Advent calendars

Candles_by_Lisa

laudan wrote: »

Boots no 7 online now limited stock one per customer


http://www.boots.com/en/No7-Beauty-Calendar_1536911/

Got mine. Missed out on this last year my daughter will love it.

sweaty_betty

I really want a beauty calendar but can't justify the cost. I've decided to make my own with trial sizes etc I've put away (and maybe this will make me use them up!)

I've bought a couple of empty advent calendars and was going to put one together for my OH, but beauty isn't his thing - I thought I could put in chocolates and the odd whiskey miniature - any other suggestions?

C_J

I do beauty advent calendars for both of my (grown up) daughters, and fill them with a mix of the small cosmetic items I collect throughout the year (the gift-with-purchase things from Clinique and No7 are great for this) plus nail polishes, face masks, travel size soap and glory etc etc.


This year elder daughter is now living with her boyfriend so I have decided to make him an advent calendar too so he doesn't feel left out. The overcome the problem of trying to find tiny things, I bought a red candy-cane-stripey oblong basket (which looks quite Christmassy) from Store Twenty One (I think it cost about £3) and then got some Christmas tree patterned paper sweetie bags (about 7"x5") online for a couple of quid. I printed out some sticky labels with December 1st, 2nd etc to seal the bags.


I've just about managed to find enough things to fill the bags for him - Poundland/PoundWorld/99p stores have been great for this - miniature aluminium torch, manicure set, keyring, carabiner, lip balm, credit card style survival tool, bottle opener, folding fork etc. I also managed to get some things very cheaply during the summer in a camping/outdoor shop - a mini super-absorbent towel on a keyring, a tin of Moroccan Green Tea mints, a flint fire starter, a tiny box of sports trivia quiz cards - and some items discounted in the Body Shop sale (small tubes of shave cream and face wash, plus a small hemp hand protector as he works outside a lot). He's a coffee addict so I also bought a few sachets of different coffee beans, and I'll add a couple of Jack Daniels or Southern Comfort miniatures, plus maybe a magic trick or two and I should be nearly there. Men are so much harder to buy for! Finding things to fill an advent calendar AND a Christmas stocking has been a real challenge

BB34

Hi, First ever post here! I struggle to get my dogs advent calendars as they don't like chocolate! This year I have found this one...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Advent-Calendar-for-Dogs/dp/B002R07IIS

It is a little dear, but lots of different treats in over the advent period.

Just thought someone may be interested.

sweaty_betty

Thanks cj - some great tips there!

lb364

Think this would make a lovely alternative calendar and can be reused every year

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Nutcracker-Story-Advent-Calendar/dp/0761163387

Luckystar

BB34 wrote: »

Hi, First ever post here! I struggle to get my dogs advent calendars as they don't like chocolate! This year I have found this one...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Advent-Calendar-for-Dogs/dp/B002R07IIS

It is a little dear, but lots of different treats in over the advent period.

Just thought someone may be interested.

Last year my dog had the Pedigree advent with the biscuits in it, I hope they do it again as he doesn't like doggy choc either, the cat had a dreamies one. My kids think I'm crazy to buy advent calendars for the pets but they loved it:)

joharm

If any of your forumites prefer a different type of calendar that embraces the "true" spirit of Christmas, how about a Acts of Kindness calendar - with one good deed/task to do per day instead of chocs/sweets etc.

There are quite a few examples to craft or buy through Pinterest or Etsy etc, but here's an example of a printable one: https://www.etsy.com/listing/205548904/acts-of-kindness-printable-advent