16 Essentials for Your Christmas Movie Binge-a-thon

Pumpkin Beer Cooler

Oktoberfest is all about the beer (duh). So instead of carving out a jack-o-lantern, hollow out a pumpkin, fill it up with ice and get to cooling those seasonal ales you love so much.

Sparkling Pumpkin Cider Beertail

We love sipping on our pumpkin ale straight, but to switch things up, try this beertail made with pumpkin ale, sparkling cider, and lots of cinnamon.

MyGift 2 Liter Das Boot Beer Glasses

No, you are never, ever, EVER too old for a das boot. Invest in this set of four for your upcoming shindig because, well, it isn’t an Oktoberfest party without a big ol’ beer-filled boot floating around!

TRUE Craft Beer Tasting Glasses

These sleek glasses are the perfect beer vessel for your German-themed get-together, and they’re also just awesome bar staples. Any excuse to grow the home bar, right?

Libbey Heidelberg Glass Beer Mugs, Set of 4

Clink the night away with these festive (and hefty!) beer mugs.

DIY Harlequin Garland

No Oktoberfest party is complete without the standard harlequin garland. DIY this puppy and string it up right before your guests arrive.

Braided Crown

A little dress-up never hurt anybody! Complete your Oktoberfest look with this feminine and effortless braided crown. (via Camille Styles)

Lederhosen Set

For all moms out there, dress yourlittle one for the occasion. There’s no reason they have to miss out on the party just because of… well… obvious reasons.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Roast up the pumpkin seeds from your beer cooler for a light and salty beer snack.

Pretzel Necklaces

Right when your guests walk in, hand them one of these adorable pretzel necklaces. Who doesn’t love a good wearable snack?

Homemade Oktoberfest Pretzels

If beer is the Batman of Oktoberfest, then homemade soft pretzels are certainly the Robin. Serve these puppies up warm with some tangy yellow mustard for the perfect party snack.

Homemade Pretzel Bites

Not into full-size pretzels? No problem! These pretzel bites are the bomb.com.

Pretzel Bite Mini Bucket Holders

If you go the pretzel-bite route, be sure to craft up some adorable p-bite holders, like these minibuckets lined with Oktoberfest colors.

Maille Mustard Variety Pack

And you best not be serving up all of these pretzels without a little mustard.

Pretzel Bar

A food bar is always a good idea, especially if you’re expecting lots of guests. Create a pretzel sampling bar, complete with various mustards and cheesy dips, to really get the Oktoberfest-ivities started.

Pretzel Rolls

For those of you planning on having a DIY sandwich station, bake up these yummy pretzel rolls to stick with the theme.

Pull-Apart Pretzel Skillet With Beer Cheese Dip

Pull-apart breads are everything, especially when there’s beer cheese dip involved.

Wisconsin Beer Brats With Sauerkraut

Grilled brats topped with homemade sauerkraut? There’s absolutely nothing better.

Grilled Potato Arugula Salad

Serve this lovely grilled potato salad alongside those brats for the perfect Oktoberfest meal.

Pumpkin Beer Bread

Fully commit to the beer theme and whip up this scrumptious pumpkin beer bread made with pumpkin puree.

Chocolate-Dipped Beer Marshmallows

Beer marshmallows??? Tell us more!

Beer Mug Cupcakes

These are so ridiculously amazing, we can’t. even. stand it. Those fondant beer mugs are filled with chocolate cake and with Bailey’s Irish Cream chocolate ganache…!!!

Tally Youngblood has waited her whole life to become pretty, and experience the new life promised by a total body makeover. During her final summer as an Ugly, she befriends Shay and the two pull hilarious pranks, and go on daring adventures as they wait to turn 16. But in the few weeks leading up to their surgeries, Shay disappears and Tally decides she can’t turn Pretty without her. When it comes to loyalty, will Tally betray one of her only friends for her dream?

When Netflix announced this adaptation, I was met with excitement but I was also a wee bit nervous. I remember reading Uglies for the first time and being able to picture it perfectly in my head, especially how cool it would be to hoverboard. And in true Netflix fashion, almost everyone from the cast, including leads Joey King and Chase Stokes, have been in other Netflix shows (they really like to keep it in the family).

This adaptation is so far, so good. I reread the book before starting the movie recently and I will say, it holds up. The writing is definitely super YA, but it was fun to slip back into the story and experience it all over again.

