SO in the KNOW October 2026 | What I’m Learning & Loving in my Empty Nest
Fall is here in earnest, cozy season is officially underway, holiday plans are popping onto calendars, and Christmas gift ideas are starting to feel a lot less hypothetical! For empty nesters, this season can bring a whole new rhythm to fall and the holidays, and I love finding ideas that make this chapter of life feel fresh, useful, and full of possibility. This month’s SO in the KNOW is packed with things I’ve learned, clever ideas I wanted to share, and favorites that are making my life a little easier, a little more polished, or simply more enjoyable. And I’ve tucked in a few little gift ideas to help you get ahead!
Let’s get you SO in the KNOW!
What I’m Learning
I’m always amazed by how much there still is to learn about things I thought I already understood! This month, I came across a few especially useful tidbits that made me rethink some everyday habits, pay closer attention to a few little things, and tuck away some information I know I’ll use again. Those are my favorite kinds of discoveries, so of course I had to share them with you.
Scammy
Here’s something I learned from Amazon this month that I wanted to share right away: If you get an email, text, or phone call claiming to be from Amazon and something feels a little off, you can verify it before you click, reply, or call back. Log in through the Amazon app or Amazon.com and ask Alexa for Shopping, “Did Amazon email me?” or “Did Amazon call me?” You can also submit the message through Amazon’s Identify a Scam page or forward a suspicious email to verify@amazon.com. Amazon’s advice is simple: Don’t engage with the message at all until you know it’s legitimate. Scammers are getting awfully convincing, so I love knowing there’s such an easy way to check.
The Phrase That Can Quietly Derail a Conversation
Well, this one made me stop and think! Many of us toss this phrase into conversations without a second thought, but psychologists say it can make the other person feel dismissed, corrected, or like someone suddenly has to win. Not exactly the recipe for a great conversation! The phrase is “You’re missing the point.” Even if that’s not what we mean, it can land as “I understand this better than you do,” which usually shuts things down instead of moving them forward. A better approach is to stay curious, ask another question, and focus on understanding the goal instead of being right. Four little words. Bigger impact than I realized. Read the full article HERE.
Why Reporting Spam Calls and Texts Is Worth the Tap
Ever tap Report Spam on a junk call or text and wonder if it actually does anything? Turns out, it does! When enough people report the same number, wireless carriers can identify it as suspicious and add it to their spam databases. That’s one reason you sometimes see “Spam Likely” before you even answer a call. Your reports also help improve the technology that spots scam calls and texts for everyone else, so taking those few seconds to report instead of simply deleting really can make a difference. You can also forward a suspicious text to 7726 (SPAM) to report it directly to your carrier. Consider me officially motivated to keep tapping that button! Read the full article HERE.
Turns Out, There’s a Formula For Building Muscle, Y’all
I knew strength training mattered, but I didn’t realize building muscle followed such a clear formula. The American Council on Exercise says that for muscle growth, a good target is 3–6 sets of 6–12 reps, using a weight that feels genuinely challenging by the end of each set. They also recommend prioritizing exercises like squats, lunges, rows, and presses because they work multiple muscle groups at once, then gradually increasing the resistance as you get stronger. In other words, you don’t need a complicated routine, but you do need enough challenge, consistency, and recovery to give those muscles a reason to grow. Read the full article HERE.
What I’m Loving
October’s list has a little bit of everything I love to share: smart solutions, great values, things that make everyday life easier, and a few treats that simply make life more enjoyable. Some are longtime favorites, some are new discoveries, and several would make excellent Christmas gifts. These are the things I’ve been genuinely excited to tell people about lately, and I have a feeling you’re going to find a few favorites of your own.
1. PJs That Feel Way More Expensive Than They Are
These Joyspun pajamas from Walmart are ridiculously soft, and the price is just as impressive. The dreamy soft jersey has plenty of stretch, the long-sleeve button-front top has classic piping, and the pants have an elastic waist and pockets, so they feel cozy but still look polished. They’re machine washable, comfortable enough to live in, and such a good value that they’d make a great Christmas gift too. They’d also be so fun as matching holiday jammies for a girls’ movie night or Christmas weekend at home. Be sure to click through because there are lots of other fun prints to choose from.
