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Sunday, October 31, 2021

24 Best 2021 Advent Calendars Stocked With LEGOs, Fidget Toys, & More


Put away your Halloween candy, it’s time to gear up for Christmas. If you want to be the ultimate parent (and who doesn’t?) now is the time to purchase a super awesome kids advent calendar. Sure, you could just have your child count down the days until Santa’s sleigh arrives. But where’s the fun in that? With a kids advent calendar they get a small token each and every day to mark old St. Nick’s arrival. Plus, it’s fun for the whole family.

Each day will start with the thrill and anticipation of finding a new treasure tucked behind a tiny door. And no child need be excluded from this holiday tradition. Not today when advent calendars are designed for every possible age range. Want to get your baby in on the fun? No problem. There’s a Fisher Price Little People baby advent calendar. Have a dino-lover who would like a Christmas countdown of their own? Check out the Jurassic advent calendar below. Need to get your Lego obsessed kid a great advent calendar they’ll appreciate? There are more options than you might believe. In fact, if you’d prefer to DIY your own advent calendar, there are products for that as well.

We only include products that have been independently selected by Romper's editorial team. However, we may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.

Squishies Advent Calendar For Kids

Squishies Advent Calendar
Amazon

Squishies, as the name suggests, are squishy rubber critters that many kids are absolutely in love with. So why not make their squishy dreams come true with an entire toy advent calendar full of them. Some are the traditional puffy characters, other feature wheels, but all 24 of them feature the same sweet signature cute face kids adore. Like a holiday treasure chest, your child will get a new little creature every day, which they can play with or share with a sibling or friend.

Fidget Toy Advent Calendar

Fidget Spinner Advent Calendar
Amazon

It’s hard to sit still when you’re excited for Christmas. Want to keep someone’s busy hands full? Give your child a Fidget Toy advent calendar. Each day leading up to Christmas they’ll get a different sensory toy they can play with. Made from high quality non-toxic plastic, each item gives children a different distraction from push pops to a Rubik’s Cube. There are also some slinkies, squishy, and even a little puzzle or two to have fun with.

Dinosaur Advent Calendar

Dino Advent Calendar
Amazon

For prehistoric fans, you can never have too many dinosaurs. Outfit your children with a whole new set of Cretaceous characters with this dino advent calendar. This set includes Includes 20 realistic dino toys, four fences, two trees and one dino egg. But that’s not all. It also comes with a dinosaur world playmat, so once they open a day, they can add their latest character to their Jurassic scene. A launchpad for the imagination, your child will have boatloads of fun introducing each character to their pretend dino world each day.

Polly Pocket Advent Calendar For Kids

Polly Pocket Advent Calendar
Mattel

What is it about teeny weeny dolls that is so appealing? Polly Pocket has been mesmerizing kids since it came on the toy scene in 1983. Now it’s evolved from little clamshell toys to an entire kid advent calendar where your child will get a new Polly doll or accessory each day. Even more fun? The advent box itself folds out to become a Polly Pocket scene that each subsequent toy can be displayed in. How’s that for some micro fun?

DIY Advent Calendar Kit For Kids

DIY Advent Calendar Kit
Nordstrom

Have a creative kiddo that likes to be in charge? Let them come up with their own advent calendar for the family with this advent DIY kit. A crafty kid’s dream, this kit comes with an envelope, letter to Santa form, paper plate, one yard of elastic cording, 157 beads, 16 craft sticks, 16 sticker-backed jewels, two clothespins, two small sheets of tissue paper, 20 googly eyes, 25 paper strips, three felt sheets, three large sheets of tissue paper, four gift tags, four glitter vials, 42 fuzzy sticks, 5.5g assorted sequins, six crayons, six mini gel pens, 74 pompoms, eight pieces of paper, cardstock advent calendar, cardstock gingerbread cutout, gold string, ribbon, rickrack and glitter tape. Everything they need to do advent themselves.

Playmobil Advent Calendar

Santa's Workshop Advent Calendar
Amazon

Playmobil is a beloved children’s toy brand. So it makes sense that they might offer a toy advent calendar. But they’ve done one better by making their advent calendar entirely Christmas themed. Welcome to Santa’s workshop where the elves are busy crafty 24 surprises for children. Naturally, that includes Santa’s sleigh, his work bench, loads of toys, four figurines, reindeer, a bike, and lots of accessories to make his magical workshop come to life. In addition, the box becomes a backdrop when you unfold it to create a real North Pole playland for your child.

