Ornament Review: Michael Myers - 2026 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great representation of a slasher icon

Cons: All cons slashed to pieces.

The Bottom Line:

This slasher icon

Becomes a collectable

His fans will enjoy

Bring Home The Shape…If You Dare

Growing up in the 1980’s, I couldn’t help but develop a fascination with slasher movies.  Not that I was watched them growing up (which is a good thing since I would have had horrible nightmares).  I’ve watched most of the movies in the major franchises as an adult, and I do have an appreciation for certain movies in the Halloween franchise.  So, when I saw that Hallmark was releasing a Michael Myers ornament this year, I took notice.  After initially planning to skip it, I wound up picking up a copy.

Obviously, Hallmark released this as part of their Halloween line of ornaments.  While I don’t collect many of them, they usually release a dozen or so every year.  And, they did release an ornament of Chucky last year (which I skipped), making this the second in an unofficial series.

The ornament says Halloween II on the box, which makes sense from an anniversary standpoint.  That movie is celebrating 45 years this year.  But, not knowing the franchise as well as others, I couldn’t tell you how this ornament ties into that movie specifically.  The ornament is just Michael Myers.  He’s standing on his two feet, wearing the blue overalls he usually wears.  He’s got a big knife in his right hand; seriously, the knife is probably about as long as his arm.  And, of course, he’s got his iconic white mask on.

See what I mean?  Maybe if I knew variations in the mask over the course of the franchise better, I’d know if any of the details tie to that first sequel.  That aside, any fan of the franchise will like this ornament.  It captures the look of The Shape (aka Michael Myers) perfectly.  Even though he’s only a few inches tall, there is still something that feels menacing about him.  Okay, so maybe I still haven’t completely outgrown my fear of these movies.

Michael’s feet are large and flat enough that you can set him out to be displayed.  He’s not perfectly steady, so a good sized bump would knock him over.

Or you can hang him.  If you choose that route, you’ll find that he hangs perfectly straight.

Not everyone is going to want an ornament of Michael Myers in their home.  But fans of the Halloween franchise will be glad they added him to their collection.

Ornament Review: Belle V. Holliday - Snowtop Lodge #22 - 2026 Hallmark Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Cute ornament with added bell fun

Cons: Stands out a little because of the difference scene style

The Bottom Line:

A new artist’s style

Means slight changes for series

Fans will still enjoy

New Artist Brings a New Feeling to the Snowtop Lodge

I’ve been collecting the Snowtop Lodge series for quite a few years now, and I continue to enjoy each entry.  Original artist Joanne Eschrich Wright retired recently, so 2026 say a new artist take over the series.  There are some differences with Belle V. Holliday, but I do still like her.

This series always features a snowperson with a wintry theme.  Okay, so most are Christmas related, but we’ve had a few that weren’t.  And each ornament features a related scene on the bottom of the snowman.

Belle is wearing a red Santa hat, and she’s got a string of five bells in her hand.  The Santa hat has a slightly larger bell on it.  And yes, all these bells are real bells, jingling if you move or shake the ornament.  It’s fun to hear the differences in how they sound.

Where I really noticed the difference is the scene at the bottom.  We’ve got Santa (a snowman Santa, or course) flying over a town with his reindeer.  The colors on this scene are more vibrant than usual.  It’s not bad, but I think I prefer the more washed-out colors we’ve had in the past.  I’ll probably adjust in a year or two, but it definitely stands out now.  Also, the disc that is supposed to represent the moon is a little odd.  It sticks out off to the side, and it took me a minute to figure out what it was.  I think it would have been better painted on instead of trying to pop it out.

But overall, I really do like Belle.  The bells are a fun touch.  And the scene at the bottom is fun.

As always, the ornament is mostly porcelain, with some fabric touches.  So keep that in mind – it’s more delicate than the usual Hallmark ornament.

Being a snowwoman, Belle has a nice flat base, so you can set her out to be displayed.  You’ll also find the 22 in a Christmas tree series marker painted on the bottom.

The ornament comes with a ribbon to hang her on your tree.  When you do, you’ll find the ornament leans forward just a bit.  But that’s pretty standard for this series, and it still looks good.

Differences can be good, but they also take a little time to adjust to.  Belle V. Holliday might take a bit for fans of Snowtop Lodge to adjust to, but I’m sure they will still enjoy having her in their collection.

Enjoy the rest of the Snowtop Lodge series.

