My Favorite Christmas Movies ~ Julie Lence

courtesy Movie Nights at Home

 September 1^st thru December 31^st always seems to go by in the blink of an eye. Labor Day kicks off these 4 months, followed by the start of the NFL Season and everything pumpkin. Leaves change colors and fall off tree branches. Halloween rounds out the month of October, and then most of America swarms the grocery stores for turkeys, sweet potatoes, and pies. Then, Bam! it’s Christmas everywhere (maybe even before the turkey goes into the oven). Every year I make a schedule for decorating, shopping, wrapping presents, and yes, even writing blogs. Some years everything goes accordingly. Other years, not so much. But one thing I don’t let anything deter me from is Christmas movies. Below is my must-see movies every year.

 

White Christmas-- Somewhere back when I was young, Vera-Ellen captured my attention with her dancing. (She is and always will be my favorite dancer.) I remember seeing her in this movie and how in awe of her I was. I really didn’t pay much attention to the other stars, especially Rosemary Clooney, and their singing (except for Bing Crosby’s White Christmas), but as the years went by, I took more notice of Bing, Danny Kaye and Ms. Clooney. Now, I eagerly look forward to this movie, know most of the speaking lines by heart, and always choke up at the end. And I have a better appreciation for Ms. Clooney. Her voice in Love, You Did Me Wrong is exquisite.

 

A Christmas Story-- Hubby introduced me to this movie back in the 90’s. I’d never heard of it and laughed so much, and so hard, that I had to have it on video. Then, I bought it for my nephews, who started mimicking Ralphie and Randy so much that Grandma took the movie away from them, lol. This is another movie I eagerly look forward to each year and know the lines by heart. It’s charming, set in an era I adore, and I laugh just as much as I did the 1^st time I watched it. Christmas Day, TNT runs it for 24 hours and I always have it on in the background.

 

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York-- Home Alone in itself is funny, but I love New York City and prefer this one. I get to see some of my favorite areas in the city, can smell and taste the pizza Kevin enjoys in the limo, and the scene with the bricks still makes me laugh so hard that I cry.

 

Elf-- Another must-see, not only because it takes place in NYC, but because it is hilarious. Will Farrell not only captures the innocence of an over-sized elf, he reminds us life is meant to be enjoyed with those we hold dear in our hearts. The part with the syrup and spaghetti… while I cringe outwardly, I laugh on the inside. (It’s an Italian thing…)

 

Hallmark-- Right around Thanksgiving, I start gearing up for the onslaught of Hallmark movies. I know, most will say the plot is the same, and I suppose in some ways it is, but Hallmark movies bring joy to those who watch them. They allow us to step into someone’s life and destress from our own insanities that come with this time of year, and they serve to remind us that love really can conquer all. My favorite Hallmark Christmas movie is A Holiday Spectacular, featuring the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.                            

Now that you know some of my favorites, leave a comment with some of your favorites, and let me know what your preferred snack is when watching. I tend to lean toward cookies or popcorn.

Merry Christmas, Everyone & Happy Movie Watching!

 

     

Mending Christmas

 

It just wouldn't be the holiday season without a new western Christmas romance to share!

Mending Christmas releases December 12 and I'm so excited for the release!

He’s reckless.
She’s cautious.

When life throws them together, will love mend the broken pieces of their hearts?

Injuries are an inevitable part of the job for rodeo bullfighter Billy Clark. But when a feisty bull tosses him over the fence, Billy lands at the feet of a captivating woman. In that moment, he concludes the pain might be a small price to pay just to experience her gentle touch again. Having grown up as an orphan, Billy has struggled with loneliness his whole life. Yet, the way this woman gazes at him ignites a flicker of hope that he might one day find love.

After years of working in a bustling big city emergency room, Dr. Beth Moore desperately needs a break. She retreats to Twin Falls, Idaho, and settles into the house she recently inherited from her grandfather. When her best friend, Sierra, talks her into attending a local rodeo, Beth never expected to have an injured cowboy land at her feet much less to be so attracted to the charming man.

Concerned about Billy’s recovery, Beth travels with the rodeo stock company to keep an eye on him, while he unwittingly teaches her about the importance of embracing happiness. Will their budding friendship begin to mend the broken pieces of their hearts?

Mending Christmas is a wholesome holiday western filled with heartfelt moments, humor, and a tender romance.

Also, a reminder my Read a Book, Help A Cowboy campaign continues through Christmas Eve.
Every book you purchase (eBook, audio, paperback, hardback - even Kindle Unlimited pages read all count!) helps the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.

I donate 10 percent of the net profits from every book sale from October 1 through December 24 to the JCCF. It's an amazing organization and I'm so pleased to be able to donate to them through my campaign. I hope you'll consider buying a book or two as gifts!

Happy Holidays!

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield grew up on a farm where her childhood brimmed with sunshine, hay fever, and an ongoing supply of learning experiences.

Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

When this award-winning author isn’t writing or testing out new recipes (she loves to bake!), Shanna hangs out at home in the Pacific Northwest with her beloved husband, better known as Captain Cavedweller.

The First Black Woman To Practice Law in the United States

 

By Kristy McCaffrey

Charlotte E. Ray graduated from Howard University School of Law in 1872, and she became the first black American female lawyer in the United States. She was also the first female admitted to the District of Columbia Bar, and she was the first woman admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia.

Charlotte was born in 1850 in New York City to a pastor father who was an important figure in the abolitionist movement and a mother who was an anti-slavery activist. She had six siblings, and their father put great emphasis on education. Charlotte graduated from the Institution for the Education of Colored Youth in 1869. It was one of the few places that would educate a black woman.

Charlotte E. Ray

Charlotte then became a teacher at Howard University where she was able to secure a spot in the Law Department by applying as C.E. Ray. She completed her law degree three years later. In 1875, Charlotte secured a rare victory on behalf of an uneducated black woman seeking to divorce her abusive husband.

Despite Charlotte’s tenacity and fortitude, and that she was considered to be “one of the best lawyers on corporations in the country,” her legal career was short. She opened a law office in Washington DC, but she was unable to gain enough clients to sustain the business. She later became a public school teacher in Brooklyn.

She was active in the women’s suffrage movement and fought for equality for black women until her death at age 60 in 1911.

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