A shopping blog of cool gift ideas

One of the most stressful things when it comes to moving, is changing your address. Whether it's forwarding the mail, updating contacts, or notifying friends and family of the new location, it becomes a huge hassle on top of everything that comes with a new home. That's why my idea of the perfect housewarming gift includes Personalized Stationery. 

You can customize it with the recipients' new address, so then there's no excuse for not keeping in touch. It's definitely a nice touch if your welcoming someone to the new neighborhood. Since nice stationery can get pricey, I recommend going in as a group or couple's gift. Check out some of these fresh designs for Summer courtesy of Lilly Pullitzer. And don't be surprised when a familiar Thank You card shows up in the mailbox.

Personalized Lime Note Card Stationery starting at $92.00. 

A few weeks a go I attended the Green Products Expo here in NYC on the lookout to find “green” products that would make great gifts. I met up with representatives from Kohler who were promoting their line of water saving faucets and bath fixtures. I’m always amazed how the littlest changes over time can really make a difference. For example, switching to a 1.75 gpm (gallons per minute) showerhead from an older (…and most likely 2.75 gpm) showerhead can save over 7700 gallons of water per year. That’s huge!

But saving water is one thing, showering under feeble water pressure is another. I asked the folks at Kohler if you have to sacrifice water pressure to save all that water. They responded with sending me a sample of their 1.75 gpm “Forte” showerhead model. And after a few weeks of testing, I can vouch for the fact that while I could tell a slight difference between my older, less efficient showerhead, it took all but a minute to care less (the rest of the family agreed). Again, if “going green” means a small basically undetectable lifestyle change, collectively we must make such changes.

I love this as a housewarming gift, especially for someone with a new (or first) home or apartment. And while we’re on the topic of conserving water, here’s a Kohler site dedicated to all the little things you can do to save this precious resource.

KOHLER Forte Showerhead starting at $57.77.

If you know someone who was lucky enough to take advantage of the super low mortgage rates to buy a new home, think practicality when choosing a housewarming gift.

For instance, this personalized key holder is an inexpensive, thoughtful and much needed gift for any homeowner. They'll never lose their keys again. It's also great for dog leashes, hats, or even mount in the kitchen to organize your cooking tools. It features six sturdy hooks and you can customize their name up to 10 letters. And it will remind them of you every time they walk into their new home. Check out our other personalized gifts for the home.

Personalized Steel Name Key Holder starting at $24.95.

How often do we actually talk the talk and walk the walk when it comes to going green? Too often convenience rears its ugly head and you end up with a trash full of disposables. So when the team here at Gifts.com ran across this set of organic cotton dish towels, I couldn’t help but spread the word.

You probably already know that using cloth towels over paper towels saves thousands of trees from being cut down, but these towels take eco-friendliness to a whole new level: They're made from 100 percent organic cotton using water-based inks and biodegradable detergents. Plus they proudly proclaim, "I am not a paper towel," which should bring a smile to any eco-loving women's face (even if they hate doing dishes!)

I Am Not a Paper Towel Kitchen Towel Set of Two starting at $20.00

I'm always on the lookout for great Host and Hostess gifts, and at this year's Gift Fair I was not disappointed. While the gift of a candle may seem impersonal, Lafco New York's Home Collection is no Yankee Candle basket.

Each scent is designed to compliment every room in your home or vacation home (if only). My favorite is the Redwood Den Candle with its cedar and huckleberry tones, it evokes a cozy night-in feel. Made of soy-based wax, these 16 oz candles come encased in beautiful blown glass and have a burn time of 70 to 80 hours. I doubt the host will be able to last that long! Check out the rest of Lafco's collection for more domestic scents to warm your home.

Redwood Den Candle starting at $52.00. 

They say that from chaos comes order. And with the Homebase digital photo frame, this dream is finally realized. Just consider it the "command center" of your hectic home. There are two versions: one records audio messages and the other captures video. But they're both a genius twist on your average digital picture frame. Just imagine the possibilities: You could program your recorded message to play on a given date, so on Friday, your child sees the blinking light and hears, "Hey, I know you hate fish sticks, so no school lunch today. Your lunch is packed and in the fridge." Not to mention the Homebase has a seven-inch LCD screen for showcasing digital pictures (or video), easily loaded from most memory cards. The frame is surrounded by a handy white board for jotting down messages and a magnetic edge so you can post pictures, receipts, coupons, etc. I bet 10 different families could use the Homebase in 10 different ways, but everyone would agree that it's a great tool for getting the family on the same page. I love the Homebase for Super Moms, Devoted Dads and anyone who has the very important yet very thankless job of household CEO.

Audiovox Audio Homebase 7" Digital Photo Frame with Message Center starting at $99.99

Believe me, I hate cleaning as much as the next girl (chemical odors, bleached skin, ruined nails—what's there to love?), but we all have to at some point. And while I can't clean up the whole planet, I can start at home with the Eco-Me Home Starter Kit 

This DIY set comes with everything you need to green clean your home: reusable bottles, essential oil, a scrub brush, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and a natural fiber bag to put it all in. Just mix the oil with household items you have lying around, and you'll have potions without all those harmful ingredients. I love giving this as a housewarming gift, so any new home can be as eco-friendly as they are (or want to be).

Eco-Me Home Starter Kit starting at $28.95

I've never been much of a green thumb, and anytime someone gets me a new plant, it inevitably meets an untimely end in my apartment. But with the Grobal Self-Watering Plant Pot, my plants now have a fighting chance.

Created by renowned designer Karim Rashid, the Grobal combines a modern looking vase in fun pop colors with useful technology. Just simply pour water into the reservoir, add the Grobal soil, and the plant takes in water and nutrients as it needs it. It's a great addition for any new home or any host/hostess who'd rather spend time with their guests than watering the plants. 

Grobal Self Watering Plant Pot starting at $21.75

With people going gaga over gas prices and airline delays, wouldn't it be nice to skip the stress and have a "staycation" in your own backyard? And what's a better way to unwind than in this Classic Hammock Chair .

It will make your resort (a.k.a. home) feel like a tropical getaway with its cushy seat and seasonal print. All you have to do is settle in with a summery cocktail and leave the world behind. It's a great housewarming gift for the backyard or summertime entertainers. 

Classic Hammock Chair starting at $159.99 

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