Pre-Holiday Goodies

I know it’s early, but now is the time to start thinking about surcees for Thanksgiving and the upcoming holidays. My kids and I love this time of year so much and agree that the weeks leading up to the holidays are the best part.

One of my favorite ways to build excitement for Christmas is an Advent calendar. I found great options for littles and teens on Amazon. I am not sure if these will be included in the October Prime days, but I’ll definitely order regardless.

Let’s get started with the little ladies. Oh, how I miss these days!

Barbie is everywhere this year. Not surprisingly, I found two fun Advent calendars for the Barbie fans in your life. The first option is this Cutie Reveal.

Barbie Cutie Reveal Advent Calendar

Count down to the holiday with 24 cutie surprises in one package — the Barbie Cutie Reveal Advent Calendar and doll deliver all kinds of delight. Kids will have fun revealing a new winter-themed item every day!
Discover a Cutie Snowflake Sparkle Deer — reveal Barbie doll on the first day, and then days later, unbox the Silver Sparkle Deer costume and the cutest winter outfits!
Keep unboxing for more winter cuteness, like mittens, boots and snow-themed clothes. Style the doll with a headpiece, jewelry and more sparkly accessories. Kids can create unique cutie combos on their doll!
Reveal more fun wintertime surprises, including 2 cute mini-pets with accessories and color-change eyes that ‘open and close’ with icy cold or warm water!
Explore a winter wonderland with additional gifts like a camera, mug, snow boots and holiday cookies.
Barbie Cutie Reveal Advent Calendar makes a great gift for kids 3 years and older, who can mix and match accessories and have endless winter fun!

Barbie Cutie Reveal available here: https://amzn.to/3rsALNJ

The second Barbie option is less wintry, but just as fabulous. I’d say it’s a little less festive with more emphasis on fashion.

Ring in the style fun with the Barbie Advent calendar and Barbie doll (12-in/30.40-cm).
Celebrate 24 days of surprise fashion gifts during the festive season!
Kids open a door every day to discover an article of day-to-night clothing or a trendy accessory—perfect for fashion storytelling play!
With its fun holiday fashion theme, the package can be used as a display or backdrop for even more fashion storytelling play
Makes a great gift for kids 3 to 7 years old especially those who love fashion fun and celebrating the holidays in style!

Barbie Day to Night Trendy Advent Calendar

Snag the calendar for your little fashionista here: https://amzn.to/3LFo1tL

Emery loved the LEGO Friends characters when she was younger. I’m happy to report that the Friends are back with an all new 2023 Advent calendar and it’s a pet playground! Don’t worry, I’ve got an option for the little gents as well, but ladies first.

Kids can enjoy assembling the pet playground as they open the doors and countdown to adventure. This countdown playset comes with 10 LEGO Friends characters, plus fun Christmas activities. Discover new experiences and daily surprises with the 24 mini build toys which lets kids create a host of different pet adventures wit this pet playground. This creative Advent Calendar can be given to kids ages 6+ and creates a fun activity to enjoy throughout December and beyond.

LEGO Friends Pet Playground Advent Calendar

If your little one is more into LEGOs than Barbies, click here: https://amzn.to/4553KoB

This next Advent calendar is perfect for product junkies of all ages (well, tweens and up). The Amazon Beauty Advent calendar is loaded with fabulous brands and are the perfect size for trying new goodies without breaking the bank. I’m definitely ordering this for Emery. Elemis, Oribe, Moroccan Oil, Laniege and more are featured in this countdown. So many of my favorite lines!

The Beauty Box Advent Calendar

I would order soon. I think these will sell out. Get yours here: https://amzn.to/3tbAWxn

Moving on to the little fellas. No surprise, I’ve got several LEGO options. This Star Wars set is new for 2023 and would thrill fans of all ages.

