I feel like advent calendars are a hot commodity and cool gift idea right now - more than ever. Companies are looking for any opportunity to put their coveted item in a calendar. What you describe sounds cool but gosh, where do “we” draw the line for a gift like this?!
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I draw the line way before this… 
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There is a wine one that puts in little bottles of wine.
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We tried the Wine Advent calendar from In Good Taste last year. The majority of the wines are fine but not great. Loved the little bottles and I repurposed them based on suggestions that came with the Calendar.
Costco had wine and beer advent calendars. We think the preserves are more up our alley. There are chocolate ones (wouldn’t likely like the heat), plus Lego, magic tricks and many more.
For advent we do The Advent Book by Jack & Kathy Stockman and have been doing it for the last 5 years or so. It’s no longer in print (actually, the authors now publish the book…available here). There are 24 doorways (or probably 25) each one with a different design on it. When you open the doors there is a part of the nativity story. On day one we read day 1. On day 2 we read doors 1 & 2. On day 3 we read doors 1-3, etc. And after we do our advent reading we’ll light the candle(s) on the advent wreath. During advent I try to have us only eat dinner by the light of the advent wreath, so that we go from eating in relative darkness to increasing light the closer we get to Jesus’ birth.
With $68 for one new book, it’s not the least expensive option out there (we got ours used). But considering the fact that it gets reused year after year, the cost per year is definitely much less than some of the other options out there. And for those who are curious, here’s the Amazon page with many reviews.
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When my kids were little, I had a few friends and relatives who sent them gifts. They got to open them on the day they arrived. My uncle always sent books so we’d read them right away. A friend usually sent an art thing (coloring books, beads) and they got to do those. It allowed them to really enjoy the gift from that person rather than the gift just be lumped into the pile (although my kids didn’t really get that many presents, 3 from Santa, a few from me).
We also had a ton of Christmas books, so those would come out and it was like an Advent calendar just to open/read a new one each night.
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I always send my husband’s aunt a Wolferman’s assortment and she loves it. She is 80 and a widow with no children. I am thinking about the jam calendar for now and then the baked goods for Christmas. She is somewhat of a hoarder, so sending her the baked goods means no extra stuff in her house. Great idea.
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“ Do you ever order from Amazon and then completely forget what you might have ordered when a package arrives at your door?” - Yes. More than once I have inadvertently sent myself a mailorder surprise gift, having forgotten about the original order (but ha, only things that did not ship overnight).
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I tend to buy things throughout the year when I see them on my travels. I have a small stack of presents being formed upstairs waiting for me to decide if they are for birthday or christmas. I have about 15 bdays between now and feb so I basically buy double for everyone and then decide which presents go for which holiday.
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Update on my group. I thought I came up with a plan. Bombas slipper socks for the girls and fanny packs for the boys. That way I can also stuff $$$ (I make fake gift cards and just reimburse them later) or whatever little trinkets we find over there. I send my ideas to H who replies “Those are fantastic ideas. Let me think some more for the boys.” I thought you liked my ideas? Oh yes, but HE has to buy something for the kids, otherwise it’s not Christmas… Argh!!! Bangs head against the wall. But now I’m invested in my choices, so they’re going to get those too… And this is how our Xmas always goes…
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My friend and BIL received the advent calendars we sent. We are expected to receive ours today!
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Will they/you be waiting until December 1 to start using them??
Will the boys wear fanny packs? Never seen one on a guy.
Guys and gals wear them crossbody. 
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And if they don’t want them, they can give them back to me lol!
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Getting Free Birdees bamboo pjs or blankets for all the kids on my list and some with matching stuffed animals and books. Also getting some of their joggers for the adult females on the list.
Dd needs a new iWatch. Ds just wants money for the wedding. Also got a small digital camera made for 3 year olds that a lot of parents I know really like for dgs and maybe getting him a Nugget modular couch to climb and bounce on.
I would be inclined to buy the fanny packs for both the guys and the women. I have one from Away and wear it (crossbody) all of the time when walking/hiking. Mine is water resistant and has an inner zip pocket which is big enough to fit passports for travel.
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We may start consuming advent calendars and deciding whether to get more as gifts and/or for ourselves. 
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Goud78, last year my son requested one, even the gray color. I’ll have to go back to find the brand.
It may take me time, but I’m sure AWAY has good bags. The kids both have AWAY carry-ones.
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