Over the top advent calendars

Sold out online!

I thinking of buying one as a Christmas present to open from 1st January to welcome in the New Year

Ah well, never mind, it is just more stuff

I think they still have some in some stores goldengirl

I totally agree, GrandmaKT

I just checked and they do have the M&S calendar in store - you just need to check your local branch!
Good Luck!

I too was inspired/encouraged to get the M&S one, but decided to think about it overnight. Mistake, it’s now sold out!

I got the M&S one for Dd2 last year and the William Morris one from Waterstones for DD1 this year. It's a brilliant solution for people with December birthdays. I used to have a cross stitch embroidered one that I did of choirboys ringing bells with the numbers and little rings embroidered and German and french a nd Spanish Christmas greetings around the edge. I thought it was lovely until I took it to my sewing class and someone said it was very dated- yes it was made for the DDs in the 70s.

My Partner gave me a truly fabulous Advent Calendar last year, the best one yet, and it came from Aldi.
It started with a bracelet, and then each day, you opened the appropriate box to find a lovely little charm to add to the bracelet. I loved it then, and still do
It cost about £8.
Bargain.

Stansgran how rude!

It's vintage - probably worth a fortune now!

This has inspired me to buy one for my sister and brother-in-law as a treat each day from Hotel Chocolat.
My brother-in-law has dementia and both of them are finding life very difficult now. But he loves chocolate and it will give them both a few moments of pleasure each day leading up to Christmas so thank you for starting this thread !

Oh well, I seem to have inadvertently given these wretched advent calendars a boost! I admit I was a bit OTT saying I was horrified! They were just pushing them so hard in our M&S (I as approached 3 times in 10 minutes!), that it seemed like an overload of commercialism. As I say, I look forward to Christmas, and to me 'treating myself' every day through December somehow detracts from the big day. Glad they bring pleasure to lots of you though!

My daughter in Sydney has asked me to take out 'proper, old fashioned' advent calendars with shepherds, Kings and nativity scenes for her children when I fly out next week as she's fed up with those depicting cartoon characters. I never thought I'd hear that from her . Hope I can find some in time .......

Can you get some with little pockets and without the chocolate in case it melts then put the chocolate in when you get there?
The chocolate sold in Australia seems to be the non-melt kind and it's just not the same, but I suppose they sell that type there for a reason!.

They had the 2016 M & S ones in store well into December, so I’m hoping I can still get one.

Mine has just arrived!!!

My Boots one has been sitting on the side in my lounge for a while now and I can't wait to OPEN IT!!

There are loads of M&S beauty advent calendars in the bigger stores.
I picked up two yesterday, one for me, one for DDiL.
Maggiemaybe The Shay & Blue perfume included this year is apparently 'Blood Orange'......I had a good squirt of the tester yesterday, it's lovely!!!

For the first time I've not bought an advent calendar - it's all commercial and for those of us who think of Christmas as Christ's birthday it's ridiculous. But for those of you for whom Christmas is just presents, then go you. Just a shame there's nowt much less for the rest of us.

Alchemilla I bought two lovely proper Nativity calendars for my little ones. They are still to be found.

Of course they are.

I missed out on the M & S calendars this year, Juggernaut, but I've had a squirt of the Blood Orange, and I think I've found my birthday perfume.

Well I am sorry to be controversial but I have loved opening my M&S calendar.
It is a real treat in a difficult life.I am going to share the products with family.My GD (19) has today taken the mascara, the sculpting gel and the body shimmer glow cream.
I am keeping all the wrinkly cream.
Of course it has nothing to do with advent and the Nativity, I totally accept that, it is something for adults to brighten the morning and make us feel better, no children, very little Christmas spirit, just a treat in winter.

I too am enjoying the M&S calendar DD1 bought me just after paw died. I love trying new things and while I MAY not get full use out of e.g, the gold nail varnish, the creams have been lovely!

Even my GD turned down the gold nail varnish, but loving everything else.
My skin is as smooth as a baby's bottom, if you remember that phrase

For the several years now our Advent Calendar has been the Jacquie Lawson online one. This year is an alpine village and amongst the things we've done so far are decorating the Christmas tree in the village square, dressed a snowman, watched young teddies learning to ski and decorated a Christmas cake. We like to open ours in the evening because the calendar knows the time, so everything is lit up (including the moon) and quite magical.

Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar

Must admit last year's Cornish Seaside calendar was better, so we're doing both this year! I love playing the bauble smashing game!

The calendars are very well done and a bargain for £3. You can send them as gifts and the more you buy, the cheaper they are - no, I'm not on commission!

PS They always finish with a nativity scene and there's usually candle lit church procession. Some of the background music is Christmas carols, so there's something for everyone.

I love Jaqui Lawson, that sounds a great idea! A friend told me she has a Fortnum and Mason tea advent calendar with a different flavoured tea bag- and she was enjoying an exotic tea every day - I thought that was a nice idea.