Drink More Water Challenge

This post is a collaboration with Zulay Kitchen. All opinions are my own.

Water is such an important drink. As humans, our bodies are made up of about 60% water, and drinking enough of it is essential to your health in many ways.

Towards the end of last year, I realized I was really slacking on my water intake. So I decided to start off this new year by doing a Drink More Water Challenge to help make sure I am getting enough water. First, I started researching how much water I should be drinking.

What I found in my internet searches is that there doesn’t seem to be one set amount a person should be drinking. It varies depending on your body weight and exercise routines, among other things. The most common thing I found was what is referred to as the 8×8 rule. On average, it is suggested to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day (8×8), which equals 64 ounces of water a day.

Since I am pretty active and also drink quite a bit whenever I eat, I may tend to be a little on the higher-than-average side in those regards. However, based on my body type and weight, I’d be on the lower end. Another pretty average answer I discovered is to drink between half an ounce and an ounce of water per day for every pound that you weigh. For me, this is pretty doable, so this is the amount I based my challenge on. However, I realize it’s not as doable for everyone. For example, my husband said it would be nearly impossible for him to drink his whole weight in water a day. If it feels unattainable for you, I would recommend trying the 8×8 rule.

I, for one, have always been a pretty big water drinker; however, sometimes it gets boring drinking water due to the lack of flavor. One of my favorite ways to combat this is to put my favorite fruits in my glass to help add some flavor. I can drink cucumber water all day! I have been putting cucumbers in my water for a while now.

Zulay Kitchen gifted me with this wonderful 34oz water bottle with timelines on the outside of the bottle to make sure you’re drinking enough water. And the best part is that it also has its own fruit infuser to put fruit in when you drink. This has been such a great tool to aid in my water challenge! And it helped me combat those water blues by being able to mix up some different fruit blends in the infuser.

Some of my personal favorite fruit blends are:

• Just plain cucumber
• Cucumber + Raspberry
• Pineapple + Raspberry
• Blueberry + Mint

There are endless options, and you really can’t go wrong. Many fruits and veggies have amazing benefits by themselves. When you combine them with your water, you get double the benefits. Lemon has huge health benefits and is commonly used in water. I’m personally not a fan of lemon, so I use cucumber in most of my blends instead.

The Zulay Kitchen Water Bottle with Fruit Infuser I used for my water challenge is 34oz. Based on the timelines on the bottle, you would need to drink two full bottles a day, and this would equal 68 ounces. This would be just slightly over the recommended amount of 64 ounces for the 8×8 rule. After the first couple of days using this water bottle, I realized I actually went through two water bottles pretty easily, so I decided to make it my goal to go through 3 bottles in a day. That brought my water intake up to 96 ounces a day, which put me right in the target range of drinking half an ounce to an ounce a day per my body weight. Win/win!

When the new year started, I began actively trying to drink more water. I have only been 100% monitoring my intake since using my Zulay Kitchen water bottle. For about the last two weeks, I have been drinking between 85 and 96 ounces of water a day regularly. And other than peeing constantly (which is nothing new to me), I’m already noticing a difference and feeling better.

A big reason I wanted to do this challenge was that I could noticeably tell I wasn’t drinking enough water. Drinking enough water has big impacts on multiple areas of your body, health, and, in turn, your life. In my research as to why you should drink more water, I came across these areas that benefit from it. A lot I already knew or had seen for myself in my life, but I was honestly surprised at just how many benefits there are!

I’ve always had pretty good skin, which I attribute to the fact that I drink a bunch of water. Growing up, if I ever had a headache, my dad would ask if I had been drinking enough water and/or just say, “Drink more water”. I have also noticed in my own life that my energy and mood levels are both better when I drink more water. I’m not as hungry throughout the day, which I attribute to drinking so much water as well.

If those aren’t enough reasons to start drinking more water, then I don’t know what is. I challenge you to try the 8×8 rule and drink more water. If you realize, like me, that it doesn’t seem like enough, then up your ounce intake. Try the Drink More Water Challenge for 30 days and just see the differences for yourself! Let me know in the comments below if you’ve tried a water challenge before and what differences you saw in your own health.

The Importance of Me Time as a Mom

As a mom, our identity gets wrapped up in our little ones so easily. Especially when they’re little and depend on you for everything. It’s so common to just take care of them and so easy to put yourself on the back burner. I’ve gone days without showering when my hair really needed it and meals without eating when my little one needed me for something.

The mom guilt is so real too! You feel like you aren’t doing enough or being a good mom when you want to do something for yourself. You feel selfish for wanting to go see a movie or go get your hair done. I know, I’ve been there. I can’t begin to count the many times I neglected something for me just to do something for my kids instead.

I’m not saying this is necessarily a bad thing. I mean, your kids do need to be fed and taken care of. What I am saying is that you need to be taken care of too. You need to take some time for yourself every now and then too.

As a mom, it is important to still take care of yourself. It is important to still do the things you love and to be your own person. It is important to still make time for yourself so that you are happy.

After all, how can you be the best version of you for your kids if you aren’t taken care of? As a new mom and then a mom of two under two (in just 16 months), I went through a struggle of not feeling like myself and not taking the time I should have for my self-care. The early days were tough.

After my first baby was born, I felt like I wasn’t myself anymore. When the baby is so little they need you so much, I struggled with not being able to do anything for myself. I found that when I couldn’t do the things that I loved and that made me who I was, I felt like I didn’t know who I was.