Ornament Review: Cookie Cutter Christmas #15 - Making Stockings - 2026 Hallmark Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Another cute scene in a fun frame

Cons: Scenes isn’t obvious at first

The Bottom Line:

Getting stockings set

Creates charming Christmas scene

Does need second look

The Stocking Were Made by the Chimney with Care

It’s fun to see what Hallmark’s artists come up with each year for the series I track.  While I don’t always buy them, I do enjoy seeing the creativity.  One of the most creative is the Cookie Cutter Christmas series, and this year’s entry is another fun one.

Each ornament in the series features a Christmas scene starring a mouse inside a cookie cutter shape.  This year, the shape is a Christmas tree.  The mouse inside?  He’s working on a stocking.  We can already see the red stocking hung by the fireplace, and he’s now working on a green stocking.  It looks like he’s putting the white bow on top.  We can see the fire in the background, and gingerbread walls.  And the mouse has a blue blanket on his lap.  The arms of his chair?  Candy canes, of course.

I’ll admit, I had to look closely at this one to figure out what was going on.  The candy canes looked a bit like the posts on a bed, and the blanket made me think this was a bed scene at first.  But that’s my only complaint.  Once you look closely, you can see the cute scene unfolding.  We’ve only ever seen this mouse by himself, so the idea that he has someone else makes me smile.

While the Christmas tree shape does have a bit sticking out at the bottom, the base is still nice a sturdy.  You can set this out to be displayed if you want.

The loop for hanging the ornament is at the top of the star.  No surprise that it hangs straight.

As always, the back of the ornament features the series marker.  And, in a detail I love, it also includes a handle for the cookie cutter part of the design.

While the scene took a second look, overall, this addition to the Cookie Cutter Christmas series is fun.

Enjoy more of the Cookie Cutter Christmas ornaments.

Ornament Review: Sandal the Sandman #5 - A Christmas Trees of Shells - 2026 Hallmark Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Classy looking and creative final entry

Cons: A bit monochromatic; noticeable tilt

The Bottom Line:

Building a shell tree

As series comes to an end

Have warm memories

Sandal Sadly Says Goodbye with Another Tree

I wasn’t surprised when Hallmark announced that this year would be the last for the Sandal the Sandman ornament series.  While I have really enjoyed the series, it’s beach theme was going to be a hard sell for a lot of people.  But I do love the symmetry since it goes out with Sandal creating another tree.

As the name implies, the series has featured a beach twist on the classic Christmas character.  Instead of a snowman, we have a sandman.  Sandal wears a blue and white striped scarf (or is that a beach towel?) and a wide beach hat.  And he has beach friends.  In this case, Sandal is joined by a turtle.

The first year, Sandal was decorating a palm tree to get in the Christmas spirit.  This year, he’s creating a tree, but it’s out of beach shells.  It’s white and gold and in a traditional Christmas tree shape.  And he’s putting a star fish on the top.

The animals in this series have always been a bit cartoony, and that holds true of the turtle in this ornament.  It’s also one of the few splashes of color.  The ornament is very white between the sand and the majority of the shells being a silver color.

But I do like it.  It is very classy looking and such a fun twist on the traditional Christmas images.  As a Southern California resident, it’s these little touches that I’ve been enjoying for the entire series.  Again, I get that not everyone would like it, but I love it.

As always, the ornament features a nice flat base, so the ornament can be put out for display on any flat surface if you want to add it to a scene.  You’ll also find the 5 in a Christmas tree on the bottom.

The ornament does tip a little to the right, which isn’t a surprise given where the loop is.  I wonder why it wasn’t shifted a bit to the right to help balance things.  Maybe the hat brim isn’t as strong as I’m thinking it is.

I do wish this series had gotten to go on longer, but I’m glad that Hallmark tried something different with it.  Sandal’s fans will be happy with this last entry in the series.

Warm up with the rest of the Sandal the Sandman ornaments.

Ornament Review: The Perfect Gift - Spotlight on Snoopy #29 - 2026 Hallmark Release

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Cute scene with good friends

Cons: Could be part of regular line

The Bottom Line:

Friend giving a gift

Makes for a cute ornament

But a series piece?

Not a Perfect Addition to the Series

As I’ve long stated, I’ve been collecting the Spotlight on Snoopy series long before I started collecting Hallmark ornaments in general.  It’s why the newest addition to the series is always the first one I review each year.  But not every ornament grabs me, and The Perfect Gift, the 2026 entry in the series, is one of those.

