A shopping blog of cool gift ideas

Even though I don't have kids of my own, I'm a total sucker for cute baby clothing. All of the knits, colors, patterns and all in a cute little miniature size. So naturally when I laid eyes on these Taxi Knit Baby Booties, I fell in love with their original style. 

These hand-knit booties are the perfect new baby gift for friends and family that live in the Big Apple. Or even a little souvenir you can bring to a baby shower if you live in the city. Either way, this unique gift is sure to impress any new or expecting moms.

Crochet Taxi Cab Booties starting at $22.00.

It’s almost that time of year again and I just couldn’t resist! This adorable and personalized Halloween bib is an excellent gift for the youngest scare crows in your crowd. 

Order one of these early because they take up to a few weeks to deliver. Not only is this little gift a festive nod to my favorite holiday, but it’s also a practical gift that no baby can have too many of!  

Personalized Halloween 'Too Cute to Spook' Infant Bib starting at $11.00.

I've been a longtime fan of Skip Hop for their perfect combination of stylish and practical baby products. And when it comes to finding a gift for a Baby Shower or New Baby, look no further than this adorable bunny grooming set.

The ears double as a brush and comb set, gentle enough on baby's scalp and great for tackling unruly cowlicks and curls. The set also includes a mirror so baby can see the end results, and all of the tools fit neatly in the bunny shaped case. And for $20, you'll have plenty of funds to spoil little ones in the future. 

Skip Hop Hare Comb and Brush Set starting at $20.00.

When it comes to new baby gifts, you can go two ways. There's the more practical gifts of baby gear (teethers, diapers, bottles, etc) or you can get them something fun and practical like this nautical baby basket.

He or she may not be ready to sail the seas but they'll be the cutest sailor on board with this personalized bodysuit and burp cloth set. Choose your design and have it embroidered with the baby's name. The whole set comes neatly bundled in a cute denim bucket hat to keep baby out of the sun. It's the perfect gift for new summer babies. 

Personalized Baby Bucket Hat Gift Set starting at $50.00. 

When is comes to giving baby gifts, you really can't go wrong with something personalized. It show's you've taken the extra effort to getting something customized, and when it comes to adorable custom baby clothes, look no further than Two Tinas.

I especially love these Big Button Intial Hoodies. There's a deep navy blue one for boys and a playful pink one for girls, both feature stand out contrast trim and initial applique. If you want to be the real star at the Baby Shower, get them the whole set for their littles one to crawl around in soon enough.

Two Tinas Big Button Initial Hoody starting at $40.00.

When it comes to buying a gift for moms there are a few standby's one can always count on, flowers, food, and anything fragrant. Now buying a scent for someone else can be tricky, everyone has different tastes, some like stronger scents, other something more light and perfumes react on everyone's skin differently. The solution? Philosophy's "Amazing Grace" gift set.

This best-selling fragrance smells good on everyone I swear! It's both clean and feminine at the same time. This set includes Amazing Grace perfume, a buffing body wash, and a firming body emulsion all with the same sweet scent, (talk about multitasking). Check out the rest of these exclusive beauty gifts and spoil your mom this Mother's Day.

Philosophy's Amazing Grace Mother's Day Gift Set starting at $59.50.

Old technology seems to be having it's hey-day right now, mix tapes are popping up all over the place, retro phones and especially records! Today is National Record Store Day, and if you have a player already go visit your local shop and pick up something old or new, if not check out this awesome travel turntable from Crosley.

The Stack-O-Matic, appropriately named, let's you stack up to six records at a time and plays them in sequential order. It has a retro look but modern features like full range stereo speakers and has the ability to play 7, 10, and 12 inch records. Did I mention it's portable? It's perfect for any family getaway, college dorm or new apartment. If you're a music lover, learn more about National Record Store Day here.

Crosley Stack-O-Matic Travler Turntable starting at $179.99.

To continue our Earth Day series, I have another great find from the Green Products Expo: the All-In-One Recycling Center. The product is pretty much self-explanatory as it allows you to have a one-stop, in-home, organizer for all your household recyclables. The unit even has a can and bottle crusher to help reduce your items. 

The three reasons I like the recycling center is that it helps make recycling easier by limiting the clutter of can, newspapers, bottles etc.. It looks better and holds up to three times more recyclables than the ubiquitous blue bin the town distributed six years ago. And lastly, the bin will help make recycling an easy chore for kids- and getting a little help around the house is certainly a plus. It's a great gift for home owners and apartment dwellers who are looking to “go green"!

All-In-One Home Recycling Center starting at $279.95. 

What can you get for $15, that is eco-conscious, thoughtful and unforgettable? Was your guess a journal made from elephant poo?  Yeah, didn’t think so! 

But before you start making gagging faces – take a second look at this beautiful (and odorless) journal, and you may quickly change your mind.  Handmade in Thailand, this 100% recycled journal redefines “unique” without breaking the bank, or your conscious. And don't forget it's a great gift for Earth Day!

Elephant Poo Paper Journal starting at $15.00. 

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.