Although I get pretty excited about fall, my eyes are on the prize, which for me is Thanksgiving and Christmas. I love all of the build up to the holiday season and nothing is more perfect for highlighting that build up than an advent calendar. We own FOUR advent calendars, which is a touch crazy, but my mom bought one for each of the kids, and, well, we have two others.
I was going to say that I can’t really explain why other than we love them, except that I can. It’s the presents. It’s also the ceremony of it, the fact that my kids are thrilled to get to open up another door on their calendars and see what’s inside. My mom fills the calendars she bought for the kids every year with coins and candy and a small ornament every day (that goes on a small tree that she also got them.) This year we’re all sharing one of our own calendars in addition to the ones my mom does. We’ll alternate days and in addition to small gifts, we’re also including tickets to the Christmas Train, and Elf, the musical on two of the days.
Every year I love rounding up my favorite advent calendars, and while I know it’s still early many of these will sell out so we want you to get a jump on them. (This post contains affiliate links! Thanks for your support of our site.)
Before you order, make sure you’re shopping through Ebates! You’ll thank yourself in January when that Big Fat Check arrives!
Calendars for Kids
Decorative Calendars
Beauty Advent Calendars
I was disappointed to see that Starbucks doesn’t have their calendar up for this year. They usually have something super cute and it always contains a Starbucks gift card. Hopefully it’s out soon. Of course there’s always the $1 option at Trader Joe’s, too! Are you an advent calendar person? Let us know where you like to find yours!
Stay tuned for our post on what to fill your calendar with, including some really fun DIY options.
We have this ridiculous Avon snowman, tree advent thing with motion detection. You put in ornament on the tree leading up to Christmas and when you walk by he scares the &$%# out of you to announce how many days. We end up just turning him off and adding the ornaments, so this year I’d like to do something nicer and less annoying and send this snowman to the garage sale pile. Thanks for the ideas.