Christmas Movies!!

4 days until Christmas!!!! Can you believe it? I'm having a bit of a hard time believing it, but I am excited!!!
I really enjoy a good Christmas movie!! I'm going to be sharing a couple favorites with you all.

Rosemary and Lee have returned from their honeymoon to reside in their new row house next to Elizabeth, who's busy helping her students mount a nativity play. A traveling peddler, Sam, is mistaken for Santa by the kids...and then mistaken for a thief by Jack! But Elizabeth is stunned when word arrives that the supply train has derailed. Without costumes for the play, food for the feast and presents for the kids, Christmas will be ruined!It takes a lot of faith, spirit, and the cooperation of friends and family to show Hope Valley what Christmas is all about!

When Calls the Heart is my very favorite show! I love this Christmas movie that came out last year (and I'm super excited for the new one!). This one is part of season 4.

Based on a novel by Debbie Macomber, this yuletide movie tells the story of Ashley Harrison and Dash Sutherland. She is a crafter based in San Francisco who is desperate to spend the holidays with her family in Seattle and Dash is also in a rush to get there. When Ashley inexplicably encounters a problem with her reservation at the airport ticket counter, she turns to Plan B and attempts to rent a car. But there’s just one vehicle left and Dash beats her to it. Reluctantly, Ashley takes him up on his offer to join him on the road trip. As the pair heads north, their adventures include car trouble, adopting a puppy and being secretly tailed by federal agents, who believe Ashley is up to no good. With a hint of romance gradually filling the air will these two fall in love or will their journey bring about an unexpected road bump to romance?

I watched Dashing Through the Snow for the first time last year and I loved it! It's a new favorite of mine now. It is a funny movie, but it also has its sweet moments. 

A self-defined Grinch, Stephanie begins her stay at Snow Valley Lodge immune to Christmas sentiment. But as the lodge's festive traditions provide the Christmas Stephanie never had growing up with her distant father, Stephanie finds herself enjoying every minute. To complicate her professional duties even further, the combative feelings she felt toward Brady turn into romantic ones. With Stephanie's newfound Christmas spirit and unexpected holiday romance, she begins to question Falcon's overhaul. As her Christmas Eve deadline approaches, she's faced with a decision: should she transform the lodge into a new winter hot spot or embrace tradition and let it snow?

This movie is great. It takes place at a Christmas lodge and it's a great snowy movie. 

Shop owner Alice Chapman is nervous to meet her future in-laws at Christmas, especially because she is arriving ahead of her new fiancé, Will Mitchum. Alice's trip becomes more stressful when her luggage is lost and her phone is damaged, leaving her no way to find Will's family! As fate would have it, she meets her future brother-in-law, Matt Mitchum, at baggage claim and is happy to get a ride home with him. As Alice meets Matt's doting family, mom Penny, dad Joe and Grandpa Charles, she falls in love with their festive holiday traditions and warm welcome to their home. And when unexpected romance comes calling as Christmas approaches, Alice must decide if her “Merry Mix-Up” will actually turn out to be her destiny. 

This is such a funny movie!! I really can't say much about it without giving it away, but it's definitely a fun romantic comedy. 

Two New York City-bound travelers find themselves inextricably linked when a snowstorm reroutes them to an airport hotel in Buffalo. Ever the eternal optimist and hopeless romantic, Paige desperately needs to find a way back home to meet her fiancee’s parents before her forthcoming wedding. And it’s somehow up to fellow passenger Dylan MacKenzie, who is permanently soured on romance following a recent heartbreak. Yet Dylan somehow rises to the occasion to become Paige’s chivalrous helpmate. The pair are joined on this misadventure by an older couple named Frank and Maxine trying to get to Connecticut. As their madcap journey ensues, our foursome will find plenty of surprises in store. 

I really enjoyed A Christmas Detour. For some reason, I always like movies when the two main characters don't really like/get along at first.

