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Five on Friday

Happy Friday and happy 345392347605438th day of January!

I am so ready for February! Let’s recap the week with a high-low-buffalo!

High: Finally—a full week of school! The weather has been gorgeous the past few days, I made it onto the tennis court for the first time in 2025, and we made some solid progress on our porch project! Plus, with the kids in school all week, I was finally able to tackle a ton of work—mainly backend SEO updates and a special project I’ve been chipping away at.

Low: Matt’s work week has been insane—for the second week in a row. He’s juggling some really big cases right now, which means early mornings, late nights, and working in bed long after I’ve fallen asleep. And on top of it all, he’s gearing up for a ginormous trial in a few weeks on a case he’s been working on for 6.5 years.

Buffalo: Not exactly funny, but definitely ironic—one of our ovens stopped heating…specifically my sourdough oven. It has a two-year warranty, and when I pulled the receipt, I panicked because it said we bought it in December 2022 (of course). But then Matt reminded me that we didn’t actually have it delivered until February 2024 when our kitchen reno was done! So we got it fixed just six days before the warranty expired. Talk about a close call!

Moonlighting as Matt’s DoorDasher… 5-star rating pending

Weekend Plans

After last weekend’s sports marathon, this one feels like a breeze! Both kids have a flag football tournament in the morning, followed by three basketball games in the afternoon. And to make things even more fun, their next-door besties are staying with us for the weekend—so the house will be full and lively! Sunday is shaping up to be a good one too, with church (the kids are loving the new Tween service!), lunch out, and of course—Soup Sunday!

Can you spot all 3 Marcellinos on the field?

In Case You Missed It

This week I shared…

  • Chicken Enchilada Soup: A Soup Sunday favorite! We’ve been making this since 2012, so I gave the original post a little refresh with new photos. If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s a must!
  • Laundry Stripping Recipe: My go-to (and so easy) method for deep-cleaning towels. I do this weekly to keep them soft, fresh, and smelling amazing!
  • Our Favorite Date Night Spots in South Charlotte – Can’t believe we’re coming up on two years of living here! I rounded up all the best places we love for a night out.

Currently…

Bringing back an OG Five on Friday section! Do we like this? Should it make a weekly comeback?

  • Watching: 7th Heaven as a family! My siblings and I watched this EVERY week growing up—I was 10, Ian was 9, and Lindsey was 8—so I figured it was time to introduce it to the kids (and Matt). We stream it on Paramount Plus, and WOW—what a throwback. The kids are obsessed, but I totally forgot how heavy some of the topics are. Probably better suited for older kids, but since we survived watching it at their age, we’re going for it!
  • Listening: to Big Booty Mixes by Two Friends on Spotify—such a vibe.
  • Reading: All the Colors of the Dark is my current parking lot read while chauffeuring kids around —so many of you raved about this one! The storyline is gripping, the small-town vibes are eerie, and the writing is beautifully poetic… but also hurts my brain at times. It’s so immersive and layered that I keep re-reading sentences, but I’m fully invested!
  • Eating: Frozen Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Cakes—see #3 because I cannot stop making these!
  • Wearing: Target High-Rise Shine Ribbed Leggings!!! I bought one pair a few weeks ago and loved them so much I just scooped up a second pair. The ribbed texture, slight sheen, and high-rise fit make them super flattering and comfy. Available in three colors, and yes, I’m tempted to grab the third! The price point is so good!

Alright, on to the 5!

1. London Fog Latte

I’ve officially entered my London Fog era, and I’m obsessed. It’s an Earl Grey latte with vanilla, and I can’t get enough. I grabbed one from Starbucks earlier this week, and not gonna lie—it was next-level (probably thanks to the four pumps of vanilla syrup). In my ongoing attempt to swap some coffee for tea, I’ve been experimenting with different versions at home, and my current go-to is Earl Grey steeped with a little lavender (then strained), steamed milk, a dash of vanilla extract, and honey. If you haven’t tried one yet, I highly recommend!

2. Instant Pot Milk Frother

Speaking of steamed milk… I can’t remember if I’ve shared this! This milk frother is everything. I’ve had it for 2 years and use it so much for lattes, matcha, reheating coffee, and of course—my new London Fog obsession. It has four different settings—cold foam, light warm foam, thick warm foam, and warming without foaming—so you can make exactly what you’re craving. It’s super easy to use, heats and froths milk perfectly (hot or cold), and gives you that dreamy, creamy foam without any effort. Plus, it’s from the makers of Instant Pot, so you know it’s good.

3. Frozen Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Cakes

I cannot stop making this sweet treat—it’s next-level good, and my whole family is hooked! Plus, it’s ridiculously easy. Start with a rice cake (caramel or chocolate are our faves), spread on a thick layer of almond or peanut butter, then a thick layer of vanilla Greek yogurt (we love Oikos Triple Zero for extra protein). Add some fruit (bananas, strawberries, or raspberries—raspberries are the unanimous winner over here), then drizzle with melted dark chocolate (just microwave dark chocolate chips with a little coconut oil). Pop it in the freezer for 5 minutes, and boom—absolute perfection.

4. Back Porch Glow-Up in Progress!

Our back porch is getting a glow-up, and I am so excited! We practically lived on the porch at our last house, so we’re making some tweaks to bring in all the things we loved most.

The plan? Adding a wall to block pool equipment noise and hang a TV, install cabinets for all the random outdoor stuff, upgrading the canned lights and broken ceiling fans, and—best part—adding outdoor heaters so we can use this space year-round. The least fun (but necessary) part? Removing a set of stairs that awkwardly cut through the middle of the porch and limit our furniture setup. We are of course working with Atreum on this project, and it’s moving right along! Can’t wait to share more progress in this space!

Here’s what we were working with…

And here’s the project in progress!

5. Nutrafol Exfoliating Scalp Mask

My mom got me this hair mask for Christmas, and I’m officially obsessed. It deep cleans your scalp by getting rid of product build-up and excess oil, which makes your hair feel so much fresher and lighter. It’s perfect if you use a lot of dry shampoo (guilty) or just want a reset for your scalp.

January Promo Codes

  • Skin Pharm: My go-to for skin treatments, but my absolute favorite? The Moxi laser. I’m in the middle of a series right now, 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!
  • 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!

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Rachel

Thursday 6th of February 2025

What is your milk to earl gray ratio in your homemade London Fog? It is mostly tea with a splash of milk? I have tried to make one at home but I just can't get the ratio right.