REVIEW: Christmas movies.

as with Christmas music, we only watch Christmas movies for the 40 days between Thanksgiving and New Year's. this list is like SO obvious to me...that i feel as though it's almost cliche to post. but when i'm talking to people about Christmas movies, a lot of times they're not too similar.

so heeerrre ya have it...
the Foster-5's must-watch-every-Christmas-season movie list.

1964--It's A Wonderful Life. (what a heart-warmer.)

source.

1964--Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. ("oink. oink.")

1965--A Charlie Brown Christmas. (my mother loves adores the peanuts.)

1966--How the Grinch Stole Christmas. (it's such a classic, man.)

source.

1969--Frosty the Snowman. (it's just so stinkin cute.)

source.

1983--A Christmas Story. ("mommy's little piggie!!")

1990--Home Alone. ("keep the change, ya filthy animal.")

1992--The Muppets Christmas Carol. (i mean...it's the muppets.)

source.

1994--The Santa Clause. (i like this movie more and more every year. which surprises me every time.)

2000--The Grinch. (i mean comeon...it doesn't get any better than this one, yall. "fa-who, ray-moo, ya-hoo, yee-haw.")

source.

2003--Elf. (will ferrel. duh. plus zooey deschanel...and her character's name is freaking jovie. coolest name ever.)

2005--The Family Stone. (this one's only on my list. i just love this movie. for one thing...rachel mcadams. obvi. but also-i looove their whole family dynamic. it reminds me of the cult-like feel of my own family. haha.)

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2007--Fred Claus. (for one, i love vince vaughn and his extensively wordy-rants...but this movie really is great. it's got the humor, it's got the love story. it's got a great message.)

2009--A Christmas Carol. (the animated jim carrey version. loved seein this in 3D in the theatre with the mullies side three years ago.) (plus, gary oldman. is the man.)

source.

two apparent must-see classics i've never seen all of in one sitting (or at least have no recollection of doing so...)::

1944--Meet Me in St. Louis. (judy garland. she's just so romantic to me, in everything she does.)

1954--White Christmas. (bing crosby. period.)

what Christmas movie is on yourrr must-see list of the season...??

REVIEW: Christmas Albums.

from the day after thanksgiving till we celebrate our second extended family's Christmas on new year's day...we listen to Christmas music, and that's it.

no sooner, no later...but constantly during those 40 days. (and 40 nights. haha.)

having done so ever since i can remember, we are quite the Christmas album connoisseurs.

this list consists of the never-skip-a-song albums that the foster family have come to love over the years...

1965--A Charlie Brown Christmas OST: Vince Guaraldi Trio

(my mother loves the peanuts with all her heart.)

source.

1970--Jackson 5 Christmas Album

(we're big time jackson family/michael jackson music fans. as a child, i would belt out their version of santa claus is comin to town to my imaginary audience.)

source.

1986--Ray Charles: The Spirit of Christmas 

(get it, ray.)

source.

1994--Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas 

(classic. and hand's down the best Christmas album of all time. don't even argue.)

source.

1994--A Very Merry Chipmunk 

(folks may disagree with this chipmunk choice...and maybe rightly so, but this is the one we grew up with.)

source.

1997--Hanson: Snowed In 

(obviously. isaac, taylor, and zac treated 1997 well.)

source. (and this album cover is hilarious.)

2000--One Silent Night 

(this album consists of powerful Christian female vocals...with rachael lampa's "i choose you" and crystal lewis's "oh holy night".)

source.

2003--Relient K: Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand 

(relient k, fo lyfe. "i celebrate the day". nuff said.)

source.

2003--Michael English: A Michael English Christmas 

(he is a foster-family fave. of course the best "mary, did you know?" around...and we love "go tell it on the mountain".)

source.

2005--Natalie Grant: Believe 

(i just love her. period.)

source.

2008--The Hotel Café Presents Winter Songs 

(sara, ingrid, fiona, colbie, kt, brandi carlile, kate havnevik, laura jansen...need i say more.)

source.

2009--Ben Rector: Jingles and Bells 

(cause i mean...it's ben rector.)

source.

2012 albums that will soon join this list:

Blake Shelton: Cheers! (when you duet with miranda lambert, kelly clarkson, pistol annies, and michael buble...you've won my vote. and his Christmas special last night had me rolling.)

Christina Perri: A Very Perri Christmas (speaking of love.)

Colbie Caillat: Christmas In The Sand (she duets with brad paisley, gavin degraw, michael buble, and jason reeves.)

Ceelo's Magic Moment (this is definitely a guilty pleasure. haha. kind of like ke$ha.) (featuring christina and the muppets. i'm a sucker.)

Single Songs that deserve Honorable Mention:

Judy Garland: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (i don't know why, but the sound of it always makes me cry.)

Mahalia Jackson: Silent Night, Holy Night (so soulful, so powerful.)

Elvis: Santa Claus Is Back In Town; Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me

Elton John: Step Into Christmas

Slade: Merry Christmas Everybody (so fun.)

Mannheim Steamroller: Deck the Halls (when i was young, i loved this album-and especially this song. i used to just dance around the living room like an idiot to it.)

Whitney Houston: Do You Hear What I Hear? (possibly the single greatest Christmas song of all time.)

Celine Dion: Happy Christmas-War Is Over (a best-of list is not a list without celine. i love me some john lennon, but this version hasn't been as overplayed.); Don't Save it All For Christmas Day (great message; great vocals, obvi.); Oh Holy Night (my favorite Christmas song.)

*NSYNC: Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays (duh.)

Point of Grace: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

Christina Aguilera: This Christmas

Charlotte Church ft. Billy Gilman: Dream a Dream (seriously LOVED this song when it came out back in 2000. i would blast this with my door locked and just wail to hit those notes.)

Avalon: Jesus Born On This Day; We Are The Reason

Little Isidore & the Inquisitors: Christmas of Love (this song is from the grinch, with jim carrey...and it just makes me laugh. haha. love it. "the faaarrrsss of looove.")

Kelly Clarkson: Oh Holy Night (did i mention this was my favorite Christmas song?? ha. and she kills it.)

Richard Marx: Santa Claus Is Back In Town (great, bluesy cover of elvis' version.)

Brad Paisley & Sara Evans: New Again (this is such a powerful song to me.)

A Fine Frenzy: Blue Christmas; Winter Wonderland (love her.)

Little Big Town: Go Tell It On The Mountain; Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

The Honey Trees: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Michael Buble: White Christmas (a great cover of a great classic with a buble/shania twain twist); Jingle Bells (jazzy version with the puppini sisters)

She & Him: I'll Be Home For Christmas; Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Sara Bareilles: (no surprise here.) Love Is Christmas; Baby, It's Cold Outside-ft. Ben Folds

Grace Potter: Please Come Home For Christmas; Naughty-Naughty Children-Better Start Actin Nice (i have loved her since the moment she came on one tree hill.)

like i said...connoisseurs. we love our music.

you can find all this music on amazon or iTunes.)
new december playlist comin your way soon.

what's YOUR favorite Christmas album, artist, or song...??