Five on Friday

5 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMASSSSSSSSS!

But only 4 days until my favorite holiday—Christmas Eve! There’s just something so magical about it—the excitement, the anticipation, the twinkling lights, the traditions, the cookies baking in the oven… all of it. Christmas morning is wonderful, of course, but it flies by in a whirlwind of wrapping paper and squeals of joy. And to be honest, once the last gift is unwrapped and the paper is cleaned up, I crash SO hard.

Speaking of wrapping paper…

While working in Santa’s Workshop (aka my kitchen) this week, I ran into a wrapping paper crisis—I ran out of paper for one kid (our tradition is each family member has a separate paper) and didn’t have a single sheet of tissue paper left! As I mentioned in last week’s Wrapping Paper Reminder, I’m loving Target’s selection this year—but if you’ve been in-store recently…WOW. The holiday section is a disaster and already condensed to a few aisles.

So here’s my tip: order your wrapping paper online for curbside pick-up. It saved me from digging through messy aisles and I didn’t even have to change out of my slippers! Highly recommend.

Things I Shared This Week

In case you missed it…

• A Few of My Favorite Things (& My Wish List for Santa)
• The treat I’m most looking forward to making this Christmas break — Saltine Cracker Toffee!
• What I’m stuffing in Mabel’s Stocking!
• This creamy White Christmas Margarita is what tropical Christmas dreams are made of. It’s festive, delicious, and basically a white snowy Christmas in a glass.
• A post you’ll want to refer to after the holidays when you’re ready to take everything down — Christmas Keepsakes Tips & Organization Recommendations!
• Our unforgettable YES DAY! in Greenville, South Carolina!

Top 5 Gift Guide Items for 2024

Instead of sharing my top 5 favorites this week, I thought it’d be fun to highlight the top 5 best-selling items from this year’s gift guides! I always love seeing what you all are loving the most—some of these picks might even surprise you!

1. The Laser Tag Set was the overall best-selling item across ALL my gift guides this year—and for good reason! It’s been a consistent favorite from the Tween Boys Gift Guide for years and is still one of the most used toys for Thomas. He hosts laser tag battles with friends almost every weekend and always packs this set for sleepovers. The rechargeable set includes four guns with vest sensors, two weapon modes, and a 150-foot range. Pro Tip: We’ve tried a few cheaper sets in the past, and they all broke quickly. This one is definitely worth the splurge and has held up amazingly well!
2. The Slushy Maker Squeeze Cup was the 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.!
3. The Earlybird Full Spectrum CBD Gummies from the Men’s and Women’s Stocking Stuffers lists were a huge hit this year! The flavor trio—strawberry, watermelon, and lemon—is absolutely delicious, and each gummy delivers the perfect balance of relaxation without feeling overwhelming. They’re great for stress relief, winding down after a long day, and even helping with a good night’s sleep. A stocking stuffer win!
4. The Marble Salt Cellar is not only a Hall of Fame gift exchange item, it claimed the #4 spot on this year’s gift guide best-sellers list! I originally received it at a gift exchange and loved it so much that I’ve gifted it countless times since as a hostess gift! The marble salt cellar is both beautiful and practical, and paired with Maldon Sea Salt Flakes, it’s the perfect duo for elevating everything from roasted veggies and avocado toast to cocktail rims.
5. The Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa Perfume Mini Set was the #2 best-seller from the Tween Girls Gift Guide! The ladies at Sephora said it’s the gift all the tweens have been asking for—and it’s sold out at most stores. So, if you’ve got a tween girl on your list, do yourself a favor and snag it online now for store pick-up!

Stocking Stuffers & Gift Guides

Looking for a gift or stocking stuffer? ALL my gift guides are OUT! I hope you find the perfect gift!

• Stocking Stuffers for Tweens
• Stocking Stuffers for Men and Women
• Gift Ideas for Tween Boys
• Gift Ideas for Tween Girls
• Favorite Things Party Gift Ideas
• Gift Ideas for Your Mom or Mother In Law
• Gift Ideas for Men
• Gift Ideas for Coworkers (Teammates, Staff, Boss & More)
• Gift Ideas for Grandparents Who Have Everything
• My Favorite Things + Wish List for Santa

Alright, let’s get down to the 5!

1. Pajama Party + Sugar Cookie Martinis

Last weekend, we hosted a festive pajama party with friends, and it was such a fun way to celebrate the holiday season together! We started the night with Sugar Cookie Martinis, and they were as delicious as they were festive. I’m not usually one for sweet cocktails, but these were SO good. Made with Baileys, vanilla vodka, half and half, and amaretto, they were the perfect blend of creamy and sweet. We even rimmed the glasses with sprinkles, making them extra fun (and surprisingly tasty!). It was the perfect comfy and cozy night filled with lots of holiday spirit! And the kids loved hanging out in their pajamas all night—it made crashing straight into bed for a sleepover so easy.

