A shopping blog of cool gift ideas

It's officially the first day of summer, and it seems like the season is stacked with all sorts of celebrations. Fourth of July is just a couple of weeks away, and there are always a zillion weddings, graduation bashes, barbecues, baby showers, pool parties and more. Luckily, Philosophy has just come out with a line of gift sets that will suit your every warm-weather need (as if we didn't love Philosophy enough already).

The sets' themes run the gamut from thank you to congratulations to beach party. Which means you can show up wherever with the perfect gift in hand. My favorites are the Summer Skincare Rescue Pack (take it to make up for crashing at your pal's beach house all summer) and the Lip Gelato Trio (so appropriate for friends embarking on a European vacay—or, um, pretending to go on one). Wow, I love how these take all the guesswork out of summer gifting!

Summer Skincare Rescue Pack starting at $35.00
Lip Gelato Trio starting at $25.00

There's a time and a place for a dozen roses (ahem, like on your anniversary), but sometimes you just want something simpler. Look no further: this sublimely simple Outline Vase is the perfect thing to brighten someone's day, welcome them to their new home or just say "thanks". 

Modern and airy, the porcelain figure has the shape of a pitcher with none of the bulk and holds just a single flower. It’ll stand out without disrupting the decor around it—a pretty touch to anyone's home.

Outline Vase starting at $48

I wish I could grow a glorious blooming garden. But thanks to my a) black thumb and b) lack of a patch of green space to call my own, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen anytime soon. Unless someone presents me with this pretty Moonlit Garden Bulb Planter (hint, hint).

The easy-grows-it garden is filled with already-planted, just-sprouting hyacinth and tulips bulbs. The spring-colored blossoms are expected to bloom within a week or so of purchase—making it a delightful, lasting thank you gift or housewarming gift, especially for the gardening-challenged folks like myself. Happy spring!

Moonlit Garden Bulb Planter starting at $49.99

This Kai Body Buffer is on Oprah's list of Favorite Things for the Holidays, but I liked it WAY before Oprah did. Someone gave it to me when I was a house guest and I became an instant fan! Infused with a light blend of exotic perfumes and natural essences, including palm, coconut and olive, the scent is fantastic (think tropical paradise!) and the buffer lasts for a long time (you get two halves).

The Kai Body Buffer is a chic little something for the girlfriends who already have everything. It would make a great hostess gift or stocking stuffer.

Kai Body Buffer starting at $28

I love everything about the holiday season. I adore the shopping and the decorations, the crisp weather and the delicious food, the time with friends and the time with family. And, of course, I love, love, love the parties. But with so many events on my schedule, I often find myself in need of a hostess gift other than the usual bottle of wine. Which is why I was elated to come across this monogrammed wine stopper. Sleek and elegant, the silver utensil features a single initial monogram. It's so lovely, your host or hostess will want to use it right away (and at every party thereafter).

The wine stopper is a standout way to say "thank you" all year long. And it should last a lot longer than that '02 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru.

International Monogram Wine Stopper starting at $19.95

For the irreverent among us, sometimes the best way to make us feel welcome is to hurl a straight-to-the-point remark at us, and what faster way to do that than to lay it out on the front stoop? A perfect housewarming or thank you gift for your beach house host this Labor Day weekend is the Come Back With a Warrant door mat.

It's a great way to make visitors laugh and truly feel welcome—or the visitors with a sense of humor at least! The others might just take one look and back away slowly. But really—if they’re going to get thrown off that easily, it’s probably best they don’t stick around anyway, right??

Come Back with a Warrant Doormat starting at $15.99

Every now and again, I run into a situation where I want to send a friend a "thank you" or even just a "hello," but while a card seems like not enough, a big bouquet of flowers seems like too much. Then I found this unique Garden-In-A-Bag. Since it starts as a little bag of dirt and a packet of seeds, it's easy to send and it's just as easy to grow. All you have to do is mix the lavender seeds into the bag, water and wait. Before you know it you'll have a growing plant and it's completely idiot-proof. It's great for both a city dweller like me who doesn't have (and would never touch) a garden and a friend who enjoys gardening. And even though it seems like a small gift, it'll grow and it'll last longer than a bouquet of flowers.

Garden-In-A-Bag starting at $6.95

As a Gift Guru, the question I repeatedly get from consumers is, “What do I get someone who has everything?” Well, if they have everything maybe you should help them spread the love, you know what I’m saying?

If you’re feeling a little like Robin Hood, try making an Oxfam donation in your friend or family member’s name instead a traditional gift. The menu of options is fantastic – you can ‘donate’ everything from a camel to an emergency toilet to communities in need – all in someone else’s name! Now that’s priceless.

Get this for the budding activist or environmentalist in your life and then pat yourself on the back for giving two gifts in one.