After my second baby, I really neglected my self-care. Not only was I not able to do my hobbies and things I loved, but I also neglected everyday self-care. Having two little ones to care for under the age of two was a tough time. My self-care was always put on the back burner because of time and energy.

Now that my kids are getting a little older and more independent, I am finding that I’m able to set aside more time for me. And it has really made a huge difference in my life.

I have gotten back to my writing and different creative outlets and hobbies that make me who I am. They help me feel like I have a place and purpose outside of just motherhood, which has given me my sense of independence back.

I still struggle with self-care sometimes, but I am working to get better at it. In my free time now, I devote it to my writing and creative outlets, which for me is a big part of my self-care.

Self-care doesn’t always have to be pampering and spa days. It really is just “me time”. The time that you set aside for yourself to focus on you. It may look different for each person. For some, it may be getting a haircut, going to a spa, or just soaking in a bubble bath. For others, it may be exercise, writing, or just catching up on some TV shows. Whatever you need to do for yourself that you love and that feeds your soul.

A little relaxation or pampering, whatever the case may be for you. Take the time you need for you. Take the time you need to reset and feel refreshed. When you’re happy and taken care of, it reflects back on your attitude, positivity, and everything else in your life.

When you take time for self-care, you are investing in yourself. The mom guilt will tell you that you’re being selfish or taking time or money away from your family. Don’t listen to the mom guilt. It’s a lie. With the right timing and budget, you can make anything work.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “happy wife, happy life”. Well, I say a happy mom equals a happy home. When you’re happy and taken care of, your kids and family get the best possible version of you.

We’re all human and need a break sometimes. I know I do. And that’s ok. As a mom, I often think I have to have it all together and do it all on my own. That’s another lie. You don’t have to do it alone. You’re still a good mom if you need a break. You’re still a good mom if you need time to yourself.

One of my goals for 2020 is to really focus on my self-care more and give myself the time I deserve. I want to be the best mother and woman I can be. For my kids, for my family, and for myself. I’ve found in my own life that how I do that is by giving myself the self-care that I need, which is through having “me time”.

Whether you’re a full-time working mom, a work-from-home mom, or a stay-at-home mom, we can all use some me time. As a mom, it is so important to have dedicated me time. I want to challenge each of you to find some time throughout your day and dedicate that to your self-care and me time.

13 Ways to Save Money Throughout the Year to Get Ahead

Whether it is a new car or a nice vacation, everyone seems to be saving for one thing or another these days. I, for one, love any chance I get to travel, and that requires saving ahead. I’m always looking for ways to save more to be able to go on adventures and knock off items from my bucket list.

With the new year in full swing, now is the perfect time to implement some changes and reap the rewards at the end of the year. Everyone has to start somewhere, so I wanted to share with you some tips and tricks for saving money throughout the year to help you save and get ahead.

1. Eat at Home More

Eating out can get to be expensive. Even if you’re careful and try to pick cheaper places, it all still adds up. You can buy most groceries (including frozen meals) for the price of 1 meal eating out, and it typically lasts multiple meals. If you plan ahead and map out your meals, it can save in the long run. I like to buy frozen fruits, veggies, meals, and items such as packs of chicken patties/nuggets, etc., and they last a few meals depending on your portion sizes.

2. Eat Everything at Home Before Grocery Shopping Again

This is a big one I started implementing recently at my house. I am the queen of saving money and really making food last whenever my husband is gone for work. However, when he is home, we have a bad habit of, when we run out of one thing, running to the store to get more (and getting other things we didn’t need). This, in turn, keeps us eating the same stuff over and over and not always finishing other items we have purchased.

So I recently made a rule that after grocery shopping, we would not grocery shop again until we had eaten everything. Now we do still get essential items like milk and bread that run out faster, but bigger items like frozen foods, meat, etc. We eat all that we have in the fridge and freezer before going and spending a bunch more on grocery bills. This has kept us making sure we eat everything so that nothing goes to waste and we really get our money’s worth.

3. Save Loose Change

I rarely use cash nowadays. I prefer using my debit card; it’s just easier. However, some things are cash only or easier using cash. So on the occasions that I do use cash for something, I save all my change. When it gets to be too much in my little wallet, I empty it out into a jar.

I save all the change until my jar gets full, and then I turn it in for dollar bills. Since it’s such a small amount starting out, I don’t miss it–so I designate it for special trips, etc. Every little bit adds up, and when I do cash it in for bigger bills, I put it aside for a special event or trip.

4. Save a Set Amount Each Paycheck

From a very young age, my dad instilled in me the importance of saving and trying to live debt-free. When I first started working and still lived at home, I would put half (sometimes more) of all my paychecks into savings. I’m so glad I did! This is how I was ultimately able to buy my first car at age 17, move across the country from Virginia to California at age 19, and live in California for 6 months until I was able to get a job.

To this day, I still try to save some of every paycheck. As a stay-at-home mom, I’m not currently bringing in extra income, but thankfully my husband believes in saving like I do, and he saves a set amount every paycheck. We put that amount directly into savings from every paycheck so that we don’t touch it. It may not seem like a lot at first glance, but it adds up. Even if you have tight means or are living paycheck to paycheck, I encourage you to try to save a little, even just $10 or $20 each paycheck. It is a huge help in the long run.

5. Save a Set Amount Per Day

There are so many cool ideas on Pinterest to save money by saving a set amount per day. It can fluctuate or stay the same. It doesn’t have to be a big amount. Even if you saved $1 a day, by the end of the year you’ll have saved $365. And if you save just $2 a day, you’ll have doubled it to $730 by the end of the year. If it’s your dream to travel more but it’s hard to fork out a big amount all at once, this is a good way to save a little at a time to reach those bigger dream destinations.

