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Holiday Hits, Misses & Family Moments We Love
28 Plays1 day ago
It’s Holiday Traditions week, and the sisters are diving straight into the good stuff: their all-time favorite Christmas movies, the classics they revisit every year, and the ones they could happily never watch again. They’re ranking their top holiday songs — from cozy nostalgia to the universally hated tracks they’d ban from every playlist.
You’ll also hear about family traditions that still matter, from the annual Christmas train setup to the mysteries of the Elf on the Shelf. Plus: the Netflix holiday movie you should watch, and the one you can skip without a shred of guilt.
And of course, What’s For Dinner makes an appearance to round things out for Lynne's special Get Well Chicken Soup
Head to the show notes for links, recipes, and recommendations: threelilfishes.com/shownotes
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Transcript
Movie Preferences and 'It's a Wonderful Life'
00:00:00
Speaker
There's ah so many movies. It was hard to whittle it down. And then also, if I never see this movie again, which is going to shock people, but it's a wonderful life. Not on the list for me at all. I find it depressing. mean, yes, the angel gets a swing with the bell. i know. The end is so great. The whole thing. i just, like I don't need to ever see it again. It's not interesting to me. I know, but people do, there are people that are suffering, joy. know, but I don't need to watch it. i just don't need it in my life.
Introducing 'Three Little Fishes' and Hosts' Backgrounds
00:00:31
Speaker
Welcome to Three Little Fishes. We're three sisters who grew up in the Midwest together, but have since spread across the country. i live in Los Angeles. I'm in Nashville. And I live in Philadelphia. We are all married with children, have all had careers, but now we stay at home with our families. Join us as we share secrets and stories about being women, wives, and mothers. We welcome you to laugh along, learn something new, reach out, and join our conversation.
00:01:02
Speaker
So let's jump in.
Health Issues and Family Challenges
00:01:03
Speaker
What's up, fishes? What's up? What's up? Well, we have a we have a horse fish today. Nancy is down with laryngitis, so she, you know, got to lean in and really hear her voice.
00:01:19
Speaker
So Kathy, what's going on at your house? So i have a lot of sick people in my house right now. i have two of my people living with me in the house are sick.
00:01:31
Speaker
My one that's in college has pneumonia. And then my other son oh no is very sick. And he's had a fever of like, I think his highest was 104.
00:01:42
Speaker
But it's, I mean, it's a mess. These kids have finals. Like it's not a good time to be sick. Right. And he can't even prep for the test if you
School Dilemmas and Teacher Frustrations
00:01:53
Speaker
don't feel well. You know what I think is like the worst part of the whole deal is that my son that's in Texas wrote his teacher an email saying, I have been sick for the last couple of days with a fever.
00:02:06
Speaker
I've not been studying. Can I take the test like a day later or another, like, can I make it up another time? And he wrote back and said, no, because he's going on vacation.
00:02:18
Speaker
I was like, What? I mean, the empathy is not there. It's not there. I mean, I was shocked by that response, honestly.
00:02:30
Speaker
was like, you can't even give him an incomplete yeah or something. He can take it after he gets back. We had the same experience like a couple years ago with one of our kids was so sick and in the hospital and just like zero empathy for that.
00:02:46
Speaker
To the point where- Why do you think that is? that That's my question. I think they're worried that people are going to cheat and it's more work for them. Like they have to recreate a different test or they have to come in and proctor at a different time. So it's more effort for them and they just don't want to do it, which I do understand. But nobody wants to have pneumonia. Well, I mean, this is the thing.
00:03:09
Speaker
Like nobody wants to be sick. It's not like you say like, yeah, I want to be sick. Give it to him I mean- I think they should plan for it. They should have a ah backup test so they're ready for it.
00:03:21
Speaker
i mean, that's just, anyway. well I think, unfortunately, i think that the cheating is a problem. And I think that they just assume everybody's lying to kind of get ahead. Well, and on in this case, Grayson, was he was not lying. He really is sick. So he has pneumonia.
