10 Best Christmas Movies

The Christmas season is my favorite time of year. Notice I didn't just say Christmas I said, the Christmas season, because it isn't just December 24 and 25 that contribute to it. I love when Christmas music starts to play on the radio, decorations are put up all around and best of all you can't turn on the TV without finding a Christmas themed program.

I know some people get annoyed by the commercialization of Christmas and how the season seems to be longer and longer each year and to some extent they are right. But, instead of letting it turn me into a Scrooge, I just go with the flow and embrace cheer and try and spread it around as much as possible.

So here are a list of my 10 all-time favorite Christmas movies.

1. Home Alone - 1990

This movie is a classic and because of it, I think its every kids dream to get stuck at home by yourself and be able to do anything you want.

2. The Family Stone - 2005

With a cast full of great actors this movie is a Christmas can't-miss. It highlights the hilarity involved with being a part of a big family and the pressure of bringing a significant other home for the holiday.

3. Elf - 2003

No best of Christmas movies list would be complete without this hilarious addition. Will Farrell at his finest playing Buddy an Elf  in the middle of an identity crisis and highlighting the Big Apple at Christmas time.

4. Its a Wonderful Life - 1946

This movie is a must see for every Christmas season, a tad more depressing than I remember but, the final scene makes up for it in the end.

5. Four Christmases - 2008

All I can say is this movie is laugh out loud hilarious. You have to check out the scene when they play Taboo, it my favorite part!

6. White Christmas - 1954

Its a Christmas tradition in the Matney household to watch White Christmas on Christmas Eve and it never gets old. Its old Hollywood at its finest.  Every year I hold out hope that I'll have a true White Christmas, so far no luck, but I'll keep my fingers crossed this year will be the one.

7. The Polar Express - 2004

Do you want to take a journey to the North Pole? Well this is the movie for you, all you have to do is ... believe.

8. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - 1989

Christmas is a time for spending time with your family ... even when your family is the Griswolds.

9. How The Grinch Stole Christmas - 2000

If you are one of those people who thinks the Christmas season a little much sometimes then this is the movie for you, if this can't get you in the holiday spirit, nothing can. Take a journey to Whoville to learn about the true meaning of Christmas.

10. Love Actually - 2003

Set in London in the weeks leading up to Christmas, this movie always gets me in the holiday spirit. Follow as the love lives of  several people around the holiday season. What I love though is that it shows that there are so many kinds of love out there, not just romantic love and that it is important to be with the ones you love at Christmas.

It was hard to make this list because there are so many great Christmas movies out there, but, these are the ones I go back to year after year.

What are some of your favorite Christmas movies? Any that you can't believe didn't make the list?

Stop 2 Uruguay : Punta del Diablo.

After Montevideo we headed over to Punta del Diablo a super tranquilo beach town to spend Christmas. Four of my volunteer friends and I had rented a great little house right on the beach for 5 days and some of our other friends rented a house right around the corner.

First day in our awesome house!

Even had some great Christmas decorations! (thanks mom)

View from our Balcony.

It was nice to have a home base for our Christmas activites since we couldn't be home for the holidays. We invited all the Peace Corps volunteers that were spending Christmas in Punta del Diablo, 13 in all (including myself) to our house for Christmas Day dinner. We cooked the most random mix of food possible, fish, ceviche with fish and shark meat, stuffing and mac & cheese (thanks mom!), challah bread, and fresh salad. For desert we had Andes mint chocolate cookies, lemon bars and pound cake with a mango blueberry topping. It was incredible.

Its a tradition in many South American countries (including Paraguay as well as Uruguay) to set off  Fireworks at midnight of Christmas Eve

Christmas morning breakfast - Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls, Scrambled Eggs, Fruit Salad and Mimosas

Our amazing Christmas dinner spread!

Emily, Karen, Alex, Anna and David enjoying the delicious food!

Punta del Diablo is an amazing little beach town. I would love to go back one day and I highly recommend everyone visit. It was great to be able to spend so much time at the beach, something I really miss living in landlocked Paraguay ha!

Bringing the Paraguayan tradition of Terere to Uruguay

Next stop in our adventure was Cabo Polonio, Uruguay! Stay tuned.

Back to the Daily Grind.

First let me say Uruguay was AMAZING. If you have never been there I highly recommend going, it was one of the best vacations I have ever been on. I didn´t want to leave.

The trip started with a 24 hour bus ride from Asuncion, Paraguay to Montevideo, Uruguay. I know 24 hours sounds daunting. But, it really wasn´t as bad as I thought. We sprung for the more expensive ¨full cama¨ (full bed) seats, which I´m really glad we did. Even though they definitely weren´t full bed, they were bigger and more comfortable. We got meals and snacks and free alcoholic drinks to start off the vacation right.

In for the long haul.

Our ¨lunch¨

We made it!

We made it!

Then we spent the next couple days wandering around Montevideo. Montevideo is a super cool city. It is super urban place right on the beach! My kind of place. One of my favorite things about being in Uruguay was getting to eat so much fresh seafood!!

My first few of the ocean in over a year!

The whole gang out to dinner.

Some fun street art.

Our next stop was Punta del Diablo, where we spent Christmas. I´ll fill you in on our adventures there next time!

Holiday Greetings for South America!

I know I've been slacking on the blog front lately ... and there have been a lot of reasons that have attributed to this.

But, I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays and I promise to update as soon as get back from VACATION! I'm celebrating Christmas with some other volunteers on the beaches of Uruguay :)