SO in the KNOW October 2024

October was such a busy month! When you do what I do, you have to keep up with the retail timeline, so I get bombarded by Christmas every October, whether I’m ready or not! 🎁🎄😆

I spent hours and hours curating the Empty Nest Blessed Holiday Gift Guide (which officially came out on Monday)! 🎉 With nearly 1K gift ideas in 10 categories, I’m sure you can understand why it took lots of my attention! It’s my gift to you, and I hope it blesses you and makes your Christmas shopping easier!

In October, also worked with Marleylilly, one of my very favorite brands, and shared some great ideas for personalized holiday gifts for the whole family! It was so much fun to introduce you to my family in that post! Still, there was so much to learn and love in October, and I’m sharing lots of that with you in today’s post!

I’m looking forward to November! Raise your hand if you’re hosting Thanksgiving! 🙋‍♀️ I’m hosting ten adults and one 22-month-old, so the Thanksgiving Décor, Tablescapes, Hostess Gifts & Family Activities post we shared with you in late October has been a huge source of inspiration! Meanwhile, somebody decided it was a good idea to put Halloween, the time change, and the election all in one week, sooooo 🫠🙃 THANKS, whoever you are! 🤣

xoxo

What I’m Learning

What I’m Streaming

Last month, I shared how much I’d enjoyed watching the Casting Crowns: Home by Sunday documentary on Amazon Prime. This month, I loved the movie Unsung Hero! It’s the true story of an immigrant and her family, from Down Under to center stage. (Ever heard of Rebecca St. James? How about the band For King and Country? THIS is their story!) This is a special one, y’all!

Trusted House Sitters

Full disclosure! I haven’t used Trusted House Sitters, but my friend Cathy has, and she cannot stop raving about them!  It’s a platform that matches house and pet sitters (who love to travel) to homeowners and pet owners who are not home! The house/pet sitter gets a house to stay in, and while they are there—they look after the house/pets! What an amazing concept! Cathy loves it so much she told me her young adult daughter is applying so she doesn’t have to pay for a hotel on her travels! You can check it out HERE.

When Should You Leave For the Airport?

Ah…the age-old argument, question! (Or maybe that’s just at my house! 🤣) If you frequently fight disagree on when to leave for the airport like we do, no worries. I’ve got answers! The Wall Street Journal consulted with travel experts, and they made recommendations. (Please note: these are rough estimates! Use variables like weather, traffic to and from the airport, and time of day to adjust for yourself.)

THE BASELINE: 90 MINUTES. According to the TSA, about 99% of travelers wait 30 minutes or less in the standard screening lanes at security checkpoints. Boarding generally begins 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Beyond that, here’s what you need to know:

• Traveling with only carry-on luggage? The 90-minute baseline should be adequate.
• Checking bags? Add 30-45 minutes.
• Checking bags but with Priority or Elite Status? Subtract 20 minutes.
• Traveling with a pet? Add 30-45 minutes.
• Got your mobile boarding pass? Subtract 20 minutes.
• Traveling at peak time? Add 30 minutes.
• Flying out of a major airport? Add 20 minutes.
• Self-parking? Add 20 minutes.
• Valet parking? Subtract 20 minutes.
• Returning a rental car? Add 20 minutes.
• Flying internationally? Add 30 minutes.
• Have TSA Pre-check? Subtract 20 minutes.
• Traveling with young kids? Add 60 minutes.
• Need a wheelchair? Add 90 minutes. (And be sure to reserve in advance!)

Natural Cleaning Options

Want to skip the industrial products? In some cases, these household items will do the trick:

TO CLEAN	USE	INSTRUCTIONS
Coffee Maker	Denture Tablets	Fill tank with warm water, add 2 tablets. Run regular cycle. Then a rinse cycle.
Toilet	Vinegar	Pour 2 cups in and let sit overnight. Use toilet brush in them morning.
Soap Scum	Grapefruit & Salt	Pour a layer of salt over a grapefruit half. Rub on affected area.
Red Wine Stains	White Wine	ASAP blot white wine onto the fabric. Follow up with clean wet cloth. Blot, don’t rub!
Microwave	Damp Sponge	Place several damp sponges in microwave. Run on high for 1 minute. Use warmed sponges to wipe.
Garbage Disposal	Ice Cubes	Use a handful of ice cubes and run disposal. Follow with hot water.
Crayon on Walls	Mayonnaise	Apply a small amount to crayon. Let sit for a few minutes. Wipe away with damp microfiber cloth.
Pasta Sauce Stains.	Lemon	Soak a cloth in cold water and blot. Rub slice of lemon onto stain. Once stain is mostly gone, pour water to cover the area and blot again with clean cloth.

What I’m Loving

1. Amazon Christmas Sweatshirt

This adorable Amazon Christmas Sweatshirt comes in 5 colors, and it’s under $25! With fuzzy patch pocket lettering, it looks way more expensive than it is. I just ordered the black one (slightly more expensive but under $27)! See all of the colors HERE. Beth and I are working on a post that you’ll see in the next few weeks featuring some of our favorite holiday sweaters, sweatshirts, tees, and cardigans, but this one was so good that I just had to give you a sneak peek!

