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

Spring is springing up, and your friend Suzy is HERE for it! Never a lover of cold weather, I pretty much live for March through October! I’m grateful to live in Dallas, where we have an extended warm season!

One of my goals with ENB is to inspire you to keep learning and growing as you age! As I shared in THIS Instagram post, you’re never too old to learn! (Are you following me? I hope so!) Biologically speaking, learning may take a little longer as we age, but learning new things is much more about willingness than ability! That’s why, every month, I let you in on what I’m learning & loving in my empty nest. Let’s gooooo!

What I’m Learning

From an amazing app to a fun Netflix discovery, it’s all here!

Google Lens

Do you know about Google Lens? It’s hands down the coolest app I know! Google Lens (developed by Google) uses visual analysis to surface relevant information about objects it identifies. This is wild stuff, y’all! Here’s how to use it:

1. Open the normal Google app on your iPhone, or if you haven’t downloaded it yet from the app store, do that HERE.
2. Tap the Google Lens icon, which looks like a camera, in the search bar.
3. Tap “Search with Camera.”
4. Point the camera that pops up at the item you want to look for and tap the shutter button to take a photo.
5. Depending on what you’ve captured in your photo, Google will pull up a list of results related to your search.

This is super handy for everything from identifying plants to finding a chair similar to the one your friend has. Stop a second and try it! Find anything around you, from your coffee cup to your nail polish shade! Ah-mazing.

How to Find & Cancel Unwanted Subscriptions

Are you sick of paying for online subscriptions you don’t use? Not sure how to cancel? I’ve got you! Those tricky online subscription services can make it difficult to find the cancel function on their websites! But we’re going to outsmart them.😎 Here’s how to find and cancel those you don’t use:

1. ID Your Subscriptions – Check your credit card statements from the last year for recurring payments. An easy way to do this is to use a subscription tracking tool like Rocket Money. (The caveat is that you will have to grant a tool like this limited access to your accounts, so proceed with caution if you’re concerned about that.)
2. Opt Out of Apps – Want to see the list of apps you’re currently paying for through Apple Pay? Here’s how: Navigate to the App Store app on your iPhone>Account>Subscriptions> From there, click “cancel” on those you no longer want. (Similar steps for the Google Play store.)
3. To cancel other subscriptions, Google for step-by-step instructions. For example, “How to cancel a Netflix subscription.”

What We’re Watching

The other night Bob and I stumbled onto a wonderful documentary on Netflix! It’s called The Greatest Night in Pop, and it was released to commemorate the making of We Are the World! Remember that song? It was inspired by the 1984 charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas?, which was recorded by some of the most popular British and Irish musicians to raise money to end famine in Ethiopia.

We Are the World, conceived by Harry Belafonte and written by Lionel Ritchie and Michael Jackson, was arranged and produced by Quincy Jones to raise money for African famine relief. It received a Grammy for song of the year in 1984, and generated $50 million in donations! This documentary, released on the 35th anniversary of the song’s release, features Lionel Ritchie sharing candidly about collaborating with Michael Jackson to write the song! (WILD, trust me!🫨). It also includes the most amazing behind-the-scenes footage of the planning and recording of the song.

You can watch it on Netflix HERE. I hope you love it as much as we did!

What I’m Loving

1. Spring Cardi

I saw this cute spring cardigan on a friend the other day and nearly flipped when she told me it was from Amazon! The finish and the scallop edges make it look high-end. The reviews are all over the place regarding quality, sizing, and fit, but there is agreement that it’s a boxy, oversized fit, and the bottom hits at your natural waist. It’s in my cart! (This is when we love that Amazon Prime offers easy, free returns just in case!)

2. Chinoiserie Bunnies

We’re working on an Easter decor post for next week, and when I came across these darling Chinoiserie Bunnies at Ballard Designs, I immediately added them to my cart!🐇 Everything at Ballard Designs is 25% off + free shipping right now, and that means the sitting bunny is just $29.75 and the standing bunny is $38.25. I think that’s an amazing deal!

3. Best-Selling Amazon Swimsuit

Are you on the hunt for a flattering swimsuit? (Aren’t we all? At ALL times?🤣) We’re working on an upcoming post about how to find the best swimsuit for your specific body type, so look for that in the next two weeks or so!

In the meantime, I recommend this tummy-control one-piece swimsuit no matter what size or shape you are! It’s an ENB best-seller every year, and it’s an Amazon best-seller every year too! (Yep! It’s THAT good!🙌) It has a universally flattering halter neckline, strategic ruching, a modest backside, and a retro feel. Not only that, but it comes in dozens of colors and patterns. I own this and can attest to how flattering it is! Check it out HERE.