Ad executive Melanie is teamed up with uptight coworker Donovan to come up with the ultimate Christmas commercial for a new cell phone. To complicate matters, Donovan is also Melanie's Secret Santa recipient in the annual office gift exchange. Keeping her identity secret, Melanie sends him emails from "Santa" to determine the perfect gift for him. When Donovan mistakenly assumes another co-worker is his Secret Santa, Melanie must work to show Donovan that she’s the only Santa for him. 

With Love, Christmas is one of my favorite Christmas movies that I've watched this year. It was super sweet and just a really enjoyable movie.



As you can probably tell from this post, I really like Hallmark Christmas movies. ;)
What is one of your favorite Christmas movies? Have you seen any of these?

Book Recommendations ~ Christmas Books

I just love a good Christmas book!! Today I am going to be sharing with you some Christmas books I enjoy.

Robert Reed gave his life for his country in the early days of World War II. His sacrifice was honored when his widow and son were presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor. At Christmas, the final decoration Marge Reed hangs on the family’s tree is that medal. Rather than being a symbol of honor for young Jimmy Reed that shining star represents loss, pain, and suffering. 

Yet a message delivered by one of Robert’s fellow soldiers and a mystery letter found in a Bible put a father’s sacrifice and faith into perspective and bring new meaning to not just the star hanging on the Christmas tree but the events of the very first Christmas. Then, when least expected, a Christmas miracle turns a final bit of holiday sadness into a joy that Jimmy has never known.

This is a great book that I just recently read with a friend! I also just reviewed it here.

Bess Riehl is preparing Rose Hill Farm for her Christmas wedding, but her groom isn't who she thought it would be. Billy Lapp is far away from his Amish roots working as a rose rustler for Penn State and wants nothing to do with Stoney Ridge, his family, or Bess. And that suits Bess just fine. Why should she think twice about a man who left without a word, without any explanation? It's time she moved on with her life, and that meant saying yes to Amos Lapp, Billy's cousin and best friend. But as Bess and Amos's wedding day draws near, her emotions tangle into a tight knot. She loves Amos. Yet she can't forget Billy. 

When a "lost" rose is discovered at Rose Hill Farm, Billy is sent to track down its origins. Get in, identify the rose, and get out. That's his plan. The only catch is that he's having a hard time narrowing down the identity of the lost rose, and he can't get those tropical blue eyes of Bess Riehl out of his mind. 

As the history of the lost rose is pieced together, it reminds Bess and Billy--and Amos, too--that Christmas truly is the season of miracles.

I really like the cover of this book! :) Christmas at Rose Hill Farm is a nice Christmas book. It wasn't my most favorite book, but it really wasn't bad either. It follows Bess Riehl and Billy Lapp from the book, The Search book 3 in the series Lancaster County Secrets. You can read this book without having read The Search, but if you have read The Search it gives a nice setting to this story.

Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana. 

In Cara Putman’s White Christmas, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements—until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help. 

Abigail’s brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theater in Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete’s friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he’s no longer the bully she once knew?

In Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, “Merry” to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart. 

The Turner family believes in God’s providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ’s birth and His plan for a future?

This is a fun Christmas book that has three stories in it.

Christmas had lost its charm and wonder. Mrs. Rush hated the feeling but was powerless to fix things. Traveling to visit relatives for the holidays, the Rush children pass the time with their eyes glued to the screens of their devices. That is, until the flashing lights of a State Highway Patrol car bring their trip to a sudden and unplanned-for stop.

The Christmas She Wanted is a fun, short story. It was also a good reminder that we shouldn't spend so much time on electronics, but to spend time with family and to enjoy being around those we love.

I enjoyed this fun Christmas story, although I wish it had been just a little longer.

Rachel Milligan never imagined that she and her seven-year-old niece would spend Christmas on a quaint Amish farm in Ohio. But with so many unexpected occurrences of late, perhaps she shouldn't have been surprised.