As always, the ornament features Snoopy and Woodstock.  They are both wearing red hats, and Snoopy has a red and white striped scarf on as well.  Woodstock is holding a present wrapped in green paper with a tiny red bow on it.

Now, it isn’t that the ornament is bad.  It’s a cute scene.  But it is a bit simple, and that’s definitely one thing that doesn’t make it stand out.  Granted, the ornaments don’t always include something big to help tell the story, but I do enjoy the ones that do.

But I think my biggest issue is that this feels like it would be a regular line ornament and not part of the series.  Yes, we have had ornaments with a Christmas theme over the years, like the very first ornament.  But most of them have other themes, and that’s what makes the series so fun for me.

Again, it’s not that the ornament is bad, but it isn’t a top ornament in the series.

Snoopy and Woodstock are standing out in the snow, so the ornament has a nice flat base.  You could set this out to be displayed without any worries about it falling over.  And you’ll find the 29 in a Christmas tree series marker on the back.

Looking at the picture, I thought the ornament would tilt.  I was basing this on where the hook for hanging the ornament is.  But I am happy to report that it hangs straight.

The Perfect Gift is cute.  But it’s not going to be an ornament I regularly pull out from this series.

Shine the light on the rest of the Spotlight on Snoopy series.

Ornament Review: Christmas Is...a Warm Hug - Christmas Is #2 - 2025 Hallmark Release

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Cute Peanuts ornament

Cons: A bit simple for the price; size; tips

The Bottom Line:

Hug that brings a smile

Ornament does have issues

Still appeals to fans

Simple…but Still Warm

I caved.  I wasn’t going to get the second in Hallmark’s Christmas Is… ornament series.  In fact, I was ready to start reviewing 2026 ornaments this week (watch for that first 2026 ornament review to come next week).  But I decided to go ahead and get Christmas Is…a Warm Hug, the second ornament in the series.

This series features Peanuts characters enjoying heartwarming Christmas traditions.  Not all of them are the traditional traditions.  And that’s what we’ve got here.  Lucy is kneeling on the floor giving Snoopy a huge hug.  Her arms are around his neck, and both of them have smiles on their faces.

Considering how little use Lucy has for Snoopy, this is especially heartwarming.  It’s enough to make this Peanuts fan smile.

So, why didn’t I get it right away?  Part of that is price.  With the jump in prices last year, I cut back.  (I should stop since I was out of room years ago, but that’s another discussion).  The other reason is that this one is very simple.  It’s just the two of them.  And the ornaments in this series are a little larger than I would like.  Plus, outside the writing on the base, there is nothing to connect this to Christmas at all.

But that hug.  It’s just so cute.  It even warmed my heart.

Lucy and Snoopy are on a large circular base.  Around the front, we have “Christmas is…a Warm Hug” written.  And, on the bottom, we not only have the series marker, but a graphic celebrating the 75^th anniversary of Peanuts, which was in 2025, when the ornament came out.

Unfortunately, when you go to hang this ornament, it does tip quite a bit to the left.  Yes, you can use a tree branch to support it, but it’s a shame they couldn’t figure out a way to balance the ornament fully.

Christmas Is…a Warm Hug is a cute ornament.  Any Peanuts fan will find themselves warmed by getting it.

See more of the Christmas Is… series.

Ornament Review: Two Turtle Doves - Twelve Days of Christmas #2 - 2025 Hallmark Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Great looking ornament 

Cons: A bit bigger than I like

The Bottom Line:

Turtle doves couple

Basis for series second

Still large but looks good

Loving This Second Twelve Days Ornament

I’m laughing at myself. First, I said I wasn’t starting the new Twelve Days of Christmas series that Hallmark started in 2024. Then, I got the first ornament after Christmas and I told myself I would see how I felt the next year whether I continued it or not. At least I waited until after Christmas to buy Two Turtle Doves. 

This new take on the series is using papercraft elements. The shape of the ornament is a giant window shape. Right in the middle, we have the two birds. One is in front of the other, but they are positioned in their nest so that they are looking at each other. Surrounding them we have music and evergreen tree branches. And up at the top is a hole that lets some light into the ornament, depending on how you position it. 

I really do like the style of this series. I’m not sold on papercraft for everything, but as another stylized take on the familiar song, it works well. The birds are a pretty lavender color. 

