Countdown to Christmas - Favorite Movies Hallmark Edition

It's officially time to begin counting down to Christmas, and I (like many others) always turn my TV to Hallmark for the Christmas movies. I have been doing this for the last 4 years and I'm pretty much obsessed. I can watch these movies on an endless loop no matter how many times I have seen them- most of them. Of course there have been some movies that aren't winners or that were just ok.

1. "Matchmaker Santa"

      Heroine: Lacey Chabert as Melanie

      Hallmark Hottie: Adam Mayfield as Dean

      Debut: November 17, 2012

As a little girl, Melanie Hogan wished to find her own prince charming just like her parents had. Now as an adult, Melanie is running her own bakery and dating a handsome CEO, Justin. Although things seem perfect when Justin asks Melanie to spend the holidays together at his beautiful lake house upstate-and meet his mother- Melanie finds herself spending more time with Justin's best friend and loyal assistant, Dean, who just might be harboring a secret crush on her. Complications arise that throw Melanie and Dean together over the holiday, but will they realize they're meant to be?

2. "The Mistletoe Promise"

       Heroine: Jaime King as Elise

       Hallmark Hottie: Luke Macfarlane as Nick

       Debut: November 6, 2016

We meet two unlucky people who both have negative views of Christmas: Elise Donner who is the creator, founder, and co-owner of a travel agency known as World Bright Travel Agency. Her co-owner is none other than her ex-husband, Dan, who switched up the Christmas presents one year and accidentally gave her a gift meant for his car show model mistress, Drew. Then there is Nick Derr, a divorce lawyer who has three Christmas ghosts, or three Christmases that have defined his life. He is up for partner at his law firm and needs a longtime girlfriend by the end of the week in order to prove that he is a serious family man like all the other partners before him. The two meet at a food court over their mutual hate for those treacherous Christmas carolers and create a mistletoe promise guaranteed to make him partner at his firm and give her an opportunity to get rid of the burden of her ex and his girlfriend. The promise is intended to be solely business but the spirit of the holidays and the amount of time spent pretending to be in love might just be enough to actually feel something for each other.

3. "A Royal Christmas"

       Heroine: Lacey Chabert as Emily Taylor

       Hallmark Hottie: Stephen Hagan as Leo/Prince Leopold

       Debut: November 21, 2014

Prince Leopold, heir to the throne of Cordinia, wishes to marry his young love Emily Taylor, a humble seamstress from Philadelphia. But Leopold's mother, Queen Isadora has other plans for her son. Will their love conquer all?

4. "The Nine Lives of Christmas"

       Heroine: Kimberly Sustad as Marilee White

       Hallmark Hottie: Brandon Routh as Zachary Stone

       Debut: November 8, 2014

After a stray cat adopts firefighter Zachary, he meets Marliee and realizes the single life is not as fulfilling as he thought it was.

5. "A Very Merry Mix Up"

       Heroine: Alicia Witt as Alice Chapman

       Hallmark Hottie: Mark Wiebe as Matt Mitchum

       Debut: November 10, 2013

Alice Chapman is a beautiful woman who recently became engaged to go-getter businessman Will Mitchum. When she travels to meet her future in-laws for the first time before Christmas, chaos ensues as she loses contact with Will and runs into who she believes to be Will's brother,then starts the holiday celebrations with the wrong family. Is this just a silly mix up, or is it fate for Alice?

6. "A Christmas Detour"

       Heroine: Candace Cameron Bure as Paige

       Hallmark Hottie: Paul Greene as Dylan

       Debut: November 28, 2015

Two New York City-bound travelers find themselves inextricably linked when a snowstorm reroutes them to an airport hotel in Buffalo. 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.

7. "A Wish For Christmas"

      Heroine: Lacey Chabert as Sara

      Hallmark Hottie: Paul Greene as Peter Williams

      Debut: October 29, 2016

Sara Thomas is the type of woman who prefers to sit on the sidelines at work, but when her big idea for a Christmas initiative is stolen, she makes a wish to Santa that she'll finally have the courage to stand up for herself. Santa grants her wish, but only gives her 48 hours. As the clock ticks, Sara will discover how to channel the Christmas magic and speak her mind all on her own.

