So excited!! How will I manage to keep this secret?

[daytripper28]

Okay - this is a little bit much. But I've got my DD Paperchase Advent calendar (which I'm hoping she will love) - my DS2 a Hot Wheels Calendar (he's far too old for this, but is nuts about cars and quite immature ) and a posh Lindt chocolate Advent Calendar for my DS1 (who is more mature and grown up) .

They haven't had the best year (who has???) and I want to treat everyone. I'm also getting the L'Occitane one for myself. Offered my DH a wine advent calendar, but he refused - so is getting a cheese truckle gift pack on the 1st Dec - his choice.

I am ridiculously excited about this, and can't believe it's only October - dammit.

Please tell me others on this Christmas area are over excited too?

Just off to look at the Poncetastic thread - and I may be stocking up on champagne and fine coffee soon

@daytripper28 lovely thread, thank you I too pushed the boat out a bit and bought a Fortnum & Mason chocolate advent calendar for DS (actually it was only £2 more than the John Lewis one I got him last year). Next year maybe I'll get the marshmallow one mentioned on this thread. I'm ridiculously excited about Christmas too!

@Twatalert

So cool OP! I get your excitement. It's things like that that make Covid a bit more bearable. I just treated myself to the Lumene 24 calendar. It comes with a free face cream of some sort and I could also pick 2 beauty samples at check-out. I think with something to try out as soon as it arrives I will manage to not touch the calendar before the 1st.

Least year I had a £5 Haribo one. But I am on a diet so had to pick something else this year.

So, I canceled my order yesterday as it felt excessive to spend so much money on an advent calendar.

Today I thought 'fuck it' - I deserve this as I had no real fun and enjoyment in 2020 and order myself the L'Occitane calendar, the luxury one. I ordered straight from the website, and when spending £100 you get a free gift set, so I added a lip balm separately to make it happen. They will also put some free samples in my package. Can't bloody wait now!!

I also thought fuck it. Have had a truly shit year and want to end it well. Haven’t had an advent calendar in years-I always buy one for everyone, including DH and never get one bought for me. So have bought myself the Jo Loves one, and can’t wait!

Ooh that sounds good OP!

My DCs are having Lego advent calendars this year for the first time. I know they will love all the mini builds as they are lego mad. I got them (brand new) cheap on ebay as they are previous year's calendars, but the DCs won't care!

Lovely to hear about all the advent calendars!

We’ve got a refillable one that we did xmas related activities when DD’s were younger, last year I ordered lots of kawai stationary sets and split them up.

This year I’m getting charm beads from etsy/ebay and they will have a bracelet/necklace to put them on- I was going to put it at the end but DH says at the start so beads don’t get lost which may be a good point

I’ve ordered DH the bird and blend tea one, he had it last year and loved it

So excited

DH has bought me the Holland & Barrett one, which has a good write up, as others have said. I normally have the M & S one, but not being done this year, apart from the make up one, which would be too much make up for me. I always do DH a refillable slightly naff Christmas tree one, and I made DD one with odd socks (great for hiding suprises, as I try not to keep putting sweets in). The year before last I got DH a pork scratching one (as well). Apparently, this was disappointing due to vair small packets, so last year I went on Ebay and bought one of those pub hang-up cards of pork scratchings, which tbh was about the same price as the the calendar. This was a great hit, so I've done it again this year :)

My DC doesn't do chocolate, so I'm buying one of those bacon frazzle/ scampi fry things they hang in pubs and putting some tinsel on it. They sell them as 24 packs with the card attachment on Amazon.

Great! I never had more than a simple chocolate advent calendar - last year a Haribo one, so L'Occitane is a big step up !!

I totally understand your excitement Op. My son adores his elves and last year he was thrilled when his elf Melvin appeared on December 1st with a girlfriend elf, Mavis. This year I've bought a baby elf 😂😂 he's already said how excited he is about them returning and the wait will be difficult! We need to have something nice and harmless to look forward to after this year.

Aww that's lovely. I got the L'Occitane one last year and it was fab!!
I do remember thinking 'I'll never use all these hand creams!' But by mid March I was so happy I had them all with all the hand gelling.

My L'Occitane one is arriving today - just had the email saying so - eeeek!! Will have to hold on a full 6 weeks before opening that first door....It's coming with a free trio of almond something or other, so that will have to do. I've gone for the 'basic' version at £53 - which still seemed like plenty

This means that all our advent calendars will now be present in cardboard boxes under the bed. Resist - Resist!!

@Snoringferret - I use lots of handcream - love the stuff - so that shouldn't be a problem!

We normally have an old fashioned picture one (No DCs here) and the dog has a treat one but after reading this I think I'm going to order the marshmallow one it looks lovely! I just did a bit of googling and found this as well which would be great for kids

merimeri.co.uk/products/enamel-pin-advent-calendar?variant=16014915272753&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&fbaud=test&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkueB8b-p7AIVlYBQBh0-Hg2WEAQYDSABEgI7o_D_BwE

I am debating the paper chase sugar plum one for my DD's to share (9 & 11) does it look good? They usually do odds or evens and then I do a sweet one that they take in turns to open on the opposite days.
I usually get a beauty one but it's my first year without one as they are so much more this year. I usually get the M & S one which is more affordable

I used this for years with my son who is now 13. It was his favourite thing about Christmas as I really went to town with what went in it - lego mini figures, tiny fossils when he went through his dinosaur phase, sweets, chocolates, little messages and notes, bouncy balls, Hawkins Bazaar type toys etc. It got harder as he got older as it wasn't easy to find small items for older kids for not much money they can end up costing a fortune and you running out of 24 separate ideas! We haven't used it for a few years now so it's been passed down.to his little brother, I hope they get lots of memories from it as we did.
I've treated myself to the H&B one, first time I've bought one for myself!

Oooh, pic attached

@BuffaloCauliflower

This is lovely I’m making my baby (DC1, due November) a reusable wooden advent calendar that I’ll refill each year. This year of course it’ll be just for me and DH, but I’m very excited about painting it and filling it!

Oooh you've just reminded me! My Mum bought me a reusable wooden one in the January sales this year. Can't wait to get it out and fill it for me and DP ☺️

Anyone any ideas for a 14 year old boy who isn't into grooming? His little sister has a DIY one which I put little things in each day and she'll be upset if he doesn't have similar.... last year he got a Star Wars coin one and the year before a funko pop one .

OP hope your calendar arrived. Have you tried the free samples yet,?

Mine will arrive tomorrow!!

@Twatalert

It has indeed arrived and was hastily hidden behind the settee in front room before DD could start asking awkward questions.

I haven't even opened the outer cardboard box yet - will do so later - and check out those free samples!

Mine arrived today!!

I'm super excited now, but will do best not to open box until the latter half of November

Today I also picked up a mini felting kit for DD15 (it was £3.99 and she loves crafty stuff) from Aldi.....

It's only a matter of time before I start filling up the wine rack and think 'a bottle of champagne in the fridge might come in handy'.

Well, I had a quick look (easy to do as mine is a pull out one) and put it back. I'll enjoy the free samples in the meantime.

@MsSquiz this sounds so lovely, I hadn’t even thought about doing one for my DD who will be 15 months but love your idea of little notes for daily activities. What little treats are you planning to put in it?

I made a wooden one for my nieces last year. Well, I say I made it. I bought a plain wood one from Hobbycraft, painted it, put numbers on it and then filled it with nice chocolates. They'll be able to use it for years to come and mum can fill it with chocolates or whatever they fancy.

I've wanted to get myself a posh one for ages and have looked at them this year but I really can't afford it so I'll just have to dream about it for another year. (and another, and another)