Five on Friday

Happy Friday and happy November!!

We have so much to cover today, so let’s get right down to it!

1. Halloween Rewind

We have had so much fun celebrating Halloween all week! A few highlights…

Last weekend was our neighborhood Spooktacular which was a blast — and our creepy clown family won the Halloween costume contest!!

The following night, we hosted our good friends over for a fun and festive night! I kicked things off with a few rounds of Pumpkin Chai Martinis. Then for dinner, I served up the winning chili from last year’s Chili Cook-Off Party, which was a big hit. After dinner, we played Code Names which was so fun!

Meanwhile, the girls had crafted their own ‘Ultimate Spooky Night’ agenda. They had an entire lineup planned, starting with building an Oreo haunted mansion (with plenty of taste-testing along the way!), followed by a dip in the hot tub. They also made their own mummy hot dogs for dinner, knocked out their hair and skincare routine, and then set up a twinkling, Squishmallow-lined pillow fort where they crashed into bed for the night.

The boys kept things equally entertaining, cycling through their favorite video games and making it their mission to give the girls a hard time before crashing in the playroom for the night. It was a great night!

On Halloween, Thomas dressed up as Chucky!! And Caroline went the homemade costume route with the cutest Macaroni & Cheese costume (a huuuuge thank you to McKinsey for helping me perfect the pants)! We all gathered at our neighbor’s house for pizza + chili before trick-or-treating!

Previous Halloweens: 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2012

2. Cozy Earth Cardigan

Cozy Earth recently launched cardigans and they are heavenly. I have the oversized classic cardigan in color ebony (available in 8 colors) and love it so much. The fabric is unbelievably soft—think cloud-like comfort that makes it almost impossible to take off. Cozy Earth’s signature bamboo-based material feels luxe and breathable, making it perfect for layering through fall and winter without any bulk.

The oversized fit is just right: it drapes beautifully without feeling too big, and the length is ideal for pairing with leggings or jeans. It’s both cozy and elegant, taking you from a casual day at home to a polished look for a coffee date or office. This cardigan has quickly become a staple in my closet, and I honestly can’t imagine getting through cooler months without it.

If you’re considering an investment in comfort and style, the Classic Oversized Cardigan is worth every penny. Cozy Earth nailed it with this one—highly recommend! You can use code CAROLINACHARM40 for 40% off your order!

3. What I Fed My Family This Week

So many of you bought the What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking cookbook last week and I am SO excited for you!!! Have you started cooking out of it yet?! Did you stock up for Christmas gifts for girlfriends, holiday party hostesses, a gift exchange, sister or SIL, mom or MIL?!

This week I made 4 more recipes from the cookbook — kale chicken salad (page 33), grilled pickle chicken sandwiches (page 234) with Chick-fil-A fries, and the first repeat recipe because it was highly requested by my entire family — sesame chili fried egg rice bowls (page 43)! Everything was SO good.

4. World Market Holiday Candle

Last week my friend Abby hosted us for mahjong and throughout the night each of us asked her if she was burning the Nest Holiday candle — her home smelled SO cozy and festive! Turns out it was actually a gorgeous and massive 5-wick Balsam Forest candle from World Market! It’s not only beautiful with its oversized frosted glass jar, but it also fills the entire room with the most inviting, fresh-cut pine scent. It is already sold out in the stores in my area for local pick-up so McKinsey and I placed an order online! If you’re a holiday candle lover, this one’s a winner — and it’s a fraction of the price of some other luxury brands!

5. 13 YEARS!

This weekend, Matt and I are celebrating 13 years of marriage! It feels surreal that three years have already passed since our vow renewal, and I’m so grateful for every adventure we’ve shared. Here’s to many more years of good times and new memories together!