Who else has opened the first little window of their little-pictures Advent Calendar this morning?

My traditional one (last years John Lewis bought in their sale) had a wrapped gift. Love the traditional calendars, they remind me so much of my childhood, although I’d be happy with one full of treats if it was a gift .

Hello 👋 Grandmadinosaur!
Thanks, I'm looking forward to my daily surprises.

Traditional ones here too. I buy one for each of the 3 AC and they buy them to the GC. I buy my own and one for DH. I had a snowman in mine.

I’m find of the Italian Baci chocolates. DH noticed online they do an advent calendar. He was kind enough to treat me to one that duly arrived. Then about 4 days later a second one arrived that he wasn’t charged for. Oh dear my poor waistline.

I had the Bodyshop one last year Grannmarie there were some good products in it.

I also got the hand cream in my M &S advent treat. As we only have the food stores locally not sure how I can claim it.

Just remembered the dog’s advent calendar free from Lily’s Kitchen when buying her Christmas dinner. 3 yummy dog treats in today’s window. Dog can’t wait till tomorrow!!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202312/medium-299330-20231201-083535.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202312/medium-877176-20231201-083500.jpg

I buy traditional Nativity Advent calendars for the three grandchildren, but get them a chocolate 🍫 one as well.
For the first time ever, I have the gift of a beauty Advent calendar from DS1, DDIL1 and family. Its from Body Shop and today I got a nice wee tube of hand cream. I have to photograph each day's gift to let DGD see what I've got!

I don't have one yet - my sister has bought me one that has a small packet of different vegetable and flower seeds in each "window" but we haven't been able to meet up yet for her to hand it over.

This reminds me of one year when our children were small and we were very hard up as the mortgage interest rate had rocketed (in the 80s.) I saved their advent calendars for the following year and refilled the little plastic indents behind each window with melted chocolate from a small Cadbury's bar. All went well until Christmas Eve when my oldest DD opened her last window and announced, "Oh look, it's a....BLOB!"

Just opened my M&S advent treat calendar and got a tube of hand cream.

My grandchildren gave me a Hotel Chocolat advent calendar and I confess to feeling rather excited this morning when I came downstairs. I had a lovely chocolate praline with my 6am cuppa. I think it’s second childhood phase for me as it took all the will power I could muster not to open day 2 😆

Desdemona

Why do I keep pressing POST MESSAGE too early???

Cos you’re an eager beaver😂

Have never had an Advent calendar but the choccy one sounds a mighty fine idea.

Cath Kidston was a tube of handcream.

My daughter buys me a pork crackling one. Delicious-and great for the teeth!

Millie22

Sorry ignore that. I've just realised you mean a REAL advent calendar.

Yes, sorry Millie - its not the online one, I havent done that yet - its the one you could buy for £45 if you spent £35 on clothes/household.

I have a Lush one from my husband. Perfume. 🙄

I misbought this year, so have a beautiful Sarah Miller one. Ist window is a gold reindeer.

I opened my M & S Beauty Advent Calendar and got a very nice Clinique lipstick 💄

I made my own using a box kit from Flying Tiger and a Christmas jigsaw from a charity shop. I had to make the jigsaw first, then break up and put sections into the boxes. When grandchildren are visiting they can open and do the jigsaw sections- most days it will just be me or OH doing it.
We did this a few times when children were young - using little bags. Might put a sweet in for some days.

I've got three! Two traditional and a Lindt one.

I love the traditional ones. Very happy childhood memories

my lovely, caring daughter bought me one this year and i opened the first door this morning and had a lovely cadbury chocolate

A little coral lipstick in a F&F advent calendar from DD

I opened mine ........ from my daughter. She buys me one every year.

I've not been given one since I was a little girl. Even though my Mummy told me not to open then until the correct date, I could never wait until the 25th. I was always eager to see what the picture was. I had to try to press the doors closed again afterwards, which wasn't easy as they never restuck. Ooops.

My DD gave me one yesterday - I have put it up and will let my GC open the first door when I pick them up from school later.

Sorry ignore that. I've just realised you mean a REAL advent calendar.

I've opened the m&s one and as last year it's a 20% off cards useless thing. Why can't I get a free lipstick 😂

Looking forward to something a bit nicer tomorrow like chocolate but not those silly pig things.