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. 

Fourth of July has arrived and the presidential election is fast approaching, so here's a list of gift ideas in honor of all your parties - patriotic and political.

For the weekend kickoff: Save your political jabs for your steaks with these Political Party Branding Irons.  

For the early risers: Fill up the Blue States Mug and watch the red states disappear as the mug heats up. But don't cry in your coffee just yet, there's the Make My Day Mug for red state lovers too! 

For the mini patriots: Rock the vote and the cradle with the pint-sized Future Voter Patriotic Baby Romper for star spangled babies.

For the peacekeepers: To keep political banter at bay and celebrate as citizens, try on the Swing Voters Custom Tee for those who like to support any party. 

For the roadtrippers: Let the gridlock games begin.  Study up on your patriotic trivia with the Secret Lives of Presidents Trivia Card Game. There's plenty of dirty laundry to cross state lines. 

It's been years (I won't say how long) since I've been on Spring Break or a road trip, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate a good cooler. Especially this tailgating style Koolatron Auto Cool Wheeler.

Whether you're hitting the beach, a parade or roadside fireworks this Fourth of July, you can wheel this cooler right along with you. It holds up to 54 12-oz drinks and has a 33-liter capacity so you can beat the heat no matter how large your party. It will even keep its cool after hours of traffic with a 12-volt adapter that plugs right into your car. 

Koolatron Auto Cool Wheeler starting at $88.88

It's one thing to send flowers and it's another to send Todd Oldham-designed mini roses. Just in time for Independence Day, the design guru has whipped up a pair of patriotic plants in coordinating stars and stripes.

Each plant comes in a lightweight take-out style box for easy delivery and decorating. It's a quick and thoughtful gift for any backyard hostess or summer housewarming.

Todd Oldham Stars & Stripes Mini Rose Set starting at $49.99

Personalized Cape Cod Folding Beach Chair starting at $149.95

We're kicking off our Fourth of July celebration a little bit early this year with some great gift ideas that are just as exciting and much less hazardous than fireworks.  Whether it's for the kids, the hostess or the whole family, these red, white, and blue treats are sure to make your holiday sparkle.

First up are these star spangled Patriotic Cupcakes from New York gourmet staple Dean & Deluca. The handmade set of nine includes three different cake and icing combos topped with tasty candy stars. Top off with sparklers at your own risk. 

Patriotic Cupcakes starting at $55.00

Kids and ice cream go together like peanut butter and jelly. Unfortunately, so do kids and sticky messes. If you want avoid melting ice cream all summer long, try the ingenious Motorized Ice Cream Cone.

This handy device uses a spinning cone to eliminate any drips. Just scoop some ice cream into the bright plastic cone and push the button. Moms will love having this colorful contraption on hand during the hot months and Fourth of July picnics, and it makes a sweet birthday treat for kids.

Motorized Ice Cream Cone starting at $8.99

My family always throws a big Memorial Day bash to kick-off the summer in style complete with barbecue and a competitive volleyball tournament.  We used to joke about setting up flood lights in the backyard to keep the party and the games going well into the evening.  But who needs lights when there are glow-in-the-dark lawn games like this fun LED Bowling Set?  The set of ten pins and two balls works on sand or grass, and because everything glows in the dark, you get the whole effect of midnight bowling in your own backyard.

This Memorial Day, I'm staying at the beach with friends and definitely plan on bringing a bunch of glow-in-dark games for my generous summer hosts.

LED Bowling Set starting at $129.95

Memorial Day is not only the first offical day of summer, it also kicks off barbecue season, pool parties and general lounging in the sun. Which is why you'll want to have this Remote Control Snack and Drink Pool Float on hand come May 26.

This caddy is like having a butler for your pool. Load it up with the works (up to five beverages, plus chips, pretzels and other snacks), then drive it out to the swimmers. You stay dry; they don't have to get out of the pool. Or be like me and just use it for your own personal enjoyment by having someone else stock it while you float around. Give it to your summer host/hostess (it's a gift you'll enjoy equally as much) or as a housewarming gift to new pool owners.

Remote Control Snack and Drink Pool Float starting at $49.95

With Labor Day around the corner, you can be sure that cooler air is on the way too. If you're not ready to give up on backyard parties just yet, you need an outdoor fire pit. There's nothing better than chatting by the fire and making s'mores, and it's a must-have as the nighttime temperatures drop. It's a splurge of a gift, but if you're staying at a friend's beach house this weekend, it would be an amazing host or hostess gift. Just think, if the evening air is cool, you can put it to use right away–you'll be the hero. And, it'll help your host keep the parties going strong through the fall season.

Outdoor Copper Fire Pit starting at $399