My issue with the series continues to be the size. This is the larger size ornaments that Hallmark sometimes does. I can see why they went with it here, but still, it takes up a lot of area on my trees. 

In addition to the series marker, but back of the ornament contains the full verse of the song.

The ornament comes with a ribbon already in it. No surprise that it hangs straight. The base is wide enough that you could set this out to be displayed if you wanted.  A good bump could cause it to tip over, but it should be stable in most situations.

Yeah, I think I’m in for the next ten years to get the rest of this series. With the increases in price we got last year, that’s going to be expensive.

But that’s future me’s problem. For now, I’m glad I snagged Two Turtle Doves. 

Check out the rest of this Twelve Days of Christmas series. 

Ornament Review: Gardener Mickey - All About Mickey #4 - 2025 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Mickey representing gardeners

Cons: I can’t garden as well as Mickey

The Bottom Line:

Highlighting hobby

Mickey shows off his green thumb

Its appeal grows

I Hope Mickey Has a Greener Thumb Than I Do 

I was planning to only buy the ornaments in the All About Mickey series that I really connected with. Yet, somehow, I wound up with Gardener Mickey after Christmas. And I’m glad I got it. 

Each ornament in this series features Mickey enjoying a hobby or interest outside of his movie career. And this year, he’s showing off his gardening skills. He’s dressed in blue overalls with a hat on his head. In one hand, he has a trowel. In the other, he’s holding a potted plant. There aren’t any flowers on it, but it is green and looks healthy. 

And I’m sure all the gardening Disney fans were anxious to get it. Why did I hesitate? Because my attempts at gardening end in a dead plant. Usually, I forget to water, but sometimes I water too much. And the planters I had on my balcony were killed off by a squirrel and I couldn’t get him to leave my planters alone. I wish I could grow some flowers. But I just can’t get them to stay alive. 

But this is about Mickey and not me. 

As I was saying, gardeners will love this one. It’s a cute homage to an important skill and rewarding hobby. 

Mickey is standing for this ornament, but his feet are position such that he is balanced precariously if you set him out. He will likely fall over easily, but it’s best to plan to hang him from your tree.

When you do that, you’ll find he hangs a little to the right, but not enough to be a big issue.  Tree branches will easily hide it.

You’ll find the series marker on the bottom of his feet. 

Gardener Mickey really is a cute ornament. Which is why I am glad it wound up being added to my collection. 

You know it’s All About Mickey, so get more of the ornaments. 

Ornament Review: Sandal the Sandman #4 - Eating a Sandwich - 2025 Hallmark Release

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Sandal is still cute

Cons: How is this Christmassy?

The Bottom Line:

Enjoying picnic

Doesn’t tie to holiday

Ornament is cute

Picnic at the Beach

I was planning on passing on the fourth Sandal the Sandman ornament from Hallmark until I saw the series was ending with the fifth this year. So, I went ahead and snagged the fourth at a discount so I can have the entire series. 

For this entry, Sandal is enjoying a sandwich. He’s split it with his seagull friend. He’s about to take a bite, and from the look on his face, and he’s very happy about it. The Seagull? He doesn’t look quite as convinced. 

Here’s my issue with this ornament - how is it Christmas? What I’ve enjoyed about the series is the beach twist on Christmas traditions. This feels more like a picnic that could happen any time of the year. Now, I did like the ornament that featured Sandal paddleboarding, but that was an extra ornament, not an official part of the series. 

I do like that Sandal is wearing a beach hat and has a beach towel as a scarf. Those touches are fun. 

Since Sandal and his friend are on the beach, this has a nice flat base, so you can set it out to be displayed year-round. And the series marker is on the bottom of the ornament. 

When you go to hang the ornament, you’ll find that it tips slightly forward, but this isn’t anything that can’t be hidden by a few branches. 

The ornament itself is cute, But I wish this entry in the Sandal the Sandman series had a better holiday activity. 

Warm up with the rest of the Sandal the Sandman ornaments.

Ornament Review: From Sketch to Screen - 2025 Hallmark Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Fun ornament of Mickey as an animator

Cons: Significant tip

The Bottom Line:

Mickey is drawing

In creative ornament

But really does lean

Mickey Tries His Hand at Animation

I really liked last year’s From Sketch to Screen ornament from Hallmark, but with the price increases, it was hard to justify getting it.  But I jumped on it when it went on sale after Christmas, and I’m glad I did.

