Twelfth Day of Holiday Movies

On the Twelfth day of Christmas, the holiday movie recommendation I present to you…

Is… The Santa Clause (1994), starring Tim Allen. I admit that I really like origin stories.  Some people think that they are slow-moving and boring but I disagree.  So this new take on the Santa origin suits me just fine.  Who doesn’t like the idea of the person least prepared for the job being the one to fill Santa’s shoes.  It leaves plenty of options for comedy and humor.  I really like the North Pole sets and images.  It looks like a great place to visit.  In my mind, this is the best movie of the franchise.  The second one isn’t too bad but the third one lacks the Christmas magic.

I think that this is a great movie to watch on these last few days of the season.  I hope that you have enjoyed this movie list and that it’s given you something new to enjoy this Christmas season. 

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

Eleventh Day of Holiday Movies

On the Eleventh day of Christmas, the holiday movie recommendation I present to you…

Is… Santa Claus: The Movie (1985).  This movie is part origin story and part modern day examination of the commercialism of Christmas.  The first half of the movie is the origin and history of Santa and his elves.  Dudley Moore plays one of Santa’s elves, Patch.  Patch decided that he wasn’t appreciated enough by Santa so he left the North Pole to prove himself to Santa. Patch teams up with the evil toy manufacturer, B.Z. (John Lithgow) to make a special gift for the children of the world.  When things don’t go as planned, Santa and two young New Yorkers who still believe help to save Patch.

This film is very much a product of the 1980’s.  This was a time when product placement was a big thing and it is abundantly obvious that McDonald/s and Coca-Cola were sponsors of the film.  I find these elements funny in hindsight but others are very bothered by it.  I remember seeing this movie at the theater.  It was a theatrical flop and panned by basically every critic, but I enjoyed it.  The flyover NY by Santa was breathtaking on the big screen and it still takes my breath away with each viewing. 

The partnership with McDonald’s and Coca-Cola means that there were a number tie in products released.  A few years ago I came across one of the picture books that were included with Happy Meals from that time.  It included some great pictures from the film in the children’s storybook.  In 1985, they also released a novelization of the movie.  I decided that my Dad would really enjoy it so I bought him the paperback book that Christmas.  I don’t know that he ever read it but it did sit on the bookshelf behind their bed for years.  As an adult, I was able to snatch it and had a chance to read it myself.

The movie is dated and I am sure that my affinity for it is derived from nostalgia but everyone has their guilty pleasures and this is mine.  I say keep an open mind and give it a try.

Tenth Day of Holiday Movies

On the tenth day of Christmas, the holiday movie recommendation I present to you…

Is… Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983).  I subscribe to the belief that on any list of holiday movies there must be a version of Dicken’s A Christmas Carol.  This is the classic story of the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge from miserly curmudgeon to a giving and thoughtful man who embraces the spirit of Christmas.  So for my recommendation, I went with the family friendly version filled with the Disney characters we all know and love.  As someone who lovingly remembers the Disney Afternoon lineup, who doesn’t love Scrooge McDuck in the title role of Ebenezer Scrooge.  This adaptation is short at just under 30 minutes so it keeps everyone’s interest.  There are a number of lesser known characters and I find it a fun game to spot them and name the movie they are from, however, I recommend this on a subsequent viewing since it does take you out of the story. 

I have this DVD and in the release they included some new Disney Mickey shorts so the runtime is closer to an hour. While the shorts are good they are not Christmas focused so they don’t really scratch my Christmas itch at this time of year.  Instead, I’d recommend a “Scroogy” marathon.  Id’ follow this up with other adaptations of the classic film to compare and contrast.  The first that I’d recommend is The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) which is also family friendly but is a full length adaptation. I mean who doesn’t love the Muppets.  The final film that I’d recommend in this Scrooge trifecta is Scrooged (1988) with Bill Murray as a modern-day TV executive who embodies the spirit of Scrooge. This movie is PG-13 so it isn’t for the younger set but I recommend it for everyone else.  The ghosts and experiences are indeed enough to scare anyone straight. 

If you have a favorite adaptation of A Christmas Carol, please share it.

