Hello all! Welcome to the corner of the internet where we are going all out for the holidays this year! Today I want to talk about the delightful Hallmark movie Navigating Christmas.
So I know that a lot of people are not into Hallmark movies or shows, considering them too cheesy or corny or whatever. However, I am a huge fan. They are all just so happy and cheery and sometimes I need that. I don’t want a lot of drama; I want feel good. And this movie was a feel good film all the way!
From the Hallmark description:
Recently divorced Melanie and her son Jason visit a remote island for Christmas, only to find themselves running a real working lighthouse where she connects with the curt but cute owner.
Short but to the point!
This movie had a lot of elements that I loved and made me want to watch – a lighthouse vacation at CHRISTMAS (how awesome!!), an island named St. Nicholas Island, and of course, romance.
I was so excited to watch this. My husband thought it was hilarious that I was so geeked out over it, but he is a good sport and watched along.
This movie stars Chelsea Hobbs, a Canadian actress I was unfamiliar with until this movie. I looked over her film and television credits though and she stars in a series of Hallmark movies called The Martha Vineyard’s Mysteries and those are totally going on my to-watch list. It also stars Stephen Huszar, another new to me actor, but I really enjoyed his er…acting. Ok, I really did enjoy his acting, but also he was pretty easy on the eyes as well. He also seems to be in a mystery series, called the Ruby Herring Mysteries, so adding that as well!
So this movie has Melanie scrambling to find a fun way to celebrate the holidays after her ex-husband has to cancel his Christmas plans with their son Jason. She finds this lighthouse and think it looks perfect until she gets there, and learns that not only does she have to decorate the entire place for the holidays, she also has to run it! Thankfully, it is not an active lighthouse in the sense that she has to run the actual lifesaving aspects of it, so there is that. She is pretty peeved at first, then as she connects with the community and their Christmas spirit, she gets into it. Her son is still reluctant until he meets the mayor’s daughter, who totally has mermaid hair and no one mentions this at all, even though she lives on an island and could possibly be a mermaid. (spoiler: she is not) There is also one of those comfy cozy little diners that are full of joie de vivre, and this one seems to serve up some amazing looking pancakes. Like, I wanted pancakes while watching even though it was like 9 pm.
The island is full of Christmas traditions and I would 100% love to visit there, if it were a real place. I don’t want to share them because you will just have to watch and see!
I am a sucker for a good setting, and I think after watching Fisherman’s Friends the other day, I am in the mood for fisherman and boats and the sea. The setting was perfect for this. I feel like I see so many Christmas movies set in a snowy cabin in the woods or the mountains – which I also love – but I loved how this one was a bit different. The lighthouse was beautiful, and was exactly how I would like a vacation lighthouse to look. I had to do a little googling because I wanted to know where this lighthouse is located. What can I say, I am a Michigander and we love our water and lighthouses here. Even my little 8 year old is a fan.
Anyway, the lighthouse used in filming is a real lighthouse, located in Colwood, British Colombia, Canada, according to the website Atlas of Wonders. It is named the Fisgard Lighthouse, and shone its first light on November 16 (my birthday!!), 1860. You can tour the innkeeper’s house part of the lighthouse, which I will do if I ever make it over to that side of the world.
In true Hallmark Christmas movie fashion, this movie is low stakes, with a low level of drama but a high level of joy. I always say there is nothing happier than holiday romance, and this movie left me feeling cozy and cheery.
If you are looking for a Hallmark Christmas movie to watch this year, I highly recommend this one!
Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs.. 
I have a love-hate relationship with Hallmark movies. They’re all the same, all a formula — pick from this column, add one or two from that column, have a fight at twenty minutes before the end. And yet…. and yet… at this time of year I seem to manage to see every one of them! (Though I haven’t seen this one yet, I know I will.) And sometimes I cry. And sometimes I come in halfway and it doesn’t matter because I’ve seen them before! They know how to do what they do and they do it well!
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I feel the same way! I can’t stand them sometimes but around Christmas I cut them some slack 🙂
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Lol!! I know right? I used to say only Hallmark at Christmas… but I am also a Heartie who loves When Calls the Heart! I guess I just need some syrupy formulaic stories sometimes! I told Billy sometimes I don’t want things that have too much tension and Hallmark is good for that.
And yes! Some of them make me cry!
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I love all things Hallmark! Thanks for mentioning this movie! My favorite place to be is at the beach. I love lighthouses and I’ve bought a huge collection from light switch covers, knick·knacks, and everything I could find of the beach/lighthouses (towels, dinnerware, pictures, lamps, etc). And I climb up lighthouses if they’re open to the public. Earlier today I watched a really good movie on Hallmark, A Biltmore Christmas, I loved it!
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I typed the wrong movie, it’s A Bramble House Christmas
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The name alone has my attention! I am adding that to the list too!
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This was a super fun one. I absolutely loved the setting. My son is actually a lighthouse and fisherman fan right now – I was so confused since he is like 8 and it seemed sort of like an odd thing for a kid to like. Then I realized he loves Grampy Rabbit from Peppa Pig who is a fisherman/boater and lives in a lighthouse. It all made sense then.
A Biltmore Christmas is on my list!
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I enjoyed both A Biltmore Christmas and A Bramble House Christmas but Bramble House was my favorite.
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I have to chuckle at this because I fall into the camp that doesn’t like Hallmark Christmas movies while my husband thinks they are just the best! I think he likes that he can be watching one movie, fall asleep, wake up and continue with a different one and not even realize they’re two different movies!
I’ll admit the lighthouse would be a fun place to visit!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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That’s so true about the movies 😂😂 they really are all the same but sometimes there is a gem amongst them all.
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I kind of think that is why I like them too! They are easy to watch, there is no real tension or issue and you know it will end happy. And sometimes, I just need that! I want schmaltzy happiness all decorated with bows and ribbons!
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Thanks! I newly have access to Hallmark movies, so I’ll try to catch this one.
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I find Hallmark movies are great movies to play casually in the background. 😅
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They are good for that!
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I love a good Hallmark movie! They’re so cozy and predictable. I really enjoy the mysteries and loved the Martha Vineyard’s Mysteries.
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The predictability is my favorite part usually. It makes it so low stakes! Sometimes I don’t want surprises!
And that is good to hear about the Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries. Definitely adding them to my list! Like right now.
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