The Christmas Films I Never Get Bored Of

Whilst I'm not taking part in Blogmas this year, I did want to plan a few more Christmassy posts as this really is the best time of year and I absolutely adore writing about it. Over the last few weeks I've shared gift guides, festive activities I'm looking forward to, and also my Christmas wishlist, but today I'm talking all about films. There are an abundance of classic festive films, we're spoilt for choice especially with the likes of Netflix and Christmas24 (one of the best TV channels ever) so here are a few I always look forward to settling down to watch each year.

Arthur Christmas

This is still a relatively new addition to our Christmas collection compared to most of the others on this list but I'm so glad we have it to watch every year now. I first watched this a few years ago after seeing so many people rave about it and now I'm such a big fan of it too. The film is about Santa missing out one child at Christmas and so his son Arthur takes it upon himself to deliver the presents causing lots of chaos along the way. It's so heartwarming and just gives you all the feels! A great one to watch no matter what your age is.

Bridget Jones's Diary

So this might not be technically a Christmas film but it's one that always epitomises this time of year for me. For as long as I can remember it's been on TV in December and so each year I love to sit down with a blanket and a cup of tea and just enjoy. Bridget Jones is one of those classic films I could never get bored of. Every time I watch it, I feel the same emotions as the time before and even though I know the ending, I'm always waiting for Bridget and Mark Darcy to end up together. All three films are brilliant.

Elf

It's not Christmas without Elf is it? I can't imagine a year where we don't watch this, it really is one of the best ever Christmas films, I don't think anything like it will come along again. Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf is just brilliant, I laugh at the same bits every single year and it's just a great one to sit and enjoy with family. I also love all the clips of New York at Christmas time too, each time it makes me want to visit!

Nativity

Oh the Nativity films just make me so happy! They're probably aimed more towards kids but I really do think they're perfect for the whole family. The first one starring Martin Freeman never gets old and the second with David Tennant was such a good sequel. I love the new story they come up with each time and Mr Poppy is as hilarious as always. I know if I'm feeling down over the Christmas period and just want to watch something that will make me feel good, these films are the one to do just that.

Frozen

I'm sure a lot of people would argue that this isn't technically a Christmas film but I don't care, I love it. We watch it every year, usually on Christmas day when we're both extremely full after Christmas dinner and in need of a nap! I love the story and how it focuses on the two sisters Elsa and Anna rather than it being some sort of love story again, and also Olaf is just one of the best characters in such a long time. I absolutely love him. The songs too are brilliant, another classic from Disney.

The Holiday

Jude Law. Do I need to say anything else? A film that never fails to put me in the mood for Christmas. This is one I love to watch on a Saturday night wrapped up in a blanket, with a box of Christmas chocolates after a festive day out. I can't imagine a year going by where we don't find time for this film. The cast is amazing - Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black and of course Jude Law and also Eli Wallach as Arthur who is one of the loveliest characters. The cottage in the film always gives me the cosy feels too.

White Christmas

Ordinarily this wouldn't usually be my sort of film. I'm weird, I don't like 'old' films but there's something special about this one. It's one George has always loved and over time I've grown to love it too so it would be strange to not watch it at Christmas now I think. I love our tradition of watching it on Christmas morning whilst opening presents and drinking Bucks Fizz! I love some of the music in the film too.

Love Actually

Probably my all time favourite Christmas film. I just adore it and never tire of it no matter how many times I've watched it over the years! I love each of the individual stories we get and how some of them are tied together and the ending just makes me so happy. Such an incredible cast too! Another film I don't think we'll get anything even close too anytime soon, years on it's still so special. It's one of those films that never fails to make me smile, laugh and cry, it gives you everything you could possibly want in a Christmas film. I never get over the scene with Emma Thompson and the necklace though, it breaks me every time 😭

There were so many festive films I could have included but these are the ones at the top of my list to watch each year. A mix of romance, Disney and some older classics. I'd love to know what your favourite Christmas film is? Do you love any of these too?

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My Favourite Books Of 2018

2018 has been the year I've gotten back into reading and I'm so, so happy about that. After going such a long time without even thinking about picking up a book, I decided that this was going to be the year I went back to something I used to absolutely adore. I've got through far more books than I imagined I would so I thought it was about time I picked some of my favourites. This was a very tough choice, I've read such a variety this year from classic love stories to terrifying thrillers but I've chosen 6 (random number I know but there was a few that I just couldn't leave!) that have stuck with me ever since I finished the last page.

