Four Favorite Classic Christmas Movies Reviewed

So many Christmas movies, specials and songs! It can be difficult to sift through the Christmas content available to find the winners. Old school Christmas classics are the best and bring back or make the memories.

These are my four favorite classic Christmas movies that I look forward to viewing every year. The classics are available on DVD or can be streamed on Amazon Prime.

Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer

Rudolph and Clarice are not a pair without Burl Ives! The classic 1964 Rudolph with Animagic animation and the memorable holiday songs of "A Holly Jolly Christmas" "We're A Couple Of Misfits" and "Silver and Gold".  

Fun fact: Rudolph was honored with a postage stamp in 2014 to mark the 50th Anniversary.

The Little Drummer Boy

Another stop motion classic with a very thoughtful message which resonates today. While the animation is typical of its' era and cannot compare to the animation of today; the ending is unforgettable and thought provoking.

"Do You Hear What I Hear" along with "The Little Drummer Boy" songs remain Christmas classics.

Fun fact: Based on original song title Carol Of the Drum sang by the Trapp Family Singers (Sound Of Music)

Frosty The Snowman

Jimmy Durante provided the classic narration for the original Frosty in 1969. Frosty had four sequels through the years, but who can compete with Durante!

Fun Fact: Frosty the Snowman has made the music charts over six times since 1966 with a variety of artists including Jimmy Durante, Perry Como, Nat King Cole.

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

Who does not love the Grinch! and Dr. Seuss! The 1966 animated film is the best! Boris Karloff is the narrator not to be forgotten as the Grinch navigates Christmas.

Fun Fact: The Grinch Who Stole Christmas has been adapted over five times since the original.

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Review of Christmas Season 2020

 Christmas 2020 will soon be "Christmas past" and it certainly has been one for the books.  We will remember it as the year of the pandemic, the year without large family gatherings, the year of wearing masks, the year without Christmas parties, and the year of live stream church services.  And yet....it has not been a year without joy for me.  I may have had to look a bit to find it in other activities but as this Christmas season draws to a close I find  that I feel peace even in these crazy times.

Photographing our Decorations

I thoroughly enjoy my photography hobby and this year has given me a lot of time to take classes on photography and Photoshop.  I used some of my new found skills to photograph our holiday decorations.  Here are a few of my favorites. The first two are our tree and the outside of the house.  On both of them I used some new filters I learned how to use on a Photoshop online class.

The next two photos were made for a photography challenge on a group that gives us a weekly theme and we come up with creative ideas.  The theme for this week was "bubble wrap".

Watching Christmas Movies New and Old

I have enjoyed watching movies I have not watched for sometime and also I've found a few new Christmas movies to enjoy.  Last week fellow reviewer Sam Monaco wrote a review on Bing Crosby and White Christmas and it inspired me to rewatch that classic Christmas movie.  Here is a link to Sam's review. Bing Crosby

I also watched a movie that was new to me, although it came out in 2013.  It is called The Christmas Candle and has a delightful story of a minister who comes to a church in a small English village.  

The True Meaning of Christmas

The photo above depicts one of our Christmas decorations.  It is one of my favorites.  It is a cross that holds within it the scenes from the first Christmas.  As in every Christmas it is important to keep our hearts on the seasons true meaning.  

Luke 2:11

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

King James Version (KJV)

May you and your family experience Peace and Joy during this Christmas and throughout the coming year! 

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Finding Father Christmas Hallmark Movie Reviewed

Hallmark never fails to bring us movies that are touching and wonderful!  Finding Father Christmas was no exception.

I especially love watching the Hallmark movies during the holidays.  I suspect that is simply because Christmas time tends to get hectic and we all need breaks from the work. Since Hallmark is a trusted source of great entertainment, I enjoy taking my breaks with Hallmark and watching the Hallmark Christmas movies offered online.

Oh, and in case you are wondering, yes, of course there is romance in the air too, but it is not with Father Christmas!

Hallmark Movie:  Finding Father Christmas

The movie opens with Miranda (Erin Krakow) as a child watching and listening to her mother performing in a production of "Scrooge" onstage.  Having heard her mother play the part many times, Miranda also has all of the lines memorized.  When her mother suddenly stops speaking, Miranda races to her to find that she has died.  Needless to say, having her mother die at Christmas when she was only 9 years old, leaves her avoiding Christmas celebrations in the future.  

