It's the opening day of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing! What world records will be broken? How many gold medals will U.S. athletes bring home? What amazing against-the-odds stories will unfold?

The opening ceremony is sure to be a dazzling event. It's always interesting to watch the parade of athletes—there's more fashion involved than you might think. This year, the U.S. Olympic team will be unveiling outfits designed by Polo Ralph Lauren! You too can be red, white and "crisp" with a red Coca-Cola® (an official sponsor of the Olympics) hobo bag. Supple like canvas, but actually made out of recycled plastic bottles! It's a chic eco-conscious fashion choice.

I wonder if any of the athletes are bold enough to wear a "Didn't Come Here To Lose" t-shirt or cap. It almost seems like something swimmer Michael Phelps might wear. He's only trying to come home with 8 gold medals, after all.

I'm especially looking forward to cheering on 41-year-old swimmer Dara Torres. It's her fifth Olympics appearance and this is after she took time off to have a baby! She's an inspiration for us, ah, mature adults, and I hope she blows her competition out of the water. And if anyone under 30 tries to tell me otherwise, I'll just plug my ears and "La La La" until they go away.

Can Tyson Gay recover from his hamstring strain to achieve an official world record in the 100 meters? I watched the trials where he ran it in 9.68 seconds. That's mind-boggling to me! Athletic feats like this inspire me to pull out my running shoes and go for a run. Sometimes though, this t-shirt hits home more than I like. But hey, running late must burn calories too, right?

It's going to be an exciting two weeks! Support our athletes in style with our exclusive U.S.A. Eagle denim jacket. It's all-American design is sure to make spirits burst with pride!

Your "Go Team USA" Gift Guru,
Linda

It's easy to lose track of time when running around campus, researching term papers in the library, or hanging with friends in the dining halls. Help save your student the embarrassment of walking into class late with a sleek college watch. Available in many of the major college colors in both men's and ladies' styles. (Psst--This is also a good gift for college sports fans and alumni!)

It can be tricky trying to pack a lot of personality into those cramped dorm rooms. You need style and function to make the most of the space. The retro styling of this Pepsi® corkboard is vintage cool and just the place to pin up class schedules, campus flyers and more. A warning for all the rookie freshmen: Be prepared for potential "soda" vs. "pop" debates!

Dining hall food doesn't always hit the spot. And while ramen noodles go hand in hand with college living (probably because they're cheap and can be made in a hot pot), it can be tiring to eat meal after meal. Help them spice up this classic with the 101 Things To Do With Ramen Noodles cookbook. Easy, simple, and their taste buds will thank you ten times over.

And then there'll be days when they'll need to partake in some serious comfort food. Like after a "studied for 72 hours straight and still probably failed that impossibly hard exam" day. Something only spoonfuls of deliciously decadent ice cream can cure. This ice cream mug holds that perfect pint of frozen therapy.

Last but not least, it's important to have a well-rounded wardrobe. T-shirts are easy to slip on while dashing off to class and serve as icebreakers and conversation starters. We have tons of t-shirts for all tastes. Be sure to browse through them for the one you think will speak to your college-bound student. Here's one to start you off with: it's the real meaning of college!

Your "Cuma Sum Ha-Ha" Gift Guru,
Linda

I am so excited for a dear friend, who just a few days ago broke the news of her pregnancy to me. I had thought for some time that there was something different about her, but couldn't quite put my finger on it. And it wasn't just her trendy new haircut! So as my friend undergoes this miracle of life, I'm going to randomly shower her with gifts to help keep a smile on her face…even on days when she's not feeling so great.

First things first --- she's gotta have some kind of personalized pregnancy shirt! This cute tee reminds her (as if she could forget!) that there's a major project underway. It's also a fun way to clue everyone else in on the good news. And, it can be customized with the family's name (or baby's, if a name has already been picked out).

Now the first ultrasound is a big milestone. It's the very first baby picture! Something this special ought to be framed and showcased proudly. This ultrasound frame has a touching verse, plus space to print the ultrasound and due dates. Years down the road my friend will look back at what a little peanut-shaped sensation her kid used to be…and maybe wonder what's happened since!

Oh, but what if the ultrasound shows not one baby…but two?? If that's the case, to help them figure out which baby is which (or rather, to help everyone who volunteers to babysit, including me, from getting the babies mixed up) I'll give them Thing 1 and Thing 2 onesies!

This Business Is Good one piece just absolutely cracks me up. Hopefully it'll also amuse the soon-to-be new parents too, especially when they're busy changing dirty diaper after dirty diaper.

But until then, I'm going help document this pregnancy. I'll start by snapping random photos of my friend with this disposable camera that adds baby-related phrases to the bottom of the photo, like "Baby on Board." The developed results could be instant comedy gold!

Your "Bananas For Babies" Gift Guru,
Linda

Do you ever catch yourself pondering some of life's mysteries? Mysteries like:

What is man's fascination with fire?

What's the connection between firing up the grill and simultaneously cracking open a beer?

Why did the chicken cross the road?

In today's tribute to men and their innate love of grilling, let's look at The Lighter Side answers to these slightly rhetorical questions.

The urge to play with fire is probably a hangover — I mean, holdover — instinct from the caveman days. Have you ever caught yourself holding your breath when he's about to light that match after squirting an entire bottle of lighter fluid over the charcoal? Let Chef Homer do his hilarious falsetto rendition of "Disco Inferno" that'll leave your man cracking up and double-checking his grill skills to make sure he doesn't have a Homer-esqe incident!

The next question is easy. Hang up the Budweiser party lights, because playing with fire is hot business and he needs cold beverages to keep his cool! Keep some chilled bottles on hand for him and he'll be singing your praises as he whips up dinner.

Speaking of hot stuff, let him know it's not just the yummy smells coming off the grill that keeps you coming outdoors. Ask him to wear this apron (and nothing else...if you dare!). For the more modest men out there, the What Happens T-shirt is great grill day apparel.

Oh, and why did the chicken cross the road? Because he saw my doormat and didn't want to end up on the grill like his buddies! (Hey, some of us ladies know our way around the grill too!)

Your "Kudos To The Men Chefs" Gift Guru,
Linda

As the days get hotter, the quicker we try to find refuge in the water. For some, it means sneaking off to the secret swimming hole (and finding it packed because it's everyone else's secret spot too!). Or perhaps it's spending the day at the lake, creating waves with the jet skis. Or maybe you picnic and play in the surf at the beach. Or maybe you beat the heat by hanging out at home…in your pool!

For children (and "big kids") the bigger the splash factor, the better the pool toy! Give them what they want with this giant, inflatable sea-saw. Kids will rock, roll and splash their way across the pool in this watery version of the classic playground game.

Me, personally, I like to take it easy and relax in the water. I used to use a simple pool noodle to float around the pool until I found the pool noodle chair. Yes. Pool noodle CHAIR. Talk about comfy. It's my go-to flotation device of the summer.

Now at the other end of lounging devices is the sweet bumper boat chair. Cruise around your pool in style, using the steering wheel to propel you forward, left and right. Is that a wall ahead? No problem, just bump right off it! Guard your seat — once everyone sees this, they'll do everything they can to try to steal your ride!

Once you've had your fill of watery fun, make sure you have a nice fluffy towel to dry off with. The dolphins beach towel is but one of the many eye-catching towels we offer.

And even if you don't have a pool, chances are good you'll be attending a few pool parties this summer. Be a doll and thank your host with this tongue-in-cheek pool sign.

Your "Swims Like A Fish" Gift Guru,
Linda