Thursday 13- Hallmark Channel Style

I haven't done a Thursday 13 in FOREVER, so I thought I would post one today.

If you follow me on Twitter, it's no secret that I'm a fan of Hallmark Channel movies (shameless plug, follow me here for hot sports opinions and live tweeting of Hallmark movies). I don't know how it happened. One day I wasn't really a fan of the channel and then BOOM, I'm addicted. Sign me up. I'm here for all of them. Gotta watch them all. Lol. I even have the Hallmark Movie Checklist app that keeps tracks of the ones I've watched. I can sense that you are judging me, even through your computer or phone screens, I can tell- yeah, I'm looking at you. :)

ANYWAY, I thought today I would list 13 of my favorite Hallmark Channel TV series/movie series. Yes I like more than 13 but the post is called Thursday THIRTEEN. I'll be honest- I'm a bigger fan of the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel (because mysteries are my jam), but I do watch movies on the regular Hallmark Channel as well. I don't discriminate. :) So, in no particular order, I give you my list. 

1. Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Starring Eric Mabius, Kristin Booth, Crystal Lowe, Geoff Gustafson

10 TV episodes (including 2 hour pilot movie)

11 movies, but we are supposed to get a new SSD movie this year!

I'll be honest- I didn't watch it when it first came out (because I didn't have cable at that time), BUT it quickly became one of my favorites once I started watching it. If your remember back in 2018, I had a bad accident (you can read about it here if you would like) and I discovered this series online. I watched the 10 TV episodes and 9 movies (that's all they had at that time) in a span of less than two days. I was hooked. I will say that fans of this show (#POstables) are some of the best people out there. I enjoy chatting with them on Twitter! Hello to any of them who saw my link on Twitter and are checking out my blog today! :)

2. Aurora Teagarden Mysteries

Starring Candace Cameron Bure, Marilu Henner, Peter Benson, Miranda Frigon, Lexa Doig

12 movies (and per a tweet I saw today, another one is being filmed right now)

Growing up in the 80s and 90s, Candace Cameron Bure was a big part of my childhood, so I will watch any movie she's in (no shame). These movies are based on some Charlaine Harris novels. (If you ever watched the series True Blood, those were also based on books by Charlaine Harris.) I enjoy these movies and am always anxious to see what color and style Candace's hair will be (because it changes for every movie). Lol. I know Roe is the main character but I have to say I think my favorite character is Arthur Smith, played by Peter Benson. 

3. Crossword Mysteries
Starring Lacey Chabert and Brennan Elliott
3 movies (but per IMDB they are filming at least three more)

While most people will always think of Lacey Chabert as Gretchen from Mean Girls, I always think of her as Claudia from Party of Five. She has made a name for herself on the Hallmark Channel and this role is one of my favorites for her. She and Brennan Elliott are great paired up together. This series just started last year and has become a favorite amongst Hallmarkies (as we are called on Twitter). I have to say that Brennan Elliott is the best at talking with fans on Twitter. To be fair, all of the Hallmark stars are good at interacting with fans, but Brennan does it the most. And yes he has responded to me a few times. :)

4. Hailey Dean Mysteries
Starring Kellie Martin, Viv Leacock, Giacomo Baessato, Matthew MacCaull
9 movies (not sure if there will be anymore)

I just recently watched this series after the Hallmark Channel had a marathon of all of them one day. I'm showing my age, but I remember way back when Kellie Martin was in the TV show Life Goes On. She's a good actress and I like her character in this series. I hope they make another one but I don't see anything online about a new one coming up.

5. Morning Show Mysteries
Starring Holly Robinson Peete, Rick Fox
5 movies (there is one other listed on IMDB as being in "post production" but I can't find any more info on it. I hope there are more, I really like this one).

Yes, this movie series stars Rick Fox, as in former L.A. Laker Rick Fox. I absolutely love Holly Robinson Peete and I feel that she and Rick work so well together in this series. I actually got a guy friend hooked on this series (although I'm sure Holly Robinson Peete and Rick Fox starring in it had something to do with it). :)

6. Chronicle Mysteries
Starring Alison Sweeney, Benjamin Ayres
4 movies

I never watched Days of Our Lives (what most people know Alison Sweeney from), but Hallmark has made me a fan of hers. A lot of times these movies put so much makeup on the actresses that it's distracting. Alison is naturally beautiful and they don't cake her make-up on. She looks like a "real person" (if that makes sense). This series started last year and I hope they continue it. This is the second series that Alison has done for Hallmark (not counting her one off movies here and there). 