The movie quickly transitions to Miranda as an adult at Christmas time.  She receives a call from a gentleman at the theater where her mother died.  While renovating the theater, he had found an old suitcase that belonged to Miranda's mother and wishes to give it to Miranda.  When Miranda goes through her mother's belongings, she finds a few clues about her unknown father, including an angel bracelet and a picture of Father Christmas.  She imagines these clues will at least show her where she might find him.  She immediately plans a trip to Carlton Heath, Vermont in the hopes of finding her father, but first, she must find Father Christmas to determine why his picture was among her mother's hidden treasures. 

 

 Finding Father Christmas - Available on Prime Video Rental & Hallmark SubscriptionCheck Price

The Sequel is also available!



Currently, "Finding Father Christmas" is also available on Amazon with a subscription to the Hallmark Channel.  
 

More Movies REVIEWED ON REVIEW THIS!
Available with Subscription to the Hallmark Channel

 Broadcasting Christmas Hallmark Movie Review Midnight Masquerade Hallmark Movie Review Darrow & Darrow Hallmark Movie Series Reviewed Lucky 7 Hallmark Movie Reviewed Signed, Sealed, Delivered Hallmark Series Reviewed Love on the Air Hallmark Movie Review

 

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ReviewThisMovies.com

Finding Father Christmas Hallmark Movie Reviewed Written by:

 

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Hallmark Sweet Carolina Movie Review

 One of  my favorite Hallmark movies of 2021 is Sweet Carolina starring Lacey Chabert and Tyler Hynes. A sweet, sensitive and poignant story of a tragic loss in which Josie (Lacey Chabert) becomes guardian of her niece and nephew and their journey toward health and healing.

Tyler Hynes plays Cooper the old high school boyfriend who joins the family team on the journey. The storyline is handled delicately and with care as these actors lead the audience through their healing a family while the What*If romantic storyline lends itself to a few laughs along the way.

Accomplished actors Gregory Harrison and Teryl Rothery play the grandparents. Cassidy Nugent and Glen Gordon play the child leads who are seamless in their performances.

The Hallmark Formula

As Hallmark fans acknowledge there is a Hallmark formula which is exactly what they love about Hallmark movies. The movies have a specific niche and a devote following. In recent years some of the Hallmark movies have slightly veered off the light hearted romantic movie and enveloping more serious topics along with the romance and humor. Happy endings are a benchmark of the Hallmark movie and continue to the delight of the Hallmark fan.

View a sneak peek of the movie here ....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLndV-eghrQ

Sweet Carolina's executive producer is also Lacey Chabert which probably yields as to why Sweet Carolina takes on a more poignant storyline still keeping within Hallmark's formula.

I highly recommend Sweet Carolina for an enjoyable family friendly movie. Look for it on Hallmark channel on cable or through Hallmark Now streaming.

More Lacey Chabert and Tyler Hynes Movies

A Hallmark winter favorite movie also paired Lacy Chabert and Tyler Hynes was Winter in Vail. If you love winter scenery mixed with romance, kindness and chemistry this is a Hallmark movie for you.

More Hallmark Movie Reviews

Hallmark Christmas Movies 2020 Reviewed by The Savvy Age
Finding Father Christmas by Cynthia

Christmas Tree Lane by The Savvy Age
Broadcasting Christmas by Cynthia

Top Ten Hallmark Christmas Movies by The Savvy Age
Debbie Macomber's Mr. Miracle Hallmark Movie Review by Cynthia

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Merry Christmas from Review This Reviews

 Merry Christmas to everyone from all of us here at Review This Reviews.

For me, Christmas is a time to be spent with the people you love and a wonderful time to create memories.  Everyone celebrates Christmas differently and has different Christmas traditions, one such tradition is the Christmas Tree.

Some people put the tree up as soon as Halloween is over and others on December 1st, when I was a child it was Christmas Eve in our household.   My brother and I tried to talk my parents into putting it up earlier and one year we thought victory was ours as mum relented and said okay we'll put it up on the Saturday before Christmas.

As it got closer to Christmas we realized that Christmas was on a Sunday which meant the Saturday before Christmas was, in fact, Christmas Eve!  When my daughter was younger we would put our tree up on the 1st Saturday of the school holidays.   This leads us to how you decorate your Christmas tree, there are lots of ideas that can be found on this Christmas Facebook page.   We used to have special ornaments that we put up every year, but some people like to create a new theme every year.

