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20 Gifts Our Editors Are Ordering Now To Give This Holiday Season

From the can’t-keep-it-in-stock items to the trusted treasures that are a hit year after year, here are our editors’ top picks.

Volcano Candle

Anthropologie

We're (for the most part) a bunch of planners here at Southern Living, so we like to make sure all our ducks are in a row when it comes to holiday shopping. We want to be sure that the treasures we know and love are all wrapped up in bows in time for Christmas day. These days it feels harder than ever to gift things to people because there are a million and one options on the market. So why not pull inspiration from others? We thought it best to ask our editors, who see and hear about so many amazing products daily, to learn about their go-to ideas and add-to-cart-ASAP gifts this season.

These presents are a mixture of those gotta-have-it-now items, plus a few staples that are clever ideas to have on hand. We even included a few picks that you may want to buy for yourself. (The gift buyer should be allowed a little fun while browsing, right?) Put on your Santa hats and get in the holiday spirit to order these in-demand gifts ahead of time. You'll thank us later.

"A friend gifted me a Spongelle sponge earlier this year and I went ahead an ordered several to gift to friends and family," says Digital Editor Jenna Sims. "The sponges are offered in a few different scents and are infused with body wash. They're great for traveling and exfoliate while also nourishing skin."

Senior Homes and Features Editor Betsy Cribb Watson recommends skipping the bottle of wine, and treating your holiday hosts to a hand-crafted cocktail syrup instead. “I can't get enough of this Jalapeño Hex Syrup! It adds just the right amount of heat to margaritas and makes a fun host gift,” says Cribb.

"This is my favorite baking set to gift usually for weddings but holidays are great, too," says Senior Digital Food Editor Kimberly Holland. "I like the 3-piece set in particular because of the variety of sizes. The largest for a full casserole, the smallest is great for dips and side dishes. And Staub is reliable, classic, and always beautiful."

"In 2020, because of the pandemic, I was looking for little ways to connect with friends and family from a distance. So I made a big batch of Slow-Cooker Cranberry Pear Butter and put it in these cute little jars," says Senior Digital News Editor Rebecca Baer. "I dropped them off at the doors of my neighbors and several family members. They all loved it so I have made it an annual tradition that I do each year just ahead of the holiday season."

"I always recommend custom art," says Commerce Associate Editorial Director Nicole Lund. "I just ordered a portrait from this Etsy seller. It’s such a unique gift and so thoughtful, but you definitely have to plan ahead and order in advance."

"I love sending regional food boxes," says Newsletter Editor Hannah Zepeda. "I always send my Dad one since he's out of state and he loves the little taste of home."

"I love gifting these to friends," says Watson. "They're practical, fun, and bring a little wink of personality to the bathroom vanity. plus, they come in a set of two, so you can score two gifts for the price of one. Pair with a cute bar of soap and you're good to go."

"When the holidays roll around, I know exactly what to get the people in my life who love a pre-dinner charcuterie board: cheeses from Thomasville, Georgia's Sweet Grass Dairy," says Travel & Culture Editor Caroline Rogers. "They sell expertly paired gift boxes on their website as well as a selection of excellent standalone cheeses. I love to gift a small smorgasbord of Thomasville Tomme, Heat, and Asher Blue."

“My favorite 'little happy' to give my closest girlfriends is this luxurious lip mask by Laneige that makes your lips feel so soft and moisturized,” says Digital Editor Kaitlyn Yarborough. “Plus, they all smell amazing, especially the limited-edition holiday scents!”

"The men in my life are really into their smokers these days and this collapsible cutting board has been a hit," says Digital Editor Mary Shannon Hodes. "It pops out into a tub for applying seasonings without the mess and just as easily flattens for storage, cutting, or carving."

Senior Special Projects Editor Katie Rousso is relying on a tried-and-true gift this holiday season. “I don't think there's a holiday season that goes by without a Capri Blue Candle from Anthropologie making its way onto my gift list somewhere—and if I just so happen to buy one (or three) too many, my husband can't get enough it of around our house either. It's a classic!”

“Everyone I love is getting one of these phone sanitizers,” says Senior Staff Writer Meghan Overdeep. “Our phones are so much dirtier than we realize and this winter is shaping up to be a germy one!”

"A couple of the guys I'm shopping for this year love their power tools as well as spending time in the garden," says Sims. "This drill bit that can be used for planting is the perfect gift for them."

Travel and Culture Editor Tara Massouleh McCay recommends Homakover's Neoprene Ice Cream Sleeves for fun yet surprisingly handy stocking stuffers. She loved them so much, she even bough a set for herself.

“For my friends who like to cook, I'm ordering this olive oil set. It has an all purpose cooking olive oil and a finishing oil, which they call the Drizzle and Sizzle set,” says Assistant Food Editor Alana Al-Hatlani. “I love the squeeze bottles for easy use, and the cute label that's stylish on its own, no need to decant it into an olive oil dispenser.”

“I recently got married so we're making our close family members photo books using Artifact Uprising,” says Overdeep. “And it's not just for weddings! This service is good for all sorts of things, including baby books for grandparents, prints, and other framed mementos.”

Continuing with the personalized gift trend, Deputy Editor Lisa Cericola is gifting custom dog socks to everyone on her list this year.

McCay is also gifting Sand Cloud Beach Towels to all of her fellow beach bums. "They're light, packable, and quick-drying beach towels with 10% of each purchase going towards marine conservation so you can feel good about your purchase, too!"

Holland is also gifting Cariuma's Canvas Sneakers to a friend who needs sneakers in every color.

“I also have a bunch of girlfriends with newborns this season, so I'm always keeping an eye on pretty and soft PJs to make their first few months at home as comfy as possible,” says Rousso. “Eberjey's button-down sets are as cozy and cute as you can get!”

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