1. Five Years From Now by Paige Toon

There was no way this was going to be anywhere other than at the top of the list. I'd not read any of Paige's books before but I spotted this in a supermarket one day, read the synopsis and then was annoyed at myself for weeks for not just picking it up at the time! When I eventually got round to reading it, it exceeded all expectations. I went into it obviously expecting a love story but it was so much more than that. The story of Nell and Van was so intense and their love for one another so strong, it just breaks my heart to even think about it still. Something about this just got me and each book I've read since has had a lot to live up to. The way Paige writes makes you feel as if you're in the story with each of the characters and going through what they are which is so clever. Every five years when it seemed there may be a chance for Nell and Van, I was desperate for things to work out. Whilst this may have not had the exact ending I wanted, it's a beautiful love story and I don't think it will be too long before I'm re-reading it.

2. One Day In December by Josie Silver

It was so close between this and Five Years From Now for the number 1 spot. It's another book that once I read the synopsis, I knew I would have to buy it. Whilst I expected to enjoy it, because it's the sort of book I'd usually go for, I never thought I'd read it all in three hours because I couldn't stop. It's like my hands were glued to it, each chapter I just had to keep going. It's about Jack and Laurie whose eyes meet through a bus window and they instantly fall in love. Despite her searching, Laurie can't find him anywhere after her bus drives off, that is until her best friend Sarah brings home her new boyfriend. Yep, it's Jack. What follows is a brilliant story of friendship, true love and how if you're meant to be with someone, you'll always find your way back to one another. I was rooting for Laurie and Jack right from the beginning and I felt every single thing they did. I was an emotional mess at times but then beaming from ear to ear in other chapters. It just had everything you want in a love story. It's got a very Love Actually feel to it and with it being set around Christmas and New Year, it would make a wonderful gift. A really beautiful book in every way.

3. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

Different to the other books so far but one that shocked me more than any other book ever has. I've really been into thriller type books this year and this was one that really intrigued me. You assume it's about an angry ex-wife, jealous of her 'replacement' but wow there is so much to it than that. Every assumption you make throughout will be wrong, trust me. Every single time I thought I had worked out who the 'bad guy' was, the story flipped on its head and I was right back at the start trying to figure it out. It was complex but not confusing if that makes sense. It does require some real thinking every few chapters but it's written so well, at no point did I think 'this is too much'. I've just never known a book have so many twists and turns, and the one that is revealed at the end of part one blew my mind. The same thing happened again with the epilogue. I could never guess where it was going and I loved it for that. It kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

4. The Sisters by Claire Douglas

Another thriller that really did impress me. I've always stuck to romance type books until this year but The Sisters was the first of another genre that stood out to me. It follows Abi who moves to Bath for a fresh start after her sister's death. She quickly becomes friends with siblings Bea and Ben, who she soon discovers have some unsettling secrets of their own. From the start, I really didn't know where this was going to go. Weird things start happening once Abi is settled and whilst the obvious culprit is Bea who has been a little weird from the start, it's really not as simple as that and we uncover quite a deep backstory. Given everything Abi has been through, at times it even comes across like she's doing a serious of crazy things just for attention so it really does change throughout and I could never quite work out where it was going to go next. It has a brilliant twist at the end which I couldn't stop thinking about for days and now if somebody is asking for book recommendations, this is always my go to. It always tend to be priced around £2 on Amazon so if you haven't read this already, give it a go.

5. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

This is one of the latest books I've read and it was definitely more of a mystery novel than anything else. Different to everything else I'd already read before it but incredibly gripping. This is about Laurel who is trying to rebuild her life after her daughter Ellie's disappearance. Just as she's getting back on track, she meets Floyd, he seems like the perfect man. Then she meets his daughter who looks identical to Ellie. Instantly it makes you think of so many different scenarios about what could have happened to Ellie and if Floyd can really be trusted. It throws you straight in but we get flashbacks so we can really build up the story ourselves. I loved Lisa's writing, you really do feel for so many of the characters and it was never just a straightforward path to the culprit. The ending was actually really emotional too which I wasn't expecting. I've got a full review of this going up in a few days in case you want to know more!

6. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

This is the book that made me include 6 on this list because I just couldn't leave it. It was the first book this year that made me want to carry on reading and it really made me fall back in love with it again. It was the book everyone was talking about so I was a little worried it wouldn't live up to the hype but I had no reason to feel like that. I absolutely loved the character of Eleanor, I thought she was very relatable in that she didn't have this perfect life and was actually quite down and miserable a lot of the time. She clearly had her struggles growing up and I liked how her story unfolded, leading us a massive twist at the end that I really don't you think get any inkling about. To say it was Gail Honeyman's debut, I thought it was brilliant and I'm excited to read more from her in future.

