Thursday, December 2, 2010

Sexy, Sweet, or Fun Countdowns to Christmas


Chris surprised me yesterday with my own advent calendar holiday countdown! Happy girl. He wrapped 24 special notes into scrolls and tied them with gold ribbon. He clustered them together in a basket. He is such a "man's man" with SO much testosterone so I felt extra loved when he indulged my little love language and girly whims. Now I want to cover him in kisses. XO



It's clearly established how much I adore seasons, particularly Christmas. I'm also a lover of anticipation and countdowns. There are hundreds of creative and beautiful ways I've seen online to enjoy the 25 days of Christmas countdown. When I was a little girl my Great Grandma bought me an exciting advent calendar full of glitter and awe inspiring pictures for my little girl eyes. I would impatiently await each day so I could detach the paper door to reveal the hidden picture reserved JUST for me. Anticipation has always grabbed my attention...and after becoming a wife and mom, I wanted to share that little rush of excitement.

I have 4 advent calendar ideas to share

1. Traditional:

For my boys, we've used this wooden nativity advent calendar each year for their tradition. It's simple and tells the story of baby Jesus.


Kids love counting the days...

2. Romance for the Marrieds


Not to leave out the most important man of my life, I started an advent calendar for Chris on our second Christmas married. This is a hand quilted (obviously not by me). I love to buy handmade but make handmade...not so much. {wink} I tie little love notes to Chris each for each day until Christmas. This means, he gets 24 notes telling him how super awesome he is every day until Christmas. This also means, he has received 240 notes telling him how super awesome he is since we've been married. Umm wow. I hope he realizes that I think he is truly super awesome. He does get a break from the sappy love on the last day of Christmas. The tradition is that the last note tells him a new magazine subscription that I subscribed him to for the year. It is his Christmas Eve gift from me to him.




3.
The Sexy Countdown for the Men


The next Christmas Countdown idea I've done is a Sexy Santa 12 Days of Christmas. I shared this idea in detail last year so you can click on over to read the hot details. In summary, this countdown is a Sexy 12 Days of Christmas. Each night, a gift is left on his pillow that gives a clue to what the LAST night of Christmas holds. But there needs to be a lot of mystery and suspense, so being vague is best. The gifts can start out being a candle one night, hot oil the next night, lingerie, hand cuffs (errr?), and any other things you may want on the other nights. On the last night you sneak back the collection of pillow gifts and put away your Nice and try on your Naughty for a striptease or whatever works for you.




The basic objective of this sexy advent calendar is to get the GUYS interested in cute little holiday traditions. It works.


4. The Adventures of Christmas:
Mixing holiday activities with a countdown


The last advent calendar idea is a new one I created this year. This combines the Countdown to Christmas with an organized format of holiday activities for kids. My boys love to do Christmas projects throughout the season. This countdown is 24 days and each day a paper bag is opened. Some days will have a little, simple treat for them BUT a few, select, other days will be surprise days with a ticket to what their holiday activity is for the day! This adds the suspense and mystery because they don't know what bag will hold the special fun days! There are only 8 ticket bags in the collection of 24 bags and they never know when they'll open up the fun ticket bag...


Some ideas for the holiday activities are building a puzzle, coloring Christmas coloring books, reading a brand new or an old favorite Christmas book, or watching a holiday movie. The activities don't have to be extravagant...just easy and fun. Organizing the ideas in the advent calendar ensures that your kids get a chance to do the fun things before the 25 days of Christmas is over.



Those are the 4 holiday tradition advent calendar ideas I have for my loves...that's YOU.

How do you mark the days?

Do you have special childhood memories of counting down the days until Christmas?

Or do you have a panic attack when you're reminded every single day
just how FEW days are left to get all the stuff done that you haven't done yet?

Share, share...


This post is linked to: Centsational Girl, Somewhat Simple, DIY Showoff, Home for the Holidays, Sassy Sites, Deck the Halls, The Lettered Cottage, Dare To, DIY Living, Seasonal Sundays, , Strut Your Stuff at Saturday Mornings, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, It's So Very Creative, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Tablescape Thursday, Spotlight Yourself, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites*, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday*, I'm Lovin It*, Funky Junk Interiors*, Fabulous Friday Finds*, Tickled Pink*, Be Different Act Normal, Weekend Wrap Up

27 comments:

Karen said...

Those are great ideas. I never had thought of doing something for the Mr.

Vanessa said...

That's very sweet and thoughtful of your husband to do that for you! Unusual for their species!

We had a wall-hanging "advent calendar". Each month was a pocket. There was a small mouse stuffed animal that you move from day to day until it finally arrived on Christmas.

I miss that enthusiasm for the holiday. I haven't felt that way in a long time!

Jane said...

Love these ideas!!! I'll be saving them for the grands...except for the sexy one. Hmmmm...wonder what MacDaddy will think of this.......
Big kudos to Chris for being a REAL man and sharing his love for you...with you. (I am sharing this with my sons. Hopefully they will do something like this for their ladies...)

