Five on Friday

Happy Friday!

Four-day weeks are always so weird, right? Well, technically, it was a 3.5-day week because Monday was a Teacher Work Day and Wednesday was an Early Release Day!

Anyway, before we get down to it, I wanted to share a podcast episode I listened to (twice) this week that was so impactful: The Body Reset: How Women Should Eat & Exercise for Health, Fat Loss, & Energy by Mel Robbins with Dr. Stacy Sims.

Every woman needs to hear this one. It completely flipped the script on so many things I thought I was supposed to do for my health. Here are a few of the key takeaways:

• Most health advice is based on men’s bodies, and it often doesn’t work for women—especially once we hit our 30s and 40s.
• Fasted workouts and intermittent fasting? Not great for women. They can spike cortisol, tank energy, and stall fat loss.
• Carbs aren’t the enemy—especially around workouts. Timing your nutrition is so important for recovery, energy, and hormones.
• Strength training is critical, especially as we get older. Think heavy weights, not hours of cardio.
• You should train with your cycle, not fight it. She breaks down how your body shifts during each phase and how to work with it.
• Sleep and stress matter just as much as workouts and food. Cortisol is sneaky, y’all.

It’s such a good one—and so many of you messaged me this week saying you felt the same after listening. Highly recommend making time for this one!

What You May Have Missed This Week

This week I shared…

• Masters Party Ideas: Hosting a Masters party? Or just here for the snacks + cocktails? Either way, I’ve got you covered with easy hosting ideas for the ultimate Sunday Funday! You can find the blog post HERE!
• April Fools Pranks For Kids – A roundup of all the pranks we’ve pulled over the years (including this year’s grape-in-foil lunchbox surprise). If you’re already dreaming up ideas for next year, you can also find this post on Instagram to save to your pranks folder!
• How To Kill Mosquito Larvae (Buckets of Doom) – A repost worth revisiting as temps warm up and mosquito season creeps in. These “buckets of doom” are a weirdly satisfying backyard trick you’ll want to try.
• Empty Tomb Rolls – Another repost just in time for Easter weekend! These are such a sweet (literally) and meaningful treat to make with kids—and they only require a few ingredients.

On Deck This Weekend

No plans tonight—hallelujah! We’re keeping it chill with homemade sourdough pizzas and (fingers crossed) a family movie night. Saturday is shaping up to be a full-blown marathon on the football field with back-to-back flag football tournaments for both kids from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Snacks and caffeine on deck.

Last weekend was the first game of the season, and fun fact—Caroline is the only girl on an all-boys team. When we signed her up for the girls’ league, there weren’t enough players to make a team, so she got placed with the boys—which is fine! She’s the only girl on her school team too. But these boys? HUGE. Like, double her size. And in classic 10-year-old boy fashion, she got her first taste of some “keep up, sweetheart” smack talk on the field. It totally caught her off guard and rattled her a bit—so we’ll be working on channeling her inner powerhouse this weekend. She’s got the heart, the hustle, and now…a little extra fire.

Sunday, we’re hoping to make it to church before Caroline heads to a birthday party. Busy weekend, but all good things!

Top 5 Reader Favorite Items

Your favorite items from this week — all of which are perfect Easter basket stuffers!

1. Extreme Geyser Tube: This Geyser Tube is SO fun — drop in Mentos, launch soda 30 ft in the air, and watch the chaos. Comes with launcher + spray caps, and we reuse it all the time with new 2-liters. Perfect outdoor Easter basket gift they’ll freak out over.
2. Ice Cream Shorts: These shorts are everywhere right now and are basically the hottest thing on the tween boy scene. The fit is comfy, the print is fun, and they’re the perfect Easter basket splurge your kid will actually get excited about. They’ve got that athletic vibe with just the right amount of drip. Trust—these will be on repeat all spring and summer.
3. Magic Slushy Maker Cup: The best-selling item from my Easter Baskets Fillers post. Just freeze, squeeze, and boom—instant slushy magic. Caroline has made SO MANY creative slushees with hers — the Yoohoo has been her fave.
4. Girls Seashell Bikini: A cute and fun bikini for the girls ON SALE!
5. Wave Runner Grip It Football: The ultimate toss-around toy for pool days, beach trips, and the backyard. We buy this every year for Thomas’s Easter basket. It’s lightweight, easy to grip (even when soaked), and has a special grip pattern plus double laces that make it perfect for kids of all ages to throw like a pro.