Build festive joy during the Christmas holidays with an Advent calendar featuring daily collectible surprises including Star Wars characters, mini building toy vehicles and accessories, 9 Star Wars characters, including Emperor Palpatine, an Ewok and a Pit Droid in holiday outfits, a Gonk Droid dressed as a reindeer, Omega with a sled, a 212th Clone Trooper, B-1 Battle Droid and Princess Leia, 10 mini vehicle building toys – The Justifier, The Mandalorian’s N-1 Starfighter, a turbo tank, STAP speeder, AAT, Imperial Shuttle, AT-ST, speeder bike, Imperial Star Destroyer and Ewok glider 5 other mini builds: Clone Command Center, Ewok village, Endor bunker, Endor shield protector and Emperor’s throne.

Star Wars LEGO Advent Calendar 2023

If the little men in your life are more into LEGO City, I’ve got you covered. LEGO really knocked it out of the park this year! The characters in the 2023 LEGO City Advent Calendar are so much fun: Mrs. Claus, a hockey player, reindeer, a headphone wearing teen, and an ice sculptor. The turkey and decorations add to the festive feel. This is suitable for ages 5+, but I think plenty of older kids will enjoy as well. For the Star Wars addition, click here: https://amzn.to/3LIVBiu

Lego City Advent Calendar

Available here: https://amzn.to/48uI6wS

Bodie was definitely a Matchbox and Hot Wheels kid, so this next calendars would have been perfect for him. I still think he might kind of like them even now.

Celebrate the spirit of the holidays with the Matchbox Advent Calendar.
Behind each door is a surprise will it be one of the 8 officially licensed Matchbox vehicles, 2 Matchbox vehicles or a fun, wintery-themed Matchbox accessory?
Matchbox inspires creative storytelling that’s grounded in realism with authentic themes, details and designs.
Includes a holiday-themed playmat to put the new vehicles and accessories into action.
Kids 3 years old and up will love the daily holiday surprises of the Matchbox Advent Calendar.

Matchbox Advent Calendar

Matchbox calendar is available here: https://amzn.to/3ZzKPAY

Hot Wheels also offers a 2023 Advent calendar that looks just as fabulous as the Matchbox version. I’d have a tough time choosing.

Celebrate the holidays with a Hot Wheels Advent Calendar and get Hot Wheels fans in the festive spirit.
Open a different door for 24 days to discover a new surprise hiding inside. Each calendar includes 8 Hot Wheels cars in 1:64 scale and 16 winter-themed accessories like a snowplow or tree.
Use the included playmat with the new surprises to rev up the storytelling.
Hot Wheels encourages kids to play independently and to hone their storytelling skills through push-around car play.
Makes a great gift for Hot Wheels fans and collectors 3 years old and up.

Hot Wheels 2023 Advent Calendar

Shop Hot Wheels here: https://amzn.to/46cVcgO

Another hot movie this year is Super Mario Brothers. I found a cute calendar for the little gamer in your life.

Countdown to Christmas with the Super Mario advent calendar for kids 2023!
Includes 24 popular Super Mario characters and accessories, featuring first releases of a special Santa Mario, Snowman Mario, Snowman Luigi and more!
Each kids advent calendar figure and accessory is hidden behind a numbered door so you don’t know what you will get next
Display your favorite figures with the pop-up environment pieces to create your own scene
Advent calendar for boys or girls; suggested for ages 3 years and up; non-corrosive

Super Mario Advent 2023

Mario and pals are available here: https://amzn.to/3rClkCr

It’s no secret that Christmas Vacation is one of my family’s all time favorite movies. We quote it daily. An Advent calendar that is fun for the whole family (or at least my family) is this 2023 Christmas Vacation edition. Countdown to Christmas with Clark and family while drinking egg nog from a moose mug. What could be better?

Includes 24 windows to open filled with delightful 2-inch scale figures and accessories from the Christmas Vacation Movie!
Pop-up diorama pieces add to the fun
Kids and collectors can display their figures all season long
Suggested for kids ages 4 years and up and the entire family!

I love that Aunt Bethany’s Jello dessert gets its own piece!

