Ashley recently told me about this trailer she had seen for the upcoming movie called Letters to Juliet. I think it looks great! I’ll definitely be there in April.
What do you think? Does it look like a winner? What movies are you looking forward to seeing this spring?
Welcome back to the Christmas Movie Countdown. If you missed the introduction last week, I’ll recap for you quickly. I’m counting down my top five favorite made for TV Christmas movies, and today is my number 4 pick!
Eve’s Christmas came out in 2004 and is the story of Eve Simon (played by Elisa Donovan), a successful business associate in New York City. But as Christmas approaches and her skeezy boss hits on her, Eve wonders if years ago she made the right decision to leave her fiancee at the altar and take the internship that has made her the business mogul she always longed to be.
On the streets of NYC, Eve meets a mysterious man–not surprisingly an angel–who sends her back in time. When Eve wakes up the next morning, she’s back living in her parent’s home and still planning her Christmas wedding to Scott.
But as Eve gets to relive her life, she is faced with the same decision that she already made once–badly. So what will she do?
I think one of the reasons I love this movie is that the ending really surprised me. You think she’ll go with the guy just because it’s a sweet Christmas movie, but it doesn’t play out like every other rom com. We get to see her be great at what she’s great at while still being in love with a really cute boy. I also really love Eve’s relationship with her mom. It’s so sweet. It makes me want to go home and bake cookies with my mom.
Catch it on Lifetime this Christmas season, and be sure to let it pull you into the holiday spirit.
Have you ever had to choose between a man and the job that you love? What’d you do? What would you do if you were confronted with that question?
And Katie says:
so I’d only seen this movie once-i guess the year it was new-and never made a point to watch it again so that’ll tell you something…but for the sake of the blog i subjected myself to it a second time – and i have to tell you – my initials impressions still stand. in theory i think the idea of the movie is good – girl gets second chance at righting a wrong in her past (by traveling back in time of course! this is a tv movie after all!) and in the end makes the right decisions that lead to a great life with the man she loves. but the truth is, i just don’t like eve and i don’t care if she chooses the guy or the job or gets stuck in the past or with her crappy reality or jumps off a cliff (too far?). needless to say, this one wouldn’t make my top 5. sorry liz!
Steph says:
I love made for television movies. Made for television Christmas movies are especially wonderful. This was the first time I had seen Eve’s Christmas and, though not my favorite, it did not disappoint. When referring to our last movie, Holiday in Handcuffs, Katie said that one of the must-have qualities of a made for tv Christmas movie is a “completely implausible storyline.” Eve’s Christmas has plenty: wishes upon the Christmas Star, guardian angels, and time travel! Will Eve make the right decision the second time around?
Well, as I mentioned yesterday, my dad and I like to watch movies together. And nearly every time I go back to Arizona for a visit, we take time to go see a movie together, just the two of us. We ususally pick a flick that my mom doesn’t want to see.
Earlier this year we saw Public Enemies with Johnny Depp, and we saw one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies together too.
I’m headed for a visit to Arizona over the Christmas break. So what should my dad and I go see? I’m leaning toward suggesting Sherlock Holmes, because … well, Robert Downey Jr. is a great actor, Jude Law is quite the handsome man, and … oh, yeah … it looks wicked awesome!
So should we see Sherlock? Or something else? What do you think we should see this year?
I love my dad. I mean, I wish that was a normal response for everyone, but it’s not. So I know how really blessed I am. My dad is pretty cool. He cares about people more than anyone else I’ve ever met, and he’s smart, too … which comes in handy when I need a hand updating my resume or have a business question to ask. And I can always count on my dad to be up at 3a.m. on Black Friday to stand in lines with my brother to get the sales. You’ll never find me out there, but that’s one of the cool things about my dad. Plus, we pretty much share the same sense of humor.
That’s a good thing for us. Not so much for my mom. 🙂
So earlier this year, I visited my family back in Arizona. My mom had to work a couple nights that I was home, so my dad and I decided we’d watch a movie together at home. But what were we up for?
We finally settled on Back to the Future. It’s been ages since I’ve seen any of the three flicks. We had a good laugh and figured we’d watch the Back to the Futher III the next night. It was awesome! I forgot how much I enjoyed those movies. (Not the 2nd so much, but hey … they can’t all be winners.)
When I stumbled on this video of Tom Wilson, who plays Biff, I figured I’d offer this video in honor of my dad. Enjoy!
What do you and your dad like to do together?
MizB of Should Be Reading hosts the Teaser Tuesdays weekly event
Here are the rules:
* Grab your current read
* Let the book fall open to a random page
* Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12
*You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
* Please avoid spoilers!
This week’s teaser is:
“It took sevearl nuns and a very patient priest to convince her that she could hear Mass just as well from a different pew. And then there was that episode with the dry cleaner. Sure, they’d accidentally given her favorite blouse to another customer, but … picketing the store? Petitioning the neighbors to do the same?”
pg. 91 – Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson
– This is a really cute book, and I’ve barely been able to poke my nose into it yet, but I have a great feeling about it. What are you reading right now? Love it? Hate it? Why? Any recommendations?
