Merry Monday, friends!
Please insert all of the obnoxious, over the top Christmas cheer right HERE! 🙂
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had the best week with Andrew’s parents and then finished the weekend off with my mom and dad. It was filled with family, so much food, Christmas movies and lots of staying in our pajamas.
Today, I thought there would be no better way to kick off the first official Monday of the holiday season like a big ole batch of all my favorite Christmas things. If you need a little help getting into the spirit, look no further than RIGHT HERE!
Let’s start with…
…my CHRISTMAS PLAY LIST!! I shared this list last year and received SO MANY SWEET COMMENTS ABOUT IT! I am so happy that you all love my playlist too!! This year, I added a few extra songs to make the season even a bit more merry.
Take a look…
It’ one hour and nineteen minutes of Christmas cheer. You can listen HERE!
This season, I also created…
…a December Holiday Bucket List!
If you and your family are looking for a few festive, fun and easy ways to celebrate the season each day, I have ideas for you! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, growing up, my parents did an amazing job at incorporating little things into each day leading up to Christmas to really get us in the spirit. You don’t have to spend a lot of money (or any money!) to do something festive each day. I hope you and your kiddos try these and get into the holiday spirit with us too!!
Speaking of the holiday spirit, my annual Christmas Book Review is coming up later this week, but in the meantime, if you need something festive to read right now…
…make sure you catch my FAVORITE CHRISTMAS BOOKS! All of these reads are sure to put you in the holiday spirit!
Speaking of which…
…nothing (absolutely nothing!) makes me happier this time of year than watching a Christmas movie! In fact, as I type this very sentence, I’m watching The Holiday in my office for the 4 billionth time. What’s your favorite Christmas movie? I would love to know!!
If you were busy celebrating last week and missed this…
…I posted both my Black Friday Gift Guides HERE and…
…my ultimate Trader Joe’s Christmas List!
So much Christmas cheer 🙂 .
Okay, I’m off to get back into some sort of “normal” routine now that our Thanksgiving break is over. Here’s to hoping you have the Merriest Monday!! I’ll see you back here tomorrow! xx
Erika Slaughter says
Merry Monday, Friend! It’s the most wonderful time of the year!!
Kristen Hardison says
Can’t WAIT for the Christmas Book Review! I always read your blog first thing in the morning and my day always starts better when it’s Book Review Day! Dying to see if you read “Always in December” – I did and loved it! I also re-read the Josie Silver one called “One Day In December” because I loved it so much a few years ago. Have a great Monday, Shay! Loved seeing Kensington in the church play yesterday! ❤️
Mix and Match Mama says
Awwwww! Thank you!!! It was a special day 🙂 !
Katie W. says
Did you see the Hallmark movie based on the book Let It Snow? It was cute – not as good as the book but really enjoyable ♥️♥️♥️
Katie W. says
For clarification, the Hallmark version is called Nantucket Noel! It’s based on Let It Snow in a loose way.
Jill says
Have you ever listened to Straight No Chaser? They are the acapella group from Harvard. Look up their Christmas album….it’s fantastic!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes!! Their music is so much FUN!!!
Jodie says
SNC is from Indiana University…saw them live on campus on the early 2000’s!
junewren says
I enjoy your post
Sheaffer says
My goodness I’m feeling FESTIVE!!!
Marilyn says
Great playlist, but also a suggestion to listen to Gwen Stefani’s Christmas album. She has some great, fun songs!
Elspeth says
I just picked up some Christmas library books that I can’t wait to read! I love this list!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Kelli says
Have you read the Christmas bookshop by Jenny Colgan, picked it up this weekend, along with 3 more- I plan to do nothing but read holiday books this December ?
Jodie says
Just added your playlist to my Apple Music library! ?
Going to check out a couple of your recommended books too! ?
Susy says
Would love a list of your favorite Christmas hymns!
Joanne says
We just watched a new Christmas movie this weekend– 8 bit Christmas and loved it. It was such a cute family movie set in the movies when Neil Patrick Harris as the main character was trying everything he could to get a new Nintendo Entertainment System.
Summer says
I love watching the Christmas special episode for Downton Abbey at the end of season 2. It’s so good!!
Heather G. says
You should watch the Netflix Original Movie, Love Hard. It was funny and cute!
Laura says
Shay! I listened to the whole Winter Street series at your recommendation. I’ve picked up so many books this year that I otherwise would not have, like “Not a Happy Family,” “The Girls in the Stilt House,” and “Class Mom,” ALL from your recommendations, and keep telling all my friends to read them, too! Thank you for all the fun reads!! 🙂 Question for you – if I liked Winter Street, do you think I’d *more* enjoy reading other Elin Hilderbrand books, or other books on your Christmas reads list?
Becky Carl says
Christmas Chronicles 1 and 2 on Netflix are my new favorite Christmas movies! So funny!
Stephanie Harris says
You really should add Last Christmas to your movie favorites. The streets of London during Christmas are breathtaking. I’ll admit it’s not always a kids appropriate but I watch it over and over again just to see London. George Michael music is fun too.
Marie says
You NEED to watch Netflix Christmas Chronicles with your kids! E watched it for the first time last year and I think that is now my new favorite Christmas movie! And Kurt Russell as Santa!? I mean come on, does it get better than that? ?
Mary Elliott says
Thanks for the playlist! I love it! My favorite is definitely Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas ?? pulls at all of my holiday heart strings!
Rachel Kazmier says
The Holiday for me too! In fact while the Cotswold aren’t on the agenda this May, Scotland and its countryside are! So I’m hoping for a little holiday feel in the cute towns we are staying in. I do love to plan our europe trips! We do local as much as possible and avoid big hotels!
Anne says
Love your book list–thank you! I read only holiday books between Black Friday and Christmas. Have you read Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher? FAVORITE Christmas book!
Charlotte says
I love your book reviews and look forward to them every month!! But I’ve gotta say…every year when I see Pride, Prejudice, and Mistletoe still on your list of favorite Christmas books, I cringe. I wish you would reread it and consider taking it off. I thought it was a horrible book, just one big drunken, sex-filled, offensive mess. I know you’ve read better Christmas books than this one!!
Mix and Match Mama says
All that aside, I liked that one! Ha! They even turned it into a Hallmark movie. I don’t know…I enjoyed that one.
Libby says
Lauren Daigle has a Christmas album that I think you’d like. I know you’re not an avid Christian music lover, but she is a great musician.