Our Advent countdown was/is a handmade calendar made by me...before I had kids. I used it in my classroom with my first-graders...until the principal told me to stop. :-( With my boys, I hid 3 Hershey kisses in the pockets...They took turns adding the ornament to the tree, but all three got a treat. (Would you believe they fussed at me the year I did not put it up...They were all in high school and college!!!)
Hugs,
Jane

Mystica said...

Its a lovely idea! I like the one with the subscription to a mag at the end!

caveman said...

"The basic objective of this sexy advent calendar is to get the GUYS interested in cute little holiday traditions. It works. " -Wait what?!?!

I was thinking the other day how I now have 240 notes from you. I am truly blessed. My advent calendar is one of the things I anticipate most about Christmas. Thank you for making this most important holiday so special for each of your boys! 1610

Rebecca said...

I have to say-you've started my day with a smile with the sexy advent calendar. I'm not much into the season(working so much)and I've ruined my husband-never asking for gifts for any occasion-that any special event-is no longer special-just another day. I may have to try this idea-for several holidays-Lord knows-we need to try something to get some excitement back in our holidays! Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

What a great idea using the paper bags.
Happy Holidays.
Michele

Anonymous said...

Love, love, love the advent calendar. Was thinking of doing one for the kids, but you've inspired me with the one for the Mister. I like it! I'll let you know if I can pull one together. How special you make the holidays for your family Lisa! What blessed boys you have.

Unknown said...

You are such an amazing person. I'm sure my husband wishes I was more like you!!! Your husband sounds like a great guy!

shannon i olson said...

wonderful ideas thanks for sharing them!

KJ@letsgoflyakite said...

Love all those ideas. Your nativity calendar is precious - dreamy photo.

Unknown said...

I am featuring this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com

CHERI said...

I absolutely love all your ideas...especially the one for hubby. My husband of 40 years is absolutely the BEST and he would love that:) You might want to visit my blog and see a fun tradition I do with my grandchildren every year...the Christmas Pickle!

TidyMom said...

LOVE your paper bag advent Lisa!!!
thanks for linking up!!.....I featured you in the wrap up! http://tidymom.net/2010/im-lovin-it-wrap-up-12-4-10/

Tiffany said...

These ideas are awesome! I also never thought about a sexy calender for the Mr. He loves the chocolates that I put in our other one...but I special one just for him would blow his mind. Thanks for the great ideas! :)

Tiffany
www.noordinaryhomestead.com

Jenny said...

I am so impressed that your husband did this, Lisa, but I'm totally not surprised at all.

You deserve all the sweetness that comes your way. All the wonderful, creative and loving things you do for your family.

I'm hoping through some karmic twist one of your sons will marry one of my granddaughters! I'd love for them to be the recipient of all your wonderful examples.

Love these ideas!

You are amazing.

Grammy Goodwill said...

I really like your ideas, but have one suggestion. Could you title your post "Christmas Countdown Activities"? Sexy and Advent don't work for me, as advent is counting down to the birth of Christ, not a countdown to Christmas. Thanks.

Lucky Girl said...

This are simply fantastic ideas. I absolutely love that your husband made the notes for you - adorable!

Danielle said...

Great Post- what a great hubby you have!
Danielle

Kim @ NewlyWoodwards said...

What a great guy! Love that he went to the trouble of making an advent. Thanks for sharing this great gift idea on Dare to DIY. Really appreciate it.

Unknown said...

Wow, so many ideas! I love the brown bags in the shelving unit for your boys and the sweet notes you and your husband exchange. Very cool!

Megan @ Megity's Handmade said...

I LOVE the brown bags on the shelf. That's so fun! It would be really fun to do many of these. Alas, this year, I opted out with the Santa picture with chocolate behind the doors. Dare I say that the kids love it more then they would a special advent?

Holly Lefevre said...

What fun ideas...although I am not surprised with your attention to detail and creativity. I had so many ideas for an advent calendar - I so loved mine as a child. I finally have one done and will be posting soon (before it is Christmas!). There is such joy in finding that little piece of excitement counting down to Christmas!

Anonymous said...

I love all your ideas! The quilted tree and the paper bag Advent count-downs have to be my favourites. As a quilter, I'd like to think that I can find the time to make this tree for next Christmas (bookmarked it :) and I'm going to tell my daughter & son about the paper-bag idea. It would be wonderful for their children. Nanna just might fill a bag or two. LOL

Karen said...

I've wanted to do something unique, creative & fun for an advent calendar for awhile now, but again, have not gotten there this year. I do love that last advent calendar idea!! I'm going to bookmark it, so I can revisit it for possibly next year. (I've decided I need to get my act in gear for some of these Christmas projects over the summer as the fall just zips by so fast! :>)

I'm glad I hopped by from Holly's 504 Main today! :>

Jenn Erickson said...

Lisa, what wonderful advent ideas -- ALL! My favorite is the Adventures of Christmas -- such a creative and original idea, and one that I'm going to be sure to make a part of my family's traditions next year!

So glad I saw your feature on Tickled Pink!

Anonymous said...

i love how chris did this for you. sooo sweeeet!