00:03:41
Speaker
The two people are at home are ill. How are you? My husband is like, I'm like, get away from me. Is he in the bed? he in the bed? no he's not in the bed. Ringing his bell.
00:03:56
Speaker
Kathy, soup. He had to actually go on a work trip. So
Family Celebrations and Humor
00:04:00
Speaker
I'm like, get out of here. Lysol in the house. Yeah. He left this morning. So I've i've actually...
00:04:07
Speaker
I know that's really sick that I say that, but I'm kind of glad he's out. Okay. And so you have a birthday at your house today too. Yeah. My middle son is 19 today. So a shout out to Trevor. Happy birthday, honey. Trevor, happy birthday. Trevor baby, happy birthday. i know he doesn't come home today, but he comes home tomorrow. So we'll celebrate tomorrow.
00:04:31
Speaker
love I love do want to say one more thing that's annoying to me. My check-in. So my dog, Millie, who of you guys have heard me complain about, she struck again.
00:04:43
Speaker
Last year, Millie attacked Rudolph. So they put like an invisible fence pod by the Rudolph so she wouldn't get it. But we also have a snowman. Well, yesterday, my husband calls me. Millie kind of attacked the snowman and ate the nose.
00:05:02
Speaker
What is her deal? Am abnormal that I have to have invisible fence things around my lawn decorations? I mean, I just don't get it oh I know what it is. She needs a friend. Oh God.
00:05:14
Speaker
You need to get another dog. And then they could chase each other. No, no, no. Linda, you're crazy. She needs two dogs like a hole in the head. Could you imagine two Millies?
00:05:26
Speaker
I mean, that would be like, we'd have nothing left. Everything
Holiday Gatherings and Gifts
00:05:30
Speaker
would be destroyed. Yeah, that would be hard. So ah my check-in is that I had my cookie exchange on Friday. So my husband kind of laughed. He's like, Lynn, that was a party that happened to have cookies at it. I love it. Exactly how it shook out. We had to escort a couple of ladies home.
00:05:52
Speaker
That is hilarious. They're little over-served. But it was really fun. And actually, it was different groups of women from... different parts of my life. They all came together and um we had a really, really good time. And I had probably four ladies say to me, I'm so glad you did this. It's so great to kick off the season together. We don't always see each other anymore because our kids are getting bigger. so you know, it's a little effort. So it was really fun. And I was so grateful that everybody came. And i one thing
00:06:26
Speaker
I have this one friend who brought me a little jar of homemade taco seasoning and she wrote what it is on it and when she made it. And in the past, she's also given me homemade vanilla extracts. I just, I love that she gives me something homemade, ah you know, it's so, I mean, I love all the things, but like in particular, because I'm a food person, I love that she does these like little homemade like food gifts. So,
00:06:53
Speaker
was no it's it's I think that's awesome, Linda. It's about the connections. It's all about the connection. yeah And every time I use my vanilla, I think of her. Every time I use the taco seasoning, i'm going to think of her. And I just think it's wonderful that she thought to do that. So,
Illness and Remembering Sophie Kinsella
00:07:11
Speaker
Nancy.
00:07:14
Speaker
Nancy. Nancy.
00:07:18
Speaker
oh I've been sick. Like I went down. down and went You're down. You're down. um this is This is me in good shape. Are you screaming right now?
00:07:30
Speaker
I'm totally screaming. And I've been mess. You guys, um the one thing I want to mention this morning that we got news that Sophie Kinsella, the author, died of brain cancer. She was like 53, think.
00:07:46
Speaker
And she wrote twenty s Girl. shoppa Shopaholic. I really enjoyed her books. And I think that that's so sad. So we're sending our condolences to her family.
00:07:58
Speaker
know. We've
Show Structure and Website Reminder
00:07:59
Speaker
got figure out cancer. It's terrible. Um, okay. So today in our show, we're going to be talking about what we're watching and then we're talk about holiday traditions, the good, the bad, the ugly, and then what's for dinner. Before we get started, i want to remind everyone to go into three little fishes.com slash show notes, give us your email, and then you'll get all of our show notes, all of our recipes, and just a wonderful little email synopsis. It's free.
