Weekly Roundup: Tacky the Penguin, That Was Us Podcast, and Parenting Let-Downs

We're off this week, but not to worry: We have plenty of leftovers to reheat for you. This episode is from November 27, 2015. Enjoy!Was your Thanksgiving happy? Did you eat a lot of traditional family foods? Did many of them involve cream-of-mushroom soup, marshmallows, or Jello? To start off this week's group chat, we run through the many possibilities for turkey-day cuisine and draw the line at the things we will not eat. Or will, enthusiastically! It's like the battle of the Tootsie Rolls all over again.Next, we move on to the other big activity of this holiday weekend: trying to find good deals on holiday gifts. Do we rush out and elbow folks at the Walmart for the best deal on a big-screen TV, or do we hide at home with our computers and cybershop? We discuss the merits of online versus standing-on-line shopping, strategies for holiday cards and gift cards, how early in the year it's acceptable to care about this stuff, and the impossibility of shopping for spouses.Finally, we shared our recommendations for the week: Catherine suggests consulting her Round 3 podcast with grandparenting expert Susan Adcox on gift-giving issues; Terri mentioned our episode of Libsyn's Thanks, Podcasting! podcast; Amanda recommended an article on 8 Ways to Help Your Child With Food Sensitivities Enjoy the Holidays; and Nicole enjoyed reading about how sweet-potato casserole came to be.Thanks to Jon Morin for producing this episode and to Kristen Eredics for our happy in-and-out music.

We're off this week, but not to worry: We have plenty of leftovers to reheat for you. This episode is from November 27, 2017. Enjoy!​Cyber Monday Shopping: Will we be proactive about replacing things that are about to break or just keep clinging to them because we fear change?Make It a Habit: We have a checkered history when it comes to habit-forming. Does it count if we're good at creating the same good habits over and over again?Speed Round: We Can't Remember: What was it we were going to talk about? It must be written down here somewhere. (Mentioned: Google Inbox's snooze feature.)Roundabout Roundup: Catherine is using dinner prep kits from her local supermarket, while Nicole is using Instacart to have the market come to her. And Terri's feeling productive with the Tide app.Shameless Self-Promotion: Preschoolers' Fears Explained; pre-order Nicole's book at Brookes Publishing and save 10% with the code Eredics; fun and shareable quotes from the podcast on Facebook.Thanks to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music.

