A shopping blog of cool gift ideas

Every year, across the country, as families gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, there are a few brave souls that manage to handle all of the cooking and hosting responsibilities. They whip up pies overnight, cook multiple courses, and make everyone feel at home. If you're heading out of town this holiday, don't forget to treat your host/hostess to something special. 

A cool kitchen gadget will come in handy for any social occasion and is a host's best helper. This cordless serving tray can heat up or keep cool any appetizer so food stays fresh 'til the end of the party. It's interior has a gel core that you can place in the oven or fridge depending on the temperature desired. So that pumpkin pie will stay hot until all the football games are over and your guests are clamoring for leftovers. Check out the rest of our gift picks to make your Thanksgiving run smoothly this year.

The Cordless Heating or Cooling Serving Tray starting at $34.95.

It’s finally Thanksgiving, the holiday of stressful travel, 5 a.m. sales and guilty-free binge eating. But let’s focus on what this holiday is really all about: being thankful and spending time with family. That's the reason people pack into their cars, face public transportation and slave over the hot stove for hours.

So this year, instead of eating leftovers, watching football and clipping coupons, why not spend some quality time making something together? Like with this Ultimate Memory Keeping Scrapbook Kit.

You don't have to be a pro paper puncher or have a laminator to use it. Just gather your favorite photos, drawings, etc., and get ready to make a masterpiece. No batteries, no trips to the mall necessary. Just a few creative skills and glue. It also makes for a creative Christmas gift, or complete it yourself and gift it to a proud parent.

Ultimate Memory Keeping Scrapbook Kit starting at $19.99

Forget the football players, the airplane pilots and the train conductors. The true Thanksgiving hero is the chef. Whether it’s Mom, Dad, Grandma or a little bit of everyone, the cook is the one who makes or breaks Turkey Day. So why not give him or her some tools to make things easier this year?

I happen to love this turkey lifter, since I myself have been privy to a bird-run-amuck in the oven many times. With pointed prongs that double as carving forks, this handy gadget makes it so much easier to move the turkey around as you baste every nook and cranny. Which leaves the chef a little less stressed and the turkey a little tastier. Oh, and this year, when you sit down to your wonderful Thanksgiving meal, don’t forget to give thanks to the host/hostess who prepared it all!

Williams-Sonoma All-Clad Roast Lifters starting at $29.95

The holiday crush is upon us, which means most of us will be hitting the road to get to one celebration or another. And many of those trips won't be just around the corner. If you're packing up the family in the ol' minivan for a holiday road trip, good luck. My best advice is to bring plenty of snacks, entertainment and lots of patience. But maybe the most import thing is to be comfortable, because it might take a while.

A great travel gadget gift (or self-gift) for the driver is a portable massaging backrest. The Ultimate Backrest is a winner with six different massage cycles, an inflatable lumbar cushion, and lower back heater. I'm not saying it will make that endless road trip fun per se, but it should help you from feeling like Mr. Grinch when you get there!

OBUS FORME Ultimate Backrest Black starting at $119.00

Whether you are thinking about what your dinner table will look like for this Thanksgiving or are wondering what to get the Hostess who is having you over for the big festivities, these fun Thanksgiving themed melamine plates are just the thing.

Whether it's for the kids table or big kids who love fun design, these plates are a great alternative to stuffy place settings. Who wants to spend all their post dinner hours carefully scrubbing fine china, when you can just pop these in the dishwasher and be done! It's the perfect gift for any stressful hostess. Thrown in this matching tablecloth and table runners for a complete festive look. Now all you have to worry about is saving up for seconds.

Pottery Barn Thanksgiving Melamine Plates starting at $16.99. 

Even though Thanksgiving is probably the biggest family get together of the year, often a few relatives can't make the party. And whether it's your grandfather who doesn't want to leave his warm southern hideaway or your teenager who's staying on campus to "study" for the weekend, they shouldn't have to miss out on the feast. So send a taste of Turkey Day dinner!

This Hickory-Smoked Whole Turkey is a gift that'll make them feel like a part of the celebration, even from far away. Cooking the turkey is hard enough to make some skip cooking the meal altogether, but this will jump-start their feast. Or you could just send them something sweet that doesn't require any baking at all–a pumpkin pie.

Hickory Farms Hickory-Smoked Whole Turkey starting at $51.99 and Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream starting at $27.99 

Q. I've been invited to stay with my friend's family for Thanksgiving weekend. What should I bring her mother to say thank you?

A. Since a lot of work goes into planning and hosting Thanksgiving gatherings, you certainly shouldn't arrive empty handed. But you don't have to spend a lot to let your hostess know how much you appreciate her taking you under her wing. The standard bouquet of flowers or bottle of wine will do, but we have some other more thoughtful ideas. 

One perfect idea is this luxurious Figuier Candle which has an amazing woody fig scent and a pretty holiday look. For more ideas, check out our Top Ten Gifts for Thanksgiving Hosts and Hostesses–you'll find other great gifts like subtle holiday decorations, seasonally themed wine stoppers and even a beautiful wooden board game to play after everyone stuffs themselves with turkey and pumpkin pie!

Need more gift advice? Ask a Gift Guru! Send an email to askagiftguru@gifts.com or post your question in a comment.

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: Mix up a round of spiked hot cocoa in these gorgeous insulated glass tumblers.

For your pooch: A sleek stainless steel dog bowl that's designed so well you won't mind seeing it sitting on your kitchen floor every day. (via PetSugar)

For the Thanksgiving chef: An amazing holiday cookbook to give him a few new ideas to ensure this year's feast is the biggest and best ever.

For your teen: An adorable Paul Frank scarf will keep her feeling warm and looking cool. 

For a troubled friend: Give her a dose of inspiration with one of these super positive Tees For Change that reminds you to "choose happiness" or "laugh often." (via teensygreen)

For your new neighbors: A few warm scented candles to help them decorate.

I may not be much of a chef, but the idea of guests gathered around the counter of my kitchen, watching as I prepare delicious cuisine, certainly seems like a good one. (Yeah, in my dreams.)

Well, at least I can look the part in the Baby Blue Floral Mocha Apron. As you can see, this is not your kitschy bib apron. Unfussy, modern and delightfully sweet, it's the kind of frock you won't mind showing off.

Of course, it's nearly too pretty to do any actual cooking in, which makes it perfect for gals like me. Make it a holiday hostess or housewarming gift.

Baby Blue Floral Mocha Apron starting at $39.95

If I learned anything from those kindergarten handprint drawings, it's that everyone loves a turkey. So I plan on charming my Thanksgiving dinner guests with a more grown-up version: these adorable turkey placecard holders. The little bronze figurines come with their own matching cards and will look divine with any autumn-colored table setting.

They make a great housewarming gift any time of year, particularly for anyone who's planning on doing some Turkey Day hosting in the future. Now that's something to be thankful for!

Turkey Placecard Holders starting at $17.95