Advent calendars

Mel was posting about advent calendars -- how long they've been around, and how it seems like people have gone from having one to having several.  Which got me thinking...! 

I remember having an Advent calendar when we were kids -- but I don't remember any chocolate. The one we had was a Nativity scene on paper/cardboard, and we used it every year. It looked like the outside of a stable -- but you opened up one little door or window every day to reveal a cow, a donkey, a sheep, an angel, a shepherd, a wise man, etc. etc... and of course, Baby Jesus in the manger, last of all. (It may still be in one of my Mom's boxes of Christmas stuff...!)  

I bought a cloth Advent calendar years ago (post-Katie but still hoping for other kids, I think). It had a Christmas tree on it, with grommets, and each day, you would hang a little ornament (tucked inside one of the 24 pockets of the calendar) onto the tree — each one came with a little loop. The problem being they were constantly falling off, especially if you brushed past it on the wall or door, even when I tried putting scotch tape or masking tape on the backs. 

Me & my old Advent calendar, no ornaments on it yet, December 2016. 
(Our first Christmas in this condo.) 
You see what I mean about the grommets. 
We don't have a lot of wall space, and every time we'd open the fridge door
(we also tried it on a wreath hook on the closet door)
the ornaments would come flying off...! 

I still have that Advent calendar, but a couple of years ago, I retired it and bought a new one. Similar idea, but the tree has velcro strips on it and so do the ornaments, on the back. Not quite as pretty, but much better in terms of staying power!

Current Advent calendar (old photo), 
with all the (velcro'd!) ornaments on the tree.
It hangs from a wreath hook over the laundry closet door.  

I do love the variety of adult Advent calendars that are available these days! There are calendars with cheese, tea, perfumes, cosmetics, essential oils, puzzles, books... and chocolate, of course..! 

For the past few years, I’ve been indulging in an "Advent calendar" assembled by a friend of a friend (a former blogger, actually!), who has a small business making & selling beautiful sterling silver jewelry. For a couple of years, she did a full "Advent calendar" -- a box of 24 (beautifully wrapped) packages to be opened, one per day. (Obviously, that was a LOT of work!) 

Since last year, she's switched to a box of her "Favourite Things" —  12 packages to open (i.e., 12 days of Christmas), with about half of them pieces of her jewelry and the rest things that she loves from other makers and Canadian companies. They usually include some homemade cookies and a stained glass ornament made by her mom, a tube or two of fabulous lip balm, teabags (a local cafe's house blend), chocolate and hand cream, for example. (She also does a smaller/less costly "Merry & Bright"  box, with four different jewelry options.)  

I love treating myself like this!

This year's "Favourite Things" (Advent calendar) box. 
12 packages of goodies inside to open! 

How about you? Do you have an Advent calendar? Chocolate, or...?