Fishing lures. Pet toys. Art supplies. Advent calendars offer personalized ways to count down
By KIM COOK Associated Press Not so numerous years ago a typical advent calendar was a basic cardboard box containing various chocolates or other candies behind little daily windows Related Articles These children s books make great holiday gifts for every age group This gift guide for movie lovers ranges from candles and pj s to books for babies and adults pitch-perfect holiday gifts for the music lovers in your life innovative gifts you didn t know you needed TV Q A What s the word on fast-talking shows In the present day advent calendars have evolved into creatively designed collections that dispense items ranging from pet toys to soaps fishing equipment to art supplies They make for festive decor and appeal to our love of ritual surprise and small things Of class if you re gifting an advent calendar you ll want to give it early in time for your recipients to count down the days to Christmas or a milestone Here are various countdown calendars that cater to different interests when promising daily doses of satisfaction For pet people Because they ve been mostly good boys and girls this year consider a daily treat calendar for the household s pets Petco s got Merry Makings feline calendar with days of catnip goodies and toys behind the doors of a cute cottage There s one for dogs too with biscuits chewies and small plush toys - New York-based dog-snack maker Bocce s Bakery has a -day calendar containing their signature wheat- corn- and soy-free treats made with ingredients like peanut butter banana and chickpeas A cat calendar at Trader Joe s has freeze-dried sweet potato and salmon treats while their dog version is all about the chicken also freeze-dried For gardeners makers What nature lover wouldn t love a pretty calendar with different kinds of flower seeds Terrain has a box of seven seed bombs each packaged in a decorative ornament bees butterflies bunnies and birds among them Hang them on the tree until planting season then watch your pot or garden as chamomile clovers coriander marigold and other pollinator-friendly wildflowers greet the spring Needlecraft artist Amanda Watson in Bend Oregon created a calendar you stitch yourself one new design each day from Dec through Christmas It s an embroidery project even newbies can handle and the finished artwork could be framed or turned into a tote or pillow A fun one for crafty kids Mondo Llama s Days of Christmas Crafts calendar with all the sticks foam and felt pieces mini markers googly eyes and more to make a bunch of cute holiday crafts This image issued by Target shows Mondo Llama s Days of Christmas Crafts calendar Target via AP Slots in Uncommon Goods Craft Project calendar hold your finished buildings so you can assemble a colorful village to display throughout the holidays the kit includes paint markers watercolors glittery gel pens and more Indoor and outdoor fun Kids and up would have a great time messing around with the Experiment a Day Science Advent Calendar from Thames Kosmos a science education-focused toys and games company Supplies are included for chemistry biology and physics experiments Uncommon Goods Also from Thames Kosmos is an advent calendar version of its escape-room board games Exit The Tournament involves an intergalactic race and each day offers a clue to get to the end Colitt has a calendar for fishing fans reusable lures come in a calendar box featuring a fierce denizen of the deep on the cover The Purple Cow s Family Games calendar has brainteasers dice and outdoor and nostalgic exercises for the gang to enjoy This image issued by Target shows Centric Beauty s Wicked -themed advent calendar Target via AP And for those who love Wicked there s Centric Beauty s Wicked -themed advent calendar with sparkly shimmery balms powders and stick-ons for lips eyes and nails For more AP gift guides and holiday coverage visit https apnews com hub gift-guide and https apnews com hub holidays
