Photos: All photos belong to LollyChristmas.com except the Christmas Con Logo (That’s 4 Entertainment).

There are many things I love to do at Christmas every year; I love the Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Preview weekends, decorating in early November, when the Starbucks red cup comes out and they drop the menu of festive drinks, looking at the Christmas lights around my town, seeing the decorations in the department stories, watching Christmas movies, listening to music – and most of all, spending time with my family. Imagine my absolute joy when I found out there was a way I could do nearly all of that in one place… enter the first annual CHRISTMAS CON!

That’s 4 Entertainment created the first ever 3-day winter wonderland convention of fun where you can shop for gifts, window shop decor, listen to music and engage with your favorite stars from beloved Christmas made-for-television films that help make your seasons bright every year.  The event, which was held November 8-10th at the NJ Convention and Expo Center in Edison, NJ, was then sponsored by the Hallmark Channel, which resulted in even more promised holiday magic!

When my daughters and I originally heard about the convention a few months ago, we knew it was going to be something we had to be apart of — I mean, this lineup was insane, we’re talking appearances from stars like: Chad Michael Murray, Melissa Joan Hart, Holly Robinson Peete, Lacey Chabert, Alicia Witt (who also performed!), Andrew Walker, Cameron Mathison, Ryan Paevey, Jackée Harry, Nikki DeLoach, Erin Krakow, Paul Greene, Melissa Claire Egan, Rachel Boston, Danica McKellar, Jack Wagner, Jesse Metcalfe, Ashley Williams and Jonathan Bennett, who also served as the M.C.

Photos and screengrabs: Crown Media

Erin Krakow and Luke Macfarlane lead Hallmark’s new party-planning holiday romance “Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen”, which tells the story of an event planner named Ella (Krakow) who clashes with her client, Edward (Macfarlane), a not-so-jolly toy company CEO.

This movie has a lot of great style moments…a lot, and I was thrilled to find details on many different looks to share with all of you—including this gorgeous green coat worn for the official promo photos and for a sweet scene in the movie.  Krakow, as Ella, wore the ZARA Neon Masculine Coat, which is currently on sale at Zara.com.  I loved the brighter shade of this festive color!

That’s 4 Entertainment

Wow, this has to be one of the most exciting posts to do yet. If you’ve been following along with me on Twitter, you may have seen me posting about Christmas Con, which is coming to New Jersey for three days in early November with some of your favorite holiday movie stars!

This jolly convention, presented by That’s 4 Entertainment, has been described as Comic-Con-meets-Small-Town-Holiday-Festival. You’ll be able to buy one of a kind holiday gifts from the “Christmas Market”, visit with Santa Claus himself, and visit various celebrity booths to meet your favorite stars!

Each celebrity guest will offer professional photo ops and take place in a Q&A panel to engage with the audience. Christmas Con will also support Toys for Tots by donating gifts; feel free to participate by bringing a toy to donate.

The convention will also host special events: Alicia Witt in Concert, an Ugly Sweater Contest and a Gingerbread Wars competition — all hosted by Jonathan Bennett! Additionally, there will be a “Creating Christmas” writers panel and “Podcasting Christmas” podcaster panel.

Christmas Con will take place this November 8, 9 & 10th at the NJ Convention and Expo Center in Edison, NJ. Show hours are: Friday 5-8pm, Saturday: 10am-7pm and Sunday: 10am-5pm.

Photo: Crown Media

There’s been a lot of development in recent months regarding Hallmark Drama’s first original series, “Christmas Cookie Matchup”, a holiday reality competition — and earlier today, SouthernLiving.com exclusively announced the two judges that will join the show.

In “Christmas Cookie Matchup”, Jack Wagner will host as amateur baker contestants team up with cast members from Hallmark Channel’s “When Calls the Heart” to create tasty holiday treats with their eye on a $25,000 winning prize!  Hearties will be excited to know that stars Erin Krakow, Pascale Hutton, Chris McNally, Paul Greene, Kavan Smith, Kevin McGarry, and Andrea Brooks will all take part of the competition.

As for the judges, food and lifestyle expert Chadwick Boyd will be joined by self-taught baking expert, Emily Hutchinson. Boyd is known for traveling nationally with chef Carla Hall for their “Biscuit Time” class while Hutchinson has been sharing creative tips with fellow bakers through her popular blog The Hutch Oven. Hutchinson’s new book, Creative Cookie Decorating: Buttercream Frosting Designs and Tips for Every Occasion, doesn’t release until October 15th — but it’s already a best seller in Amazon pre-sales.

A premiere date for “Christmas Cookie Matchup” is not yet set, but I’ll keep you posted!

Stay merry!

Pictured: Erin Krakow of “When Calls the Heart”. / Credit: Crown Media

Back in March, I posted about the two Christmas reality shows coming to the Hallmark Drama Network — and now, thanks to announcements at Hallmark’s Summer TCA 2019 press event yesterday, we have more details on one of them!

