Paper Bag & Burlap Advent Calendar

Advent calendars are beautiful. 

They are Christmas traditions. 

They allow families to take a moment out of the hustle and bustle

and create a memory.

I wanted to create all that for my family. Here is my version of an advent calendar. 

My plan was to put an activity in each bag leading

up to Christmas. I am going to be honest, I failed. With a 15 month old

who won't even sit still to read a book to, activities were hard to come up with.

We have a done a few, but some days-I just had to enjoy looking at

this display without the doing!

Grace does love books, so I bought 6 Christmas books and wrapped

them. That was our activity for 6 of the days!

We also had hot chocolate and popcorn in front of the Christmas

tree one evening before bed. (if you don't already 

know, Grace also loves food..so this was a

 favorite one for her!)

I made M&M cookies and put in a bag (now this one is 

Drew's favorite!). A few years from now, or maybe 

even next year this can change to a cookie decorating day!

The best thing about making your own advent calendar-you can make the

activities whatever you want them to be! Drive around and look at Christmas

lights, go caroling, build a snowman, watch a Christmas movie (this was on my

list until our tv broke), read the Christmas story, open a gift, etc. 

Just enjoy being a family!

 The clothes pins I covered in lace for Grace's birthday party (maybe you

remember seeing them on my earlier blog post?) I thought

they fit this theme perfectly!

I made these burlap bows with a lace accent! These are perfect for 

Christmas, a country wedding, a shabby chic birthday party & lots

of other events! DIY instructions to come!

As I started receiving cards in the mail, they took the place of the days

 that had already passed. I am hoping by the 24th I have enough cards to fill the whole thing!

My family Christmas card.

PIN IT.

I want to hear about your family Christmas traditions too!