Thursday 14 November 2013

My favourite advent calendars

Advent calendars 2013

It's impossible to deny it any longer...Christmas is coming.

There are twinkly lights and glitzy decorations springing up in all the shops and everywhere I look there are tins of chocolates and Advent calendars.  Oh, the Advent calendars...there's such a variety these days!  When I was little, we had a traditional cardboard one with Nativity figures behind each little door that we re-used year upon year until the doors started falling off!

I thought I'd do a round-up of the best Advent calendars I've come across so far this year.

1. 50s Style Advent Calendar House from Etsy.  I love this calendar for its simplicity and cute motifs on each door.  It comes ready-assembled, and all you need to do is fill each drawer with goodies.  Perfect for the kids.

2. Liberty Advent Calendar.  This just oozes tradition, from the snowy English scene, to the little cardboard doors that you open up and peek behind.  It's a definite step-up from the one I grew up with though--it's downright gorgeous.

3. This Villeroy & Boch Advent Calendar Set is way out of my price range, but I thought I'd include it just in case any of you have the cash to splash.  Each day you get a stunning porcelain decoration--click and look at the close-ups--which you hang upon the porcelain tree that's included with the set.  This is the sort of Advent calendar that goes with a roaring fireplace, real fir tree trimmed with red bows and golden bells, and mistletoe above every doorway.

4. If chocolates are a must in your Advent calendar, try this Truffles for Two sharing calendar from Hotel Chocolat.  Behind each door there are two delicious truffles--one for you, one for your sweetie.  (Or both for you!)

5.  This wooden Advent calendar is shaped like a pile of gifts, all beautifully painted in Christmassy colours and with plenty of space inside for little cracker-sized gifts to be hidden inside.  Maybe some chocolate coins, too?

6. A Ginvent Calendar.   Behind each door is a 3cl bottle of gin, ranging from the likes of Bombay Sapphire through to artisan brands.  Definitely one for the grown-ups and possibly just the thing to keep you sane through the run-up to Christmas!

So...what Advent calendar will the Little Apple Tree household be sporting this year?  Will there be gin?  Chocolates?

LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2013
LEGO Star Wars Calendar 2013
Lucas and Dave have set their little hearts on another LEGO Star Wars Advent calendar.  Last year they built each day's toy together before Dave went to work, and I'd wake up to Lucas happily re-enacting battles from the films in his bedroom.  They both love Star Wars so much that I'll happily buy it for them!

I might treat myself to a little calendar from Hotel Chocolat, though...

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4 comments

  1. That Star Wars one is incredible. The best one I've ever had was a gift from a friend last year because she got duplicates. They were sent from Germany and maybe they were made by Kinder? Or another popular company that makes chocolate, but not in the US.
    It was for my daughter, but if she forgot to open one that day, I'd eat it that night. I'm awful!

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    1. I think you're thinking of Lindt--one of my favourite brands. Sadly Lucas has perfect recall when it comes to eating chocolate out of Advent calendars. I wouldn't get away with snaffling any 'forgotten' chocolates!

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  2. I'm trying hard to resist Christmas just a little longer....BUT we ventured to Pets at Home this week (for poop bags) and I didn't realise it was C's first visit since the Christmas explosion! The short version of this story ends with us leaving with advent calendars for the pups. In November.
    In the long version C spent around half an hour dashing about showing me all the Christmas tat he wants to buy for Pete and Betty!!
    I LOVE the pile of gifts one, really different.

    M x Life Outside London

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    Replies
    1. I am pretty much ignoring Christmas until the 8th. By then all of the school fair shenanigans will be over and all I'll need to worry about is my impending MOT. (Why on earth did someone by the car in December and lock me into December MOTs for the rest of the car's life?!)

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