Five on Friday

Happy Friday!

It’s been a great week and we have a jam-packed weekend ahead!

Tonight, we’re planning a takeout-and-movie night to rest up for a full day across three different football fields tomorrow. Saturday kicks off early with flag football at 7:30 a.m. and goes strong until 7:30 p.m., with both kids in tournaments—Caroline playing center and Thomas at wide receiver. Then, we’ll be rushing home to host a Soup Party with our neighbors! Last year I hosted a chili cook-off so we thought it would be fun to switch things up with a Soup Party this year! I’m entering Matt’s all-time favorite soup, but with this lineup, the competition is going to be wild!

My 2024 Holiday Gift Guides

I rolled out several more gift guides this week — and only have 2 more to go (next week)! You can find ALL my gift guides on my NEW Gift Guide Page!

• Gift Ideas for Tween Boys: There are more than 32 ideas on this list! Our longest time favorite item would be the Laser Tag Set, a personal favorite item of Thomas’s is the I Survived Series Box Set, and his most wished for item is the Football Passer Machine!
• Gift Ideas for Tween Girls: My favorite guide every year! The longest time favorite item is ALWAYS the Confetti Slime Kit which Caroline gets every year, her personal favorite item on the list this year is the Hover Board, and her most wished for item is a tie between the Tazz Platform Uggs and Vanity Desk with Mirror.
• Favorite Things Party Gift Ideas: A gift list I update annually with NEW faves from our fave things party! The Hall of Fame winner is still the Kosterina Extra Virgin Olive Oil with a close second being the Maldon Sea Salt Flakes + Marble Salt Cellar. And my personal favorite from the list this year is What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking!
• Gift Ideas for Your Mom or Mother In Law: Finding gift ideas for your mother-in-law can be tricky, but I’ve rounded up a bunch of options that’ll make her feel special—and that your own mom would love, too.

Other Things I Shared This Week

• 7 Tips for Hosting a Favorite Things Gift Exchange (Pssst — NOW is the time to get those invitations out if you’re planning to host a party)!
• The easiest and pretties Greek Sheet Pan Chicken — perfect for a busy weeknight. You can prep it ahead of time and bake when you’re ready to eat. Find my Recipe Video Tutorial HERE!
• This Apple Cider Moscow Mule is one of my favorite fall-forward cocktails right now.

November Promo Codes

• Minted: Use code CAROLINAHOLIDAY2024 for 20% off + free shipping! We’ve been using Minted for our holiday cards for over a decade. The free recipient addressing is always such a timesaver!
• Avaline: Use code NOVEMBER15 for 15% off sitewide! This is the wine I’ll be serving at Thanksgiving.
• Nuuly: Get $30 off your first month’s subscription. Great for renting holiday outfits!
• 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!
• Cozy Earth: Use code CE-CAROLINACHARM at checkout for 40% off! The pajamas, sheets, and joggers are some of my favorite luxury gift recommendations!

Top 5 Reader Favorite Items This Week

Five items I have been loving this week! You can find my Top 5 Amazon items HERE which includes the dress I cannot wait to wear 7 times to all of Caroline’s Nutcracker performances!

