Happy Friday!
It’s been a good week, but wow—another short one with the kids home for 3.5 days (1.5 for snow!) I honestly can’t remember the last time we had a full week of school…maybe before Christmas? The unexpected snow day was such a fun surprise, though. We made the most of it, and the kids had a blast.

Other highlights this week included Matt and I attending the grand opening of Dogwood in Uptown, and of course, the biggest event of the week? Monday night’s epic Ohio State National Championship win! More on that in just a sec!
And now, the weekend lineup…
We’ve got 4 flag football games, 2 basketball games, and 2 birthday parties—all on Saturday. If you’re wondering how we’re going to divide and conquer…so am I! Matt is coaching the flag football games and is very excited about his playbook. And we’ve got a Snooze Day on the books for Sunday to recover.
In Case You Missed It…
This week I shared…
- In honor of the Buckeyes game this week, I updated my Buckeyes Recipe from the 2012 archives—complete with some old-school photos for a fun throwback to the early blogging days!
- For my first Coffee with Christina of 2025, I shared 15 things that brought me so much happiness or value to my life in 2024. It was tough to narrow it down to 15, but this list is solid.
- I shared a Chai Martini reel! This cozy cocktail is my favorite chilly weather drink right now—perfect for brunch, girls’ night, or just because. While I was at Target this week re-stocking on my decaf chai, I spotted a few flavors that I can’t wait to try like chocolate, espresso, and there’s even a pumpkin spice!
Top 5 Reader Favorite Items This Week
Your favorites from this week…
- LOFT High Rise Slim Jeans: Over winter break, my sister was rocking these High Rise Slim Jeans, and I loved them so much that I immediately ordered a pair for myself! The slim fit is so flattering, and I was thrilled to find out they come in petite sizes too. Here’s the crazy part: they’re currently on sale for just $22. Yes, $22!!! They’re still stocked in most petite and regular sizes, and I’m wearing the Mid Vintage Wash. Such a steal for such a great fit!
- Stainless Steel Meat Chopper: See #3!!
- Flu & COVID Rapid Test Kit: This 3-in-1 combo kit tests for Flu A, Flu B, and COVID-19, delivering results in just 10 minutes. With flu season hitting school so hard this year, we’re keeping a few of these stocked for quick answers, especially for the kids!
- Pedometer: I grabbed an inexpensive pedometer to compare it to the step count on my Apple Watch for my walking pad, and guess what? My watch has only been capturing about half of my steps! All this time, when I thought I was hitting 10-20K steps, I was actually doing way more!
- Rotary Cheese Grater: This cheese grater has completely elevated my kitchen routine and was the #1 seller overall for 2024 (and for good reason!!!). With three interchangeable blades for slicing and shredding cheese, veggies, fruits, and nuts, it’s so versatile. I especially love using it to thinly slice cucumbers for salads! And let’s talk cheese—shredding a fresh block tastes noticeably better than pre-shredded cheese, which is loaded with additives. It’s quick too—about 90 seconds per block. Pro tip: shred multiple blocks at once, store the extras in freezer bags, and enjoy fresh-tasting cheese anytime!
1. National Championship Game
On Monday, our house was buzzing with excitement for the Ohio State game! After an incredible football season, we were so hyped to watch the Buckeyes crush it and take home the National Championship title!
Thomas asked if I’d “decorate” for the game, and of course, I went all in. The boys are very superstitious, so dinner had to be game-approved: brats (their all-time fave), a new buffalo chicken chili recipe (so good—I’ll share it soon), and, naturally, Buckeyes for dessert. It was an epic (and very late) night!
2. Supper Club Mahjong & Spicy Pretzels
Last week, McKinsey hosted Supper Club for mahjong, and it was such a fun night with the girls! As always, she absolutely nailed it with the cocktails and snacks—spicy fig margaritas, a variety of candy, cookies, popcorn, and my personal favorite…her Aunt Tammy’s homemade spicy pretzels!
The pretzels were such a hit that when I shared them on Instagram, my DMs blew up with recipe requests. I mean, who doesn’t love a family recipe with a kick?! So, as promised, here’s Aunt Tammy’s spicy pretzel recipe—get ready to fall in love!
Aunt Tammy’s Spicy Pretzels
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 packet ranch mix
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 bags pretzels
Directions: In a bowl, mix the spices with the oil until well combined. Spread the pretzels evenly on a baking sheet, pour the spice mixture over them, and toss to coat. Bake at 200°F for 1.5-2 hours, tossing occasionally as they brown and the seasoning fully coats the pretzels and dries. Enjoy!
3. Stainless Steel Meat Chopper
I recently upgraded from my nylon meat chopper (after I noticed it starting to fray a bit) to this heavy-duty stainless steel version, and it’s been such a great switch! The sturdy steel design makes chopping so much easier and more efficient than my old one. I absolutely love it!
4. Book Review: Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan
Rating 4/5 stars: This was a beautiful, emotional love story with plenty of spice, and I loved the small-town charm and the characters—Archer especially. While the writing didn’t always hit, and a few parts leaned cheesy with a few ick moments for me, the unique storyline kept me hooked. The ending felt a bit rushed, but overall, it’s a heartfelt, slow-burn romance that’s worth a read.
5. Greenlight Card
We recently got Caroline a Greenlight card, and it’s been such a great way to help her start learning about managing money. It’s a debit card designed for kids with tons of cool features, but our favorite is the chores and allowance option. We can set up daily or weekly tasks for her in the app, and she earns money based on what she completes—perfect motivation for our Target-loving girl!
If you’re interested in getting a Greenlight Card, I’ve got a referral link that earns you $30.
January Promo Codes
- 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!
- Topsail Steamer: use code SHELLYEAH to get a free pound of crab! If you’re ordering online, don’t worry about adding it—they’ll just throw it in for you.
- 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. I have had so much fun renting all my holiday party outfits this year and now using it for some fun winter sweaters that I wouldn’t normally splurge on.
- Cozy Earth: Use code CE-CAROLINACHARM at checkout for 40% off!
- Minted: Use code XOCAROLINA2025 at checkout for 20% off classroom Valentine’s cards + a free 24 pack of matching stickers!
Caley
Tuesday 28th of January 2025
Those Sigma cards are the cutest!! x
Carol
Saturday 25th of January 2025
Do you have a link for the The Ohio State banner across your mantle? Looking for a different team styled like that! Congrats on a great seasonโฆ surprisingly from a Tennessee fan!
Christina
Monday 27th of January 2025
Sure do! You can find it here!
https://amzn.to/42wpzjk
Jennibell
Friday 24th of January 2025
Iโm sure it was fun being in your house Monday night! Looking forward to trying that pretzel recipe. Iโve been thinking about a cheese graterโฆ I know freshly shredded cheese is so much better.Happy Friday!
Megan
Friday 24th of January 2025
Happy Friday! When you get a moment, would you mind sharing the details on Carolineโs vanity she received for Christmas? Thinking about this for my daughterโs 11th birthday. Thanks!
Christina
Monday 27th of January 2025
we got here this one in white: https://amzn.to/4jzr724
She LOVES it!!!!