Sugar Cookie Martini

• Vanilla frosting and sprinkles, for rimming the glass
• 1 1/2 ounce vanilla vodka
• 1 1/2 ounces Bailey’s
• 1 ounce half & half
• 1 ounce amaretto

2. A New Holiday Tradition

Something has felt different this Christmas season. Matt’s felt it too. It’s not that we’re less holiday-spirited—but the shift finally hit me when I pulled up my annual Christmas Run of Show document. I’ve shared about it before—it’s my detailed “Magic Maker” list filled with favorite family recipes, grocery lists, traditions, and schedules. It’s Christmas in checklist form—a guide to creating all the magic.

But this year, as I scrolled through the traditions we’ve cherished for so long, I realized how many our kids have outgrown. Gone are the days of racing from one Santa-themed event to the next—sharing wish lists with Santa, decorating cookies with him, Polar Express rides, church pageants, and sprinkling reindeer food on the lawn. Our calendar still feels full, but maybe there’s a little less magic in the air…or perhaps, just different magic.

So, we decided it’s time to create something new—something just as special, something to fill that little holiday gap. This year, we’re surprising the kids with a Grinchmas Movie Night! We’ll have a picnic of green-themed treats—Grinch Kabobs, Grinch Punch, Grinch Cookies, and Grinch Popcorn—and snuggle up together to watch The Grinch.

I’m not sure if “Grinchmas” will stick as the tradition—we might switch it up next year with a Home Alone theme or something else entirely. But for now, I’m excited to start something new—a tradition that grows with us, something our family can look forward to for many years to come. And even if hunting down green food coloring gel has been weirdly difficult, I know it’ll be worth it when we’re all together, creating new memories that feel just as magical.

3. Holiday Recipes We Love

We are going to be baking ALL THE THINGS over the next 5’ish days and I am so excited! If you’re baking this weekend, I have some yummy recipe recommendations!!

Here are a few of our favorite holiday recipes — some we’ve been making for many years! You can find a few more HERE including a festive Christmas tree snack board, the yummiest White Christmas Chex Mix, Grinch punch, and more!

• The Best Cinnamon Bread: An easy consumable gift for sharing with friends, neighbors, teachers, co-workers, Christmas party hosts—or just keeping for yourself. Plus, it’s amazing with a cup of coffee on Christmas morning.
• Saltine Cracker Toffee: This is my personal favorite Christmas treat — we’ve been making this for years! This recipe is so dang delicious that I entered it into a cookie exchange contest — and it came in 4th place which was impressive considering there were 17 cookies in the contest! I also have a Graham Cracker Toffee you might like!
• White Christmas Margaritas: This creamy coconut margarita is what tropical Christmas dreams are made of. It’s festive, delicious, and basically a white snowy Christmas in a glass.
• Christmas Mules: Slightly sweet and slightly tangy, this drink is easy to whip up with just a few ingredients. Serve in copper mugs garnished with fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs!

4. The Ultimate Pet Stocking Stuffers (Mabel’s Picks!)

When I asked y’all on Instagram if you fill your pet’s stocking, 78% said YES—same here! Mabel’s stocking is already stuffed and hanging with the rest of the family’s, and she’s been eyeballing it hard ever since. She’s been a mostly good girl this year, so here’s what’s inside: a Jumbo Holiday Lamb Chop (this will be her absolute favorite at a whopping 19 inches!), a Wishbone Chew Toy, Blue Buffalo Steak Treats, and all the pieces from Dog Toy Stocking Gift Set—such a great deal and it ships in just one day! Safe to say Christmas morning is going to be wild. Oh, and don’t worry — Sprinkles has a full stocking too!

5. A Few Reminders For The Magic Makers

To all my fellow Magic Makers out there—I see you!

I see you buying and carefully itemizing gifts to make sure everything feels “even,” wrapping late into the night, preparing guest beds, and planning meals for holiday visitors. Maybe you’re packing your entire family to travel, decking the halls, setting tablescapes, running endless errands, attending class parties, coordinating outfits, and baking all the treats. And somehow, you’re doing this while working through year-end deadlines, feeding your family, squeezing in workouts, helping with homework, caring for sick kids, and tackling mountains of laundry.

I don’t know where you are this season or how you’re feeling—but I want you to know that while the holidays can be magical, they can also bring a lot of pressure, expectations, and challenges. So, here’s a gentle reminder:

1. Take a moment to soak in the magic you’ve created. Look around and enjoy the beauty of what you made happen.
2. It’s OK if this season feels hard—if you’re tired, overwhelmed, uninspired, or even grieving.
3. Schedule your Snooze Day—seriously. Open the calendar now and block off a day to rest. Stay in your pajamas, binge a show, nap—whatever helps you reset and recharge.

May your holidays be as bright, warm, and magical as the moments you create. You’re doing an amazing job.

December 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 DECEMBER15 for 15% off sitewide!
• 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!
• Nuuly: Get $30 off your first month’s subscription. I have had so much fun renting all my holiday party outfits this year!