FAO Schwarz Dino Dig Advent Calendar

Dino Dig Advent Calendar
Macy's

Have two dino lovers who are interested in sharing? Then you need a second dinosaur advent calendar for kids. This one is more appropriate for the budding paleontologist in your life. Here, children get a whole kit and kaboodle of dino digging accoutrement to help them learn and discover more about the Triassic, Cretaceous, and Jurassic eras. They’ll get dino baby eggs, a hammer, beaker, a brush, and chisel, so they can crack open those eggs and find their new species.

Funko Pop! Harry Potter Advent Calendar

Funko Pop Harry Potter Advent Calendar
Amazon

Funko Pops are collectable pop culture characters. And in this case, they’re the cast members of Harry Potter. Roughly 2 inches tall, each has exaggerated characteristics with no mouth and a tiny nose but represent favorite characters. This box has 24 Harry Potter characters including, of course, Harry, not to mention Hermione, Dobby, Ron, and the rest of the Hogwarts crew. What your child does with them is up to them. They can start collecting Funko Pops or play with the figurines and make their own wizarding world.

Pokémon Advent Calendar

Pokémon Advent Calendar
Amazon

Did you know Pokémon characters celebrate Christmas? In this advent calendar for kids they do. Here plastic figurines celebrate the season with little gifts and holiday-themed accessories. All your kid’s favorite characters are here: ikachu, Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Eevee. But you won’t just get 24 items. This set actually includes 39 total items in the trifold calendar that can easily sit on your kitchen counter or dining room table. While they review their Pokemon cards, your kid can play with their matching figurines.

Barbie Dreamtopia Advent Calendar

Barbie Dreamtopia Advent Calendar
Amazon

Barbie may have debuted in 1959, but the popularity of the doll endures. And if you have a house of Barbie fans, make their holiday season epic with a Barbie toy kids’ advent calendar. The calendar kicks off with a Barbie doll on day one. From there, 23 days of accessories awaits. Because this is a Dreamtopia kit, she’ll get a mermaid tail, butterfly wings, tiaras, necklaces, a baby dragon, and unicorn! Think of the fantasy possibilities! It’s like a fairytale in a box.

Disney Storybook Advent Calendar

Disney: Storybook Collection Advent Calendar 2021
Amazon

Toddlers need advent calendars too. But toy calendars might be filled with pieces far too tiny for little holiday fans. For them, turn to things like this Disney Storybook Advent Calendar. Rather than toys, this is packed with itty bitty books that tell classic Disney tales. The ultimate perk to bedtime stories, each night you’ll have a new book to read. And because it’s Disney, your kid will love seeing all of their favorite familiar characters. And instead of having bits and bobs of plastic littering the house, you’ll have a new book series to add to their bookshelf.

Advent Calendar Tree

Melissa & Doug Wooden Tree Advent Calendar
Amazon

Toddlers are just starting to learn and understand what the holidays are all about. So instead of having them open tiny presents each day of advent, have them use this Melissa & Doug advent calendar as a learning and counting tool. This Christmas countdown tree comes with 24 magnetic ornaments they can place on the faux fur to track how close it’s getting until Santa’s arrival. In fun shapes like stars, snowflakes, reindeer, and other Christmas symbols, you can also have them identify the character as you teach your child simple counting.

Play-Doh Advent Calendar For Toddlers

Play-Doh Advent Calendar
Five Below

If you’re in the under four set, Play-Doh is always a good time. So buying this Play-Doh toddler advent calendar is a sure thing. To get the party started, the kit comes with five play-doh cans featuring two sparkle cans, then, for 24 days your kiddo will get a different Play-Doh stamp. And to make life a little bit easier for parents, this calendar also comes with a mat so you can keep the doh on one tiny surface and not all over, say, your dining room table.

Crayola Christmas Countdown Calendar

Christmas Countdown Calendar
Farm & Fleet

Know a child who covets art supplies like some people covet fine watches? Then here’s the advent calendar for them. This is a Crayola Countdown calendar filled with great art products. Inside, 24 daily holiday-themed crafts help kids count down to Christmas. One day they might get some paint, another day some clay. And with each item, you can introduce a different craft activity, a great way to spend an afternoon gearing up for Christmas.

