Doing any last-minute Christmas shopping? Christmas this year will certainly be different. Because of covid, this will be the first time in about ten years that I have not sung in our church’s six Christmas Eve services the two days before Christmas. No long choir rehearsals, dress rehearsal, and all of the hours waiting at church before and after services. So you would think that with all this extra time on my hands I would be more organized in my holiday preparations.
This post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.
Are you a last-minute Christmas person? This year more people have been ordering gifts online. I have to say that if you do not have Amazon prime you are missing out! And you are in luck, if you use my affiliate link you can get 50% off Amazon Prime until the end of this month!
One of the best perks of being a Prime member is the free shipping. And it is usually next day shipping too. But in addition to free shipping, special member discounts, and the famous Prime Day, you get lots of free movies.
And speaking of movies, movies make great gifts for all ages. What is your favorite holiday movie? Are you a hopeless romantic who watches the same plot and set used over and over with different characters in Hallmark Christmas movies? Or do you like the classics? One of my favorites is Charlie Brown. And who can forget Buddy the Elf? Can you believe that my husband had not ever seen the movie Elf? I know, right? So I did what I had to do. I staged an intervention right here in our living room!
Movies make great last-minute Christmas shopping ideas. One of my favorites: The movie “Elf” has so many quotable lines!
What’s you favorite line from the movie “Elf?” Here are some of mine:
I love smiling. Smiling is my favorite!
Work. Work is your favorite.
You sit on a throne of lies.
The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for all to hear.
Last night I watched another classic: “The Sound of Music.” When I lived in Germany I was only about four hours from Salzburg, Austria where they filmed the movie. I took a tour once and got to see the set. Stay tuned for more travel stories, and I will show you some of my pictures of the beautiful Alps.
And now that you have signed up for Amazon Prime, I want to share an awesome purchase we just made. We got two small Wyze cameras for less than $50, and I love them! Our puppy, Layla, has separation anxiety and tears up things when we both leave for work. She has torn up a chair, the carpet, a sofa, and two dog beds!
So now I can spy on her and the other dog when I’m gone. And the cool thing is that it is two-way voice-activated, so I can just push a microphone icon and talk to Layla. When I say, “Layla, you better not tear up your new dog bed,” you should see her startled expression. It’s hilarious! Anyway, we like these so much that we have ordered another one for outdoors. They are super easy to set up. We just love them. Why am I sharing this? Well, they are on sale only for the holidays, so if you use my affiliate link you can grab yours in time for Christmas.
The Wyze Camera is an awesome last-minute Christmas shopping deal.
I can spy on Layla and talk to her. This is the night vision. The picture is very clear, and I could not be more pleased with this Wyze camera, especially for the price. Click my affiliate link to get yours too at the sale price now.
Here are some more great ideas from Amazon for your last-minute Christmas shopping:
My Pillow – Wow! My husband and I just got these pillows recently, and they actually do live up to the hype. I have always had trouble finding a pillow that is just right for my neck. This one is perfect. My neck is perfectly aligned, and I breathe better. I have never had a better night’s sleep.
6-Piece Towel Set – This is another recent purchase. Our towels were looking pretty raggedy, so it was time to replace them. These towel sets are a really good deal, and they have a wide variety of colors.
Charmin Toilet Paper – This may sound like a weird Christmas gift, but maybe you can buy it for yourself! And honestly, it is still 2020, so toilet paper can make a valuable gift for the right person.
Remember how I said that Layla likes to tear things up when we leave for work? I had just purchased this big multi-pack, and the results are below. Charmin is our favorite because we think it is softer. And this package was literally the last one on the shelf in the grocery store. In fact, it was so far back I had to get a spatula displayed nearby and do some gymnastics to try to reach it (I am only 5′ 1″). Had I known about this deal on Amazon I would have jumped at it. This is way cheaper than the grocery store.
Even the dog fights over toilet paper.
Books – Books always make a great Christmas gift. Many people make New Year’s resolutions to read more, so receiving a gift at Christmas is always welcomed. I wanted to brush up on my Bible knowledge, so I bought a book called 30 Days to Understanding the Bible: Unlock the Scripture in 15 Minutes a Day. It is a great book for simplifying and helping me to remember all of the major characters, locations, and themes in the Bible. I also bought a business book called Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller.
Click either of these links and it will bring you to the book section of Amazon where you can browse for the book of your choice. They say if you don’t meet a few new people and read a few new books each year, then you will be the same person you were last year. Rather listen to a book? Audible Plus has an awesome Holiday Promotion until the end of the month. Only $4.95/month for the first six months!
So jump online and grab those last-minute gifts today so they’ll arrive in time for Christmas. Do you have any other good ideas? Let me know in the comments below. Also, don’t forget to share your favorite holiday movie choices. Merry Christmas!
