Favorite Advent Calendar?

[maylips]

Does anyone have one they really love?

I'd like a good quality, classic one that will look great for years and become a good tradition for DD and any siblings that may come later. Can probably wait until after Christmas this year to buy one since she's only 20 months and won't remember, if the prices go down after the holiday.

[MMMommy]

I love the house ones from Target. We have last year's model. Here are some cute ones from there--

http://www.target.com/Gingerbread-House-Advent-Calendar/dp/B001BMLVLI/sr=1-10/qid=1226595353/ref=sr_1_10/187-0253573-3355542?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Aadvent%20calendar&page=1

http://www.target.com/House-Advent-Calendar/dp/B001AHG9QQ/sr=1-9/qid=1226595353/ref=sr_1_9/187-0253573-3355542?ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k%3Aadvent%20calendar&page=1

Here are all of their choices--

http://www.target.com/gp/search/187-0253573-3355542?field-keywords=advent+calendar&url=index%3Dtarget&ref=sr_bx_1_1&x=0&y=0

[annasmom]

We got one from Target last year also, and I LOVE it. I am even more excited about using it this year now that the kids are a bit older.

I put a note in each box, and we did an activity a day. For example, donate food to food pantry, bake Christmas cookies, write holiday cards to classmates, read the Christmas story, etc., etc. It was a lot of fun.

[hbridge]

One thing to consider when purchasing an advent calendar is how you will store it "off-season". We purchased a hanging one from Pottery Barn years ago so and we just roll it up for storage. I'd love a wooden one, but that's one more thing to find a place for in the basement...

[traciann]

I also have the PBK hanging one. What I liked about it is that the pockets are pretty large(well bigger than the cabinet ones I have seen) so I can put something in for both kids. Then its folds up pretty flat for storage, just like the PP said.

[o_mom]

What are you looking for in an Advent calendar? Just a countdown? A nativity scene? Something that comes with pieces for the days or one that you have to fill yourself?

I wouldn't count on a huge discount after Christmas. The Target ones sold out well before Christmas last year. I was watching after for discounts on a couple onlint (Kurt Adler, KidKraft) and never saw a sale. Most places either stock it year round or sell out at full price. I ended up ordering one at "full price" this year. [I say "full price" because it is the same as the lowest price last year, but with a coupon code that made up for shipping - the prices varied widely, however, so it is worth shopping around.]

[brittone2]

We have a nice classic one from Restoration Hardware (bought during their friends and family sale, which is this weekend BTW) but I don't see it up on their site this year. (ours is from 2 or 3 years ago?).

We do a combo of little gifts and slips of paper with activities (Make a paperchain, go for a walk in a nearby neighborhood and look at lights, shop for Toys for Tots, donate food to the food pantry, make an ornament for the grandparents, etc.). It is harder now with two kids to find things that fit, but last year I would draw DS a very simplistic map to certain stuff that wouldn't fit...that was fun for him (he was almost 4 though).

This year I have some stuff stashed for the calendar...those capsules that dissolve into foam/sponge animals (DS loves getting these in the advent calendar for whatever reason), new fun Japanese erasers from a local toystore, Silly Putty, Christmas pencils (won't fit...will have to hide a clue to these in the Advent Calendar), etc. In the past we've done gemstones from a local toystore and the children's museum, matchbox cars, etc.

One other thing we do that you could use instead of a formal Advent calendar is to read a Christmas book each night of Advent. I collect Christmas, Hanukkah (we're not Jewish but I like to incorporate learning about other religions/cultures), Winter-themed books, etc. and we read a new one each night of Advent. I have an easy time finding them 2nd hand and my kids never mind ;) I keep them boxed up the rest of the year. Sometimes we wrap them (not the most environmentally friendly LOL), sometimes not.

[maylips]

What are you looking for in an Advent calendar? Just a countdown? A nativity scene? Something that comes with pieces for the days or one that you have to fill yourself?