7. Murder, She Baked
Starring Alison Sweeney, Cameron Mathison
5 movies

These are cute movies- I probably don't like them as much as I like the Chronicle Mysteries, but they are still good to watch. And Hallmark is good at showing their movies a lot, so you can probably catch it at some point. Cameron Mathison is in it and he is another Hallmark Channel favorite. 

8. Martha Vineyard Mysteries
Starring Jesse Metcalfe, Sarah Lind
2 movies (so far)

This is a new mystery series that just debuted this month. The next movie in the series will air in February. The first movie had a little more action than most Hallmark movies, which was exciting. I really hope this series continues on a while. I think it has a lot of potential. 

9. When Calls The Heart
Starring Erin Krakow, Jack Wagner, Kevin McGarry, Chris McNally
7 seasons (still ongoing)

This is my mom's favorite show ever. If Hallmark cancels it, she will riot. Yes, Lori Loughlin was on this series until last year. I'm still bitter with her because I loved the Garage Sale Mystery movies and they had to cancel it after her debacle. Thankfully they just wrote her off of this show and kept it going. But anyway, enough of that. I'm excited about the new season. I was excited when Kevin McGarry joined the cast last year. He is one of my top three favorite Hallmark actors. :)

10. Darrow & Darrow
Starring Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Tom Cavanagh, Wendie Malick
4 movies

I LOVE both Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Tom Cavanagh. I was super excited when Hallmark put them in this series together. I hope they continue this one, I don't see any signs on IMDB of a new one in production, but Hallmark movies are filmed in like three weeks, so maybe we will get a new one this year. **fingers crossed**

11. Gourmet Detective Mysteries
Starring Dylan Neal, Brooke Burns
5 movies

I just watched these movies a few weekends ago and really enjoyed them. Dylan Neal is great in this series (so is Brooke Burns). And the last two movies have had Bruce Boxleitner in them-I loved him in Scarecrow and Mrs. King. Yes I was like five when that show was on, but I watched it with my older sister. And I possible own all four seasons (don't judge).

12. Mystery 101 Mysteries
Starring Jill Wagner, Kristoffer Polaha
4 movies

This is another new series that started last year and per an Instagram post from Jill Wagner, they are filming another one. I love this series and hope there are more mysteries to be solved. I really like Kristoffer Polaha and always enjoy his movies. And Jill Wagner has become one of my favorite Hallmark actresses.  

13. Flower Shop Mysteries
Starring Brooke Shields, Brennan Elliott, Beau Bridges
3 movies

There hasn't been a new movie in this series in almost four years, so I think this one is done, but I enjoyed it, so I'm listing it. Like I said before, I like Brennan Elliott and enjoyed his character in this series. It hasn't been on the air in a while, but they will probably show it again at some point- they do show their older movies frequently.

I know it's late, but that's my Thursday 13 for today. :)

All photos used in this post are courtesy of The Hallmark Channel's webpage. I thank them for not suing me for using them. :) Randomness With Rachel does not receive any compensations for the reviews and comments in this post.

Thursday 13: 13 Things I Wish I Were Doing

I wish I were...

1. Reading a book. It's BEAUTIFUL outside, the perfect weather to be on my balcony reading, but alas, I'm stuck inside.

2. Working on my novel. I haven't written anything in a while, I need to find something to snap me out of my writer's block. 

3. Watching the Rangers play baseball. Sadly our postseason run ended earlier than I wanted it to, but hey, at least the Blue Jays are now out of it (suck it Jose Bautista). 

4. Having a Supernatural marathon with my bestie Mandy. She lives in Austin and sadly we don't get to see each other as often as we would like. BUT, we do text daily (in fact she just sent me a text as soon as I started writing this- it's like she knew I was talking about her!) :) We love the show Supernatural and we sometimes watch episodes over the phone together (don't judge us). But it would be nice to have a marathon with her in person. 

Me and Mandy with the stars of Supernatural, Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki (yes, I'll use any excuse to post this picture again). :)

5. Going to my great-nephew E's birthday party this weekend. Sadly I am unable to get out of town to celebrate his 7th birthday. :(

Aunt Rachel's sweet boy

6. In better shape so my High Intensity Interval Training workouts weren't kicking my butt. I'm determined to stick with them though, my goal is to be in shape for my cruise in January. 

7. Better at updating my blog. I seem to update on average once a week, sometimes twice if you are I am lucky. I need motivation and a purpose to keep up with it. I did change my header last night though (did you notice??)

8. Better at expressing my emotions. Sometimes I just keep things bottled up because it's easier than talking about them (I know, that's not healthy). My therapist would not be pleased hearing me say that.

