Christmas... in the News: Neiman Marcus Flack, $5 Dollar Tree Christmas Sensation & The Last Homely House Christmas Shop

 

Welcome to this week's edition of Christmas... in the news. This is a weekly review of some of the Christmas articles and news over the last week. 

Welcome back! Hope you had a great week. We drove up to the Berkshires this weekend to check out the fall foliage. Here are a couple of photos. 

While driving around, I discovered there is a FESTIVE Holiday Market planned for November 23rd at the Greylock WORKS, which is a former mill in North Adams. If you want to pay the Holiday Market a visit, you can check out more here.

Now, on to other news. Seems like Neiman Marcus ticked off some of its workers by quietly replacing the word "Christmas" with "Holiday" on its annual gift catalog. Not being able to afford anything from them anyway, I never would have known if outlets like the New York Post hadn't reported it. How do you feel about it? You can check out the article here.

AS reported that there is a $5 ceramic Christmas tree from Dollar Tree that has gone viral on social media. Looks like a ceramic tree I used to own. Are we seeking vintage this year? Check out the viral tree here.

In my search for this week's Christmas news, I came across a video from Kate of The Last Homely House that talks about this year's Christmas Shop. She has a YouTube channel with 180,000 subscribers where she talks about crafts, baking, and other things going on at her house in the North of England. You can watch today's video here.

Hope you enjoyed this week's news as much as I did wandering around the internet finding these little tidbits. See you next week!

Christmas on TV: Scouting for Christmas (Hallmark Channel, 2024 Premiere)

 

If you are looking for sweet, funny, and romantic, then you need to watch Scouting for Christmas, starring Tamera Mowry-Housley and Carlo Marks. 

Scouting for Christmas is another new premiere for this year's COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS. It features Mowry-Housley as a real estate agent and single mom of Brooklyn (Audrey Wise Alvarez). Always on the run, she is often late in getting her daughter to and from scouts, which irks the perfectionist troop leader. Divorced from Dakota, a paleontologist out on his latest adventure, Angela has finally settled into her post-divorce life, even if it is hectic. 

When it is time to decide on who to cater the troop's annual holiday event, Brooklyn suggests her mother work with local bakery owner William (Marks) to pitch his ideas to the other moms. Angela and William grow closer as they work together, but Angela isn't ready to jump into romance again. Then, Dakota returns unexpectedly, hoping for a happy reunion with his family. Angela is forced with the unenviable choice of making a decision that will impact Brooklyn no matter which man she chooses.

Scouting for Christmas is such a sweet movie. Here is poor Angela trying to do it all and making a good life for Brooklyn on their own, when her world is suddenly turned upside down. She isn't ready to welcome William into her life as more than a friend, and then Dakota arrives to set her once orderly life even more off-kilter. 

As for William, played wonderfully by Carlo Marks, he loves his bakery, and he is hoping for a fresh start with Angela. There is pressure from his ex to take the bakery in a different direction, so William will have other decisions to make other than hoping for a future with Angela.

With a great supplementary cast that includes William's mother, Angela's supportive and wise sister, and the overly perfect troop leader Elizabeth, Scouting for Christmas is an equal dose of romance and humor.

Release date: October 20, 2024

Runtime: 1 hour 24 minutes

Christmas on TV: Holiday Crashers (Hallmark Channel, 2024 Premiere)

Photo credit: IMDB

Are you looking for some double holiday pleasure, then you will want to watch another stellar Hallmark Channel's 2024 COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS premiere, Holiday Crashers. 

Best friends Toni (Lyndsy Fonseca) and Bri (Daniella Monet) have worked at the same card shop for years while they struggle to find their life's purpose. But when opportunity presents itself, they begin crashing exclusive Christmas parties and weaving exciting stories about the lives they supposedly live. They are having a blast until Toni is mistaken for an attorney. Toni and Bri find themselves whisked off to a Christmas retreat in Vermont with business mogul Justin (Chris McNally) where Bri meets his trusty valet Vinny (Jag Bal). As Justin and Toni grow closer, her secret might just be their undoing. And Vinny might have his own secret, throwing Bri for a loop. Will this end in disaster or be two helpings of happily ever after?

