Holiday Gift Guide -- Chocolate Advent Calendars from The Madelaine Chocolate Company (Review and Giveaway)

There are many things that I do to get the house ready for Christmas.  Besides putting up and decorating the tree after Thanksgiving dinner, which has become a tradition, I also make a point to pick up chocolate advent calendars for each member of the family.  I remember as a child that my parents would give my two brothers and I a different advent calendar with a beautiful holiday season.  And, as I got older, I made a point to continue to purchase and count down to Christmas with a chocolate advent calendar. 

Did you use advent calendars as a child?  And/or, do you buy them for your children today?  If so, do you choose the chocolate surprise one, the ones where you can add ornaments or trinkets, or the old fashioned paper ones, where you open the door and see a holiday themed picture behind the door?  Over the years I have tried out all the different types of advent calendars, but always find myself picking up the chocolate advent calendar. How can a chocolate lover resist a piece of chocolate each morning as I count down to Christmas and spending time with family and friends?

And, with children of my own, I get to carry on the tradition of having an advent calendar for each person in the family.  In addition to enjoying each piece of chocolate and counting the remaining unopened doors, we also share one thing we are grateful for each day.  I think this is my favorite part of the advent calendar experience.  You get to reflect on what you have and what you are thankful for in life, and share that with others.  With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, sometimes we lose sight of what the holidays really mean, and the ability to take time to tell those we love how much we appreciate and love them.

While searching to put together my holiday gift guide this season, I stumbled upon The Madelaine Chocolate Company.  I was doing a search for "chocolate advent calendars" and this site came up in the search.  I instantly fell in love with the options available -- from mailable cards to over sized advent calendars, they had something for everyone's taste.  The wintry scenes were simply stunning.  I loved how they offered these, as well as children's themed calendars.  It is hard to find advent calendars for each member of the family -- young and old -- but, The Madelaine Chocolate Company has you covered.

So, I reached out The Madelaine Chocolate Company and they sent me the following chocolate advent calendars to review. 

"Our largest Advent Calendar yet! With a net weight of 14 ounces this calendar has almost one full pound of delicious yummy holiday themed chocolates. Set in the park with the city lights twinkling in the background our new calendar comes with assorted chocolate shapes and flavors as well as chocolate ornaments with strings so they can be hung from a tree. Enjoy solid milk chocolates, peanut butter filled milk chocolates, caramel filled milk chocolates and milk chocolate truffles."

 

"Advent calendar featuring Santa and his helpers making yummy Madelaine chocolates. Behind the numbered windows are a variety of solid, creamy premium milk chocolate shapes, including soldiers, snowmen, Santa and a Christmas ornament."

"7 days to go!™ is an interactive chocolate countdown greeting card. 7 days before Christmas you can start counting down and enjoying the creamy delicious milk chocolates behind each window. Supplement your traditional Advent Calendars or countdown to Christmas parties!"

"Advent calendar filled with 24 solid premium milk chocolate presents hiding behind the doors and windows of Victorian village toy shop."

Because you are not supposed to open the first door until Dec. 1st, I haven't been able to see what the chocolates look like under each of the 4 calendars sent.  I did, however, give in and sampled the chocolates from the seven days left advent calendar.  First, I have to say that this is the first time I have seen an advent calendar like this that let's children count down the last week before Christmas.  What a novel idea.  This would be good for those families who don't like their children eating too much chocolate, or those who forgot to buy advent calendars and want to share the fun of counting down the final days with their children.  Either way, whatever chocolate advent calendar you purchase from The Madelaine Chocolate Company, will not disappoint.  The milk chocolate treats behind each door were so rich and creamy, and melted in your mouth.  Unlike other advent calendars I have purchased over the years, the quality of the calendar itself was amazing, while the flavor was delicious.  On a few occasions, I sampled chocolates from other calendars that didn't taste like chocolate -- just, merely sugar, or tasted like they had been sitting on a shelf in storage -- blah!  But not The Madelaine Chocolate Company's advent calendar chocolates.  They tasted fresh and left you eager for the next day to come.

I can't wait until Dec. 1st arrives, so that we can begin opening the door of these advent calendars, that The Madelaine Chocolate Company was so gracious enough to send our family.  I only hesitate to open them, as they look so beautiful sitting on the window sill right now.  You really do have to see the wintry scenes up close.  They are truly breathtaking, and will definitely put you in the spirit of the holidays -- with or without snow.

--BUY NOW--

Click here -- http://www.madelainechocolate.com/ -- to visit the The Madelaine Chocolate Company's online store to browse their selection of chocolate advent calendars, as well as other sweet treas and gifts available.  Just don't visit on an empty stomach, or you will be sorry. :-) 

---GIVEAWAY---

One lucky reader will win a chocolate advent calendar of their choice to share with their family, as they count down to Christmas, thanks to the folks at The Madelaine Chocolate Company.  To enter, please complete the entries on the Rafflecopter form below.  Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Disclosure: I was sent samples from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.