My brother and his family have a tradition of giving their children a present every Christmas Eve which is a pair of pajamas for them to wear that night.   They used to open the presents while still in PJs so it meant all the photos always looked good!

Growing up we would use pillowcases in lieu of stockings and when talking to some other ex-pats from the UK a few years ago we found that we had very similar things placed in our stockings each year!  There would always be an orange, a toffee dime from the Quality Street tin(how strange that this was the one that my parents didn't like from Quality Street - a must-have for any English household over the holiday season at that time!).   There would also be a book and/or a little game to entertain us and a nice outfit to wear.   

After waking our parents up at whatever time in the morning it was that we discovered Santa had been we had to go back to bed and weren't allowed up until 9am, hence the book/game.   Then we had to get dressed (hence the new clothes) and eat breakfast (which was usually porridge that took soooo long to cook!) before we were allowed into the front room to see the Christmas tree and all the gifts.   I can feel the excitement just recalling the moment when we could see the tree on Christmas morning. 

I have spent far more Christmases in the antipodes than I did in the UK so Christmas for me these days is in summer (I do still miss Christmas being in winter though I must admit).   Our family Christmases certainly look different to my childhood Christmases for one thing we usually watch Christmas movies (my daughter used to love Elf, whereas my husband and I are more Die Hard fans) in the lead up to the big day - when I was growing up we didn't watch much television.

Board games were a big part of our Christmases and I know they are for lots of other families as well.   I also come from a family of readers so there were occasions where after Christmas lunch was over we would all be stuck with our noses in books!  If you're after a book to read then be sure to check out our recommendations, and best of all most of these can be downloaded to your Kindle straight away (just in case no one gives you a book this year!)

Some people enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles, others build Legos whereas others take walks as a family or for people Downunder it often means being in the pool or playing backyard cricket.   The first Christmas we spent in New Zealand we went down to the beach and tried out fly fishing rods that mum and dad had got, then found a log and tried our version of tossing the caber, I seem to recall a jandal throw as well.   Our very own Christmas games on the beach!

Whatever you're doing and whoever you're spending Christmas with this year make sure you are making some fantastic memories.   Keep safe, have fun and goodwill to you all.

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How to Make A Christmas Cookie Gift Set...Without Baking

When you think of Cookies at Christmas, what comes to mind? Probably a few good recipes and some great memories. What about a great Christmas cookie cookbook? A beautiful children's picture book? A Christmas apron or a cookie jar or a plate or even a coffee mug? That's what you'll find on this page. No recipe, just my tribute to the yummy Christmas cookie and a host of ideas for you to use to create a cookie themed gift set with no baking required though obviously fresh cookies would be a fabulous addition to any cookie gift set.

A COOKIE COOKBOOK

ROSE'S CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Let's start with this beautiful cookie cookbook by Rose Levy Beranbaum who is famous for her many beautiful baking books. Almost too beautiful to use, this one would make a very impressive Christmas gift for anyone who loves to bake. Find your copy of Rose's Christmas Cookies on Amazon by clicking here.

OUR CHRISTMAS COOKIES

One year I did the unthinkable. I didn't make our traditional Christmas cookies. My sister-in-law visited and she baked and that meant we had plenty of sweet treats in the freezer. I simply did not need to bake and so I didn't. I thought nothing of it and no one said anything, until a few months later when one of my sons referred to the Christmas when they didn't have any of their favorite Christmas cookies. I felt so bad and I will not be repeating that faux pas ever again though this Christmas, Christmas 2020, the year when we cannot have people drop by to say hello, I will definitely be cutting back since there are only two of us to eat cookies.

With the exception of that well-remembered year when I did not make any cookies, we normally have three kinds of cookies on hand at Christmas: the best-ever ginger crinkles, the best ever M&M cookies with Christmas colored M&Ms and the best-ever brownie bites. They're all easy, they're all yummy and they all freeze beautifully. Best of all, they offer a nice variety and when I put a plate of cookies out and I am fairly comfortable that I can please not only my family but anyone who drops in during the holidays.

The Best-Ever Brownies Recipes
Love chocolate? How about brownies? If you are looking for the best brownie recipe, you will find it here. Actually, you will find three of the best brownie recipes here. The first is for miniature Brownie Bites. They are perfectly simple,...

The Best-Ever Ginger Crinkles Molasses Cookie Recipe
We love these ginger crinkle cookies. There's nothing like their slightly crispy exterior and chewy interior with a cold glass of milk!

