A daily reminder to do something magical with my children. Even if it's a small thing.
I made it by mounting a cork tile on a burlap-wrapped piece of plywood. I cut out a circle for each day in December and used assorted stickers and scrap booking do-dads to number them.
I wanted it to have a bit of a Pottery Barn-esque look so I opted for a simple colour scheme of neutrals and green.
Under each circle is a Christmas activity for the day.
Here are some of the activities on our advent calendar:
-Set up nativity scene
-Go to parade
-Pick out a Christmas tree
-make paper snowflakes
-read a Christmas book
-watch a Christmas movie
-decorate cookies with friends
-build a snowman with Daddy
-string popcorn
-Make a Christmas craft
-Visit the Pioneer Village
-Bake treats and deliver them to neighbours
-Read the story of Christ's birth
-Put on jammies and drive around to look at Christmas lights
And right now, as I type these words, I'm listening to Christmas music and drinking hot chocolate. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!
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I absolutely love this idea! Thank you for sharing! We already have an advent calendar from my husband's grandmother, but I'll have to figure out a way to incorporate this somehow....
ReplyDeleteI love this. I've seen others that incorporated activities but they alway seemed outlandish to me...okay kids, jump in the car....it's time to go skiing!
ReplyDeleteI grew up celebrating advent with a log on our hearth with a candle in it for each day. We would do a short family devotional and light a new candle each time (in addition to the previous days' candle). By C'mas Eve it is in the shape of a triangle. I now have the log and we do this with our family.
One more thing (sorry for the novel)...I bought an advent train several years ago, but like you didn't want it filled with chocolate or MORE presents, so we made it into our "prayer train." We think of 25 people to pray for (ranging from Grandma to Pres. Obama) and fill the openings randomly. Then one of our kids gets to chose who we pray for each night by opening the number for the day.
Sometimes it's the little things that helps us refocus (it's not all about us!). :-)
Over here in the southern hemisphere it is summer time and it looks and sounds so magical to have christmas in the snow like you do..
ReplyDeleteI love this!!! I have been seeing a bunch of different ideas from the various blogs I follow..yours seems so simple, yet so pretty!! (BTW!! I think I have your, "make sure its pretty" motto in my head...everywhere I go, I have been looking and cooing over the prettiness at people's houses....seems to make them happy when I notice too;oP)
ReplyDeleteGreat color choices, but more importantly, love the activities! Such a great way to spend more time with family throughout the holiday season! I also love that you incorporated burlap. That's one of my favorite materials right now! Thanks for sharing and LOVE the kitchen :)
ReplyDeletexoxo
I love this!!! I just hopped over to your blog (saw you featured on IHeart Organizing) and I'm now a follower! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful! Love the color scheme!
ReplyDeleteWould love for you to link up at our "Home For The Holidays" link party! ;)
www.uncommondesignsonline.com
cute! i just posted my advent calendar too. love your idea of using cork....i almost went that route but did this instead... http://creativecents.blogspot.com/2011/11/advent-calendar.html
ReplyDeleteI love this idea!! i'm pinning it for when my daughter gets older! Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteBurlap plus Advent -- I love it!! thanks for linking up!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! My advent calendar when I was a kid always had candy or other presents in it... which, was nice, yes, but yours will make memories!
ReplyDelete(although my beagle stealing my younger sister's chocolate advent coins WAS basically a tradition. Evil beagle)