The Top 16 Products Dwell Readers Bought in December 2022
Whether it was an inspired present or a salve to help get through the season, here are December's most popular buys.
From gear to brave nippy mornings or weather a winter bonfire, to apparatus to ease the cooking or ace the plating, and toys abound for human and non-human alike, Dwell readers bought gifts in December that work just as well for any occasion throughout the year.
Shared meals are just that sort of event that seems to crop up every now and then—and the Always Pan promises to come in handy.
Our Place Always Pan
Meet the cult-favorite, best-selling Always Pan. This do-it-all wonder is designed to replace 8 traditional pieces of cookware. Plus, it looks pretty good too.
If you chose one of their six colors to match with these butter keepers (or anything made by Sawyer Ceramics), it might not matter what you cook. You would look amazing doing it.
Sawyer Ceramics French Ceramic Butter Keeper
Protect your butter. Here's an earthen, French-country way to keep your butter soft and spreadable. Originating in the late 1800s, this method involves adding water to the base of the keeper so that, coupled with anywhere from 1/2 a stick to a full stick of butter, it creates an airtight seal.
Poppy enough to catch the eye, but not enough to steal the stage, these vintage-inspired cake stands are peak photogenicity for potlucks and bakeoffs.
Mosser Glass Cake Stand
This stand takes the cake. Throw the tea party of your dreams and bedeck this vintage-inspired stand with scallop-frosted cakes, sprinkle-covered cupcakes, and fruit-stuffed tarts. Each cake stand is made in Ohio at Mosser Glass, a family-owned company that uses decades-old glass molds and splashy colors to breathe new life into classic designs. Since each piece is hand-crafted, swirls and slight color variations are totally normal and actually make them extra one-of-a-kind.
A free tip when it comes to shared meals: don't be afraid to bring the hot take. This chili paste might just do the trick.
Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp
The first & only 100% all-natural Sichuan chili sauce, proudly crafted in Chengdu. It's hot, spicy, crispy, numbing and deliciously savory. Intensely flavorful yet not off-the-charts spicy, it’ll make your food taste bolder and the world around you seem a little bit brighter. Use it on everything. Yes, even that.
If that seems too risky, consider hedging your bets. Japanese snacks—especially if they're packaged as cutely as these—are ever the crowd-pleaser.
Bokksu Classic Gift Box - 3 Month
Gift a delicious & authentic experience from Japan. Bokksu delivers to your door the experience of tasting authentic Japanese snacks, candies, and teas sourced directly from centuries-old family makers. Every box you purchase supports these family-run businesses in Japan and helps keep their traditions alive. Each box ships from Japan and comes with: 20-24 Japanese snacks, candies, and a tea pairing curated around a fun cultural theme. 16+ Page Culture Guide Magazine that details each product's origin, flavors, and even common allergens. Convenient one-time payment that does not auto-renew. Free shipping directly from Japan!
Gone are the days when "join us for dinner" meant just that. Expect a group activity of some sort. While you could wait to see what lay in store... you could also bring something yourself.
Reset the Table Conversation Cards
U.S. Women’s National Team members and World Cup champions Megan Rapinoe, Christen Press, Tobin Heath, and Meghan Klingenberg created re—inc, a purpose-driven lifestyle brand to boldly reimagine the status quo and champion equity, creativity, progress, and art. They host Reset the Table events, at which they use conversation cards as an invitation to spark dialogue. Now available to the public for the first time, these Reset the Table Conversation Cards inspire exploration, collaboration, and reflection with others. Encased in a tray and sleeve with silver letterpress, these 20 cards with 40 thoughtful questions plus an instruction card can be used as starting points to dream big, think differently, and act with purpose.
Surprisingly underrated for a spell, puzzles are getting the recognition they have always deserved. These designer options by Dusen Dusen are a case in point.
Areaware Pattern Puzzle
Dusen Dusen is known for their bold original textiles to both wear and live among. Each collection is developed and inspired by fine art, commercial and naïve design, as well as the brain's reaction to color, movement, and contrast. Pattern Puzzle translates these unique designs into 500 and 100 piece jigsaw puzzles.
If abstract geometry isn't your thing, consider this nostalgic puzzle of a vintage match collection.
Le Puzz Match Made in Heaven 500 Piece Puzzle
Match Made in Heaven is an arrangement of our huge collection of vintage matchbooks. We fell in love the colorful tips and the diverse range of graphic designs on the covers. Hope they strike a chord with you!
And if puzzles aren't your thing, paint-by-number kits promise the same engagement while encouraging calm of mind. This one looks good enough to keep on display when finished.