Fisher-Price Thomas and Friends Advent Calendar For Toddlers

Thomas and Friends Minis Advent Calendar 2021
Movies Unlimited

Thomas the Tank Engine is one of the all-time most beloved children’s TV shows ever. Kids love trains and kids really love Thomas. So imagine their delight when you give them a Thomas advent calendar filled with all their favorite tiny trains! Your kid can play Mr. Conductor as they unveil a different train each day, with 24 in all. An no worry about trying to build some tracks. The box itself is a train track set they can run their little choo-choos over.

Paw Patrol Advent Calendar

Paw Patrol Advent Calendar
Barnes & Noble

The ultimate in toddler advent calendars, this one is all about Paw Patrol. Adventure Bay comes to life in 24 days featuring their favorite pups. Items include a sleigh with room for two of the pups; Chickaletta wearing a hat and scarf; a snowman; Christmas trees and more! You can probably hear the theme song already as you imagine this incredible gift. Designed for children 3 and up, this advent calendar is perfect for little Paw Patrol fans.

PJ Masks Advent Calendar

PJ Masks Advent Calendar
Alex & Alexa

PJ Masks is the ultimate toddler superhero show. So what’s better than binge watching a bunch of episodes? Opening a new PJ Masks toy every day with this advent calendar. Owlet, Catboy, and Gekko all appear as well as tokens and accessories to go with it. There are 24 total items for the 24 days leading up until Christmas. As your child prepares for their own pajama clad mission, outfit them with a team of superhero sidekicks to help them complete the challenge.

Brio Toy Adent Calendar

Brio Advent Calendar
Brio

Brio trains are one of those toys that families pass down for generations. The super durable, well made toys last forever, which is why they’re such a childhood favorite. If you buy this advent calendar for kids, they’ll have even more Brio to add to their collection including tracks, animals, accessories and exclusive seasonal content such as Santa Claus and a unique Christmas Train – all made from high-quality plastics and FSC-certified European beech wood.

Little People Advent Calendar For Babies

Little People Advent Calendar
Fleet Farm

Tiny hands have different advent calendar needs than bigger kids. But babies need not be excluded from the December countdown tradition. You just need to find an advent calendar appropriate for their development level. That’s where Fisher Price’s Little People calendar. Babies can make merry with these toys perfectly made for their little hands. There’s Mr. and Mrs. Claus as well as a handful of other little characters and accessories to play with.

Pottery Barn Personalized Advent Calendar

Merry & Bright Advent Calendar
Pottery Barn

Want to make sure your child not only loves every advent calendar toy but also that they’re safe and age appropriate? Make your own with this Pottery Barn personalized advent calendar. With this festive fabric hanging advent calendar, you can have your family name embroidered on the top, so it becomes a family heirloom. With 25 little pouches, you can fill up the wool calendar with whatever items you want. Sure, it’ll take a bit more work, but it will be completely tailored to your children.

Finger Puppet Advent Calendar For Babies

Puppet Advent Calendar
Amazon

Want an advent calendar for your baby? Here’s the perfect option. A calendar filled with finger puppets. Perfect for tiny hands and developmentally appropriate for little people, they’ll love finding a new character each day they can play with. There are 24 little critters including a horse, hare, tiger, monkey, moose, bear, elephant, dog, duck, doll, house, fish, panda, and more. A whole menagerie of animals, your child will have their own zoo by the time Christmas rolls around.

Star Wars LEGO Advent Calendar

Star Wars LEGO Advent Calendar
Amazon

For some kids, anything Star Wars-themed will make them happy. But why limit that joy to just December 25? Make it a month-long celebration with an entire LEGO Star Wars advent calendar. This kid packs a whopping 335 pieces into it, so that your child won’t just get tiny Stormtroopers, they’ll build an entire galaxy. And relax, Grogu (the Child, aka Baby Yoda) is included too. So your little Mandalorian fan can pretend they’re in the wildly successful Disney+ series.

Harry Potter LEGO Advent Calendar

Harry Potter LEGO Advent Calendar
Amazon

Another natural LEGO advent calendar concept is this pack of Harry Potter toys. Whether your child has watched all the movies a dozen times or just started reading the books, they’ll love seeing the entire Hogwarts world in miniature and have fun building it as the month progresses. Six figures along with a bunch of accessories make Harry Potter come to life. For example, brooms, owls, Gringotts’ gold, etc., are all included. They might not be able to attend Hogwarts, but kids will feel like they’re there with this advent calendar.