Uglies is streaming on Netflix now and stars Joey King, Chase Stokes, Brianne Tju, Keith Powers, Laverne Cox, Charmin Lee, Jan Luis Castellanos.

I simply could not write a book to screen adaptation article WITHOUT mentioning Percy Jackson. This is one of my all time favorite books ever. I read The Lightning Thief every single summer and rock out to the musical by Joe Tracz from time to time.

The first two movies (starring Logan Lerman as Percy) were horrendous, so I about fell out of my chair when Uncle Rick announced Disney was adapting Percy, Annabeth, and Grover's story into a TV show. What if we got burned twice? Would we continue obsessing over the potential for a great Percy Jackson adaptation?

Disney said stop right there. The first season was truly incredible, and it captured so much of the wit and fun from the first book. Earlier this month, the show announced additional cast members for the upcoming season 2, which will bring The Sea of Monsters to life.

If you loved these books and are hesitant to start the show, don’t be scared to press play.

Percy Jackson And The Olympians season 1 is streaming on Disney+ now. The series stars Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Toby Stephens, Virginia Kull, Charlie Bushnell, and Dior Goodjohn.

Our dearest gentle readers, I simply cannot recommend the latest season of Bridgerton enough. I've read all of the Bridgerton books by Julia Quinn, and Romancing Mr. Bridgerton is in my top two (number one: When He Was Wicked, Franscesa’s Story. Grab tissues if you read this one!).

Anything that’s in Shondaland is really magical, and I give her and her team so much credit for bringing the Bridgertons to life. I will say, if you read the books, the show is really nothing like them. I know what you’re thinking, "But Emily, how can you say it’s a great book to screen adaptation if it’s not word-for-word what’s in the book?"

Easy! It brings the text to life in such a cohesive and immersive way that you can’t help but be giddy as you watch your favorites fall in love all over again.

Though the books are being adapted out of order, I have full faith that Netflix can bring these together well. Season 4 will follow Benedict and Sophie, and is almost guaranteed to be filled with plenty of dancing and steamy rendezvous.

Bridgerton seasons 1-3 are on Netflix now. The show stars Luke Thompson, Luke Newton, Nicola Coughlan, Jonathan Bailey, Simone Ashley, Claudia Jessie, Hannah Dodd, Will Tilston, Florence Hunt, Harriet Cains, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Madsen, and Bessie Carter! Yerin Ha will join season 4.

'​Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott

Not to sound dramatic, but the 2019 Little Women movie was the first time I understood what people meant when they said, “Wow, that was a great movie.” The casting? Superb. The music? Revolutionary. How Greta Gerwig showed the passage of time with color filters? Genius.

I do think American and British classics are hard to adapt as movies or shows because so much of the plot relies on the reader understanding the historical context, and how people would interact with each other. I say that because it’s not like if you crack open Little Women you’ll immediately know Amy is terrible, you kind of have to pick up on it, especially when she talks about limes. That being said, Florence Pugh, you did that gal a favor because if Amy was my little sister, she probably would’ve stayed in the ice.

The fall is actually a perfect time to reread this book and enjoy the movie. Definitely worth making yourself a cup of tea, putting on fuzzy socks and a good cry.

Little Women is streaming on Hulu and stars Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Louis Garrel, and Chris Cooper.

Liane Moriarty is no stranger to having her books turned into TV shows. Big Little Lies was a hit on HBO and had people on the edge of their seats.

Former tennis players-turned-coaches, Joy and Stan Delaney have a perfect life and marriage to folks looking in from the outside. They run a thriving tennis camp and have incredibly successful kids who are each following their own path in life. But when Joy goes missing, every ugly truth bubbles to the surface and shatters what everyone thought about the Delaneys.

While Apples Never Fall isn't a super intense book in my opinion, it still has the same whodunit and leaves you guessing like all our favorite thrillers. There’s been a few mixed reviews about the show, but I do recommend it if you’re looking for a little mystery that’s not going to make you question your own reality.

Apples Never Fall is streaming on Peacock and stars Annette Bening, Alison Brie, Jake Lacy, Conor Merrigan-Turner, Sam Neill, Essie Randles, and Georgia Flood.

Charmaine Wilkerson's debut novel is an in-depth story about a family’s secrets, betrayals, memories, and so much more.

Byron and Benny Bennett lost their mother Eleanor, who left behind a black cake from a family recipe and a voice recording. In the voice recording, Byron and Benny learn things about their mother they never knew — and her true history.

