What are your go-to holiday movies that you have to watch every Christmas? I have three that are non-negotiable for me, or at least need to be playing in the background: The Holiday, The Family Stone, and The Last Holiday. I feel like The Holiday is probably on most people’s top three or five. But The Family Stone can be a bit divisive—my friend Bria always points out how awful the family is to Sarah Jessica Parker, but I just love how wonderfully chaotic it all is.
My family is fortunately much calmer compared to the Stones, but I really love how messy they are. By the end of the movie, they come together as a family, and I think that’s the core of the story—resolving conflicts and supporting each other. Do you agree, or do you have a different take on it?
Back to The Holiday—aside from the great storyline, one of the most appealing things about the movie, in my opinion, is definitely the English cottage and the LA mansion. I mean, come on, it’s a Nancy Meyers film for goodness’ sake! If I ever come into money, you better believe I’ll be giving my house a full-on Nancy Meyers interior design makeover.
Spending Christmas in Europe is definitely on my bucket list too. There’s just something so magical about celebrating the holidays in the “Old World.” I mean, picture it—snow gently falling everywhere, festive Christmas markets, and people bundled up in cozy winter coats, strolling through the streets (because, let’s face it, they walk everywhere in Europe). It sounds like the ultimate holiday dream, doesn’t it? Queen Latifah made walking around Karlovy Vary look absolutely amazing. I’d love to spend the holidays at the Grandhotel Pupp. At the very least that amazing looking spa they have!
Last December, my sister spent part of the month in Dresden, Germany, and Prague, Czech Republic. She had the chance to visit several Christmas markets and really soak in an authentic European holiday experience. She invited me to join her, as she always does, but I can’t go anywhere until I get my finances in order. My New Year’s resolution should definitely be not to spend money I don’t have!
Where I live, it’s expected to be in the mid-sixties on Christmas Day. I’m really craving a cold Christmas, not a warm one, and unfortunately, I think this is the new norm. I remember when I was a kid, it would actually snow, and we’d play in it for hours. Now, I feel like we’d be lucky if it even snowed in North Texas in December. Winter doesn’t really feel “wintery” here until January or February. Is it snowing where you are? And by the way, what are your favorite Christmas movies?