I hope that you all had a lovely Thanksgiving and had a great time with your families. I’ll try not to throw a guilt trip on mine for not calling (Mom has a valid excuse, as she was working, but the rest of you … well, I’ll forgive you this time). 🙂
So I thought I’d share some of my Thanksgiving memories with you. Because of Stephanie’s work schedule, we (Amy, Katie, Steph, and I) decided to have our big dinner and celebration on Wednesday night, which was actually wonderful! It was great not to have wake up early on Thursday to get the turkey in the oven. I had everything but the turkey done, so when I got home from work, all I had to do was pop it in the oven. Then everyone brought their additions – potatoes, corn bake (yum!), rolls, and more.
So here’s a glimpse into our evening …
Fortunately these pictures don’t show the moment that I realized that while carving the bird I’d punctured the bottom of the baking pan and turkey juice was leaking down the front of our dishwasher, and I was standing in my socks in the puddle. (Yuck!) Or when I realized that I’d left the paper bag of giblets inside the whole time it was baking. (double yuck!) I mean, I took out the plastic bag and the neck and wrestled out the plastic thingy-ma-bob that holds the legs. Why didn’t anyone tell me that there was another thing to look for?
And then there was that instant that I remembered I hadn’t put any salt and pepper on it. And that other time when I realized that I’m absolute rubbish (only a British accent will do for this sentiment) at making turkeys! Next year, I will gladly give up the duty to someone … anyone else!
What was your biggest Thanksgiving success … or failure?
Hey guys, so I was supposed to send Katie and Stephanie my top 5 made for TV Christmas movies weeks ago so that they could send me their thoughts. Did they agree or disagree, etc. But I failed to do that until this last Tuesday, but Katie was great and still sent me her thoughts on Holiday in Handcuffs. (We’ll try to get these timed so you can read them all together in the coming weeks.) 🙂
Katie’s thoughts:
While I feel Holiday in Handcuffs is a little too new to be in my Christmas top 5, this movie basically hits all the made-for-tv movie requirements which is why we love it: single girl in need of a guy for the holiday celebrations – check, crazy family trying to have a perfect christmas and failing miserable – check, completely implausible storyline – check, falling in love in less than a week – check, 2 teen tv stars now on the made-for-tv movie circuit – check and check. Plus I can pretty much conjure up the image of Trudie’s (aka:Melissa Joan Hart) home perm gone bad any time of the year and it gives me a good laugh. So single ladies, the next time you are at your breaking point and you’re thinking of kidnapping some random hottie to pass off as your bf – do it! If it works for MJH – it’ll work for you – that’s what I say!
Thanks for your input, Katie! 🙂 You rock!
As a side note, last night I totally watched The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Hallmark’s release last year, with Henry Winkler as a crazy cop uncle) while I wrapped Christmas presents. (Yes, I was wrapping gifts. I can’t help it. It’s all too overwhelming if I wait until the last minute!) I had my roommate Tracy in total agreement that the guy in the movie was well-worth running through an airport to catch. 🙂
As previously confessed on this very blog, I love made for TV movies. I catch nearly every ABC Family, Hallmark, and a some of the Lifetime made for TV movies. So in honor of all the wonderful made for TV Christmas movies, I thought I’d offer a countdown just for you. So every Friday from now until Christmas day, I’ll share with you one of my favorites.
As a disclaimer, I’d like to point out that these are only those movies that first aired on TV, so Elf and Miracle on 34th Street couldn’t even be considered.
Before I reveal number 5 on my list, I can’t fail to mention some others that I enjoy.
Borrowed Hearts – a classic from the 90s that my mom and I used to watch every year
The Christmas Choir – a new one from Hallmark based on a true story
The Christmas Card – totally would have made the top 5, except that the guy is not a good actor. at all.
All She Wants for Christmas – I totally relate to the heroine, who is a bit of a clutz
Moonlight and Mistletoe – Candace Cameron Bure in a sweet story that was new to Hallmark last year
So now … let’s begin the list. In the 5th spot ….
Melissa Joan Hart (oh, yea, that’s Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Clarissa Explains it all) stars as a waitress whose family has higher aspirations for her, but her life is falling apart rapidly, starting with a bad perm (oh, my gosh, that’s one of the funniest scenes) and her fiance dumping her. With her family expecting to meet her fiance at their cabin for Christmas, she’s desperate.
Enter Mario Lopez’s character, who is about to propose to his girlfriend at the diner where our heroine works. She pops him over the head and kidnaps him, telling her family that he likes to joke about being kidnapped. And they buy it.
It’s a funny, sweet story of learning to love your family wherever they are. And that what you thought you wanted in love, might not be what you really need.
Catch it on ABC Family in their 25 Days of Christmas celebration this year!
Don’t forget that today starts the big Christmas Gift Giveaway right here on my blog. Visit, and leave at least 5 comments to enter. Or put a link on your blog for 2 entries and leave 3 comments. Each additional comment increases your chances of winning, and we’ve got good stuff up for grabs. So visit the Contest page for details and come back regularly for your chance at some great Christmas gifts to keep or give away!
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that you’re able to spend some time with your family and share some things you’re thankful for. What’s on your list this year?
As for me, I’m thankful for my family–the whole clan of Johnsons and Whitsons, especially the little ones, who make me laugh. And for my friends in Colorado Springs, who have become my family away from home. For my job and my agent and my publisher and my editor. Mostly I’m just thankful that God’s hand has been on my life, and He is faithful to continue working on me.
I’m also thankful that today in Denver at Invesco Field, the Broncos take on the Giants. Go Giants!
Have a very happy day of thanksgiving. And don’t forget to be thankful every day! -LJ