6. Buy Things on Sale

My mom has always been a huge couponer. I’ve never gotten into paper coupons, but I always look for a good sale. I personally only buy clothes on sale. It’s just not worth it to me. Sometimes that means buying items at the end of a season for the next year, but if it saves me money, I don’t care. There are so many apps and options nowadays to help save you some money or get a percentage of cashback on certain purchases.

I like to stock up when there are good 2-for-1 sales, especially on bath products. It may be more out of pocket initially, but if it’s something you’re going to use anyway and doesn’t go bad fast, it can actually help you save in the long run by buying in bulk. Always double-check to make sure it is actually saving you, though! Stores like to try and sucker you in sometimes with a “buy 2 for ____ price” sale when in reality it’s the same price as if you bought them separately. By throwing on a sale tag, people automatically think it’s cheaper and usually don’t double-check the math.

7. Shop at Consignment Stores

Another one of my favorite places to shop is thrift shops or consignment stores. I get most of my kids’ clothes from places like this. One, the prices are typically way lower than at a retail store, but the quality is just as good. With baby and kids' clothes in particular, this has saved our family so much! Because kids grow so fast, they don’t wear one size for long, especially as babies. So you can find a lot of amazing clothes in brand new condition (sometimes with the original tags still on) for a fraction of the price of brand new. Kids aren’t picky, so it’s a win/win.

8. Make a Budget

This is something my parents have always done. When I lived paycheck to paycheck, I had a budget, so to speak, of what bills needed to be paid and where my money would go each paycheck. My husband and I don’t have a set budget, but we do keep track of bills and all other expenses to make sure we stay within our means. Making sure you don’t go overboard with spending and that you know where your money goes every month is a huge aspect of saving and not going into debt. And the key to any successful budget is just sticking to it.

9. Make a Grocery List & Don’t Impulse Buy

My husband is a huge impulse shopper when it comes to buying groceries. I have my moments too, but overall I’m good at sticking to my list. This is why making a grocery list is huge for me! Making a list of what I need ahead of time really helps me to shop with purpose. I go into the store knowing what I need and grab only those items and don’t dilly-dally looking at other things that aren’t on my list. This really helps me to not impulse buy and grab a lot of items I don’t need, which in turn helps me save more.

10. Downsize Current Bills

Something I’m starting to do this year is going through our current monthly bills and seeing what we can downsize and how. For example, we pay for monthly cable, which is kind of expensive. I’m researching streaming services right now to see if we can still get the channels we like for a lower price. If so, we’re going to make the switch. Some bills you can’t do anything about, like water or electricity, but other secondary bills you can always review to make sure you’re really saving.

Has your car insurance seemed to be a lot lately? Is your cell phone bill too much? Are you spending money on things you don’t use, like a gym membership or something else? Going through your monthly and recurring charges and shopping around to make sure you’re getting a good price every so often can help you save. There are so many cell phone providers that maybe you can switch to one that doesn’t charge as much. Maybe you can downsize from cable to a streaming service and save. Just take a look at what you have right now and try to downsize where you can to save money.

11. Spring Clean & Sell Items

Something I’m currently doing is going through all our belongings and downsizing. Most people call this spring cleaning, but I don’t do it every year. I usually do it whenever we move. Back in October, we finally moved all our belongings back home after being in storage following a hurricane and home repairs.

I am still slowly but surely going through everything and making lots of piles of things to get rid of. Things we don’t use, things that don’t fit, and quite frankly, things we just don’t need if we don’t use them. I don’t like stuff sitting and just taking up space, so I am downsizing. It’s also good prep to get things cleaned out before our next move.

I plan to try to sell these items first with either a yard/garage sale or online. This is a great way to both make more room and make a little extra money. Whatever we don’t sell, I’ll probably either try to consign or just donate somewhere.

12. Do Homemade Things Instead of Store-bought

I love making DIY projects and making things at home as opposed to buying. If I can, then why not, right? Doing things yourself can help you save money too. I like to do homemade gifts versus store-bought to help save. It’s also more thoughtful that way too, which can make it that much more special. I have just started making my own foaming hand soap at home. The upfront cost of some of the items to make it seems like a lot, but it is actually going to save us money in the long run.

As with anything, when comparing costs, make sure to do your research. When I wanted a shelf for my daughter’s nursery, my husband wanted to make it, so we found prices for what the material would cost and compared it to the store-bought version I was looking at. It ended up being more expensive if we did it on our own (plus then you have to factor in the time it would take to make it), so we ended up just buying it. Depending on the item you want to make, sometimes it’s not cheaper to make it yourself; however, a lot of times it is. You just have to do your research ahead of time.

13. Find Alternatives to Things You Use Regularly

I have been trying to live a more natural lifestyle with some of my beauty products recently, so I have been finding alternatives to items we use regularly. I love doing this. For example, I was looking at ways to cut out dryer sheets after finding out how harmful they can actually be. So I started giving 100% wool dryer balls a try. I am now hooked! It has been a huge win for my family! Dryer balls are more eco-friendly and natural. They cut out the harmful ingredients of dryer sheets, and they last for many loads of laundry, which actually saves us money from having to buy dryer sheets constantly.

Something my husband has done is switch from buying sweet tea out all day and just making it at home instead. It has been saving us quite a bit! Take a look at what things you regularly buy outside of the home or things that you do on a daily basis at home and try to find alternatives that can help you save. Instead of always buying Starbucks, why not make coffee at home? Finding alternatives to save money is one of my favorite things.