In the five-part weekly competition series “Christmas Cookie Countdown”, amateur bakers will team up with the stars of Hallmark Channel’s successful series “When Calls the Heart” to put their skills to the test. Erin Krakow, Pascale Hutton, Kavan Smith, Chris McNally, Paul Greene and Andrea Brooks are all confirmed to take part in the show alongside their co-star Jack Wagner, who will serve at the host of the competition!

– Update (07/31/19): Wagner confirmed on his Official Instagram that
the series will now be called “Christmas Cookie Matchup”! –

In each episode, a panel of two professional bakers will judge as the contestants go spatula-to-spatula in a variety of Christmas cookie and holiday dessert competitions. One team will be eliminated each week and, in the end, only one pair of cookie connoisseurs will prevail, winning the $25,000 grand prize. “This show is a different kind of seasonal programming for us and when we first announced it at our Upfront event in March,we were still developing the concept,” said Crown Media Executive Vice President, Programming & Network Publicity, Michelle Vicary.

“Since that time, we have created an incredibly fun and engaging format that is designed to become anew Hallmark holiday tradition for our audience, while also inspiring baking-inclined viewers to create cookie masterpieces of their own.”

“Christmas Cookie Countdown” will be the first-ever original content developed for Hallmark Drama since the network launched in 2017. Will you be tuning in?

Stay merry!

L-R: Wes Brown, Rachel Boston, Alicia Witt and Kristoffer Polaha. Credit: Crown Media

I have the biggest Christmas movie announcement yet for you today!

During Crown Media Family Networks’ bi-annual Television Critics Summer Press Tour, eleven new original movie titles were announced for Hallmark’s upcoming holiday programming slate, yes, you read that correctly — 11 new movies were revealed!

“Each year our holiday movie slates get bigger, the movies get better, and the ratings grow stronger and I have no doubt that this will prove to be the most successful season yet,” said Michelle Vicary, EVP, Programming & Network Publicity.

“We are so fortunate to work with such incredible talent –from the actors, to the writers, to the director and producers –who bring our signature holiday movies to life and have been instrumental in establishing Crown Media as the leader in compelling, top-quality holiday entertainment.”

Get the full scoop below of everything we new about these upcoming features. Expect to see many of your network favorites as well as a few fresh faces you’re sure to fall in love with.

Pictured: Krakow (left) and Macfarlane (right). / Credit: Crown Media

I love kicking my day off with news of an upcoming Christmas movie, but let’s triple that joy because I have info on THREE new movies! Crown Media announced the Hallmark Channel holiday features through ET today, which I will break down for you below!

“When Calls the Heart” star Erin Krakow and Luke Macfarlane (“A Shoe Addict’s Christmas”) will lead “Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen”, based on the novel by author Melissa de la Cruz. Krakow will play Ella, a Christmas enthusiast party planner alongside her sister, Marianne, who clash with their client, Edward (MacFarlane), a not-so-jolly toy company CEO.

Photo: Crown Media; J.Crew

“Marrying Father Christmas”, the third film in the hit Hallmark Movies & Mysteries series, premiered last night and it was quite the treat, the icing on the wedding cake–if you will, for all those who have been following the love story of Miranda (Erin Krakow) and Ian (Niall Matter) in this trilogy.

If you could take your eyes off of their chemistry, you might have noticed that Miranda was braving the cold winter weather in some stylish gear. I spotted her wearing a coat I recently fell in love with when I was browsing winter clothes, so I just had to share this ID with all of you festive fashionistas!

In the movie, Miranda wears the J.Crew ‘Chateau’ Italian Stadium-Cloth Wool Parka in Heather Fire Red—sans faux-fur trim. This coat, which is a popular style at J.Crew this season, is currently available in 8 colors for $365 — including emerald green and bright red!

FYI: You can can also shop the look at Nordstrom.com.

Stay merry!

Photo/Screencaps: Crown Media

Last night, Hallmark Channel aired a sneak peek of the movies making their way to our television screens this holiday season with the “Christmas: A First Look” preview special hosted by Lacey Chabert alongside Hallmark Channel pet ambassador, Happy the Dog.

On the special, Lacey–clad in a fabulous red dress by The Kooples, talked about some of the new movies that will be premiering on Hallmark Channel’s “Countdown to Christmas” and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ “Miracles of Christmas” holiday programming.

Check out what festive stories you can expect to see later this year–the countdown is on!

Photo: Crown Media

For all of you that fell in love with 2016’s “Finding Father Christmas” and its sequel “Engaging Father Christmas” the following year, you’ll be happy to know that Erin Krakow and Niall Matter have officially wrapped filming of the conclusion, “Marrying Father Christmas” which is set to air this holiday season on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries network.

Synopsis: In the latest installment to the Father Christmas trilogy, Miranda and Ian finally look to tie the knot, but more complications are always on the horizon, putting their happily ever after in jeopardy.

Check out some production stills from the movie below, and look out for more information on the movie as we get closer to the premiere date during the “Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas” holiday programming later this year.

Stay merry!