LEGO City Advent Calendar

LEGO City Advent Calendar
Amazon

LEGO advent calendars are such a great way to not only give your child a toy a day, but also an activity a day as each little window on the box leads to a building project. That’s no different with the LEGO City Advent Calendar. This kit has 349 pieces in it. What does that add up to? Well, your child is going to build Santa, naturally. Not to mention other characters from the LEGO City Adventures TV series. But the best part? The box for this set unfolds to become a backdrop to LEGO City.


How To Watch The 2021 Thanksgiving Dog Show


If watching the National Dog Show on Thanksgiving has become a tradition in your home, you’re in luck. Watching the 2021 Thanksgiving dog show this year is as easy as pie.

This year marks the 20th year the National Dog Show Presented by Purina and hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia will air on TV. Each year, thousands of dogs make their way to Pennsylvania to compete, but only one top dog gets named Best in Show. This year not only marks a milestone anniversary of the National Dog Show, but also ushers in a brand new breed, the Biewier Terrier (pronounced beaver terrier), into the toy group for the first time. So here is everything you need to know.

Watch The Dog Show On NBC

The National Dog Show will air on NBC on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 25) following the broadcast of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, like it has every year, with the same great hosts: John O’Hurley, David Frei, and Mary Carillo. You will be able to watch the show on TV on NBC from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in all time zones. Be sure to check your local listings.

But unlike the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, this show won’t be live. The competition will be held on Nov. 20 and 21, with the broadcast airing later in the week.

Or, Stream The Dog Show Online

If you don’t have cable, thankfully there are a few other ways to catch it on Turkey Day. You can watch the competition as it airs, live, on NBC’s website, but you will need a cable log in to watch. Or, if you have subscriptions to either Hulu Live or YouTube TV, you will be able to watch the dog show on the NBC channel.

However, if cooking has become too much of a task, and the kids would rather watch some movie than a bunch of adorable dogs walk in a circle, never fear. You can catch the National Dog Show on Peacock after it airs on TV. While you’re there, you eight different episodes, spanning back to 2013, because those dog show competitors are way too cute.


Saturday, October 30, 2021

DIY Halloween Costumes Moms Came Up With The Day Of Halloween


I am a planner by nature. The whole concept of throwing an entire Halloween costume together for my kids last minute is incredibly foreign to me. I am in absolute awe of parents who can not only do this, but do it well. And these costumes moms came up with on the day-of are shining examples of the kind of next-level creative skill set that I covet.

While I’ve always planned out my kids’ costumes well in advance of October 31, I do recall one Halloween as a teen when I was less than prepared and had to put something together on the day of. Apparently, my friends weren’t “too cool” to trick-or-treat after all and I wanted to join in on the fun. I grabbed some oh-so-fashionable camouflage cargo pants from my closet, borrowed one of my dad’s hunting jackets, and called myself G.I. Jane. It was hardly a “costume” but it worked.

Thankfully, most moms are much better equipped to create a last-minute costume than I was at 15. After all, not every spur-of-the-moment idea is born from a lack of planning. What else are you supposed to do when your toddler downright refuses to put on the Spiderman costume they picked out six weeks ago but make something new out of a bedsheet and some clothespins? These moms have mastered the day-of costume — or at least, they made it work.

A Lumberjack/Hipster

When mom Vanessa’s son was a baby, she threw together this incredibly adorable Halloween look for him, which she deemed a ”lumberjack/hipster.” Not only did she come in clutch with the draw-on facial hair and flannel top, but she even created a sippy cup slip cover of sorts to make it look like he was holding a hipster beer. I can’t be the only one who feels genuinely inspired by this choice.

A Dryer

Can you make a Halloween costume from a cardboard box and an assortment of random socks like this mom did? Sarah D. simply used some craft paint and hot glue to create this masterful dryer costume for her child on Halloween. The Maytag printout is such a nice touch, but the socks are a truly epic detail for a last-minute costume.

Clark Kent (AKA Superman)

Using clothes that are already in your kid’s closet is key to achieving a costume as simple, yet as awesome, as this Clark Kent/Superman getup. “Only work that went into it was very quickly sewing the Velcro strips where the buttons are so he could pull it open,” Kelly F. tells Romper.

An Ice Cream Cone

Kelsey K. came up with this ridiculously sweet (pun intended) ice cream cone costume last-minute when her daughter Claire was a baby. “It was just paint, felt, a pom pom, and plain Walmart pants/onesie,” she tells Romper, noting that the look is still one of her all-time favorites.