This ornament features Mickey as an animator.  He’s wearing a cap and sitting at a large desk.  He’s holding a pad of paper in one hand, and you can tell he is concentrating at drawing Chip.

There are so many great details to this ornament, like the reference drawings or the cup of coffee.  I just love those details.

Since the biggest part of this ornament is a desk, it’s no surprise to me that it could easily be set out to be displayed.  In fact, since there is nothing truly Christmassy about it, you could enjoy it year-round.  I’ve had mine out for the last couple of weeks, and I’m really enjoying it.

However, when you go to hang it, you’ll find it tips significantly to the left.  Yes, you could use tree branches to disguise or support it, but it is rather surprising just how much it leans if you can’t do that.

But that’s the only flaw in this ornament for me.  Disney fans will love having From Sketch to Screen in their collection.

Ornament Review: A World Within #11 - Grandma in a Cupcake - 2025 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Sweet miniature ornament

Cons: None for me

The Bottom Line:

Visiting grandma

Is sweeter than usual

When house is cupcake

A Sweet Ornament

I did pretty well in 2025 cutting back on ornaments. And yes, that was cutting back. And yes, I should still do more. However, I couldn’t quite resist getting a few more ornaments after Christmas when they went on sale. The first of those was last year’s entry in the A World Within series. 

This ornament features a grandmother. She’s standing in her doorway waving at us. she’s dressed in green with a red and white apron. And what’s her house? Why, it’s a cupcake, of course. It’s got a red foil, white frosting, and green sprinkles. 

Just a reminder that this is a miniature series, so the ornament is only an inch and a half tall. As long as you remember that, you’ll be fine. 

Even though it wasn’t one of the ornaments I knew I had to get, I still thought it was cute. I’m glad it was left over after Christmas so I could get it added to my collection. 

Since this is essentially a miniature cupcake, it has a nice flat bottom. You can set it out to be displayed as long as it isn’t going to get lost from your display. 

And you’ll find the 11 in a Christmas tree series marker on the bottom. 

The ornament hangs straight, which is no surprise since it’s a cupcake. 

This entry in the World Within series is sweet. I’m glad I was able to track it down. 

Enjoy the rest of the A World Within series. 

Ornament Review: Ride Around the Kingdom - 2025 Hallmark Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Fun piece for Disneyland’s carrousel

Cons: Doesn’t stand, tips slightly

The Bottom Line:

Trip on carrousel

Mickey enjoying magic

Fun for fans of ride

Mickey is Enjoying a Royal Trip

Being the DisNerd that I am, I really do enjoy this unofficial series of Mickey Mouse on various rides around the Disney theme parks.  For 2025, he took a ride on King Arthur Carrousel with Ride Around the Kingdom.

Yes, this ornament is pretty much what you’d expect.  Mickey is sitting on a highly decorated carrousel horse.  It’s a mostly white horse, but it’s got multiple colors painted on it to represent saddle, bridle, and various other ribbons and decorations.  It looks very nice and festive, which is always good.  Mickey is turned so he is waving and smiling at us.

I learned a couple of years ago that the carrousels in the two parks here in the US have different names.  Yes, I know that this ornament is for Disneyland’s King Arthur Carrousel because it is right there on the box.  Unless Hallmark printed different boxes for the Eastern part of the country, which I don’t think happened in this case.

I don’t tend to ride the carrousel when I’m in the park, so this isn’t quite the draw for me that some of the others have been.  But I do still like it.  It’s a fun reminder of Disney’s take on a classic theme park attraction.

Given the nature of the ornament, I’m sure it’s no surprise to say it doesn’t stand on its own.  The pole is actually sticking out at the bottom, and it’s too narrow to balance the ornament.  Even if it weren’t there, the horse’s hooves aren’t positioned in a way that would allow the ornament to stand.

Which means you have to hang the ornament.  The loop is at the top of the pole, and when you slip a hook through it, you’ll find that the ornament tips back slightly.  It is noticeable if you are looking for it, but it isn’t too bad.  The ornament still looks good, and you’ll never notice once you get some tree branches around it.

This may not be my favorite ride, but I know others who do enjoy it.  They will love Ride Around the Kingdom even more than I do.  And yes, I am still glad to have it in my collection.

Ornament Review: Winter Fun with Snoopy #28 - Shoveling Snow - 2025 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Cute scene

Cons: But is it fun?