Holiday Crashers was such a fun movie. Toni made it through Harvard Law School, but suffered a horrible panic attack when taking the bar exam. Her father still hopes one day she will join his law firm. Bri has always been good at event planning, but she lacks the confidence to make a go of it. Together, they work at a card store while dreaming of better lives. Then one day, Bri swipes an invitation to an exclusive Christmas party and the two friends crash it. This leads them on a spree of holiday party crashing, until one day when Toni is mistaken for a lawyer and is persuaded to attend a Christmas retreat put on by Justin's company to act as a legal consultant. With Bri's prodding, they go, but it doesn't take long for things to get challenging. 

The setting of this movie was amazing. Who doesn't like holiday retreats in the Vermont mountains? As stories and backstories for the characters unfold, you can't help rooting for Justin and Toni and Bri and Vinny to get together. The acting in this one was superb, and I need to give a special shout out to Monet, who I haven't seen since her Victorious days. Holiday Crashers wouldn't have been the same without her. 

Holiday Crashers was a spritely, sweet, and charming holiday romance. I would love to see more movies like this one.

Release date: October 19, 2024

I live streamed this movie through Frndly TV. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Christmas... in the News: Early Christmas, Review of 'That Christmas' & Christmas at Biltmore after Helene Recovery

 

Welcome to this week's edition of Christmas... in the news. This is a weekly review of some of the Christmas articles and news over the last week. 

Can you believe there are only 66 days until Christmas? That's wild! Lots of Christmas in the news this week, and Great American Family and Hallmark Channel are already busy helping us count down the days to Christmas with tons of new movies. I blessed myself with a subscription to Frndly TV, so now I can watch all my favorites.

Let's talk about this week's news. I hope you have some tissues handy.

We journey to Antioch, Illinois where WRTW-TV/WAGT-TV reported on the touching story of neighbors bringing an early Christmas to a holiday-loving woman who is on hospice. Isn't it great when friends come together to make a difference? You can read about it here.

The Hollywood Reporter just released their review of the animated Netflix feature That Christmas. They say this is destined to become a Christmas classic. Check out the review here.

Finally, we travel to Asheville, North Carolina, recently devastated by Hurricane Helene. WLOS 12 out of Asheville has reported that Biltmore Estate, despite incurring damage from Helene, will reopen on November 2nd, to welcome guests for Christmas at Biltmore. Now, is a time to support North Carolina, its residents, and its historical treasures. On the estate's Facebook page, they acknowledge the compassion and resolve of the community as they recover. You can read more here.

Until next week, hope you enjoy your holiday preparations. 

Christmas on TV: 'Twas the Date Before Christmas (Hallmark Channel, 2024 Premiere)

 

Photo credit: IMDB

Hallmark Channel's 2024 COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS starts off strong with this delightful romantic comedy starring Robert Buckley and Amy Groening. 

Feeling the pressure to bring someone home for the holidays, Jessie (Groening) invites Bryan (Buckley) to the "Chamberlain Family Christmas Olympics." Even though they just met through a dating app, Bryan, not looking forward to spending the holidays alone, agrees. Jessie's mother, played by Karen Waddell, is excited about her daughter's new boyfriend, but no one in the family realizes this is their first date. As the zany holiday activities continue, Jessie finds it hard to keep their secret. And while Bryan warms to Jessie and her family, he needs to hope other things in his life won't get in the way. 

I live streamed  'Twas the Date Before Christmas last night, and I am so glad I did. What a great way to kick off COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS. Groening and Buckley, Hallmark Channel veterans, are sweet, funny, and have amazing chemistry as their characters secretly hide they just met earlier in the day. Jessie and Bryan have touching backstories, which I won't share in case you didn't see 'Twas the Date Before Christmas last night, but those backstories play a role in how they begin to develop feelings for each other while partaking in the gift wrapping contest, snowball fight, baking competition, and more. Secondary characters have their own storylines, making this a wonderful movie for all. 

