Advent CalendarsAdvent calendars are making a resurgence after a brief respite in past years. In the last several years in particular, they've become very popular and greatly commercialized (even coffee chains are carrying them). Take a brief interlude onto Pinterest and you'll be overwhelmed with DIY advent calendar options. Not only are people doing them for Christmas but they're popping up for all sorts of holidays.
A unique type of calendar is one that can be personalized with your favourite colour scheme using paint, paper, modge podge and a little string, whatever strikes your fancy and inspires you. Calendars made of wood or other materials that can be personalized are also great for kids who can add their touch with markers, paint and glitter.Rather than being filled with chocolate, some advent calendars offer space for adding your own gifts in little drawers or bags. These can be filled with small toys, bite-sized treats or other small gifts.
I really like the idea of filling these bags with games, particularly vintage games like marbles, jacks, dice, chalk, etc. You can then use these items to reconnect with your kids doing something fun for both of you. Another idea (if you know a budding chef), is to put fancy ingredients in the boxes or bags and use those to create fanciful dishes.
You could also fill the advent calendars with little coupons of activities to do with your family, such as a trip to a favourite park, or hopscotch and blanket forts with your kids. There are a lots of ideas about how to use advent calendars that don't have to be based on "stuff." The point is that it doesn't have to be complicated or costly. It can be a fun and easy way to start sweet traditions with your family.
OrnamentsThe days of the themed holiday tree seem to (finally) be past and more people seem to want to collect a few ornaments a year and create a tradition and history with their ornaments.
My sister and I both have the ornaments our mom made for our tree when we were little (we grew up in a place with little access to retail selections and money was tight) and now we cherish those handmade ornaments. As we get older, we're using the same ornaments again and receiving a few more each year. We really cherish preserving the memories that come with them. These days, many ornaments reflect the local heritage and culture from which they come, and they can be highly collectible. Some are made using recycled fabric, so they're eco-friendly too.
These ornaments can be customized by adding a year or name in hand-stitching or glue-on letters/numbers to personalize.
And (I'll let you in on a designer's secret) just because you buy something that can be used "as is" doesn't mean you can't make it yours by customizing itThis is a great way to have something different than everyone else and gives you that DIY satisfaction without having to create something from scratch.
Janine Wilson is an interior designer and owner of The Mill in North Vancouver.