4. Ultrasonic Cleaner

You probably know that you can use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean jewelry; but did you know that you can also use it to clean things like eyeglasses, dentures, oral appliances, and more? And did you know that you can clean everything with just tap water?

That’s because ultrasonic cleaners use high-frequency sound waves to create millions of tiny bubbles. These bubbles implode upon contact with the surfaces of the items being cleaned, dislodging dirt and debris. The agitation caused by the ultrasonic waves reaches into small crevices. I use mine for both my jewelry and my oral appliance. (Clencher right here!🙋‍♀️😬) THIS is Amazon’s recommended brand, with over 42K 5-star reviews.

5. My Favorite Makeup Palette

Headed out of town or need a makeup palette you can toss in your purse for a quick touchup? Laura Geller’s Best of the Best Baked Face Palette (40% off right now with code GT40) is what you need! Made in Italy, the palette includes a universally flattering blush. (It’s highly pigmented, so don’t overapply like Beth said she did the first time she used it!😳😂 Her husband was all like, “What in the world…?!”) It also includes bronzer, two highlighters, and three eyeshadows! All you need to pack is your favorite foundation, mascara, and a great lipstick! It’s the palette I used when I took a professional makeup lesson!

6. My Spring Handbag

In the course of writing our 2024 Spring Accessory Trends post, I came upon THIS straw tote at Target. I was all set to add it to my cart when I spotted THIS nearly identical one on Amazon for a lot less! Guess which one I ordered? 😄

7. Dopamine Detox Book

I’ve been reading this short book (just 58 pages), and I’m fascinated! It’s based on the premise that, in our world, where distractions are pervasive, many of us feel unable to focus and find ourselves struggling with procrastination. Big picture, it’s causing us to miss achieving major goals that we’ve set for ourselves. We’re constantly stimulated, yet we feel restless. We’ve lost our ability to focus!

The book explains what dopamine is and how we got to this point, and shares practical ways to detox, eliminate distractions, and stop procrastinating. If you’re struggling, this book is worth your time. It’s helped me be more aware of my focus and set appropriate boundaries when it comes to interruptions or even potential interruptions. Highly recommend!

8. Faux Hydrangeas

My assistant, Beth, found these gorgeous faux hydrangeas and shared them with me! Y’all, they look so real, and I think they’re a great value. I ordered the set of two blue and two white as a part of my spring decor. Just to clarify, they don’t come with the chinoiserie vase shown in the photo, but it is a great staying idea! Click HERE for a similar vase!

9. Bed Sheet Organizer Bands

This is another Beth find. (Oh, she’s good!) If you’ve ever torn your linen closet upside down trying to find the right sheets for the right bed, these elastic bed sheet organizer bands are what you need! These are in my cart!

10. CZ Letter Huggies

These 18K gold-filled initial huggie hoops are under $14!😲 Are they a little brassy? Yep. Can you tell that when you’re wearing them? Nope. Do I get tons of compliments every time I wear them? Yep! Such a perfect everyday earring!

11. Long Tunic Tee

I don’t know about you, but I prefer to have my rear covered when I wear leggings😳. After all, leggings cling to every lump and bump, and, although they’re comfy, sometimes they’re not the most flattering! When I stumbled on these long tees on Amazon, I knew I’d hit the jackpot! Longer in the back than front, and with a flattering side slit, these are currently 40% off, and there’s a 15% off coupon. Pick your favorite color or colors (there are 20 to choose from), and go for it!

12. Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash

As we age, so many of us struggle with dry skin. I do! Do you? To combat that, I used to use THIS bougie almond cleansing oil in the shower. But I got sick of the price and started looking for an alternative! Enter Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash! It’s helped so much! You can pick it up at Walmart, Target, or your local grocery store. Even Bob likes it!

13. Best Carry On Luggage

Consumer Reports magazine recently published ratings for the best carry-on luggage. They looked for features like the ease of opening and closing the bag as well as how easy it was to use the telescopic handle. Then they tested for impact resistance, quality of construction, and more. Here are the winners, along with their scores:

1. Samsonite Outline Pro Carry-On Spinner (80/100) – $170
2. Amazon Basics 20-Inch Hardside Spinner (78/100) – $80
3. Away The Carry On (67/100) – $275

14. Spring Peplum Sweater

I told you in the Spring Style Trends post that we’re seeing a lot of ladylike peplums for spring & summer. I love a good peplum because it gives you a waistline! This sweater is pretty, and thanks to the cable-knit detailing, it looks so high-end! It’s in my cart, but I’ll admit, I haven’t seen it in person yet. I’ll wear it with a pair of Girlfriend jeans and a cute pair of Mary Janes.

February has been a great month, and I loved sharing my discoveries with you today! Let me know in the comments what your favorite was, okay?