The Bottom Line:

Doing wintry chore

Snoopy, Woodstock make cute scene

But does not seem fun

You’ve Got a Weird Definition of Fun

Snoopy has enjoyed quite a few fun things over the course of the Winter Fun with Snoopy series.  I do have to seriously question if he’s really have fun in the twenty-eighth entry in the series since he’s shoveling snow.

The ornament itself is great as always.  Snoopy has a shovel that is about half his size, but he’s using it to push the show that has recently fallen.  Woodstock is along for the ride as always.  And, in this case, literally.  You see, he’s sitting on the snow in front of the shovel that Snoopy is pushing.  Snoopy is wearing a purple cap and blue scarf while he does this work. 

Now, I’ll be the first to confess I’m not a cold weather or snow person.  But seriously, who finds shoveling snow fun?  I feel like this might be a sign that the series is running out of ideas.

That aside, I do like the ornament itself.  It’s a cute scene and I just love the idea of Woodstock catching a ride instead of working.

Do remember that this is one of Hallmark’s miniature series.  The ornament is only about an inch tall.  So keep that in mind before you buy it.

Because Snoopy is standing on a snowy path, the ornament has a nice, solid base, so you can easily set it out to be displayed if you so desire.  You’ll find the 28 in a Christmas tree on the bottom of this base.

When you go to hang the ornament, you’ll find it tips just a little to the left.  But you have to be watching for it.

While I might have my issues with whether this is fun or not, I do enjoy this Winter Fun with Snoopy ornament overall.  If you are a Peanuts and mini ornament fan, you’ll like it, too.

Check out the rest of the Winter Fun with Snoopy ornaments.

Ornament Review: Season's Treatings #17 - Charcuterie Board - 2025 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Festive salty treats

Cons: None for me

The Bottom Line:

Lay out salty treats

Diff’rent focus for series

But it’s still a treat

Some Treats for Your Salty Tooth

So far, the ornaments in the Season’s Treatings series have focused on sweet treats.  And, when it comes to Christmas, I usually do think of those sweet treats.  But this year, the series took a turn and is presenting something for those who enjoy salty snacks with a festive charcuterie board.

The board is shaped like a Christmas tree.  While the face of the board is white, it has a fun green border.  Up at the top of the tree, I mean board, we have a spread ball decked out to look like Rudolph complete with a red nose.  His antlers are pretzels and his eyes are olives.  Also on the board, we have a snowman spreader, crackers, a piece of Swiss cheese, and another spread.

The good ornaments in this series always make my mouth water, and this one is no exception.  Obviously, it’s watering for appetizers instead of dessert with this one, but the result is the same.  I love the creativity of the Rudolph ball.  And the rest look good enough to eat.  I have to keep reminding myself it’s fake.

As with most of the ornaments in this series, you can lay it out, but it is fairly flat.  It makes sense given when it is supposed to represent.  But this wouldn’t look that good even as part of a display if it isn’t hanging.

Fortunately, the hook is in the Rudolph spread, and the ornament hangs straight.  It’s looking very good on my tree.

And you’ll find the 17 in a Christmas tree on the back of the ornament.

Those who enjoy salty snacks and have been waiting their turn in the Season’s Treatings series will be thrilled with this charcuterie board.  Since I’m an equal opportunity snacker, I’m enjoying it as well.

Enjoy the rest of the Season’s Treatings ornaments.

Ornament Review: Deck the Shelves - 2025 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Fun ornament for book lovers

Cons: Green books tend to blend into the tree

The Bottom Line:

Books stacked like a tree

Making readers’ spirits bright

A fun ornament

How Could This Book Lover Resist?

If you’ve noticed, I typically get pop culture or series ornaments from Hallmark.  But I do look at the rest of the line.  Even though I was cutting back on ornaments this year, Deck the Shelves caught my eye, and I knew I had to get it.

As the title suggests, this is an ornament for book lovers.  The ornament is framed like a Christmas tree, with the sides being painted to look like wood.  Inside, we have three shelves, each filled with books that are various shades of green.  There’s a star on top.  And each shelf has a decoration of some sort.  Two of them have ornaments, and one has a second star.

I mean, really, how could I not get this ornament?  It’s cute and fun and makes me smile.  I’ll confess that many of my Hallmark ornaments don’t wind up on my tree each year, but I have a feeling this one will need to be part of my permanent rotation.

