Since Christmas day marks the week before year’s end and one week before New Year’s, it can be a bittersweet time filled with mixed emotions. Ahhh.. but light-hearted holiday entertainment shows and movies can help us lighten up if we feel stressed.
On that note, I have 3-holiday entertainment mentions below worth checking out …plus, a good, sweet without bad sugar dessert recipe you can health-consciously bake year-round in one bowl without a mixer. That can be exciting, and worth sticking around for until the end (of the blog article, of course, plus staying up past midnight on Dec. 31st).
…And somewhere in between is December 25, where we can easily forget that just a month ago, we celebrated Thanksgiving and gratitude for the things we have in our lives. In the happy holiday spirit, December and Christmas are opportunities to dig deep in our well, be reflective for the year, and find more appreciation for our happiness’ sake.
Christmas is always an eventful time to find hope and peace. And be happy and healthy. And that can include skipping, baking, and inspiring yoga moves! Why not?
I plan to be in the kitchen. And, here’s my illustrative yoga guide for those who will be busy holiday joy baking and wanting to unwind like a pretzel in front of the television (or holiday entertainment of choice) 😊:
If you celebrate, there’s a big buildup to Christmas that probably started way earlier in the year …remember Christmas in July promotions? This year is probably no different where you’re not hit by deer lights…
In the past, as the years rolled by, the Christmas time of year could grow to mean more to you as you grew, changed, and settled into your more mature wisdom.
You’ve mellowed out from younger years, have seen and done more, and maybe are even more comfortable in living with the mantra: no news is good news. I know I have.
If so, you’ve probably adopted contentment (or more than in the past) and that helps to smooth ripples, be happy daily, and satisfied with life as is.
…Things could be worse, and thankfully it’s not. So you then feel appreciative. And those (and your) beliefs can shape your optimism.
In life’s mysterious ways and combination of mind-body factors, the thought-life and moods can hang over like a heavy, gray cloud. And you can feel like your mind won’t allow you to feel gratitude and optimism. It can feel like an uphill battle to try and win over an internal fight. And letting go isn’t always so easy…
Is that just me?
I find that when I have a moment where I feel a little sorry for what’s not happening and just need a little comfort, laughter never gets old, as one of the best medicines.
Cleansing tears from humorous holiday entertainment or heart-felt movies, series, or shows can be just what the doctor ordered. And then after watching, I’m good as new. That’s this life, so we can feel.
And what we feel from recently watched holiday entertainment shows can show up refreshed in your thought life and moods the next day or week, so it’s better to pick ones with fun and happy lines or stories.
Here are 3 of my holiday entertainment picks (maybe they’re good for you also)… which btw, I’ve yet to meet a close friend who likes the same quirky shows as I do. I’m not talkin’ about Friends and the popular shows that everyone watches.
So I’m goin’ out on a limb here…
The first one I wanted to mention is actually not a show, but an old classic movie, The Sound of Music. (Ok, if you’re worried about the other two mentions I haven’t yet mentioned… don’t worry and maybe chill if that helps you… the other two are shows from this century, I promise 😅).
Anyway, TSOM movie in full color (but barely, like tea stains), has a hopeful message, so that’s why I’m bringing it up now and to this modern era.
If you’ve never seen or forgotten what this movie is about, it starts out with actress Julie Andrews as a young lady in an abbey prepping to be a nun, but soon discovers she’s not cut out for the job.
Sound a ‘lil familiar? I know it does for me having taken a hairpin turn or two early on. None of the nunnery kind though.
But, the movie plot is a metaphor for our lives that can change in an instant and that a better plan can be out there for us if we’re willing to stay open and hang in there. It can help us get through the holidays (and if you have kids this could be a good PG film to watch together as they learn good-meaning songs).
So, Julie Andrews’ character is sent to be a governess for 7 children for a former Captain and Austrian naval officer, who’s widowed.
She brings singing and love into the family and the odd-pairing couple ends up marrying (aww… a love story and musical). The Captain makes a choice to refuse the appointed work he’s been assigned to under the Nazi German regime during World War 2.
It’s a happy ending as the family sings their way to freedom and new life, leaving the beautiful home and country they once lived in and loved. So now you’re either caught up or possibly curious to watch the movie (again).