Mindful Crafts: Geometric Paint-by-Number Kit
Craft your way to calm with this all-levels kit designed to help you unwind and tap into the present moment. Featuring eye-catching geometric designs by artist Marleigh Culver, this kit invites you to relax through the meditative process of painting by number. When completed, you'll have three beautiful abstract paintings to gift or display. Includes three pre-printed art boards, six pots of acrylic paint, two paintbrushes, and an instruction guide. Perfect for anyone looking for creative ways to unplug and slow down.
If all else fails, you could just escape to the coziest hideout you can find. But there is a way to do that right. First thing first: find the perfect bag. Somehow both cute and outdoorsy, this one could be it.
Bellroy Lite Duffel
A traditional duffel with a twist, this bag is rugged enough for adventure, but light enough to let you move like the wind.
This portable whisk makes frothing lattes easy, adding variety to your caffeinated comfort.
Golde Superwhisk
Meet your latte's new best friend. Superwhisk is a USB-rechargeable whisk that instantly froths your favorite superfood lattes to perfection. Handheld and rechargeable, so it goes wherever you do.
After all that effort, what a shame it would be to let the coffee grow cold—or worse, lukewarm. With Ember Mug2, the countless cups of tepid caffeine are behind you.
Ember Mug2
Never drink tepid coffee again. When you’re in the zone—crushing deadlines, annihilating inboxes—time can get away from you. The inventors over at Ember want to make sure being focused never means picking up cold coffee, so they came up with the app-controlled mug that keeps your drink at an exact temperature, all day long. Away from your desk? The Ember Mug can hold the correct temp for an hour and a half before it needs a wireless recharge from its included charging coaster.
Drinking caffeine all day does not seem to be recommended. If you're one to switch to spirits come evening, these glasses will showcase amber-dyed models of real mountains as you unwind.
Whiskey Peaks Pacific Northwest - Set of 4
Sippin’ on the rocks. While there's nothing quite like taking a swig from a beat-up flask at the top of a mountain, it's unrealistic to think we can experience that exact moment every Thursday at 7 pm. Thankfully, there's Whiskey Peaks to help channel that same energy with a more "Don Draper" attitude. This collection consists of a handsome set of four handblown whiskey glasses made from premium lead-free glass. Featuring a raised topographic impression of some of the greatest, most majestic peaks in the world, Whiskey Peaks will keep you inspired and sippin’ "on the rocks" whenever 5 o'clock calls.
Slippers are the ultimate in cozy. What if you didn't have to feel guilty to bringing that comfort outside? That's exactly what these boots let you do.
Greys The Outdoor Slipper Boot
Sliding into a pair of Greys slippers gives you the same satisfying feeling as a nice, steep pour of bourbon after a long day. A cozy wool blend keeps your feet nice and toasty, while the grippy rubber sole lets you take them beyond the bedroom—whether you’re venturing across the slippery kitchen floor or across the street to your local coffee shop. The shape is handsome enough to keep your neighbors from raising any eyebrows, while a thoughtful, stub-proof toe box keeps you from shouting expletives in public. Every pair is naturally moisture-wicking and odor-resistant, and comes with a leather pull-on tab to easily slip ‘em off (though we’re not sure why you’d ever want to).
Surprisingly overlooked when hiding out, your favorite towel is an essential. If you don't have one, these Japanese towels offer soft, terry-cloth magic.
Morihata Claire Organic Cotton Japanese Bath Towels
Snuggle yourself dry. These towels are like a favorite baby blanket, all grown up. Handcrafted in Japan from both cotton and linen, they're as soft and cozy as you can imagine—smooth woven pattern on one side, lightweight terry cloth on the other, and quick drying. The hand towel and bath towels are designed in the classically narrow Japanese style. Plus, they come in three muted pastels—silvery grey, turquoise blue, and dusty pink—that look just as charming in a master bath, kid’s bathroom, or kitchen. However you use them, you’ll feel snug as a bug in a rug.
Do not forget your cat! It deserves as much love, comfort, and indulgence as you do. At least one of these 24 assorted catnip toys ought to be a hit.
HDP Grab Bag Assorted Catnip Cat Toys, 24 Count
Any cat will be delighted to open up the HDP Grab Bag Assorted Catnip Cat Toys. Filled with a whopping 24 toys in different shapes and styles, this bag will provide hours of fun and exercise for your playful cat. Every toy is filled with catnip to entice your kitty to start swatting and pouncing, and some even make noise to really heighten his senses. It’s a healthy outlet for your cat’s natural hunting instinct, and he’ll love the variety of getting a new toy to play with every day.
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