Ninth Day of Holiday Movies

On the ninth day of Christmas, the holiday movie recommendation I present to you…

Is… A Boyfriend for Christmas (2004), which was a Hallmark TV movie starring Kelli Williams and Patrick Muldoon.   Holly (Kelli Williams) is a realist, a women who stopped believing in Santa and the magic of Christmas many years ago after not her wish to Santa was unfulfilled.  In her professional life she works with child protective services and is hoping to reunite two children and their mother just in time for Christmas.  At least, she was until the mother’s pro bono lawyer, Ryan (Patrick Muldoon), does not show up for the hearing.  Later on this Christmas Eve at the homeless shelter in town, Holly speaks with Santa and admits that she stopped believing in him after he didn’t fulfill her long ago wish for the perfect boyfriend.  Meanwhile, Ryan has been working to make up for his absence at the hearing and is volunteering at the shelter and overhears Holly’s conversation with Santa.  Ryan agrees to help Santa and delivers himself as Holly’s Christmas boyfriend.  As you can imagine, some funny exchanges occur as white lies compound until Ryan’s house of cards comes crashing down.  Does Holly get the perfect boyfriend for Christmas this year or has Santa let her down again?  You’ll have to watch and see.

I enjoy the heck out of this movie and have even been known to watch it at other times of the year.  I like the character transformation that Ryan undergoes.  I mean if you ignore the fact that the film takes place in just over a week, but it is entertainment and not reality.  One aspect that I dislike is the apparent wealth of all involved – huge houses, Prada, silver and crystal, the cars that they drive, high 6-figure salaries, black tie New Year’s parties.  It is not a world that I am acquainted with but if you can look past all that, I enjoy the story since at the heart it is not about money or status.

Did you notice Holly's matching striped scarf and hat shown on the DVD cover and also included later in the movie? I am pretty certain that it came from the Gap.  I remember when Gap had what looks like that set and it was impossible to get your hands on it.  I had a friend who miraculously had it but I think she got it before it really got popular.  Yes, I’m a knitter and could easily make it with just some leftovers, I just never have… Maybe that’s an idea for the New Year or next winter.

I could see watching this film after catching Christmas in Connecticut.  They both play off of the premise of lies about identity that snowball out of control.  Did you have a different movie marathon recommendation?

Eighth Day of Holiday Movies

On the eighth day of Christmas, the holiday movie recommendation I present to you…

Is… Christmas in Connecticut (1945), which stars Barbara Stanwyck.  This is the story of a single woman writer who writes a “day in the life” column for a popular magazine.  The only problem is her column is about a married woman with a young baby who would make Martha Stewart look like a slacker.  While her editor and close friends know the truth, her publisher is blissfully unaware.  As circumstances would have it, this Christmas her publisher has invited himself and a young war hero to spend Christmas with her and her family on their picturesque farm in Connecticut.  Ms. Elizabeth Lane quickly needs to get herself a husband, a baby, a farmhouse in Connecticut and someone who can cook in order to keep her job. 

This is another black and white film with amazing costumes including Edith Head gowns on Ms. Stanwyck and a stunning set.  As a matter of fact, I’d like to move to that farmhouse.  The fireplace in the living room is taller than the actors.  You could really get a blaze going in there.  And I've never been on a real horse-drawn sleigh ride but it looks romantic in that nostalgic way.  Do you recognize a few actors from Casablanca?  It's fun to see them in more comedic roles.

There is something about stories with mistaken or hidden identities that I find so enjoyable.  It always opens up things for humor as nothing ever goes off without a hitch.  This film will surely not disappoint on that point. 

This film got a remake as a TV movie directed by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1992.  It was modernized with the female lead having a cooking show and being a cook book author.  While it tries, it just doesn’t have the same charm as the original for me.  If you want to do a double-feature, I say give it a try and see what you think.

Seventh Day of Holiday Movies

On the seventh day of Christmas, the holiday movie recommendation I present to you…

Is… ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (1976), which is an animated TV special produced by Rankin/Bass.  This is the production company that brought to life many of the animated TV specials from the 1960’s and 1970’s that are still beloved today.  This one just happens to be my favorite.

In this story, mice and humans have similar worlds and lead similar lives but don’t often intersect.  That is until Santa has decided not to include their town, Junctionville, on his annual Christmas ride.  In order to ensure Santa makes his Christmas deliveries to the good girls and boys, the humans and the mice have to work together to convince him that they still believe.  The famous poem often referred to by same name by Clements Moore, serves as the beginning and end of this animated special.  But before we get ahead of ourselves, it’s best to start at the beginning.

