Happy Weekend! It’s been a busy week here, with painters, hair cuts ✂, voting💓🤍💙, dinner dates with Bob 🌮, and lots of laughter 😂 (as per usual at our house!). It’s been in the 80s most of this week, which this warm-weather girl has loved, but this weekend we’re dropping down into the 40s and 50s, so I’m pulling out our family’s slow cooker chili recipe and getting ready to snuggle up by a fire with my favorite throw!
I hope you checked out my posts this week! On Tuesday, I shared the hair care products I’ve been using for the past few months, and I gave you an update about which “hero” product has really made a big difference for me!
On Wednesday, I followed up with October’s SO in the KNOW post, where I shared the launch dates for my Holiday Gift Guide (subscribers get early access!), the recipe for our family’s favorite Disney Park treat, and gave you the insider scoop about where to find the sales at Amazon. I also shared several Thanksgiving hostess gift ideas and lots, lots more!
At the end of my SO in the KNOW post, I told you about a giveaway for two of the items I’ve loved this month. Unfortunately, I messed up the dates for the giveaway, and when the post went live, the giveaway did not. 😬 Sorry about that! So I’ve extended the giveaway through this weekend and added it at the bottom of this post. I do hope you’ll enter! #suzyfail 😂
There was so much packed into my SO in the KNOW post, you probably think I have nothing left for this weekend. You’d be WRONG! I’m spilling the tea ☕ and I can’t wait to fill you in on everything. Let’s do this!
Remodel Update + More Advice Needed!
The paint decision is made! Thank you so much for your input and advice! On the walls, we’re going with Sherwin Williams Cotton White in eggshell finish, and on the trim, we’re going with Benjamin Moore’s White Dove in either satin finish or semi-gloss. My interior designer says gloss is coming back (!) and wants me to do high gloss, but I don’t think I’m ready for that! 😳
I’d love your thoughts! Semi-gloss or satin for baseboards and crown moulding, doors, cabinets, upstairs built-ins, etc.? Help! Will you give me your thoughts in the comments at the end of this post, pretty please?
Speedy Polish
If you happen to be without polish and you’re in a pinch, you need to know about this new $8.99 45-Second Speedy Gloss by Nails, Inc. I’ve never tried it, but it’s taking the beauty industry by storm! It comes in a bunch of colors and apparently features a patented, wide hugging brush that is ergonomically designed to work with the shape of the nail and minimize the number of strokes required. 💅 Then apparently, it dries in 45-seconds. I’m intrigued!
One of our holiday traditions is that every year I get some crazy fun beauty item for all the women in our family. One year it was Frog Prince Lipstick. (That’s the one that reacts to the warmth of your lips and your own personal chemistry to create your perfect, custom shade.) Another year it was magnetic lashes. This year, I think this nail polish is the ticket! Learn more about it HERE.
Tie One On!
Want to refresh your scarf-tying game? My friends at Chico’s have put together a great video how-to page with lots of ways to style a scarf. Click HERE to check it out.
Oh, and while you’re there, check out the amazing 25% new arrivals and full-price items sale Chico’s is having this weekend!
Sappy Hallmark Holiday Movies, Anyone? 🙋♀️
I want you to know that in the name of doing a thorough job for you, my friends, I watched the entire Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas 2020 Preview Special! (Bob: “WHAT are you watching?”) 🤣
There are 40 new original Hallmark Christmas movies this year! For the entire printable schedule, click HERE or download the (I am not joking) Hallmark Holiday Movies Checklist app from the app store or Google Play. (I may or may not have already done this. 📲😂)
Want to watch the trailers for this year’s new movies? Click HERE.
Hair I Am!
You may remember, back in August, I gave you a sneak peek at a top-secret project that I did where celebrity hairstylist, Dilek Onur-Taylor, gave me a makeover. You might remember that I became a redhead!!! The project was for InStyle magazine, and my makeover is in the November issue! If you can get your hands on one, flip to the inside of the back cover and open the tri-fold pullout! I’ll be sharing more next week on my Instagram and here on Empty Nest Blessed, so stay tuned.
For now, suffice it to say that this week, I got my first cut and color since August. I stayed with some darker coppery red tones and got a fun, flippy cut! I went to Chad Demchuk, a new-to-me stylist here in Dallas, who was recommended by Dilek when she did my makeover.