The Best-Ever M&M Cookies Recipe
This best-ever M&M cookie recipe makes irresistible cookies. Don't bake them unless you are prepared to eat them until they are all gone. 

A CHILDREN'S COOKIE BOOK

Here are three great cookie-themed picture books for children. The first is not actually a Christmas story as The Gingerbread Boy makes his break for freedom in a season that definitely is not winter at least in my part of the world. Paul Galdone's version shown here is one of the classic versions and was my family's favorite. Featuring a barnyard full of critters and one foxy fox, the gingerbread man is unfortunately and as always undone in the end. You can find my complete book review of The Gingerbread Boy here or read more about the book on Amazon by clicking right here.

The second book, Christmas Cookies: Bite Size Holiday Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, introduces your young child to new vocabulary words like 'tradition' and 'celebrate' in the context of good manners in certain social situations. It is a beautiful combination of wisdom and artistry. You can read my review of Christmas Cookies: Bite Size Holiday Lessons here or you can read more about it on Amazon by clicking here.

The third and final book, If You Take A Mouse To The Movies, is a special Christmas edition featuring that cookie-loving mouse that was created by Laura Numeroff in If You Give A Mouse A Cookie. The Christmas version has all sorts of extras including a CD and recipes. You can buy it on Amazon here or if you find it unavailable there, you can try eBay by clicking here. At the time of writing this post, I was unable to find it on Amazon.

A COOKIE APRON

An apron is such a practical and affordable gift idea. If you or someone you know spends a lot of time in the kitchen at Christmastime, you (or they) should definitely own a Christmas apron and there are so many great ones available. I love this Christmas Cookie Baking Team apron from Etsy and the fact that it can be personalized for all of the members of your baking team.  You can find it on Etsy by clicking right here.

A CHRISTMAS COOKIE JAR

Nothing could be more fun than a cookie jar especially when it is full of cookies. I found this beautiful but simple glass cookie jar on Amazon. I love the idea that it will hold your Christmas treats and, when they are gone, go in your dishwasher for easy clean-up. You can find it on Amazon by clicking here. Gift it empty or even full of your favorite Christmas cookies.

A COOKIE PLATE

This Waechtersbach Santa's cookies plate is perfect for leaving cookies out for Santa or simply serving cookies throughout the month of December. It would make a fine tradition for any family.  We love using the same plate every year. To find this plate and a few other Christmas-cookie themed ones, look to eBay  by clicking right here.

A COOKIE MUG

Yes, there's such a thing as a cookie mug and I don't mean a mug with the image of a cookie on it but rather a mug that has a pocket for holding your cookie. This is a fun one featuring Disney's Mickey Mouse and promising to deliver holiday cheer. Find it on Amazon by clicking here or if it is unavailable now, you can also find it here on eBay.

A COOKIE BAKING SET

Finally, I will close with this fun child-sized baking set, which you can find on Amazon by clicking here. Whether you offer it on its own or team it up with some of the other great gift ideas on this page, the choice is yours. Maybe you could create a set for the family with this set for the children.

So how about it? Is there something sweet in this batch for you? Are you a smart cookie who likes to assemble gift sets cookie themed or otherwise?  

Life is

what you bake of it!

Brenda, Treasures By Brenda

More Christmas Reading:

How to make a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Gift Set.

How to make a Frosty the Snowman Gift Set.

Peanut's Snoopy Christmas Coffee Mug.

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James Patterson's The Christmas Mystery Book Review and Book List

Christmas 2020 was not going to be the best Christmas ever and so I went looking for a Christmas-themed book that wasn't romantic in nature or particularly Hallmark in style though don't get me wrong, I enjoy Hallmark Christmas movies. A little bit of romance would have been okay but that should not be central to the story.

I wound up searching for some of my favorite writers, looking to see if they had written any Christmas stories but striving to avoid jumping into the middle of an established series. I found a few when I searched for James Patterson. Five to be exact and here is the list:

THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING

First, there was The Christmas Wedding by Patterson and Richard DiLallo. It was suitably Christmas-y but seemed at first glance to be way too romantic to meet my needs at the moment. I would, however, like to read it some day.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, ALEX CROSS

Second up was Merry Christmas, Alex Cross, which sounds good. However, it is number 19 in a series of 28 books featuring Detective Alex Cross. I have read some of that series and am reminded to go back and read more but picking up number 19 because it was Christmas in theme would have been, at least in my mind, wrong.