I am a child of the 80’s and I admit that Rankin/Bass Productions were a staple for all holiday TV specials.  The animation style is not of the quality we are accustomed to today but the story is worth it.  Like many Rankin/Bass productions, the film includes several musical numbers.  This is where I admit to not only watching this every year but to also owning it on record.  For those of you unacquainted youngsters, this was a thing that they did so you could listen to the TV special over and over again since VCRs weren’t widely available yet.  It worked on me at least.  I used to be able to recite the whole special from memory.  In college in the mid-90’s, my roommates and I had a record player so I brought this one down not realizing that my friends loved Rankin/Bass as much as I.  There were times that we would wind up singing bits of the songs from this special to each other.  And so I say to you, “Even a Miracle Needs a Hand.”

Since this recommendation is a short-one, I recommend pairing it with some of Rankin/Bass’ other famous Christmas TV specials (both animated and stop motion).  Here are just a few that I’d recommend: 

• ·         Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) with Burl Ives as the snowman narrator and his Silver & Gold song and a memorable cast of supporting characters
• ·         Frosty the Snowman (1969) with narration by Jimmy Durante the story follows the song
• ·         Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (1970) with Fred Astaire as the mailman narrator and who can forget the Burgermeister Meisterburger
• ·         The Year Without A Santa Claus (1974) with the fan favorite Miser Brothers - Heat Miser and Snow Miser and their catchy tune
• ·         Jack Frost (1979) with narration by Buddy Hackett and the fabulous song “Just What I Always Wanted” which my husband and I quote from all the time as an in-joke between us 

Sixth Day of Holiday Movies

On the sixth day of Christmas, the holiday movie recommendation I present to you…

Is… Miracle on 34^th Street (1947) starring Maureen O’Hara and John Payne.  Maureen O’Hara is the working single mother, Ms. Doris Walker, and John Payne is her neighbor, Mr. Fred Gailey.  Doris Walker stopped believing in the magic of Christmas many years ago and has passed her realist views onto her young daughter Susan, played by a young Natalie Wood.  On this Thanksgiving, Ms. Walker has an encounter with a Santa lookalike, Kris Kringle played by Edmund Gwenn, who saves her job and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  After working at Macy’s as Santa, Kris finds himself on the verge of being institutionalized for believing he really is Santa.  Fred Gailey jumps to his defense and has to prove that Kris really is Santa. 

This is one of the first Christmas movies that I can recall seeing as a child and it’s easy to understand why.  I admit to being a bit of a purist and still prefer it in the original black and white.  As an adult, it still pulls at my heartstrings and leaves me with a renewed sense of faith, hope and the belief in Christmas magic.  Even just thinking about it makes me want to write a letter to Santa and mail it!

If it’s been awhile since you experienced the joy of this Christmas classic, I urge you to seek it out.  It is worth it.

As with many good stories, this one has been remade and reimagined many times over the years.  The most famous remake was Miracle on 34^th Street (1994).  This was a theater release with the central four characters being portrayed by Richard Attenborough (Kris), Elizabeth Perkins (Dorey Walker), Dylan McDermott (Bryan Bedford, the Fred Gailey role) and Mara Wilson (Susan Walker).  The famous John Hughes was involved with the screenplay and producing this film.  When it originally released I had an issue with separating Richard Attenborough’s Kris from his then recent mega-hit Jurassic Park.  I can remember seeing it and enjoying it but it’s been awhile for me so I think that this 34^th Street double-feature will be in my near future.  How about you?

We have reached the halfway point of our movie recommendation list.  More picks to be shared beginning next week.  Have any of my recommendations so far thrown you for a loop?

Fifth Day of Holiday Movies

On the fifth day of Christmas, the holiday movie recommendation I present to you…

Is… George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker (1993).  This film is a bit different than all of the others on the list.  This is a film presentation of the classic Christmas ballet.  The ballet begins with an amazing Christmas Eve party with family and friends.  Among the guests is Herr Drosselmeier, an unusual man with a very special gift of a Nutcracker doll for the young heroine of our ballet, Marie (or Clara depending on the version).  After all the guests have left and the house is dark and quiet, odd things begin to happen.  Marie finds herself in the middle of a battle between The Nutcracker and The Mouse King.  I won’t tell you how the battle ends but after the conclusion, Marie is transported on an adventure through the Land of Snow to the Land of Sweets where the Sugar Plum Fairy and her court entertain her.  As often is the case, adventures do come to an end and Marie returns home but is filled with the memories of her enchanted trip.

