Friday 30 November 2012

goodbye november

November has been and gone making way for December.

We've had fun this month with big family birthdays.  My dad turned sixty.  We've had family days out enjoying the crisp, frosty days lit with watery winter sunshine.  We've been baking, cooking, crafting and generally doing our best to stay cosy and warm.

But December begins tomorrow and brings with it the excitement of Advent and the run up to Christmas.  It seems like the right time to get properly festive.

 

We have a tradition for Advent.  Each day of Advent 'Mrs Christmas' leaves a little treat in her pocket for the wee ones.  Sometimes sweets, sometimes a tiny little toy or handmade gift and other days a handwritten promise of fun for that day.  Maybe Christmas crafting, the annual visit to Santa, a winter walk. You get the idea.


The little ones love the excitement of rushing downstairs to see what's in her pocket each day.  It doesn't need to be much.  It's a great way for them to countdown to Christmas day.

Do you have advent traditions?

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Our advent calender is by Gisela Graham, bought a few years ago.  We named her ourselves.  'Mrs Christmas' is not her official title.

Apologies for the atrocious photos.  It is dismal here today, dark, grey and wet.  Bring back the frost and bright skies.
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23 comments

  1. Bee,
    "Mrs Christmas" is adorable, very much agree with you about the simple things too!
    Bestest D x

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    1. Thanks Miss Daisy ... the little ones love her ... they think she helps Santa with his naughty list ... chat soon lovely ... Bee xx

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  2. I love Mrs Christmas. We also have a handmade advent calendar...but sadly no children living in the house now. But we do add treats for when they arrive just before Christmas day :)

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    1. How lovely to have treats for your children ... they must love arriving home to your house ... Bee xx

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  3. Your mrs Christmas is so sweet! What a great tradition for the little ones ( and bigger ones too, don't you think?)
    As we don't celabrate Christmas in the Netherlands with much gifts ( we have " Sinterklaas" on the 5th of December) ,
    in our home we light a candle extra each week until Christmas arrives. I really like the idea of a calender though...
    Love from Mirjam.

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    1. Hi Mirjam ... we have the candles here too ... they are lit on the four Sundays od Advent... but it has a more religious meaning ... the advent calender is fun for the little ones ... hope you have a lovely Sinterklaas ... Bee xx

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  4. Love mrs Christmas Bee and also the idea of little treats other than chocolates :)
    Victoria xx

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    1. Thanks Victoria ... we try our best to limit chocolates here ... but it is often a losing battle :) ... Bee xx

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  5. I love your Mrs C and her dangöy legs! :-)
    And I love that she doesn't only surprise your little ones with sweets or toys. The idea of her offering little notes and handmade bits and pieces is lovely!
    Carly
    x

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    1. Thanks Carly ... it's funny really ... the little ones seem to prefer the note days ... it builds excitement around something we had planned to do anyway :) ... Bee xx

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  6. I'm going looking for a Mrs Christmas tomorrow, hope I find one as lovely as yours. I like advent calendars that can be used year after year...although I'd never say no to a chuck away chocolate one..oh no, not me :o) I love Christmas and everything about it, already have one tree up and planning a second (and a third)...tee hee xxx

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  7. Mrs Christmas is fabulous - what a lovely tradition for your wee ones! Love everything Gisela Graham too.
    My Advent Swap parcel just arrived today so can't wait for tomorrow :-)
    Have a lovely weekend, stay warm. xx

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  8. That is a great tradition! I think I will be copying it next year. I have been thinking about getting S an advent calendar but as he is only 3 there is NO way he will only want to eat 1 chocolate a day - he'll want to open every single window :-) Your way is much better! x

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  9. Mrs Christmas looks so sweet, I've just put all my advent swaps out.....let the parcel opening begin! :)

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  10. Oh I love Mrs Christmas. And her crossed feet - so sweet! Have a wonderful advent too! xx

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  11. Mrs Christmas looks like a fun friend to have when you're small!

    The tradition here is to make an Advent Kersttulband

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  12. Mrs. Christmas sounds like so much fun! I may have to get a Mrs. Christmas as well for my little one when she is older, it sounds like a lovely tradition to have.
    Have a fun weekend :)
    Magie x

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  13. Lovely, also Mrs Christmas is an excellent idea she looks like a lot of fun. - Annie

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  14. Mrs Christmas is lovely! We have a wooden advent house which is beautiful but has quite small cubby holes for squirrelling little treats - I like the idea of including handwritten promises for some days, that will definitely solve the chocolate problem and add bait of variety. Have a lovely weekend x

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  15. What a gorgeous advent calendar! I am collecting ideas for next year's which will definitely be handmade - I always plan to make one and then realise advent is just around the corner and I've left it too late! Bee lovey can you email your address to rainbowvintagehome@googlemail.com and I'll pop a mirror in the post to you. Sorry it's taken me a while to reply! x

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  16. Hi Bee! Thank you so much for visiting my blog! Yours is marvelous and I am happy to become a new follower. Christmas means so much to us, It has to be special and every year so on. Love your calendar. Happy Holidays!!
    Sandrine

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  17. I love your Mrs Christmas tradition. We have a big fabric Christmas tree with pockets that we fill each day with chocolate, but I love your idea of putting in the promise of a fun activity. x

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  18. Lush to see Mrs Christmas again!! Enjoy your festive season lovely Bee! xx

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Thank you so so much for taking the time to visit .... it's always really lovely to hear from you.

I love to read your messages .... please stop by again if you've asked me a question or want to chat.

Bee x

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