The Suede Sofa Blog

Day 11 – Advent Calendar

Advent Day #11 – Go Christmas caroling to a neighbor or a shut-in.

{You may choose to simplify the process big-time and do something as easy as pick one person a day from now ’til Christmas and pray for them. It doesn’t need to be time-consuming, stressful, or cost you anything. Do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!}

Alternative Activity: Ask God how you can make the world a better place. (Then do what He tells you to do!)

Day 10 – Advent Calendar

Advent Day #10 – Do something nice for a stranger such as go through a drive thru and pay for the person behind you, give a generous tip, or let them have the better parking spot.

Alternate Activity: Give God something you have been denying Him such as obedience or trust.

Shop at Home and SAVE!

Those of you who know me or follow our blog know that if deciding between shopping at Target with my two kids or a root canal…the stress free option would hands down be the root canal! I am always the mom with the kids climbing in and out of the shopping cart, yelling at them for running away from me, or in last weeks case the mom with the 5-year-old crying in the isle because I wouldn’t buy him some Captain America shield he JuSt HaD To HaVe! So again…a root canal with a little laughing gas to take the edge off would be my pick any day!

Thanks to my little shopping nightmares I have resorted to doing almost all of my Christmas shopping online. What I have learned is…you can get amazing deals with PrOmO CoDeS! When purchasing online, before you pay there is almost always an option to enter a promo code. In the past I left this blank not knowing where to find a code. Now with some hard work and a little luck I have saved tons of money and gotten free shipping on most of my purchases by simply typing the name of the store that I am purchasing from and the words promo code in a google search. Once you do that tons of links come up to sites that are dedicated to listing current and expired promo codes. For example…I ordered our Christmas cards from Shutterfly this year during their 50% off sale and earned free shipping due to the amount that I was purchasing. The card that I chose was a little more than I wanted to spend so I typed into google “Shutterfly promo code” and found a code that got me an extra 20% off what I was already getting! It was well worth the time and effort it took me to find the code!

As you get ready to do your last-minute shopping, remember…the stores need to get rid of their inventory just as much as you need to buy presents. Take the time to search for SaViNgS!

~Robyn (Jersey Girl)

Day 9 – Advent Calendar

Advent Day #9 – Send a serviceman/woman a card or care package.

{You may choose to simplify the process big-time and do something as easy as pick one person a day from now to Christmas and pray for them. It doesn’t need to be time-consuming, stressful, or cost you anything. Do what works for you and enjoy the season with the ones you love!!}

Alternate Activity: Reflect on the meaning of Christmas with your favorite Christmas hymn or one of these:

Here is the oldest Advent song, O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Day 8 – Advent Calendar

Advent Day #8 – Put a surprise voucher in the Advent Calendar that says, “Cash this surprise in after dark and after you have your pajamas on.” When its time to cash in the voucher, load up the family in the car (yes, in their pajamas!), grab some hot cocoa and candy canes, and drive around looking at lights. {This is something Robynn did with her dad (minus the pajamas) as an adult, except with cappuccino, so feel to stop by the convenience store for your favorite warm drink!}

Alternate Activity: Strike up a pleasant conversation with a stranger (such as a clerk, mailman, or crossing guard) and when you finish the conversation, tell them to have a wonderful day/Christmas/etc with a big smile.

Day 7 – Advent Calendar

Advent Day #7 – Put movie tickets in your Advent Calendar. It could either be real tickets to a movie threater or handmade tickets to watch a family favorite such as “Frosty the Snowman”, “Polar Express”, or “It’s a Wonderful Life”. If you don’t have children or are single, you get to pick your favorite!!

Alternative Activity: At night sit with only the Christmas lights on and gaze at the Christmas Tree while you reflect on the blessings you have in your life.

Day 6 – Advent Calendar

Advent Day #6 – Sleep by the Christmas Tree.

Alternate Activity: Pray for God’s blessing on someone who has wronged you.

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:27-29