When books with alternate timelines get turned to TV or movies, I’m immediately skeptical. It can be difficult to show the difference between the past and present, and to keep up with it as a viewer. But this show is unreal. We don’t lose the intricate dynamics of the characters, and the actors bring the concept of family secrets to life. Watch Black Cake on Hulu and see Eleanor’s secrets for yourself.

Black Cake is streaming on Hulu and stars Mia Isaac, Chipo Chung, and Faith & Glynn Turman.

Let me start by saying I think Holly Jackson is truly incredible. The first book I read by her was Five Survive and she's a mastermind at creating suspense and taking the story in a completely different direction than you thought WHILE making it make sense.

Years ago in a small town, Andrea “Andie” Bell and Salil “Sal” Singh were killed in a murder-suicide. Pippa “Pip” Fitz-Amobi has a mission to find out what truly happened to Andie and Sal. As she does research for a “school project,” she quickly learns that a killer might still be out there, but who?

I describe this book as a modern day Pretty Little Liars but better. There’s a lot of pressure on actors to deliver when it comes to characters that are as well-rounded as Holly Jackson’s, but the crew pulls it off. I recommend this book and show if you’re looking for something with serial vibes and high stakes drama.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is on Netflix and stars Emma Myers, Zain Iqbal, Anna Maxwell Martin, Gary Beadle, Mathew Baynton, India Lillie Davies, Rahul Pattni, Henry Ashton, and Mitu Panicucci.

I would like to take a moment to show my appreciation for Casey McQuinston. They are incredible and have given us amazing reads like One Last Stop, I Kissed Shara Wheeler, The Pairing, and most importantly, the love story between First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry (too many last names).

When the First Son makes a fool of himself at a party by confronting his longtime nemesis the Prince, their publicists scramble to create a stunt friendship. But are friends supposed to feel butterflies in their stomachs when they catch them getting dressed? Should friends want to kiss each other at any given moment? These two definitely do.

This book was adapted by Amazon Prime and the casting department knocked it out of the freaking park. Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex was the gift we needed and Nicholas Galitzine was born to play Prince Henry. It was brought to the screen in an inclusive way without one-dimensional stereotypes, and a lot of that is credited to Casey’s amazing writing.

If anyone would like to have a watch party for this, please, please let me know. I will happily giggle and kick my feet while eating snacks and watching these two glorious men fall in love.

Red, White and Royal Blue season 1 is on Prime Video and stars Nicholas Galitzine, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Uma Thurman, and Clifton Collins, Jr.

We need more spy books turned into movies. There’s something so bad—ss about the leather outfits, being strapped with weapons, and hiding in close quarters with someone that just gets me going.

This book and movie differ greatly. The book is a pretty straightforward novel: a CIA agent is the only one who can stop the world from entering chaos, but she needs a partner to help. Whereas the movie takes place to serve as the writer’s adventure — like she’s enters a movie herself and then goes to write about it.

While I wouldn’t say these are necessarily the best adaptations when it come to recreating every detail, I will say they're two pieces of art that live somewhat together, and that you can appreciate separately. Don’t read the book and expect everything in the movie to be the same, but read the book and watch the movie for some fun and entertainment!

Argylle is streaming on Apple TV+ and stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, Ariana DeBose, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, John Cena, Dua Lipa, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Hot take: I'm not the biggest Sally Rooney fan. I think she's brilliantly talented, but her works are really just not my cup of tea. However, I, like many people, fell in love with Marianne and Connell from Normal People. How can you not? They are characters written so much like real people, it’s like you can see their lives as clearly as your own.

Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal are the best people that could have been cast as the leads, and they just do it so well. The whole production is vulnerable and intimate, but also doesn’t lose the nuances of Sally’s work by bringing it to life.

The book and show can be heavy, absolutely, but it shows the reality of life and what could have been if we made different decisions in our younger years. If you read or watch, you want to cheer on the characters and feel every up and down alongside them.

Normal People is streaming on Hulu and stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal.

'​Heartstopper' by Alice Oseman

Did you know Heartstopper was originally published as a webcomic on Tumblr and Tapas back in 2016? It got such a following that Alice started a campaign to help fund the publication of a graphic novel — and here we are today!

Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson go to the Truham Grammar School and they couldn’t have more different lives. Nick is a popular boy at school and a star of the rugby team. Charlie is quiet, suffering from multiple mental health problems and crushing on Nick from afar. The novel follows their story and everything that comes along with being a teenage couple in love.

