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We shop for a living and these are our fave gifts — handmade jewelry, faux fur fashion and more

Stumped on what to give? Our editors' favorite gifts might be the inspiration you need. (Photo: Amazon, Etsy, Big Blanket)
Stumped on what to give? Our editors' favorite gifts might be the inspiration you need. (Photo: Amazon, Etsy, Big Blanket)

The tidal wave of holiday sales has crashed onto our shopping shores. Can you feel the pressure starting to mount? While there are gifts aplenty to be fished out of the ocean of items the internet has to offer, finding something to get that hard-to-shop-for loved one can be more complicated than doing a scan of all the sales. As professional shoppers, our loved ones put us on that list of "complicated." After researching, clicking and testing, there’s not a lot out there we haven’t seen — but somehow our people have managed to delight and surprise us. To give you a little bit of holiday shopping inspiration, below, Yahoo Life’s shopping editors share the best gifts they've ever received.

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Katie McBroom, Beauty + Style Writer

This artfully designed ring makes the perfect gift, especially for an ocean lover. Available in blue or green, textured silver and enamel mingles to look just like waves. It's a one-of-a-kind creation that's made to order, making it a truly unique present.
$90 at Etsy

"One of my long-distance best friends got me this unique ocean-inspired ring from Etsy. It’s handmade with textured silver and enamel designed to look just like waves. I love that it’s a one-of-a-kind piece. It’s beautiful and I think of her whenever I wear it!"

Nicole Sforza, Executive Editor

This cozy-chic vest is made with polyester faux fur and comes in six different colors.
$30 at Amazon

"My husband graced me with this delightfully fluffy faux fur vest for Christmas a few years ago, and since then I've been the picture of cozy comfort, whether at a holiday party, at work in a chilly office or sitting in my very own living room. It looks chic, especially in black, and takes the place of a coat in some situations. But when it's particularly frigid out, I've worn it under a jacket and love always being the snuggliest person in the room when I get to my destination. Gift it to someone who's always cold!"

Libby Sentz, Shopping Editor

"This Shiatsu massager from my husband elicited strong emotions. I screamed when I unwrapped it (YAY!!!) and happy-cried when I tried it for the first time. It kneaded away years of back, neck and shoulder pain immediately, and four years later it continues to help keep it at bay. Whenever stiffness or soreness strikes, I make a beeline for it. Put this on your wish list, or buy it for someone you visit very, very often."

Rebecca Carhart, Home Shopping Writer

This clever carryall comes in 11 different colors and even has a built-in charger that lets you juice up your electronics while on the go.
$295 at Away

"Whether I’m going on a quick weekend getaway or a two-week-long European excursion, I only bring a carry-on bag with me, which is why I was so excited my mom gifted me this Away carry-on suitcase for my birthday a few years ago. From enduring cobblestone streets to falling down staircases, its hard-shell frame and spinner wheels have been through a lot and still work as good as new. I love that it’s compact enough to fit in the overhead bin of a plane but still spacious enough to hold all my essentials, thanks to its divided compartments and inner compression system. But the best part has to be the built-in charger that lets me charge my phone and iPad on long trips without having to search for an outlet."

Westry Green, Managing Editor

This mug lets you control the temperature of your favorite hot beverage through its app. It has a temperature range of 120 to 140 degrees and keeps your beverage warm for up to 90 minutes.
$114 at Amazon

"I hadn’t heard of the Ember smart mug when I received it from my wife, but now I don’t know how I ever lived without it. I like my coffee piping hot, but I tend to dawdle over the newspaper as I drink my morning joe. The cup's app lets me set the exact temperature I like and keeps it there for about an hour— finally, each sip is just as satisfying as the first one. Sure, the Ember is more expensive than the typical electric cup warmer, but it’s worth it. My java doesn’t develop that burnt taste, and I can place my mug anywhere I please. Now, that’s smart."

Nicole Lee, Senior Editor

Made out of 100% Turkish cotton, this waffle robe is luxurious and comfortable. Bonus: It has two hip pockets!
$109 at Parachute

"I've wanted a bathrobe for a very long time, and finally last Christmas, my husband purchased this for me as a gift. I love it so much that I use it almost everyday. It's soft and comfy, and it absorbs water very well, leaving me dry in seconds. It feels like I'm at a spa, without having to leave my house.

Izabella Zaydenberg, Deputy Editor

Bigger than a king-size blanket, this ultra-plush number is breathable, wrinkle-resistant and can hide your furry friend's fluff.
$259 at Big Blanket Co.

“I consider myself a bit of a blanket aficionado, so when I say this blanket just might beat Barefoot Dreams, I mean it. I got one last year, and it’s massive — it’s 100 square feet! I mostly use it on my couch on movie nights (it covers me, my partner, and our pets with plenty of room to spare) and it makes an excellent pillow fort or play mat whenever I have the youngest members of my family swing by. It’s so soft, too. I’ve since gifted them to pretty much all my friends at this point!”

Rachel Roszmann, Weekend Editor

This robot vac can run for 200 minutes on a single charge and cover 1,600 square feet. You can create maps in the app for where you want Neato to clean, and it has an Alexa integration.
$277 at Amazon

"I have never been a big fan of practical gifts (I have lingering wounds left by a suitcase I got for my high school graduation and the stock pot for my 21st birthday). I’m pretty sure I’ve (openly, loudly and with a snort) scoffed at a vacuum given as a gift, but my husband gave me my Neato robovac anyway, and I'm so glad he did. It really did change my life. It sweeps and vacuums so much better than a human being — every nook and cranny gets a polishing! After every cycle, it feels like a cleaning crew just left."

Lisa Schweitzer, Senior Editor

Espresso and cappuccino drinkers will adore the convenience of this easy-to-use machine. Just fill the water tank, insert an original Nespresso capsule, turn on the machine and press a button for either espresso or lungo drinks.
$500 at Amazon

"Coffee is always the first thing I think of after I turn off my alarm every morning, and my Nespresso maker has been the answer to my caffeine quest ever since I received it nine years ago. It took me a few months to figure out which espresso pods I really like, but once I did, I was hooked on those daily cappuccinos. This version of the Nespresso Citiz machine also includes a milk frother, which is a cinch to use and to clean and really takes my coffee experience up a notch — it feels like a treat every time I brew a cup!"

Looking for more great Amazon auto + home deals? Check these out:

Auto

  • Hotor Car Trash Can with Lid and Storage Pockets

Vacuums

  • Black+Decker dustbuster QuickClean Cordless Handheld Vacuum

Kitchen

Bedding and home

More Holiday Gift Ideas

We’ve got your holiday shopping list covered with fantastic gift ideas for everyone on your list. You’ll find expert picks on the best tech gifts on Engadget, the best gift ideas for car lovers at Autoblog, gifts for the young (and young at heart) at In the Know, and picks for just about everyone else on your list (moms, dads, teens, nurses, you name it!) in Yahoo’s holiday gift ideas section. On AOL, you'll find for gift ideas for seniors shopping for moms, dads, teens and toddlers.