Favorite Christmas Movies

 Today I am going to be sharing 10 of my favorite Christmas movies! My friend Brooklyne is going to be sharing her favorites on her blog as well so be sure to check that out! 

Today I’m going to mention some new favorites. Obviously A Dog Named Christmas, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, The Christmas Card, and many others are still some of my all time favorites, but I talk about them all the time. ;) So these are some movies that more recently became favorites.

A Christmas Secret

I absolutely loved this one! It was amazing! It was super sweet and heartwarming. This is definitely one I will be rewatching! 

A Dickens of a Holiday

I thought this one looked great and I also really like both main characters so I really wanted to watch it. It was good! I enjoyed it so much! It had a cool storyline about a town putting on a play of A Christmas Carol. I actually watched it the day before I went and saw my town's own production of A Christmas Carol. ;)

Five Star Christmas 

Five Star Christmas is so funny in an embarrassing sort of way! I really enjoy this one and it makes me laugh. All of the interactions between all of the characters are hilarious! 

This the Season to be Merry

Oh my goodness! Tis the Season to be Merry is so good! It was really funny and honestly it was easy for me to relate to lots of things. I highly recommend this one. I really hope that this one eventually comes to DVD so I can add it to my movie collection!

A Christmas Promise 

This Hallmark was different than most, but in a good way. It definitely had it's sad and unexpected moments, but it was really good and sweet as well. 

A Timeless Christmas

I wasn't really expecting to enjoy A Timeless Christmas that much, but I ended up really liking it! It was great and very enjoyable.

Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas 

I first watched this Hallmark a few years ago and it quickly became a favorite! It's super good and sweet and I love the interactions between the main characters. 

I also enjoy the other movies in this series as well. The movies don't connect to each other, other than the same song plays a role in each of the movies.

The Santa Stakeout 

Oh my goodness! I loved this movie. It had me laughing so much. I can see this one not being everyone's cup of tea, but I loved it and I would definitely watch it again!! 

Open by Christmas 

I honestly didn't have super high expectations for this, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised! I enjoyed it a lot!

Christmas in Love 

I watched this one a few years ago and enjoyed it and I just rewatched it this Christmas season and still enjoyed it. It has a nice mix of funny and sweet moments. 

What are some of your favorite Christmas movies? Did you watch any this year that became a new favorite?

Christmastime!

Christmas in in 4 days.... I really can't believe that Christmas is almost here. 

A lot has been going on in my life lately, but through everything I have been enjoying the Christmas season. 

I hope you enjoy seeing a Christmas picture update! :D

We put the Christmas tree up the day after we celebrated Thanksgiving!

I got my room decorated for Christmas! 

I'm currently listening to the audiobook of A Christmas in the Alps.

I'm also making my way through this book and have been really enjoying it! 

📚 🎄

A beautiful sunset!

I've been watching lots of Christmas movies!

Last night I watched a Lifetime movie called Toying with the Holidays. It wasn't a top favorite, but it was better than some of the ones I've seen.

My family and I went to look at Christmas lights last week.

The light tunnel is my favorite!

While looking at lights I got my picture taken with a camel which was super cool!

Lots of delicious hot chocolate!  

Christmas trees and sunsets!

I've got all my Christmas gifts wrapped. 

I tried a peppermint frozen hot chocolate! 

Lots of Christmas reading

Even my phone is decorated for Christmas! 

Christmas cookies + hot chocolate + a Hallmark = a fun night! ;)

I hope everyone has been having a great Christmas season! 

Lights Out // Book Review

About the Book:

CIA analyst Brynn Taylor developed a new program to combat terrorism, and she invited members of foreign intelligence agencies to America to foster cooperation between countries. Now one of them, Egyptian spy Remon Riad, is missing.

Jack Hudson has been working for the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency (SNAP) for almost nine years and takes the lead in hunting down the missing spy. But he isn't at all pleased to find out Brynn is involved. It's hard to trust a woman who's already betrayed you.

Every lead they follow draws them dangerously deeper into an international plot. Kidnapping, murder, explosions, poisoning--the terrorists will do anything to accomplish their goal of causing a digital blackout that will blind a strategic US military communications center and throw the world into chaos.

Can Brynn surrender control to a man who doesn't trust her? And can Jack ever get over what she did to him? The fate of the world--and their hearts--hangs in the balance.

My Review:

Lights Out is book 1 in a new series by Natalie Walters and the first book I had read by this author. I wasn't sure what to think of this book going into it. While I do like suspense this book just sounded so much different, but I ended up enjoying it. It definitely wasn't a favorite though but I probably will continue the series.