9. Going to the Billy Joel concert in San Antonio in December. I saw him last year in Dallas and it was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. I would love to see him again. I just would want him to sing SOMETHING from his An Innocent Man album (it's my favorite). Last time he didn't sing one song from it. :(

10. Having a girls night out with my bestie Brandy (I CAN HAVE MORE THAN ONE BESTIE- STOP JUDGING ME). We had one last month and it was a lot of fun. We have plans to get together next month, but it's literally a month away. Sigh.

11. A better cook. I'm trying, I really am. My spiritual gift is not cooking though. But if you want some form of chicken or pasta or cauliflower rice, I got those recipes down pat. Lol.

12. Out of debt (I know, everyone wishes that). One day I will be, one day!

13. Going on vacation. I need a vacation. Even if it's just a stay-cation. I just need time for me. I've been so busy lately.

XOXO!

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Thursday 13: My Recent Top Tweets

Thirteen tweets that you have missed if you don't follow me on Twitter (yes, shameless plug, follow me on Twitter here.)

1. 

I didn't sleep well that night. Lol 

2.

Some friends and I were watching the Rangers game together when the Odor/Bautista fight broke out. If you don't know what I'm talking about, watch it here on YouTube. My friend Corina and I got a little passionate during the fight. We were possibly cheering Odor on. Lol

3.

Odor became a Rangers legend that day

4

This was rude...and I apologize to 5th grade girls everywhere for comparing them to how the Blue Jays fight. ;)

5.

Rangers fans were not happy that this one Blue Jays player didn't get any sort of punishment for his part in the fight. I took my frustrations out on his hair. But come on, seriously, who thinks that looks good?

6.

I love my friends with all my heart so it hurts me so much to know there is nothing I can do to help them when they are making poor life decisions

7.

I'm not lying, this was the creepiest hotel I've ever stayed at. Since all Lubbock hotels were booked because of Texas Tech graduation, we had no choice but to stay. See pictures below. I'm so leaving a horrible review on Yelp. 

We discovered the next morning that there was blood on the lampshade. BLOOD!

I don't even want to know how it got there

My sister's room was horrible. She told them it hadn't been cleaned and the front office assured her it had and got a little snippy with her. She noticed this behind the door. They just swept the dirt into a line and LEFT IT THERE.

8.

Yes, I know, my bangs. And eyebrows. Don't even mention them.

9.

My bestie sent out this tweet on my birthday. Love him so much. Or maybe I just love his dog Dobby. I'm kidding of course, although I'm pretty sure I love Dobby more. ;) 

10.

One of my followers sent a tweet to the Rangers telling them I wanted a hug. I didn't get a hug, but I got this tweet. 

11.

Don't get between this girl and her taquitos

12.

My friend Glenn took me to the Rangers game for my birthday and decided to do a live Facebook video of our drive. I'm not a fan of being on video, but I humored him. Yes, I look VERY uncomfortable in the video. And I realized I say "awesome" A LOT. Next time I won't be chewing gum when I do a video (so gross, sorry about that). It's too long to post here, but here are quick highlights. I got excited when Six Flags was open because I have a season pass and can park there for free when I go to a Rangers game (as long as the park is open). :)

13.

He's a bullpen pitcher for the Rangers. He used to be our closer, but he hasn't been doing too well lately. Twitter freaks out whenever he's in the game and gives up a run.

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Thursday 13: 13 Forgotten Shows of the 90s

It's no secret that I'm a TV junkie. I shouldn't be proud of it, but I am. A friend and I are always talking about TV shows that NO ONE else remembers (I'm so glad she is also full of random TV knowledge- I don't feel as weird). I thought for my Thursday 13 I would list "forgotten" TV shows of the 90s. Here they are (in no particular order).

1. The Bradys: This didn't even make a whole season before getting canceled (can't say I'm surprised). It was a revamp of the show The Brady Bunch that focused on the Brady kids all grown up (except it was a different actress playing Marcia). I guess after the "success" of A Very Brady Christmas in the late 80s they thought a show like this would survive, but it didn't. I don't remember much about it, except that Bobby was in a race car accident and became paralyzed in the first episode. If you have a desperate desire to watch an episode of this show, I found the pilot episode on YouTube. Seriously, what can you NOT find on YouTube?

2. Family Man: Anyone else remember this show? It last only one season (like most of the other shows on this list). It was about a single dad (I think his wife had died) raising three kids. All I remember is that Scott Weinger played one of the sons. This was before he became DJ's boyfriend on Full House or did the voice of Aladdin.


3. New Kids On The Block (an animated series): I refuse to be ashamed that I watched this show (okay, I'm very ashamed). The band didn't even voice the characters. The only time it was the actual guys is when you heard them singing. Lol.


4. Saved By The Bell: The College Years: Sadly the magic didn't follow the gang after they graduated from Bayside, so this only lasted a season. While working on this post I found out someone has uploaded all the episodes to YouTube. You are welcome.

