December 1, 2025 – SparklyPrettyBriiiight

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Festive book review: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Beth Moran

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Christmas ads 2025 round-up

(via Shutterstock) INTRO John Lewis and Partners Barbour Go behind the scenes of the making of this delightful ad … Waitrose & Partners (UK) Woolworths (Australia) Aldi (UK) M & S Food Burberry Publix Argos Asda Boots UK Morrisons Home Instead Fortnum & Mason

Festive animated love? Disney’s Hulu’s Family Guy’s Hallmark Channel’s Lifetime’s Familiar Holiday Movie

(courtesy IMP Awards) If you only watch one parody of a festive romcom movie this year, and let’s face it, much as I love many of them, the actual films are almost parodies of themselves, then make sure it’s Disney’s Hulu’s Family Guy’s Hallmark Channel’s Lifetime’s Familiar Holiday Movie. The Continue Reading

Festive movie review: A Merry Little Ex-Mas

(courtesy IMP Awards) Christmas is the season where love is all around us, and you’ll be happy to know, it’s not just Love, Actually that thinks so. A Merry Little Ex-Mas is also a big believer in the power of the season to change hearts and minds and even wind Continue Reading

Festive book review: It Always Snows on Mistletoe Square by Ali McNamara

(courtesy Hachette Australia) When you think about it, Christmas as a concept and an idea, as opposed to the reality of the season, is full to the tinsel-draped, eggnog-soaked brim with magical realism. It’s in the original Biblical tale – not a diss; I grew up in the church and Continue Reading

Why ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ almost didn’t air − and why it endures (curated article)

(courtesy IMDb) In 2024, the beloved special is streaming on Apple TV+. Stephen Lind, University of Southern California It’s hard to imagine a holiday season without “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The 1965 broadcast has become a staple – etched into traditions across generations like decorating the tree or sipping hot Continue Reading

Festive movie review: I watched Christmas Karma

(courtesy IMDb) Charles Dickens lives again! Well, not so much the author who long shuffled off this mortal coil and who may yet be haunting people at Christmas to scare them into leading and more selfless lives; rather, in Christmas Karma, by Bend It Like Beckham‘s Gurinder Chadha, we are Continue Reading

Festive book review: All Together for Christmas by Sarah Morgan

(courtesy Harper Collins Publishers Australia) One of the hallmarks of Christmas, and no, we are not talking about the branded festive romcoms, is how wonderful it can often be to gather with family (of the birth and chosen varieties). It’s especially the case when you are live far apart, and Continue Reading

Wicked: For Good goes full LEGO in this fun featurette

SNAPSHOT“You’re the only friend I ever had…” The final chapter of the untold story of the witches of Oz begins with Elphaba and Glinda estranged and living with the consequences of their choices. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), now demonized [sic] as The Wicked Witch of the West, lives in exile, hidden Continue Reading

60th birthday book review: I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You by Miranda Hart #AndyAt60

(courtesy Penguin Books Australia) Miranda Hart, known for her whimsy and goofy good humour, would like us all to get a little serious for a moment. Or perhaps a lot, and you can trust her, it’s for a very good reason, one which came to define her life in ways Continue Reading