THE 19TH CHRISTMAS

Third was the 19th Christmas by Patterson and Maxine Paetro. It is book 19 of a 21 book series featuring the Women's Murder Club. I'd love to read the series sometime so starting with book 19, even if it is a Christmas story, would have been as I said a moment ago, wrong.

THE CANDIES SAVE CHRISTMAS

Fourth and really an outlier was The Candies Save Christmas. It was definitely not what I was looking for though the idea of the book actually made me smile. It sounds like an sweet book though one aimed at a slightly different age group than I represent. "No sugar, no fat. C’mon, take a look! The best Candies ever . . . Candies in a book!" In a children's board book that premise seems somewhat adult but in any case it was not what I was looking for.

THE CHRISTMAS MYSTERY

Finally, I stumbled on The Christmas Mystery: A Detective Luc Moncrief Mystery by Patterson and Richard DiLallo. It turned out to be a part of a series, too, but this time it is the middle of a three story series of short novels or 'bookshots' as Patterson calls them.

Since I was having a bit of a time finding a Christmas-themed book that appealed to me, I decided that a bookshot, which is intended to be devoured in a few hours and supposed to be un-put-downable, was what I was going to read. So I did.

Within the pages of The Christmas Mystery, I was introduced to Detective Luc Moncrief. Moncrief is from France but is solving crime in New York City, which is a bonus for me. I visited New York City last year and loved it. Revisiting the city through a book, a puzzle or a movie is a fun outing of sorts in this time of staying home and staying safe. 

In the first section of this book, Detective Moncrief and his partner hunt for art thieves who have stolen priceless pieces of art on Park Avenue. The second section takes them to France providing yet another chance for the reader to partake in some armchair travel. The cases in this 160-page book are simpler than you would find in a full-fledged crime novel and were solved fairly easily. 

WOULD I RECOMMEND IT?

The Christmas Mystery was far, far from James Patterson's best work and the reviews on Amazon are lukewarm. It was a simple, easy read with a hint of Christmas, lots of shopping and some humor.  It was not as exciting or as well developed as a full novel but I think that should be expected of a shorter book. The book suited my needs at the moment and I would recommend it for someone looking for exactly that - a simple story that they could breeze through fairly quickly. 

Find your copy of all three of the Detective Luc Moncrief bookshots on Amazon by clicking right here. You will find all three from the series available individually or as a set and yes, they are available in your favorite format be that paperback, Kindle or audiobook.

Alternatively, you can see all of the James Patterson Christmas-themed books by clicking here to Amazon.

What Christmas books are you cozying up with this year?

See you at 

the book store!

Brenda

Treasures By Brenda

P.S. The next book I picked up was Miracle on 5th Avenue by Sarah Morgan. It was totally a love story though I did not see that coming. I was hooked by the promise of yet another book set in New York City and missed that the pages were going to be filled with romance. It was good with a lot of humor and lots of tension, including sexual suspense and eventually actual sex between the two main characters. Learn more about Miracle on 5th Avenue on Amazon by clicking here.

More James Patterson Reading:

See all of the James Patterson bookshots on Amazon.

James Patterson and Bill Clinton's The President is Missing Book Review.

James Patterson's The Golf Trilogy Reviewed.

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Favorite Fall Lawn Gadgets Reviewed

Oh no! What happened to summer? I say that every September though most of September is technically still summer.

September is actually I think the best month for the northern United States. The air is crisper, the humidity has decreased and the leaves are just beginning their journey through the colors. Fall also means lawn work, garden clean up, Fall planting and preparing the lawn and garden for a snowy winter.

My Favorite Fall Lawn Gadgets 

The Bagster - On Demand Debris Removal

If Fall clean up involves heavy materials whether it be concrete, wood or trees then The Bagster is a great alternative to dispose of heavy loads. Simply purchase The Bagster bag either online or at a big box store, fill the bag and schedule the pick up!

Find the full review here and see if your area qualifies for The Bagster.

Greenworks Leaf Blower

This is one of my favorite lawn tools of all purchases. The lightweight Greenworks Leaf Blower is so versatile.

I use it all year to blow leaves and debris off the driveway or deck, blow leaves to dispose of in the Fall and even use it for a Car Hack to blow dust out of the car.

