Holiday Books, Music, and Movies

This year went flying by y'all!  Now the holidays are here again.  It's time to get festive!  I have yet to write a holiday type article so in the spirit of everything holiday, here's the first of a few.  This hub I dedicate to my favs!  Books, music, and movies!!!!  These are the best of my best! 

Oh holiday hub, oh holiday hub.

How lovely is my holiday hub?

I wrote that song just now.  Genius!!!

What is better than cuddling up with a good book when it's cold and you're trying to relax and get away from holiday madness? Reading a book with a holiday theme of course! Grab a hot foaming mug of chocolate, one of these books, your favorite comfy blanket and get festive!

A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

Last Christmas I put this on my Christmas list because I had never read this classic. Crazy right? Well, if you haven't read it you should. It's a classic for a reason. Classic awesomeness drips from the pages. I love this book! It was published on December19, 1843. They made 6,000 copies in the first printing and they were ALL sold by Christmas Eve. We're talking New York Times best seller list y'all! By May they had printed it 7 times and were still running out every time more copies were released. Have I convinced you? DON'T just watch the movie. READ the book. The story of crotchety Mr. Scrooge and Tiny Tim is now permanently on my yearly Christmas to-do list.

Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances, John Green, Lauren Myracle, and Maureen Johnson

This is a Young Adult book with three short Christmas stories, written by three different authors, that all take place in the same time period and town.  You have to read this book if only for the first story.  In it a teenage girl name Jubilee gets shipped suddenly to her grandparents for Christmas when her parents get arrested and thrown into jail Christmas Eve.   When her parents lawyer calls and rushes her unto a train she thinks her Christmas can't get any worse.  Then she discovers a ditsy team of cheerleaders are sharing said train and the best part, it breaks down in a small town.  I think I cried from laughing so hard while reading this!  The sarcastic humor of this short story makes it one of the funniest I have ever read.  I love everything about it!  I borrowed it from a friend, but I think I'm going to have to order my own copy just so I can read it again and again and again.

OK, so maybe your idea of a Happy Holiday doesn't include solitary confinement with a book. I get that. These are my favorite holiday movies. I just want to warn you, I love me some classics!

The Bishops Wife/ The Preachers Wife

This movie comes in two versions, I love them both. They both have the same basic storyline. It's Christmas time and the local pastor is stressed by low funding for his church. An angel soon arrives to help him with his issues but in some ways creates more issues in order for him to see the issues he doesn't realize are there. This story makes you remember what's important in life. I like watching them both.  The classic has Cary Grant, enough said.  The newer version has some beautiful songs by Whitney Houston.  Time for a movie marathon!!!

OK kids, here's the thing about these old time Christmas movies, they just make you feel all happy inside. Christmas just isn't the same with out It's A Wonderful Life. I watch it every year. If you have made it this far in life and have never watched this movie then GO. Go rent it or order a copy right now!

I LOVE music!!!!  How can you get into the holiday mood with out it?  Of course, not all Christmas music is created equal.  Some of it is drives me crazy!!!!  In general though I love Chrismas music.  Here are some great CDs and songs!!!! 

I love Celtic singing.  The tones are straight and the pitch is dead on.  Celtic Woman is a group of women with beautiful, simple voices.  It's the perfect combo for an awesome Christmas CD.  A Christmas Celebration has traditional Christmas songs and a few Gaelic carols as well.  My favorites are Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas and Silent Night.

If you saw her on Britain Got Talent you know Susan Boyle can sing!  She has a gorgeous voice.  This Christmas album has my very favorite Christmas song, Oh Holy Night.  It also has a few songs that aren't normally found on holiday CDs.  Hallelujah isn't a Christmas song, but it is quickly becoming one of my favorites as well.  She also sounds great on Don't Dream it's Over.  I would listen to this CD through out the year!