Five on Friday

Happy Friday!

Whew—it’s been a minute since my last Five on Friday, and we’ve packed in a lot of life. Since then we’ve… celebrated the annual Marcellino & Tyson Masters Party, Spring Breaked our hearts out in Mexico (full blog post coming soon, I promise!), celebrated Easter, and more.

This week has been all about finding our way back into a routine—back to…school, the gym, meal planning, re-stocking the fridge, and slowly digging out from the laundry avalanche that exploded the second we unzipped our suitcases.

Alright, let’s get down to it…

What You May Have Missed This Week

This week I shared…

• Pulled Pork Salad: One of our go-to summer salads and an awesome recipe for using up leftover pork! This dish is packed with flavor and fresh ingredients—smoky pulled pork, sweet corn, crunchy veggies, and a tangy dressing. It’s like a deconstructed pulled pork sandwich in salad form, but without the carbs! 
• Homemade Ring Cleaner: I always like to give my rings a good deep clean after vacation to get all the sunscreen and gunk out of my jewelry and make everything sparkle like new again!
• Pineapple Dump Cake: This Cake Mix Pineapple Dump Cake is one of my earliest recipes, first shared back in 2013, and it’s still a favorite in our house! With just two simple ingredients—angel food cake mix and crushed pineapple—you can create a light, fluffy, tropical treat that everyone loves. Find my video tutorial HERE!
• Lemon Margaritas: Bursting with zesty lemon flavor and fragrant basil, this is my absolute FAVORITE margarita recipe! Yes, truly — my favorite! It’s just so so good.
• Mother’s Day Gift Guide: Whether you’re shopping for a sourdough baker, a mahjong lover, or a mom who loves to host or exercise, I’ve rounded up 25+ thoughtful gifts that are sure to impress.

Top 5 Items This Week

My top 5 favorite items this week…

1. Ring Cleaner Machine: This little ring cleaning machine is one of my favorite things to use after vacation—it gets all the sunscreen and gunk out of my jewelry and makes everything sparkle like new again! I shared all the details (and my favorite cleaner solution) in this post earlier this week!
2. Indoor Fly Trap AND Plug-In Fly Trap: Both of these little gadgets are BACK on our countertop collecting ALL the flies my kids continue to invite inside by not closing our doors!
3. Mesh Zipper Pouches: These mesh zipper pouch bags are a must for travel—we use them for literally everything: toiletries, cosmetics, sunscreen, medicine, wet swimsuits, chargers…you name it. With 8 different sizes, they keep everything organized and easy to find in your suitcase (or pool bag). Total travel MVP!
4. Water Glove Set: Hands down the most-used item on our Spring Break trip! This ball + gloves set is SO fun and perfect for the pool or beach—easy to pack, dries fast, and kept the kids entertained for hours every day.
5. Recess Mood Magnesium & Adaptogen Drink: This is one of our subscribe & save staples. I like to drink mine in a fun cocktail glass while I make dinner to make it feel a little special—lightly fizzy, super chill, and the perfect way to wind down after a busy day.

Caroline and I kicked off Spring Break with matching manicures—our little tradition that I hope never ends. We both picked DD46 Toxic Pink, the brightest neon pink that just screams sunshine and pool days. I wore this color nonstop last summer and have been counting down the days to bring it back. It’s bold, fun, and basically the official color of Spring Break around here.

2. Easter Recap

It’s a little late for a full Easter post (and let’s be honest, no one’s asking for one), but we had such a sweet Sunday I had to share a few highlights! No matter how old the kids get, Matt still insists on drawing bunny tracks across the porch—and no matter how old they get, they still love it just as much. Lots of “OH DAD!” moments that made my heart so happy. The egg hunt was extra competitive this year—Caroline requested the Easter Bunny make hers “more challenging,” and let’s just say… the Bunny delivered. Watching the kids race around the house in search mode was pure joy.

We had originally planned to go to church, but after a full week of spring break, we all accidentally overslept and ended up spending the day in pajamas. I made a huge brunch (steak, eggs, bacon, cinnamon rolls… you get it), and we binge-watched The Chosen on Amazon Prime—which helped ease my guilt about missing church, because wow, it’s beautifully done. Caroline also made the most massive and delicious fruit pizza cookie cake, and we ended the day with a cozy candlelit lamb dinner. It was one of those perfectly imperfect holidays I’ll always remember.

3. Carolina Charm’s 14th Blogiversary

This week marked my 14th anniversary of Carolina Charm!

When I launched my site back in 2011 never in a million years did I think I would be creating content here 14 years later (let alone be doing it as my full time job)! I am beyond grateful for what this space has grown into, and for my incredible community of readers.

Thank you so much for reading along here. Here’s a look back on my first website for Carolina Charm! And you can read all about how I started my blog HERE!

4. Nuuly Favorite of the Month

OK—this romper? I’ve worn it three times just this week, so that should tell you how much I love it.

The colors are STUNNING in person—bright, bold, and perfect for spring—and the floral tapestry print is even cuter than it looks online. It’s super flattering with a cinched waist and ruffled sleeves, and if you’re petite or short-waisted like me, the fit is perfect. That said, fair warning: the neckline is definitely on the plungier side, and it’s not the easiest piece to get on and off (but worth it!). Total showstopper and such a fun find in my Nuuly box this month!

If you’ve been curious about Nuuly, this is your sign to try it—use this link to get $30 off your first month! I love using this subscription to rent fun summer or vacation dresses I wouldn’t normally splurge on.

5. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

This one’s already in our dinner rotation, but it totally won easiest meal of the week again. Everyone loved it, and the best part? It’s a true set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker recipe. I swapped soy sauce for coconut aminos to make it gluten-free, and it came out perfectly. If you’re looking for a simple, family-approved dinner, this is it. Grab the recipe here.

April Promo Codes

• Skin Pharm: My go-to for skin treatments, but my absolute favorite? The Moxi laser. I just finished a series 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!