Source: McSweeney’s, Dandelion Chocolate, Bonne Maman

Advent calendars … already? Yep: Many of our favorite Advent calendars tend to sell out well before December. So if you’d like to open up a little door to a little treat every day leading up to the holidays, consider crossing this off your list early.

There are a lot of gems in our brand-new list of recommendations for this year, but a couple of our new picks have particularly wowed our experts. Senior kitchen editor Marguerite Preston swears by the “absolutely stunning” Dandelion calendar, which has little individual boxes that double as ornaments. “The chocolates inside are equally gorgeous, and it’s so cool and fun that each one comes from a different chocolatier, so you get something completely unique every day,” she says.

And during testing, gifts expert Samantha Schoech was utterly charmed by this boxed set of 24 mini holiday humor books from McSweeney’s. “The design is so beautiful, it’s something you can keep, read, and display forever,” Sam says. “And a little daily laughter is a real gift.”

For a daily delight in December→

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more ›

We’ve recommended this buy-it-for-life luggage for over a decade The best packing experience from any suitcase we’ve tested→

The best bathroom rugs and bath mats Works of art that are a pleasure to stand on (and prevent slipping)→

This magic cleaning spray will keep your toilet pristine And completely skid mark-free→

Photo: Michael Hession

If you’re looking for a rain boot that can handle wet and muddy conditions, our experts love these duck boots. They lace tight to your foot, so they’re not as easy to slip on and off, but we think this boot is one of the most thoughtfully designed pieces of gear for being outdoors. Plus, they’ll last for decades.

Why we love these (on-sale) rain boots→

Brittney went with heart eyes. Photo: Brittney Ho

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