SO in the KNOW | What I’m Learning & Loving in September

I am mortified to let you know that I haven’t done a SO in the KNOw post since May! 🤭 I don’t know why, except that the craziness of the summer and restructuring of how I balance my work and home life got in the way. (I’m doing a much better job of that, BTW!)

During that little SO in the KNOW sabbatical, I’ve continued to gather items and things I wanted to share with you. At this point, I have enough for the next two months, so we are good to go! Let’s dive in, okay?

What I’m Learning in my Empty Nest

If You Thought Gas Prices Were High…

Have you checked the prices of printer ink? Ounce for ounce, it routinely exceeds the price of gas and even Dom Perignon Champagne! To get more miles from each cartridge, experts say:

1. Use the more frugal “DRAFT” mode on your printer when what you’re printing doesn’t have to be pristine.
2. Consider a font change. The ink goes 27% further with Times New Roman than with Arial!

Burglars Be Gone!

Did you know your Amazon Alexa device offers a “burglar deterrent” mode that simulates household noises or even mimics a guard dog 🐕? If you add smart home devices (like Ring doorbell, for instance), your speaker can send a notification to your phone if it hears the sound of glass breaking or a smoke alarm, etc. Click HERE to learn more about Alexa’s Burglar Deterrent mode.

How Flexible Are YOU?

In my recent interview with aging expert Jeff Cory (the author of Super Aging), he talked about the importance of learning to be flexible as one of the keys to aging well. This is something the Lord is really working on in my life right now! Here’s how the conversation with Jeff unfolded.

SUZY: In Super Aging, you talk about the importance of flexibility in aging. As an empty nester, I feel like I’m actually LESS flexible than I was when I had kids at home! Can you tell us more?

JEFF CORY: Living a flexible lifestyle means accepting that life is not always going to be perfect, but we can find richness, blessing, and courage to face all of life — the good, bad, and the ugly. When you remain flexible, you don’t let your fears overcome you; you don’t allow stress to control you; you gain a perspective of life focused on who and what is most meaningful and important in the moment.

Life does have a way of throwing us the occasional “curveball!” Having a flexible mindset says, “I can do this! I may need to make some adjustments to my plans, but I will make the most of my life and this moment.”

To check out my entire interview with Jeff Cory, click HERE.

Surprising Social Media Stats

Here are some interesting stats about Gen Z’s social media use that came across my desk recently…

• Facebook is the number one social media app for Gen Z when it comes to monthly active usage.
• Gen Z users in the U.S. engage(login) on social media 19% more than any other age group.
• The average millennial spends 25% more time on social apps than Gen Z.
• Forget Google! 40% of Gen Zers prefer to use social media over traditional search engines.

What I’m Loving in my Empty Nest

Click any pink text link or the images on the collage above for more information.

1. Faux Leather Wrap Front Midi

This 30″ vegan leather wrap skirt has a secure button closure, and it’s an Amazon best-seller! It fits TTS and also comes in a light tan. It’s machine washable too!

2. Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in “Raspberry”

If you read my post on How to Wear This Fall’s Barbiecore Trend, you know that Pantone’s “Rose Violet” (aka “hot pink”) is trending this fall. If you’re wearing hot pink or even light pink, this non-sticky plumping gloss is the lip color you need! It provides a sheer wash of color that works on any complexion, as it lets your natural lip color shine through. It’s my go-to pink!

3. 8-pc Closet Rack Dividers

This season, anything goes as far as denim is concerned! When it comes to jeans, I’ve got skinny, straight, boot cut, boyfriend, girlfriend, and flare in my closet right now! In the mornings when I’m getting dressed, it can be challenging to put my hands on the style I want quickly. When I searched for closet dividers on Amazon, they typically came in sets of 50 or 100. So when I stumbled upon this set of 8, I snatched them up quickly! They even come with a pen!

