Five on Friday

Happy Friday and happy Valentine’s Day!

This morning, I’m whipping up pancakes topped with Valentine sprinkles for the kids’ breakfast, and tonight, we’re going all out with homemade heart-shaped pizzas followed by a chocolate fondue dessert. I seriously can’t wait!

This week I have still been deep in my blog clean-up mission, tackling one year at a time from my desk. Along the way, I’ve refreshed a few popular posts, including Our Murder Mystery Party (with all my best hosting tips), my viral Baked Spaghetti (aka the most delicious and giftable freezer meal), adorable and easy Mickey Mouse Cupcakes, and Dunkaroo Dip (the ultimate lunchbox throwback snack). All are now easier to find and ready for a comeback!

This week, I also made my way through some of the hardest years in the archives, and wow—those posts hit different. Reading back on everything we went through with my dad, the early years of navigating Thomas’s rare eye condition, my double mastectomy process, and more… it was heavy. If you’re in the thick of grief, I shared My Lessons Learned in Grief (Part 1 & Part 2), and I hope it brings you even a little bit of comfort.

NEW Posts You May Have Missed This Week

• The Buffalo Ground Chicken Chili I’ve made 4 times this year so far and have finally perfected it! I made it last weekend for Super Bowl Sunday and served it over nachos — it was a 10/10!
• A Raspberry French 75 that is perfect for Valentine’s Day! If you’ve tried my Fall French 75, you’ll recognize the base ingredients, but this raspberry version takes it to a whole new level.

Your Top 5 Favorite Items This Week

1. The cutest Paper Bread Bags for storing and gifting homemade sourdough or banana bread! See #4!
2. The 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!
3. The Mini Salad Dressing Containers I use for meal prep!
4. These inexpensive divided snack containers I use to prep snacks for the entire week!
5. The Instant Pot Milk Frother. I’ve had mine 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.

1. Fall Getaway Destinations

I recently polled y’all on Instagram for the best adult-only weekend getaway spots for fall, and you delivered! With tons of awesome recommendations, as promised, here are the top 10 US destinations in order of popularity!

*Also, if you need a travel planner, I am obsessed with mine. Meg of HC Travel is SO good. And she’ll take $75 off your planning fee if you mention my blog!

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

2. Burger Bowl Meal Prepped Lunches

Earlier this week, I shared my meal prep lineup, and y’all were very into the burger bowls—so here’s the recipe! I made these for lunch all week, and let me just say…they slap. Super flavorful, packed with protein, and they reheat so well. But the real MVP? The special sauce.

Here’s how I made mine:

Burger Bowls

• Ground beef, seasoned with garlic powder + salt
• Air-fried sweet potatoes
• Chopped pickles
• Diced red onion
• Lettuce (packed separately so it stays crisp when reheating the bowls!)
• Special sauce: mix 1/4 cup mayo + 1 tbsp ketchup + 1/2 tbsp coconut aminos + 1 tsp maple syrup + 1/2 tbsp dill pickle relish + 1 tsp dried minced onion + pinch of red pepper flakes + pinch of salt

I love these mini salad dressing containers for the special sauce.

3. Sprinkles in Print!

Find Sprinkles in the South Charlotte Neighbors magazine as the Pet of the Month! She’s got hilarious photos and an even funnier interview!

4. Paper Bread Bags

These are the cutest paper bags for storing and gifting homemade sourdough or banana bread—and honestly, they make my loaves look so legit, you’d think they came straight from a bakery. They’re inexpensive, keep the bread fresh, and with a little ribbon and a gift tag, they’re instantly gift-worthy!

5. Product Refill: Beauty by Earth Self Tanner Mousse

The weather’s been totally unpredictable lately—one weekend warm and perfect for shorts, and this week rainy and freeeeeezing. But hey, that brief taste of summer got me so excited for spring! I just grabbed my third bottle of Beauty by Earth Self Tanner Mousse—shoutout to all your Instagram recs for the best self tanner. This stuff applies super smoothly and develops into a gorgeous, natural-looking tan. I love that it’s made with clean ingredients, free from chemical dyes, parabens, and toxins. It’s lightweight, fast-absorbing, and I even skip the mitt (washing my hands after, of course) so I don’t waste any product. I use the medium-dark shade, and it’s perfect for building on. I’ve also tried the lotion, but the mousse is totally my fave!

February 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!
• 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!