'Twas the Date Before Christmas is a classic Hallmark Channel holiday romance with such a unique and charming plot that you can't help but fall in love with it. 

Release date: October 18, 2024

Runtime: 1 hour 24 minutes

I live streamed this movie through Frndly TV. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way. 

Christmas Women's Fiction Review: The Merry Matchmaker by Sheila Roberts

 Come along with Frankie Lane as she meddles in everyone's lives in the town of Carol with a mix of interesting, and sometimes hilarious, results. 

The Merry Matchmaker by Sheila Roberts is a modern retelling of Jane Austen's Emma. In this fun and romantic novel, widow Frankie Lane enjoys matchmaking and meddling in the lives of the residents in Carol. Owner of the Holiday Happiness gift shop, Frankie thinks she knows just what everyone needs: her mother, her daughter, her friend Viola, even the young woman who works at her shop, Elinor. Seemingly unaware of the disastrous turns some of her meddling creates, Frankie never seems to run out of ideas. That's okay, because she is certain no one can get along without her help. 

Her idea of the Santa Walk has been a huge success for the town of Carol. She and Mitch have played Santa and Mrs. Claus since Frankie came up with the idea, and it just gets better every year. Mitch was her strong shoulder when Frankie lost her husband in a freak accident, and she is determined to repay the favor by finding him someone special, whether Mitch is interested or not. 

The Merry Matchmaker is equal parts funny, romantic, and heartwarming. This charming cast of characters living in the small town of Carol will capture your heart and tickle your funny bone. As Frankie maneuvers to "help" her friends and loved ones, the unanticipated consequences bring about mixed results, especially as far as Elinor is concerned.

Roberts has that knack for knowing what works. She is the queen of women's fiction, and her style and wit make for a fantastic story that keeps you turning page after page. I polished this one off sooner than planned because I couldn't put it down. 

If you love romantic tales of the season, women's fiction, or stories sprinkled with a dose of humor set in memorable places, you will want to grab a copy of The Merry Matchmaker. 

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ MIRA; Original edition (October 1, 2024)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0778369609
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0778369608

I received a paperback copy from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Christmas Inspirational Romance Review: The Prodigal's Holiday Hope

 

The Prodigal's Holiday Hope by Jill Kemerer is a story of moving on from past hurts and the hope that comes from second chances. 

When Sawyer Roth decides to return to Sunshine Bend, he has no idea what his buddies will think of him. Rumor is he has been up to no good since his father's death and squandering away his inheritance, but Ken McKay needs a ranch manager and Sawyer needs a job away from the city, so he returns to the ranch once owned by his family for a fresh start. What he doesn't expect is Tess Malone.

Tess and her son, Tucker, live with Ken on the ranch. Her stubborn father didn't even tell her that he hired that no good Sawyer to manage it. Well, Sawyer won't win her over quickly, even if he did grow up on Sunshine Bend and she is desperate for help. But with Christmas approaching, and her dad in dire straits, Tess has to lean more on Sawyer than she would like. 

Sawyer isn't fond of getting too close to Tess either. But she and her son sure could weave their way into his heart if he isn't careful. 

I loved The Prodigal's Holiday Hope so much that I stayed up late to finish it. I simply couldn't wait to see how it all turned out. The first book in Kemerer's Wyoming Ranchers series is a strong debut, bringing together an engaging plot, well-developed characters, romance, and the ranching life. Cowboy romances remain one of my favorites, and The Prodigal's Holiday Hope is a fine example of an author knowing her audience and delivering a solid story that will leave you yearning for more. Lucky for readers, there are four other books in this series.

If you enjoy romance, second chances, seeing characters learn how to move on from past hurts, and seasonal stories filled with the joy and hope of the holidays, then you need to grab The Prodigal's Holiday Hope today!

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B095X2R6NY
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Love Inspired; Original edition (October 26, 2021)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 26, 2021
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 1707 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 174 pages

I bought a copy of this book for my Kindle. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Christmas... in the News: Shoppers Embrace Early Festive Offerings, Operation Christmas Child Kickoff & The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Movie

 

Welcome to this week's edition of Christmas... in the news. This is a weekly review of some of the Christmas articles and news over the last week. 

