SO in the KNOW January | What I’m Learning & Loving in my Empty Nest

Winter and cold temps are fully upon us at this time of year, and I hear even you Florida gals are bundled up! Your cold-weather-hating friend, Suzy, is freezing here in Dallas, and So in the Know January 2024 reflects that! We’re talking dry skin, dry lips, and flannel all day, baby!

If you’re new around here, know that every month, I share what I’m learning & loving in my empty nest with ENB followers. I do it because, no matter what your age, if you’re an empty nester, you need to keep learning & growing! We all know that person who has kind of given up, and I’m here to tell you, that’s not going to happen to you on my watch, friends!

Thankfully, even though this monthly post is usually quite long, it has proven to be an ENB follower favorite, and I’m so happy about that. I guarantee you’ll learn something you didn’t know before you dropped by! Thanks for being here, and let’s get you SO in the KNOW, shall we? 😁

What I’m Learning in my Empty Nest

Medication Reminders

Did you know that Apple has added a Medication Reminder Tool right into the Health app on your phone (iPhone 8 and newer models)? That right! Here’s how to get it and make it work for you:

• Be sure your phone is updated with the latest software update. (Even if you think you have it set to auto-update!) Here’s how to check: Settings>General>Software Update.
• Find the Health app on your phone. It looks like a white square with a heart in it.
• In the Health app, go to: Browse>Medications.
• Once in the Medications app, tap Add Medication. Type the name of your med in the search bar or scan your pill bottle using your phone’s camera. You can indicate the form of the medicine (tablet or capsule) and the dosage.
• Next, input the days and times you need to take it.
• Repeat for every medication or supplement as needed.

Users in the USA will get educational information on the medications they take, including pronunciation (!), what they’re for, side effects, and possible interactions.

How to Make a Habit Stick

Did you commit to establishing any new habits in January? (See my fitness goals HERE.) How’s it going so far? If you’re struggling, I have encouragement for you! A new study is giving fresh insight that can help you cement habits. Here’s what it found:

• Simple health habits, like handwashing, for instance, take a couple of weeks to develop.
• Complicated habits, like going to the gym, take four to seven months.
• If you’re trying to establish a new healthy habit, you’ll have better luck making it stick if you can simplify the process and repeat it often. For example, if you’re trying to establish the habit of going to the gym, reduce the amount of time and effort required by doing something like buying fitness equipment to have in your home or incorporating going to the gym into your work commute. Another idea: catch up with a friend over a morning walk. I have two friends who started meeting a few mornings a week when their nests emptied to walk and pray for their kids. They’ve been doing it for 10 years now! They’re in great shape, and they’ve seen God work in amazing ways!
• Set realistic expectations about how long it will take to establish the habit.
• Find ways to make it fun and reward yourself along the way.
• You can do it! Persistence will pay off, my friend!

The Child-Free Trend

Apparently, more American couples are going child-free, opting for the double-income-no-kids (DINK) lifestyle and evangelizing it all over TikTok.

US birthrates took a steep dip during the Great Recession and have fallen since. In a Pew survey from October 2021, 44% of nonparents ages 18–49 said they were unlikely ever to have kids, compared with 37% in 2018. The 17% cited money reasons as the primary driving factor in their decision to remain childless.

Why else might couples forgo the wonders of rearing children? Experts blame economic uncertainty, lack of paid maternity leave, the punishing costs of childcare, and climate anxiety. It could also be the cultural phenomenon called “millennial mom dread.” Vox recently described this as a mix of conflicting social pressures and overwhelming expectations that make modern motherhood seem less attractive or achievable. Yikes!

Peach Fuzz—Pantone’s Color of the Year 2024

Polka Dot Heart Color of the Year “Peach Fuzz” Sweatshirt

Have you heard? Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2024 is a light, delicate shade that sits between pink and orange, called Peach Fuzz. According to the folks at the Pantone Color Institute, the hue “captures our desire to nurture ourselves and others. It’s a velvety gentle peach tone whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul.”

Um, nobody asked me, but that seems like a lot of pressure to put on a color; just sayin’! 😂

For 25 years, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in industries like fashion, home furnishings, product packaging, and graphic design. This year, expect to see Peach Fuzz everywhere, from jewelry and nail polish to throw pillows, handbags, rugs, sweaters, and more.

What I’m Loving in my Empty Nest

1. Cropped Flannel Shacket

If the trendy ladylike cropped jacket and the trendy flannel shacket had a baby 👶, this flattering cropped flannel shacket would be it! It’s a more tailored look than the longer flannel shackets but just as cozy. Plus, the waist-skimming cropped length is such a fresh look. (Eleven plaid choices; 29% off; additional 5% off coupon!) Check them all out HERE.

2. Welcome Matte

According to the Wall Street Journal:

Out: The dewy, glistening, glassy (shiny!) skin finish we’ve all been pursuing for the past few years.
In: A soft modern, velvety take on the matte foundation that was so popular in the 1990s. (Note from Suzy: I have literally NO idea what type of foundation was popular in the 90s as I was busy birthing babies and nursing them. My memory from the 90s is that it was the last time I actually had a bust. 😂)

TikTok has already named this matte finish…”cloud skin,” and is citing Taylor Swift’s makeup look at the 2024 Golden Globes as the look to emulate.

