Cousin Eddie's RV and Castle Noel

🎄 Cozy Christmas Watchlist 2025

A November Kick-Off for Heartfelt Holiday Magic

This past week in the High Sierra, the mountains got a fresh blanket of snow. I can see it from here — that soft white outline that makes the air feel crisp and still. The mornings have turned frosty, and as I sit typing this, our two owls have returned to their usual roost in the backyard pine. It’s one of my favorite quiet signs that the season is shifting.

For me, this time of year always begins with stories — the kind that fill the heart with hope and remind me of love, laughter, and the comfort of simple rituals. Before the garland goes up or the lights are strung, I like to start with something slower: a weekend movie, a mug of cocoa, and a little bit of Christmas spirit.

This year’s "Cozy Christmas Watchlist" is my gentle way of easing into the holidays — one weekend at a time.

💕 November 8 – 9: Romantic Kick-Off Weekend

Movies: Love Actually and The Holiday

I love starting with romance because my heart feels wide open this time of year. There’s something about "Love Actually" that captures it perfectly — that airport scene, those embraces, that reminder that love really is everywhere! There’s beauty in it, and a quiet ache too — the kind of bittersweetness that comes from remembering how precious connection really is.

Then "The Holiday" takes me to cozy English cottages and glowing windows — a movie about rediscovering yourself and finding warmth again. It’s soft, hopeful, and feels like the perfect start to the season this year.

🎅 November 15 – 16: Santa & Smiles Weekend

Movies: The Santa Clause (1994) and Elf

This weekend is for laughter and nostalgia — pure holiday fun. "The Santa Clause" brings that 90s comfort I’ll never outgrow: snow, jingling bells, cocoa, 1990's Denny's, a touch of chaos, and plenty of heart. 

And then there’s "Elf". Honestly, I can’t imagine a Christmas season without it. It’s wild to think it’s been over twenty years since it was released. I still laugh out loud when Buddy gets sent to the “place for special elves,” his trek through the Candy Cane Forest and the Lincoln Tunnel, his wide-eyed wonder in New York — it all just works. Every scene makes me laugh and somehow still gets me right in the heart. And that little cameo from Peter Billingsley (Ralphie from "A Christmas Story")? Perfection.  I would love to talk to someone who was a commuter through the Lincoln Tunnel the morning that scene was filmed- message below if you were!

Anyway, It’s one of those movies that never gets old — the kind that reminds you how good it feels to just believe.

☕ November 22 – 23 : Cartoons & Cocoa Classics

Movies: A Charlie Brown Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966 and 2018)

This is the weekend for soft pajamas, cocoa, and simple joys. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" feels like a warm sigh every time I watch it. It’s quiet and honest — a reminder of what really matters when the world starts spinning too fast. And it’s the music that makes it magic.

That Vince Guaraldi Trio piano score — gentle, melancholy, and beautiful — somehow sounds like winter itself. “Christmas Time Is Here” always stops me for a moment. It’s the sound of childhood, of snow falling outside the window, of peace. In fact, that music inspired our Christmas trip this year — we’re heading to San Francisco to see a couple of holiday concerts at SFJAZZ. I can’t think of a better way to soak up that cozy, nostalgic feeling in real life.

Then I love pairing the two "Grinch" versions together: the classic for nostalgia and the newer one for the color and humor. They’re proof that hearts can change, traditions evolve, and the season always finds its way back to kindness.

🦃 November 28 – 30 : Thanksgiving Tradition Weekend

Movies: Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Home Alone, and the Friends classic Thanksgiving episodes

"Planes, Trains & Automobiles" is pure perfection. Steve Martin and John Candy together? Absolute genius. Every scene is hilarious — the kind of laughter that builds until you’re crying — ("...those aren't pillows!") and then somehow, by the end, there’s never a dry eye for a completely different reason. John Candy’s character, Del Griffith, is one of those roles that just sticks with you. He’s funny and sweet and quietly heartbreaking all at once. I don’t think a Thanksgiving season feels complete without it. It’s comforting, familiar, and just so human — like wrapping up in a warm blanket every single year.

If you’re a fan of the movie, Peter Billingsley (yes, Ralphie from "A Christmas Story") did a great podcast interview about it on "A Cinematic Christmas Journey". It’s worth checking out — they share behind-the-scenes stories about the making of the film, and it gives you a new appreciation for just how special it really is.

Then there’s "Home Alone", which perfectly bridges the seasons — still Thanksgiving-adjacent but already glowing with Christmas spirit. It’s funny, cute, comforting, and somehow still feels fresh no matter how many times you watch it. The music, the lights, the chaos — it’s all timeless. There’s something about that gorgeous empty Chicago house (what did they do for a living?!), the snow outside, and Kevin’s sweet little face and voice that captures the magic of Christmas in the purest way.

And I always have the "Friends" Thanksgiving episodes running in the background while cooking. They’re pure comfort — Monica’s turkey mishaps, Ross’s “moist maker” sandwich, and all that cozy New York apartment energy. Oh, how I miss NYC trips at Christmas-time.  Somehow these episodes make the house feel even warmer.

Bonus pick: If you have a little extra time over the holiday weekend, give "Son in Law" a rewatch on Thanksgiving Eve. Trust me — 90s kids will not be disappointed. It’s silly, sweet, and has that heartwarming small-town vibe that fits the season perfectly.

✨ Wrapping Up November

By the end of November, the world outside feels hushed and beautiful. The mountains stay frosted in white, the owls settle into their nightly rhythm, and the glow from the window feels a little warmer.

This list isn’t just about movies — it’s about slowing down and savoring the gentle start of the season. A candle flickering, my Nana's Hallmark ornaments, a favorite blanket, a couple of golden retrievers snoozing beside me, a movie I've seen a hundred times — that’s where the magic really lives.

Here’s to a cozy November and a heart full of Christmas spirit. ❤️. Stop by for my December picks soon!

🌲 About This List🌲

I started my Christmas Bucket List blog nine years ago as a way to slow down and make the season more intentional. 

This watchlist is not about checking boxes; it’s about creating little anchors of comfort through the month.

Throughout the season, I’ll share another piece of my Christmas bucket list — from festive events to quiet winter moments here in the Sierra Nevada. My hope is that it inspires you to create, and share, your own cozy traditions, however small they may be.

The snow on the mountains, the frost in the morning, the owls 🦉 returning home — that’s the quiet kind of magic that tells me the season is here. ❤️