My little Advent game

   4 weeks, 27 days, 7 Advent calendars, 175 individual things. It was all a blast, sometimes a pain in the ass, but nevertheless, the awesomest crafting project I took in.

   Like I previously said, I saw chocolate Advent calendars in shops but never really understood the rules and its purpose. This year I researched it and plunged into not one, but 7 handmade Advent calendars. I made a list of the people I thought would want to take part into this beautiful idea, this little game that makes us feel Christmas for 24 days, before it's even here. Luckily they all accepted to craft and share an Advent calendar. 

   And so the Advent adventure began... this game that brings happiness on people's face, the game that makes you feel loved, appreciated, taken into consideration. The game that makes you feel like a kid again. One that can't wait for tomorrow's task or treat, one that knows how to enjoy the Advent calendar at its best. 

   Stage one after deciding I want to do this was RESEARCH all the possible ideas of crafting such calendars. I found amazing printables that people were so kind to share for free. I found wonderful ideas of tasks that are meant to make you sweep in the Christmas mood all month long:)

   Stage two was ENTHUSIASM. I was sooo thrilled about finding a different Advent calendar idea for each of my recipients and about coming up with special tasks that I knew would make people happy. I could already see their happy face when they would each receive their special Advent calendar carefully made with such love and passion:) I was in the 9th cloud all along the first 2 weeks. Work... craft... work... craft! And I loved it all!

   Stage three was FRUSTRATION. And all this because I had some difficulties in crafting one of the ideas... for my boyfriend! It wouldn't turn out the way I wanted it to be and I would be so frustrated each time I had to work on it. But thank God, it all ended and it was all okay.

   Stage four was FATIGUE. After two weeks and 4 calendars down (including a frustrating one) I began to feel knocked down. I needed to finish all the 7 calendars and 7 handmade Christmas cards by December 1st so my nights became white and my days became sleepy. I had days when I went to sleep at 9 PM and days when I wasn't in the mood for crafting. Even so, every time I looked at the final products a big grin could be seen on my face:)

   Stage five and the last one was PRIDE. Why? Because I did it. It's December 1st and all my calendars are done, the Christmas cards included:) I already gave away 4 of them, 3 more to go:) Can't wait to see my friends smile and can't wait to hear their joyful feedback on each day of the Calendar. 

   All in all, the Advent calendar is such an amazing opportunity for all those Christmas lovers out there! It's the wonderful gesture of thinking about others and involving all your attention in a little, tiny game of love:)

   

It's December already and I can't believe it. Let the Advent adventure truly begin! Let's do tasks and enjoy treats! Let's feel Christmas all around us! <3

P.S. Here are the final results for my 7 Advent calendars (and how my desk looked like for the whole month):

Day 336. Let's shake the dust

   The day before a long awaited trip is always full of emotions both good and bad. On one hand you're filled with enthusiasm, you can't wait for time to pass more quickly and you're making plans in your head about how awesome the trip is going to be, but on the other hand you're anxious because you feel there's too little time to organize everything so you're afraid you'll forget something or you think that maybe you won't wake up when the alarm clock will ring. And that's exactly what's awesome about trips:) Oh, not to mention you'll probably not sleep the night before. It always happens to me:)

   Long awaited trips make life worth living. They put a huuuge smile on your face and make you happy even before reaching your destination because you already know you'll come home with some amazing memories you'll hold onto for the whole year to come and that they will be the ones to give you energy until the next awesome trip. 

   Tomorrow I'm heading for Sibiu to attend one of the most awaited concerts of my life (Within Temptation). I can't wait to feel like heaven is a place on earth again:) 

Day 84. Christmas is coming to town

    I'm really enjoying every moment I'm spending in the kindergarten:) Everything is so new to me even though 20 years ago I was a kid too. 20 years! Wow! 

   Today I was pleasantly surprised to see that all the teachers in the kindergarten have started to decorate their classes for the beautiful month of Christmas. There were cute snowmen, fluffy snowflakes, colorful tinsel and Christmas balls everywhere:) 

   The teacher in the photo chose to decorate the Christmas tree with the kids. You should have seen them waiting in line full of enthusiasm to give the teacher a Christmas ball for the tree:) It was magical:) The way Christmas should be. Pitty the prettiest part are the preparations and that Christmas passes so fast. But meanwhile, let's enjoy the preparations!:)

   Starting with Monday, I'm directing my attention towards Christmas gifts for my family!:) This year, I can really afford it:) I can't wait to make them happy! They deserve it for being so great:)