The movie is filmed in Austria and Los Angeles of all places, so maybe that’s one of the reasons why it’s still a Hollywood boom.
Timeless movies are good reminders to stay hopeful for our future as we get through tough times like we always have in history.
There’s a lot to look forward to getting to the other side, crossing the hills and any mountains along our path, stopping to appreciate the flowers like Edelweiss (a song from the movie) that remind us of our resilience. The journey is where the good stuff is if we choose to look at it that way.
So whether you fast-forward to the part where your heart is filled or watch the movie, afterward you can pause to fill your warm drinking mug (with coffee?) and get ready to laugh (…maybe even belly laugh some) with this next recommend…
Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee
This show with several seasons is a good metaphor for not taking life too seriously. Stand-up comedians don’t as you probably know, or come to know from the episodes.
And Jerry Seinfeld makes that clear as he takes his guests out for coffee in dining venues (think diners and mostly hole in the walls) with different classic, but funny cars (to match the comedians and their barrel of laughs) 🐒. And once in a while, they’re in an Oh sorry, Ferrari that dies on the road. Funny drama.
The show is peppered with what you’d expect from comedians –impromptu funny lines about their lives and the world we live in.
Having worked in restaurants, I can find a chuckle or two with the (literally) off-the-wall menu special posters or off-color restaurant jokes, like when Jerry orders and asks for 2 eggs and nothing else on a plate, and the server quickly asks if he wants it on the side? The server (or former 80s waitress) made an inside funny without knowing it. Good stuff there. 😅
You’ll have to find your own humor points if you end up watching any of the episodes. …and so that brings me to a recent holiday entertainment show…
The Great British Baking Show
The Great British Baking Show has got to be the funniest baking show out there. It’s also interesting to watch the baker techniques and their foibles.
By now in the show’s just-finishing up 9th season, as you’d expect, the contestants know what to expect. If they didn’t, that would be like going on the pressure cooker show without baking practice.
.. And that would be like going on the Shark Tank show and not rehearsing… where they’d get eaten alive!
The GBBO contestants (more fitting than calling them competitors because they help each other out in the tent)… want to be sure to make the show fun and take time out to make good bakes while playing along with the tent show elves and laughing at their side jokes.
As part of the audience, you can feel the contestants are more mellow, less tense and serious about winning, and more motivated with staying baking in the tent for as long as they can. Even though you know their anxious-panicky Vatas are all hidden or ready to jump out and rule over them! The stress from the brave contestants lets you relax for a few viewing minutes.
In case you missed this last season, the latest cherry-on-top Star Baker title went to Giuseppe for his traditional Italian bakes passed down from his family’s baking lineage. So now you’re all caught up.
The Great British Baking Show also has holiday versions. You can especially enjoy it if you like holiday baking inspiration, and while eating sweets…
And on that note, I have a deliciously, seriously healthy, SWEET gluten-free carrot cake recipe below (that I’ve played around with the ingredients… and confidently whipped up, and tested including all the delicious crumbs!)… and that you can just as easily prepare and enjoy in a square, round or any shape pan you like that you can bring to your screen with whatever holiday entertainment shows you end up watching. 🧡
Healthy (Easy-No Mixer Needed) Gluten-Free Carrot Cake (Bread or Squares)
Ingredients:
1 cup grated carrots
2 eggs (room temperature)
1 Tbsp coconut oil (or light EVOO or baking oil)
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup almond flour (or other gluten-free flour)
1/4 cup oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts and raisins combined
Orange zest from a medium-size orange (or add maple syrup to taste, 1-2 tsp suggested for low sugar)
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
You can mix all ingredients in one bowl. Add dry ingredients first, then add the liquids (that way you can use some of the same measuring spoons and cups without the dry sticking to the wet.
Pour into an 8″ round pan or 4″ x 8″ baking pan.
Bake at 325°F for 35-40 minutes.
After cooled, frost with Greek Yogurt (2% fat or reduced fat suggested) and healthily enjoy, or you can blend with a low-fat cheese (like neufchatel cream cheese or ricotta cheese) if you prefer or will be serving to others who don’t prefer full-on healthy 😉… but would love to try what you sweetly bake. 🍞
To Your Merry Happy Holidays! 🎄