If you’re looking for ways to save, there is no time like the present to start. By implementing some of these everyday ideas, you can save more and work on getting ahead too. Let me know in the comments below what tips work best for you when it comes to saving!

Love: My Word for the New Year

I’ve never done a word for the year before. To be honest, I don’t remember hearing about anyone doing this before, but I have seen a few people do it this year and decided to do it myself.

If I had to pick a word to sum up, my 2019 would be “survival”. The whole year was a crazy blur, but I witnessed survival on so many levels.

I felt helpless as my best friend’s world came crashing down at the beginning of the year. I watched as she persevered, pressed on, and made the best out of a horrible situation. She survived.

I, myself, felt like I was barely getting through some days. Lack of sleep with a newborn, adjusting to two kids under 2, alone without help for long hours on many days, and dealing with the downs of postpartum hormones…life was hard. But I survived.

My husband left the military after we thought he’d stay in until retirement. He worked hard and long hours in his new job. He dealt with a lot between providing for our family, my mood swings, a friend’s bad decisions, and all the unknowns of life. And he survived.

Along with my hard days and my husband’s own adjustments to our new life, our relationship took a hit. We were distant, rarely spent time together, and just didn’t get along very well. But we kept choosing each other and got through it. We survived.

As I thought about what word I would choose for 2020, I looked back at how 2019 started with so many downs and ended with so many highs. I’m so humbled by the journey we had, and I’m so excited to see where this new year goes.

I decided that my word for the new year is: Love. For me, there is so much more to this word than just what you initially think.

Love your family. Love your friends.

Recently, there have been devastating events I’ve seen, with babies passing away unexpectedly. It has broken my heart and reminded me of my biggest fears as a mom. It has also reminded me that life is so short. Each moment is so very precious. You never know when a moment will be your last.

So this year I am reminding myself of this daily and actively soaking up every minute I get. I am going to love my family and friends more and try to always let them know exactly what they mean to me. So that there is never a doubt. I plan to not only say “I love you” but to show it through my actions every day.

Love God.

I’m guilty of putting my relationship with God on the back burner. During tough times, I cling to Him, but when life smooths out, I tend to do my own thing. This is not a good balance at all. One of my biggest pledges for this new year is to learn about and love God more. Every day. Even during the good times. I want to make my relationship with Him stronger and include Him in my life even more than I do now.

Love others.

A motto I’ve always lived by is to treat others how you would want to be treated. There is so much division and hate in the world. But there is also a lot of love to go around. With my kids, I lead by example, and this year I want to continue what I do regularly and just continue to love on others.

It doesn’t matter if you have different views on life, politics, parenting, religion, etc. We’re all human. Less judgment and more love. Spreading love and kindness is the best example you can set for anyone watching.

Love yourself.

One of my New Year goals just for myself is more self-care and self-love. As a mom, getting alone time is so hard, and finding time for self-care is practically impossible most days. I have slacked in this area since having kids, and this year I am focused on prioritizing it again.

When you truly love yourself and take the time you need for yourself, it reflects back on everyone else in your life. I plan to love myself through self-care by doing yoga and taking time to pamper myself with baths, haircare, face masks, etc. I plan to give self-love by showing myself grace and not being so hard on myself. Reminding myself I am enough and that God will get me through all the tough days.

Love animals.

My daughter, Lacey Belle, is a huge animal lover. I call her my little Bindi and try to encourage her love as much as I can. Along with encouraging her, I myself am very passionate about our oceans, dolphins, and sea life. My heart is breaking for all the bushfires and animals lost in Australia currently. I want to do what I can to help.

This year I plan to show my love for animals more by continuing to encourage my daughter to give back and help animals, and also bringing awareness and helping marine life in any way I can.

Do what you love. Love what you do.

Life is too short to be miserable. If you are unhappy with something in your life, then make a change. I struggled with not feeling like myself and having time for me after having kids. This past year, I finally quit saying “one day” and just launched this blog. I decided it was time to do the things I love and wanted to do again. I am continuing this plan and mindset into this new year. I have a lot of writing and blog growth goals for this year. I am putting in the work because it is what I love.

Live with more invention. Live with more love.

With my new blog and brand venture these past few months, I have been spending a lot more time on my phone and laptop. In response to the extra time I spend on electronics, I am making just as big of an effort to be more present with my kids.

I want to make sure that, no matter how much I work this new year, I spend more time being intentional with my time and being present with my kids. I want to live with more love so that my kids always know they come before any work or projects that I may have going on.

Live. Laugh. Love.

I’ve always tried to live with no regrets. It’s my biggest motto. I try to live every day to its fullest. I believe laughter really is the best medicine. And love is the best thing in the world. Just living, laughing, and loving help to make my days brighter.

All about love.

I want this year to be all about love. No matter what life brings this year, I want to live love out loud. I want to show love to myself and others. I want to be an example of love. I want to do all things in love. I want to love my life. I challenge you all to love this year too.

Love more. Love Bigger. Love deeper.

Christmas in Review: Best New Christmas Movies of 2019

From the day Christmas movies start airing right around Halloween, I am in the full-blown Christmas spirit! To say I am obsessed with Christmas movies is an understatement. My DVR is full of them during the Christmas season. And yes, I do watch every single one.

This is not always an easy feat, especially with Hallmark’s impressive lineup and Lifetime following close behind. Between the two networks, they had a combined 70 new holiday movies that came out this year. I also watched 9 other new Christmas movies from UP TV and ABC.