Christmas Vacation 2023 Advent Calendar

Add to cart here: https://amzn.to/3Pw4U6G

Speaking of Christmas Vacation, this Monopoly game is also sure to thrill the Griswold fan in your life.

Relive the chaos of your favorite Christmas comedy with MONOPOLY: National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. This collectible edition of Monopoly pays tribute to the 1989 holiday classic starring Chevy Chase and Randy Quaid
Buy, sell, and trade your way to victory as you collect familiar locations from the film including Clark’s Lighting Display, Griswold Family Christmas Tree Site, and many more
Featuring 6 custom sculpted tokens – Squirrel, Snots (Eddie’s Dog), Marty Moose Egg Nog Glass, Chainsaw, Film Projector, and Dry Turkey
Includes: 1 Game Board, 6 Collectible Tokens, 28 Title Deed Cards, 16 Chance Cards renamed “Hap-Hap-Happiest Christmas”, 16 Community Chest Cards renamed “Save the Neck for Me, Clark”, Custom MONOPOLY Money, 32 Houses renamed “Decorations”, 12 Hotels renamed “Christmas Spirit”, 2 Dice, Rules
2-6 Players | Ages 15+ | 60+ Min Play Time

Holiday Monopoly

Name a more perfect holiday activity….I’ll wait. Get it here: https://amzn.to/3taBjIp

One of our games is back with a holiday twist. Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman is the festive version of Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. I can’t wait to add this to our collection.

HOLIDAY VERSION OF OUR WILDLY POPULAR PARTY GAME- Perfect for all-ages.
PLAY IT ANY TIME ANY PLACE- Convenient take anywhere size game.
SIMPLE AND HILARIOUS- Fast paced laugh out loud fun for any get together.
GET ROLLING IN SECONDS- Takes only a minute to learn and gameplay lasts for about 10 to 15 minutes.
PERFECT ADDITION TO YOUR FAMILY FESTIVITIES- Game night merriment

SANTA COOKIE ELF CANDY SNOWMAN

Find it here: https://amzn.to/3td6bYV

Jigsaw puzzles are another cozy Christmas activity my family enjoys. Of course a Christmas Vacation puzzle is what I’m most likely to buy, but the Peanuts puzzle is probably going to end up at my house as well. Puzzles are also fun to bring on ski trips if you can designate table space to one. We’ve done this before and it’s so relaxing to unwind after a day on the slopes with a puzzle.

Holiday Puzzles

Hang with the Peanuts gang here: https://amzn.to/48wOXG1

Clark, Ellen, Rusty and Audrey can be found here: https://amzn.to/45c4dFl

If there’s one movie that rivals Christmas Vacation, it’s Home Alone. I am willing to die on that hill. The McAllister’s LEGO house was a big ticket item last year and I’m happy to report that it’s much easier to find this year. That being said, it’s still expensive. While I think this would make an excellent Christmas present due to the price tag, I also think building this masterpiece in the weeks leading up to Christmas and using it as part of your decor is a wonderful idea.

Features a buildable LEGO model of the McCallisters’ house with walls and roof that open up for easy access, tree house and crooks’ van
Functions include swinging paint cans, a basement furnace that lights up, and a lever to push Kevin down the stairs on his sledge
Discover details that spark memories of hilarious movie moments in every room in the house and inside the van
LEGO Home Alone house comes with 5 LEGO minifigures: Kevin McCallister, Kate McCallister, Harry, Marv and ‘Old Man’ Marley
The bricks in this LEGO house building set are split into 24 bags, and the building order follows the movie’s plot
Includes an illustrated booklet about Home Alone, the set’s fan creator and LEGO designers, plus step-by-step instructions
An LR41 battery is included for the LEGO light brick that illuminates the furnace in the trap-packed LEGO model of the McCallisters’ house

Home Alone LEGO House

The reviews are outstanding. Almost 900 five star reviews. That makes the price less scary. Try it for yourself here: https://amzn.to/3ZFheX4

My favorite month starts this weekend! I plan to savor every second of these next few months. I hope this list helps add to your fun this holiday season.