It was incredibly difficult to whittle down all of the books I've read this year into this small list as hardly any disappointed me but these all stood out to me when thinking back over the year. Now I really do love nothing more than getting stuck into a good book, it takes me away from all things social media for a while and opens up this whole new world. I can't wait to discover even more brilliant books in 2019.

Which books stand out for you from 2018? Have you read any of these too?

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Current Netflix Top Picks #5

There is no better time for Netflix than Christmas. I am loving the range of films and programs on there at the moment and as we've been watching so many festive things, I thought it was about time for another post in my Netflix series.

Jack Whitehall Travels With My Father

I loved the first series of Travels With My Father so I was so excited when the second series finally arrived. This follows Jack Whitehall and his dad as they go on unusual and amusing trips to foreign lands in an attempt to strengthen their bond. The second series sees them take a road trip across Europe to places like Germany, Hungary, Romania and more, all certainly making for an adventure and great TV. It's just so funny to watch their relationship, his dad is hilarious and I just wish they did more TV together. I don't think the second series was quite as good as the first but I still hope they do more in future.

The Princess Switch

Okay, I totally expected this to just be over the top cringe, but it was actually quite a good Christmas film! Far better than I was expecting and one I'd be quite happy to watch again. Starring Vanessa Hudgens, this film shows what happens when a down to earth Chicago baker and a soon to be princess, who discover they actually like like identical twins, hatch a Christmastime plan to trade places. Of course, it sounds like pure cheese and it definitely wasn't one of the best films I've ever watched but sometimes you just need a film like that. It was a nice, chilled out movie to put on at the weekend, a great way to start the festive season.

Christmas With The Coopers

I love that Netflix have a whole section dedicated to the Christmassy films now. There are some great ones on there and one that we watched recently was Christmas With The Coopers. It actually wasn't the happiest Christmas film ever, quite sad at times but I really enjoyed it. It's got a brilliant cast including John Goodman, Diane Keaton, Ed Helms and Amanda Seyfried. It's about Sam (Goodman) and Charlotte's (Keaton) annual Christmas Eve celebration where four generations of extended family get together. What the children and grandchildren don't know though is that Sam and Charlotte are planning on getting a divorce and this is their last Christmas as the family know it. Unbeknown to Sam and Charlotte though, each person attending has a whole host of their own problems going on and none of them quite want to open to each other about it causing lots of drama on the day for everyone. I love that this shows that life isn't perfect and just because Christmas is portrayed as this happy time for everyone, it doesn't mean that's actually the case. It highlighted lots of different issues but in the end showed the importance of family and being there for one another which was so heartwarming to see. Oh, and the dog totally steals each scene he's in.

The Sinner

OMG, why did it take me so long to watch this? When the first series starring Jessica Biel came out, everyone went mad for it and when a show is hyped up so much, it puts me off watching it. We were at a bit of a loss with what to start next though recently so we finally watched this and now, I just wish we'd given in sooner. It's absolutely brilliant! The first series follows detective Harry Ambrose delving into the past of a troubled mother, Cora, in order to determine why she fatally stabbed a man during a trip to the beach with her family, as she has no idea herself why. I loved that in the first episode they throw you straight in and we see the attack and that it's different to other shows in that then the following episodes are all about uncovering the reasons why and going back in time to see what Cora had blocked out for years. I think it's such a clever show and once we started watching, we couldn't stop. We've just finished the second series too which sees Harry Ambrose return to his hometown after a 13 year old boy confesses to poisoning a couple. Again he has to figure out why this has happened and he learns secrets that the town's inhabitants have been trying to keep buried for years.

Nativity

The Nativity films have been a favourite of mine for years and each Christmas I look forward to getting cosy and sitting down to watch them all again. There are 4 so far (the latest is currently in cinemas) but I think the original with Martin Freeman is probably my favourite. In the first film Martin plays a failed actor, now a primary school teacher and he's given the task of directing the school's Nativity play. He and Mr Poppy, the hilarious classroom assistant, tell everyone a Hollywood producer will be coming over to film the play which isn't quite true. Lots of chaos ensues but it's just so funny and heartwarming and it makes me smile each time. The second with David Tennant is equally as good too! Just the perfect films to get you in the festive mood.