4. Clear Handbag Storage Bags

This is the set of 9 dust bags I use to store my out-of-season handbags! I love the fact that they come in all different sizes and they’re clear so I can easily see through them! Check out THIS reel I did on Instagram to see how I use them.

5. Wool Dryer Balls

I’m sure you’ve heard by now that dryer sheets are terrible for your health, the environment, and your dryer! I’ve been using these eco-friendly, award-winning wool dryer balls for the past few years, and I am so happy with them! They use 100% premium wool from New Zealand, and they’re felted in Nepal by women and minorities paid a fair living wage. #lovethat

6. Apple AirTag

No more lost belongings! When you attach an AirTag to something like your keys, wallet, luggage, backpack, etc., they’re linked in the Find My app on your iPhone. To find your lost stuff, just play a sound on the built-in speaker, or say “Hey Siri, find my __________.” For items that may be farther away ( Lost luggage, anyone?), track them via the hundreds of millions of Apple devices in the Find My network. Not only that, but all of your information is encrypted for privacy. To read more about how AirTag works, click HERE.

7. Personalized Acrylic Tissue Box

This practical, classy, and affordable acrylic tissue box works in pretty much any room in your house! I have mine on my bedside table. It makes a great gift too. Monogram it in your choice of color and font. Check out the options HERE.

8. Plant Watering Stakes

Y’all know I travel a lot! These plant watering stakes are the secret to keeping my houseplants alive while I’m gone. It takes about 15 minutes to set them up.
Once you do, they draw water from any container through the thin tube and release it into the soil through the clay cone. To watch a how-to video, click HERE and tap the video image to the far right.

9. Acrylic Zipper Bag Drawer Organizer

Last year in a SO in the KNOW post, I shared bamboo zipper bag organizers that I’d just ordered to store my plastic zippered bags. When they arrived, I placed them in the drawer, filled them up with bags, and used them for about two weeks. I got frustrated because not only could I not read the writing on the bamboo telling me which bag was in which compartment (so it wasn’t true to the photo on Amazon), but I also couldn’t really see how many bags were left in each one. So I sent it back. And I ordered this acrylic one instead. And I LOVE IT. #sorryaboutthat

10. Slip Skirt

Slip skirts are trending! (So are slip dresses.) They’re versatile because you can easily dress them up or down. Wear with sneakers, boots, booties, or pumps, and pair them with anything from a tee on top to a cashmere crew neck or a twin set. Mine is from J.Crew, and set me back almost $90, but this affordable alternative from Amazon is under $45. It comes in 21 colors/patterns. Not sure about the trend? Try it in black!

11. Nike Air Force 1 Dupe

Every few years, it seems like the hot new sneakers shifts. Golden Goose sneakers (which you buy dirty even though they’re brand new 🤷‍♀️) is fading in popularity, and according to the Millenials I know, the hot new sneakers is the Nike Air Force 1 platform sneaker. At $110, they’re too steep for many 20-somethings, so dupes have popped up everywhere. The most popular? THIS under $15 dupe from Walmart! It even comes in wide widths.

12. Dough Bowl

This rustic dough bowl makes fall decor easy! In the fall, I fill it with faux gourds, pumpkins and eucalyptus. (But you could easily use real.) When the fall holidays are over, I fill it with pine cones and red glass balls for the Christmas season. #easypeasy

13. The Stories Jesus Told by Dr. Kay Gabrysch

I was in the 12-week test class for this Bible Study two years ago, and lemme tell you, it is RICH! Teacher and author Dr. Kay Gabrysch shows you how to use Scripture to interpret Scripture in this study of the Parables of Jesus. Whether you’re doing this study with a group or on your own, leave time to have the deep conversations with the Lord that will come from learning more about the privileges and responsibilities that come with a life of faith.

Thanks for journeying with me through this month’s SO in the KNOW! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! Got something you’ve learned or loved recently that we need to share with our empty nester community? Email me at [email protected] and fill me in, okay?

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