—which is really the best gift of all!

Plaid Photo Album starting at $65

There's nothing worse than a bad makeup job, especially if it's a bad makeup job on your wedding day. Luckily, Bobbi Brown has come up with this amazing Bridal Kit to avoid any disastrous beauty mishaps.

This all-in-one cosmetic set comes with everything the bride will need to look natural and gorgeous on her big day and beyond. The sleek white case contains makeup suitable for all skin types, with neutral eye shadow, a pink lip gloss and a smudge-free mascara, for those tearful moments. Which means it's not only perfect for a bridal shower, but it also makes a lovely bridesmaids gift.

Bridal Kit starting at $75.00

My life in the city is pretty hectic. Between a full-time job, catching a show when I can, going to dinner parties, meeting girlfriends for happy hour, and squeezing in the rare workout, there's not much time left to find a quiet spot and just sit. That's why I love the idea of this Lands End Picnic Wine Basket — it encourages people to escape the insanity and head to the park or even out to the country for a relaxing afternoon.

With four china plates, four goblets, cloth napkins and a tablecloth, two insulated bags (one for wine and one for cheese and fruit), and a stainless steel service set for four, the picnic wine basket has all the trappings for a perfect day in the park with close friends or loved ones. A perfect anniversary or birthday gift!

Lands' End Picnic Wine Basket starting at $299

With a smattering of brightly hued buds and flower-shaped handles, this Flower Field Espresso Cup & Saucer set is a little piece of spring that I can enjoy right now, even as the season continues to warm up.

It makes a lovely spring bridal shower gift (far more quaint and thoughtful than something right off the registry), as well as a token of kindness for hostesses and new homeowners. And if your Mom's an espresso fan, you might want to consider giving her a set of these as her Mother's Day gift.

Flower Field Espresso Cup & Saucer starting at $16.99

After every wedding there's always a pile of thank-you's to write. And while boring stark white note cards are a fine way to tell your guests how much you appreciate their gifts, sometimes you need something a little more fun.

These Glazed and Confused cards are a witty twist on the norm. Give a set to the bride-to-be at her bridal shower so she'll have a stylish thank-you card option. They're the perfect thing to send (along with a gift of course) to best pals and bridesmaids for enduring months of planning and sticking it out till the last sloppy shot at the bachelorette party.

Pop Ink Create-your-own Cards, Glazed and Confused starting at $17 

So your daughter is getting married soon and while you'll pick something from the wedding registry, you're racking your brain trying to think of the perfect extra gift—one that holds special meaning, is useful in her new stage of life, and helps her remember where she came from, before she was part of her own family, and was still just your little girl.

Enter the Gina B. Designs Fun Flower Recipe Box, an adorable recipe box with matching dividers. Fill the box with all your family's favorite recipes for a wedding gift or shower gift that is both heartfelt and extremely practical!

Gina B. Designs Fun Flower Recipe Box starting at $16