Celebrate Christmas Eve: Music from the Muppets, a holiday reading from LeVar

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Christmas Eve has arrived!

Take a break from the last-minute mad dash to refresh with a celebratory song and a beloved holiday story — both befitting the day. If you have a child on hand to enjoy them with you, all the better.

The song...

And the (five-minute) story...

Happy Christmas Eve!

Saturday movie review: Obscure, must-see Christmas film edition

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Nativity! starring Martin Freeman

So you've gone through the classic (and not so classic) Christmas movies. You've watched it all, from White Christmas to Polar Express, A Christmas Carol from various years to A Christmas Story for sure, on to The Grinch, Love, Actually, While You Were Sleeping and possibly even Joyeux Noel, too (those last three being faves of mine). Yet you're still craving more festive film fun.

Well, my friends, have you seen NATIVITY!?

No, not that nativity. This...

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Grand giggles and GRAND Social No. 83 link party for grandparents

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link party

My daughter Megan, mother to my two grandsons, celebrated her 30th birthday over the weekend. Mac being the goofball that he is, he provided what Megan called "the birthday dinner entertainment."

Megan shared that birthday entertainment with me — which I just had to share with you, to start your week off with...

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Saturday movie review: 'Saving Mr. Banks' — plus a film freebie for readers

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Saving Mr. Banks poster

As is the case with, well, pretty much everyone around the world, MARY POPPINS has long been a favorite Disney film of mine. I loved it as a child, shared it with my now-adult daughters, and it's the first live-action Disney movie I shared with my eldest grandson — who was immediately enchanted by the film though not quite three years old at the time. 

Because of my affection for MARY POPPINS, I looked forward to SAVING MR. BANKS from the moment I'd heard about the film. I had the good fortune of attending...

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Friday fun: 5 festive favorites

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There are thousands of holiday videos online, and you've likely seen a big chunk of them. But as seasonal deadlines and doings tend to keep us on edge — it's not just me, right? — a little festive fun is in order. So today I share with you my five favorite festive videos of late. Enjoy!

FIVE
When it comes to holiday movie mashups (and you know how I love mashups), they don't get any better than those done by MovieClips. Here's their holidays 2013 offering:

 

FOUR
This one...

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Saturday movie review: 'At Middleton'

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Many readers know I have a, well, history with the romantic comedy AT MIDDLETON, starring Andy Garcia and Vera Farmiga. I first saw the film at the AARP Life@50 Conference in Atlanta in October and afterward had the unexpected and delightful opportunity to meet — and hug! — Andy Garcia. The memorable moment was a fantastic closing to my AT MIDDLETON experience.

Quotes from AT MIDDLETONOr so I thought. Turns out that was just the beginning.

Through an interesting turn of events, I ended up covering the red carpet screening of AT MIDDLETON at the Starz Denver Film Festival in November. I photographed and spoke to not only...

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