1. Laser Tag Set: A Tween Boys Gift Guide best-seller the last few years and is still one of the MOST USED toys for Thomas. He hosts friends for laser tag almost every weekend and always packs this set for sleepovers. This rechargeable set includes 4 guns and vest sensors. Features two weapon modes and 150-reach. NOTE: We’ve purchased several cheaper sets and they have all broken quickly. This set is worth splurging on and has held up well.
2. World Market Holiday Candle: This gorgeous and massive 5-wick Balsam Forest candle from World Market candle will make your home feel SO cozy and festive! 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. 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!
3. Pairing Knives Set: My friend McKinsey (who always has the best recommendations) told me to buy this set recently and said these are pretty much the only knives she has used daily for years! Her aunt, a chef, shared them with her forever ago. Anyway, I recently scooped up a set and she was spot on. These wavy edge knives are a game-changer—super sharp, lightweight, and perfect for everything from cutting and fruit to slicing sourdough bread. These are the knives I reach for most now too and the colors make it easy to remember which knife I’ve used for different foods. They’re affordable, and McKinsey’s set has held up perfectly through years of dishwasher cycles.
4. Slushy Maker Squeeze Cup: A best-seller from the Tween Girls Gift Guide! I do not understand how this magic works, but it WORKS. You can turn any liquid into a slushy with this cup! Caroline has made all sorts of slushies — with yoohoos, sodas, juices, etc.!
5. Maldon Sea Salt Flakes: A hall-of-fame item from the Favorite Things Party Gift Guide, pair this amazing gift with a Marble Salt Cellar for your holiday party hostess! I sprinkle these salt flakes on so many things — roasted veggies, peanut butter toast, avocado toast, meats, and use it on cocktail rims. It really does elevate the taste of any dish (or cocktail)!

1. The Glamping Collective

Last weekend, we were invited to stay at The Glamping Collective’s XL Luxe Dome, and it was nothing short of magical! Nestled among the trees with stunning mountain views, our family (including Mabel!) had an unforgettable glamping adventure.

The dome was beautifully designed and surprisingly spacious, with nearly 1,000 square feet of comfort. It featured two cozy king bedrooms, a full kitchen with absolutely anything you could possibly need (including a variety of coffee makers), and a large bathroom with a slate-tiled shower and heated toilet seat—a detail we loved! The outdoor area was just as impressive, complete with a private hot tub, a fire pit, and a large deck with dining space where we could unwind and enjoy the view.

With Asheville only 20 minutes away, we made the most of our location. We stopped for lunch at Early Girl Eatery on the way in, grabbed takeout from Luella’s Bar-B-Que to bring back to our dome for dinner, and capped off the trip with breakfast at one of our favorites, Sunny Point Café (and grabbed some treats afterward from the Rabbit Hole). It felt so good to be back in Asheville and we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect night away.

2. Grounded for Life

This is the game we played while glamping last weekend! It is the ultimate family game for laughs —imagine Cards Against Humanity but safe enough that you don’t have to dodge awkward conversations with your kids. Each round, one person reads a prompt card, and everyone else picks a response from their hand that’ll either be hilariously spot-on or a total curveball. It’s seriously so fun to play and I think I’ll pull it out to play over Thanksgiving with all our family!

3. Leftover Chicken Stock

I always think I’ll remember the date I opened that box of chicken stock…but I never do! So, I’ve started jotting the date on the box before popping it back in the fridge, and when I shared this tip, some of you sent in even better ideas!

Tip 1: Instead of writing the date opened, ask Alexa to tell you the date for 7-14 days out (or whenever your stock expires) and mark that date on the box. Genius, right?

Tip 2 (and the crowd favorite!): Freeze leftover stock for longer storage. Use a freezer-safe container (glass, silicone, or plastic) and remember to leave a bit of space for expansion.

4. Community Group Friendsgiving

Last week Stephanie hosted Community Group. We had a “friendsgiving dinner” to celebrate 5 YEARS of Community Group!! Over dinner we discussed our plans and goals for 2025 Community Group and I am more excited than ever for what’s to come for our little group! We also shared some fun details about our upcoming annual Favorite Things Party, including the theme, price point, and a few other plans. I already know what I’ll be bringing—and I can’t wait!

5. Trader Joe’s Party Appetizer

During the holidays, I always grab a few boxes of Trader Joe’s Pastry Bites to have on hand for parties. I brought them to my end-of-season tennis party this week, and to make them look a little fancier, I just added a few sprigs of rosemary to the plate!

For more of my favorite Trader Joe’s appetizers to serve at gatherings, check out THIS post! This is my go-to line-up for when I’m hosting during the holidays!