SO in the KNOW | What I Learned & Loved in March

Is spring teasing you? It’s teasing us in Dallas! It was sunny and 93 on Tuesday, and cloudy and 62 the very next day! At this point, the teasing is getting a little annoying! 😂 This time of year is always like that, yet from year to year, I seem to forget and get just as frustrated with it the very next year! 🤣 Does that happen to you too?

March was a fun month, with lots of travel and family time! My daughter generously invited me to be a part of her graduate school decision-making process, so we went to visit a couple of schools together. (Such an honor for me!) Also, our son, wife, and grandbaby moved to a new house, and we pitched in and helped, which was really fun! It’s such a privilege when your adult kids invite you into the special moments in their lives, right?

As precious as those moments are with our adult kids, our lives don’t revolve around them now! As empty nesters, we want to keep learning and growing as our own people. We need to stay curious, flee the fear that can sometimes come with learning new things, and press forward with what we feel called to do in a bold way! I strive to do that every day! How about you?

What I’m Learning

Every month, I share what I’ve been learning and loving in my empty nest with you! I learned so much this month! Let’s dive in, okay?

Amazon Tip

Do you use Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program? It’s ideal for items you use on a regular basis, because Amazon gives you a discount on the products, and they arrive at your doorstep on your designated delivery day at whatever interval you specify.

I use Subscribe & Save for several items we use regularly. Last month, I happened to be reviewing my order, and I stumbled upon two items in my regular order that had dropped in price. 😲 Guess what, though? Amazon hadn’t adjusted the price I was paying! 😳😬

I recommend that you do an Amazon search for the items in your Subscribe & Save order, and compare the price to the price you’re paying. You just might save a few bucks 💲 if any of your products are available at a lower price than they were when you first subscribed. 🙌

Sick of All the Ads in your Feed?

Have you noticed all of the targeted ads you’re seeing on Instagram these days? If you’re over 50, you’re probably seeing lots of ads for anti-aging products, menopause/hormone support, weight loss, and even CBD! I am!😖.

While you can’t make ads go away completely, there are things you can do to reduce the number of ads and get rid of those that are especially irritating.

1. Adjust Your Preferences – You can choose topics you’d like to see less of, such as politics, social issues, or beauty and personal care. Go to your settings, tap on ads, then tap on ad topics. You can tap on any topic and select “See less.”
2. Hide Ads – Tap in the upper-right corner of an ad, and a screen will pop up, giving you the option to hide the ad. If you tap on that, Instagram won’t show you that ad again and, for a while, will display fewer ads from that company.
3. Curb Off-Platform Tracking – You can tell Instagram not to use off-platform activity for ads. From settings, tap on ads, then tap “Activity Information from ad partners.”

Thoughtful, Affordable Gift Idea

Recently, I needed to send flowers 💐 to someone out of town after a death in their extended family. Teleflora to the rescue! It couldn’t have been easier with Teleflora’s online form, and the flowers were delivered exactly when I specified, along with my personal message. I even received a confirmation email when the order was delivered! When my friends sent me a photo of the arrangement I’d sent, it looked exactly like the photo on the website! 🙌

Now through May 2, use the coupon code APRIL20 to take 20% off your order at Teleflora. This is a perfect idea for bereavement, birthdays, Mother’s Day, or get-well-soon wishes. I’ll definitely be ordering again soon.

Easy Spirit Exclusive Coupon Code

After sharing THESE cute dress sandals in my post on the 2023 Spring & Summer Shoe Style Trends, they immediately became ENB best-sellers. I love Easy Spirit and I think they’re such a great shoe brand for women over 50! Their shoes are well-made, well-priced, and they have styles to fit every occasion in the life of an empty nester. From a neighborhood walk with your gal pals to that big swanky wedding you just got invited to (and everything in between), it’s all at Easy Spirit! Plus, all of their styles come in regular and wide widths. 🙌

I reached out to Easy Spirit to see if they would share a coupon code with you all, and they generously agreed! You’re not going to believe this, but from now through the end of the year, you can save 20% on your entire Easy Spirit order with the exclusive code SUZY20.