We're off this week, but not to worry: We have plenty of leftovers to reheat for you. This episode is from November 25, 2016. Enjoy!On this week's group chat, we talk about special-occasion pressure, discuss the start of the holiday shopping season on our Friday speed round, shout out some stuff we like on the Roundabout Roundup, take a quiz about table manners, and do some shameless self-promotion. Here's your road map to the episode:Holiday Downsizing — Extended family all loving and rosy-cheeked around a food-stacked table is a heartwarming image, but the fact of it sometimes gives us heartburn. We talk about the pressure — external and internal — to have a portrait-worthy holiday and our attempts to bring expectations down to snapshot size.Speed Round: Do You Shop on Black Friday? — Some folks can't wait to hit the stores for bargains, some would rather jump off a cliff than go fight strangers for sales items, and some find the whole idea of making Thanksgiving weekend all about commerce offensive. Turns out, we're not quite any of those.Parenting Roundabout Roundup — Terri enjoys just looking at the homepage loop for the time-tracking site toggl (click on the little speaker in the corner for the perfect accompanying music); Catherine enjoyed a roundup of Fitness Marshall dance videos on Buzzfeed; and Nicole appreciated an article about coaches.A Well-Mannered Quiz — In place of our usual interview segment, Catherine came up with a quiz about etiquette rules for children that may have you using your napkin in a whole new way.Shameless Self-Promotion — Terri shared a special-needs version of the "Would You Rather" meme; Catherine offered some help on dealing with sports parent burnout; and Nicole will have an article up on the Friendship Circle blog any time now.Thanks to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is a series of picture books by Helen Lester starring the disheveled but lovable Tacky the Penguin. Plus, a middle-grade read called The Curse of the Werepenguin by Allan Woodrow.​Terri's random recommendation has come, once again, from the Facebook Reels algorithm. It's the That Was Us podcast, a This Is Us rewatch podcast hosted by actors Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Chris Sullivan.​Bonus content: You can hear our thoughts on Dancing with the Stars every Tuesday night on YouTube; here's our chat on this week's episode (week 10, the semi-finals).In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2019, Parenting Let-Downs.Next week, we'll be off for Thanksgiving, but will be sharing some of our past turkey-themed chats on social media. After that, we'll return to our regular lineup:Lost S4 E5, "The Constant," on Tuesday, December 2The Lowdown S1 E3, "Dinosaur Memories" on Wednesday, December 3Weekly roundup on Thursday, December 4Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and currently, that's The Lowdown. The show has great casting and writing, even if the plot is a bit hard to follow (that's why Lee needs a big ol' murder board to keep track of it all). Mentioned: Scott Shepherd as menacing, fleece vest-wearing Allen Murphy.Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 1, episode 3, "Dinosaur Memories." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This episode was a great big fakeout leading to the reveal of another member of the Oceanic Six. Also, Ben's facial trauma makeup artist is back, and Ben still knows how to get Locke's goat. Mentioned: "You gotta see the baby!" on Seinfeld.​Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 4, episode 5, "The Constant." Tomorrow, we'll continue our discussion of a newer show, The Lowdown.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is Seriously Good Chili Cookbook: 177 of the Best Recipes in the World, which prompted a look at other celebrities who've published cookbooks (and a shout-out to their savvy publicists and unsung ghostwriters). Mentioned: Kevin spills the chili on The Office and the 2010 Primetime Emmys opening number.​Terri's random recommendation is her daughter's new employer, Chick-fil-A! Get yourself some waffle fries to celebrate. Mentioned: "Chick-fil-A (...But It's Sunday)" from Bobby Bones.Bonus content: You can hear our thoughts on Dancing with the Stars every Tuesday night on YouTube; here's our chat on this week's episode (week 9, celebrating the show's 20th birthday).In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2019, Parenting Do-Overs. Mentioned: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley.Next week's lineup: Lost S4 E4, "Eggtown," on Tuesday, November 18The Lowdown S1 E2, "The Devil's Mama" on Wednesday, November 19Weekly roundup on Thursday, November 20Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.​This episode was recorded in front of a live audience ... of dogs.

Every Wednesday, we share our thoughts on a newer entertainment property, and as of this week, that's The Lowdown. It stars Ethan Hawke as the kind of person whose mouth (and pen; he's a journalist of sorts) often gets him punched in the face. He does have a smart and savvy daughter who, so far, doesn't want to injure him. Mentioned: Duster, Perry Mason, Alan Sepinwall's review of this episode.Next Wednesday, we'll continue with season 1, episode 2, "The Devil's Mama." We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly roundup.​This episode was recorded in front of a live audience ... of dogs.

Each Tuesday, we discuss an older entertainment property, and currently, that's Lost. This mostly flash-forward episode identified another one of the Oceanic Six and showed us yet another way that Ben has found to torture the castaways. On the island: Love triangle! Sneaky deal-making! A secret room full of passports and cash!​Next Tuesday, we'll continue with season 4, episode 4, "Eggtown." Tomorrow, we'll kick off our discussion of a newer show, The Lowdown.​This episode was recorded in front of a live audience ... of dogs.

Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is a pair of twisty, plot-filled novels. She recommends them both: A Very Inconvenient Scandal by Jacquelyn Mitchard and All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman.​Terri's random recommendation is another book: A memoir by TV and film producer Ed Zwick called Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood. Bonus content: You can hear our thoughts on Dancing with the Stars every Tuesday night on YouTube; here's our chat on this week's episode, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night. Mentioned: Mournful covers of "Hey Ya," "Take on Me," and "Love Shack.".​In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2021, Parent Saving Time.Next week's lineup: Lost S4 E3, "The Economist," on Tuesday, November 11The Lowdown S1 E1, "Pilot" on Wednesday, November 12Weekly roundup on Thursday, November 13Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.