Five deliciously different advent calendars

I do remember the first chocolate advent calendar I had as a child - it was hung by the tree and we had just one to share. Each morning we rushed to the tree and took turns to open and were rewarded with the purple flash of the wrapper of an original dairy milk miniature bar, you know the real ones that looked like proper shrunk down versions of the big version with actual purple foil and paper. And you could use them as chocolate for your barbies ;) But the calendar I remember most was one with a glittery winter scene and the most beautiful pictures behind every window. I was as excited about seeing those each day as I was about getting a chocolate a day - and for a chocoholic like me that is saying something!

In the last few years I have been vaguely aware that there are 'alternative' advent calendars around to the usual chocolate offerings but I hadn't paid too much attention. That was until I heard that Selfridges had a gin advent calendar! I kid you not. Here it is in all it's glory:

The Ginvent Advent Calendar

There are few things as good as chocolate but gin is definitely up there! So my interest piqued I then had to have a little shop around. Selfridges also stock this amazing nail varnish advent calendar :

The Mini Mani Advent Calendar - if only I had time to paint my nails every day *sigh*

I think that my four year old would love this offering from Usbourne:

She is quite the little artist who has her colouring pencils out from the moment she wakes so I know that this would be perfect for her.

I think I had heard of the playmobil advent calendar in previous years and I just love this one:

I love the idea of having a winter wonderland left to play with long after the last door has been opened.

Finally I couldn't quite believe it when I came across this candle advent calendar from Yankee Candle.

What could be better than having a new festive candle to light as I sit by the Chritmas tree each evening with my hot chocolate. Oh okay, gin from my gin calendar and tonic. While I paint my nails a brand new colour ;)