We've already selected our 12 Beers of Christmas and now we're going to select our 12 Movies of Christmas. Many lists include "It's a Wonderful Life", "Christmas in Connecticut", "Holiday Inn" and the movie it spawned "White Christmas", however I was not alive when they were released. So this list is going to be the Top 12 Christmas Movies Released in my Lifetime. (Spring 1983-Present)
We've sampled many Christmas beers this season and we have our select few that have made the cut. There are many other excellent Holiday Beers/Winter Warmers/Christmas Beers available, but these are simply the ones we've tried this year.
This week's holiday movie is one of a completely different sort. If you love holiday movies because they are a non-stop barrage of cheerfulness, delight and uplifting stories than Noel is not for you. However, if you say that you dislike Christmastime or that this is one of your least favorite times of the year this movie is for you. This movie portrays the holiday season as many people see it a complex web of connections, dysfunctional families, past issues and sorrow. While many love the holidays because we're surrounded by those we love, there are many who don't have their family around due to broken relationships, personal loss, or a life in solitude. It is those stories that Noel takes a deeper look into. 
Last week we started the Christmas season early by beginning a month-long series of Christmas music featured in our Music Monday slot. Last week we featured a more worldly-sounding record, this week we're featuring a soulful, jazzy Christmas album. If you missed last week's post, we highlighted Bela Fleck & The Flecktones' Grammy Award Winning album, Jingle All the Way. This week we feature "A Jazz & Blues Christmas" a CD compilation put together by Putumayo World Music. 
Like clockwork, every Christmastime we all break out our favorite holiday movies, snuggle together under a warm blanket, crank up the heat and relax on the couch. For each of us those movies can differ greatly, however there are a handful of classics that the majority of us can't get enough of. You could be helping Ralphie decode Little Orphan Annie's message, aiding Kevin in protecting his house against the 'Wet Bandits', or you're joining Tiny Tim in wishing, "Merry Christmas, Everyone!". Either way we all love to throw on "A Christmas Story", "Home Alone", or one of eight versions of Charles Dickens' novel "A Christmas Carol".
Last week I highlighted the plethora of breweries in San Diego County and mentioned that I was planning on visiting several of them. Well we're back to highlight the 48 different San Diego beers we sampled during our time in Ron Burgundy's hometown. Known for their aggressively hoppy beers, San Diego County breweries have been taking awards for years and more importantly been recognized as one of the hottest brewing spots in the World. 