The ballet proceeds as typically seen on stage but an unseen narrator provides background and helps to move the story along.  It is precisely for this reason that I think it is a perfect way to introduce the ballet to new or younger viewers.  The ballet is part of my being.  It is the ballet that made me want to take dance class and I can remember being a young ballet student and auditioning for different roles.  I appeared in it only one year as one of the soldiers.   It was magically then and remains magical now.  I have seen more productions than should be legal.  Since I live close to NYC, I have been lucky enough to see George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker live on stage at Lincoln Center several times.  The film version comes close to capturing that magic for me.  The ability to watch closely as the dancers move and their facial expressions is beautiful and something you don’t get in a large theater.

And yes, that is THAT Macauley Culkin appearing as Dosselmeier’s nephew, the Nutcracker and the prince.

For a number of years, Ovation TV showed a number of different choreographers takes on the Nutcracker storyline, with different settings and stories but all with that unforgettable score.  They called it the “Battle of the Nutcrackers” and viewers could vote on their favorite to be reshown at Christmas.  Personally, I found many of the versions to be a bit too much of a departure from the original for my taste but it was amazing to see how it continues to inspire others to reimagine the story.  I am sorry that the tradition is no longer continued.  However, I did check and they have two versions playing at 7am on December 13th and 14th so set your DVR if you need more of a Nutcracker fix.

The perfect double-feature for me would be to follow this version with an earlier version from 1986.  The “Nutcracker” (1986) is a production by the Pacific Northwest Ballet with production design and costumes designed by Maurice Sendak (yep, that Maurice Sendak).  As you can imagine, the Sendak version is a bit darker but beautiful and still kid-friendly. 

Fourth Day of Holiday Movies

On the fourth day of Christmas, the holiday movie recommendation I present to you…

Is… Prep & Landing (2009) which is the newest addition to my movie list.  This Disney animated TV special is destined for classic status.  This short is about Wayne, a long-service elf with the Prep & Landing department in Santa’s North Pole operations and his new rookie partner, Lanny.  The Prep & Landing crew is responsible for ensuring that children are sleeping and homes are ready for Santa’s visit.   This year’s assignment is turning out to be a serious handful but Santa is counting on these two elves to bring Christmas to this house.

Santa goes tech in this story and I love the gadgets that the elves use to perform their tasks.  Also who doesn’t love Magee as the Command Center Coordinator and her addiction to eggnog, cocoa and coffee.  If you’ve thought that this TV special is just for kids you are sorely mistaken.  As with all Disney films, there are elements that are directed right at the adults in the audience and make the viewing a treat for all ages. 

The special was so well received that Disney released sequels in 2010 and 2011.  In 2010, they released an animated short entitled Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa.  In 2011, they released another full length TV special entitled Prep & Landing: Operation: Naughty vs. Nice.  I am pleased to say that the sequels are very enjoyable and can stand on their own. 

Disney released the collection of specials and shorts on DVD and Blu-ray in 2012.  As far as movie marathons go, this is probably the shortest one I will ever recommend.  I recommend watching all of the series and it’s perfect to enjoy with the young or the young-at-heart.  I recommend watching with a mug of eggnog or hot chocolate and maybe a candy cane.   If you own the DVD, you should also watch the special features since they are quite funny.

My husband and I realized after watching this that one of our advent activities should have been to come up with our own Christmas call signs.  So in celebration of this film, we are sharing the call signs that we have come up with this year – he selected his to be “Snowball” and I selected mine to be “Cinnamon Stick”.  This was a great activity to go along with the movie.

Third Day of Holiday Movies

On the third day of Christmas, the holiday movie recommendation I present to you…

Is… the musical White Christmas (1954) starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.  Since I alluded to it last week, I figured that I would include it here.  The movie begins on Christmas Eve 1944 with Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) in the Army stationed in Europe during WWII.  Through use of a montage of scenes you are brought up to current day where they are successful producers.  At the request of an old pal from the Army (yep that’s a picture of Carl Switzer who was Alfalfa from Our Gang) they check out a sister act (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) at a nearby club. Sparks fly between the pairs during the introduction and after avoiding being arrested they find themselves on a train headed north – destination, Pine Tree, Vermont.  After receiving proof that it really is a small world, Bob and Phil decide to bring their show to the Vermont inn.  The idiom that with friends like that, who needs enemies applies here and misunderstandings and comedy ensue as a result.