Read the full review here of this easy to maneuver Leaf Blower.

City Pickers Raised Garden Bed

I really enjoyed this garden bed on wheels during the summer and will transition this raised bed garden for Fall planting. Maybe a pumpkin?!? I plan on rolling the bed into the Florida room for the winter and begin herb planting come spring.

Read the full review here of this rolling garden bed perfect for the yard, deck or patio.

Blue Shoes Disposable Shoes

Fall means rain, mud and leaves in my area of the country. Do you have trees with those itty bitty leaves which stick to everything and every shoe?

These affordable disposable shoes I have found invaluable for yard work in any weather. Pop the shoes on and dispose of in a jif if needed. If the conditions are dry the shoes can be used as a cover and then reused.

Read the full review here of these little shoe savers.

Top Ten Hallmark Christmas Movies

I know, these are not a lawn gadget. But Fall means Hallmark Christmas Movies are in the near future. As I recall the Christmas movies began at Halloween last year.

Find the full review here.

A few new favorites from last Christmas to add to the list:

• Christmas At Pemberley Manor
• Christmas At The Palace
• Christmas On Honeysuckle Lane

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Browse Review This for Gift Ideas

The contributing writers for Review This have compiled some wonderful reviews of gift ideas. It's time to feature them for all of us to enjoy again. We never seem to have enough ideas for those on our gift lists, so sit back and browse to your heart's content. Get the ideas that will make your gifts stand out. 

The Review This Holiday Gift Guide

Of course all of us on Review This couldn't help but put together a marvelous collection of places online where you can select ideal gifts. Whether it's Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, showers or just because you want to gift something to yourself, the Holiday Gift Guide is the perfect place to start. 

From home decor gifts to toys and just about everything in between, a great choice awaits you. Each of the sites featured is chosen by our writers so you know we picked those good ones. 

Books and Movies for Fun Gifts

Books and movies are favorites for many of the writers on Review This. So we share our best picks for those. Really, can we ever have too many books to read or too many movies to enjoy?

Take a hilarious tour around Christmas Movies: Comedies for some great ideas. Then enjoy a book review just for the holidays. Noel the Christmas Ornament Book is wonderful for the whole family to enjoy for the holidays. Of course, you don't want to forget a great gift for all readers.

Uniquely Designed Gifts

Something different or unique is always welcome. But that doesn't

Mugs Make Great Gifts

mean expensive. Our writers share some great ideas for those uniquely designed, yet affordable gifts. How about mugs? Mugs really do make great gifts and what a selection to browse around. 

Personally, I'm excited about giving calendars as affordable gifts and we have writers that are like me. On Review This, we include those special calendars. Not only beautiful photographic calendars, but easy ideas to make personalized ones as gifts. 

Relax and Browse Review This

It doesn't matter what occasion you need a gift for, the writers on Review This have found some great ideas. So relax and browse around. The very best idea may just be sitting right here for you.




Posted by: BuckHawk

About This Contributor

BuckHawk decribes herself as "Basically a lazy person who prefers the easy things in life." So that's what she writes about. Easy home decorating, easy recipes, easy entertaining. But, she is also a lover of animals, gardening and crafting. You'll find her writing all over the Web, but with Review This Reviews! she has the opportunity to write about all of her loves.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Christmas Animated Classics Reviewed

Christmas is almost here! 

A huge part of the excitement of Christmas has always been the days leading up to Christmas when we sit and watch our favorite Christmas Animated Classics together as a family. 

In our household, we each have a different "favorite", but truth be told, we love them all. Watching the annual Christmas shows is part of our Christmas family tradition. We haven't always been able to be together when they aired on tv, but with a little help from vhs and dvd, we have that covered now. 


 
 

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer 

 Rudolph The Red Nosed ReindeerCheck PriceAs we decorated the Christmas tree this year, I found myself singing "we're on the island of Misfit Toys, here we don't want to stay". Why that particular song came to mind while hanging ornaments on the tree is absolutely beyond me. I can only assume one of the ornaments triggered some unconscious thought about toys. The song itself is a bit melancholy for the joyous occasion of tree decorating, especially since both of my children were helping me decorate. 

From the book to the movie, the animated classic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer has been a personal favorite. Normally, I prefer a book, but in the case of Rudolph, I actually prefer the movie. As a child, I adored Burl Ives. I would know that voice anywhere! I suspect that has a lot to do with why that particular show was my favorite of the Christmas animated classics. Besides, who wouldn't love a snowman who comes to life and scoots across the snow just to tell us a wonderful Christmas story about a red nosed reindeer?!! 