00:08:31
Speaker
Do it. It's worth it. Okay.
Holiday Movies: Preferences and Debates
00:08:33
Speaker
What are we watching? i think we started off our holiday season with our new show, Champagne Problems. What do you guys think?
00:08:44
Speaker
I loved it. I thought it was adorable. it It takes place in France and it's in a vineyard, which I don't know why i'm I'm attracted to like the vineyard like theme. I don't know what it is about like. Could it be the big mansion that overlooks the valley filled with all of the grapevines? I don't know. There's something like magical about it. I don't know. And like really and a really cute guy talking in French. Yeah. i mean, he was adorable. So it's a cute show. You guys should watch it if you haven't.
00:09:19
Speaker
It's on Netflix. It's adorable. It's a nice little romance, kind of get you in the spirit of the holiday season. Mika Kelly is in it. She's adorable. I just watched A Lot Like Christmas. It's like about a tree farm.
00:09:35
Speaker
It was actually kind of cute because it's like a tree farm, like a family tree farm that goes against a big brand store, kind of like Home Depot. And like, you know, it's a small town and like, well, that big Brock store, like put them out of business. And it it's a whole thing about the romance. It was actually cute. So producer Tim is going to jump in here and for a second and just mentioned this little little nugget about all the Christmas movies.
00:10:03
Speaker
So I went, sat down to watch Netflix last night and I logged in and all of my suggested Netflix things were Christmas movies.
00:10:14
Speaker
I'm like, clearly Nancy lately has been plugging into my profile and screwing up my algorithm with all the holiday Christmas movies. Yeah, exactly. You're welcome, producer Tim. All right, that's it. back You know, the thing about Netflix is if I've been scrolling through it to see like, what are the new Christmas movies? And a lot of them are pulling movies from like way back when, like, yeah.
00:10:40
Speaker
You know, 2019 and older. And I'm like, what is going on here? Yeah. but Let's not have some new things. Nothing new and fresh.
00:10:51
Speaker
I would say i do like this one movie with Kurt Russell in it It's called Christmas Chronicles. So they have a one and a two. And the the first one, I think, is just really a nice story. And I love it because he sings in the – he gets arrested and he sings in the jailhouse. And it is so good.
00:11:14
Speaker
It's so good. You guys have to watch it. I haven't it. Do know what I'm going to help you guys with, though? Don't waste your time on Netflix, My Secret Santa. It was a new one with – the lady from Virgin River, I can't remember what her name is. Oh, yes. But it's like she impersonates Santa or she's like trying to be like Santa.
00:11:39
Speaker
You guys, it was not good. It was not good. Did you see it? No. I actually did see that, Nancy, and I agree. I don't i did not love that.
00:11:49
Speaker
like I was like, what are you doing? You heard it here. Don't watch it. Don't waste your time. So this is a great transition for what we're talking about today, holiday traditions.
00:12:01
Speaker
Let's jump in. We thought we would share with you guys some of our favorite movies. So we have a list, top five. um My fifth favorite holiday movie, I think, is Home Alone.
00:12:15
Speaker
i always watch it with my kids. It gets me in the holiday spirit. It makes me laugh. So I think that's my fifth one. What about you guys? The original Miracle on 34th Street.
00:12:29
Speaker
Okay. That's not in my top five. Like I could love i could live without it And in fact, Tim just said to me the other day, how can you stand to watch this over and over again?
00:12:42
Speaker
Because I love it. And I love the Santa in that movie. And I love the message. When they dump all the mail, I just love it. Kathy, do you have a fifth favorite? Just because of my boys, Die Hard.
00:12:56
Speaker
okay But it's not my it's not my favorite. Like, I think it's, I get it that it's a Christmas movie. Is it really? but It was on Christmas Eve. the whole day The whole movie is Christmas Eve. i Yeah, I understand. I mean, my family thinks it is too. i i would argue it's a little bloody and gory for a Christmas movie. Yeah. Just because it's on Christmas Eve. I don't know. Yeah. So my fourth favorite one, I think is Elf. What about you girls? I would say Love Actually.
