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Original poster

Best non-beauty, non-food or drink advent calendar?

32 replies

namechange0998776554799000 · 01/09/2023 08:23

I normally love a beauty calendar, but I'm having chemo so beauty products will be out this year, along with food, drink or anything that smells! I don't feel like this leaves many options but I'd still love something to unwrap each day in December. Any ideas?

OP posts:
cruffinsmuffin · 01/09/2023 08:35

I've got jewellery advent calendars a few times - they're fantastic if you've got lots of piercings or need some new bits! I've had Astrid and Miyu, Missoma and this year will be getting I think the Liberty one.

They're definitely not cheap though so depending on your budget might be a bit spendy!

Last year I bought my mum a mini ornament one, it had little tree decorations in and she loved it 😊

BeastOfBODMAS · 01/09/2023 08:38

My mum had a flower seeds one last year and loved it. She got to count down again to spring, by starting things off in pots on the windowsill

OctogenarianDecathlete · 01/09/2023 09:19

If you like a puzzle I recommend the Kosmos Exit The Game advent calendar. We did this one last year: www.thamesandkosmos.co.uk/product/exit-advent-golden-book/

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 01/09/2023 09:21

There's an escape room one. I've not tried it so I've no idea if it's any good.

Original poster
namechange0998776554799000 · 01/09/2023 10:03

Thank you, some good suggestions. I won't be out & about by Christmas so I don't think I'd get much use from the jewellery, and probably not enough energy for gardening but I'll take a look at the escape ones

OP posts:
Blanketsburg · 01/09/2023 10:24

I've seen sock ones if you like socks (I do!)

TheGirlWhoLived · 01/09/2023 10:28

Treat box do a lovely advent calendar, lots of different things! The last one had some jewellery, a lovely Christmassy planner, other bits of stationery, little trinkets and various bits and pieces

crumpet · 01/09/2023 10:30

Does it have to have”things” in it? There are some beautiful picture only ones. Or modular ones which create a scene

Babysharkdoodoodood · 01/09/2023 10:47

Blanketsburg · 01/09/2023 10:24

I've seen sock ones if you like socks (I do!)

This!

I got really cold feet when I was on chemo. A sock advent would be so useful and fun.

snugglyblanket · 01/09/2023 10:58

I have one that is a book with a pop-up Christmas tree inside. Each window has a little decoration that you add to the tree. I love it and it comes out every year. (Mine is Nightmare Before Christmas but I've seen similar designs)

Perhaps a jigsaw one?

Would somebody make you one? A couple of years ago I got a load of paper bags and filled with cheap bits that we'd like, dvds, socks, short books, an ornament, mostly food (& a lot of stuff from charity shop) but you could tailor it to what suits you.

Original poster
namechange0998776554799000 · 01/09/2023 11:05

TheGirlWhoLived · 01/09/2023 10:28

Treat box do a lovely advent calendar, lots of different things! The last one had some jewellery, a lovely Christmassy planner, other bits of stationery, little trinkets and various bits and pieces

I'd wondered about this one. Seems a good mix of things I might enjoy, although I thought if there was much food or skin products they might be a bit wasted. But maybe I could share it with my children and hope between us we get good use of it

OP posts:
Original poster
namechange0998776554799000 · 01/09/2023 11:06

I'd love someone to make me one! There's no way I would ask friends or family as they've been in red

OP posts:
Original poster
namechange0998776554799000 · 01/09/2023 11:07

.. incredibly helpful over the last few months and I'd never add more to their load. It's tempting to make myself one! But I would miss the surprise element. Some sort of cheap simple mixmatch of random things to unwrap would be ideal

OP posts:
Original poster
namechange0998776554799000 · 01/09/2023 11:08

Socks might be a good idea. But I do already have so many - yes cold feet have been an issue so I've already stocked up!

OP posts:
AnnieSnap · 01/09/2023 11:21

I like the idea of a seed one. I like to get DH one, but he’s diabetic, doesn’t drink and has so far had coffee beans, teas and beard oil. Socks seems like a reasonable option.

JanesBlond · 01/09/2023 11:27

A jigsaw puzzle advent calendar, and then it gives you something to do during chemo as well. I saw a couple last year and the puzzles were obviously fairly small (50 pieces or so?) so also good if you don’t have lots of energy to do them.

Floralnomad · 01/09/2023 13:50

We have had the Gibson jigsaw ones before and they are lovely if you like a jigsaw .

ShortColdandGrey · 01/09/2023 14:43

Exit The Game escape room advent calendar is good. We also love the cheese advent calendar. I also found a rubber duck calendar that I am getting for my brother this year Smile

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 01/09/2023 15:02

Amazon kept spamming me with a rubber duck one. If you want 25 rubber ducks.

DS had had one in the past which was parts to build a transistor radio....

Lego? Playmobile?

jay55 · 01/09/2023 15:04

I gave my sister a stationary one, it was coincidental that she was going through chemo at the time.

jay55 · 01/09/2023 15:07

I just had a quick look to see if I could find the one I got. I didn't find it but saw this one that looks like it would be lovely.

https://cultpens.com/products/cult-pens-2023-japanese-stationery-advent-calendar?variant=43847463502067&gclid=Cj0KCQjwl8anBhCFARIsAKbbpyTV8dVTtjf8ORg4xQUQYnHSkg66-1NMJea3I6tjrAkr-WpY0lMPAwaAoSiEALwwcB

SnapBang · 01/09/2023 15:17

We have one of those little wooden ones with impossibly small drawers for the DC. We’re going to put a sweet in along with a little piece of paper with the name of a place we’re going to visit. I’m thinking I will fill the days with the names of parks / nature reserves etc locally and go and do a little walk every day of December. Obv the further away / more exciting places will happen to fall on the weekends. We have a dog so if it’s bad weather - big coats and wellies and we’ll still be out 😂 I’m also considering doing the Advent running, could you do advent walking / knitting / baking / painting - whatever you enjoy. So set yourself a little target of 30 mins every day or whatever and work on enjoying your hobby every day of December?

SnapBang · 01/09/2023 15:21

Actually do you think it would be possible to find 25 different bath oils / scents in small pots? I may have a look and treat myself to 25 days of different baths - ho ho ho!! 😂😂

ChristmasCrumpet · 01/09/2023 22:52

snugglyblanket · 01/09/2023 10:58

I have one that is a book with a pop-up Christmas tree inside. Each window has a little decoration that you add to the tree. I love it and it comes out every year. (Mine is Nightmare Before Christmas but I've seen similar designs)

Perhaps a jigsaw one?

Would somebody make you one? A couple of years ago I got a load of paper bags and filled with cheap bits that we'd like, dvds, socks, short books, an ornament, mostly food (& a lot of stuff from charity shop) but you could tailor it to what suits you.

Could you share a link please?

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