We've noticed an uptick in inflatables and projections; when did those become such a thing? We're divided on whether they should be put away immediately or deserve an A for effort.

When it comes to neighbors, some of ours are good friends we'll miss when they move, some are like grandparents to our kids, and some we barely wave at from our driveways.

Seems whenever we buy an appliance or furniture or anything tech-y, we're offered the opportunity to shell out some additional money to extend a warranty or compensate for possible damage. Do we pay our money, or do we take our chances? Depends on whether kids are involved.

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode:

00:34 The Good Place: We're in the home stretch of season 1 (episodes 9, 10, and 11). Complications are multiplying, robots are rebooting, and we're still laughing.

08:18 The West Wing: "Process Stories" (season 4, episode 8) is a target-rich environment for friendship, love, romance, and possibly some sexual harassment (oops). Mentioned: The West Wing Weekly podcast.

18:03 Challenge Round: Waitress: Since she was about to see the musical production, Catherine challenged Terri to watch the movie Waitress. They decided it probably works best as a musical, but gave the pie cinematography in the film an A-plus.

For next week, Terri challenged Catherine to watch the movie Moana. We'll also wrap up season 1 of The Good Place with episodes 12 and 13 ("Mindy St. Claire" and "Michael's Gambit") and continue our West Wing watch with season 4, episode 9, "Swiss Diplomacy."

00:37 Holiday Baking: Nicole worries about homemade goodies for a party, and Catherine ("Turnips!") and Terri ("Storebought!") try to help. Mentioned: Speed rounds on memory and wholesale club shopping.

06:07 What's Theirs Is Ours: It's a recurring feature on the podcast: DIY therapy. This week, making kids' issues and struggles our own. So bad! So inevitable!

23:43 Monday Speed Round: Favorite Christmas Tree Ornaments: We are firmly in favor of kid-made items, travel souvenirs, and general hodge-podgery on the tree.

30:52 Roundabout Roundup: Lululemon, Bitmoji, Taylor Swift's "Reputation."

38:40 Shameless Self-Promotion: Soothing Strategies for Worked Up Kids and 34 No-Fail Cool-Down Tips for Wound-Up Kids on Highlights; IEP PTSD on Parenting Isn't Pretty; The Inclusive Class on Twitter.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music. If you're reading this somewhere without hyperlinks, come to http://parentingroundabout.com for the full recap experience.

Sometimes bulk buying at places like Costco makes sense, but other times, we'd just as soon go to the regular grocery store a whole bunch of times during the week.

A funny article by Brian Grubb of Uproxx on "The Mustaches of Godless, Ranked" inspired us to see if we had strong feelings ourselves about men's mustaches and beards. Which led to another question: Is it possible to order your husband to grow some facial hair back without offending him?

It's dry-skin season, at least for the two non-Californians among us, and that means either disgusting greasy lotion stickiness or constant itching. Terri's hoping for some go-to moisturizer tips. Maybe you have some? Help out in the comments. (Mentioned: Gold Bond, Kiehls, CeraVe, our podcast episode on habits.)

Your road map to this week's entertainment-themed episode:

01:12 The Good Place: Things heat up for Eleanor in episodes 6, 7, and 8 of season 1, as she narrowly avoids a trip to the Bad Place (for now).

12:52 Challenge Round: Hill Street Blues: Terri challenged Catherine to watch the premiere episodes of seasons 1 and 3. Thanks to iTunes, we actually watched the second episode of season 1 too. This show may be (much!) darker in visuals and atmosphere than The Good Place, but both are pleasingly complex and layered. And Catherine has completed another class in her TV education. Mentioned: The Revolution Was Televised, which we'll read for a future challenge round and is, at the moment, $1.99 for Kindle.

For next week, Catherine challenged Terri to watch the movie Waitress. Catherine will also be seeing the live musical version, so we can compare the two.

We'll also return to The West Wing and The West Wing Weekly podcast with season 4, episode 8, "Process Stories." Plus, The Good Place, season 1, episodes 9, 10, and 11 ("...Someone Like Me as a Member," "Chidi's Choice," and "What's My Motivation").

00:32 It's Getting Cold in Here: Two out of three of us are shivering through this podcast. The transplanted Canadian just wishes she were.

04:55 Teaching the Art of Conversation: Is there a way to help kids and young adults learn how to gracefully merge onto the conversation highway?

24:00 Monday Speed Round: School Board Meetings: It's the teacher among us who has most successfully avoided attending these exciting events.

31:08 Interview of the Week: Catherine talks to Meghan Corridan, a pediatric occupational therapist, about some of the suggestions from her annual holiday gift guide. Mentioned: Meghan's blog, MAC&Toys (check it out for many more ideas); Plus-Plus Tubes; Peg Friends; After the Fall; Burger Mania; Arts and Crafts Library; The OffBits; Jump! Leap! Crazy Feet! Carpet.

44:35 Shameless Self-Promotion: Think Twice Before Starting a Sentence with These 10 Phrases; websites to help reinforce Common Core skills (coming soon to Friendship Circle); rate and review us on iTunes, and/or suggest a speed round question in the comments below or on social media.

Thanks as always to Jon Morin for our fun in-and-out music. If you're reading this somewhere without hyperlinks, come to http://parentingroundabout.com for the full recap experience.