In addition to blogging about these common themes, I like to include random thoughts and a playful "roast" here and there.
Being part of a Hallmark Facebook community and chewing on blog posts about the movies give us the "hits" we need to feed our addiction. You can watch a movie and then enjoy a discussion where we hash around "important" topics like:
- Did they have good chemistry?
- Did the final kiss pop or flop?
- Did the actors make your "favorites" list?
- What didn't you like about the movie?
- What was the best scene?
Plus, our group includes trivia questions, quizzes, polls, fun facts, and periodic contests!!
Hallmark Trolls Exist, And I've Met Them!
Would you believe some faux Hallmark "fans" have nothing better to do than attack my blog posts? There are some real Grinches out there with hearts three sizes too small!
You would think something as fun and light-hearted as Hallmark movies would be the last subject to interest trolls, but mean-spirited people don't discriminate.
If Hallmark posts aren't exempt from criticism, imagine the response if we were talking about politics, religion, or the Great Pumpkin!
To turn lemons into lemonade,
I want to share some of the unkind barbs I've received to help clarify our Facebook group and blog mission:
Why Do You Write Blog Posts On Movies That Aired Months Ago?
One meanie-pants blew a gasket because I wrote a fresh blog post about a Hallmark Christmas movie that first premiered two months prior and shared it in a Hallmark CHRISTMAS movies group.
She pointed out to be successful, networks and producers want the movies reviewed in advance of their release to be used for promotional purposes. She acted like my LATE reviews served no purpose.
Her point would be valid if I were trying to capture the attention of networks and producers, but lucky for me, that's not my goal.
If you're in a book club, you read the book FIRST and discuss it, right? You can't discuss a novel you've never read. Church small groups don't meet together to dive deeper into a sermon they've not yet heard--that happens have the preacher has shared the message. This is not rocket science! You understand it, but trolls don't!
In our
Hallmark Christmas Movie Magic Facebook group, I've pledged to keep the Hallmark Christmas spirit alive all year. If I share a blog post about every new Hallmark movie as it debuts, then you would only hear from me in October, November, and December.
Why would a troll join a Hallmark CHRISTMAS movie group for year-round discussion and then lob insults at someone for posting about Hallmark Christmas movies? Yes, Hallmark replays a couple Christmas movies per week off-season for us to re-hash, but until new ones are released, the old ones are all we have to discuss.
In short, the entire point of being in a Hallmark Christmas movies group is to talk about Hallmark Christmas movies
regardless of when they air! Everyone but trolls understand this simple concept.
If you are a member of our second Facebook group (or would like to be),
Hallmark Seasons of Love, we talk about movies airing during Winterfest, Love Ever After, Spring Fever, June Weddings, Summer Nights, and Fall Harvest. It's a group to discuss Hallmark movies from all these different seasons, regardless of the time of year or when the movies aired.
So what if a few months go by since you saw the movie and then see me weigh in with a blog post. Hopefully, it will bring a smile to your face, and you'll say, "Oh, yeah! I remember that!" Dredging up happy memories takes us to a good place!
You Don't Even Know How to Write a Review!
Some "expert" (snicker, snicker) chimed in to say I don't include enough about the setting and plot in the blog posts to qualify as a decent review.
Snore......zzzzzz......
Oh, excuse me--I just nodded off thinking about adding boring details to a blog post.
First, I do include a one-line plot summary at the top of every post to refresh everyone's memory. Second, I may or may not mention the setting, depending on whether it makes any difference. In the majority of Hallmark movies, either the male of female lead is from some big city, while the other one is from a small town--usually, the exact location is irrelevant to the story.
When the location is key to the movie, it's usually already mentioned in the title:
- Christmas at Graceland
- Christmas in Rome
- Christmas in Evergreen
- Love on Iceland
I take pride in my "reviews" being atypical. You can find those anywhere, and they all sound the same. I prefer a more unique and creative angle.
I Don't Like Long Blog Posts and Links!
When you scroll through your social media feed or read online news, what do you do when you come across a post or link to an article you are not interested in reading? You just scroll right past it, don't you?
Not trolls.
Trolls click on the link and read the post so they can complain about it later.
