A shopping blog of cool gift ideas

With so many upcoming holiday parties, bringing bottle after bottle of wine seems so unoriginal. And who wants to end up with 15 bottles at the night’s end? Why not give a more thoughtful gift? A Reclaimed Slate Cheese Board is perfect because it’s functional for serving some party appetizers. 

The board is made of recycled chalkboards from Franklin Elementary School in Illinois, making it a great eco-friendly option. You can educate other party-goers on the selected cheese by writing the name in chalk. With this creative gift, you’ll surely be the hit of the party. And your host/hostess will think of you for years to come.

Reclaimed Slate Cheese Board starting at $48.00.

Looking for a hot gadget gift this holiday season? Our very own Gift Guru Dan T. breaks down the hottest holiday gadgets on the Digital Trends podcast. There's unique tech gifts for the whole family.

If you’re curious to know the coolest gadget gifts under $150 listen in on Dan’s podcast and check out his list too!  

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.

Just like most folks these days, the Gift Guru's are total suckers for sales. Whether you're treating yourself to a new winter coat or starting your holiday shopping early, it always feels good to score something on sale. But what's even more feel good is when that sale goes towards a good cause. That's where the "Big Warm-Up" comes in.

For the next 22 days, Lands End will be offering 20% of any outerwear purchase, when you donate a gently used coat. So far, over a 5,000 coats have been collected to help the homeless this winter. Check out their video to see how the project works and how and where you can donate. And help everyone warm-up this winter. 

Last year EA Games and Hasbro teamed up to release Hasbro Game Night to bring classic games to video game platforms. So it’s exciting to see the release the follow up, Hasbro Family Game Night 2.

Fans of the first edition will love the updates and the new selection of classic games. One to four players can compete in both classic versions and fun updates to games we all know and love such as “Operation”, “Bop-It”, Connect 4×4, Pictureka, and my favorite Jenga. Play to compete and play to design your own virtual game room to be filled with awards and décor earned through HFGN2 game play. While game night may have moved from the kitchen table to in front of the Wii, the time spent playing as a family is a timeless tradition that will be remembered for years to come.

Want win a copy of Hasbro Family Game Night 2?  Become a fan Gifts.com on Facebook and leave a comment with your favorite game featured on Hasbro Family Game Night 2 by 6:00 p.m EST, Friday, November 13. One comment per person please, multiple comments will be discarded. Click here to read the official rules.

We’re kicking off this Holiday Season by giving away a great gift in the first installment of the Gifts.com Great Gift Giveaway Series.

The first gift we’re giving away is the new 16GB iPod Nano. The new Nano is an exceptional update of an already great iPod. The highlight of the 5th generation Nano?  It now has the ability to shoot video! How cool is that to be able to shoot video clips anywhere you go with this pocket-sized powerhouse. Throw in the new FM tuner and nine new glossy metallic shades to choose from, and I just might enter myself (don’t worry I can’t…and won’t!). 

Click here to enter for a chance to win this baby. 

Win it to gift it or win it to get it!

Yes I will admit it – I am a certified “Gleek.”  The show is cheesy, unrealistic and cheesy (worth saying twice.) And I love every minute of each episode!  Any show where the underdog gets to win AND sing is a show I have to watch. 

They all sound great in the soundtrack – better than they did at the World Series. But who cares about that because Glee doesn’t belong in the real world – it’s where we go to escape from the real world. And this new soundtrack does the trick in between episodes! It's a great little gift to surprise the music lover on your list. 

Glee: The Music Soundtrack starting at $11.55. 

I figured since Gift Guru Dan T,  already showed his love for the Yankees, I'd share some of my favorite Phillies fan gear gifts. Now that things are heating up with the World Series, us Phillies fans like to find every opportunity to show off our hometown pride.

Being a Phillies fan in New York is no easy task but at least I can take comfort in staying warm while I watch the game with this Phillies Therma Base Knit Hat. It's even thick enough to drown out the boo's I'll be hearing all night. Besides awesome fan apparel, if you really want to surprise him/her, send them a special bag of Custom Philadelphia Phillies M&M's.  They come in a variety of colors and even a special edition World Series Edition for the big win. Check out our Phillies Ultimate Fan Shop to deck out your loved ones in Red and White! 

MLB My Team M&M's Candies starting at $10.99.

After checking out the new DJ Hero game, I have to say that it will bring new life to “Last Night a DJ Saved my Life”. The DJ Hero turntable controller immerses you into authentic DJ culture allowing you to scratch, cross-fade, and beat match. Customize your mix with a variety of effects and samples transforming a face in the crowd into the life of the party. It features online and offline multiplayer competitive and cooperative modes.

Mix and scratch over 102 individual songs, highlighted in over 93 exclusive new mixes that blend genres of music, including hip-hop, electronica, R&B, Motown, pop, and rock. DJ Hero brings the hottest artists including: Black Eyed Peas, 50 Cent, Justice, Marvin Gaye, Beastie Boys, N.E.R.D, and more. Whether you’re a real DJ, want a new challenge different from RockBand or Guitar Hero, or just love music, you’ll be hooked on this game in no time. DJ Hero is guaranteed to be a hit among teens, college kids and young adults this holiday season. It’s definitely on my Top 10 Gifts for Teens and Hottest Holiday Toys for Teens lists.

DJ Hero Bundle with Turntable starting at $119.00. 

The Fall Classic is underway and regardless of whom you’re pulling for, you’ll want take this time to do a gear upgrade.  Fortunately, we have team gear stores with the sweetest team products around.  Whether you’re looking for fan apparel, team memorabilia, or team home and office décor, we have a great selection to suit any fan. Since I’m a huge Yankees fan, two products I really like are the Yankees coaster set (with real dirt from Yankee Stadium inside!) or for the real die-hard fan, a bag of Yankees outfield grass seed (the same grass grown at the stadium).

But the classic fan gear that every fan of a World Series team should get is the commemorative World Series authentic cap- the same one worn by the players on the field.

New York Yankees Authentic On-Field Cap starting at $35.99.