 

There are some great song and dance numbers throughout the film and the costumes are spectacularly stunning.  This is another film that I’ve been watching for as long as I can remember.  I have many favorite song/numbers from this film.   I can remember being in college and singing “Snow” along with my roommates.  I still think that the “Count Your Blessings” song is pretty good advice and always makes me pause and reflect.  There are some great comedic numbers that I don’t want to spoil if you haven’t seen them.  The performers seem to enjoy them as much as we the audience do.

I would recommend doing a double feature of Holiday Inn and White Christmas.  Double the Bing and his iconic song!

Second Day of Holiday Movies

On the second day of Christmas, the holiday movie recommendation I present to you…

Is… Holiday Inn (1942) starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.  This is a musical about a retired nightclub singer, Jim (Bing Crosby), who decides farming isn’t for him and he decides to open a supper club on his farm.  The catch is it’ll only be open for holidays.  Jim hires the up and coming Linda Mason to star in his shows and love develops between them until Jim’s former nightclub partner, Ted (Fred Astaire), arrives back in the picture. Comedic misdirection and hilarity ensue.  When they say it’s always about a dame, they were referring to the plot of this classic. 

I grew up watching this film and loved the singing, dancing and comedy.  Fred Astaire’s dancing is always amazing to watch but the New Year’s Eve dancing number takes the cake for me.  In the last 15-20 years, most networks have stopped showing the film due to the use of black face, lyrics of the Abraham Lincoln number and the treatment of the African-American characters.  I want to make it clear that I agree with the criticism of the film for these issues.  When the film has been shown on networks like TCM, I have very much appreciated the introductions that address this controversy instead of ignoring it.  Knowledge is power and enlightenment.   I hope that you the viewer can look past the controversy and enjoy the film.  I think that you can still catch this on TCM each holiday season or find it online.

 

Irving Berlin’s song “White Christmas” makes an appearance in this film a full 12 years before being used as the title song in another movie. 

Life lessons from this film – always be weary of short-cuts, when in doubt you can always try saying your name with emphasis and confidence and stealing your best friend’s girl doesn’t usually work out.

First Day of Holiday Movies

On the first day of Christmas, the holiday movie recommendation I present to you…

Is… The Shop Around the Corner (1940) which is the oldest movie on my list.  It is a classic film that stars Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan.  The main characters are colleagues at a shop in Budapest who dislike each other all the while also being secret unnamed pen pals that have fallen in love.  The plot may seem formulaic but that is because it created the formula.   They say “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”, well here is your proof.  You may be familiar with the adaptations (remakes) of this film - including In The Good Old Summertime (1949) which is a musical take on the story starring Judy Garland, the Broadway musical She Loves Me (1963) or probably the most recognizable would be the hit You’ve Got Mail (1998) starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. 

The idea that you share your true self with strangers in a way that you can’t be in real life is timeless.  The thought that you could fall in love with someone you’ve never even met has been around long before the internet seemed to popularize the idea.  While the movie may be considered “old”, the plot and characters are allowed to develop so that at the conclusion you feel like you know everyone working at Matuschek and Company. The movie is simple but there are a number of little gems where you can’t help but smile and chuckle a bit. I whole-heartedly recommend this amazing film.  You even get a special treat with Frank Morgan, best known for his role as Oz in The Wizard of Oz, as the shop owner.

I am a fan of creating movie marathons with a though line.  On a snowy day, a great holiday tribute based on the plot of this movie would be to follow this up with two adaptations – You’ve Got Mail (1998) and Christmas in Boston (2005).  I assume you are familiar with You’ve Got Mail already.  Christmas in Boston is a riff on the theme and was an ABC Family TV movie that focuses on pen pals who may have told a little white lie along the way and are now meeting for the first time in Boston at Christmas, mistaken identities and hijinks ensue. You can see the similarities.

If you watch this gem for the first time or are a repeat offender, like me, I’d love to hear your thoughts.  Have any recommendations for another holiday movie marathon that includes The Shop Around The Corner?  I’d love to hear it.

Another Seasonal Count Down

Hope that you enjoyed your Thanksgiving feast!  Now that the count down to Christmas can really begin, I wanted to ask - What kind of movie watcher are you?