The last I checked, there's no Facebook rule stating you have to read every post on their platform you see. Trolls are allowed to skip over articles they don't want to read.
How Dare You Say Anything Rude About Hallmark!
In today's "cancel culture," we're all supposed to have the same opinion. Anyone who deviates must be attacked, flagged, and banished.
I value freedom of speech, so the thought police trolls can take a long walk off a short pier.
We love the clean, family-friendly, happy-ever-after Hallmark formula. It's comforting entertainment that helps us decompress. Still, some Hallmark movies can be like your annoying sibling--you can make cracks about him, but you'd never let an outsider do it!
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| Image: Crown Media, United States LLC |
Sometimes I roast, but most of the time I raise my glass to toast.
It's not "toxic," as some claim, to make observations like this:
- Why does Jessica keep calling a tree topper a "finial d'arbre" in Christmas at the Plaza when no one on Earth uses that term?
- Sophie, a photographer in Picture a Perfect Christmas, never uses lighting and acts like she doesn't know how to hold a camera.
- If you're going to use wigs on the actresses, stop using mops from the Dollar Tree.
Some snowflakes refer to this as "trash talking," but I call it being honest and having a light-hearted laugh at some of the details Hallmark wants us to pretend we don't notice.
When we point out these moments, it's so everyone can laugh and say, "I thought the same thing!" rather than being mean or disrespectful.
Do you know a lot of Facebook groups forbid even the slightest, veiled criticism of a Hallmark movie? Poke a little fun of something, and get booted, deleted, and blocked, not to mention publicly tarred, feathered, and stoned.
In our groups, you are allowed to have an opinion! You don't have to love every movie and every actor. You can disagree, without being mean-spirited, and you won't be censored.
You Must Have a Lot of Time on Your Hands
The intended jab here, of course, is to insinuate anyone who blogs about Hallmark movies must have nothing else more interesting or important to do.
It's a harsh condemnation from a judgmental and hateful heart.
Trolls want to decide what occupations, hobbies, or pursuits have value. According to their logic, anyone who has time to do something they love--exercising, baking, going to card club, doing a puzzle, reading a book, shopping, watching football--has too much time on their hands.
All of us are busy juggling careers, family life, responsibilities, domestic duties, and the plethora of other obligations that vie for our attention. When we find time to factor in activities we enjoy doing, that is our business, and those activities have value because we decide they do. It is very elitist of trolls to think they alone have the power to decide which pursuits are worthy of our time and attention.
Since idle time creates evil minds, trolls are clearly the ones with too much time on their hands.
A Little About Me
I have loved writing since the sixth grade, thanks to the most inspiring English teacher on the planet. In school (eons ago!), I helped write the school newspaper and was part of the Young Author's Club.
I have a Bachelor's Degree in English Education and have won essay contests, been published in a daily devotional, and freelanced as a copywriter. Currently, I manage five blogs, provide content for online niche sites, volunteer on a church writing team, and create educational materials for a teacher website.
My favorite people call me "mommy," and I've been happily married for 14 years.
I am blessed to work from home so I never have to miss any of life's best moments. Blogging about Hallmark movies provides me with a creative outlet where I can enjoy a little whimsy!
You will notice my blogs are monetized through Google AdSense, Amazon, Rakuten, and Share-a-Sale merchants. I use part of the proceeds to fund our Facebook group contests, with the prizes usually being books or DVD's of our favorite movies.
The more I make, the more contests we can have!
How can you help? Whenever you click on one of my Amazon links and make a purchase (even if it's not the product I'm advertising), I earn a commission. Clicking on the Google Ads also generates revenue, even if you don't buy anything. Rakuten and Share-a-Sale merchants work the same as Amazon--clicking on the links doesn't help unless you make a purchase.
I appreciate your support!
Enjoy Being In Our Hallmark Family!
If you're not already part of our two Hallmark Facebook groups and have stumbled across this post on Twitter or Pinterest, you are cordially invited to join our happy family! Find us here:
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| Image: Crown Media, United States LLC |
You have freedom in our groups to be YOU, have a voice, and feel safe to share your honest opinions. Everyone is welcome!
The mission of our Facebook groups and blogs is simple: we are creating a community of Hallmark fans who love talking about all aspects of these addictive movies!
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