ABOUT

When I was a child, one christmas, I got an advent calendar, that I loved so much because it was not your typical chocolate calendar, but had little gifts instead.  They were cheap trinkets, but to me back then it was the most fabulous time to have a real surprise every day.

​

A few years ago I noticed that my kids didn't find the chocolate calendars all that exciting anymore and I gave them the option of me getting them small items in place of a chocolate calendar and one less bigger gift at christmas (to make up for the increased cost) and they have been choosing this every year since, even though I also put in some useful stuff like socks.  

​

I've looked to find calendars that have a range of things for my kids and also for myself and adults around me, because starting your day with this small surprise sounds exciting to me too.  Unfortunately it seems to be the case of here are 24 different lego people or 24 small bottles of vodka, and I guess if lego or vodka are a true passion of yours this would be really cool, but I'd rather have the unknown and take the risk of some stuff not being totally my cup of tea (in my case coffee, but I'd just pass that on to someone that loves coffee), just for that little bit of joy and fun.

​

That's how I came to the decision of creating these myself; split into different age groups and a little specific to gender - which in the younger age groups mostly is color based for a few items and means maybe 5 or so different items in the older age groups.  There are hardly any repetitions, some useful things are included, some fun or silly things that make us smile, no candies/chocolates this year (I had too many ideas that I wanted to include this time around, there was no space) but likely a few of them in future years with options to replace them with non food items for those without a sweet tooth or dreadful allergies.

There will be themes - retro fun this year - and a new calendar selection every year, but the options for other/prior year calendars will remain.  ​

​

This is the first year, so there are no reviews of these yet and, in order to keep things a surprise, no inventory is listed, which can be scary given that the calendars are not exactly cheap.  Here are some points to reassure you perhaps:  I don't include anything that I wouldn't give to my own kids or use myself.  For example, my kids love slime and sticky figures that 'walk' down walls and I can't stand them because they leave oily stains everywhere and the slime will inevitably end up in clothes and upholstered furniture, so these are not allowed in the house and I would not include them in the calendars.  I do a lot of quality control and, where possible, test gifts before they are packaged to make sure that they are working at that point. 

​

I have thoroughly enjoyed most aspects of putting these together and I hope that they are well received and it works out for me to be doing these for years to come, on that front I am happy to hear feedback, suggestions and will try to figure out a review system on the website too (web design is not my strong suit and social media is very much outside of my comfort zone).