

Christmastime is here and what better way to spend the most wonderful time of the year than cozied up in blankets with a cup of hot cocoa watching a classic holiday film? Of course, there’s an almost overwhelming abundance of options available for one to watch during this time, but what makes Christmas particularly special is the return of tradition and nostalgia.
That is why xoNecole has compiled a list of some of your favorite Christmas films from over the years that’ll be sure to make you laugh and feel comforted during the holidays.
"This Christmas"
This Will Packer-produced movie has an extraordinary ensemble cast featuring Idris Elba, Regina King, Lauren London, Loretta Devine, Delroy Lindo, and more. Devine’s character Ma’Dere gathers her family together for the first time in years. However, a number of secrets amongst the family threaten to make what was supposed to be a warm, joyful holiday, a chaotic nightmare.
"Almost Christmas"
It wouldn’t be another Will Packer classic film if it didn’t boast yet another star-studded cast. Almost Christmas stars Danny Glover, Gabrielle Union, Omar Epps, Mo’Nique, Kimberly Elise, and many more. In this recent addition to the Black Christmas film canon, Glover’s character Walter gathers his family for the holidays to honor their recently departed matriarch. Not long into the festivities, however, it becomes clear that everyone’s arguing might ruin any chance at a peaceful holiday.
"The Best Man Holiday"
Nearly fifteen years after the beloved first film debuted, The Best Man Holiday the sequel to The Best Man became an instant holiday classic upon arrival. Following the same ensemble cast led by Morris Chestnut, Monica Calhoun, Nia Long, Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Harold Perrineau, and Melissa De Sousa, the film picks up well over a decade after the events preceding Diggs’ character publishing a bombshell book detailing the salacious details of him and his friend’s lives. As the entire gang travels to Chestnut and Calhoun’s characters' home, old tension and love flare in equal amounts.
"Last Holiday"
In Last Holiday, the ever-delightful Queen Latifah plays a woman named Georgia who leaves behind her dull life when she receives news that she doesn’t have long to live (spoiler alert: the information turns out to be false.) However, the news of her death was what Georgia needed to finally live her life. She moves to Europe, charms everyone in her path, and finally finds the romance she’s been looking for.
"The Preacher’s Wife"
What’s not to love about a film that has Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington as the leads? In The Preacher’s Wife, Washington plays Dudley, an angel sent down by God to help a preacher played by Courtney B. Vance regain his pastoral confidence. But Dudley’s attempt to fulfill his heavenly duties might be thwarted by his affection for the preacher’s wife played by Houston.
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Adrian Marcel On Purpose, Sacrifice, And The 'Signs Of Life'
In this week's episode of xoMAN, host Kiara Walker talked with R&B artist Adrian Marcel, who opened up, full of heart and authenticity, about his personal evolution. He discussed his days transitioning from a young Bay Area singer on the come-up to becoming a grounded husband and father of four.
With honesty and introspection, Marcel reflected on how life, love, and loss have shaped the man he is today.
On ‘Life’s Subtle Signals’
Much of the conversation centered around purpose, sacrifice, and listening to life’s subtle signals. “I think that you really have to pay attention to the signs of life,” Marcel said. “Because as much as we need to make money, we are not necessarily on this Earth for that sole purpose, you know what I mean?” While he acknowledged his ambitions, adding, “that is not me saying at all I’m not trying to ball out,” he emphasized that fulfillment goes deeper.
“We are here to be happy. We are here [to] fulfill a purpose that we are put on here for.”
On Passion vs. Survival
Adrian spoke candidly about the tension between passion and survival, describing how hardship can sometimes point us away from misaligned paths. “If you find it’s constantly hurting you… that’s telling you something. That’s telling you that you’re going outside of your purpose.”
Marcel’s path hasn’t been without detours. A promising athlete in his youth, he recalled, “Early on in my career, I was still doing sports… I was good… I had a scholarship.” An injury changed everything. “My femur broke. Hence why I always say, you know, I’m gonna keep you hip like a femur.” After the injury, he pivoted to explore other careers, including teaching and corporate jobs.
“It just did not get me—even with any success that happened in anything—those times, back then, I was so unhappy. And you know, to a different degree. Like not just like, ‘I really want to be a singer so that’s why I’m unhappy.’ Nah, it was like, it was not fulfilling me in any form or fashion.”
On Connection Between Pursuing Music & Fatherhood
He recalled performing old-school songs at age 12 to impress girls, then his father challenged him: “You can lie to these girls all you want, but you're really just lying to yourself. You ain't growing.” That push led him to the piano—and eventually, to his truth. “Music is my love,” Marcel affirmed. “I wouldn’t be a happy husband if I was here trying to do anything else just to appease her [his wife].”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube
I Tried It: 3 Low-Maintenance Wigs That Will Elevate Your Look This Season
There's nothing like the feeling you get when your hair is done. It can instantly boost your confidence and put you in a great mood. I've never been a stranger to hair trends and I often experiment with the latest braided styles and colors.
But there are moments when I just don't feel like doing my hair. I'm natural and a lot of times I will braid or twist my hair up and cover it with a scarf or turban. However, when I crave a different look without the hassle of styling, I reach for a wig.
I've always had a love-hate relationship with wigs. Sometimes, I struggle to get them to lay flat and don't get me started with the bonding glue process. So when it comes to wearing wigs, I like to keep it nice and breezy around this b--- (word to Katt Williams), especially in the summertime.
That's why I jumped at the chance to try these three versatile wigs from Luvme Hair. Each one offers a unique look and is surprisingly low maintenance, which aligns perfectly with my philosophy that wearing wigs should make life easier. Let’s dive into the three styles below.
Headband Wig
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This was the first wig I tried on, and I instantly fell in love with it. So much so that it took me weeks to even consider trying the other two. I’m partial to colored hair, especially blonds, browns, and reds, so I was skeptical about the jet black hair. However, I think the color, combined with the curl pattern, worked surprisingly well for me.
One of the things I really liked about this wig was that I didn’t have to braid my hair down first. I could simply throw it over a low ponytail, which is the epitome of a low-maintenance style. The headband has combs inside and velcro on the ends, ensuring a secure fit.
Half Wig
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I had never worn a half wig before, so I faced some challenges. I cornrowed the bottom half of my hair where the wig would sit, but I believe this made it more difficult to use the combs. It might just be me though. I straightened the top part of my hair to blend it with the wig, which looked cute for about five minutes.
Firstly, I have a brown/blonde color mix on the ends of my hair, and the half wig is black. So, I had to hide some of the color (I didn’t have time to dye the wig). Secondly, straightening my hair myself is always a hassle because it never lasts long. Add to that the summer humidity, and you get a hot mess. Despite all this, I managed to get some cute pictures before things got out of control, and that’s all that matters, right?
Would I consider this a low-maintenance hair style? Yes and no. I think it’s unrealistic for me during the summer, especially since I enjoy summer activities. However, when the weather cools down, I’ll definitely rock it, dyed, of course.
Bob
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Now, this is the wig I was nervous about. I never had a bob and I didn't think I would like it. But once I put bobiana on, my mind instantly changed. I finally understood why the gworls rave about the bob so much. It was giving boss. It was giving grown woman. It was giving the bob means business. Iykyk. It was the ultimate statement.
I will say when I first put it on, one side of my wig just would not lay flat. It took some trial and error, but I finally managed to get it to look good. With the bob, I highly recommend braiding your hair down first as small as you can so it can lay as flat as possible. I really liked the ash blonde color, which is perfect for summer. The length also makes it a great low-maintenance style for the season, so you don't have to worry about the hair making your neck sweaty.
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