I do wish the books weren’t all green.  I get it, they are supposed to help represent the tree.  And they are various shades of green, which makes the ornament more interesting to look at.  But it does tend to blend into the tree a bit.  I prefer ornaments in other colors so they stand out more.  And this is coming from someone who loves green.  But that’s my only complaint.

The base of the tree is nice and wide and flat, so you can set this out to display year-round if you wanted to.  And when you go to hang the ornament, you’ll find that it hangs straight.

When I bought this ornament in November (I spread out my purchases), I bought the last one in my store, so I’m not the only one who likes this one.  If you want to add Deck the Shelves to your collection, I suggest you do so quickly.

Ornament Review: Kronk and the Squirrel - 2025 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Captures Kronk and a squirrel friend perfectly

Cons: You owe me no cons

The Bottom Line:

Kronk and a squirrel

Movie fans will love this pose

It’s making me smile

This Ornament is so Squeaky!

Hallmark released two ornaments this year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Emperor’s New Groove. While the ornament of the emperor was a regular line release, they also released this limited-edition ornament of Kronk and the Squirrel. 

Any fan of the series will recognize him right off the bat since he looks exactly like he does in the movie. He’s standing with his arms crossed under his chest. He’s looking out of the corner of his eye at the squirrel on his shoulder. The squirrel is looking at him, obviously engaged in conversation. 

While I did cut back on ornaments this year, I had to get this one. Kronk and his talking to squirrels is such a funny part of the movie, and the ornament captures that perfectly. 

And my review title is playing on those moments as well. This is not a magic ornament in any way. There are no sound clips. But I couldn’t pass up the reference for my title. 

While Kronk is standing on his feet, he’s top heavy. If you set him out to be displayed, you’ll find he tips over easily. I’d recommend you hang him on your tree. And when you do, you’ll find he tips forward slightly, but nothing that will be obvious when you have him surrounded by branches. 

Kronk would not have been at the top of the list of characters I would have expected to represent this movie, but I’m glad Hallmark selected him. Any fan of the movie will agree with me - he’s perfect. 

Ornament Review: Emperor Kuzco

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: A lessor known character captured from the beginning of his movie

Cons: A bit on the big size for my taste

The Bottom Line:

Kuzco and his throne

Annivers’ry ornament

Bit big but still good

No Touchy This Ornament!

2025 marks the 25th anniversary for The Emperor’s New Groove. While I admit I didn’t quite get it the first time I watched it, the has since grown into a favorite of mine. Naturally, that meant I was going to snag the two ornaments Hallmark released to honor the anniversary. 

The first, and bigger, is of Emperor Kuzco himself. He’s sitting on his massive gold throne from the beginning of the movie although it’s not quite as big as it was in the movie. He’s sitting on his blue cushion on the throne with an unhappy look on his face. 

I’ve been disappointed in Hallmark’s recent trend to make their ornaments bigger, especially the pop culture ornaments. And this ornament follows the trend. Fortunately, it’s not as big as it could be, but still, a little smaller would have helped me fit more ornaments on my tree. 

That’s my only complaint with the ornament. It expertly captures Kuzco and his attitude at the beginning of the movie. I had no hesitation in adding this ornament to my collection. 

Since the ornament is really a throne, it’s no surprise to me that it sits just fine, so if you want to display it, you can. Also, I wasn’t surprised to see that it hangs straight. 

The Emperor’s New Groove doesn’t get as much love in merchandise as many of Disney’s other movies, so I was thrilled to see this ornament of Emperor Kuzco in this year’s Hallmark ornament line up. Fans of the movie will be glad to add it to their collection. 

Ornament Review: Let's Get Dangerous! - 2025 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Perfectly captures Darkwing

Cons: A little big for my taste, but not too bad; hat hides his face

The Bottom Line:

A pop character

Loyal fans will thrill to have

Protecting your tree

Let’s Get Decorative

I’m not quite sure why I got hooked on the Disney cartoon series Darkwing Duck, but I am a huge fan. So when I saw Hallmark was releasing an ornament of him this year, I jumped on it. 

If you missed the show, it’s essentially a superhero spoof with Darkwing being modeled most closely on Batman. However, it’s a lighter, funny take on that kind of character. If you want to know more, here are my reviews of the two DVD sets that Disney released. (Sadly, they stopped short of releasing the entire series. 

The ornament captures the character perfectly. He’s wearing his purple costume including his hat and mask. He’s holding his cape out with one hand and his gas/gadget gun with the other. I can picture him just about ready to jump into action. 