My favorites have always been and always will be Hallmark! They’re the top in Christmas movies for a reason. However, Lifetime and even UP TV can hang right there with them in quality and good stories. For those not as lucky as me to be able to catch all the new Christmas movies, I have come up with my top favorites for your reading pleasure. Trust me, you don’t want to miss these wonderful holiday stories.

Top 10 New Hallmark Christmas Movies

Without further ado, here is what I like to call “The Best of the Best,” or better known as “Hallmark’s Top 10,” listed from 10th best to 1st best. In my opinion, when it comes to Hallmark, there are no ‘worst’; they’re all the best.

10. Our Christmas Love Song

“Our Christmas Love Song” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie starring Alicia Witt and Brendan Hines. It follows country star Melody (Witt), who is accused of plagiarizing her new hit Christmas song. She returns home to find the original sheet music of the song she wrote in high school. Her path crosses with old flame Chase (Hines), and she learns what is most important to her in life.

Alicia Witt is a staple in Hallmark Christmas movies. She often plays fun and quirky characters. And this new Christmas movie does not disappoint. She also sings in this movie, which was cool; I didn’t know she was a singer. The movie was fun and creative. I loved how her main reason for going home (to find her original song sheet music) didn’t take away from her time with her family, and they were all so accepting of it.

9. Christmas in Rome

“Christmas in Rome” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Lacey Chabert and Sam Page. It is about an American tour guide, Angela (Chabert), living in Rome. She gives Oliver (Page) a unique one-on-one tour of Rome to help him conduct his business in the city on Roman terms.

Lacey Chabert is my personal favorite actress out of Hallmark’s regulars, but I was super excited for this movie for more than just that reason. This charming Christmas movie is set and filmed in Rome, Italy. I love films that are shot on location — it gives you an inside look into the city. It was so fun getting to see some of the famous Roman sights and getting more behind-the-scenes info on how things are different there than in the US.

8. Christmas at Dollywood

“Christmas at Dollywood” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Danica McKellar, Niall Matter, and Dolly Parton. It follows Rachel (McKellar), a New York City event planner who goes home to Tennessee for the holidays. While there, she works side by side with Luke (Matter), the Director of Operations, on the 13th Christmas celebration at Dollywood.

I was so excited for this movie! I love all things Dolly Parton and Dollywood. This was exactly the type of movie I would love to be in. It was so fun to watch. I loved how Danica McKellar’s character was a bit of a fangirl of Dolly Parton. It was exciting to watch both of the main characters as they worked together to reach for their dreams and follow their hearts.

7. A Christmas Miracle

“A Christmas Miracle” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie starring Tamera Mowry-Housley and Brooks Darnell. When Emma’s (Mowry-Housley) boss steals her cover story idea for their magazine, she decides to write her own with the help of her new co-worker Marcus (Darnell).

I am a huge Tamera Mowry fan so I was super excited when I heard she had her own Hallmark Christmas movie this year! I loved how she moved to a big city (the opposite of most Christmas movies). The fun rivalry between her and her new co-worker actually turns into teamwork and romance. I love how it was all about bringing a family together and doing the right thing even when others steal your ideas. And I love how the “bad guy” in the movie realizes what they did was wrong and actually changes too. Such a good message!

6. A Christmas Love Story

“A Christmas Love Story” is a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation that premiered on Hallmark Channel starring Kristen Chenoweth, Scott Wolf, and Eric Close. The movie follows Katherine (Chenoweth), a youth choir director needing to write a big song for the Christmas Eve show. When a talented teen wants to join the choir, Katherine sets out to show his reluctant father (Wolf) why he should join the show.

This was the only Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation movie during this Christmas season, and with a cast of all-stars, I had high expectations for it. It definitely lived up to the hype. It captivated my attention the whole way through and even threw me for one final plot twist at the end that I never saw coming. Loved it!

5. Merry & Bright

“Merry & Bright” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Jodie Sweetin and Andrew W. Walker. It follows CEO Cate Merriweather (Sweetin) who reluctantly has to work with corporate recovery consultant Gabe (Walker) to save her family’s candy cane business.

This peppermint sweet Christmas movie stars a couple of Hallmark regulars. It premiered early in the season, and I loved it right away. It was so fun. I loved the banter between the characters and how their introduction to each other initially starts as a huge misunderstanding. The Christmas theme following a candy cane company was a fun aspect. When I think of Christmas movies, I definitely think of ones like this.

4. Check Inn to Christmas

“Check Inn to Christmas” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Rachel Boston and Wes Brown. The movie follows Julia (Boston), a big-city lawyer who comes home to celebrate Christmas with her family. Once home, she gets caught up in the middle of a long-standing feud between her family and the Masons. Julia joins forces with the handsome Ryan Mason (Brown) in an effort to save both of their family’s businesses.

I absolutely loved this movie! It is a fun, unique movie with different twists than the typical predictable Christmas movies. I liked the aspect of the two family rivalries and the two oldest kids working together to get it resolved once and for all. It was also a fun reason to keep the couple apart because of their families’ dislike of each other. Overall, it was fun to watch the relationships all develop throughout the movie and how the families came together to save their businesses.

3. Christmas on My Mind

“Christmas on My Mind” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie starring Ashley Greene and Andrew W. Walker. In the movie, when Lucy (Greene) hits her head, she wakes up and hurries to meet her ex-boyfriend, Zac (Walker). She doesn’t remember the last two years, including why she and Zac broke up, and who her current fiancé is.