An Applesauce Pouch

Is there a toddler out there who doesn’t love a delicious applesauce pouch — especially one that they can squeeze out all over the furniture? When Eve’s son was 2 in 2017, she took a last-minute trip to the craft store to create this adorable GoGo SqueeZ costume during what she calls “the golden age” of the snack.

A Pirate

Arrrg you ready to have a fun Halloween? You’re not really ready until your little one has a costume. Meaghan O. in Portland, Oregon says that all she used to create her toddler’s day-of pirate costume was a striped shirt, a bandana tied around the head, and a drawn-on eyeliner mustache. It’s so simple, yet everyone will immediately know exactly what your kid is if you borrow this last-minute idea.

A Leaf-Covered Goblin, A Pop Star, & Fairy Wings

Last-minute Halloween costumes aren’t something that millennial moms just discovered via Pinterest. In fact, our own mothers have actually been doing this for decades. Samantha, a mom of two in Atlanta, tells Romper, “My mom made me a goblin by stapling leaves to a green sweatshirt.” Shout-out to her mom, Julie, for being an absolute genius.

She also recalls another year where she wore a sparkly dress, carried a toy microphone, and was a “pop star.” But in her own motherhood journey, Samantha has found that a pair of fairy wings and a ride-on dinosaur added to any outfit can make your kid look like a fantasy character come to life.


Not All Families Can Afford To Shop Early For The Holidays


Before we even got to Halloween, we were all hearing the news: though the pandemic seems to be at long last winding down, the supply chain issues and materials shortages that happened as a result are still going strong. Hundreds of thousands of shipping containers held up at ports. A staggering shortage of truck drivers. Paper is so scarce it’s becoming as valuable as the money printed on it (not quite, but you get the idea). The main takeaway of many of these gloomy forecasts? “Shop early for the holidays!” “Buy your Christmas presents now!” “Order your Hanukkah gifts yesterday, people!” Which, all things considered, is not bad advice. However, it’s not necessarily good advice either.

Here’s the thing with blanket solutions: blankets are only ever so big, right? It might cover a lot of people, but it’s definitely not going to cover everyone. Someone is going to get left out in the cold. Crucial to the idea of “shop early for the holidays” is the idea that there’s money ahead of the holidays to do the shopping. And, in many cases, not all families can afford it.

Between 50% and 78% of Americans earn just enough money to pay their bills every month

That’s according to reporting from the Washington Post with data from Nielsen data, the American Payroll Association, CareerBuilder and the National Endowment for Financial Education. And while the difference between 50% and 78% is huge, the fact remains that, any way you slice it, that’s millions and millions of people. This would seem particularly true of Millennials, who, between the ages of 25 and 40, are hitting major life milestones (having children, buying homes) but lack the savings and expected future earnings of previous generations to cushion the costs that accompany those changes.

What’s more, according to a survey from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a staggering 34% of all Americans reported difficulty meeting basic living expenses in 2020, including nearly a quarter of folks making between $75,000 and $99,999 a year.

Of course, let’s be honest here: it’s overwhelmingly more of an issue, on every level, for the poor. The same CBPP survey found that 63% of those making under $25,000 a year struggled paying their bills. “Paycheck to paycheck” is more common and more dire among people living at or below the poverty line. (Not-so-fun-fact, the poverty threshold in the United States is $25,700... for a family of four. So if you’re a family of four making $26,000 a year, mazel tov! You don’t live in poverty, so, obviously, you won’t be needing the following social safety nets anymore...)

Savings is also an issue

Popping into the rainy day fund may not be an option for many, either: the savings just aren’t there. Pre-pandemic, Bankrate’s July 2019 Financial Security Index found that 28% of U.S. adults had no emergency savings. The January 2020 index found that 41% would have to borrow money to cover an unexpected expense of $1,000 or more.

The pandemic made all of these financial constraints considerably worse and for more people

Let’s not downplay how much heavy lifting “pre-pandemic” is doing in those already grim couple of statements back there. Because on the other side of that pandemic (I’m not saying “post” just yet...), millions of Americans have experienced financial hardship as a result of Covid-19 — either due to illness or job loss or both. The Pew Research Center found that about half of non-retired Americans will have more trouble reaching their longterm financial goals as the result of the pandemic. Pew also found that, a year into Covid-19, about half of all households had either taken a pay cut or been laid off. For Hispanic, Asian, and low-income households, that percentage rises to a majority (between 58% and 61%).

