Here at Scouted, we try to give you the best of internet shopping, while The Daily Beast gives you the best of the news. What happens when the powers combine? A whole gift guide for what our writers and editors are buying for the holidays, and some they’d like to receive.
Let's face it: this year has been filled with anxiety and everyone could use a hug. This blanket is a savior since, well, hugging everyone is not exactly the best thing to do during a pandemic. Try this 10lb gem while working next to a drafty NYC window for the safe alternative. - Pilar Melendez, Reporter
With movie theaters closed and social distancing in full effect, this mini projector is my new favorite toy. Just plug it into your computer, find a big empty wall, and you’re good to go for movie night with friends outside. - Matt Wilstein, Senior writer
Working from home is just a perpetual sleepover, and so I've decided that we need to start going all in. The Poler Napsack is a sleeping bag/puffy/slanket hybrid. You'll feel silly in it for sure, but you'll also be the warmest person you know. Who's laughing now? - Daniel Modlin, Commerce Staff Writer
For our three-year old daughter, my partner and I spent an inordinate of time browsing indoor teepees, play tents, play castles, princess play tents, ad nauseam. It was hard to find anything not super girlie or super boyish that was the right size and shape for a NYC apartment. But we found this one! - Jay Michaelson, Columnist
I always try to get small, meaningful gifts for my boyfriend so he has a few things to open for the holidays. This year, I found this powdered versions of his favorite hot sauce. Why, you may ask, would you use powdered hot sauce? Well, we eat popcorn fairly regularly and he always douses his and then it ultimately gets soggy, so this will easily solve that problem (and the problem of us always running out of hot sauce). - Jillian Lucas, Commerce Editorial Mananger
My friend group decided to have a virtual gift exchange in lieu of our usual annual meetups but we wanted the gifts to be small, personal, and heartfelt rather than big and bougie. So, when I discovered this brand Smoko, I fell in love! They sell the cutest little trinkets that are absolutely perfect for Secret Santa, and best of all, their stuff is actually useful! Score yourself a dumpling diffuser, buy your workaholic friend a boba lamp, get a peach AirPods case for your iPhone-obsessed sister, or gift your roommate some heated (or dare I say hot) potato slippers. If you're not careful, you'll end up buying half the shop–and I say that from experience! - Charissa Isidro, Associate Social Media Editor
Candles are also just a great generic gift for most people in my life and Le Labo is a bit of a luxury brand that most people in my life wouldn't buy for themselves. For $80 it's a great gift for most people on my list. - Paige Hart-Smith, Sales Director
I've spent a lot of time in CO this year and have had my fair share of run-ins with moose and other fun wildlife. I asked for binoculars so that I will be able to see them more clearly! - Emily Herzig, Sales Director
My step-sister and I always look forward to spending the holidays at our parents' house doing puzzles together. This year, the pandemic means we won't be spending the holidays together, so I bought us each the same puzzle. That way, we still have something that we can share on Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning! - Lauren Bertolini, Chief Product Officer
Getting monthly subscription surprises added a little brightness to a bleak 2020. I'm planning to pay that joy forward with a prepaid year of Ipsy for loved ones, so they can have little moments of delight all year long. - Emily Levin, Creative Director, Marketing
I look forward to the holiday season because it means stocking up for the year on candles. Every single family member gifts me one—and I love them for it (because it is the one item I absolutely refuse to spend my own money on). This year, I figured I'd return the favor. Jonathan Adler is my go-to, and this year he's finally packaged up his classic liquor-inspired scents into a well-priced gift set that I can justify paying for. It's a great neutral-but-useful gift to have on hand for basically anyone who would appreciate a metallic pop to their candle collection—or anyone really missing the bars. - Alex Israel, Creative Strategy Lead
Our Portal has been a lifeline to family and friends during the pandemic, and we're sending ones to anyone on our list that we haven't already sent one to. They're especially great if you have kids (or pets!) and are the closest thing to being with loved ones when that's not possible. - Mary Cullen, Marketing Director
My younger sister is in law school, which means she's out the door at around 6 AM and returns home from the library at around 10 PM -- on a good day. So, I wanted to give her a gift that would make her life slightly easier. These glass and silicon water bottles from bkr are endlessly refillable, and they're aesthetically pleasing, too, so I knew she wouldn't be embarrassed carrying it around all day. I went with the heather gray color, because it matches her apple watch band, and she's really into matching. - Caroline Phinney, Newsletter Product Manager
With the pandemic, my husband and I had to cancel our large wedding and instead used the funds to put a down payment on our first home. In the summer, we used the outdoor fire pit on cool nights and now that the weather has turned, we use our wood burning stove daily. My husband is constantly re-stocking our wood pile, both inside and out, and this personalized bag will help make that so much easier! - Geri Dembicer, Director, Account Management
What loved one wouldn’t appreciate a literary masterpiece from a living legend at Christmas, the time when her powers are stronger than ever? Jokes aside, it’s a fascinating and beautifully written memoir that is candid about a difficult upbringing and career path than many may know. Mariah fans will love (though probably already read it), but I can’t imagine anyone not appreciating it. - Kevin Fallon, Senior Entertainment Reporter
It's been a crappy year for sports and a boon year for indoor shoes, both of which I've combined in these slides for my husband. - Rachel Olding Breaking News Editor
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