The music from "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" is truly fabulous and easy enough for a child to learn, especially if they watch the movie several times each year, year after year. Rudolph may be the main character, but he is definitely not the only memorable animal in the show. Clarice wins everyone's heart when she serenades Rudolph with "There's Always Tomorrow", plus her back-up singers are adorable! 

How The Grinch Stole Christmas 

 Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Deluxe Edition)Check PriceLet me start by saying, Dr. Seuss is fabulous!   His books have always been a huge hit with children and parents alike.  When you couple his genius with animated television, you are bound to have a major hit.

Here we are, almost 50 years later, and Dr. Seuss's Grinch on tv is still entertaining us each year.  The fun part of animation is the suspension of reality.  When the Grinch is able to gather up all of the Christmas decorations, gifts, and food from Whoville, then cram it all into bags loaded on a sleigh, we truly see animation at it's best.  

The really cool thing about this show is that in less than 30 minutes, we go from detesting the "foul one" to loving him and perhaps even feeling sorry for him.  

A Charlie Brown Christmas

 Charlie Brown Christmas 50th Anniversary, A: Deluxe EditionCheck PriceChristmas would not be complete with Charles M. Schulz and his Peanuts gang.  Watching "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is always a fun family activity, but it is also a reminder to remember what Christmas really is all about and to reject, or at least resist, the commercialism that is always so rampant this time of year.  To read the complete review of "A Charlie Brown Christmas", join me by clicking here.

Snoopy is most often the Peanuts favorite, but I do think Linus stole the show. 

Now please tell us, what is your favorite Christmas animated classic!  

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Twas the Text Before Christmas (2023) - Great American Family Movie

A romantic Christmas movie review & recommendation, just in time for Christmas!

Have you ever dialed a wrong phone number and unexpectedly ended up talking to a nice person you don't personally know?  

These days, phone calls are often replaced by emails or text messaging. Sending a text to the wrong person is not unheard of.  Usually we send text messages to someone on our saved contact list, but it would certainly be possible to send a text message to the wrong person if you are trying to remember a phone number off the top of your head.  Especially if you have a new phone without your contacts added.

Thus is the premise of the movie, "Twas the Text Before Christmas". 

When a grandmother inadvertently sends a text message meant for her granddaughter to a stranger, she ends up making friends with the kindhearted woman who replies to the text.  This is just the beginning of what ends up being a chance for fun, family, and romance.

 

Twas the Text Before Christmas Movie Synopsis 

Twas the Text Before Christmas

Addie (Merritt Patterson) has a good job, a loving father and brother, and an ex-boyfriend.  Christmas this year is expected to be a rather lonely time for her because her father will be spending Christmas in Australia with her brother.  Even though she is invited to join friends in Florida, that trip would be too expensive since she is trying to save for her own vacation in Australia.

When Addie receives a text message from an unknown person, she decides to respond to let them know that they have the wrong number.  After exchanging a few messages with a sweet grandmother who meant to be texting her granddaughter, she receives a phone call from "Nana" who opts to call her instead of continuing the texting.  After talking a few times, Nana invites Addie to join her family for Christmas.  Since it would only be a 4 hour drive to Vermont, she decides to accept and makes a reservation for 1 night at the local Inn.

When she arrives for Christmas dinner, she is introduced to Nana's family which includes the granddaughter Nana originally intended to text, as well as her son, James.

After 3 years, Addie, Nana, and the whole family are close friends and Christmas together has become a new tradition.  It is not really surprising when Addie & James discover a they have deeper feelings for each other.

 

Where to Watch "Twas the Text Before Christmas"

I watched "Twas the Text Before Christmas" on Frndly TV, however the Great American Channel now has their own streaming service available at PureFlix.com which thrills me!  When I told my husband about the new streaming service, he happily gifted me with an annual subscription to PureFlix for Christmas.  I am guaranteed a year's worth of wonderful movies and I am pretty excited to start watching them.

You can also subscribe to PureFlix through Amazon or directly at Pureflix.com.

More Great American Family Movie Reviews

A Dash of Christmas (2023)

From Chicago With Love (2023) 

Accidentally Engaged (2016)

Check Out More Movie Reviews at
ReviewThisMovies.com

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