I can’t believe I’ve had this new website (can I still call it new?) and blog for a year. A year of my mom and a few other people reading what I write and I am SO GRATEFUL. This blog is a space to share what makes my heart happy, what I find fun and of course, most importantly – my work as a photographer in the Fredericksburg/Stafford VA area (and beyond!). When I started working on my blog calendar for December, I realized I really wanted to share a little bit about who I was when the holidays came around – my decorations, my memories, my traditions. Christmastime is such a beautiful time of year no matter who you are or what you celebrate. There’s just something different in the air. Love, laughter and magic. 

So I came up with my Home for the Holidays series. It’ll only be a few posts throughout the month, but it will be a great way to share a little bit about who I am and what the holidays mean to me. I hope that we’ll find we have more in common than we knew before + maybe we’ll inspire each other with our traditions + experiences. Since I wanted to get this started now that December is here, I’ve got my first post below on my top three favorite Christmas movies! The movies made for the holidays are extra packed with love + joy and of course, Christmas spirit. I think they’re some of the most incredible and touching films ever created and all of them have a memory associated with them, am I right? We watch these movies because they make us feel warm and happy and loved.  I want to hear what your favorites are after you read mine!  

-Mrs. Santa Claus: I feel like the world doesn’t know about this film. And world? That makes me sad for you. This movie has everything I never knew I needed in it when it comes to a Christmas movie: Angela Lansbury, Terrance Mann, songs and New York City in the early 1900’s. Not to mention social activism and Hanukkah. In all seriousness, this has been one of my all time favorite Christmas movies since I was kid and I’m thankful. It’s a beautiful story about the woman who stands beside the big guy every year and a reminder that we all have to spread our wings + find out who we are. Just, maybe without the reindeer? Either way, the movie is full of fun songs that you’ll sing for days (no, really), a stellar cast (Mann played the Beast when Beauty and the Beast opened on Broadway and if he doesn’t convince you that even the bad guys look good at Christmas, well…. you’re blind), and a love story. I love watching the Mrs. figure out what her role is and the big guy himself realizing we can’t do everything alone – we need those we love most every day, but more than ever on Christmas. 

-White Christmas: White Christmas is SUCH a classic, so I hope it’s not a surprise this movie is on my list. I have such fond memories of watching WC with my family – my parents, my sister, my grandparents, even my great-grandparents – so I know that’s why it means so much to me. There’s no denying that you feel more Christmas-y (is that a thing?) after watching Danny Kaye + Rosemary Clooney + Bing Crosby + Vera Ellen dance and sing. This movie makes me cry no matter how many times I watch it + makes me want to dance. It’s just… perfect. Every song means so much to me, some memory attached to it – including my grandparents singing “Sisters” whenever my sister and I disagreed, listening to “Count Your Blessings” with my old roommate in college at midnight and just laughing through every scene Danny Kaye is in with my parents year after year. (not going to lie, teared up writing this… I’m such a sap!). 

-The Year Without a Santa Claus: Rankin and Bass are GENIUSES and honestly, if you don’t agree I don’t think we can be friends anymore. They’ve given us so many of the wonderful movies families enjoy year after year (including “Mr. Postman”, as I call Here Comes Santa Claus!), but The Year without a Santa Claus is without a doubt my favorite. Can you guess why?? If you said the Miser Brothers then you WIN. I don’t know what you win, but you win! Christmas spirit?! Anyway. Point is: this is another classic I have such wonderful memories of. And I would by lying if I didn’t start singing the Miser Brothers’ songs every time it hits 100 degrees around here… The animation, the music… it’s just one for the books! Which is your favorite Rankin & Bass film? 

BONUS!! Three of my other favorite movies this time of year: Muppets Christmas Carol (If you haven’t seen this, then you’re not really living), the Polar Express (The Polar Express is magnificent – the artwork, the animation, the story + the music. It makes me cry every year too. I hope I never stop believing) + Charlie Brown’s Christmas (so much so that my nativity set is actually the scene of their Christmas play! It’s a classic, people!).  

Tell me all about your favorite movies! I’m always looking for new classics to share with Ryan + my family. I love being able to snuggle in each night and find a good Christmas movie to watch. It’s the perfect way to wind down this time of year – the Christmas lights glowing in the background, maybe snow falling, a big fluffy blanket and the big man himself on my screen. What could be better?

Happy holidays!

Kristina