My Favorite Things: December
My Favorite Things” is a monthly segment where I share my personal and current favorites in seasonal products, health & beauty, food, decor, movies, TV, and more. Hope you enjoy these personal picks!
Movies
Love Hard
An LA girl, unlucky in love, falls for an East Coast guy on a dating app and decides to surprise him for the holidays, only to discover that she’s been catfished. This lighthearted romantic comedy chronicles her attempt to reel in love.
This was a highly anticipated watch in my Netflix cue. Even though it was a rom-com centered around Catfishing it was very cute and lighthearted. On top of that, it’s full of fun wacky antics that had me doubled over in laughter with the quiet moments thrown in. I liked that it added some tropes and poked fun at some classic Christmas favorite films and even incorporated them into the plot. I think the cast as a whole has great chemistry and it made the film very entertaining to watch from beginning to end.
A Christmas Winter Song
Clio, a Christmas shop owner, forms a special musical bond with Fred, a former jazz singer. Having just lost her own father, Clio helps Fred reconnect with his own daughter and grandchildren, just in time for the town’s annual Christmas concert.
This was an incredibly heartfelt and emotional film that I loved watching but at the same time, it also made me bawl my eyes out. I’m a fan of Ashanti’s music and I love her films too. I preferred this film over the other film I watched she starred in called Christmas in the City. I loved that the film was centered on reconnecting with family but also how the holidays can be a time of dealing with grief. Clio has to cope with the special memories of Christmas that she shared with her father now that he is no longer here. This film reminded me that the holidays can be festive but also a time of reflection. A good movie full of heart.
Single All The Way
Desperate to avoid his family’s judgment about being single, Peter persuades best friend Nick to pose as his boyfriend on a trip home for the holidays.
I thought this movie was pretty cute. It was super formulaic, but sometimes that’s the kind of movie you need to watch during the Holidays. I’m a sucker for cheesy movies and I liked the rom-com bits mixed in with the overwhelming feeling of being home for the holidays. I also was glad to see a couple of familiar faces such as Jennifer Coolidge and Kathy Najimy in this film from other favorite films. Watching Michael Urie in this film brought me back to the days when he was on the TV show Ugly Betty, which I miss so much. This film was a feel-good movie and I think it is one of the never higher-rated films in my own opinion (from all of the Christmas movies I watched in 2021).
TV
21 Jump Street
Crime in school is bad, so to combat it, LAPD higher-ups decide to send four young-looking officers to high school to pose as students. Cops Tom Hanson, Doug Penhall, Judy Hoffs and Harry Truman Ioki are the “lucky” ones chosen to experience the part of their lives they hoped they’d left behind forever.
Not gonna lie, while I did watch a ton of movies over my time off during the Holidays I didn’t watch much TV. But I did pick up 21 Jump Street once again since I started it way back in Spring 2021. I love older shows and currently, I’m on Season 3. It’s interesting to watch this show from the topics it tackles to the high-action-packed scenes. I can definitely see why it would be called a classic. It’s entertaining for sure and interesting to see a younger version of some notable actors before they starred in the more recent blockbuster films/shows.
Youtube
A Black People’s History of Christmas
I shared one of the videos from this channel back in October and I wanted to share this video I watched about Christmas. I learned a lot about Christmas has been celebrated by Black people over the years and how it has evolved. It’s informative, chockful of history, and it’s interesting to see how traditions that started many years ago are still alive today.
Keeping Arcade Alive with Dance Dance Revolution
I love to watch a lot of Vice documentaries and this video hit a soft spot for me since I’m a big fan of DDR. I started playing the game back in middle school and I’ve loved it ever since. I like how this video talks about how revolutionary the game is, the music that spawned from it, and arcade culture as a whole.
Music
Eleven by IVE
An explosive debut from a K-Pop rookie group at the end of 2021. They show a lot of potential with their strong vocals and dancing. This song is incredibly catchy and it has some cool intricate choreography too. It’s a good dance track that gets you moving.
Nothing Feels Better by Pink Sweat$
Pink Sweat$ is easily becoming one of my new favorite R&B singers. I love his vocal style and his songs are so calming. This is a nice ballad song with a light guitar melody. I end up listening to tracks like these when I’m trying to get my writing done.
It’s A Lovely Day Today by Ella Fitzgerald
During the holiday season, I was listening to Ella’s Christmas album on replay, but I’ve also had this song on repeat thanks to Instagram. It’s a jazzy tune that puts a pep in my step and gets me motivated for a day’s work. Ella’s vocals are smooth as always and it’s got a fun melody.
What are some of your favorite things from December? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
*This post is in no way sponsored