What have you been watching on Netflix recently?

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Popcorn Shed Review*

We're massive fans of a movie night in our home. Whether it's a trip the cinema or an evening on the sofa, we're film fanatics and tend to get through several a week, so of course snacks are a big part of that. We love a good bag of popcorn so I was thrilled to receive a selection from the lovely people at Popcorn Shed. George and I have been trying it all out over the last few weeks so if you're a snack addict like me, you might want to keep reading!

Popcorn Shed is the UK's first premium gourmet popcorn brand, incorporating texture into each packet through the form of nuts, chocolate and even dried fruit. This enhances the taste of each flavour and I was so excited by the selection I was sent to try. I'd heard of Popcorn Shed before and their unique flavours but I'd just never got round to actually picking any up! Something else that's a little different about Popcorn Shed compared to other brands, is their funky packaging which is made to be like 'shed' cartons. Each have their own personality and theme so definitely stand out wherever you may find them!

I was lucky enough to receive two 80g packets, those being the flavours Pecan Pie and Say Cheese! I also got a little selection of some of their smaller packets in the flavours Berry-licious, Butterly Nuts, Pop 'n' Choc, Sweet Cheesus and Salted Caramel, so plenty to get stuck into and enjoy!

Pecan Pie £3.50

I'll start with Pecan Pie as that's the flavour I tucked into first. I was super excited to unwrap this, it's not a flavour I'd usually pick up if I saw it in a shop but wow, it was absolutely delicious! The pecan pie flavour is a nutty, buttery smooth caramel popcorn with golden roasted pecans which add texture and crunch. If you like toffee popcorn, I'm sure this would be a hit with you. The main flavour I picked up on each time I took another handful was the caramel which was delicious but the addition of pecans really is heavenly and it just makes it a little different to your basic sweet popcorn. I found this flavour to be extremely moreish which means it's easy to get through the whole lot in one sitting so I'll definitely be picking more up in the future. I also really love the colour of this particular carton, inspired by autumn, it's just perfect for this time of year!

Say Cheese £3.50

The next 80g carton I tried was the Say Cheese flavour which is inspired by a quaint farmhouse chateau shed nestled in an idyllic French ville. I'm not going to lie, I was sceptical about this! I love salted popcorn and I'm usually all for savoury snacks over sweet but cheese flavoured popcorn? I had no idea what to expect. I did end up being pleasantly surprised though! This sharp mature cheddar cheese popcorn is perfect for when you just need something savoury, does anyone else have times like that? I often find in the afternoons, I'm desperate for a snack like this. What I liked about this was that you get a subtle salty hit so the tangy cheese isn't too overpowering. I'm not sure this is a flavour I would necessarily rush to buy in future but I'm glad I tried it and if you're a big cheese fan, I'm sure this would be perfect for you! Maybe a quirky accompaniment to a cheeseboard this Christmas?!

Onto some of the smaller packets I've been trying out. I loved that the selection was a mix of savoury and sweet. It meant I could try out the Pecan Pie and Say Cheese flavours first before opening the bigger packets and also the wide variety in flavours meant there was something ready to enjoy, no matter what I fancied that day. The first flavour out of all of these we chose to indulge in was the Salted Caramel which is a mix of buttery caramel and creamy Belgian milk chocolate - it was divine! I've spotted this in Superdrug on offer for £2 so I'll definitely be stocking up for us to enjoy over the festive period. Another flavour that we liked was the Butterly Nuts. As soon as I saw this packet, I couldn't wait to dive in! Combining rich creamy peanut butter caramel with real peanut halves, it's the perfect mix of sweet and salty.

I've absolutely loved trying out all of these flavours from Popcorn Shed and I can't wait to pick up more! I tend to stick to the same brands when picking up popcorn for a movie night but I think Popcorn Shed have become a new favourite. I love how unique each flavour is, when you open a packet it's impossible to stop, they are all incredibly moreish and make the perfect snack for a cosy evening in. I think my favourite definitely has to be the Salted Caramel or the Pecan Pie, both I never wanted to end. One thing I do really like about Popcorn Shed too is that each of their flavours have a story. The packaging and colours have all been inspired something which I think is lovely, it shows that so much effort has gone into each and every product they sell. If you want to try out any of these flavours yourself, the 80g cartons are £3.50 on their website and you can even bulk buy the smaller packets too if you'd like!

Have you tried any flavours from Popcorn Shed?

*Products provided for the purpose of this post

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