Happy Friday! Let’s get right down to it.
This week has been a mix of March Madness excitement, construction chaos, and a few random finds I’ve been loving lately. I feel like we’re officially in that busy spring stretch where everything is happening all at once, and I’m just trying to keep up and enjoy it along the way.
Here’s this week’s Five on Friday…
PS — I’ve shared a lot of new content this week…favorite girls night activities (saved all in one place), tween Easter basket ideas, and this week’s newsletter covering the joy of repetition + March Madness + mob wives mahjong and lots of other fun stuff. Don’t miss it!
1. March Madness, But Make It Giant
I made Thomas a massive March Madness bracket this week and he is absolutely obsessed with it. I used Canva to make a printable bracket and had it printed same-day at Staples as a 3′ x 4′ matte polypropylene banner, and it turned out SO good! Such a fun way to get the kids (and honestly the whole family) into the tournament. You can download my printable bracket HERE.
2. The Prettiest Spring Nail Color
I am loving my new nail color…OPI’s “You’re Such a BudaPest.” It’s the prettiest soft lilac for spring, and one of those shades that somehow goes with everything.
3. Cool. Cool. Cool. Another Reno Surprise.
We got another fun little surprise this week when the crew opened up the floor for plumbing and discovered things were not exactly…supported the way they should be (not sure how our third floor was still standing honestly). Nothing like a reminder that homes built in the 80s were doing their own thing. While this surprise has set us back a bit, we’re very grateful this is being fixed the right way now. Peep that new support beam…
4. The Sunless Tanner I Keep Rebuying
I was originally gifted this Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam by Coco & Eve and have since repurchased it FOUR times, which tells you everything. It’s gives the prettiest, most even glow with zero orange tones. I use the dark shade and love it, but it definitely develops deep. It smells good, gives an instant glow, and develops into the most natural tan over a few hours. Don’t skip the mitt. You can grab it on Amazon or discounted from Coco & Eve with code CHRISMAR15 for 15% off.
5. The Garnish That Stole The Show
For Mob Wives Mahjong, I served my signature Bam Bird martini and topped each one with a caviar potato chip garnish, and I’m not exaggerating when I say people were losing it over this drink. It felt fancy, a little over-the-top, and perfectly on theme.
The best part is how easy it is to recreate. Just spoon a small amount of caviar onto a kettle cooked potato chip, then rest it across the top of your martini glass using a pick (I used these martini glasses and gold picks linked here). Make sure to place the pick in the grooves of the glass so it doesn’t roll, then gently balance the chip on top.
I had everyone eat the chip first before picking up their drink so it didn’t plop into the martini, and the salty caviar with the crisp chip was such a good bite. It’s one of those tiny details that instantly elevates your cocktail and makes the whole night feel a little more special.