I’ve been using IT Cosmetics (US)CC+ Cream Oil-Free Matte Full-Coverage Foundation with SPF 40, and I love it! What I’ve learned in my pursuit of “cloud skin”: natural is the operative word, so use it sparingly. Want details on this matte foundation? Here’s where you can find it:

• IT Cosmetics
• Amazon
• Sephora
• Kohl’s

3. Shoe Stackers

These viral shoe stackers were a game-changer for my closet! I have a lot of shoes, and these ingenious organizers doubled my storage space! They work with loafers, sandals, flats, and heels! Brilliant!!!!

4. New Favorite Lipstick

I don’t have to tell you how hard it is to find a hydrating lipstick that won’t migrate or bleed! Well, meet my new fave! Laura Geller’s Jelly Balm hydrating lipstick is lightweight, not super shiny (but not matte either), and is made with squalane and vitamin E to help smooth and plump your lips. It doesn’t have the yucky stuff like parabens, sulfates, or phthalates, and I promise YOU WILL LOVE IT. My shade recommendation is the universally flattering neutral pink called “In the Buff.”

I was fortunate to have lunch last week with Laura Geller herself and hear about her passion for creating makeup specifically for women over 40 (for 26 years and counting). She’s still fully in control of product development and absolutely dogmatic in her pursuit of excellence!

Check out my favorite products below in this clickable collage. Want to give it a try? Right now, Laura Geller Beauty is having a 55% off end-of-season sale (+ take another 10% off with code EV10).

5. Peach Fuzz Sneakers

I know I mentioned Pantone’s Peach Fuzz above, but I thought I’d share the shoes I’m eyeing! Y’all know I love sneakers, and these canvas sneakers are super cute and so on-trend!

6. Flaky, Dry Lip Solution

Anybody else struggling with dry lips right now? (Thanks, winter! ❄️🥶) Enter Sugar Lip Polish Exfoliator! My beauty blogger pal told me to use it at night before bed and gently buff my lips, then rinse with a washcloth. I’ve followed that with City Beauty’s overnight plumping oil, and it’s helped SO much! (BTW, if you’re interested in the plumping lip oil, you can take 15% off your entire purchase at City Beauty with the exclusive code ENB.)

7. Speaking of Dry Skin...

In the winter, moisturizing right after I get out of the shower is a must to keep my skin healthy and itch-free! My dermatologist turned me on to AmLactin, and I love it! (Only later did I find out that it’s the #1 dermatologist-recommended moisturizer in the USA!) It uses lactic acid to gently exfoliate as well while hydrating at the same time. My skin has never felt softer, and it’s even diminished some of the nasty age/sun spots on my legs! You can snag it at Walmart, but I get mine at Amazon.

8. Floral Cuticle Oil

Clearly, this month, I’m obsessed with my dry, wintery skin! Do y’all struggle with ragged cuticles or even little cuts on the corners of your nails? I get manicures every two weeks, and for years, I have used nothing on my cuticles—much to the distress of my manicurist! Finally, a friend gave me this pretty cuticle oil, and I started using it right before bed. Y’all, it’s been amazing to see how much it’s helped! In fact, I think it’s made my nails healthier, too, because they’re growing so fast, and they’re stronger than they used to be. I’m a convert! This Blossom cuticle oil is infused with real flowers and essential oils.

9. Comfy Cargos

Hurry! These are selling fast! (Probably because they’re 40% off right now!) These soft cargo sweatpants from GAP are a stylish loungewear staple (thanks to the on-point cargo styling) that you won’t be embarrassed to wear out on errands!

10. Slide-Out Organizer

Clearly, this month I’m also obsessed with home organization! I’m excited to share this storage solution with you! This under-sink slide-out organizer is designed to help you optimize your cabinet space by providing a simple and effective way to organize and maximize your storage space. Whether you’re looking to organize your kitchen, bathroom, or any other area of your home, it will help you keep your belongings easily accessible. This is a set of two, and I kindly 😂 let Bob have one for his bathroom under-sink cabinet instead of commandeering it for the kitchen!

11. Très Sheec

Have you heard of Sheec Socks? Now THIS is a discovery! Sheec Socks makes no-show socks that work for every shoe style you can imagine! They’re supportive and soft, and they stay on (there’s a money-back guarantee!). They’ve been featured everywhere, from Good Morning America and The View to Forbes and Women’s Health (plus more). You can check out the Instagram video I did about them above and check out Sheec Socks HERE.

I loved Sheec Socks so much when I tried them I reached out to the brand and asked them for a discount code that I could pass along to you! They generously offered a 20% discount exclusively for ENB followers through the end of February with the code ENB2024. 🙌😊🧦

12. Spongelle Buffer

This was one of Beth’s cool discoveries when we were looking for items for the ENB Valentine’s Gift Guide! It’s a fun donut-shaped cleansing buffer that you use in the shower to gently exfoliate and nourish skin with ingredients like sugarcane extract and shea butter. It smells like strawberries and cream and lasts for 14+ washes! I love it as a gift idea or a lovely way to treat yourself!

13. Color Wow! Root Cover-Up

Want to disguise those pesky roots in between colorings? Color Wow Root Cover-Up is a brush-on powder that looks like an eye shadow and washes out with shampoo. It even works great on dark roots. I love a practical problem solver like this, don’t you?

14. Empty Nest Awakening

If you’re struggling with what’s next in the empty nest, this engagingly written, hopeful, faith-based book can help! In her book Empty Nest Awakening, author Ruthie Gray deals head-on with the challenges of caring for aging parents, leaving a legacy for grandchildren, and finding a sense of purpose during the empty nest season of life!

Have you got any fab discoveries you’ve made in your empty nest recently? Share them with our empty nester community below, or email me at [email protected].

Now you’re SO in the KNOW! Go forth and impress your friends and family! 😂🥰