Five on Friday

It’s my first 5 on Friday of 2026!

With the kids back in school, it’s been really nice to settle back into a routine and enjoy a quiet house during the day. Matt had a huge trial this week that he’s been preparing for for months, I finally packed away all things Christmas which feels like a very big win, and work is back to a normal, steady pace after a wild Q4. Today I’m hosting my first mahj of 2026, and this weekend looks like basketball games, family time, and a big pot of spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove all day Sunday while we host Matt’s family.

Wishing you all a happy weekend!

In Case You Missed It

• On my latest Catch Up With Christina, I shared what’s saving me this basketball season, my new favorite hack for planning out my day (and being shockingly productive), a personal and work shift for 2026, and lots more.
• Everything I made this week for dinner!
• A quick round-up of all my holiday Instagram content in one place, including hosting my favorite party of the year, our epic family movie night tradition, and the New Years tradition we never skip. Perfect if you want to bookmark anything for next year or save yourself the mental load later.
• All the details (and our template) for How We Plan the Year with an Annual Meeting. If you’ve ever wanted a simple system to reset, get organized, and feel more on the same page heading into a new year, this post walks you through exactly how we do it.
• Before Instagram, we had scrapbooking, and I couldn’t be more thrilled that it’s back with the tweens. Take a peek at Caroline’s scrapbooking night, and you can find all the supplies we used right here.
• My first Coffee with Christina of the year, where I shared 26 things I’m bringing into 2026.
• Elevated jello shots are trending for 2026 (right alongside caviar and apparently celery), so it felt like the right time to update my Champagne Jello Shots post.
• Sharing my exact process for planning family trips, from bigger vacations to smaller getaways.
• My mahjong-obsessed friends absolutely loved my pool mahjong reel, which took off BIG TIME.

Recipe Spotlight: Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

The meal my entire family always asks for! This is a top 5 recipe in our house, and we make it on repeat for both easy weeknight dinners and weekly lunch meal prep.

Top 5 Reader Favorites of 2025

Since this is the first round-up of the year, I thought it would be fun to share YOUR favorite items from 2025! If you want to see my personal top 5 faves of the week, you can check them out here!

1. The magic slushy cup that turns juice into a slushy in minutes and somehow never gets old for kids (or adults). This was among our most gifted items in 2025 for birthday gifts to friends.
2. So many of you (myself included) stocked up on this 3-in-1 at-home flu test kit which tests for Flu A, Flu B, and COVID-19.
3. I use these pre-cut parchment sheets every. single day. They make baking and roasting easier, and cleanup almost nonexistent.
4. The hype is real over this viral bug spray I discovered last summer. Not only does it actually work, it also feels amazing on your skin. It’s light, non-greasy, and honestly kind of luxurious for a bug spray. Oh, and it smells heavenly!
5. And the diamond necklace I gifted to my friends at Christmas because I love mine so much.

On to the 5…

1. Sprinkles Check-In

You asked for more Sprinkles content, so here she is, posted up on the front porch with Mabel earlier this week while I de-Christmased the house. Yes, she’s still with us. I know.

2. Book Review: Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino

Rating 3.5/5: I usually prefer a podcast series over an audiobook these days, but I listened to this book this week and it was a fast paced, wild ride. The premise of a woman who becomes obsessed with buying her perfect dream home in a cutthroat housing market is equal parts entertaining and unsettling, and her increasingly unhinged choices kept me interested even when parts of the story (especially the ending) felt unrealistic.

Book Teaser: An insanely competitive housing market. A desperate buyer on the edge. In Marisa Kashino’s darkly humorous debut novel, Best Offer Wins, the white picket fence becomes the ultimate symbol of success—and obsession. How far would you go for the house of your dreams?

3. Puzzle Era

If you read my Coffee Chat earlier this week, you know one of my goals is to finish 4 puzzles a year, and I just completed this pretty spring one. Keeping my hands busy like this helps keep me from scrolling, and this colorful one is SO fun to piece together.

4. Rainbow Tennis Strings

For Christmas, Matt surprised me by getting my tennis racket restrung with the rainbow strings I’ve been wanting forever, and I love them so much. It’s such a fun little upgrade that somehow makes every hit feel happier. If you’re local, he had it done at Don’s Tennis Shop!

5. One Line A Day

If you read my latest Catch Up With Christina, you know I’ve been loving my One Line A Day journal. I didn’t think I’d be into it, but it’s truly the lowest-effort habit ever, and I love that it’s a 5 year journal I’ll be able to look back on. So far, I’ve captured something tiny I loved, something I did the day before that made me happy, a work win, a milestone for one of my kids, and other random or mundane things. I already know I’m going to love looking back on these one day.

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!
• Earlybird Gummies: They’re a great replacement for a glass of wine, and my go-to for winding down, sleeping well, and waking up feeling rested and energized the next morning. Use code CHRISTINA20 for 20% off.
• 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. Love using this subscription for vacation and holiday party outfits I wouldn’t normally splurge on.
• 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 a discount!