Tag: disney

Posted in Moments and Musings

Top Five Favorite Christmas Movies

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

Christmas movies are my absolute favorite. They’re filled with hope, redemption, love, comfort, and joy—everything that makes this season feel magical. There’s nothing I treasure more than curling up with a crochet project, a mug of hot chocolate, my warmest blanket, and my dog by my side, getting completely lost in the nostalgia of childhood Christmases.

And yes… I’m a Hallmark movie junkie to my very core.

So today, I wanted to share my top favorite Christmas movies—the ones I return to year after year, the ones that make the season feel whole, and the ones that never fail to bring a smile (or a few happy tears).

1.      A Christmas Carol – The theme of redemption runs strong through this story. I’ve always loved both the book and the movie. There’s something powerful about watching the buildup—seeing all the moments that shaped Scrooge into who he is. I love how the story forces us to confront the future and consider how different things could be if we made positive changes in our own lives (I think many of us could use a dose of that!). But my favorite part will always be the transformation itself—watching Scrooge rediscover joy and seeing how that joy spreads to everyone around him.

By the way, I love the Reginald Owen version, the Patrick Stewart version and the Disney version.

2.      The Man Who Invented Christmas – This film tells the story of Charles Dickens during the creation of A Christmas Carol. As a writer, I love watching how he absorbs everything around him—every interaction, every emotion—and transforms it into such a timeless masterpiece. One of the most powerful moments is his reunion with his deeply flawed father, which helps him confront and accept his own imperfections. This movie has become an annual must-watch for me.

3.      The Christmas Candle – This movie, based on Max Lucado’s story, is pure magic for me. It follows a preacher who is asked to serve as minister in the small town of Gladbury, a town with a unique tradition: every 25 years, an angel is believed to visit the town’s candlemaker and bless a single candle. Whoever receives this candle will be granted a miracle in the form of answered prayer. Faith is the central theme, as we watch the minister struggle to reconcile his skepticism with this cherished town fable. As the story unfolds, God’s faithfulness becomes evident through the answered prayers, ultimately restoring the minister’s faith in both God and humanity. This heartwarming tale is sure to leave you with happy tears. Adding to the magic, there’s a recurring song throughout the movie, beautifully performed by Susan Boyle.

4.      It’s a Wonderful Life – No holiday movie list would be complete without this classic. I have fond memories of watching it with my mom, and the final scenes never fail to bring tears as George Bailey is recognized as the “richest man in town” because of his friends. I love the theme of selflessness embodied in George—he gives everything he has to others, often at the expense of his own dreams, so that those around him can succeed. Yet, in his moment of greatest need, the very people he helped rally around him, providing support and care beyond his expectations. It’s a beautiful reminder that giving to others often comes back to us in the most meaningful ways.

5.      A Christmas Story – Another must-watch movie makes the list. Years ago, TNT would run this movie on repeat every Christmas Day. After my mom passed, we cut the cable cord and moved to streaming services. My girls and I then started a new tradition: watching this movie each Christmas morning while enjoying cinnamon rolls and unwrapping gifts. It’s a silly, nostalgic, and hilarious film—definitely worth watching at least once during the season.

I’ve shared my top five Christmas movies…now it’s your turn! 🎄🍿 Spill your favorites in the comments—I need more for my holiday watchlist!

Posted in Moments and Musings

Is Your TV Haunted?

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

Anyone who knows me knows I love this time of year. I love the crisp chill in the air, the smell of burning firewood and cinnamon-flavored everything. (I say cinnamon because pumpkin is way overrated and I want to bring cinnamon back. I said what I said!) 

Halloween is big around here. We even have a black cat, which the dog thanks us for on a daily basis. (Maybe!) My apartment is all decked out with ceramic ghosts, jack-o-lanterns and black cats all over. There’s pumpkins everywhere!! We even have a small Halloween tree. Pretty much anything Hobby Lobby and Wal-Mart have to offer in the way of decorating is in my home. (Yes, I’m a Wal-Mart girl!) 

So, in the spirit of the season, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite Halloween movies/series sure to put the ghost in your TV and make you sleep with the lights on a night or two. Don’t worry – I’ll help you choose ones to watch with the family and which ones to wait until the kiddos are in bed. (These are in no particular order)

  1. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown – Definitely fun to watch with the kids. No jump scares. Just a boy with his blanket in a pumpkin patch. I’ve loved this movie since I was a child and, at 55 years old, I still watch it each year. I believe in the Great Pumpkin.
  2. The Haunted Mansion (circa Eddie Murphy) – Another one that’s fun for the whole family. Gather on the couch with the biggest bowl of popcorn you can and enjoy! Only one jump scare and lots of laughs. 
  3. The Haunted Mansion (circa Rosario Dawson) – I’ve only seen this one once so I can’t remember if there’s any jump scares. It may be too intense for the super younger crowd. Strong themes of grief and loss but much closer to the actual Disney World ride. Very enjoyable. 
  4. The Craft – Not recommended for tweenagers or younger, in my opinion due to some very intense scenes. Witchcraft is a major theme in this story but this is a cult classic that cannot be ignored at this time of year. 
  5. Poltergeist – Not recommended at all for kids as there are a few jump scares and scary scenes. Also, the subject matter is way over their head. However, it is excellent to watch with all the lights off at night. Go ahead, I dare you!
  6. The Haunting of Hill House – This is a Netflix miniseries. I wouldn’t recommend it for tweens and younger. Some teens may be able to handle but there are strong themes of addiction and suicide. There are ghosts EVERYWHERE, lots of jump scares and it’s an incredible story. Keep a box of Kleenex available for the last episode. 
  7. The Haunting of Bly Manor – Another Netflix miniseries again not for the kiddos. Themes include LGBTQ+ among others. Several jump scares but the backstory is my favorite part of this whole series. Every good ghost story starts with a good story of something tragic that happened in the past. This delivers that history quite well!
  8. Crimson Peak – Now, as a story, this isn’t high up on my list. However, if you’re looking for gothic romance/horror, this delivers. It’s a visually beautiful film with a little ghost story sewn in. Some minor gore. There’s also some nudity and a quick sex scene so not for the younger crowd at all. But – Tom Hiddleston. Need I say more? 
  9. Twitches 1 and 2 – Let’s get back to stuff the kids can watch. These two cheese-soaked Disney movies are super campy but loads of fun. Strong family themes and excellent for post trick-or-treating on Halloween night. You know, after the costumes are all put away for another year and the candy has been thoroughly checked. Safety first! 
  10. Hocus Pocus 1 and 2 – More fun for the family. I honestly was skeptical about Hocus Pocus 2 but it was absolutely adorable! There’s even a black cat that talks. If that’s not fun, I don’t know what is! 

Of course there are others that I didn’t include but are just as worthy, like the entire Harry Potter series but these are really my top ten watches. (Harry Potter is something I watch year round.) Not a Halloween goes by that I don’t curl up on my chair, with my fluffy, fleece tie blanket and a mug of tea and tuck into these movies. 

Happy Haunting! 

BTW – This idea was shamelessly stolen from my sweet sister, Liz, over at http://dippedinsparkles.blog/