Five on Friday

Happy Friday!

We’re getting right down to it today…

Top 5 Favorite Items This Week

1. The hype is real—this Dry Oil Spray is the top seller (again) for a reason. It’s all we used while camping and I didn’t get bit once by mosquitoes. Not only did it actually work, but it also feels amazing on your skin—light, non-greasy, and kind of luxurious for a bug spray. I finally get the obsession. Oh, and it smells heavenly!
2. The Gap Jeans Event is happening now, so I had to share my current favorite pair—these Loose 90’s Jeans! I was fully convinced I couldn’t pull off the relaxed denim look (skinny jeans forever, right?) but these totally changed my mind. They’re loose in the cool way, not the frumpy way, and somehow still feel flattering and put together.
3. Kids Immune Support Spray: See #5!
4. This Amazon find that instantly turned our Chromebook chaos into a sleek little charging station!
5. The viral pre-lit Christmas tree is back in stock and I bought it so fast! I missed out on it last year and was definitely not going to let that happen again this year! I got the 7.5 foot full unflocked tree.

Recipe Spotlight: The best s’mores dip recipe

You can make it in 10 minutes without building a fire or leaving your air conditioning. This is a longtime favorite dip that we love to make for family movie night, sleepover treats, and any other time we’re craving something easy and delicious!

1. Labor Day Camping Recap

This year’s camping trip was…one for the books. Kings Mountain wasn’t our favorite campsite (the options aren’t great when you’re last-minute booking on a holiday weekend), and the Wi-Fi was truly tragic for the boys, who spent 3 hours trying to stream the Ohio State game while it buffered every 3 seconds.

Caroline and I had so much fun setting up our campsite together this year, which honestly ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trip. And of course, we kept all our favorite camping traditions going—tacos in a bag, s’mores cones, and even a (very short-lived) fishing trip.

And by “short-lived,” I mean we made it 25 minutes into our john boat rental before it started to capsize and we had to race it back to shore in full mayhem. Not our most fun trip…but definitely a story we’ll be laughing about one day.

Our Previous Camping Trips

• Easy Camping Meals & Snacks
• Car Camping Essentials and Packing Lists
• 2024 Bandits Roost, North Carolina
• 2023 Hunting Island, South Carolina
• 2022 Hot Springs, North Carolina
• 2021 Edisto Island, South Carolina
• 2020 Table Rock, South Carolina

Tacos In A Bag — our FAVORITE camping meal! See them in action HERE!

2. Pumpkin Cream Chai

It’s officially back—my favorite fall drink: the Pumpkin Cream Chai from Starbucks! I order mine with almond milk and dairy-free cold foam and it’s everything. Cozy, just the right amount of sweet, and basically fall in a cup. If you haven’t tried this combo yet, consider this your sign.

3. Birthday Weekend in Maine

Earlier this year I asked for your favorite fall adult-only getaway spots, and wow—your recs were SO good. First, here were the top 10 US destinations, in order of popularity:

1. Maine (Portland, Bar Harbor, Cliff House, Kennebunkport)
2. Vermont
3. New York City
4. Rosemary Beach/30A, FL
5. Highlands, NC
6. Blackberry Farm
7. Boston
8. Sedona
9. Nashville
10. Napa

We took your advice (THANK YOU!)! At the end of September, Matt and I are heading to Maine to celebrate my birthday with a cozy weekend away. Meg of HC Travel booked our trip for us, and we’re staying at Cliff House, with plans to explore Kennebunkport and Portland, and while it’s weeks away still, I’m already counting down the days. If you have any must-do activities or restaurants, please share!

4. Mood House

Last week I was invited to Mood House’s new Oakhurst location and had a massage and sauna session—and it was pure magic. The sauna was so lovely and exactly what I needed to reset after a long first week of routines, carpools, and all the back-to-school things. Highly recommend if you’re in need of a recharge (or just want an excuse to sit in silence for 45 minutes).

5. Back-To-School MVP: Kids Immune Support Spray

This is one of those products I always keep stocked—especially important during those first few weeks of school. This Throat Spray is a quick spritz-and-go option that my kids don’t mind using, and it’s been a go-to for building up those immune defenses. I grab mine from Grove, which has been my favorite spot lately for stocking up on healthy essentials for the whole fam, but you can also find it on Amazon!

If you’re shopping Grove for the first time, you can use code CAROLINACHARM for 25% off your order of $75+!

September Promo Codes

• Nuuly: Get $30 off your first month’s subscription. Love using this subscription for summer or vacation dresses I wouldn’t normally splurge on.
• Grove: Use code CAROLINACHARM for 25% off order $75+.
• Skin Pharm: My go-to for skin treatments, but my absolute favorite? The Moxi laser. I just finished a series 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!
• Middle & Main Mahjong: Use code CAROLINACHARM10 for 10% off anything at Middle & Main Mahjong—I’m obsessed with my sunshine tiles!
• Cozy Earth: Use code CE-CAROLINACHARM at checkout for 40% off! Don’t sleep on the pool towels!
• 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.
• Coco & Eve: I am so obsessed with the Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam. I love the shade dark and it’s honestly the prettiest tan I’ve ever had—super natural, glowy, and even (zero streaks, zero orange vibes). It smells good, gives a little instant glow when you apply, and develops into a deeper, gorgeous bronze over the next few hours. Tip: You must use a mitt—I usually skip it, but trust me, you’ll regret it if you don’t. Use code CHRISMAR15 for 15% off if you wanna try it!
• Dagne Dover: Matt loves his Monaco Garment Duffle for traveling with suits, and I’m a huge fan of my Dakota Backpack and Landan Carryall for travel! Use code CHRISTINA20 for 20% off full price items.
• 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!
• Avaline: My favorite Rosé! It’s made with organic grapes and free from unnecessary additives such as sugars, colors, and concentrates. And it tastes delicious – very light and refreshing, not too sweet. Save 15% off with code SIZZLE15..
• Seed: The daily probiotic I’ve been using for several years now! Seed initially stood out to me with their capsule technology which protects the probiotic from stomach acid so it makes it all the way down to your lower small intestine where it provides the greatest benefit.
• Cozy Earth: Use code CE-CAROLINACHARM at checkout for 40% off!