2. Soup Cozy

If you’re a soup lover, you need this set of 5 soup snuggies! You place your bowl inside and put the whole thing into the microwave. Then cook away. No more burnt fingers when the soup is ready and steaming hot. I use mine for my oatmeal in the mornings, too! If you have a soup lover in your family, these make a great stocking stuffer. Last year, I ordered the multicolor set and put one in everyone’s stocking!

3. Apple Watch Band

I own this pretty Rolex-style Apple Watch band, and I can’t recommend it highly enough! It’s well-priced, super classy, and not too big and masculine. It’s easy to remove the links and customize it perfectly to your wrist. Free shipping and returns too!

4. Dazzle Dry Nail Laquer

Dazzle Dry is a game-changer nail care system! It’s the only nail polish I use! (And the only one my manicurist uses!) It’s a healthy alternative to traditional gel polish. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, hypoallergenic, and non-toxic, so it’s a clean option for your nails. It doesn’t contain harmful ingredients, which are known to cause skin sensitivities and allergic reactions.

Best of all, Dazzle Dry dries in just 5 minutes—no need for UV lamps or harsh chemicals! Plus, it’s non-yellowing and fortifies your nails while giving you a long-lasting finish. My nails are healthier and stronger than ever before! I love the chip-free wear for 7-14 days, and when I’m ready for a change, Dazzle Dry comes off easily with regular acetone or non-acetone nail polish remover.

I’m linking a starter kit, and there are several color options available. Once you get started, there are lots of polish colors to choose from. My favorite is Strawberry Macaron.

5. What in the World?! by Leanne Morgan

I cannot. stop. laughing. 🤣 while I’m reading this hilarious book by popular comedian Leanne Morgan! The subtitle is  A Southern Woman’s Guide to Laughing at Life’s Unexpected Curveballs and Beautiful Blessings. The book’s theme is how surprised she was to “make it” as a comedian when she was over fifty and from rural Tennessee. She covers everything from “rebelling against the latest diet trends to dealing with perimenopausal mean girls and attending rock concerts in middle age.” You will love this book and want to gift it to every woman in your family this Christmas!

6. Hip Hugger

My super-with-it friend, Robin (we all need one of those!), is working hard to lose weight, and she’s succeeding! 🎉Understandably, she doesn’t want to buy a bunch of new clothes until she’s hit her goal weight, so in the meantime, she’s been using these cool Hip Huggers to make her jeans and pants fit. You attach them to the belt loop at the back of your pants and adjust the tension. They smooth front bulges and eliminate back gaps, making your pants fit perfectly. Genius!

7. Celine Bag Dupe

This chic handbag is an under-$25 dupe of the Celine Triomphe Canvas Shoulder Bag that all the “it girls” are carrying this season! It’s vegan leather and comes in 12 colors, including a festive silver. What a deal!

8. Sheec Socks No-Show Socks

I’m such a huge fan of Sheec socks! Thanks to clever silicone strips on the inside of the socks, they truly will not show and will not slip down. (Like, money back guarantee will not slip down!) They’re pretty much all I wear! This is the style I wear with sneakers, but they have other no-show, no-slip styles that will work for every shoe in your closet! We’re talking ballet flats and Mary Janes to sneakers and booties.  They’ve been featured everywhere, from Good Morning America and The View to Forbes and Women’s Health magazine. Use one-time-use code ENB15 to take 15% off your order.

9. Wrap Buddy

This cool contraption is going to make gift wrapping so easy this year! (If you read THIS POST, you know where I get my gift wrap!) The clamps (I use two–one for each end) attach the gift wrap to your table, and then you adjust the size of the paper you need and cut. Next, use the integrated tape dispenser, and boom! You’re done!

10. Weekly, Hourly Planner

If you’re one of those people who has tried every planner and schedule known to man, this may just be the one for you! Featuring a monthly, weekly, and hourly planner, this baby will keep you on track! There’s also a spot for habits, priorities, tasks and notes. It comes in a pad of 50 undated sheets and is available in several different colors. Under $14 on Amazon!

11. Fleece-Lined Pants

I ordered these Fleece-Lined Pants in black and navy for my trip to NYC in December! You may remember that our daughter, Becca, is in graduate school at NYU. Last year, I visited her in December, and we had the best time. (I wrote an entire post about visiting NYC during the holidays–it’s a truly fabulous experience!) In fact, we had such a good time last December, we’re doing it again this year, and taking Bob!

12. Walmart Christmas Candles (Going Fast!)

I’m a fan of swanky Nest candles, but I’m also all in on an inexpensive smelly candle. I like the under $10 Better Home & Gardens candles (BHG) at Walmart! At 12 oz., they have a 40-hour burn time and smell as delicious as many more expensive brands. The only problem? They go FAST in-store! If you want one, your best bet is to order. I just got my order! I got this BHG Candy Cane and Cream 2-wick candle and Cinnamon Buttercream! You can check out all the scents HERE.

13. Ferragamo Dupe Belt

These under $15 reversible belts are a dupe of the $550 Ferragamo reversible belt! They’re vegan leather and reversible, too! You know your girl loves a good dupe!

I hope you enjoyed today’s post! I love sharing what I’m learning and loving in my empty nest with you, and I love hearing what you’re learning and loving, too! You can always send me an email at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram!