A shopping blog of cool gift ideas

Fourth of July has arrived and the presidential election is fast approaching, so here's a list of gift ideas in honor of all your parties - patriotic and political.

For the weekend kickoff: Save your political jabs for your steaks with these Political Party Branding Irons.  

For the early risers: Fill up the Blue States Mug and watch the red states disappear as the mug heats up. But don't cry in your coffee just yet, there's the Make My Day Mug for red state lovers too! 

For the mini patriots: Rock the vote and the cradle with the pint-sized Future Voter Patriotic Baby Romper for star spangled babies.

For the peacekeepers: To keep political banter at bay and celebrate as citizens, try on the Swing Voters Custom Tee for those who like to support any party. 

For the roadtrippers: Let the gridlock games begin.  Study up on your patriotic trivia with the Secret Lives of Presidents Trivia Card Game. There's plenty of dirty laundry to cross state lines. 

It's been years (I won't say how long) since I've been on Spring Break or a road trip, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate a good cooler. Especially this tailgating style Koolatron Auto Cool Wheeler.

Whether you're hitting the beach, a parade or roadside fireworks this Fourth of July, you can wheel this cooler right along with you. It holds up to 54 12-oz drinks and has a 33-liter capacity so you can beat the heat no matter how large your party. It will even keep its cool after hours of traffic with a 12-volt adapter that plugs right into your car. 

Koolatron Auto Cool Wheeler starting at $88.88

Recently, while I was on the hunt for some hot holiday gifts at a trade show, this cool Earbags Sprigs Banjees Wrist Wallet caught my eye. I decided to give it a test run of my own over Memorial Day weekend. Being a weekend adventurer I went everywhere — rode my bike all around the city, walked the beach, and hit a couple of BBQ's. While I pedaled away the wallet held on tight. It's a little tricky cramming everything in there, but once I figured it out, it was smooth sailing and I enjoyed every minute of my holiday weekend without once worrying if I dropped my wallet along the way. It's the perfect gift for an travel enthusiast or the person on the go. 

Earbags Sprigs Banjees Wrist Wallet starting at $14

When it comes to jelly shoes, I had a pair in the '80s and then another in the '90s and well…apparently it's time to buy another pair. This time around jellies have been given the designer treatment, so they're more comfortable and better looking than the ones I sported.

I especially love these colorful Maui Jelly Flip Flops by Kate Spade. The sandals are just as cute as the jellies of old (brightly colored, made of rubber, easy to clean) and yet much cooler (literally, as they actually let your feet breathe). They'd make an awesome gift for graduation or a summer birthday for the Trendanista in your life!

Maui Jelly Flip Flops by Kate Spade starting at $60.00

Like most grads, I kept the tassel from my cap as a keepsake, but the only display it got was on my rearview mirror. If only I had a more fashionable graduation keepsake that I could sport year round.

Well, girls and their obsession with being fashionable will never change and they don’t have to, even when it comes to saying sayonara to senioritis thanks to Juicy Couture grad jewelry. This cute collection of charms, bracelets and rings all come stamped with 2008 so she can remember her graduation year in style.

My favorite is the Limited Edition Pennant Charm. It features a pastel enamel pennant embossed with the words Juicy Class 08 and a tassel accent. It's the perfect way to say congrats to the Trendanista graduate. I'm sure she’ll think of cooler ways to sport this stuff than in her rearview mirror!

Limited Edition Pennant Charm starting at $42.00

Who says you have to look like everyone else on your big graduation day? This awesome Dr. Seuss Graduation Cap makes it easy to grab the right cap after you throw yours in the air. Perfect for the class clown, it's made to match the cover of the popular "Oh, the Places You'll Go!". And with a cap like this, you may not know exactly where you'll go, but you know you'll definitely have fun getting there. 

Dr. Seuss Graduation Cap starting at $12.99

There's really no denying that college is an exciting time in a person's life. There are new friends, new activities, more freedom and independence, and the chance to even sleep-in and have Fridays off with the right class schedule. The not so exciting part, though, is the sudden lack of space. Sharing a single dorm room, often the size of a walk-in closet, can be a challenge. But with a lot of organization, some strategic planning, and products designed for small spaces, it doesn't have to be so bad — and can even be kind of fun.

The Dahon Folding Bike is perfect for a high school graduate going off to college in the fall who may not have room to store a traditional bike. He or she will love the ease of getting around campus without sacrificing crucial storage space. Not only can the bike be housed conveniently and out of the way, but it can be easily folded and transported in the trunk of a car, which will be perfect for those trips back home on long weekends!

Dahon Folding Bike, Espresso starting at $399

My family always throws a big Memorial Day bash to kick-off the summer in style complete with barbecue and a competitive volleyball tournament.  We used to joke about setting up flood lights in the backyard to keep the party and the games going well into the evening.  But who needs lights when there are glow-in-the-dark lawn games like this fun LED Bowling Set?  The set of ten pins and two balls works on sand or grass, and because everything glows in the dark, you get the whole effect of midnight bowling in your own backyard.

This Memorial Day, I'm staying at the beach with friends and definitely plan on bringing a bunch of glow-in-dark games for my generous summer hosts.

LED Bowling Set starting at $129.95

With Memorial Day upon us, it's important not to skimp on summer essentials, and that includes your skin. There's nothing worse then returning to work with a patriotic sunburn.

Look no further than this all inclusive Sun Safety Kit. It features 11 different skin saving products for the face and body all in convenient travel and test sizes so you can bronze, not bake on your getaway. And when you purchase this limited edition pouch, $21.55 of each sale goes to The Skin Cancer Foundation. It's the perfect Bon Voyage gift for any sunbather.  

Sun Safety Kit starting at $25.00

What do you get the grad who's always been a class clown? Not some boring old dorm fridge, that's for sure. But this USB Mini Frig is a different story.

Any jokester will appreciate the wonderful absurdity/genius of this one-can-only cooler. Just put the bevvy in the retro-looking device, plug it into the computer, and within seconds, you've got an ice-cold drink without even having to leave your chair! Which means it's perfect for the lazy college student. Not to mention an awesome graduation gift for the grad with the Best Sense of Humor.

USB Mini Frig starting at $24.99