With her young niece Holly in tow, Rachel anxiously makes her way from Chicago to Ohio's Amish Country. As love begins to blossom, family secrets emerge, and old wounds are healed, Rachel realizes that she will do whatever it takes to ensure that Holly has the loving family she needs.

While this isn't my top favorite Christmas book it, wasn't my least favorite either. ;) I didn't think it had the best ending, but it was okay. 

If you want to see some other Christmas books that I like you can see my post from last year on some Christmas recommendations here.

What are some of your favorite Christmas books?

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Christmas is in six days!!! I am so excited!!
For me, Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year! Today I will be talking about some of my favorite things that always get me in the Christmas spirit!

~Christmas music. I really like listening to Christmas music and playing it on my violin.
Some of my favorite songs are: It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, We Need a Little Christmas, What Child is This? and many more!

~Snow!! It snowed a couple days ago, but it wasn’t much and it’s already gone. I really hope it snows more soon though!!

Our first snow this season

~Christmas cups. I love festive cups. I usually just drink water out of them, but they’re still fun. ;)

~Christmas treats. I really enjoy having and baking Christmas treats like fudge, cookies, and little marshmallow snowmen!

~Christmas lights. I really, really like lights. This year I decorated my bedroom and I am really happy with how it looks.

~Christmas books. Reading a good Christmas book is lots of fun!

~Christmas movies. I love watching a good Christmas movie! Especially Hallmark ones because, this girl loves Hallmark Christmas movies! :)

What's one thing that's sure to get you in the Christmas spirit? :)

Where Treetops Glisten // Book Review

From the Back Cover:
Turn back the clock to a different time, listen to Bing Crosby sing of sleigh bells in the snow, as the realities of America’s involvement in the Second World War change the lives of the Turner family in Lafayette, Indiana. 

In Cara Putman’s White Christmas, Abigail Turner is holding down the Home Front as a college student and a part-time employee at a one-of-a-kind candy shop. Loss of a beau to the war has Abigail skittish about romantic entanglements—until a hard-working young man with a serious problem needs her help. 

Abigail’s brother Pete is a fighter pilot hero returned from the European Theater in Sarah Sundin’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas, trying to recapture the hope and peace his time at war has eroded. But when he encounters a precocious little girl in need of Pete’s friendship, can he convince her widowed mother that he’s no longer the bully she once knew?

In Tricia Goyer’s Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meredith Turner, “Merry” to those who know her best, is using her skills as a combat nurse on the frontline in the Netherlands. Halfway around the world from home, Merry never expects to face her deepest betrayal head on, but that’s precisely what God has in mind to redeem her broken heart. 

The Turner family believes in God’s providence during such a tumultuous time. Can they absorb the miracle of Christ’s birth and His plan for a future?



I read Where Treetops Glisten for the first time last Christmas season. It is a fun, heartwarming book. There is actually three stories in this book. They are all connected though, and I really enjoyed that.  All of the stories take place during World War II.
I also really like how snowy and Christmasy the cover is. :)

I give this book 8 R's out of 10

12 Days of Christmas Tag

8 days until Christmas!!!! :)
Today I am here with a super fun Christmas Tag that was created by Faith. Also, definitely be sure to check out Faith's blog to see her fun post each day as well as the list of other bloggers.

Rules:
– Link back to the 12 Days of Christmas blog party or use the party graphic
– Answer the 10 questions
– Have fun!


Questions:

1 // Christmas is the season of hope, joy, and light. What’s your favorite thing to make this season bright? 
Decorating the house, listening to Christmas music and playing it on my violin, making cookies, giving gifts, snow. There's a lot of stuff that makes my Christmas season bright!

2 // Reading of the Christmas story, lighting the tree – Which tradition is most special to you? 
The Christmas traditions that my family and I do on Christmas morning are really special to me. We read the Christmas story, open stockings, have homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and open presents. Another really special tradition is our family Christmas party.

