A shopping blog of cool gift ideas

TGIF. You've got your paycheck in hand and we've got a few ideas on how to blow it—on family and friends, of course. But feel free to treat yourself too. Nothing wrong with a little self-gifting.

For the weekend kickoff: Gourmet chocolate skulls are the perfect treat for Halloween or Day of the Dead parties. (via Rare Bird Finds)

For a ghoulish gamer: Goth: The Game of Horror Trivia–with morbid questions and a graveyard board it'll turn game night into fright night.

For the space-crazed kid: An inflatable solar system will make his bedroom out of this world.

For the green hipster: Rehabilitated dishware–unwanted ceramics that got a modern makeover. (via Apartment Therapy)

For the festive home decorator: Leaf ornaments to take her holiday look from Halloween through Thanksgiving.

For your preggers friend: Cool maternity clothes so she can flaunt her bump in style.

October is the perfect time of year for enjoing the changing colors, sipping pumpkin ale, baking molasses cookies and learning important survival techniques to protect yourself against the hordes of undead who may be stalking you right now!

The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead may very well be your best–and perhaps, only–chance at escaping the menacing grip of zombies this Halloween season. But you don't want to survive alone (whom would you drink pumpkin ale with?), so give The Zombie Survival Guide to your closest friends and family and keep your fingers crossed they heed the good advice! It's a timely gift to give now and any scary movie fan would appreciate it all year round too.

The Zombie Survival Guide starting at $2.70

Still don't know what to wear to next week's Halloween party? Why not start with your dog's costume and let it inspire your own. I love this poodle skirt, which would look adorable on any breed but especially awesome on a poodle.

Find yourself a 1950's look and you and your furry friend will be ready to hit the sock up…or whatever spooktacular party is on your agenda.

1950's Girl Pet Costume starting at $30 

I have to admit, I do not have much of a green thumb, but when a plant is as cute and easy to grow as a Nyokki, my thumb makes an exception. Nyokkis are hand-made in Japan from glazed ceramic, shaped like an egg with adorable little fabric legs. They're filled with soil and dry grass seed and if they ever have a meltdown and shave their "hair" off, a la Britney Spears, no need to worry: they grow to their full height in less than two weeks! 

Choose a black cat, ghost or pumpkin Nyokki as a special Halloween treat for a friend. Just be sure to keep them away from the paparazzi! 

Nyokki Plant starting at $9.98

I can't justify spending a lot of money on a Halloween costume After all, if I'm only going to wear it once, it doesn't matter how awesome it is. So it's a good thing I can see rocking this super-glam Skeleton Medallion Necklace again and again.

The pendant features a skull and crossbones cameo with faux pearls and rhinestones dangling from pearl and gold-toned strands. I think it would look equally as awesome with a bodice gown (think Elizabeth Swann) on Halloween as with a blazer and funky combat boots (think Chloe Sevigny) any day of the week.

Sure, you could get this for your fave buccaneer for Halloween, or it could make a totally unique gift for a Hipster or Creative Spirit.

Skeleton Medallion Necklace starting at $249

Who could resist a baby pizza on Halloween? And I don't mean marinara sauce baked on an English Muffin. I'm talking about a real infant dressed up in a slice of pizza costume, complete with a chefs hat! 

Dress up your own baby or give to your infant-toting friend. If you know a mom that's been too busy to pick up a costume yet, this gift could be a lifesaver! Trust me, this is one slice of pizza you don't have to feel guilty about the next day! 

Infants Pizza Bunting starting at $24.99

It takes a lot to get me in the kitchen, and baking? Well, I would rather leave that to Betty Crocker. But it's certainly difficult to resist this Halloween Critters Cookie Press Set. With one cat, one spider, one bat and one pumpkin terracotta stamp, the set actually makes baking Halloween treats look pretty fun.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still no Martha Stewart and you won't see me doning an oven mitt anytime soon, but I'm sure the Critter Cookie Press will make the bakers in my life a lovely Halloween gift! And hopefully they'll share their tasty treats (I may not like baking cookies, but I sure enjoy eating them!).

Halloween Critters Cookie Press starting at $21.95

Even if you do not already own a dog, here is a reason to rush to your nearest animal shelter, adopt a pet, and dress him up in this adorable Star Wars Yoda Dog Costume. Not only would you be giving a loving home to a deserving dog, you'd immediately make him a neighborhood hit when you take him out on Halloween!

No room for a canine in your life? Surprise your favorite pup-owning friend with this costume that's sure to be a blockbuster hit!

Yoda Dog Costume starting at $18.99

TGIF. You've got your paycheck in hand and we've got a few ideas on how to blow it—on family and friends, of course. But feel free to treat yourself too. Nothing wrong with a little self-gifting.

For the weekend kickoff: Get ready to drink to Halloween with a set of black martini glasses made for witches brew.  

For the stylish activist: A Pink Pony tank in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month–she'll love knowing that a percentage of the sales supports research and screening programs.

For the retro fan: A cassette tape tape dispenser is the perfect thing if she's a frequent crafter or gift wrapper. (via Popgadget)

For your trendy teen: A beautiful cherry blossom necklace that holds a watch inside its locket. (via Little Splurge)

For the jet-setting cat owner: An easy-to-tote Rocket Bowl Pet Carrier to make sure Fluffy flies in style.

For the Halloween diva: A festive Bat Topiary or two will take her party to the next level of spooktacular. (via iVillage)

With only a couple weeks until Halloween, all the cool kids (and childish adults) are playing with these hard vinyl zombies, complete with blank stares, gaping mouths, open wounds and missing limbs! Turn off the lights and they glow!

Edgier (and dare I say better) than Barbie or the Bratz, the Glow-in-the-Dark Flesh Eating Zombie Play Set is the perfect Halloween gift for scary movie fans.

Glow-in-the-Dark Flesh Eating Zombie Play Set starting at $14.49