The one thing that kind of bugged me was when Brynn and Jack met the president of the United States. The president was a fictional person. I didn't expect one of the past presidents to be written into the story I guess I just assumed the president in the story would just be referred to as "him" or "the president". Instead the president was a woman. It just felt weird to me and not very believable seeing as how there's never been a women president.

It wasn't a big thing I just thought it was an odd thing to put in the story.

**Thank you to Revell for the book in exchange for my honest review

A Season on the Wind // Book Review

About the Book:

Ben Zook had only two loves in his life: books and birds. In a stroke of good fortune, he'd stumbled onto a way to cobble together those two loves into a career, writing books about rare birds. He was as free as a bird--until a chase for a rare White-winged Tern takes him to the one place on earth he planned to never return: his Amish home in Stoney Ridge.

Desperate for photographs of the elusive tern, Ben hires a local field guide, Micah Weaver, and boards at Micah's farm, planning to "bag the bird" and leave Stoney Ridge before anyone recognizes him. But he neglected to plan for Micah's sister, Penny.

One long-ago summer, Penny had introduced Ben to birding, even sharing with him a hidden eagle aerie. That was when she knew true love. She'd always hoped he would come back to Stoney Ridge. Back to his Amish roots. Back to her. The only problem? Ben has absolutely no memory of Penny.

My Review:

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a book by Susan Woods Fisher but I’ve enjoyed the books I read by her so I was excited to read her newest release. A Season on the Wind was a good book but not a favorite. I had never read a book with characters who loved birds so much, so that was an interesting aspect to the story. There were lots of different facts about birds so if you find that fascinating you should give this one a try!

I thought Penny was a good main character and so was Ben. 

Natalie and Micah’s point of views were interesting to read about but they weren’t my favorite characters.

I think it’s fun that this book, like so many others by Suzanne Woods Fisher, is set in the town of Stoney Ridge so it’s fun to be able to see characters from her previous books.

Overall I thought this book was an enjoyable read. 

**Thank you Revell for the book in exchange for my honest review 

Mind the Gap // Book Review

 

About the Book:

 The best thing to do when all your dreams get crushed? Pack your bags and head to London.

Kate Macon has spent her life preparing to be a teacher and six weeks into her dream come true, everything crashes and burns thanks to budget cuts and a hiring freeze. With nothing but bowls of cookie dough and Pride and Prejudice marathons to look forward to, it’s not a hard decision when her grandmother calls and invites her on a trip to London.

However, instead of being an escape from reality, London just proves to be a catalyst for bringing out the worst in Kate. All her fears, insecurities and frustration seem to be right in front of everything. And her feisty grandmother, not to mention their quick-witted tour guide, aren’t helping to lift the mood.

What could the Lord possibly be doing by causing so much havoc in Kate’s life? When everything seems to be falling apart, could it be Jesus putting things back together – but in a way Kate never could have imagined?

Grab your passport and a hot cup of coffee. This is a London adventure you won’t want to miss.

My Review:

I absolutely love Erynn Mangum’s books so when I heard she was releasing a new book I was thrilled!

Mind the Gap was a great book and did not disappoint at all.

The main character, Kate, and her grandmother went on a trip to London. I thought that was a fun setting for a book. The places described sounded so fun and now London is on my long list of places to go one day. ;)

I don’t know how Erynn Mangum does it but her characters are so relatable and a lot of times they remind me of myself. Kate was no exception. She was a fun character although she did worry quite a bit and had a hard time just relaxing and just having fun and she also had a hard time trusting God with life. I could really relate to that and it was really encouraging to see Kate grow throughout the book.

Kate’s Gran was a super sweet lady. I absolutely loved her.

Then there was Oliver. He was such a nice guy. I really liked him. He was also super encouraging. Not only was he such a totally sweet and genuine guy he was really good looking too. (How do I know a book character is good looking you may ask? Well, Oliver was described as looking like John Thornton from the movie North and South!)

Mind the Gap was such a great book and I can’t wait to own a paperback copy!!

I can’t quite express how much I love this book. It was so amazing and encouraging. The ending definitely made me tear up because of how sweet and amazing it was. This is most definitely a book I will be re-reading.

A Midnight Dance // Book Review

 

About the Book:

All theater romances are tragedies. Ella Blythe knows this. Still, she cannot help but hope her own story may turn out different than most--and certainly different than the tragic story of the Ghost of Craven Street Theater. Yet as she struggles to maintain her tenuous place in the ever-shrinking ballet company, win the attentions of principal dancer Philippe, and avoid company flirt Jack, Ella cannot deny the uncanny feeling that her life is mirroring that of the dead ballerina.

Is she dancing ever closer to the edge of her own tragic end? Or will the secrets that are about to come to light offer release from the past?

