We’re in the process of renovating our basement and turning it into our Little Man Cave for my 3 year old son. One of our favourite activities to do together is snuggling on the couch and watching family movies. He’s really into all things Disney right now and I’m pretty sure that I have Cars, Cars 2, Monsters Inc., Monsters University and Planes memorized. When updating our basement, I knew our home theatre area could use an update so I started gathering home theatre ideas.
Home Theatre Ideas:
As much as I’d love a projector, large screen and theatre style seating, that’s not practical for our Little Man Cave. We want a cozy area to sit together with plenty of options for watching movies. We started by ordering a bracket to hang the TV on the wall, a speaker bar for better sound and a Google Chromecast for casting movies from the iPad to the TV.
I will admit that before this, I really didn’t know anything about streaming media devices. Before now, we had a little DVD collection but the DVDs would often get worn out. With the Chromecast, we can use Netflix from the laptop and cast movies to the TV. This saves on the expense of buying and replacing our DVDs. We’re enjoying searching through Netflix and selecting movies and TV programs that we want to watch together. I love that we each can have our own profile so my husband and I can both separately flag movies that we want to watch later – we have totally different tastes in movies!
The Google Chromecast is so easy to use. Trust me, I’m not a technical person at all so if I can set this up then you can too! It easily plugs right into your TV and then you can cast programs from your iPad or laptop right onto your TV. So simple & convenient!
Some other ideas we have for our Little Man Cave home theatre include:
- a new couch complete with cup holders & storage to hold our movie night snacks
- a mini fridge downstairs in the storage room filled with cold drinks
- a storage bench for blankets and pillows
- I know my husband would love this – a theatre style popcorn maker!
With the weather getting colder and the holiday season just around the corner, we’ve started to make a list of the holiday movies we want to watch together. Our home theatre area includes a fireplace so it’s the perfect place to relax on cold winter days.
One of my favourite holiday movies that is also family-friendly is Elf with Will Ferrel. I’ve watched this movie so many times already and I still laugh every time. I know my son will love it too!
Family Holiday Movies:
Looking for a few family-friendly movies to enjoy this holiday season? Here are a few of my favourites that I look forward to watching with my son this year:
- Elf
- Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas
- Mr. Popper’s Penguins (not a Christmas movie but there’s snow in it so it still counts, right?)
Girls Night Holiday Movies:
Looking for a night of holiday movies with your best girlfriends and platters of holiday baking? Here are a few of my favourites:
- The Holiday
- Four Christmases
- Love Actually
- The Family Man
What movies would you add to these lists? My husband wanted to add National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation to the list. I know my parents would vote for that too because they’re always quoting lines from the movie. I’m sure I’m watched it before but I can’t really remember it. My husband has already made me promise to watch it with him before Christmas.
I know I’m missing a few classics here but I haven’t watched them yet. We have some catching up to do on our holiday movies!
I’m excited to be a part of the #StreamInto2015 with campaign with Staples Canada. As promised last month, I’d be announcing my favourite holiday movie here and then giving you a chance to win your own Google Chromecast so you can enjoy movie night with your family.
Ready for my favorite: Elf! Probably no surprise but it’s going to take a pretty great movie to top this one for me!
Now here’s your chance to win 1 of 3 Google Chromecast streaming media devices for yourself!
Giveaway Rules & Restrictions:
- This giveaway is open to Canadian (excluding Quebec) residents only who are at least 18 years of age. Giveaways are void where prohibited by law.
- Winner will be chosen randomly. Winning entries will be verified prior to contacting the winner.
- Odds of winning depend on number of entrants.
- The giveaway ends on December 4th, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. EST . A winner will be drawn randomly on December 5, 2014. The winner will be notified, by email, and will have 48 hours to claim the prize. If I do not receive a response from the winner within 48 hours, a prize forfeit will be assumed and a new winner will be chosen randomly.