Have you ever been to the Ozark Mountains? Branson, in southwest Missouri has been called the #1 Family Vacation Spot in America, but on our recent trip we found it to be just as fun for couples. Right through the middle, 76 Country Boulevard is famously lined with lots of theaters, restaurants, and attractions. It once hosted mostly country music performers but today the entertainment is very diverse.
Shows include everything from rock tribute bands to pop to country music as well as magicians, comedians, ice skaters, and much more. Also along the strip are attractions like the Marvel Cave, the Wild West-style Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction and Silver Dollar City, an 1800s-themed amusement park with live music.
This post may contain affiliate links, and I may earn commission when you click these links at no additional cost to you.
The Ozark town of Branson, Missouri
1. Showboat Branson Belle
Showboat Branson Belle – This is really fun. We enjoyed beautiful views of Table Rock Lake from a unique vantage point as we cruised around. Themed after the majestic showboats of the 1800s, the Showboat Branson Belle will take you on a two-hour cruise across the waters of Table Rock Lake.
The ship has four decks you can walk around on, so you get panoramic views of the Ozark Mountains — beautiful at any time of the year. We walked up to the very top deck and enjoyed live music and great views.
In addition to time for exploring the lake, your Showboat Branson Belle ticket includes a performance of an outstanding live show and a three-course meal! The show was very entertaining. We had great seats on the third deck facing the stage inside. Sitting next to us was an older couple celebrating their anniversary. In getting to know them I learned that they were both professional water skiiers and still ski. I was so excited, because I used to perform in water ski shows (see my Sunshine Award post). Everyone was so friendly and happy – maybe because they were all on vacation like us! Ha! So you are getting a boat cruise, a dinner, and a show all-in-one.
We had great seats for the show on the Showboat Branson Belle!
Before and after your cruise, you can enjoy the scenery and shopping at the ship’s dock, White River Landing. There are two specialty shops there with clothing, jewelry and accessories at Layton Mercantile and a variety of Showboat Branson Belle souvenirs and Table Rock Lake apparel at McAdoo’s Boatworks. Parking at White River Landing is free — and you don’t have to have a ticket to look around McAdoo’s Boatworks or Layton Mercantile.
Titanic Museum in Branson, Missouri
2. Titanic Museum
Titanic Museum – This is a cool museum. It is hard to miss this half-scale replica of the ship as you drive along Highway 76 in Branson. The Titanic Museum is really much more than just a museum; it’s an interactive attraction that tells the stories of those who were onboard for the famous ocean voyage. This shipwreck has fascinated the world for more than a century.
Those who were lost, as well as those who survived, are memorialized in the displays, special events, and holiday celebrations held throughout the year. Both entertaining and educational, it has everything from authentic artifacts to news coverage from the time of the disaster, to personal items from families and loved ones of those who were aboard the Titanic. You can dip your fingers in the 28 degree water and touch a real growing iceberg.
The museum goes to great lengths to transport passengers back in time to the original voyage in 1912. What was really cool is that when you enter the museum you are given a boarding pass featuring the name of an original passenger. You can try to find out more about your passenger as you walk through the museum before discovering whether or not that person actually survived the catastrophe at the end of your visit. It makes the experience very personal instead of just learning about a long-distant event in history. This is different than most other museums I’ve visited.
As you travel through the museum, you’ll climb through different sections of the ship, including many that are built to the actual scale of the original. The huge dramatic Grand Staircase was pretty impressive. You’ll go from the engine room to cramped lower-class quarters and then up to more spacious first-class cabins. There are detailed reproductions as well as actual artifacts related to the ship.
It was sort of eerie and haunting to see the original life preserver vests, personal letters and other items that have survived more than a century since the ship’s collision with an iceberg. Photos and video were prohibited, so it is something you just have to see in person. But if you like history, I encourage you to check it out!
The Haygoods in concert in Branson, Missouri
3. See a Show
Shows – Branson is known for its many live shows and theaters. In addition to the show on the Branson Belle Showboat we saw the “Haygoods” in concert. It was so great! Video was not allowed, but it would not be the same as being there live anyway.
The Haygoods are a family who has been in show business together for 27 years. There are 5 brothers and one sister, and they all play several instruments and sing and dance. It was very entertaining and well worth the money. There are so many different types of entertainment. It is hard to choose! I’m glad we bought tickets to the Haygoods for sure.
“Banjo Boy” challenges his fiddler brother in the Haygoods concert
4. College of the Ozarks
Eat Lunch at The Keeter Center and Walk Around the Campus of The College of the Ozarks – We are so happy that we heard about this place! The Dobyns Dining Room offers 5-Star Dining at the price of a regular restaurant, because it is prepared by culinary students.
We had lunch there and found it to be one of the highlights of our trip. Be sure to make reservations! We did not know to make reservations, so we had to wait over an hour and a half for a table. But that just gave us time to drive and walk around the beautiful college campus. See my video below for some footage. When looking for a unique restaurant in the Branson area, look no further. It is a farm to fork dining experience with live instrumental music Thursday through Saturday evenings, and on Sundays during their award-winning brunch.