Happy Sunday! Hope you are having a great week. I have a rare day off, so I am doing my best to accomplish as much as possible. Here is your weekly dose of Christmas news.

A reporter based out of New York writing for the Hindustan Times shared how many shoppers are embracing the holiday decor, flavors, and deals retailers are pushing before the holiday buying season officially kicks off. On Facebook, I see threads about people wanting to put their decorations up early to experience the beauty and joy of the season for as long as possible. With all the craziness of the world and the holiday shopping season in general, seems like a great idea to enjoy all the nice things longer. Considering Thanksgiving is so late this year, retailers might also be feeling the pinch of fewer shopping days. You can check out the article here. 

If you recall, I read a book by Sheila Roberts about a group of women who decided to celebrate Christmas all year long. If you want to know more, you can visit the book's Goodreads page.

Orillamatters.com has an article about Operation Christmas Child, coordinated by Samaritan's Purse. Orilla has several pick-up points throughout the city. You can read the article here. Curious about the history of this project, you can visit the Samaritan's Purse website.

This last bit of news is something I'm excited about. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever movie is hitting theaters in November. I loved this book, so it will be fun to see it made into a movie. You can check out the movie's website for dates for early access tickets in your area. Check out the trailer below.

Are you excited for seasonal movies and books this year? Which one are you most interested in? 

Christmas... in the News: California's Christmas Town, NOW's New Christmas Compilation & Grand Rapids Christmas-themed Bar

 

Welcome to this week's edition of Christmas... in the news. This is a weekly review of some of the Christmas articles and news over the last week. 

There was so much Christmas news this week. Some nice and some not so nice. With the goal to lift spirits, I'm sharing three top nice tidbits that caught my eye.

KTLA5 out of California reported that Solvang, a small town in Santa Barbara County, was again recognized as the best Christmas town in the state. Their winter festivities run late November through early January. If you want to read more about California's "Christmas Town," check out the article here.

How many of our readers have young ones? If you do, you might recall NOW Music, who released compilation albums in vinyl and CD. I used to buy them because the albums for kids would have clean versions of popular songs. 

A few days ago, SuperDELUXEEdition.com, announced the upcoming release of "NOW That's What I Call Christmas." It contains more than 80 Christmas songs on a 4CD set. You can get more details by visiting their website.

Have you ever visited a Christmas-themed bar? Well, you can, but you might want to make your reservations early. WZZM13 reported on Broadway Bar in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which has gotten a jumpstart on the holiday season by setting up their Christmas decorations. You are highly encouraged to make your in-person reservations early. Read more here.

What's your favorite Christmas news this week? Have you already started decorating? 

Three Things to Do in October to Prepare for Christmas

 

We have entered the last quarter of 2024. Isn't that crazy? Thanksgiving and Black Friday sales are only eight weeks away. There are only 12 Fridays until Christmas! 

How are your holiday preparations going? I still don't have fall decorations inside the house if that gives you any clue how things are here. That's okay, it always comes together. 

To help you prepare for the holidays, here are three tasks to tackle in October.

Look for early Christmas Sales

If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can already shop early deals. Prime Big Deal Days official days are October 8 and 9. Target is also running their Before Christmas sale.

Plan your decorating theme

Honestly, I don't alter mine much, but styles change from year to year, and I like to add one or two new pieces every year. Our trees our themed: snowman, collectibles, blue and silver, and then our family tree has our homemade ornaments and special ones we have collected through the years. The girls theme their trees by color--one purple and one pink. 

Order your Christmas cards

Between sending cards to clients, family, and friends, the only way I've made this task easier is by ordering cards early. Cards that go to clients have my name pre-printed on them and envelopes with a pre-printed return address. I write a letter around Thanksgiving to go inside the cards to friends and family so that I can--hopefully--get them in the mail by December 1.

Enjoy your holiday preparations!