00:13:28
Speaker
oh yeah. Mine too. Mine is number four. Really? it That's so crazy. Nancy. That's an honorable mention for me. Linda. Come on. I mean, I love it, but it's an honorable mention. it's not I can get through the season without it. Okay. What's number three for you guys? Mine's White Christmas.
00:13:46
Speaker
I would say The Polar Express. Oh, wow. oh yes the holiday Oh, that can't be number three. Number two for me is Meet Me in St. Louis. And I've already watched it. What's the famous song from that one? White Christmas. That's sings Christmas.
00:14:02
Speaker
She is in the window and with Margaret O'Brien. It's her very first movie. And I think she won an Oscar. And she's turning this music box, singing in the window. And fun note, Judy Garland met Vincent Minnelli on that and it got married.
00:14:22
Speaker
after that movie, filming that movie. What's number two for you girls? I actually was going to say Miracle on 34th Street. they're The new one. The new one. I think it's so sweet, the new one. So mine is two, Home Alone.
00:14:37
Speaker
My second one is Home Alone. Okay. Because we always watch that with my kids. Okay, number one for me is The Holiday, which I've also already watched. The Holiday! The Holiday! We're insane. What about you, Nancy? Yeah.
00:14:50
Speaker
I'm elf again because of my kids. What? Dancing? oh Yeah. Elf is number one? Yeah. Okay. mean, the elf is funny. cute and I love him so much. The best way to to send Christmas cheer is to sing for all the world to hear. Yeah. I like it. Yeah. I mean, that's a good saying. All right. Producer Tim jumping in again. ah Listen, I'm a little disappointed that National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is not on anybody's list anywhere.
00:15:19
Speaker
That's my favorite. I love it. I love that too. Kathy loves that too. And actually my husband loves that. So there's ah so many movies. It was hard to whittle it down. And then also if I never see this movie again, which is going to shock people, but, um, it's a wonderful life is not on the list for me at all. I find it depressing I mean, yes, the angel gets a swing with the bell. I know. The end is so great. The whole thing. i just, like I don't need to ever see it again. It's not interesting to me. I know. But people do, there are people that are suffering and then.
00:15:57
Speaker
They find, know, joy. know, but I don't need to watch it. I mean, i just don't need it in my life. You guys are going to be shocked by this, but I've never watched it because what everybody has like such strong feelings about in our family what that it's so sad and depressing. So I know what it's about, but I've never said- You should watch it. You should watch it. Yeah. I told- to producer Tim, AKA my husband. And he's like, what is wrong with you? You're supposed to be able to watch a movie and have emotion. It's a good thing. And I'm like, I'm not doing it. I don't want to feel sad at Christmas time.
00:16:33
Speaker
Well, you're not going to be bawling, Nancy. No, I mean, it's not that sad. Ultimately, it's a hopeful message at the end, too, what you end up with. Exactly. You'll like the It is hopeful at the end, and he does figure it out. but it And a along the same lines, you know what movie I don't ever want to watch again and I've never loved it is Rudolph.
00:16:53
Speaker
I think they're so mean to Rudolph. They are. I can't stand it in the beginning. I can't handle it. But he he made the claymation version cartoon of Rudolph upsets you to the point where you don't want to watch it again. Correct. The claymation. He wins in the end. He wins in the end.
00:17:11
Speaker
Yeah. So i also, during this holiday season, listen to a lot of Christmas music, much to my family's chagrin. So I put in my ears and like clean the house and listen to Christmas music. And it made me realize i have some songs I love and then some songs I do not love. So let's talk about some songs that we love. Like maybe three of my favorites would be Hallelujah, Carol of the Bells,
00:17:41
Speaker
White Christmas, All I Want for Christmas. I love those. That's Thor. can't help myself. i think my favorite Christmas song is Andy Williams' It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
00:17:55
Speaker
i also like um White Christmas. It's an oldie but a goodie by Bing Crosby. i think because Dad used to play it on the piano and it made me love it.
