With a festive lineup of heartwarming classics and laugh-out-loud favourites, Hayley's picks – from The Grinch to Love Actually – offer the perfect way to relax, make memories, and embrace the holiday spirit.

Ho Ho Ho and Happy Holidays! I'm Hayley Allam, host of the new parenting podcast Mom Life in Luxembourg. It is almost guaranteed that when you're reading this article, the weather here in Luxembourg will be dismal. And so why not take advantage of the season by curling up in front of the TV? Every year during Christmas Break my family does a 'Holiday Movie Marathon,' and I would love to share it with you!

We take our holiday movie marathon very seriously in my house. It all kicks off the day after Thanksgiving, when my husband finally relents to letting us go wild on all things Christmas. We get the tree, start playing Christmas Carols, decorate the house, and all pile on the couch for our first movie of the season. We then try to cram as many of our favourites in before the new year/going back to school and work. Our first and last movies are always the same, but we watch the rest in no particular order. We divide the movies between 'family' movies which are good for little kids and then grown up movies that I watch alone with my husband once the kids are asleep. (In those precious 30 minutes that happen after I put the kids down and before I collapse). Here they are!

A classic

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - I have watched this movie every Christmas since I was probably about 16, and I swear it gets funnier every time. and I notice new things that make me laugh. We often quote this movie throughout the year. It's about a nuclear family living in the suburbs of Chicago who invite their in-laws to stay for Christmas. That includes both sets of grandparents, the sister-in-law with her well-meaning but idiot husband, and their mangey children.

It starts when they all drive out into the woods to chop down their very own Christmas tree. What could go wrong?! This one came out in 1989, and there's a solid chance it's not on your radar. If you're looking for a laugh this holiday season, give this one a try! And yes, I let my kids watch it even though it's not technically a kids movie.

The usual suspects for the kids

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,Polar Express, Home Alone, and Elf. I try to make a pseudo-moral comment or use the films as a launch point to discuss something meaningful to make myself feel better about the kids watching so much TV. For example, when we watch The Grinch, we talk about what it would be like to have a black heart and how terrible that would be. When we watch Home Alone, we talk about how even though your brothers are super annoying sometimes, you always love them deep down. Recently the boys have been into Boss Baby Christmas and Captain Underpants Christmas Movie. I hope these are just phase movies and don't become part of our tradition though.

Mom and Dad flicks

We love the original Bridget Jones Diary. It takes place during Christmas. It's a lovely little romcom and features a curvy blonde who tends to blurt out whatever she's thinking and a tall dark and handsome introverted type who saves the day. What's not to love?

If you or your partner is suffering from work burnout or general 'why did I have kids?' exhaustion, I recommend you check out The Family Man, starring Nicholas Cage. He's a super successful banker who sees what his life would have been like if he married his true love from college - kind of like an Ebeneezer Scrooge type of plot. I save this one for when the kids are being rather annoying or we have had to do a bunch of tasks we don't want to do. It's funny and it's motivating. It's another one we quote all year.

Just Friends, is also a Christmas movie that is hilarious. Starring Ryan Renolds and Anna Ferris. Ryan is a dorky highschooler in love with this girl named Jamie. He gets horribly traumatized his senior year and vows to go move to California and become a huge success in Hollywood. Fast forward 20 years, he's totally hot and ends up back in his hometown. Does he get the girl? You'll have to tune in to find out!

We also always watch The Holiday and Love Actually, but with mixed feelings. The thing that bugs me about The Holiday is that Jack Black is just way too ugly* for Kate Winslett. So much so, it almost ruins the show. But Jude Law is so hot I'll sit through it.

*Editor's note: I happen to find Jack Black hotter than Jude Law in this movie!

And Love Actually is really kind of sad. Watching the guy cheat on his wife is heartbreaking, and that friend who is in love with his best friend's new wife. Awkward! But I do love the old rocker who wants a comeback and watching Hugh Grant dance in his underwear. These are great background movies for when you want to watch something but also want to scroll on your phone at the same time.

For the week after Christmas

Specifically for those day when you don't know who you are/how you ate so much/what day it is, I highly recommend The BBC's Pride and Prejudice. Not the Keira Knightly one. The one with Colin Firth. It's a good, long, slow burn of a love story. Great when you're hungover. However, know thyself: If you can't handle a British period drama, then you can't handle a British Drama.

Regardless of what you watch, after so much running around all year, I am highly supportive of spending some wallet friendly, quality time with the family. Building memories and family traditions together.

And if you've finished all these movies and are looking for something else to tune into, why not try a recap of Season 1 of Mom Life in Luxembourg? Out now on RTL Play or wherever you get your podcasts!

Can't get enough of the Christmas movie recommendations? Luckily we've got plenty. Check out Roux Magazine's choices and some Netflix holiday favourites.