Lazy Girl's 10 Beloved Christmas Movies - The Lowdown On My Faves!

 I know you all have your favorite holiday or Christmas movies, I was raised on some true classics, so here is my list of movies I enjoy during the holiday season.  Also, it should be noted I am not a big fan of remakes, even if the older film isn't as relevant today I like the originals.  Click the video image to watch, rent, or purchase (affiliate links).

10. November Christmas - a Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas movie starring Sam Elliott and John Corbett.  You can rent or buy this on Amazon Prime Video.  Video description from Amazon - With the support of his small town, a father's wish for his very sick daughter is realized. I randomly came across this a few years ago and have watched it every year since.  Come on, who doesn't love Sam Elliott!

9. The Holiday/Love Actually - Yes I did it, I listed two movies in one spot - may happen again in this list.  The reason I did it with these two movies is that for me I ALWAYS think of both of these movies together for some reason.  I am not sure why, maybe it is because they both involve locations in the UK during the holidays in parts of each movie.  I just tend to watch both these movies at the same time and enjoy them the same amount. Both are available to rent on Amazon Prime Video, video descriptions from Amazon are below:

Love Actually - From the makers of Bridget Jones's Diary and Notting Hill comes the ultimate romantic comedy about love's delightful twists and turns, starring some of Hollywood's brightest stars.

The Holiday - From writer/director Nancy Meyers comes a romantic comedy about two women on opposite sides of the globe who swap houses only to discover that a change of address can really change their lives.

8. The Gathering - My mom and I love this one, we always make a point to watch it each year.  Ed Asner plays an excellent Scrooge father to a family whose matriarch Maureen Stapleton brings their family together again at Christmas.  Ed Asner will make another appearance in this list below.  Amazon Prime Video information - Edward portrays Adam and Maureen as his estranged wife Kate in a beloved holiday classic that celebrates the tender power of forgiveness and the profound gift of family love.

7. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - This movie always makes me smile, starring Loretta Swit, if you are thinking where do I know that name from think Hot Lips Houlihan on MASH.  This movie is only available for purchase on DVD, I remember watching it on TV as a made-for-TV movie as a lil kid. Amazon Prime Movie information - Loretta Swit of M*A*S*H stars as Grace Bradley who inherits the job of running her church's Christmas pageant when the woman who usually does it breaks her leg. Grace is indifferent about running the pageant. While she doesn't want one more thing to do, she also understands that she is needed, and so she takes on the challenge. And a challenge it is sure to be! Not only does Grace inherit this disaster, but it gets worse when the Herdman kids - all six of them - decide they want to be in the Christmas pageant as well. (DVD Purchase only)

 

6. One Magic Christmas - This was a Disney movie my family watched when I was little.  I love Gideon the guardian angel in this one.  Amazon Prime Video information - Award-winning actress Mary Steenburgen gives a solid performance as Ginny Grainger, a young mother who rediscovers the joy and beauty of Christmas, thanks to the unshakable faith of her six-year-old daughter Abbie and Gideon, Ginny's guardian angel.

5. Mame - with Lucille Ball (1974 version) - This is my one exception to the remake rule, this is a remake of an older version, but the older version doesn't have singing, and this movie has one of my favorite Christmas songs - We Need a Little Christmas, my mom also loves this one as well, can you tell we have similar great taste?! Amazon Prime Movie information - Lucille Ball stars in this film of the blockbuster Broadway musical that tells the story of the flamboyant, unconventional and, above all, glamorous Mame.

4. The Christmas Card - Another Ed Asner Christmas movie, he is much less Scrooge-like in this one.  This is one of my niece's favorite Christmas movies, and I am a fan of it for sure, it is a newer Hallmark Christmas movie. Amazon Prime Movie information - Home on leave, a soldier visits a small town and falls for the woman who wrote a Christmas card to the troops. (DVD purchase only)

3. The Christmas Story/Christmas Vacation - Here are two classics that are on repeat on so many channels every holiday season, they make me laugh and smile, you must watch the original non-edited versions!

The Christmas Story - In this holiday classic, Ralphie, a young boy growing up in the '40's, dreams of owning a Red Rider BB gun. He sets out to convince the world this is the perfect gift.

Christmas Vacation - A family's Christmas plans go wrong. - Personal note this was a lackluster description just watch this movie and quote it all season long.

 

2. White Christmas - The classic Christmas movie.  I remember my mom and aunts acting out the sister's song/routine when I was little and all watching this movie together, even though they all lived states apart.  It has stuck and my sisters and I now all watch it every year and also embarrass my nieces and nephew with the sister's song whenever possible. Amazon Prime Movie information - Two talented song-and-dance men (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) team up after the war to become one of the hottest acts in show business.

1. It's A Wonderful Life - Another great Christmas classic with another special guardian angel, Clarence.  Thank goodness for those guardian angels.  Amazon Prime Video information - After George Bailey wishes he had never been born, an angel is sent to earth to make George's wish come true. George starts to realize how many lives he has changed and impacted, and how they would be different if he was never there.

