My absolute, hands-down, favourite Christmas movie is A Muppet Family Christmas, which my mother taped off of live tv on Beta sometime in the 80s. That Beta tape was then converted to a VHS, which we watched every year (vintage Toys 'R Us commercials and all) without fail until sometime recently when it was replaced by the DVD. However, we realized this year that the DVD is sadly and heavily edited (something about having the rights to broadcast certain songs on tv but not release on video or DVD, which seems extremely silly), so I've been watching my second favourite Christmas film: Muppet Christmas Carol. Watching it, I've been reminded of how wonderful the film's music is, with original songs by Paul Williams. The soundtrack isn't available for download (though you can bet I've ordered the CD), so I've been listening via Youtube. Here are the songs gathered in one place, for your Youtube listening ease:
"Scrooge"
"One More Sleep Till Christmas"
"It Feels Like Christmas" - possibly my very favourite Christmas song
"'Tis the Season" - the teeniest, happiest little song
"Bless Us All"
"Thankful Heart"
Our version includes the controversial "When Love is Gone," but I've left it off of this because it isn't precisely a Christmas song. It is, however, quite good (and for the record, as a 7-year-old, the song never felt "too adult" for me). Happy Christmas Eve to all! Will you be humming "One More Sleep Till Christmas" all day? I know I will.
I didn't include it on my list because I honestly wasn't sure if I was going to see it, but last night a friend and I found ourselves with the evening free and a desire to catch a movie, so we saw "Arthur Christmas." I think most have written this off as one of lots of the throw-away holiday movies that crop up every year, and I am here to tell you that that is a grave, grave mistake. I knew we were in for something special when I recognized Aardman in the credits (the folks behind Wallace & Gromit, as well as many other things). Obviously, this isn't claymation, but the sweetness and charm we've learned to expect from Aardman was present in this, in spades.
Combine that with clever writing and a truly, truly stellar voice cast (James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, James Broadbent, Bill Nighy, and more), and you've got a sweet, fun, funny Christmas movie that would warm even the hackles of the Grinch's cold heart. I should mention that the friend I saw it with can be kind of a Grinch himself, and there was one point in the film where he completely lost it laughing.
Do yourself a favor and don't write off "Arthur Christmas." See it. Take your family, take your kids, take your grouchy coworker, or go by yourself. And don't be surprised to discover that this is the heart-warmiest thing you see this holiday season.
I don't really have any of my own Christmas decorations. I tend to buy what I need at drug and dollar stores, and then those things always seem to get left behind when I move on. But I've been thinking lately about building my own set of decorations, and I've been madly inspired by bottle brush tree collections.
This one belongs to Andrea of Hula Seventy, and I am insanely envious of it. Especially those big pink lovelies.
These could be fun stocking stuffers, don't you think? Each year, a new little tree to add to the collection. This would work for any holiday collection, too--ornaments, snow globes, etc. I, however, am sticking to my bottle brush dreams.
Have a Christmas door. Found here, no clue where it originated. Hope your holidays are jolly, jolly, but if you find you need a laugh, why not reread this post from last year? It involves Santa and beer. Yay!
In the house I grew up in, nothing said "Christmas" like the muppets. Thanks to Jimmy Fallon, not only do I know that's still true, I also know that they still make me laugh like a loon. This little video has put me in the Christmas spirit more than anything else in days.
Also, sidenote: Jimmy Fallon was absolutely my least favourite member of the SNL cast in recent years, but I adore his post-SNL career. He's freaking adorable. That is all.
If you're subscribed to both my blogs, you're going to get this twice, cause it is getting cross-posted. I love it that much. Merry merry!
