Month: December 2020

My Hallmark Obsession

Hallmark Movie Review: Christmas Waltz

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ooohhh….I was nervous about this one…

I have seen many a dance Hallmark movie, and let’s be honest, they are never that remarkable. I love the idea behind them….as dance, when it is good, can be so very entertaining and romantic…

Well…..Mr. Will Kemp. Thank you for leading our Lacey in this wonderment of Christmas dance and joy. Our girl, LC, playing the recently dumped, Avery, she needed it! Whew! What a rough way to start Christmas being dumped weeks before your wedding!

Whoever is in charge of these Hallmark Christmas movies this year is NAILING IT! I love that they are utilizing all these actors true talents!

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So here’s how I’m going to break it down:
5 categories, 5 hearts possible in each

CHEMISTRY (between the leads) ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I was leery at first….I mean, if you do have great dancers, the chemistry is on point. When you watch a couple dancing, if they are good…it’s like acing, right? They want you to believe in the story they are telling. All this to say….I loved Roman & Avery together on and OFF the dance floor. I had to deduct a heart only because…girl was just about to get married (and even though, her EX was the Douchey-est of Douches), it felt a little rushed. I’m a total romantic though, so when he tells her to look at him instead of to the left……I was all in!
STORYLINE (overall plot of the movie) ❤️❤️❤️❤️ So much AMAZING Dancing! I loved that Roman and Avery came from very different families and backgrounds…..very different career paths/goals…..opposites attract! NICKY!!!! (I’m saving him for below) The fact that this girl just started dancing…and after 10 lessons was able to fill in as his partner in the end was a bit of a stretch for me
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ NICKY!!!!! this kid. I wasn’t aware of who he was, but I knew he had to be somebody. He’s adorable…witty…and can DANCE EVERYONE’S SOCKS OFF! So, obvi, I looked him up. You might have heard of a couple little shows like “So you Think You Can Dance?” and “Dancing with the Stars”….yeah, he’s killed it on those. Woah, JT Church, I love ya, little man! Also, I gotta shout out to Avery’s friend, Molly! What a sweetheart! Brings a Christmas tree over to decorate to cheer her girl up…and gets her dressed and out of the house when she’s bummed…..SOLID BFF. And, DoucheBag David. he obivously played his part well, cuz I did NOT like him at all!

FEELS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Have you ever heard such a heart-warming explanation of nesting dolls? LOVED that! The dancing made me smile the whole movie through…but Avery, when she turned on the waterworks,….I felt it. I mean, your wedding got a big fat “pin” put into it 3 weeks before it was suppose to happen….girl, never apologize for crying. You deserve a good sob fest. What made me tear up, though? The scene when Roman tells her to look left….little protest….look to the left…..silent crying…..I couldn’t handle it 😦

HALLMARK SURPRISE (anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation) ❤️❤️❤️❤️ David! This might be one of the rare Hallmark films where our “other man” was actually HORRIBLE. Like, mean and nasty. I clutched my pearls when he confronted Roman. However, it did make it a lot easier to believe she could move on so quickly. 😉 ONE MORE THING! Hallmark. YOU CANNOT KISS, BOW, and END MOVIE. GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT MORE, please and thank you!

21/25 Loved it! I want to watch again with my hubby….maybe we will finally schedule those ballroom dance lessons we keep saying we want to take!

My Hallmark Obsession

Hallmark Movie Review: Five Star Christmas

ladybeezdesigns4 Comments

Kudos to Hallmark on another great ensemble cast flick!

This movie flew under my radar for so many reasons….mostly, I’m sure, as it was stuck in the middle of the Thanksgiving week marathon of movies. So, I was more surprised than anything at just how much I enjoyed it.

Did you notice the difference? An ALL adult cast? No cute children to pull at the heart strings? No rescue dogs?

You know what? They didn’t need them! Such a great job of Christmas and family nostalgia mix with all sorts of crazy shenanigans. This one was super fun!

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So here’s how I’m going to break it down:
5 categories, 5 hearts possible in each

CHEMISTRY (between the leads) ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I know the “leads” are suppose Lucy (Bethany Joy Lenz) & Jake (Victor Webster), so let’s go with them. It took me awhile to get into them. They were suuuuuper cute once the movie got going. I loved her very forward approach in every aspect of her life…(can we say Oldest child?) Their make up at the end was painfully off-key but it made it that much sweeter when they just simply said I’m sorry. (more of a long -term-relationship apology than one just starting though)
STORYLINE (overall plot of the movie) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Hilarious. I loved this whole concept! The over the top acting by all the family members, the relationships between the siblings, the family stories, the memories of mom….oh my heart!
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Now, I chatted up Lucy & Jake above…..but we also had brother Will & wife Suzanne (SUUUPER ADORABLE and fun), Dad Ted…and guest Beth (SO SWEET) BUT my favorites have to be Grandma & Grandpa! I had a super fun and crazy grandma so seeing these characters made me so happy! Oh, one more: Chef Francesca! I loved her storyline too….finding her passion in the culinary arts…..also tied to her mama! So GooD!

FEELS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Obviously FEELS were flying all over the place for me! Things I haven’t mentioned: the old video of Mama…..the Sassafras Candy Canes….the early kiss….Christmas morning present opening ( I LOVE GIFTS! They are my love language) But the moment that sealed the deal for me and brought real tears was Lucy’s toast, “To those who are gone, To those who are here, To those who are on they way….” yep….just cried again typing it.

HALLMARK SURPRISE (anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation) ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ The execution of the ensemble cast in this movie was one of the best of seen in Hallmark. Each couple/family member held their own arc…..AND kept me engaged and interested! Love them all!

24/25 Family Nostaglia FOR THE WIN! It would be a fun one to watch with family

Crafts & DIY

No Sew Fabric Christmas Trees

ladybeezdesignsLeave a comment

Happy December!!!!

I know I’ve just been all things Hallmark movies here on the blog lately….but I have been busy doing other more creative activities too.

I really needed to up my Christmas home decor game after watching all those beautiful Hallmark scenes for the last month and a half!

Enter these fabric/trim trees.

Now I’m sure you could find cones in the craft stores…..but I am nothing if not cheap…..so when I saw you could make them from poster board for some pocket change…..I began my forest!

I didn’t use a template at all…..just started rolling poster board into a cone…..taped it all up with good, quality packaging tape….and got to decorating. I got 2 large cones, 2 medium cones, and 2 small cones of varying sizes from one standard poster board.

With only my trusty glue gun as my weapon, I dug through my lace, trim ,and fabric and started construction from the bottom up.

The Lace versions are prefect for a softer look:

These are my kids’ favorites! The green was what I had left of this trim…..but I also love it so much, I might have to buy some more like that. And a straight-up peppermint candy quilting cotton is just glued down in strips.

I then proceeded to fancy it up a bit with the plaid. For this look, I cut 2 inch strips of fabric and ran a long stitch down the center and gathered for a ruffle. (I Know, I said no-sew….you could still totally hand gather the fabric as you glue….but I am all for quick and easy)

Those ones are my favorite!

I’d love to see what you come up with if you make some of your own!