Netflix has released two series so far with a third to release later this fall in October. The series has been praised for bringing the characters of Truham Grammar School to life while showing the everyday battles teenagers face about sexuality, fitting in, and honestly just existing.

Alice Oseman stayed close with production and writing to bring her novels to life. It’s also proof that bringing in authors during the creative process for TV is worth every bit of it!!

Heartstoppers seasons 1 and 2 are streaming on Netflix. The show stars Kit Connor, Joe Locke, William Gao, Yasmin Finney, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, Tobie Donovan, Jenny Walser, Rhea Norwood, and Leila Khan.

'​Turtles All the Way Down' by John Green

John Green should have a line in his bio about how he likes to create YA novels that will personally hit you in the heart. John, if you’re reading this, hit me up and I’d be happy to work that line in for you.

Turtles All the Way Down was published in 2017, and if you haven’t had the chance to read it yet, what are you doing? The major plot point of this book is that Aza and her best friend Daisy are supposed to be investigating the mystery of billionaire Russell Pickett, but that isn’t what really held my attention.

Aza Holmes has nearly crippling anxiety and OCD while also grieving the loss of her father. As someone who has been diagnosed with OCD for over a decade, it was a sort of an aha moment seeing myself represented on the pages. You don’t need to be diagnosed with any mental illnesses to understand what Aza is going through, you just need to be human.

Director Hannah Marks brought Aza, Daisy, and Davis to the screen in a way that balances teenage angst and emotions that seem larger than life. Because let’s face it, at 16, everything seems bigger than it is. Isabela Merced, who plays Aza, was praised for her accurate portrayal of OCD thought spirals. It can seem somewhat impossible to nail the big feels that John Green puts in his novels, but this might be one of the best depictions of one of his works ever.

If you’ve ever heard me say “it’s turtles all the way down,” in response to a sh—ty day, you can thank this book right here for that.

Turtles All The Way Down is streaming on Max and stars Isabela Merced, Felix Mallard, Cree Cicchino, Judy Reyes, J. Smith-Cameron, Poorna Jagannathan, and Maliq Johnson.

'​The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store' by James McBride

Okay this is a bit of a cheat since this movie isn’t out yet, but this is one I am readyyy for. Barack Obama shared that this was one of his favorite books for 2023, and there's a reason for that. This story is hauntingly beautiful and will show you a part of American history that has been erased and almost forgotten. But we have to tell these stories and educate everyone in America about the ugly, but also hopeful, parts of our nation.

In a Pennsylvania small town, new developments are going up everywhere, but the digging crew didn't expect to find a skeleton at the bottom of a well. The town starts looking for answers, and quickly finds out that the residents of Chicken Hill, a dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans live, may have the answers.

Moshe and Chona Ludlow lived in Chicken Hill, where Moshe integrated his theater and where Chona ran the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. When the state comes looking for a deaf boy to institutionalize him, Chona and Nate Timblin, the Black janitor at Moshe’s theater and unofficial Black leader, work together to keep him safe.

The book weaves a tale of all the characters and as they deepen, shows how people on the margins of white, Christian America struggle to survive.

This movie adaptation is in the early stages of development but A24 and Steven Spielberg are working on the film!

How did Kristin Cavallari meet her ex-boyfriend Mark Estes?

We're truly living in a digital age because TikTok is the reason Kristin Cavallari was introduced to her ex-boyfriend Mark Estes. She told her best friend Justin Anderson that she was scrolling down her timeline when she came across what she called a "boy group" called The Montana Boyz and they both agreed one of them specifically is her type. She said, "He's gorgeous. Like, everything about him is perfect. But, he's also outdoorsy and manly."

Three weeks later, she got a DM from The Montana Boyz that said "I love you" and she immediately let them know she wanted to have them on her podcast. Although the podcast didn't happen, Kristin Cavallari appeared in one of their TikTok videos. Once Kristin Cavallari learned from her assistant that they were planning to move to Nashville, she arranged for a line dancing meet-up with The Montana Boyz and her staff. After they met, Kristin decided to call the guy who would become her ex-boyfriend "Montana." (Cavallari used Montana as a stand in for her boyfriend's real name during the podcast recording as she never names anyone explicitly on her show.)

Shortly after that, Kristin Cavallari hard launched her new relationship with ex-boyfriend Mark Estes on Instagram in February, and the rest is history!