He is a true hair color expert! He really listened to me and then gave me his expert opinion on cut and color. Then he used three coppery tones to get the color, tone, and movement we wanted! If you live here in the Dallas area, check out Chad Demchuk’s Instagram and website!
Instagram This Week
Waffle Knit Tie-Waist Henley Top (Comes in a billion colors/patterns!)| Khaki So-Slimming Girlfriend Crop Jeans | Taupe Booties | Camo Leather Belt | Rose Gold Earrings (On sale!)| Similar Rustic Wood Welcome Sign | Similar “Yay You’re Here” Doormat
Attention friends! (And also my mother 😬.) This Dolman sleeve tie-waist shirt is not a crop top! I tied it too tight, and my tummy is showing! 😂 It wasn’t available in the XS size that your flat-chested friend Suzy needed, and I went ahead and got the small instead because I thought it was so cute, and the price was so good! #photofail 🤣
¾-Sleeve Animal Print Shift Dress| Black Faux Leather Moto Jacket | Faux Suede Black Boots | Convertible Wallet/Crossbody/Clutch | Chain Link Necklace Set | Tory Burch Gold Logo Earrings | Sunglasses
Even though I’m not technically a petite (I’m 5’5″.), I ordered this dress in a petite because Chico’s clothes can tend to run large on me sometimes, and I wanted it short enough to look cute with boots or sneakers. The shift dress is part of Chico’s Zenergy Collection, and since it’s a shift dress, it just skims over all your lumps and bumps for a really flattering fit! Find it in petite HERE or regular size HERE.
My black boots are faux suede, and they are such winners! Not only are they inexpensive, but they have a rounded toe instead of the hard-to-wear pointy-toes you see on most boots right now! I love them so much. I bought them in cognac too!
Monogrammed Waffle Knit Robe | Hair Biology Deep Hydration Mask with Biotin| Tula Clean Beauty Glow & Protect SPF 30
My pretty monogrammed waffle knit robes are beautifully made and would make great gifts for bridesmaids, daughters, or daughters-in-law! As you can see, I own two! There are twelve colors available and tons of embroidery thread color choices. Click HERE for more info.
Leopard Washed Dolman Sleeve Sweatshirt | Similar Khaki Jeans | Cognac Boots | Similar Pink Convertible Wallet/Crossbody/Clutch | Rose Gold Earrings (On sale!)
I fell in love with this blush leopard Dolman sweatshirt at first sight! It’s from a new-to-me brand I just discovered called The Styled Collection. I found the brand when I saw this double chain necklace and this coin pendant necklace (see photo below) on another influencer. I knew they’d be perfect for including in my 2020 Fall Accessory roundup!
When I got on The Styled Collection site and saw that they only shipped free with a $99 order, I decided to poke around and see what else they had! That’s when I discovered this blush leopard Dolman sweatshirt! Head over to The Styled Collection and see what catches your fancy!
Waffle Knit Tie-Front Dress (Comes in 9 colors!)| Taupe Booties |Coin Pendant Chain Link Necklace | CZ Stud Earrings | Diamond Earring Jackets
I hope you have an awesome weekend! Our oldest son is coming over to watch the game on Saturday, and then we’ll take him to dinner. We love having our kids all together, but it’s such a treat to have them one at a time! Do you feel that way too?
Blessings,
Semi gloss
Sherry,
Thanks for weighing in!
xoxo Suzy
Can’t wait to see you In Style. Love that magazine. Have a happy weekend.
Michelle Fusco
Michelle,
Hahaha! Thank you! It was such a fun experience!
xoxo Suzy
Semi gloss! We just built a custom home about 5 years ago and did gloss and I love it. It brings out trim and looks very elegant. Look at some pics online. Thanks again for all this great info as usual!
Julie,
Sooo helpful! Thank you! 💗
xoxo Suzy
Hi Suzy,
Satin woodwork still gets my vote. There was just too much gloss in my parents house!😂
Annoyingly I don’t think I can get the lovely long boots in the UK. I have been in the hunt for some like that.
Also I know you like film recommendations so if you have Netflix then ‘Rebecca’ is a new brilliant adaptation of the Daphne DuMaurier novel.
Carole,
So sorry about the boots! If I was headed your way I would bring you a pair! Bob and I actually watched “Rebecca” last night! SO GOOD! Hugs to you, sweet friend!
xoxo Suzy
Definitely semi gloss! I would actually go with the high gloss myself!
Cassie,
Thank you!!! So helpful!
xoxo Suzy