00:18:09
Speaker
I love chestnuts roasting on an open fire. my You know, I can't whittle it down, but I can tell you my favorite is have yourself a merry little Christmas. I love it so much and I can hear it over and over again. I like rocking around the Christmas tree.
00:18:25
Speaker
i think it's a cool song. So I will tell you that's one I never want to hear. Like I hate that song and I hate Silent Night and I hate Run Run Rudolph.
00:18:38
Speaker
Oh, i I hate that song too. Yeah. I don't like that song. Oh, and Blue Christmas. What? Stop. Do you know what? I don't want to hear that. i hate I hate the Martha Kitt one, Santa Baby. Eartha Kitt. Eartha Kitt.
00:18:52
Speaker
Eartha Kitt, Santa Baby. It's like, hey you hear it every other song. And I'm just like, can you give it rest? but it's kind
Family Traditions and Holiday Well-Wishes
00:19:00
Speaker
of funny. i mean, it is funny. um My girls find that song has not aged well and they find it annoying.
00:19:11
Speaker
Okay. So let's talk about like, what's one family tradition that you guys like to kind of perpetuate year after year? We have a Christmas train that goes around our family room and we bought it when the kids were super little. And every year we bought them a train to attach to the set.
00:19:32
Speaker
And so this year, um, much to my surprise, I actually was gone away for the weekend and my middle son or my youngest son ended up putting the train set together while I was gone.
00:19:48
Speaker
I just love it because it's such a neat thing and it, you know, it goes around the track and yeah it has like little hot chocolate when you like honk the horn. Yes. Yeah. That's so cute. I love your train. That is pretty cool. You know.
00:20:06
Speaker
We always put up our Christmas tree with the children, and I love that. But I also love, like, the food that we do. Like, we do gingerbread houses, we make cookies, we make candy, and everybody's in the kitchen, and we all participate, and I love that.
00:20:22
Speaker
One thing I do not miss, however, is frantically waking up at 5 in the morning and realizing I didn't move the elf. Oh, know our elf hasn't shown up yet.
00:20:34
Speaker
I don't know. He got delayed somehow. I don't know. mean, I used to like wake up sometimes in a cold sweat and be like, oh my gosh, I forgot to move it. I never did that. I never did the elf. i have I have no desire. But one of our traditions that we've started is that we take our kids to the Disney Hall and there's a holiday sink.
00:20:59
Speaker
And we go and the orchestra's there and it really is a beautiful, the Disney hall is beautiful and it's a sing along and our our kids really look forward to it. Oh, that is awesome. I mean, we used to go to the symphony also when we lived in Chicago, which we don't do here for some reason, but whatever your traditions are at your home, you know,
00:21:19
Speaker
they do make an impact in your children's lives and hopefully they will pass them along to their families down the road. And it's just such a great time of year to be able to do these special things and special events and make the effort.
00:21:36
Speaker
So I have what's for dinner tonight, today. It's a feel better chicken soup. So it's like a jazzed up version of chicken noodle soup. It has more herbs in it. It has kale. It has beans. um You can leave out the pasta if you want. You can add rice. You can make it your own. It's super nourishing and um it If you don't have the pasta, it keeps really well. So we'll post that in the show notes. And hopefully this time of year, everybody can make it through without illness. But if you do get sick, this is a great feel better chicken soup.
00:22:18
Speaker
So we hope you enjoy it What motivated this recipe this week? I can't imagine why. i can't imagine, Nancy. You need to make this for yourself. ah Kathy, I feel like you need to make a big pot too for your people. Yeah, I do too.
00:22:33
Speaker
I'm probably going to get down on Christmas. It's like what's going happen. Take care of
Gratitude and Podcast Engagement
00:22:38
Speaker
yourselves out there and happy holidays. We want to thank you for listening to our podcast and letting us sisters jump into your day. Please make sure to hit subscribe.
00:22:47
Speaker
So you'll have access to our show notes and all of our podcasts.
00:22:52
Speaker
Also, please share our podcast with other fishes so we can grow. Please have a wonderful weekend. Sisters, out.