I rounded up my favorite spring & summer Easy Spirit styles in the collage above. It’s clickable, so if you see a shoe you like, just click it, and you’ll go right to it on the Easy Spirit website!

Best Special Occasion Dress for Your Body Type

About 18 months ago, I published a post about the Best Special Occasion Dress for Your Body Type. Much to my surprise, it went viral on Pinterest 😁, and it’s still one of my most viewed posts every week! Unfortunately, as you can probably imagine, most of the dresses I featured are no longer available! 😬

So two weeks ago, I overhauled the post, updating the info, and sharing new dresses that are currently in stock. If you’re looking for a dress for an upcoming wedding, shower, anniversary, or even a Mother of the Bride or Groom dress, you need to read this post! It will help you know which style will look the best on your particular body type, and give you lots of examples of the right style for you. Click HERE to head right to it!

BTW, the collage above is clickable if you see something you like, but you should know it represents only a very small fraction of the number of dresses in the post!

What I’m Loving

1. Sweet Summer Dress

ON LEFT: Cotton Poplin Smocked Dress (Pink HERE.
ON RIGHT: Light Weight Cotton Modal Convertible Tie Waist Dress (On sale.)

With on-trend details like tiered skirts, wide hem ruffles, smocking, and cool modal and poplin fabrics, Lands’ End is my go-to spot for summer dresses this year! (As well as modest, high-quality swimsuits!) THIS breezy poplin long, tiered skirt dress is one of the ones I bought recently! I love the details like smocking and delicate trim! Oh, and did I mention that it has pockets? 🙌 (It also comes in pink poplin.⬇)

2. Perfect Summer Clutch

If you’re looking for THE clutch of the summer, look no further! This (faux) straw clutch looks like it’s from Nordstrom (who does happen to have some cute, but pricey summer clutches right now), but THIS one is under $30 on Amazon! At just 7″ x 1.75″ x 4.5″, it’s the ideal size for your phone, lipstick, and maybe a tissue or two. (I always cry at weddings! 😢😂) To check out some of my other favorite Amazon handbags, click HERE.

3. Travel Mirror

Empty nesters certainly love to travel! We also love good lighting when we put on our makeup! This LED travel mirror is super-slim for easy packing and it’s micro-USB rechargeable. You use the lid to angle the mirror, and you can adjust the brightness.

4. Summer Coir Doormat

I love a classy coir doormat. I don’t love it when a previously classy coir doormat gets dirty, faded, or tired! Brightly colored coir doormats can sometimes go for as much as $90 or more. 😲 Not this one! At under $23, THIS happy summer doormat is just what you need to cheer up your front door, side door, or back porch! It’s the one my side door is sporting this year!

5. Best Matte Lipstick

In my Top 10 Best Beauty Tips for Women Over 50 post, I told you about a matte lipstick I’d been wearing lately that was recommended by a friend. Let’s face it, finding a matte lipstick that doesn’t make your lips feel dry can be challenging, but I’ve found a good one: Dose of Colors – Liquid Matte Lipstick from Amazon. I recommended the shade called “Lazy Daisy.” (And since you’re ordering from Amazon, if you try it and don’t like it, it’s returnable.)

6. Best-Selling Sheet Mask

Everyone is talking about this organic, biodegradable sheet mask (with compostable packaging)! It’s made with 99% natural ingredients, and made with all-natural fibers! It comes in scents like Lavender, Rose, and Green Tea, and at under $5, it would make a great Mother’s Day gift!

7. Moisturizing Body Wash

I use L’Occitane’s Almond Shower Oil as my body cleanser every morning in the shower. It’s rich in omega 6 and 9 to nourish and soften the skin. The key ingredients are Almond Oil and Grape Seed Oil, which soften and soothe sensitive and dry skin. (Oh, and did I mention? It smells delish!) I’ve noticed a huge difference in the skin on my body since I started using it about three years ago.