8. "Let It Snow"

       Heroine: Candace Cameron Bure as Stephanie Beck

       Hallmark Hottie: Jesse Hutch as Brady Lewis

       Debut: November 30, 2013

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 she 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?

9. "Princess for Christmas"

        Heroine: Katie McGrath as Jules Daly

        Hallmark Hottie: Sam Heughan as Ashton

        Debut: December 3, 2011

Christmas is right around the corner and Jules Daly is doing her best to create a loving home as new guardian to her mischievous niece and nephew. But when she loses her job and an exasperated nanny on the same day, a mysterious and unexpected invitation arrives - travel to Europe and spend a royal Christmas with the children's distant grandfather - the Duke of Castlebury Hall! It's a new world for Jules and the children as they discover their new prim and proper surroundings in the castle, but soon laughter begins to echo in the once quiet halls, filling everyone with renewed hope and joy for the season. And when Jules captures the heart of the dashing Prince Ashton, both of their lives begin to change in unexpected ways!

10. "A December Bride"

         Heroine: Jessica Lowndes as Layla O'Reilly

         Hallmark Hottie: Daniel Lissing as Seth Murphy

         Debut: November 20, 2016

A holiday wedding brings no joy to the bride's cousin, who was left by the groom for her cousin. In order to go to the wedding she enlists a former friend who introduced her ex-fiance and her cousin and he becomes her fake fiance. Will they find true love in the midst of this lie?

Honorable Mentions:

"A Perfect Christmas"

        Heroine: Susie Abromeit as Cynthia Faber

        Hallmark Hottie: Dillon Casey as Steve Faber

        Debut: July 16, 2016

A Perfect Christmas follows a newlywed couple celebrating their first Christmas together.

"Help for the Holiday"

        Heroine: Summer Glau as Christine

        Hallmark Hottie: John Brotherton as Dave Gabriel

        Debut: December 9, 2012

Sara Vancamp is a busy mom with no Christmas spirit. Christine is an elf from Santa's village who wonders if there could be more to life than making toys in the North Pole is sent by Santa to the real world to help the VanCamp family re-discover their Christmas spirit.

Countdown to Christmas - Favorite Movies

1. "Elf"

      I'm obsessed with this film and I have been since the first time I saw it in the 8th grade. It's absolutely hilarious and it's also heartwarming.

2. "Frosty the Snowman"

       How can anyone not love Frosty?! This movie never fails to make me smile and warm my heart. It's all about sacrificing for the ones you love.

3. "Rudolph"

     I love Rudolph. He's so precious and he's such an under dog! It's impossible not to cheer for him and his buddies. Although, I'm not a big fan of Santa's attitude in this film though.

4. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"
      It's so interesting learning about Santa's backstory and where he came from. I feel like this movie reminds us to help one another and to be kind to each other.

5. "The Grinch" (cartoon version)

       Poor Jim Carrey, you just can't top this cartoon classic. The Grinch is such a precious tale of what can happen when you let love into your heart. Christmas is a season of unconditional love, sacrifice, and giving.

6. "The Santa Clause"
   
      I love all 3 of these movies. They truly are classics. I love the family dynamics and the magic in them. Remember, "seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing."

7. "Christmas with the Kranks"
   
     This movie is hilarious. It's such a fun change of pace. I mean who decides to skip Christmas?!

8. "The Nativity Story"

    You can't talk about Christmas without talking about the Christ child. This film beautifully displays the Nativity Story and everything Mary and Joseph went through. Jesus was born on that beautiful night making his birthday a time of love, sacrifice, and generosity.

9. "A Christmas Story"

    This is a classic. I have watched this every year my entire life. I love little Ralphie and his crazy family.

10. "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"

       This movie is ridiculous and hilarious. It's impossible not to laugh.


Merry Christmas everyone! Happy holidays to you and yours!