5. Dave's World: This show actually lasted four seasons (I didn't know that until I looked it up today) but no one ever seems to remember it when I bring it up. It starred Harry Anderson as a stay at home columnist dealing with his wife and kids and wacky neighbors.

6. The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.: I remember this show but can't exactly recall actually watching it on a regular basis. I vaguely remember it had a western theme with maybe a little sci-fi thrown in.


7. My So-Called Life: Okay, maybe this isn't a "forgotten" show of the 90s, but it sadly only lasted one season. Pretty much any woman who was a teenager back in 1994 will still refer to Jared Leto as Jordan Catalano.

You are welcome ladies...

8. The Torkelsons/Almost Home: These were two separate shows but the second one was a "spin-off" so I'm listing them as one. The Torkelsons was a show about a single mom named Millicent Torkelson and her five kids. Her oldest daughter was a dreamer who had a crush on the older boy next door (played by Michael Landes- who was the first Jimmy Olsen in Lois and Clark). I am a vault of USELESS knowledge. Lol. They had their adventures and misadventures. Almost Home once again was about Millicent Torkelson but on this show two of the kids had "mysteriously" disappeared (they never mentioned them), so she only had three kids in this show. She moved from Oklahoma to Seattle to be the live-in nanny for a single man's two spoiled kids (so there are a total of five kids in the house). Brittany Murphy played one of the spoiled kids (may she R.I.P.).

The Torklesons

Almost Home

9. Now and Again: The one season of this show aired when I was in college, but I want to say either a roommate or a friend of mine watched it, so I caught a few episodes. In the pilot John Goodman's character Michael is killed in an accident and the government brings him "back to life" by putting his brain in a genetically bio-engineered body (played by the ever-handsome Eric Close). The government forbids him to have any contact with people from his "previous" life, but he still makes an effort to see his wife and daughter. Too bad the show never took off, it would have been interesting to see how the story developed.


10. Eerie, Indiana: This was like The X-Files for kids. A kid named Marshall and his family move to the town of Eerie where strange and unexplained things are always happening. I think I watched it solely because of my crush on Omri Katz (of Hocus Pocus fame).


11. The Mommies: I remember this being on, but don't remember much about it (I know I watched a few episodes). It was a comedy about two moms and their married lives. For those who watch Pretty Little Liars, this show had a young Ryan Merriman in it (Ian Thomas).


12. Harts of the West: I totally don't remember this show, but I think I would have watched it had I known about it (it has the cheesiness that I seem to be drawn to). I heard about it after reading an article on Sean Murray (McGee on NCIS). He played Beau Bridges' son in this show. Evidently there was an episode where Mark Harmon guest starred, so they worked together LONG BEFORE NCIS.

A young McGee!

Gibbs with a mustache!

13. Big Brother Jake: A man returns to his childhood foster home to help out with the children currently living in the home. I know I watched it, but I can't remember specific episodes. I vaguely recall a Christmas episode where they watched It's A Wonderful Life.

Check out other Thursday 13 posts here! :) XOXO!

Thursday 13: 13 Things that I'm OK About...

Thirteen Things That I'm OK About...

It's OK...

1. ...that after reading the book Pretty Little Liars last week, I am now on season two of the TV show on Netflix (yes, I am well aware that I have a binge watching problem). I found out after I started watching it that there are seven seasons of this silly show (and it's still on). SEVEN?! I can't stop watching now, I'm too invested. Good grief I need to find a life. Lol

2. ...to send silly snaps on Snapchat. I don't use it on a regular basis, but feel free to follow me if you want. My handle is Averyfan 

3. ...that this is what I say to myself every morning when I look in the mirror

4. ....that I've had Chick Fil-A twice this week (STOP JUDGING ME!)

5. ...that I haven't worked on my novella/novel in almost two weeks. I do need to make time this weekend to write though

6. ...that this happened on my way home from the airport on Sunday

7. ...that I got a little giddy when my favorite Canadian actor liked a tweet of mine

8. ... that it has been one of THOSE days at work. That sound you hear is my head hitting my desk

9. ... that I'm feeling anti-social lately. I'm going to a Sunday School picnic on Saturday, but besides that, I would be perfectly okay staying home all weekend

10. ... that I love upsets during March Madness

11. ... that I have to remind myself of this from time to time

12. ... that I've had lengthy discussions with friends about brothers Rob and Chad Lowe and if they look alike or not. Some people spend hours talking about politics and how to solve the problems of the world- my friends and I discuss the Lowe brothers. Lol

 

There are times when I think they look similar (especially with their facial expressions) and then there are times when I don't think they look alike at all

13. ... that this has been my dinner more than once lately

What's OK with you today?

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