How did she feel about their age gap?

Kristin Cavallari didn't know how young The Montana Boyz were, but she wasn't interested in pursuing a relationship with Mark Estes at first. She did admit she had a brief issue with their age gap, but decided that Mark being 24 while she's 37 didn’t really bother her. Justin pointed out that she actually used to say she wouldn't date guys who were only 30 because she thought they were too young. However, she was more interested in who Mark was as a person and notes that life experiences and how you were raised is more indicative of one's maturity level than age alone.

Did Kristin Cavallari's kids like Mark Estes?

Kristin Cavallari said her boys were so excited to meet Mark for the first time and she felt like they really wanted her to be happy. "I've been really good about separating my dating life from their [life]," she said. Her oldest son especially approved of Mark and it was shocking to Kristin because he's usually the toughest judge of whoever she's dating.

How did her career prepare her for public opinions about their relationship?

Kristin Cavallari didn’t care what anyone thought about her ex-boyfriend. She's lived life in the public eye and is comfortable enough with herself to make decisions that make her happy. Kristin said, "...when this news came out, it's the first time in my entire life I 100% haven't given a sh-t what anyone thinks... My own mother is noticing a difference in me."

Did she mention anything about her divorce from Jay Cutler?

Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler were married for seven years before announcing their divorce in 2020. She didn't go into detail about it during the podcast episode, but she did talk about the magnitude of her former relationship with her ex-boyfriend. "It's the first time I've gone public since my divorce," she said.

How did Mark Estes adjust to being in the public eye with Kristin Cavallari?

Mark Estes may be in the spotlight because he dated Kristin Cavallari, but that didn’t mean he was enthusiastic about it. E! News caught up with him at the CMT Awards and he said, "It comes with the territory, I guess...It is what it is." One thing his friend Kade Wilcox — another one of The Montana Boyz — mentioned is that Mark was quite the romanticist when it came to Kristin Cavallari. He told the outlet, "He's pretty good at date nights."

How did Kristin Cavallari feel about dating a younger man?

Kristin Cavallari and Mark Estes may have been in bliss for a short while, but the former knows having an age gap in a relationship isn't always applauded by others. " I understand what it looks like from the outside world of, like, yeah, I’m dating a 24-year-old, but no one in my life has been like, ‘This is weird.’ Everyone’s like, ’I get it. It makes sense,'" she said (via Bustle).

She also said, "...Emotionally, he’s able to step up to the plate, and he’s shown up for me more than anyone else I’ve ever dated," (via Bustle). And according to her, Mark's all in when it comes to her kids and they love him for it. "He loves my kids. He actually took my kids to school, and it's just—he fits in very well. And I'm really thankful for that," (via E! News).

It's not easy balancing being an attentive mom who has a full-fledged career and relationship, but Kristin seemed grateful for the way Mark stepped up to the plate. She said he made things feel "so easy" which is something all moms crave!

Watch The Full Campaign Video For Hard Feelings Eau De Parfum 

Since talking about everything from her time on Laguna Beach to her relationship, Kristin Cavallari and Mark Estes appeared together in an ad campaign for her brand's new fragrance, Hard Feelings. It's described as an "alluring" scent that's meant to invigorate one's senses. With notes like pink pepper, hibiscus, and sandalwood, we don't doubt it's sensuality!

What's the steamy thing  Kristin revealed about her former relationship?

During the "Truth or Drink with Mark Estes" episode on Let's Be Honest with Kristin Cavallari, Kristin and Mark delved into steamy secrets about their relationship. The latter even dropped a bombshell when he admitted he enjoyed being intimate with Kristin. He said, "Yeah, you’re the best sex I've ever had for sure," which shocked her.

Though she liked his confession, she said she "didn't know that" before letting him know she felt the same. But, she attributed their hot sex to things like being "more present physically during sex" and being "wildly attracted" to Mark.

But, their relationship isn't all about their amazing romps in bed. Mark was “obviously so in love" with Kristin so that added to the spiciness factor!

Why did Kristin Cavallari And Mark Estes break up?

Sadly, all of the passion Kristin Cavallari and Mark Estes had fizzled out because they broke up after 7 months of being in a relationship (via Us Weekly). She told Alex Cooper, host of the Call Her Daddy podcast, the breakup was “fresh,” (via PEOPLE ).

It doesn’t seem like their breakup ended on a sour note, but we’ll see if they share more about it in the coming weeks!