WOW.

Is it the highest praise to say….this was so good I forgot I was watching the Hallmark Channel?

I LOVE LOVE Hallmark, but the level of predictability and cheese is usually a given. Maybe it was the writing…or maybe it was the acting….but this movie was TOP NOTCH….

SO I WAS FLOORED to find out: the lead actors WERE the writers of this movie! Honestly, I didn’t know this little nugget of information until the Hallmark commercial mid-movie when they revealed the behind the scenes clip!

There must be something about acting out your own movie….perhaps the characters mean so much more?….Kimberley Susted & Paul Campbell! TAKE A BOW! I’m equal parts impressed, entertained, and thrilled with your Christmas by Starlight!

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

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ William & Annie. oh my heart. Annie is just hilarious. I could totally see us being BFFs. I love that she always put Mr. William Holt in his place. These two were so fun to watch their layers melt away. You know the chemistry is on point when just watching him look at her is almost better than a kiss…but that last “swoop” I felt lifted off my feet too!
STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ A-freaking-dorable. I thought to myself when watching I was getting “The Proposal” vibe….and also “Two Weeks Notice”vibe……so , then, maybe it’s just Kimberley giving me Sandra Bullock vibes. I’M ON BOARD either way! The main plot of saving the diner really was a familiar story, but everything else they brought along for the ride with their relationship and playfulness made it fun to watch anyway!
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Annie’s parents were so sweet and supportive of her…and when dad delivered his heartfelt speech about family…memories…and walls….I legit cried. I loved the Ted the client and his doggo love! Lyle was the best assistant ever…so glad he got a real title finally!

FEELS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I giggled out loud…by myself more times than I could count! On the other hand, I felt the Annie standing on the front porch declaring she would just take care of things on her own. I don’t know how many times I’ve been that woman standing in a ridiculous holiday outfit trying to just GET.STUFF.DONE. ;)….uh, did that just get too personal?……let’s see, movie feels: already talked about daddy already……but the skating….the toy store surprise….the snow globe….so so so GOOD!

HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️ It was kind of powerful when William had to sit in his guilt in the middle of that diner. My heart clenched. Was it a surprise that she heard every word??? (no….he was projecting like he knew she was behind the wall…..maybe that was intentional?) But…..my favorite part of the whole scene? Her response. It wasn’t eloquent…and it was a lot of words…all to end in “I would be sad.” perfectly simple.

24/25 This one is on my tippy top of the list this year. If I don’t ever watch it again, I will be sad.

P.S. Kimberley & Paul are SUPER sweet in Wedding Every Weekend too

This movie got me all sorts of confused.

When it was first announced, it was titled, “A Christmas Tree Grows in Brooklyn”…which gave me a whole different expectation of setting and vibe….well, it’s “set” in Brooklyn….just Brooklyn, COLORADO. Which is no big deal….except for the main plot of the whole movie doesn’t make a lick of sense.

First things first: Rochelle Aytes. This woman is gorgeous…..like, she doesn’t even seem real. I would almost be mad about it, but she brought so much joy and fun to Erin that I couldn’t.

I have so many feelings about this story….and I’m not sure if I’m crazy or what, but how in the world can you NOT find another large Christmas tree……IN COLORADO….aside from someone’s front yard? And, in what world can a mayor simply commandeer said tree???? IS IT the same world that a mayor’s assistant can invoke mayoral power to cut this citizen’s tree down behind everyone’s back and not get fired?

Let’s discuss

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

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️ Erin carried this one, y’all. Kevin, my friend, have you seen this woman? Not only is she STUNNING. She’s smart, funny, playful….she is AMAZING with your daughter! She saved your freaking tree…and you almost left her high and dry. Ugh. I so wanted to be into the 1st _aggressive kiss….but it just didn’t translate for me
STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️Please re-read the TREE rant above. So. many. questions. I did love the firefighter story, the adoption story, AND Erin finding her true passion in teaching…but that TREE. I can’t with it.
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️Little Claire really did get her Christmas EXCITEMENT level up to 10! Her grandparents were UBER Sweet. Neil and their almost date was pretty funny. Erin’s parents were fine. (obviously I wasn’t that into this one)

FEELS ❤️❤️ I will say…the scene at the fire house when Kevin reaches over Erin….I knew what was coming but it still got my heart pumping a little quicker….and Also, just Erin’s Christmas Excitement throughout this whole movie made me happy….

HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation)} ❤️Single, adoptive dad. Adorably Sweet! This whole tree debacle. Was this a satire? I’m confused.

10/25 I will not be re-watching. I’m obviously still struggling with this tree.

I’m still flush with excitement from this whole movie experience.

I’m not sure why you come here to read my thoughts on life, sewing, and Hallmark movies….but you’re here to read them anyway.

So, I must tell you: my love runs DEEP for Alison Sweeney. I have grown up right along side her since she first appeared on my television screen in Days of Our Lives. I have been a Samantha Brady fan since I was way too young to be watching daytime soap operas (ahhhh the early 90’s).

