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Sweet, crafty and boozy! Here's the best mail-order gifts this year

Shoppers have more creative mail-order gift options than ever. TODAY lifestyle contributor Elizabeth Mayhew dished on her faves.
/ Source: TODAY

Mail-order gifts are a classic holiday choice for friends, family, colleagues, and even neighbors (hey, who says they need to live far away?). Nowadays consumers have more creative options than ever, and they can all be bought and shipped with just a few clicks.

On Saturday, TODAY lifestyle contributor Elizabeth Mayhew joined Erica Hill to share this season's best of the mail-order bunch across a number of categories!

Food and Drink

1. Whimsy Cookie Company Christmas Cookie Box ($42, 10% donated to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital)

Memphis-based Whimsy makes hand-decorated cookies that taste as good as they look. Their holiday cookie assortment includes 6 iced fancy cookies and 6 Gooey Butter Cookies, each of which comes wrapped and ready for individual gifting.

2. Malvi Marshmallow Confections Original Sampler ($32)

Traditional s'mores are pretty amazing, but these creations by Atlanta-based Malvi take them to the next level! Fluffy marshmallows bursting with flavor are wedged between two crumbly butter cookies. This collection includes one 4-pack each of Vanilla Salted Caramel, Chocolate, Spiked Espresso, Red Velvet, and Pumpkin Ginger.

3. High Note Gifts Bourbon Bundle ($65)

These Nashville innovators bring an artisanal craftsmanship to traditional products. This Southern-style crate of goodness is centered around bourbon, as its name suggests. It includes Bourbon brittle from Olive & Sinclar; Prohibition Popcorn with a hint of Whiskey; Bourbon caramels from Walker Creek Confection; Apple Bourbon Jam from Nashville Jam Co, and Barrel-aged local honey from Trubee Honey.

4. Give Them Beer Craft Beer Briefcase ($74.95)

Business is not done as usual with this metal briefcase from the Pinellas Park, Florida-based beer gift basket website. Stocked with top-notch craft beer, it included Titan IPA by Great Divide, Two Hearted Ale by Bell's, Hop Ottin' by Anderson Valley, Sculpin IPA by Ballast Point. Racer 5 by Bear Republic, and Indian Brown Ale by Dogfish Head.

5. Stumptown Coffee Rambler Coffee Brewing Kit ($185)

With the heftiest price tag of all on this list, we're calling this one a "splurge item," but you're getting quite the brewed bang for your buck! The Rambler kit is designed to meet all your coffee needs while on outdoorsy adventure. It comes with a Wood & Faulk bag made of water-repellent canvas, bridle leather, and brass zipper; an AeroPress kit with filters; two Stumptown enamel mugs; a Porlex Mini grinder; a 12 oz bag of Hair Bender coffee, and an on-the-go brew guide.

6. Also from Stumptown Coffee Stumptown & Mast Brothers Chocolate Gift Set ($27)

If you still want to give the gift of caffeine but don't want to spend quite as much, or are looking to add a bit of sweets to the coffee mix, this is your combo. It includes a 12 oz bag of Ethiopian Nano Challa and a fancy chocolate bar that pairs well with the brew.

Personalized Gifts

7. Pinhole Press Personalized Memory Game ($19.99)

A beautiful present for friends with kids, this online photo gift boutique lets you create a customized photo memory game for children. Choose 12 of your favorite photos and have them turned into cards similar to those from the beloved children's game, Memory.

8. Lands' End Fleece Throws and Cashtouch Personalized Scarves Plush Fleece Printed Throw ($24)

Add a monogram, a special embroidery, or both to these super soft and velvety goods. It costs an extra $6 to add the extra, personal touch on these throws and scarves, and an additional $7 to have it shipped in a holiday gift box.

Beauty

9. Farmaesthetics Winter Greens Gift Set ($58)

The holidays have a feverish effect on some, this line of 100% natural skincare will cool things down. The set comes with a variety of organic, hypo-allergenic, and dermatologically tested ointments and unguents including the Herbal Hydration Complex, Warming Oil, Vapor Bath Elixir, and a Snow & Cedar Bath and Beauty Bar. In addition to being cruelty-free, these gods have a self-life of two years after opening, so the recipient can return to them next holiday season!

10. L'Occitane, Gift boxes ($69, 10% goes to Dress For Success, up to $120k)

Men and women alike may indulge in these pampering gift sets. Choose between the Nourishing Shea Butter Set, which includes Shea Ultra Rich Body Cream, Shea Ultra Rich Shower Cream, Shea Extra Gentle Milk Soap, Shea Butter Hand Cream, and Shea Butter Foot Cream — or a Sparkling Verbena Gift set, which includes Verbena Shower Gel, Cerbena Body Lotion, Verbena Cooling Hand Cream Ge. Verbena EDT, and Verbena Perfumed Sachet. Both come in a holiday box.