Speaking of how the pandemic relates to all this

Seriously, though, did we forget about the toilet paper?

Look, I’m not saying there was no reason to get maybe a few extra rolls — people were home more and going through more of it. And, yes, there were some supply chain issues. But the overwhelming issue was panic buying, which made the problem so much worse. If you want to do some early shopping, fine and good, but if you ever feel yourself thinking thoughts like “Maybe I should be 14 of this hot new toy just in case I might not someone else who’ll want it...,” fight that urge. Not only because it’s kind of a jerk move affecting the people who can’t get gifts early, but because you know your kid is going to do that thing where they change their mind about their most coveted toy at the last minute anyway and then what will you do? Then you’re just a jerk with 14 Tickle-Me Elmos stashed in your closet...

Shop early for the holidays if you can, but remember...

Look, there’s nothing wrong with getting a little bit ahead of the ball if you can: you’re not a bad person for being able to shop early and no one thinks you are. But suggesting this is thesolution to the problem leaves a lot of people out and, unfortunately, it’s the people who are overwhelming left out.


10 Adult Advent Calendars For Foodies, Skincare Lovers, & More


For kids, advent calendars can help the 25-day countdown to Christmas feel a little less endless. But for those of us who already have a solid grasp of time, advent calendars are just really fun (and sometimes an unwelcome reminder of how few days are left to wrap). These advent calendars for adults are stocked with mini presents that make the days of December a bit brighter. Whether it’s a tea bag or a chocolate waiting behind the door, or something even bigger like a candle or a serum, these calendars deliver a little thrill each day that’s similar to the feeling of getting a package in the mail.

The beauty of an advent calendar that’s stocked with gifts is that you’ll have plenty of great things on-hand when Christmas rolls around and you realize you’ve forgotten someone on your list. I’ll admit I’m guilty of buying a beauty advent calendar, keeping my favorite items, then gifting the rest (but no one will blame you if you keep everything for yourself). So if you’re getting an advent calendar for your kids, don’t forget to get one for yourself — from hot sauce to socks, art supplies to fruit spreads, you’ll be amazed at the cool advent calendars you can find for adults.

We only include products that have been independently selected by Romper's editorial team. However, we may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.

An Advent Calendar Full Of Jam & Honey

The New 2021 Limited Edition Advent Calendar
Bonne Maman

Whether you gift these to a friend or keep them for yourself, you can count on every last drop of these delicious food spreads and honey from the Bonne Maman getting eaten up. Behind each of the beautiful 24 doors you’ll find the cutest jars (that are great for repurposing). There are trusty old favorites as well as exclusive new holiday flavors including cherry with hibiscus flower, sweet orange and passion fruit, a blend of peach with jasmine, wild blueberry with lemon balm, or raspberry with rose. All the spreads are made with simple ingredients (think sugar, fruit, and lemon juice) and they may just inspire you to whip up some scones to go with the jams.

The Kiehl’s 2021 Advent Calendar

Limited Edition Holiday Advent Calendar
Kiehl's

Every year Kiehl’s comes out with a highly anticipated advent calendar that typically sells out quickly (which makes sense since it’s such a good deal). Inside you’ll find $245 worth of products for just $99. This year, some of the standouts include a vitamin C skin serum, several face masks for cleansing and calming skin, a retinol serum and so much more. There’s also a bonus size of the brand’s beloved ultra-facial cream.

The calendar itself is beautiful too; this year, it’s designed by Marylou Faure who specializes in playful character illustrations. You could keep some faves for yourself and use others as stocking stuffers or last-minute gifts.

A Hot Sauce Advent Calendar

Twelve Days Of Hot Sauce Advent Calendar
World Market

Some like it hot, at least when it comes to their food. This set of 12 hot sauce bottles (each are two ounces) will delight the spicy fanatic in your life. The flavors included are habanero, habanero green, carolina reaper, extra hot hot, cajun, jalapeño, mango mild, chipotle, hot, garlic, wasabi and cascabella. It’s fun to try a new flavor in the days leading up to Christmas, and once you’ve sampled all 12, you could play a guessing game to see who in the family has the best recall. For that, you’ll hide the label on the bottle and see who can correctly identify each flavor.

