10 Things That Delighted Us Last Week: From 150-Year-Old Soaps to Mini American Girl Dolls

A few weeks before Christmas every year, the Strategist team gathers for aSecret Santa exchange. Given that we’re a team of professional shoppers, the gifts aregood— and the only rule is that they have to be under $25, including shipping. Our managing editor, Keslie Schrader, gifted these pasta-shaped pot holders to our sleep writer, Amelia Jerden, which Jerden dropped in one of our Slack channels months ago. “She’s actually dropped several pasta-related products in Slack (includingthis hatthat was sadly out of budget), so I had a sense that pasta merch would be well-received,” Schrader says.

For this week’sStrategist Brain,our senior editor Hilary Reid told us about this gilded, jacquard Sézane jacket that she’s eyeing as a birthday gift for herself in January. “It reminds me of theWoman in Goldand also theseSanoë jacketsI spotted at Holiday on Madison, but for a quarter of the price,” Reid says.

If you’re looking for greeting cards to mail out this holiday season, our deals editor, Sam Daly — who’s a holiday-card connoisseur — found 15well-designed optionsfor Christmas, Hanukkah, and the New Year. For those wanting to go the personalized route, writerLiza Corsillolikes this Papier card that can turn your child into an adorable Matryoshka doll.

Versatile and downright cozy, atrusty cardiganis easy to wear throughout the seasons — and right now, they’re having something of a moment, so we spoke to fashionable women to hear about their favorites. Personal stylist and Kule content directorElizabeth Tamkinloves Gap’s CashSoft crewneck, which is made with over 50 percent cotton, plus 47 percent nylon, making it the perfect weight for wearing alone as a shirt. After hearing Tamkin’s review, our junior writer Brenley Goertzen tested a sample and found that it offers a softness and airy weight similar to cashmere but with more durability. “It’s become a mainstay in my closet because it’s so cozy and plush against my skin,” Goertzen says.

Strategist senior writer (and resident toy expert) Liza Corsillo is always sniffing out incredible gifts, and she recently discovered a perfect under-the-radar present for kids who are into dolls and their millennial moms. Enter themini American Girl doll. For about one-fifth of the price of a full-size 18-inch American Girl doll — which typically costs between $115 and $135 — you can get a miniMolly,Samantha,Addy,Melody, or any of the nine other historical dolls that were popular in the late ’80s and all through the ’90s, says Corsillo. Plus, each doll comes with a tiny abridged version of their autobiographical book.

To help ease the side effects of hormonal changes, contributor Kira Garcia rounded up alist of recommendationsfrom specialists who’ve helped hundreds of people through perimenopause. Dr. Kathleen Jordan, the chief medical officer atMidi Health, likes these MenoWell bars as an off-the-shelf option because they cover 25 to 32 percent of your daily fiber needs. According to Jordan, fiber “helps combat diabetes, lowers the risk of some cancers, supports GI health, and helps with weight loss.”

While a nice body gel is a gift practically any recipient will surely use, there’s just something more appealing and gratifying about giving abar of soap with a decades-old storybehind it, says contributorSara Radin. According to Roger & Gallet, a brand that launched its first soap in 1879, this soap is made in a cauldron (bonus points). It has a candied-ginger scent with notes of berries and pomegranate; plus, it comes in a delightful little box.

A well-curatedmuseum gift shopcan offer an array of unusual, interesting, and delightful items. But finding the true gems isn’t always easy, so our writer Kitty Guo combed through the e-shops of museums all over the country to bring you the best ones (that would all make fabulousholiday gifts). The star of the show at the Field Museum is Sue, an enormousTyrannosaurus rexthat was the largest specimen ever found at the time of her discovery. A dino-loving kid would be thrilled to receive this replica of her tooth.

In our list ofpracticalanddecorative trivets, our junior writer Bella Druckman uncovered the Alessi Augh. It’s made of mirror-polished stainless steel and features an expandable design, so we’re giving it high points for both function and style.

In our latest edition ofDon’t DillyDally, you’ll findTulip’s newest collection withEva Joan Repair. The 30 handcrafted designs “speak to the art and beauty of vintage materials, hand techniques, and thoughtful design,” says Tulip.