1. Charleston Eye Exam Trip

We made a quick trip down to Charleston on Sunday for Thomas’s one-year IOL surgery follow-up—and thankfully it fell on a Teacher Work Day, so we didn’t have to juggle school schedules! The kids mostly swam in the hotel pool, we hit up some delicious (Mabel-approved) spots to eat, and most importantly—Thomas’s appointment went great! Our doctor was really happy with how his vision has been since the surgeries, so all good news and a really good visit.

2. April Fools Day!

The kids are used to me pulling some kind of prank first thing in the morning—usually something silly at breakfast—so when they woke up and everything seemed normal, they were kind of bummed. I played it cool and let them head off to school thinking I totally forgot. But… surprise! It wasn’t until lunch that they realized I most definitely did not forget it was April Fools Day.

This year’s trick came from a reader (thank you!!): I peeled a few chocolate Easter candy foils and re-wrapped grapes in their place. When the kids got home, they couldn’t stop laughing as they told me how it all went down at lunch. Highly recommend stashing this one for next year—it’s sneaky, simple, and hilarious.

3. Taco Bell Crunch Wrap Supremes

Homemade Crunchwrap Supremes were on the menu this week, and they were so good. I used a large burrito tortilla, added a layer of sour cream mixed with Taco Bell mild sauce, then piled on seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, and loads of crunchy Doritos. Then I topped it with a soft taco sized tortilla, folded and toasted each wrap on the skillet until golden and crispy. Using a burger press while toasting helps seal everything perfectly and gives it that crisp, crunchy finish.

I adapted mine for a higher-protein, gluten-free version: I used Siete tortillas, Quest Protein Chips, and plain Greek yogurt for the sauce—and honestly, both versions were a hit.

4. Tween Swimsuit Round-Up

Spring Break is around the corner, and summer will be here before we know it—which means it’s time to stock up on swimsuits for the kids! I rounded up a bunch of cute, comfy, and tween-approved swimwear options for both boys and girls. Most of these are on sale right now and would be perfect to pop into an Easter basket too!

Shop Tween Girl Swim + Tween Boy Swim

Shop Tween Girl Swim + Tween Boy Swim

5. The Game

I’ve shared The Game a million times because it’s that good—truly one of our most-played card games. Perfect for tossing in your bag for Spring Break, pool days, or anytime you want a screen-free dopamine hit.

This fast-paced, addictive card game is all about teamwork and strategy as players work together to beat the deck—but it’s also perfect for playing solo, which is honestly one of my favorite ways to play!

April Promo Codes

• Skin Pharm: My go-to for skin treatments, but my absolute favorite? The Moxi laser. I’m in the middle of a series right now, and WOW—it’s completely transformed my skin. My complexion is brighter, smoother, and more even, and I’ve been getting so many compliments! If you’ve been thinking about a treatment to refresh your skin, this one is so worth it. Use code CHRISTINA-322793 at checkout to get $50 off your first visit!
• Seed: The daily probiotic I’ve been using for more than a year now! Seed initially stood out to me with their capsule technology which protects the probiotic from stomach acid so it makes it all the way down to your lower small intestine where it provides the greatest benefit.
• ShopMy: The affiliate platform I love for linking products. If you’re a creator looking for an affiliate platform, I have a referral link that can help get you in the program!
• Greenlight Card: The debit card we use for Caroline! If you’re interested in getting a Greenlight Card for your tween or teen, I’ve got a referral link that earns you $30.
• Nuuly: Get $30 off your first month’s subscription. Love using this subscription for summer or vacation dresses I wouldn’t normally splurge on.
• Cozy Earth: Use code CE-CAROLINACHARM at checkout for 40% off