3 // Festive old hymns or glorious new tunes – What are you listening to on repeat? 
I just love Christmas songs! Two songs that I've been listening to a lot are I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day and We Need a Little Christmas.

4 // Fiction and nonfiction, classics and contemporary – Which Christmas books do you love so much that you just have to re-read every year? 
I really, really like A Lancaster County Christmas by Suzanne Woods Fisher. I am not reading it this Christmas season though, but it's definitely a favorite! It is definitely a great book to get you in the Christmas mood. It's a super snowy book.

5 // Trees and nativities, bells and bows – Do you have a favorite Christmas decoration? 
I decorated my bedroom this year and I love it! The Christmas tree is always a favorite as well as the lights on the banister.

6 // From the prophets to the gospels, the timeless story is woven. Which Bible passage that speaks of our Savior birth holds a special place in your heart? 
I've always enjoyed reading the Christmas story from Luke 2.

7 // Glittery snowflakes and shimmering balls to angels and one-of-a-kind creations. Do you have a favorite tree ornament? 
Yes, I do! I have a lot of fun/special ornaments. One of my favorites is my baby's first Christmas one from my parents. It's a stork carrying a baby in a basket. :)

8 // Red and green, silver and gold, even purple and blue! What's your favorite color scheme this time of year?
Definitely red and green! Those two colors have always been my favorite Christmas colors.

9 // Between the old and the new, the classics and the cartoons, which Christmas movie do you come back to year after year? 
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, The Christmas Card, and A Christmas Snow are three of my favorite movies that I always try to watch each year.

10 // Pies and cakes, cookies and sweets. What's your favorite Christmas treats? 
I love sugar cookies and chocolate chip peppermint candy cane cookies.


If you would like to do this tag, go right ahead! I'd love to read your answers.
What's one of your favorite things about Christmas?

Chocolate Chip Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies

Welcome everyone to the third day in the 12 Days of Christmas blog party! I hope you all have been enjoying all of the Christmasy fun that's been going on! 

Last night it started snowing for the first time this season!!!!!!! :D :D I am just SO excited!! I'm hoping for lots more snowy days and I'm dreaming of a white Christmas! ;)

Today I am here to share a recipe for chocolate chip peppermint candy cane cookies! This is actually a recipe that I came up with and I am really happy with how they turned out.

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
3/4 cups sugar
3/4 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp peppermint extract
chocolate chips (around 1 cup)
some crushed candy canes (about 4 candy canes)



Directions:
Stir flour with baking soda and salt. In a large mixer bowl, cream butter with sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and peppermint. Gradually blend dry mixture into creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips.
Next, drop dough onto a cookie sheet. Bake for around 10 min. at 375 degrees (F).
After the cookies are done baking and and you've pulled them out of the oven, keep them on the cookie sheet and sprinkle the crushed candy canes onto the cookie. Put the sheet back in the oven for about 1 min. so the candy canes can melt a little. Pull out of the oven, put the cookies on a wire rack, and let them cool for a bit. Then enjoy!


If you try these cookies I'd love to hear what you think of them! :)


What's one of your favorite Christmas cookies?

The Christmas Note // Movie Review

About the Movie:
Having just moved back to her hometown with her young son but without her serviceman husband, Gretchen Daniels finds her life in disarray as Christmas approaches. She discovers new purpose when she helps to deliver a message to her neighbor, Melissa, which makes her an ally in a quest to find the neighbor’s sibling she never knew she had. The women become bonded not only by the search, but by the understanding that being there for each other means they’re no longer alone. This friendship becomes the greatest Christmas gift of their lives.


The Christmas Note is a really great, sweet movie. It isn’t your typical Hallmark movie where two people meet and fall in love. I do enjoy those types of stories a lot, but it was fun to see something else too. The Christmas Note has a unique story-line and it is just really good!

I give this movie 8 R's out of 10