Something that we can put small gifts or activities in to make the countdown more special. I'm a big believer in Advent and feel that lesson is (almost) as important as Christmas itself. This from a girl who also doesn't take down her Christmas decorations until January 6, which is Epiphany in the Methodist church and the day you acknowledge the arrival of the wise men. :)

[o_mom]

Something that we can put small gifts or activities in to make the countdown more special. I'm a big believer in Advent and feel that lesson is (almost) as important as Christmas itself. This from a girl who also doesn't take down her Christmas decorations until January 6, which is Epiphany in the Methodist church and the day you acknowledge the arrival of the wise men. :)

We are big Advent folks here too (Lutheran). I think in that case one of the Target ones would be great. They had some really cool ones there the other day. I know I saw the Nativity one there and the Church-shaped one - those would be more on the religious side - as well as a couple that were fairly generic (no theme to them).

We went with this one:

http://www.improvementscatalog.com/product/magnetic-nativity-christmas-advent-calendar.do

I wanted something that came with its own pieces - I royally suck at getting it together enough to fill an Advent calendar. We will probably get a paper one from the Christian Bookstore as well.

[happy2bamom]

I bought ours at Michaels (or was it JoAnne's ?)after Christmas, for 75% off. It is a similar idea to the Target ones, with little pull-out drawers. My only complaint is that the little nobs on the drawers keep coming off. I hot glue them, and they are fine, but it is still a pain. I plan to make a trip to Target to check theirs out.

[brittone2]

Has anyone seen any calendars similar to this for sale at a store?

http://allsorts.typepad.com/allsorts/2007/11/advent-calendar.html

I like the idea of it being a garland of sorts with envelopes or pouches. I'm not so crafty though :(

try etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_9&listing_id=16267229
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_8&listing_id=16339041
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_3&listing_id=15290465
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_1&listing_id=16961330

there are lots more. Maybe one of them will work for you?

[mommabear]

I know this isn't what you are looking for but just wanted it add it. I saw some neat playmobile ones taday at a B&M store. They were $21 and each day had a new toy.

[bnme]

We have a nativity scene one


http://www.amazon.com/Kurt-Adler-Nativity-Calendar-Magnetic/dp/B0002TUVEO

I love that it helps us incorporate the story of baby Jesus into Christmas. It is fun for the kids and they look forward to see which figure they'll get (we do at bedtime) and get to place in the scene.

[pastrygirl]

I just bought that Kurt Adler one. I love the idea of adding to the nativity scene. I also love not having to stuff the boxes with my own things! I found it here (http://www.catholicsupply.com/christmas/advcal2.html) for $40, but someone else recently posted a slightly better deal.

[aggie01]

LL Bean has a lighthouse or train advent calendar (http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/LLBSearchDispatch?storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&init=1&freeText=advent) on sale for $69.95. They are also offering a $10 gift card (http://www.llbean.com/promotions/f08/gcp_pop.html) if you spend $50 or more thru 12/24. I don't have this...just ran across it on there website.

[jennifer_r]

This one won't really work for you but I thought I'd post it anyway incase it might help someone else:

http://www.amazon.com/Carles-Dream-Pop-Up-Advent-Calendar/dp/0811862933/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226843870&sr=8-1

We just ordered it and it looks really cool. I grew up with just simple plain pop-up calendars and just loved seeing what was behind each window. I think next year we might do a more elaborate one - maybe I'll even make one.

[mnosky1]

We also have the wooden nativity scene one with magnet pieces in each door (improvements, catholic supply). DD5 loves it and has been asking for 2 months when it can come out. I initially thought I'd put little treats in each door (hershey kisses) but she loves taking the magnets out so much that I think it has more meaning with just the magnets.

We also have had the inexpensive paper ones from christian bookstores and I bought a playmobil one this year too.

[mecawa]

We have the PBK advent house and love it.