Fun fact: I have never bought an advent calendar for myself. Why? I don’t really know. I guess I didn’t realize there were so many niche and cool advent calendars to choose from, not just calendars that give you a mediocre piece of chocolate every day. For the last two years, I’ve gotten the cats an advent calendar, which has been fun. But two years and 20+ toys later… it’s time for something different. It’s time for an advent calendar for me.
But which one should I get? A few nights ago, I spent way too long scrolling through Amazon and advent calendar listicles to find the perfect calendar and I’ve narrowed them down to a few options.
The Book Lover’s Advent Calendar
How can I resist this? It’s 25 fun little trinkets, like stickers and bookmarks and ornaments, to delight in. This is the first advent calendar I came across and I haven’t been able to think about anything else since.
Peppermint Bark Advent Calendar
Peppermint bark is one of my favorite Christmastime treats, so this would be the perfect calendar for me to enjoy throughout the season.
Beauty Advent Calendar (Sephora, Ulta)
These advent calendars are a bit pricey, but I think I would use everything I got from them. And how fun would it be to open up a new beauty product to try every day of December? There’s the Ulta advent calendar that is $45 for 15 goodies and the Sephora Collection advent calendar that’s $85 for 24 goodies.
The 12 Coffees of Christmas
I love coffee and drink a few cups of it every day. So maybe a coffee advent calendar would be fun! I’d get to try out a ton of new flavors throughout December, which could be an exciting way to enjoy the season. But I’m also kinda picky about my coffee flavors and I’m worried I’ll get a bunch of flavors I don’t like. Hmm.
Puzzle Advent Calendar
This one looks fun! Every day you get 42 pieces of a puzzle and by Christmas, you’ll have a 1,000+ piece puzzle completed. I would love to buy this calendar, but the cats would not cooperate, I don’t think. I would need to buy some sort of puzzle board to keep the pieces away from the girls when not in use.
Choosing one of these advent calendars is going to be quite the adventure, but I think we all know which one I’m most leaning toward. Nothing would be more on-brand for me than getting a bookish advent calendar! I’ll keep everyone posted on what I end up choosing!
Which of these advent calendars would YOU choose? Do you have any advent calendar recommendations for me?
I have so many thoughts (you knew I would).
First of all, yes, you need an Advent calendar in your life! You need! I always buy the guys a fancy Lindt calendar, and they love it. I have bought myself a tea calendar and have been sorely disappointed. I once bought my husband a craft beer calendar, which was fun because it was for charity, but also some of the beers were very disappointing. I have considered a Body Shop or other beauty calendar but…you know how I feel about small samples! So it would be silly for me because I’d be irritated by the tiny beauty items! What a nut I am. Anyway, last year I found an Advent calendar which was 24 tiny puzzles WITH DOGS IN SANTA HATS. I kept it so I can do a puzzle a day again this year. And I’ll still buy the chocolate ones for my guys. When I was a kid we had those grocery store calendars, with tiny waxy chocolates, and I had to SHARE one calendar with my two brothers. Whomp whomp.
Ooooooh I might need to get the puzzle calendar!!!!!!!! And when I say might I mean definitely. I love doing puzzles in the winter. And yes the only way that I can do them is because I have a puzzle board.
I think my family would go for either the book or the peppermint bark calendar. We’ve had an advent calendar before. My husband’s birthday is right before advent so it would be the perfect thing to get him that the whole family could share in.
Oh wow— so much inspiration here! I think after reading this that we are going to do advent calendars for the first night of Hanukkah ( a week into the season, but that’s ok) and try some of these really fun ones (and others).
Ben got me the Trader Joe’s beauty one last year, and I loved it— so many great purse-size samples.
I wanted the reading one & then it sold out – I need to check to see if its back.
I also got the puzzle one! So excited about this one.
I usually do stickers for my planner advent calendars too off Etsy
I’m a chocolate gal all the way. But I used to get the really cheap waxy ones for the kids that Nicole talks about and a few years ago decided life it too short to save $10 on chocolate – so I updated much nicer ones and they are AH-MAZ-ING! (I bought a Lindt one for me last year – most years I only got them for the kids – on Dec 1st, so it was like half-price).
I have to admit that non-chocolate ones don’t really appeal to me, but you have rounded up so many cool ideas! I love the coffee one. Genius. At least one local grocery store does a cheese one and I’ve debated buying one for my husband (who LOVES cheese).
Ooh I hope you get the book one so I can see all the items! I plan to do a cat advent calendar again this year (I always get the Trader Joe’s one- it’s treats, not toys and the cats like it.) But now you’re inspiring me- maybe I’ll get a cool one for my daughter. I’ll have to look into this!
You def need the book one! I would probably choose the peppermint bark one and regret it ha.
I am here to say Lola & Eli say 20+ toys is NOT enough, *ahem!
Oh, I love this. I haven’t had an advent calendar for years… (well, not true, I think a few years ago I got the Friends Advent Calendar from a friend as an early Christmas present and it was *everything*)… and I definitely haven’t bought one for myself.
I really like the beauty and coffee calendar personally.
I love advent calendars. And I still get one every year from my mom. So I am spoiled.
I sometimes by myself a tea advent calendar which is basically just a pack of tea with a selection of different flavors. I do drink tea a lot so even the ones I am not so excited about will get used later on.
A bookish advent calendar does sound great.
I am thinking of making one for my mom. I think she never had one in her life and it is about high time. I need to take to my sisters if they are in on it.
Ohhhh!!!! Amazing. I would get the coffee one, the chocolate one or the make up. I’m big on use it up, throw it out or poop it out gifts lol
I don’t think I’ve ever bought one for myself! I am not a holiday person (unlike you and Jenny :>) but hm…. the idea of a chocolate one is certainly appealing. 😉
You definitely need the book one! I have never bought one for myself! But I have a cut tree shaped advent calendar with drawers. The boys get 3 m&ms each day and then some days there would me a slip saying to pick a present. For one year I did little cars and then the last 2 years I did Christmas books. But we have reached our limit on Christmas books so this year I ordered them a Lego calendar. It’s mostly going to be for Paul as it says 5+. They will still get m&ms in the pretty calendar that goes on our fireplace mantle.
I’m definitely getting a puzzle one for myself this year. Or maybe a bookish one. I DON’T KNOW!! I have to decide SOON, though, if I’m going to order it in time.
I’m intrigued by the puzzle one, or of course the book one. I’ve never bought my daughter a single advent calendar, can you believe that? I suck. I only had the crummy ones when I was growing up, and didn’t really pay attention to the fact that there are better ones out there now.