And I love it! Seeing that character on my tree is making me smile. It’s a very specific character, but Darkwing has his loyal fans, and we are all going to be happy having him in our collection. The brim of his hat does make his face a little hard to see, especially when he’s hanging on your tree, but I’m not sure how you’d get around that since it is accurate to the design of the character.

I will say, the ornament is a little big for my taste, but I was expecting that given Hallmark’s trend toward larger ornaments in recent years. It’s not as big as it could be, so I’m not complaining too much. 

Because of Darkwing Duck’s stance, you can set the ornament out to be displayed. However, the cape is a little back heavy, so he isn’t super steady on his feet. 

However, when you go to hang the ornament, you’ll find that he hangs perfectly straight. Since I plan to hang him on my tree, that’s fine with me. 

Fans of the series are going to be delighted with this ornament. Now’s the time to snag it so you can make sure Darkwing Duck spends years on your tree. After all, he’s the ornament your tree has been missing. He’s Darkwing Duck.

Ornament Review: Ollie U. Halfpipe - Snowtop Lodge #21 - 2025 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Cute snowman snowboarder

Cons: None for me

The Bottom Line:

Ollie snowboarding

Cute addition to series

U will enjoy it

Snowboarding Joins the Snowtop Lodge Family

I was surprised when I saw this year’s addition to the Snowtop Lodge series. I was sure we’d already gotten a snow boarder before. But I went back and looked, and Ollie U. Halfpipe is the first time this popular winter sport has shown up in the series. And he’s a great addition. 

Ollie is a snowboarder. And if you couldn’t guess that from his name, you’d quickly figure it out from the snowboard he’s holding in his right hand. He’s got ski goggles on his forehead, and he’s wearing a red cap and red and green sweater. 

Like all the ornaments in this series, the bottom part of the snowman is painted with a scene that ties into the theme. Yep, in this case, we get to see some snow people out snowboarding. 

What’s fun is that this scene is also on the front of the snowboard itself. I found that a great touch. 

And speaking of great touches, can we go back to the name? I’m not much of a snowboarder, but even I know how perfectly Ollie U. Halfpipe fits the theme. 

As always, the ornament has a flat bottom, as is befitting a snowman. This series is made of porcelain, so if you set it out, you’ll want to make sure it isn’t going to be bumped and broken. Unlike some ornaments in the series, the vest and cap are also porcelain, which was a little disappointing to me.

When you go to hang the ornament, you’ll want a nice, sturdy branch to hang it from. But the good news is that Ollie has just a bit of a forward tilt. That’s not unusual for the series and you usually don’t notice by the time it is surrounded by tree branches. 

And yes, the series marker is painted on the bottom of the ornament. Hard to believe we are at 21, isn’t it?

Snowboarders will absolutely love Ollie U. Halfpipe. Honestly, he will be hard to resist for just about everyone since he’s a cute snowman ornament. 

Check out the rest of the Snowtop Lodge series. 

Ornament Review: Scrumptious S'mores - Making Memories #18 - 2025 Hallmark Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great piece around a sweet memory

Cons: S’mores are a winter snack?

The Bottom Line:

Roasting S’mores on fire

Always a sweet memory

Now ready for tree

A Delicious Treat Filled with Memories

I feel like I’m missing something. Over the last several years, Hallmark has released S’more related ornaments in their various series. Including series specifically themed around winter. What gives? Aren’t they a summer thing you do when out camping? That issue aside, 2025 saw the release of Scrumptious S’mores in the Making Memories series, and it is fun

This series always features two snow people, a parent and a child. This year, they are out making S’mores. The child is about to take a bite of the treat, while the adult has two perfectly roasted marshmallow they are about to put on top of some chocolate and graham crackers. Neither of their pets are with them. I guess they are inside enjoying the warmth. In addition to scarfs and hats, the snow people are wearing boots. 

My issue with the season for the treats aside, this is a fun ornament. I was just making S’mores with my family last month, and it is definitely a memory making tradition. It’s hard not to smile when you think about times you’ve done this. 

As always, the scene is set on a snowflake base, and that means you can set these out to be displayed. I’ve always loved that touch. The series marker is on the bottom of the snowflake as well. 

When you go to hang this ornament, you’ll find that it hangs straight.

The biggest issue with this ornament is that it is going to make me crave S’mores. But that’s not a reason to miss Scrumptious S’mores. This is another fun and memorable ornament. 

Check out more of the Making Memories series.