This was the last of all the new Hallmark Christmas movies to premiere this year, and it was worth the wait! It was one of my top favorites. I loved everything about it. The story, the acting, everything. The story of the main girl having amnesia was fun because it takes you along on a mystery with her to try and figure out what is going on in her life. It also had the same type of feel as the older awesome chick flick classics like “While You Were Sleeping” and “Sleepless in Seattle”. It was so fun from start to finish.

2. Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen

“Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie starring Erin Krakow, Luke Macfarlane, and Kimberley Sustad. It follows Ella Dashwood (Krakow) and her sister Marianne (Sustad), who both love Christmas and have an event planning business together. Wanting to show her sister her devotion to growing their business, Ella takes on a new client, a toy company CEO, Edward (Macfarlane), but they don’t always see eye to eye.

This movie is a modern-day adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Sense & Sensibility” set at Christmastime. So fun! Sense & Sensibility is my favorite Jane Austen book and, to be honest, I was a bit worried this movie wouldn’t live up to my expectations…but it did! Luke Macfarlane is one of my favorite Hallmark regular actors, and his pairing with another regular, Erin Krakow, was a great match. I loved their characters, and the whole movie was fun.

1. Christmas Wishes & Mistletoe Kisses

“Christmas Wishes & Mistletoe Kisses” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Jill Wagner and Matt Davis. The story follows Abbey (Wagner), who is a single mom trying to get her foot back into the interior design world after taking time off to raise her son. Her first job is decorating a big mansion for the holiday season for a handsome businessman, Nick (Davis).

This movie was Hallmark’s very first Christmas movie premiere to kick off their Countdown to Christmas season, and in my personal opinion, they outdid themselves! They kicked off the season strong, and this movie stayed my absolute favorite throughout all the new Christmas movie premieres. It stars one of my new Hallmark favorites, Jill Wagner, and her character is spunky and fun. She is a single mom trying to restart her design business.

I love how the main guy is business-focused and less enthused about Christmas but isn’t a typical Scrooge. Their relationship and how it develops is so fun to watch. There is a little love triangle in this movie, but both guys are good guys that you could see the girl ending up with, which was a little different. I just loved everything about this movie, and if you haven’t seen it, you need to!

Close Seconds – Hallmark

This year was Hallmark’s 10th Anniversary for Countdown to Christmas. They had a total of 40 new holiday movies this year between Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. With so many new Hallmark movies to choose from, it’s so hard to pick just 10. So here are my Close Seconds (in no particular order).

Christmas Town

“Christmas Town” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Candace Cameron Bure and Tim Rozon. It follows teacher Lauren (Bure), who leaves everything behind to start a new life in Boston. Along the way, a detour takes her to small-town Grandon Falls, where she instantly falls for its charm and the people, including the gruff Travis (Rozon) and his young foster son.

It wouldn’t be Hallmark Christmas season without a new movie starring Candace Cameron Bure. This movie was so close to hitting my top 10 but didn’t quite make it. It’s so hard to pick only 10 favorites cuz there are so many good movies! This movie had all the classic Christmas good time feels, small-town charm, and a sweet makeshift family. The main character finds somewhere she belongs, and the town accepts her with open arms.

Holiday for Heroes

“Holiday for Heroes” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie starring Melissa Claire Egan and Marc Blucas. It follows coffee shop owner Audrey (Egan) and a soldier, Matt (Blucas), who start writing each other letters for a year before finally meeting in person and seeing where their potential relationship could go.

This is a feel-good military Christmas movie. The military is near and dear to my heart, so I love a holiday movie that incorporates it. This is a sweet love story with a bit of old-fashioned flair as they start off as long-distance letter pen-pals.

Picture a Perfect Christmas

“Picture a Perfect Christmas” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Merritt Patterson and Jon Cor. It follows photographer Sophie (Patterson), who comes home to take care of her grandmother and ends up getting involved with caring for a neighbor (Cor) and his nephew.

Merritt Patterson is one of my favorite Hallmark regulars, and this is a cute Christmas movie. I love how fate throws her into helping the neighbor and that he has an unconventional family, as he is the guardian of his nephew. She is a very caring character with a big heart, and I love how she discovers her true passion again.

Write Before Christmas

“Write Before Christmas” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Torrey DeVitto and Chad Michael Murray. It follows Jessica (DeVitto), who decides to write 5 Christmas cards to people who helped her get through her toughest days: her BFF, aunt, brother, favorite pop star, and her old cello teacher. In the process, her paths cross with her old cello teacher’s handsome son (Murray).

This was a fun little One Tree Hill cast member reunion. I always love it when movies bring together some of my favorite castmates from TV shows. It didn’t quite live up to what I was expecting (hence why it didn’t make my top 10 list), but it was still one of my secondary favorites. The storyline was cute, and I liked how their lives intersected based on the Christmas letters the main character wrote.

Holiday Hearts

“Holiday Hearts” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie starring Ashley Williams and Paul Campbell. It follows Peyton (Williams), who is focused on planning a career-defining Christmas party. Her plans get thrown for a loop when she’s pulled into helping care for a friend’s daughter with her ex, Ben (Campbell).

This was a fun story with a slightly different plotline than the normal one. I liked how the two main characters were exes but weren’t on horrible terms. It kept a little mystery to make you wonder what happened and why they weren’t together. I also liked how caring for a family friend’s daughter was what brought them back together.

Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy

“Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Maggie Lawson, Paul Greene, and Rukiya Bernard. And featuring Holly Robinson Peete, Jill Wagner, and Ashley Williams. It follows Katie (Lawson), a skeptical writer who travels to Evergreen to get the scoop on the town’s love of Christmas. While the town searches for a long-lost time capsule, she forms a friendship with one of the town residents, Ben (Greene).

This is the third movie in the “Christmas in Evergreen” series, and to be honest, I had low expectations for it. Although it is Hallmark, sequels usually don’t live up to all the hype, especially when they switch out the main characters. I should have known better than to put Hallmark into this box. I loved this movie! The storyline was great and kept me interested. I also liked how the main character writing a story on the town wasn’t a big, tight-lipped secret that tore characters apart (as is typical). Another thing this movie had going for it was the cameos of the stars from the first and second movies.

A Homecoming for the Holidays

“A Homecoming for the Holidays” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original movie starring Laura Osnes and Stephen Huszer. In the movie, country singer Charlotte (Osnes) is in town for the holidays to celebrate with her brother, who is a soldier. While writing her new album, she works to build a house for a friend alongside her brother’s friend, Matt (Huszer).

This was another good Christmas movie that had a military aspect to it. I loved the storyline of two soldiers: one was the main character’s brother, and the other was the love interest. It added another layer to the story, and you saw both sides of the guys wanting to reenlist and those who want to get out of the military.

Double Holiday

“Double Holiday” is a Hallmark Channel original movie starring Carly Pope and Kristoffer Polaha. It follows Rebecca (Pope), who has to work with her co-worker and rival Chris (Polaha) to plan the office Christmas party as they both compete to get a promotion.

This year, Hallmark (and some other networks) had some Christmas movies that included Hanukkah. This was one of them. It was so interesting learning some more about Hanukkah, and I loved the characters’ acceptance of their different beliefs and their willingness to learn about each other’s traditions. I also loved how the characters’ relationship develops from rivals to complete supporters of each other. Plus Kristoffer Polaha is one of my favorites!

Top 10 New Christmas Movies – Other Networks

You can’t forget Lifetime or UP TV. Lifetime has been trying to catch up to Hallmark’s Christmas status for a while, and they usually have quite a few good ones; this year was no exception. And I was pleasantly surprised with UP TV’s Christmas movies this year too. I found myself actually liking some of UP TV’s over Lifetime, which I was not expecting. Here are my Top 10 Christmas movie favorites from non-Hallmark networks, listed from least favorite to favorite.

10. Christmas in Louisiana (Lifetime)

“Christmas in Louisiana” is a Lifetime original movie starring Jana Kramer, Percy Daggs III, and Moira Kelly. It follows Sarah (Kramer), who returns home to Louisiana to celebrate the town’s Sugarcane Christmas Festival. While there, she has to work with Luke (Daggs), who broke her heart years ago.

I’m a huge Jana Kramer fan and was super excited that she had a Christmas movie this year! It didn’t quite live up to my expectations, but I did still really enjoy it. It was a mini One Tree Hill reunion with both Jana Kramer and Moira Kelly, so that was cool to have. It was fun watching how her character had to face the past head-on to fully move on. In the process, history repeats itself but with roles reversed until she learns the future can be what she wants if she takes a chance on love again. 

9. Christmas a la Mode (Lifetime)

“Christmas a la Mode” is a Lifetime original movie starring Katie Leclerc and Ryan Cooper. It follows Emily (Leclerc), who needs a Christmas miracle to save her family’s dairy farm that is in financial trouble. She gets some unexpected help from a supposed rival (Cooper).

I was very surprised by how much I liked this movie. It had some great, not-so-typical Christmas storylines within the characters and their relationships. It was fun to watch the story unfold and root for the underdog trying for her Christmas miracle.

8. Christmas Wedding Runaway (UP TV)

“Christmas Wedding Runaway” is a UP TV original movie starring Sarah Mitich, Candice Mausner, Mimi Kuzyk, and Harmon Walsh. It follows Maggie, who runs away from her own wedding and escapes to her grandmother’s house. Along the way, she discovers feelings for an ex (Walsh).

This movie had some hilarious parts! Think Runaway Bride set at Christmas time. Throw in a handsome ex, supportive grandmother, controlling parents, and secret lover of her fiancé, and you’ve got yourself an awesome, hilarious family Christmas story.

7. Christmas Love Letter (Lifetime)

“Christmas Love Letter” is a Lifetime original movie starring Ashley Newbrough and Tilky Jones. It follows relationship advice columnist Amalie (Newbrough), who returns home to solve the mystery of who wrote her an unsigned love letter in a Christmas card.

I absolutely loved the mystery aspect of this movie, with the heroine on a mission to find out who sent her an anonymous love letter. While it was pretty predictable, it had lots of fun moments that kept me interested and having a blast watching along.

6. A Date by Christmas Eve (Lifetime)

“A Date by Christmas Eve” is a Lifetime original movie starring Vanessa Lengies and Evan Williams. It follows Chelsea (Lengies), who discovers the app she works for, The Good List, has suddenly given her the magical ability to put people on her “naughty” list. She uses this to teach people in her life lessons she thinks they deserve.

This was an unexpected favorite of mine this year. I loved how it seemed different than typical Christmas movies. I loved the neighbors and close friends vibe as opposed to exes reunited. And the little Mrs. Claus magic was so fun!

5. A Christmas Wish (Lifetime)

“A Christmas Wish” is a Lifetime original movie starring Hilarie Burton, Tyler Hilton, Megan Park, and Lee Norris. It follows art teacher Faith (Burton), who wants to find true love and save her art program. Her sister Maddie (Park) puts a wish in for her to find true love, but it doesn’t go exactly as planned.