- I reserve the right to disqualify any entries. I reserve the right to end, extend, or change a giveaway for any reason and without prior notice.
- By entering giveaways, you verify that you understand and meet the prize eligibility requirements.
- Please note that Moms & Munchkins is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prize. I will not be responsible for lost or damaged items. Replacement items will not be provided. We have represented each sponsor with the expectation that they will fulfill their prize in a timely manner. While we are not responsible, we will make every effort to assist the winner in obtaining their prize.
- Please wait 6 weeks for fulfillment of prize. Winners have 8 weeks to report non-fulfillment of prizes.
- Once the winner claims the prize, his/her name will be posted on the giveaway page. Your name, full mailing address and email address will be sent to the prize sponsor so they can contact you to award your prize.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Congratulations to Dayna C., Cathy C., and Tracey F.!
Join us on Twitter using the hashtag #StreamInto2015 and tell us your favourite holiday movies.
*Disclosure: I was compensated for this post; however, all opinions expressed here are my own.
Layne says
Awesome! And PS – we are watching ELF this weekend. Can’t wait 🙂
elaing8 says
A Christmas Story is my favorite. I also like A Christmas Carol with AListair Sims. Its an oldie but a goodie. 🙂
Cheryl says
Great suggestions!
Toni Thomason says
We always watch A Christmas Story and Christmas Vacation. We love Elf too!
Cheryl says
Oh yes, A Christmas Story is such an adorable movie!
Susan Noble says
Miracle on 34th Street with Natalie Wood, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Christmas Box, If you believe, Scrooge are a few of my favorites
Cheryl says
Great suggestions, Susan! I haven’t watched any of those yet but they are now on my list!
Tonya C says
We too will be working on our Movie Room soon. We had one in our old house and miss it terribly!
Jenn says
We love Elf too!!! Another one of my favorites is Frosty the Snowman!
Andrea Amy says
The Santa Clause 🙂
Donna Desforges says
My favourite holiday movie is White Christmas.
Valerie Mallette says
My favourite holiday movie is The Polar Express 🙂
Lori Jackson says
How the Grinch stole Christmas with jim carrey
Kiersten says
my favourite holiday movie is elf
melissa Resnick says
christmas sotry
Carly says
Definitely elf! “Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?”
Cathy C says
I love Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
aarone mawdsley says
My favorite is A Chrismtas Story
melanie borhi says
Elf with will Ferrell in it
heidi c. says
I love Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!
Robert Haynes says
Christmas Vacation
Sarah N. says
Love Actually.
Lisa says
The Grinch.
Anne Derkat says
It’s a very funny, very old movie done about the song, “On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…..”
Tracy says
The Christmas Story is by far my families favorite movie to watch, but over the season we will watch a lot 🙂
Ms Elaine Boychuk says
The Christmas Carol in original black and white.
Edith Rennes says
Definitely A Christmas Story…it always makes me laugh
Huguette E. says
A Christmas Story is my favorite
Pd Reimer says
I love the Charlie Brown Christmas movies
Marlene V. (enelram) says
Elf
ivy pluchinsky says
Elf!
lorna says
I would love to try this. What a great prize.
Tiffany Rotulo says
I watch A Christmas Story every year.
Karla+Sceviour says
ELF is my fav Holiday movie!
Eva Mitton-Urban says
My brother Ralph coaxed me into watching – “One Magic Christmas” – tear jerker – but Christmas message well received – love those we are blessed with – they are on loan. Performances by Mary Steenburgen as Ginny Grainger and Harry Dean Stanton as Gideon – best acting that I’ve ever seen. Beautiful movie – well worth watching this holiday season – Viewer Approved.
Eva Mitton-Urban
Caroline Wampler says
The Santa Claus with Tim Allen in it 🙂
Maggie K. says
My favourite holiday movie is White Christmas.
Leanne Cobbledick says
“A Christmas Story” is my favorite. It reminds me so much of my family lol
Ann says
I love Christmas vacation and Home Alone!
lori b says
we just watched elf last night, still makes me laugh.