An Advent Calendar Full Of ‘Star Wars’ Socks

Men's 12 Days Of Socks and Advent Calendar Set: Star Wars: The Mandalorian
Kohl's

Fans of The Mandalorian rejoice: here’s an advent calendar filled with socks inspired by Star Wars. Each door has a fun illustration from the series, and inside you’ll find a mix of crew and no-show designs in a comfy polyester spandex blend. This makes for a great gift, and it’s also super useful because who doesn’t need more socks?

If Baby Yoda isn’t their cup of tea, the 12 Days Of Socks brand has other great themes including Peanuts, Elf, Spongebob, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and more. Plus under $16 for 12 pairs of socks is a really great deal.

A Hanukkah Advent Calendar

Sugarfina Eight Nights of Hanukkah Advent Calendar
Food52

Advent calendars shouldn’t just be for those who celebrate Christmas. This Hanukkah-themed calendar is from the Sugarfina brand, who’s known for grown-up takes on your favorite childhood treats. It includes eight nights of delicious treat (all kosher-certified) to eat while you light the menorah. Inside you’ll find mini sugar cookies, caramels, toffee almonds, and cold-brew cordials (which sound outrageously good). The box itself, with its metallic and white illustrations, is also super pretty. When you pull out the drawer which holds the sweet treat, turn it around and there’s a flame on the back to help “light up” the menorah.

An Advent Calendar Filled With Mini Candles

Voluspa Japonica Advent Calendar Candle Set
Nordstrom

It’s my personal philosophy that you can never have too many candles. This advent calendar for the Voluspa brand has 12 candles with an impressive 25 hour burn for each, which is a great way to test new scents without making a major commitment. Included are some of the brand’s signature scents like baltic amber, forbidden fig (my personal favorite) or french cade lavender, plus some more holiday scents like spiced goji tobacco or spiced pumpkin latte. The box itself features 12 numbered drawers and after the holidays it works well for storing jewelry or other small odds and ends.

An Advent Calendar For Artists

12 Day Advent Art Calendar
Arteza

Artistes or those looking to flex their creative muscle in the new year will love this art-filled advent calendar from Arteza. It includes six tubes of acrylic paint (three of which are metallic), three acrylic markets, plus paper and wood slabs for painting or drawing on and a fine paintbrush. The lucky recipient of this calendar can also choose to scan the included QR code which unlocks 12 holiday-themed art challenges and is a fun way of trying new techniques; using the hashtag #ArtezaHolidays they and posting on social could even win some of the holiday challenges. Who knows what kind of amazing creations this could lead to?

An Advent Calendar That Gives The Gift Of Song

Holiday Scratch Off Advent Calendar Playlist
Uncommon Goods

This advent calendar may just be the answer to the question of what to get the person who has everything. For 24 days leading up the Christmas, the recipient will scratch off the number revealing a QR code that, when scanned, downloads a carol sung by an emerging artist (and the code works on devices other than iPhones including Androids or Blackberry). It’s a fun and festive way to get into the holiday spirit without physically bringing anything into the house (besides the calendar of course). Plus the retro holiday-themed calendar looks like a vinyl record and it just may make you want to croon some vintage Christmas tunes.

An Advent Calendar Full Of Beauty Products

George & Viv 24 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar
Anthropologie

It would be easy to think that this adult advent calendar included only products from George & Viv, an in-house brand of bath and body products from Anthropologie. That’s actually not that case though, and this beauty advent calendar has tons of great products from brands including Living Proof, Sunday Riley, Caudalie, and more. The limited-edition calendar is worth $275 (so it’s a really good deal) plus the box itself, with whimsical artwork by artist Emily Taylor looks super cute as part of your holiday decor.

I don’t want to give all the surprises away, but look out for the Lanolips Balm for dry skin and lips, and the Alpha-H Vitamin B Serum.

A Tea Advent Calendar

Palais des Thés Tea Advent Calendar
Food52

You’ll have a warm cup of tea to look forward to every night of December, thanks to this advent calendar that will make you want to cozy up in front of the fire. Inside the beautifully illustrated calendar is a different tea or tisane for each day from Parisian tea brand, Palais des Thés. The calendar is also 100% recyclable.

There are too many delicious blends inside to list them all, but for a quick teaser you’ll find several detox teas, a few different types of rooibos, mint, a tropical blend, and a very intriguing option called New Year's Eve tea. So even if you don’t have a fireplace, pull up a roaring fire on YouTube and get ready to sip your mug of hot tea as you relax on a snowy night.