Honorable Mention - As an 80's kid I enjoyed a bunch of made-for-TV Christmas movies, I recommend giving these a watch if you have a chance.

Babes in Toyland, The Christmas Toy, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and the Island of Misfits, Charlie Brown Christmas

Lazy Girl Loves

 Happy Holidays folks! I hope this season of happiness and joy with friends and family or whomever you hold dear in your life (those fur babies) is treating you well.  I know it can also be a hard season for many, you are in my thoughts and prayers, if you are depressed, feeling anxious, or just not feeling right please reach out and ask for help.  It took a breakdown for me last Christmas to get some mental help I needed and it has given me more tools to work through the last year.

I wanted to post on some items I have really been enjoying over the past year, some you can gift to those in your life or maybe think about saving for in the coming year.  Also some podcasts I am listening to right now, books I am reading, you know just items I am enjoying and thought you might too! Tis the season for sharing.❤

Here we go, in the things I love department, my yard cart, trust me this is a true lazy girl purchase.  I traded in my two-wheeled wheelbarrow and got this yard cart pictured below (loaded down with my Christmas decorations).  I just NEVER used my wheelbarrow the tires were always flat, it was cumbersome and even with two wheels, it was a pain.  This yard cart is GREAT for hauling items from the shed to the house, from my car into the backyard, or even just loading it up with debris from around the yard during fall clean-up.  It is really easy to maneuver and I couldn't be happier.  It is linked below if anyone wants to check it out, but personally, I have used this already more than I used my wheelbarrow in 10 years.  Don't worry though that wheelbarrow is living a great second life on a little goat and chicken farm outside of town.

Gorilla Cart - Walmart Affiliate Link

The next item I am loving especially for the holidays, and because I love candles plus supporting small businesses, are my candles and home goods from HENRO.  Kristin is a great follow on Instagram.  She does a lot of DIY home improvement projects and I just love watching her home business grow.  Their candles smell amazing and they have so many other products from other small businesses throughout the US, her goal is to support a small business in every state in her shop.  If you order use code LGL10 for 10% off at checkout and you can access them via my affiliate link below.  Thank you for the support folks, and yes I make a very small commission off any purchases, and appreciate you for supporting my blog and HENRO!

HENRO Company

A few other random items I have really enjoyed this year, a plant I purchased from Proven Winners - Pyromania™ 'Backdraft' - Red Hot Poker - Kniphofia hybrid.  I have wanted a red hot poker plant for a while, ever since I saw them in the Garden Answer's YouTube video.  Which if you don't follow Garden Answer on YouTube just go give Laura a follow now, she is great and I have learned SO MUCH about gardening, flowers, drip irrigation, all the things.  I received this plant in very late July (we are talking the 31st of July) and planted it right away, it wasn't even close to blooming, and this plant bloomed not once but twice before it froze.  The first time it bloomed there were multiple bloom stems, and I was just so impressed with the colors every day I would look out my kitchen window.  If you want a fun plant to add to your garden this coming year, I recommend Kniphofia.  

My last item is the new addition to my little family, I adopted another dog in early October, Stryker has fast become part of our clan, and is keeping Bohicket "Bo" busy every day.  They are roughly the same age and size and Stryker is just taking in all the love and cuddles he can get while learning how to be a puppy.

Stryker and Bohicket "Bo"

Now on to the books and podcasts that have kept me going while I drove for a little Thanksgiving vacation and took some time away from technology to just read and disconnect.

Two podcasts have really had my attention lately - The Sharon Says So Podcast which always makes me feel smarter after I listen to it and gives me those brain-tingle moments.  I have followed Sharon online for a little while and am a proud governerd, she is great at raising money for a good cause and explaining everything about Government in a way I understand.  Her podcast is a great listen for anyone wanting to learn about anything and everything.  The Murdaugh Murders podcast is my second podcast lately that has me hooked, it is like a made for tv movie that takes some twists even a tv writer couldn't come up with, and it is real life.  Mandy Matney does a great job investigating the Murdaugh family, I really just can't believe how corrupt and shocking this whole situation is and there is more to come.  Every episode something else is revealed and more charges continue to get filed.  Give it a listen you won't be disappointed. (Click on image below to subscribe)

Last but not least Sharon offers a book club online every 4 months (there is a new one starting in January sign up is the end of December, give her a follow on Instagram at @sharonsaysso) I signed up as I have been wanting to read more and one of the books selected was "The Woman They Could Not Silence" by Kate Moore.  It was an eye-opening, inspiring, astounding book about Elizabeth Packard who changed how women with mental health issues or who are committed to asylums were dealt with in the late 1800s.  We also got to meet the author of each book we read and listening to Kate speak about Elizabeth and the research she did for this book, well that is what someone who has mastered their craft looks and talks like, it was a gift to be able to listen to that zoom call.  If you get a chance to read this book I highly recommend it, if for nothing else than to appreciate how one voice changed so much in a time when many thought a woman's voice wasn't meant to be heard.

Paperback Link - Amazon Affiliate Link

I hope you all have a great holiday season and have enjoyed a few of the random items that I enjoyed throughout the year.  Happy Holidays folks! 🎄