Edmond says
Re: OMG, my fave: Home alone. Wow, prize is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity.
Christine Nunes says
Jingle all the way is the best!
Florence C says
My favourite Christmas movie is A Christmas Story.
Carole Dube says
My favourite holiday movie is The Polar Express
Mercedes C says
It has got to be the original Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Lori Bazan says
The Christmas Box and Miracle on 34th Street!
Stephanie LaPlante says
My favorite is Elf or The Santa Clause
michelle tremblett says
I love home alone ! Closely followed by Elf 🙂
shtrqueen says
A Christmas Story is my favourite.
Billy Truong says
I like it most since it can connect it to an audio device/receiver and stream Spotify or Pandora continuously without turning on the TV- this is a very good feature!
Holly Wright says
My fav holiday movie is Elf
Jenny says
elf
Nicholas Balandiat says
A Christmas Story..when the kid gets stuck to the sign post
Liberty says
Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer is a movie I enjoy at Christmas.
R.Mueller says
Rudolph…the original one…the one with all the bad graphics that I remember watching in the 70’s as a kid!
Jonathan livers says
My favorite holiday movie is free birds! I know it’s not Christmas and it’s a thanksgiving movie but hey, it’s the holiday!
Allie f says
ELF!!!
michelle says
I love Garfield’s Christmas, I watch it over and over every year.
Tricia Hope says
Every year I watched It’s a Wonderful Life with my Dad.Started when I was 3.Wonderful memory now he is gone.
Nicole B says
My favorite is Frosty the snowman! It’s a classic but a great one!
Idalis Mendoza says
My favorite Holiday movie has to be Elf. My whole family loves and we crack up everytime that we see it. It’s soo funny!
Nathan Lapointe says
Elf is my favourite holiday movie.
Darci says
Elf is our favorite!
mongupp says
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Tracey Flattes says
Polar Express!
Angela SC says
You can’t go wrong with Lampoon’s Christmas 🙂 Aand the original Grinch,and Charlie Brown Christmas! lol!
Suzie M says
we like The Grinch who stole Christmas
Judy Cowan says
In terms of a classic I love White Christmas! Santa Paws is always really cute!
Victoria Ess says
Elf is a favourite!
Danielle says
I love Miracle on 34th Street.
Bailey Dexter says
Our family loves the movie It’s a Wonderful life! We watch it every year.
SueSueper says
I like Frosty the Snowman.
glinda says
“Miracle on 34th Street” to me is a timeless and poignant Xmas film.
Jenny says
I love Elf the most.
Rick Roussel says
Bad Santa
Maritess says
Our traditional christmas movie – its a wonderful life.
Maegan Morin says
My favorite holiday movie is The Flinstones Christmas
Anna Engdahl says
I have 2 favorite holiday movies. A Christmas Carol with Alastair Sim and Miracle on 34th Street with Maureen O’Hara .
Kamla says
Hands down. Elf!
Melanie P. says
I love Polar Express!
SB says
Favourite holiday movie … Elf
jill rivera says
The Christmas Story is the holiday movie I see every year.
Carolyn Daley says
My favorite holiday movie is The Santa Clause with Tim Allen.
Gina Marie Benway says
We love the Polar express
Leanne says
the one and only GRINCH
Jenn Erin says
My favourite holiday movie is Elf.
ruksana m says
Home Alone
Laura J says
Our fav is Frosty the snowman!
Richard Hicks says
White Christmas is my favorite movie.
Aimee says
I love Annie
angela m says
My favorite is A Christmas Story
thanks
greg says
Christmas Vacation!
MARTINA says
I LOve Home Alone
Chris W says
ELF is the best!
Melanie B says
National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.. the best ever!!
Opal Baker says
Its a Wonderful Life is still my favorite.
Dawn Reid says
I like Home Alone