Two Minutes Du Jour

I’m headed to Aldi this morning. Soon after it opens. To buy an advent calendar. It’s so important to me that I put it on my calendar:)

Read on to find out why it seems like such a joyful, tone-setting activity for a Wednesday morning post election and as the holiday season approaches.

It might seem early to think about the holiday countdown, but I don’t want you to miss out on one of the many creative advent calendars already going, going, gone. (It might have happened to me when I went to get a pet-themed advent for Duke from Trader Joe’s a few years ago or a chocolate one for my grandson last year at Aldi.)

The holiday season brings with it cherished traditions and advent calendars are one of the most delightful ways to savor the countdown. Advent calendars come in endless forms, from simple chocolate treats to extravagant collections with themes for all ages—even our pets get in on the daily surprise!

This year, Aldi is offering more than 19 varieties, from wine and cheese to chocolates and pet-friendly treats. And if you’re feeling luxurious, Liberty of London has curated a beauty advent calendar filled with over $1,500 worth of products for a fraction of that price, a mere $345!

Yes, today, I’ll be heading to Aldi to pick up my grandson’s advent calendar. I’ll let you know if I’m successful. And, if I arrive too late, Amazon has an impressive selection.

Advent calendars let us reconnect with the magic of waiting, a rare thing in our instant-gratification world. Opening a new window each day, not knowing what small surprise lies within, can bring us unexpected joy, especially during a season often focused on the big celebrations (or post-election emotions).

Given today’s advent calendars’ variety and creativity, I wondered if we could curate our own advent calendars – or make one as a gift for someone. If I could create a personal advent calendar, it might include small notes with the title of a new book to explore, a short yoga sequence to add to my practice, or even a seasonal vocabulary word to augment my Duolingo lessons. Think about what a personalized advent calendar might contain for you and how you can create small, daily joys – perhaps go back to your joy list and focus on how to incorporate some of the items into the days ahead. Better yet, bring small joys to friends and loved ones one day at a time.

Two Links Du Jour:

Cheese village, Santa’s Workshop: Aldi to debut themed Advent calendars for holidays – USA Today

The Liberty Beauty Advent Calendar