This was the ultimate One Tree Hill castmate reunion. The storyline was really fun too. A Christmas wish that actually comes true brought the unexplainable Christmas magic element. And I loved how the characters were best friends that found their way to each other in the end.

4. Same Time, Next Christmas (ABC)

“Same Time, Next Christmas” is an ABC original movie starring Lea Michele and Charles Michael Davis. Olivia (Michele) and Jeff’s (Davis) families spend Christmas together in Hawaii every year, but circumstances keep them apart.

This movie was so fun! First, I loved that it was set somewhere tropical because most Christmas movies aren’t. And second, I thought it was such a cool concept to have the movie take place over the course of multiple years.

3. Grounded for Christmas (Lifetime)

“Grounded for Christmas” is a Lifetime original movie starring Julianna Guill and Corey Sevier. A winter storm grounds flights in Cleveland, leaving opposite-personality pilots Nina (Guill) and Brady (Sevier) stuck to spend the holidays together.

This movie was seriously so fun! A typical Christmas “pretend boyfriend” theme but still so good. Misunderstandings, lies, ex drama, and a deal between the pretend couple add extra layers as they actually begin to fall in love for real.

2. Rock N’ Roll Christmas (UP TV)

“Rock N’ Roll Christmas” is a UP TV original movie starring Beverley Mitchell and Catherine Mary Stewart. It follows an estranged mother/daughter singing duo, Ashlyn (Mitchell) and Bonnie (Stewart) Rose, who reunite to create new music for Christmas after a 10-year break.

Beverley Mitchell is a favorite of mine. This movie had some sadder moments due to fighting related to the rivalry in it. Despite that, it still had funny and sweet moments too. I loved the message in it and the journey to bringing a family back together.

1. A Christmas Movie Christmas (UP TV)

“A Christmas Movie Christmas” is a UP TV original movie starring Brant Daugherty, Lana McKissack, Kimberly Daugherty, Ryan Merriman, and Randy Wayne. It follows Eve (McKissack), who loves Christmas movies, and her roommate/sister Lacy (Kimberly Daugherty), who is more cynical about the holiday. Eve makes a wish, and they both end up inside a Christmas movie.

This movie was so fun! It takes my dream of living in a Christmas movie and makes it a reality. Such a cool storyline and concept. The actors were so fun to watch as they learn and grow.

Honorable Mention – Other Networks

Again, it’s so hard to pick just 10. So here are some of my other favorite non-Hallmark network Christmas movies that I felt deserved an Honorable Mention. They are listed in no particular order.

Baby in a Manger (UP TV)

“Baby in a Manger” is a UP TV original movie starring Monica Rodriguez Knox and Michael Morrone. It follows CPS Agent Alison (Knox) and police officer Brock (Morrone), who have to work together to help find the family of a lost baby who was found in a manger during a Christmas play.

UP TV really surprised me with how many good Christmas movies they had this year. This was their last Christmas movie of the season, and it was so good. I loved the mystery aspect of it while the couple tried to find the baby’s missing family. The end result was as I predicted, but there were a couple of twists that I didn’t expect getting there, which was fun and kept me wondering.

Christmas in Paris (UP TV)

“Christmas in Paris” is a UP TV original movie starring Rebecca Dalton and Karl E. Lander. It follows Robin (Dalton), who has to work on a business proposal with a wealthy French businessman (Lander). After initial misjudgments on both sides, they decide to cut each other some slack, and a relationship blooms.

This title was slightly misleading in that I thought the whole thing would revolve around Paris, but only a small part of it was actually in Paris. However, I still really enjoyed it. It was fun to see how the characters realized they both misjudged each other and learned from that.

Twinkle All the Way (Lifetime)

“Twinkle All the Way” is a Lifetime original movie starring Sarah Drew and Ryan McPartlin. It follows singer parents Cadence (Drew) and Henry (McPartlin) who work together to help each other out with their own projects.

I am a Sarah Drew fan and thought this movie was so good. It was an all-around fun, lighthearted movie all about family and the magic of Christmas. I kept half-expecting there to be a twist with the guy’s family being Santa Claus’ family, but surprisingly it didn’t happen.

Snowbound for Christmas (UP TV)

“Snowbound for Christmas” is a Lifetime original movie starring Zarrin Darnell-Martin and Henderson Wade. It follows CEO Adrian (Wade) who gets trapped in a snowstorm with his executive assistant Rachel (Darnell-Martin). While there, they can’t deny their budding feelings for each other.

This was a fun movie with a classic 3rd wheel and snowstorms that work in favor of true love. It isn’t all about work in this movie but more about relationships.

You Light Up My Christmas (Lifetime)

“You Light Up My Christmas” is a Lifetime original movie starring Kim Fields and Adrian Holmes. It follows Emma (Fields), who returns home after many years away to discover the once festive town isn’t celebrating Christmas like it used to. To help fix it, she teams up with an old flame (Holmes).

This movie was definitely worth an honorable mention. It wasn’t a “The Facts of Life Reunion,” but it did have all 4 of the Facts girls together in the same movie, which was super cool! Seeing them all on screen together again, and as such different characters than in their sitcom, was fun.

One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is Christmas movies. I absolutely love all the new Christmas movies that come out, and I love rewatching my favorites from previous years. I live for my Christmas movie marathons every year! Did you have a favorite new Christmas movie from this past season? Let me know in the comments below.