Mystery and romance make the perfect dance partners in this evocative story from fan-favorite Joanna Davidson Politano.

My Review:

Back in the spring of last year I read my first book by Joanna Davidson Politano and she became a new favorite author. 

Joanna Davidson Politano has a lovely way with words. Her stories are so well crafted, her characters complex and amazing, and I love the air of mystery that is woven through her stories. 

When I first heard of A Midnight Dance I was so excited to read it. It did not disappoint!

I thought it was cool that the main character, Ella Blythe, did ballet. I find lots of different styles of dance fascinating so it was cool to read about a dancer.

Jack Dorian was an interesting character. I went from not liking him at all to liking him a lot. 

The people and mysteries surrounding Craven Street Theatre were intriguing. 

So much stuff that I was so not expecting happened, especially towards the end!

I absolutely loved the ending. It was so amazing!

I really enjoyed reading about the ballet and the performances. It was really neat. 

There’s so much more I want to say but can’t because I don’t want to spoil anything.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to read this authors next release!

**Thank you Revell for the book in exchange for my honest review 

My Summer Adventures

I've always wanted what I call "my year of adventure" and it just so happens that this year became that for me. I was able to go on quite a few trips this summer which was a ton of fun!

~In the beginning of July I went and visited my friend, Brooklyne. I just did a post on our adventures in a book store that you can read here. ;)

Brooklyne and I   :)

Celebrating the 4th of July!

~Towards the end of July I went on a road trip with my mom and grandpa to Utah and Colorado. We went to two national parks and we also got to visit with some family. :)

Arches National Park

My mom and I at Arches 

We went to Great Sand Dunes National Park with my cousin and her family. 

the sand dunes

I found out that I love the mountains!

I went above the timber line which was super fun!

Colorado state flower 

~At the beginning of August a friend and I took a trip to Virginia where we got to visit Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown!

~Then at the end of August I got to go visit a friend in Washington and we went to the beach!

This summer has definitely been one to remember!

1 Year Ago.... Grand Canyon Trip

This week marks one year since Brooklyne and I first met in person at the Grand Canyon! To celebrate this fun time we both thought it would be fun to share some memories from the trip. We got asked a couple questions that we will be answering. Definitely be sure to check out Brooklyne's blog as well to see her answers to these questions!

(If you want to see my Grand Canyon post from last year and watch a Q&A that Brooklyne and I filmed you can see that here!)

 1. How did y’all meet?

We met through blogging. We got to talking in one of the comment sections of my blog and then Brooklyne asked if I wanted to email and I said sure and the rest is history!!

2. Did you see any elk?

Yes, there was lots of elk! They were so close to our lodge.

3. Were you scared to get to the edge?

There were lots of times when Brooklyne and I climbed down on rocks and all and I thought it was so fun! I wasn’t really scared to get near the edge. I mean it is a little scary if you think about it too much because the Grand Canyon is so huge. 

4. Was the weather nice in September/October?

The weather was amazing!! I think it was the perfect time to go.

5. What was your favorite thing about the Grand Canyon?

Probably the beauty of it. It’s so pretty and massive.

6. Did you feed any squirrels? 

No! So you’re not supposed to feed the squirrels there, but a lot of people do so the squirrels expect it and we were warned that they can sometimes run up your leg and bite you because they want you to feed them! So we were a bit scared of those “killer squirrels”.

7. Did you hike on the Bright Angel trail.

Yes! As a matter of fact we actually hiked the Bright Angel Trail one year ago today! 

8. What was the most unexpected thing about the Grand Canyon?

I’d have to say seeing all the wildlife up close! That was pretty neat. While on the Bright Angel trail we saw some mountain sheep and they were really close to us!

9. Did you eat any good food?

Yes! On my birthday we actually went and had breakfast at the El Tovar hotel and that was a good meal! Plus my meal came with toast and they brought me some adorable jars of jam!

10. Tell me about the hotel room.

So technically we stayed at a lodge. My mom’s and my room was right next to Brooklyne and her mom. It was a pretty nice room with two beds, a bathroom, a mini fridge, and tv.

(I usually always get a picture of the room but I forgot to!)

11. Fave trail you hiked. 

I only hiked one which was the Bright Angel trail. Although we did do lots of walks and a bike ride too.

12. Fave animal you saw.

The elk and mountain sheep!

There was a deer just chilling behind us!

Now for a few more photos!

😍😍😍

One morning we got up to catch the sunrise

It was fun printing some polaroid pictures

Brooklyne and I! 

Taking a scenic drive in a convertible!

My mom and I

Brooklyne and I are little specks in this picture! ;)

This trip was definitely such a fun adventure!!