Why Mandy Moore 'cancelled' Christmas this year

Mandy Moore made the snap decision to cancel her family Christmas plans - and all for good reason.

The This Is Us star, who is pregnant with her first children, revealed in an Instagram post that she will be hunkering down with her husband Taylor Goldsmith due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

In a stunning picture of the pair nestled together by a piano, Moore wrote, "Sending all the well wishes for a happy and healthy holiday to you and yours, no matter what our celebrations might look like this year."

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"Personally, @taylordawesgoldsmith and I cancelled plans to see family and are hunkering down at home, staying safe/binging plenty of tv and eating lots of baked goods," she continues.

Moore added the festive period was "a tricky time" and was "exacerbated all the more by this wild year...."

"So I'm holding extra space for those who have lost a loved one or a job, those weathering this time solo or away from loved ones, those just overwhelmed by the magnitude of all this year has been..... We got this, friends," she added.

"As the inimitable @glennondoyle says: we can do hard things. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Xoxo."

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the peak health body in the United States, says the "safest way to celebrate the winter holidays is to celebrate at home with people who live with you."

The actress has been active on social media this year, updating fans about her journey during lockdown.

Earlier in the month, Moore revealed her beloved dog Joni had passed away at age 12.

She said she is "so sad" her pet won't be around to meet her future son.

"Last night, very unexpectedly, we lost our Joni girl," she began her lengthy Instagram caption at the time. 

"Yes, she was almost 13. Yes, she had pretty major surgery a week ago to remove a mass on her liver but she was recovering really well. Until last night."

Moore continued: "I knew something was amiss when she, lifelong food-obsessed, didn't finish her dinner and couldn't get comfortable in bed (despite being on pain meds)," Moore explained. "My mama intuition told me to bring her in and I'm glad we did."

"She adored @taylordawesgoldsmith," Moore said of the pet, adding, "and I have no doubt she knew what an absolutely indispensable part of our lives and cherished soul she was... right until the end."

Moore said the loss had left her "utterly shattered" and the dog was her "first love and best friend."

"Through every twist and turn of life of this past decade and change, she was right there," she noted.

"I will love and miss you forever, my Joni," Moore concluded. 

"Thank you for beyond a lifetime of love."