Five on Friday

Happy Friday – and it’s a big one over here because today is FULL of celebrations!

We’re kicking things off this morning with Caroline’s 5th grade graduation (feeling all the feels), followed by a fun lunch out with 8 other moms and daughters. My mom flies in today, Caroline has a graduation party tonight (with Thomas proudly DJ’ing), and tomorrow we’ve got her hip-hop and ballet recitals on deck.

It’s a full, happy, busy stretch…but also my favorite kind of chaos!

A snap from my school lunch date with Thomas this week!

Recipe Spotlight: Loaded Baked Potato Dip

I’ve been making this Loaded Baked Potato Dip since 2014, and I’m so excited to re-share it from the archives (with updated photos) after serving it at Mabel’s birthday pawty last weekend. This dip is everything you love about a loaded baked potato, but in dip form – served up on a chip! You can prepare it a day in advance (just bake it when you’re ready to serve) and it holds up well even in the heat, making it perfect for outdoor gatherings.

5 Things I’m Loving This Week

5 of my favorite purchases this week…

This puppy piñata (yes, a piñata for dogs!) we stuffed with carrots and tennis balls for Mabel’s birthday pawty!
This 2-in-1 tan remover + primer that makes prepping for my next self-tan SO much easier (and saves me from scrubbing my skin off).
Currently obsessed with the chocolate-covered banana chips from The Fresh Market — the perfect sweet snack fix!
These packing cubes are officially my new summer camp MVPs — making camp packing a thousand times more organized.
These faux monkey grass plants for my porch planters — zero maintenance, look super real, and instantly level up the outdoor vibe.

Let’s dive into this week’s five…

1. Extra Special Grad Nails

I took Caroline to get her nails done this week for graduation – and she got hot pink tips with tiny starfish! This is definitely not her usual nail budget, but we wanted to celebrate all the hard work she’s put in this year! 5th grade has been no joke, and she’s worked SO hard to finish strong – an outstanding report card, great End of Grade testing scores, and officially a 5th grade grad!

2. Mabel is TWO!

On Monday, Mabel officially turned two! Last weekend we threw a little backyard pool party to celebrate with her favorite fur friends and humans. The pups had the best time running around, swimming, and living their best lives. I’ll be sharing a full recap with all the cute details next week. This was a fun one!

3. Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad has been my go-to lunch lately – easy to throw together, super filling, and loaded with protein (thanks to the chickpea pasta and chicken). I usually meal prep the chicken on the weekends or grab a rotisserie chicken to make it even easier.

Mix together:

2 large diced chicken breasts
1 box cooked chickpea pasta (high-protein + gluten-free option)
A few cups of romaine (if adding romaine, plan to eat within 2 days)
Diced cucumber
Diced red onion
Lots of fresh grated parmesan

For the dressing:

½ cup plain Greek yogurt
¼ cup mayo
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp garlic powder
Sprinkle of salt, pepper, and Everything Seasoning

It’s creamy, fresh, and seriously hits the spot every time.

4. Summer Set + My Favorite Sandals

I wore this cute embroidered knit set to our swim meet this week and got so many compliments! It’s the perfect breezy set for summer — lightweight, super cute, and it’s currently 25% off with code NEW25.

I paired it with my go-to sandals: the Reef Higher Vistas. These are hands-down my favorite summer sandals – I’ve got them in two colors and wear them for everything: vacation, errands, pool days, beach trips, you name it. They’re so comfy (amazing support!) and easy to dress up or down. I actually packed these as my only shoes for our entire Spring Break trip – wore them poolside during the day and to dinner at night. Definitely one of my most-worn summer staples!

5. Secret Marg Ingredient

I tried the trendy margarita trend of rimming the glass with MSG instead of salt…and it was a fail for me. It gave the margarita this weird, soy sauce vibe that just didn’t hit. Some people swear it enhances the flavor with an umami boost, but I’ll be sticking with my classic salted rim!

Nuuly: Get $30 off your first month’s subscription. Love using this subscription for summer or vacation dresses I wouldn’t normally splurge on.
Coco & Eve: I am so obsessed with the Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam. I love the shade dark and it’s honestly the prettiest tan I’ve ever had—super natural, glowy, and even (zero streaks, zero orange vibes). It smells good, gives a little instant glow when you apply, and develops into a deeper, gorgeous bronze over the next few hours. Tip: You must use a mitt—I usually skip it, but trust me, you’ll regret it if you don’t. Use code CHRISMAR15 for 15% off if you wanna try it!
Dagne Dover: Matt loves his Monaco Garment Duffle for traveling with suits, and I’m a huge fan of my Dakota Backpack and Landan Carryall for travel! Use code CHRISTINA20 for 20% off full price items.
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!
Avaline: My favorite Rosé! It’s made with organic grapes and free from unnecessary additives such as sugars, colors, and concentrates. And it tastes delicious – very light and refreshing, not too sweet. Save 15% off with code ROSEALLDAY.
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.
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.
Cozy Earth: Use code CE-CAROLINACHARM at checkout for 40% off! I just scooped up a new set of gorgeous towels in this fun color…