Why Does My Baby Stay On The Right Side Of My Belly? Experts Explain


When you’re expecting, you quickly learn a lot about your little one. You discover early on if Baby is a night owl, thanks to those 1:00 a.m. kicks, and why it seems that your baby always seems to wiggle every time you drink a glass of water. They might respond to the sound of your voice (and your touch), and even have a special spot in your womb where they like to chill. So if you’re asking yourself, “Why does my baby stay on the right side of my belly?,” there are a few potential reasons why.

Is It Safe For Your Baby To Stay On The Right Side Of Your Belly?

Before you panic, it’s perfectly normal for baby to find a cushy space for sleep. Yes, your little one is often snoozing in utero, sometimes up to 15 or more minutes per hour, according to a PubMed study. That can explain why your baby might be hanging out in one spot, like the left or the right side. But if you’re worried about your baby choosing one side over the other, don’t be, according to Dr. Kim Langdon, MD, an OB/GYN. “When the baby is head-first, it has two options, back to your right side, or back to the left side,” explains Dr. Langdon. “So, it is perfectly safe for the baby to lean to the right.”

But Why Does My Baby Lean To The Right Side?

When you think about it, your womb is your fetus’ own personal playground. That’s why they bounce about and play. But when they lean to the right, it can be for a variety of reasons, Dr. Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, FACOG, double board-certified in OB/GYN and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Director of Perinatal Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln explains to Romper. “It could be due to an absence of amniotic fluid, either due to membrane rupture or renal agenesis in the fetus where the kidneys didn't develop,” says Dr. Gaither. A PubMed study found that a decrease in amniotic fluid did correlate with a reduction in a fetus’ movements, which can explain the sensation that your little one is leaning to the right.

There is another explanation why your baby might be leaning towards the right. For example, if you have a bicornuate uterus (a congenital abnormality that makes the uterus appear heart-shaped), it could cause your baby to stick to one side. “A baby may stay in one position within the uterus due to a uterine anomaly such as bicornuate uterus,” says Dr. Gaither.

And then, it could just be that your little sweetie simply prefers that side. “Often at the end of pregnancy, a baby will ‘pick a side’ and stay there more often, but most babies will move around until labor,” Dr. Cynthia Flynn, MD, an OB/GYN with JustAnswer explains to Romper. “Theoretically, being on the right side would alleviate pressure on the mother’s aorta, but in reality, it's the mom's position that determines the baby's position.”

What Should You Do If Your Baby Is Leaning To The Right Side Of Your Belly?

Really, you don’t have to do anything if your baby prefers sleeping on the right side of the belly. “It’s not so much that the baby staying on the right side of the belly is a problem,” Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, MD, an OB/GYN and professor at the Yale University School of Medicine tells Romper. “We usually encourage women when they are lying down on their backs to tilt over to the left side-and it doesn't have to be a full lateral tilt-just placing a pillow under the hip will do it.” Why? Well, tilting the uterus off the vena cava helps return blood to the heart, which allows for overall better blood flow in the body. If you find Baby leaning to the right a lot, try tilting to the left to get them to switch position — and avoid lying flat on your back, if possible.

But if Baby just won’t budge from the right side of your belly, you might want to speak with your medical professional to find out why. “The easiest way to visualize fetal activity within the womb is to have a sonographic evaluation,” recommends Dr. Gaither. “It can detail anatomy, movement, amniotic fluid, as well as any anomaly or masses which can preclude normal fetal movement.”

Just like you might have a certain side of the bed that you prefer to sleep on, your baby may have also discovered that they like being on the right side of your belly. For the most part, it’s not a problem, but to ease your worries, you may want to talk to your doctor to ensure that your baby is snug — and safe — in your belly, no matter what side they choose to stay on.

Studies cited:

Suwanrath, C., Suntharasaj, T. “Sleep-wake cycles in normal fetuses” 2010.

Sival, D., Visser, G., Prechtl, H. “Does reduction of amniotic fluid affect fetal movements?” 1990.

Experts:

Dr. Kim Langdon, MD, an ob/byn

Dr. Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, FACOG, double board-certified in OB/GYN and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Director of Perinatal Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln

Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, MD, an OB/GYN and professor at the Yale University School of Medicine

Dr. Cynthia Flynn, MD, an OB/GYN with JustAnswer