Don’t let the whole “oil” thing scare you! When it comes in contact with water, it transforms into a sheer, milky lotion that gently cleanses. Ah-mazing! I highly recommend it! You can buy it at Ulta HERE, but I would recommend waiting and buying it at Sephora HERE. (Put it in your cart now!) The reason? Sephora’s Big Beauty Insider Savings Event starts on Friday, April 14!

Twice a year, Sephora has a giant sale for their Insider Members (free to join). Top Tier Rouge members get 20% off sitewide starting 4/14, VIB members get 15% off sitewide starting 4/18, and Insiders (that’s the tier you’re automatically in when you join the Beauty Insider Rewards Program) get 10% off sitewide starting 4/18. Use promo code SAVENOW for all tiers. (Plus, Beauty Insiders get 30% off all Sephora Collection during the sale period.) The sale ends 4/24.

8. Travel Toiletries Made Easy

Squeezing your favorite shampoo and conditioner into a travel bottle can be messy, and trying to pack those bottles into your bag can be bulky and complicated! Have you ever heard of TSA-approved-toiletry pouches for travel? These refillable travel pouches are ultralight, space-saving pouches designed for shampoo, body washes, lotions, and more. Each travel pouch has a flip-top lid for a tight seal and is ideal for traveling with fluids when space and weight matter! This 15-pouch pack (various sizes) also comes with two funnels for easy filling, labels, one spray bottle, one duckbill lotion bottle, and two cream boxes. (Which I tend to use for pills! 💊)

9. Flowers That Will Never Wilt

Looking for a good idea for Mother’s Day or another special occasion? How about a pop-up flower bouquet that unfolds right in your hands? Consider Freshcut Paper’s Pop-Up Cards! Each card comes ready to send — with a coordinating blank greeting card and envelope. Scroll down on THIS page and check out the video to see exactly how they work and to see the various designs that are available.

10. Baby Bible

My sweet friend Carol gave THIS precious book to me as a Grandmother Gift when my granddaughter was born. It combines the most well-known stories about Jesus with actions and hand motions, so that little ones combine auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning as they begin to learn about the Son of God. Each story ends with a prayer. It would make a great baby gift! Check out the entire series HERE and more faith-based children’s books by author Robin Currie HERE.

11. Sani Sticks

Recently, Bob and I noticed a weird odor coming from one of our sink drains! It wasn’t draining slowly, so we tried running hot water and using a little vinegar, to no avail. Then I remembered Sani Sticks! I’d used them several years ago (and even shared them in a long ago SO in the KNOW!), and they’d languished in a drawer ever since! They came out of the drawer, went into the drain, and the odor was gone! I’m so glad I had these on hand!

Sani Sticks are thin, cylindrical (6.3″ long) drain deodorizers/cleaners. They’re gentle, non-toxic stick cleaners that eliminate odors from drains and help prevent clogs in sinks and showers. They’re made from a concentrated blend of natural enzymes that work together to eliminate food, grease, and organic materials for 30 days or more. They’re safe for all types of plumbing, including septic systems. Trust me, YOU NEED THESE!

12. Perfect Summer Tee

I love these good-quality tees from Amazon and own them in multiple colors! Here’s why I love them:

• On-trend Puff Sleeves ✔
• Flattering V-neck ✔
• Elbow-length Sleeves ✔
• Loose Fit✔
• Versatile Tunic Length ✔
• Cool, No Wrinkle, 60% Polyester, 35% Rayon, 5% Spandex Fabric Blend ✔
• 16 Color & Pattern Options ✔
• Under $20 ✔

To see some of my other Amazon Spring & Summer style favorites, click HERE.

I hope you feel SO in the KNOW! Thanks so much for sharing the empty nester journey with me and learning and growing alongside me. Let me know what you learned and loved in March and what you thought of today’s post in the comments, okay?

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