I love movies and watch them constantly.  I am more likely to watch a movie then a TV show most of the time.  That being said, I hardly go to the theater but rather watch them in the comfort of my house with a bowl of popcorn.  I joined Netflix in July 2002 and haven’t looked back.  However, I think that the best description of me is that when I connect with a movie, I am the kind of movie watcher who watches and re-watches the movie over and over and over again.  I will even admit that I will put a movie on and turn off the TV because I don’t need to actually watch the movie to enjoy it.  Think of it like a favorite music playlist that you put on in the background at work or the song that always makes you smile.  I have a pretty large movie collection but it is limited to movies that either my husband or I connect with.  Did I mention that thankfully my husband has a similar viewing style or at least has embraced it for me? Another reason he’s a keeper in my book. 

I should also confess at this time, I really enjoy holiday movies.  I typically partake in the light-hearted cheesy fare that seems to reign supreme on channels like Hallmark but my taste spans many generations of films. 

So in honor of my love of the season and my interest in re-watchable films, I am going share a holiday movie recommendation list of my own – The Twelve Movies of the Season.  The list will be in no particular order as I feel that all are worthy of a viewing.  Not all movies will speak to everyone but I hope that I can introduce something new to you or remind you of a forgotten favorite.  In an effort to get into the habit of posting on my blog, I plan to share 3 movies each week for the next 4 weeks leading up to Christmas.  The first movie will be shared on Monday, November 28^th and new ones will be provided on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday thereafter until December 23^rd. 

I also want to describe my favorite way to create a movie marathon.  It’s a matter of creating a connection between the movies, sometimes the connection runs through all of the movies and sometimes it’s more like a game of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.  I usually keep it to around three movies and the connection doesn’t have to be limited to actors/actresses to connect any of the films.  Connections can be actors, directors, writers, style, genre, plot, location or any other connection I can come up with.  Since this may come up in future posts I figured I would share it now.

Are you ready?  I hope that you join me for this holiday movie adventure.

Bring on the Holidays!

Over the last year I’ve realized that I want to make a go at this blogging thing.  However, that realization doesn’t miraculously make it happen.  Sometimes the first step is the hardest step to take.  I have been brainstorming and writing down ideas for months.  I have always been a planner but I think that this exercise has been more about procrastinating out of fear. 

The holiday season is my favorite time of the year so there are so many things that I want to share.  As we approach the holiday season, I plan to embrace the spirit of giving. 

As a crafter, the season leading up to the holidays is often filled with making – crafts, food and memories.  A few years ago, I made an advent calendar garland of mittens to hang on my stairs.  The mittens are large enough for a small candy cane or some chocolates.  I have always wanted to include a paper slip with a holiday inspired task or activity for each day counting down to Christmas.  I have held back, not for lack of ideas, but because I want to be surprised each day.  So I had a brilliant solution the other day.  My husband and I came up with the 25 ideas together, wrote them on slips of paper, mixed them up and included a random slip in each mitten.  Since we know the full list in advance, we can make sure to have everything necessary on hand.

Bring on December 1^st because here’s the full list for our advent calendar:

      1.   Wear something red

      2.   Enjoy a hot beverage

      3.   Enjoy a glass of eggnog with or without the “holiday cheer”

      4.   Get your peppermint fix with a candy cane

      5.   Take a tip from Santa and enjoy a plate of cookies and a glass of milk

      6.    Listen to a holiday playlist over dinner

      7.    Sing “The 12 Days of Christmas” and if needed sing through the last verse of 

            “The 12 Pains of  Christmas” if the mood suits

      8.   Have a holiday dance party in the living room – “Rockin’ Around the Christmas

             Tree” is a must

      9.   Get caught under the mistletoe

    10.   Watch the yule log (it’s available on Amazon Prime video)

    11.   Watch a Christmas movie – whatever suits

    12.   Watch Prep & Landing

    13.   Play Letters to Santa (a card game based on Love Letter)

    14.   Wear white and red

    15.   Wear green

    16.   Share something we are each thankful for

    17.   Take a picture of something Christmasy – bonus points if we are in the picture

    18.   Share our Christmas wish this year

    19.   Read aloud the poem “T’was the Night Before Christmas”

    20.   Make a Christmas ornament

    21.   Enjoy a candlelight evening by the Christmas tree – PJs a must

    22.   Have dinner on our Holiday dishes

    23.   Make a Christmas inspired drink – without or without the “cheer”

    24.   Go for an evening walk to see the area lights

    25.   Make Christmas cookies

Runner-up that didn’t make our final list: Do you want to build a snowman?  If the snow has come down then opt for the real deal or if lacking in the precipitation, opt for watching Frozen