Lifestyle of a Fashionista

Five on Friday

December 23, 2022

“A little ‘Bonjour’ goes a long way.” – Emily, Emily in Paris

One: Cheesy Movie Update

I wrote about cheesy Christmas movies on December 2nd and challenged myself to watch 25 cheesy movies by December 25th.

When I started the challenge, I was going only to watch 2022 movies. I had enough to choose from; according to Vulture, 153 new holiday movies were released this year from October to December. There Are 153 New Holiday Movies This Year. Every Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa film made for Lifetime, Hallmark, and more, organized by theme. “The grand total of original holiday films in 2022 is, by our count, a startling 153, appearing across 25 television networks and streaming services.” I’ve watched 12 of these movies in my challenge so far. 

I have not been able to keep up with my cheesy movie challenge. This week I was distracted by family activities and Emily in Paris season 3 release. I have watched 21 cheesy Christmas movies this year; a few were released before 2022, and I watched a couple before my challenge started.

Read about it: https://lifestyleofafashionista.com/2022/12/23/cheesy-christmas-movie-update/

Two: What to watch

Netflix:

Films:

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, In the follow-up to Rian Johnson’s Knives Out, Detective Benoit Blanc travels to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery involving a new cast of colorful suspects.

A Not So Merry Christmas, Cursed by a fairy, grinchy Chuy wakes up to discover he’s lived a full year, but is doomed to remember only Christmas Day. Every year. From now on.

Disconnect: The Wedding Planner, After falling victim to a scam, a desperate man races the clock as he attempts to plan a luxurious destination wedding for an important investor.

December 25th: Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical, An extraordinary girl with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination takes a daring stand to change her story — with miraculous results. Meet Matilda.

Series:

Emily in Paris (season 3), A year after moving to Paris for her dream job, Emily arrives at a career and romantic crossroads that will force her to decide where her future lies. I’m obsessed with this show’s fashion and drama, and season 3 has wild outfits and a lot of drama.

Here’s a taste of one of the unusual items Emily wears that reminded me (and my niece of a loofa).

Piñata Masters! 

Documentaries:

I AM A KILLER (season 4), Premeditated deeds, tragic accidents or acts of self-defense? Murderers recount the harrowing crimes that landed them in prison with life sentences.

Hulu:

December 25th: The Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade: Livestream (ABC)

Disney+:

Strange World (adventure/comedy film), The Clades are a legendary family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest and most crucial mission into uncharted and treacherous territory.

Prime Video:

When Hope Calls Christmas, The little town of Brookfield is selected by a national magazine to be featured for its holiday spirit, with the Brookfield residents banding together to turn their community into a Christmas wonderland.

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, season three. The third season of the Tom Clancy series will consist of eight episodes, all of which will be released on Dec. 21, 2022. I have family members who are excited to watch this season.

From the Ringer, Amazon Is Cornering the Dad TV Market

HBOmax:

I Hate Suzie, (Max Original season 2 premiere). Suzie Pickles has her life upended when she is hacked and pictures of her emerge online in an extremely compromising position. Aided by her best friend and manager, Naomi, Suzie tries to hold her life together.

The Head (season 2), In the middle of the winter, a small group of scientists are in charge of an international base in Antarctica. During the long polar nights, the base stops communicating with the outside world.

Peacock:

The Best Man: The Final Chapters, limited series, episodes 1–8. “Something must be in the water to keep the cast of this limited-series coda to the Best Man franchise looking this ageless. But rest assured, 23 years after the 1999 origin flick and almost a decade past the 2013 sequel, The Best Man Holiday, the challenges faced by the now-A-list costars in these eight episodes are just as timeless.” TV Insider

In Theaters:

Babylon (drama/comedy drama), Decadence, depravity, and outrageous excess lead to the rise and fall of several ambitious dreamers in 1920s Hollywood.

I Wanna Dance with Somebody (musical drama), Discovered by record executive Clive Davis, Whitney Houston rises from obscurity to international fame in the 1980s to become one of the greatest singers of her generation.

Corsage (drama/historical drama), Faced with a future of strict ceremonies and royal duties, Empress Elisabeth of Austria rebels against her public image and comes up with a plan to protect her legacy. A New York Times critic’s pick.

No Bears (drama), Follow two parallel love stories in which the partners are thwarted by hidden, inevitable obstacles, the force of superstition, and the mechanics of power. A New York Times critic’s pick.

Living (drama), A veteran civil servant receives a medical diagnosis that inspires him to move to the south coast and cram some fun into his remaining days. He meets a sunny young female colleague who seems to have the pep that had previously escaped him.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (animated adventure/comedy), Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll: he has burnt through eight of his nine lives. Puss sets out on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.

Three: What to wear

Sequins (and sparkles) –

From InStyle: Spice Up Your Holiday Wardrobe With These Sparkly Amazon Styles, Starting at $11 and How to Wear Sequins and Shine Without Feeling So Extra. “Sure, sequins have long been associated with seasonal parties, and when they catch the light just so they do mimic holiday decorations. But there are a number of ways to style sparkly pieces for everyday wear that adds a bit of fun.“

For women:

15 Sequin Dresses To Sparkle In This New Year’s Eve

Men:

Four: What to Try

Red Wine in Hot Chocolate

From New York Magazine, How to Make Red-Wine Hot Chocolate for Your New Year’s Eve Party

From PopSugar, Try Adding Red Wine to Your Hot Chocolate For a Boozy Comfort Drink

New York Times article from 2016, Red Wine Hot Chocolate Is a Thing, and It’s (Surprisingly) Delicious

1) Make some hot chocolate.

2) Put some red wine in it.

3) Add whipped cream (or marshmellows) on top.

4) Take the Instagram picture.

5) Drink.

Five: What to do

Unplug and be in the moment.

The yoga retreat I attended this year at Kripalu encourages guests to be mindful of their use of electronics. I left my phone in my room and one of my biggest takeaways from the weekend was to reduce my screen time and be present when interacting with other people or nature. I realized I used my phone too much, even when watching television.

When visiting with friends and family during the holidays, put your phone away and be present.