They have their own grist mill at the College of the Ozarks!
There is a bakery
with pastries, cookies, and a variety of coffee and specialty drinks any time
of the day. We tasted a cranberry biscuit and a honey wheat roll – both
delicious. The College Creamery has premium homemade ice cream, made with cream
from their own campus dairy.
Everything is student made at the Keeter Center.
From their website: “The Keeter Center is unique from other Branson restaurants, as it is an integral part of College of the Ozarks Work Education Program. Also known as Hard Work U, it provides the opportunity for full-time students to work at one of more than 120 campus workstations, in order to pay for their cost of education. By working 15 hours a week, student workers are earning their tuition and can graduate college debt free. Some of the student workers at The Keeter Center are Culinary Arts or Hospitality majors, while others are earning degrees in other fields of study, such as Nursing, Education, Engineering, and Business Administration.”
Branson Landing is a cool place for all ages, offering more than 100 storefronts for specialty shops, restaurants and accommodations. It is easily walkable. Branson Landing is less than a mile long with a central, open-air promenade and a scenic Taneycomo Lakeside boardwalk.
The whole area is a great place to just hang out. Their tag line is: Branson Landing…Where Shopping, Dining, and Entertainment Take Center Stage! And you don’t want to miss Branson Landing’s $7.5 million water and fire spectacular located in the middle of Town Square!
At the heart of the Landing is a busy town square with steps down to this $7.5 million spectacular water attraction that features what they call the first-ever merging of water, fire, light and music. It really is an amazing dazzling display of giant water fountains shooting 120-foot geysers and fire cannons blasting, all choreographed to light and music. And it is free! (My favorite price). See my video at the end of this post for some live footage.
This is a fun place that feels like it is straight off the set of “Happy Days.” For 27 years now, their talented servers (and sometimes cooks and bus staff) have been singing people’s favorite songs while serving up some really great food too.
This 1950s themed diner is staffed by talented, professional singers, songwriters and musicians. Many have been or are currently in some of Branson’s most popular productions. These are not amateurs. They are professional, award winning entertainers, including one who climbed high on “American Idol!”
We enjoyed the food too. Awesome cheeseburger, and we got to listen to some oldie but goody favorite songs performed live and up close… a truly unique experience. They say at Mel’s Hard Luck Diner they “sing for your supper!”
Be sure to take a look around the diner and see the memorabilia and hard luck stories too. It is a cute place. The Grand Village shopping center where the diner is located is also pretty neat. Lots of little gift shops and specialty stores are there if you like shopping.
I look like Rosanne from that old “Saturday Night Live” skit!This shoe store sure catches your attention!
7. Hiking
Go Hiking and See the Fall Colors
Hiking in Branson, Missouri is always fun.We found this pile of rocks on our hike.
We visited Branson in October. Fall is a great time to see some of leaves changing color, when it is not too cold. We took a short hike to a small waterfall, which was nice. You can also see some pretty Fall foliage along the shore if you take a boat tour.
Small waterfall on our hike in Branson, Missouri
8. Other Museums and Attractions
Museums and Attractions
There are so many fun tourist attractions in Branson. Funny story…I walked up to this guy who was standing outside the wax museum to ask how much tickets were, when I realized two things: (1) He was Ryan Reynolds, and (2) He was not real! Ha!
The wax figure of Ryan Reynolds looked so real.A giant King Kong watches over the Wax Museum in Branson, MissouriLook at those faces!Outside of the Wax Museum in Branson, MissouriSpooky attraction near the wax museumHe looks so serious! 🙂We didn’t go in here, but I just had to show you these giant hands. They look so real!
9. Shopping
Shopping!
Branson has an outlet mall and lots of cute shopping areas with gift shops and specialty stores. What more could you want? Did someone say bargain?
Outlet Mall in Branson, MissouriThere are so many cute little shops in Branson, Missouri.Which one is cuter?Gift Shop in Branson
We did not visit this theme park on our most recent trip, but it is definitely on our list for next time! Even in October they were advertising for their spectacular holiday events, and the lights look gorgeous!
In October they have pumpkins everywhere and pumpkin themed events. The theme park has awesome rides, but they are also known for their award winning shows as well. I have never heard anything negative about this park. In fact, my college roomate worked there one summer and met her now husband at Silver Dollar City! Just saying….you never know what could happen when you visit Branson!
Where to Stay
We booked our trip through BookVIP, and I cannot say enough good things about them. They have these outrageous deals all the time for really nice places. And sometimes they run specials where you can go for almost nothing. So, I will be honest. I was a little skeptical at first when I saw how low the prices are, but our accomodations were spectacular!
If you use this link you are guaranteed the best price at tons of amazing vacation destinations, and you will help support this blog at no additional cost to you. If you are a travel blogger shoot me an e-mail, because I have something extra for you.
Some clips of our Branson, MO trip
Have you ever been to Branson? Leave a comment below with your best Branson experiences.