_{Side note: it is NOT a coincidence that my first born daughter is named Samantha.}

All that considered, I strapped in to watch….trying to be as objective as possible….and within the first 10 minutes I was glued to the screen. I need MORE Bright and MORE Merry! I want these two to make a REAL show. I will watch it everyday. I promise.

SO SO SO MUCH TO LOVE! Tell me you didn’t get Sami vibes from that last scene. 😉

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

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Brian & Mel……Bright & Merry (i mean, how cute are these names?) First of all, Brian just starts off being a pill! Which I was totally in to….only because…you could tell he was jut doing it to bait her! I loved it so much it made me giggle! The tree decorating scene when she just watched him and his reaction. The tears. COME ON! No cue cards? “I’ve got my notes”….”And I’ve got her.” I just can’t with these two.
STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ This was so neat! I loved that they had the show be such a big part of it! They had lots of really different camera angles, shots, and perspectives. He wasn’t really a “Grinch”, and it was very heart warming when he opened up to her about his past. Aside from the producer being really cringe-y by taping them LIVE when they weren’t looking, I loved it all!
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Man, they didn’t really need too much of a supporting cast with these two, if you ask me! However, it was super interesting how the producer was in tune with everything between them before they were. The Mistletoe Inn Keepers….if that ain’t Santa & Mrs Claus. 😉 (actually he does play Santa in a lot of Hallmark movies) The waitress/chef wannabe was….well, she was in this movie too. 🙂

FEELS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Oh my goodness. ALL OF THE FEELS. Nostalgia. Romance. Laughter. I mentioned the tree decorating above. On the flip side of that emotion: Christmas Eve EVE debacle. My heart was in.my.throat. for him. That hurt. Everything came crashing to the best part….the part where all Hallmarkies everywhere are waiting to hear all the love stuff……Brian pours his heart out…..and Mel…..Mel goes Sami Brady on him, and IT. WAS. PERFECTION!

HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I have to believe that Alison Sweeney had a lot to do with that final scene. It’s very her. She plays feisty so well, and I am here for it. Also I have to give props to Marc as well, I LOVED his Brian. When he breaks up Mel’s date….I was super surprised that she busted him…and he just laughs. I wonder if that is all ad-libbed?

24/25 I couldn’t WAIT for this one to be done so I could watch it again! Will Watch over and over again!

P.S. so, I cannot handle this “Three-Legged-Wreath-Race” concept. I think they definitely won by falling down immediately…….the rest of those JOLLY FOOLS had 2 MILES TO GO!!!!! Are you kidding me?!??!!

Hallmark loves…..I have a confession to make.

This is the first “Godwink” movie I’ve seen. I’m not sure why I passed over the 2 other ones in years past….but I just never got around to watching them.

So, if you’re like me and don’t know the concept….these movies are based upon real life love stories where these set of “Godwinks” brought them together. Well, that alone seals the deal for me when watching….because if you were to tell me this was a written story, all these “Godwink” circumstances would be a little too far fetched for me. (and that is saying something)

Brooke D’Orsay is always fun to watch…..and I’m not typically a Sam Page fan, but she brought enough out in him that I enjoyed watching them together.

As a child of divorce, though, I always think the most unbelievable parts of these Hallmark stories is the divorced parents being so kind, loving, and friendly with each other. 😉

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

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Pat & Margie….now, if I didn’t know these love birds were based off a real-life couple, I would have had to chat about the name choice….but different times, folks! That almost kiss….ugh, girl. I get it, you have a boyfriend…but you know that old man don’t make your toes curl. (Someone had to say it)
STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️So here’s the deal: If 1/2 of these Godwinks are true…..this is a love story for the ages! The jewelry….I mean, if they could get Blake Shelton to write up a new song, “Christmas makes my Jewels Fall Off.” They could sell the Soundtrack (of course they’d have to splice in some of those Godwink Bells) Anywho, not a real story…it’d be an eye-roller for sure.
SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️Mama (Grandma) was so sweet. Ex-wife was waaaay to sweet. Kiddos were cute. I can’t imagine moving to a cold weather climate in winter after being in Hawaii my whole life. Big changes for those little guys!

FEELS ❤️❤️❤️❤️ The whole jewelry concept was just adorable to me. I did really feel like they were meant to be this whole movie and they both knew it. I LOVED that she got this major promotion and she couldn’t wait to go tell Pat. It was so sweet how excited she was! My biggest feel had to be: every time she talked about how Pat’s family became her family and showed her real love and traditions, it just wrenched my heart. I watched friends go through this in high school….and it was always so beautiful to see other mama’s mothering their children’s friends.

HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(anything that really jumped out from the “norm” Hallmark Movie equation)} ❤️ ❤️Single dad raising kiddos the majority of the time was a bit different. The whole concept of the “Godwinks” is suppose to be surprising, but they were all pretty predictable

16/25 It was super sweet. Pat and Margie have an amazing love story….but not a re-watcher for me.