2. Label Me Obsessed
I have a weakness for a little gadget that makes everyday life feel more pulled together, and this one is ridiculously satisfying. The NIIMBOT D110 Mini Label Maker connects to your phone via Bluetooth, doesn’t need ink or toner, and handles everything from pantry bins and cords to cosmetics, files, and gift labels. It’s tiny, easy to tuck away, and exactly the kind of thing that makes you start looking around the house thinking, “Well, what else can I label?”
3. Christmas, But Make It Chinoiserie
If your holiday decor leans heavily on traditional red and green, adding a little blue and white is a classy way to freshen things up. I found some darling chinoiserie ornaments, but I really fell for this Bow Ginger Jar Mat with its classic blue-and-white ginger jar and bright red bows. It’s hand-woven from natural coco fibers, backed with PVC for durability, and so cute I’m gonna be tempted to keep it out well past Christmas!
4. Rechargeable, Reliable, Ridiculously Handy
This rechargeable Electric Lighter is one of those little gadgets I’m always glad to have nearby. It’s rechargeable, flameless, and ready whenever I want to light a candle, the fireplace, or the grill, without striking a match or keeping disposable lighters on hand. It’s also wind-resistant and has a safety lock, which makes it especially handy to keep around the house. For the price, it’s a smart buy for yourself and an easy Christmas gift for someone who appreciates something practical they’ll actually use.
5. Looks Expensive. Isn’t.
Scarves are having a fashion moment right now! I feel ahead of the trend, since I’ve owned this silk-look leopard square scarf for about five years. Haha! The quality is surprisingly good for the price, and at 27.5 inches square, it’s easy to wear around your neck, tie in your hair, or add to a handbag for a little extra personality. It’s soft, smooth, and looks far more expensive than it is. Several other animal prints are available, so be sure to click through and see them all.
6. Beauty Sleep, Meet Better Breathing
Remember me telling you that the original VIO2 Mouth Tape pretty much solved Bob’s snoring problem? Now, we both use it every night! I especially like that its partial-coverage design doesn’t completely seal your mouth shut, which makes the whole idea feel much less intimidating. Their new VIO2 Skin+ version keeps that same design and infuses it with hyaluronic acid, vegan collagen, vitamin E, and CoQ10 to hydrate and condition the lip area while you sleep. It encourages nasal breathing while giving the skin around your lips a little extra TLC. Two problems, one tiny piece of tape. I’m in!
7. Flower Power for Your Fingertips
Dry cuticles can make even a good manicure look a little tired, so this Fruit-Scented Cuticle Oil is one of those tiny beauty fixes that earns its keep. It’s infused with real dried flowers and moisturizing essential oils to soften and condition both cuticles and nails, and the fruity scent makes it feel more like a treat than a chore. At $9, it would make such a cute little holiday gift for girlfriends, teachers, or neighbors, and an easy stocking stuffer for daughters, daughters-in-law, or anyone who loves a good beauty find. Other scents are available HERE, and new customers get 20% off!
8. A Very Good Lip Situation.
Finding a matte lip stain that won’t dry out your lips is basically the holy grail of lip products, and this one delivers! Kulfi Lassi Lips Matte Blur Lip Stain has a soft, velvety finish that feels lightweight, looks beautifully blurred, and doesn’t leave my lips feeling dry and cranky. The color builds easily, too, so you can keep it subtle or dial it up a bit; for more shine, add your favorite gloss on top. Consider me very pleasantly surprised!
9. A Smarter Mascara for Delicate Lashes
If your lashes are thinning or falling out, a good lash serum can help, but rethinking the mascara you scrub off every night can, too. Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky Tubes Tubing Mascara wraps each lash in lightweight tubes for extension-like length and volume, then removes much more easily than a traditional waterproof formula. Made with shea butter and castor oil, it lasts up to 24 hours without smudging or flaking and is suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Less rubbing at bedtime? Yes, please.
10. Because “I Don’t Know What to Say” Is Still Something
An ENB follower recommended this book! (I love it when y’all do that!) Your recommendations are always so good, and I’m loving What Not To Say At A Funeral because it tackles something almost all of us struggle with: how to show up for someone grieving without accidentally saying the wrong thing. After losing her infant daughter, author Amy Havis learned firsthand how often well-meaning phrases can miss the mark, and she offers practical, compassionate alternatives that feel more helpful and human. It’s thoughtful, useful, and yes, even funny in places, which somehow makes a hard subject feel a little easier to approach.
11. The Sleep Trick I Use Every Night
I love my Nodpod Weighted Sleep Mask and use it every night to help me fall asleep. It gives you the calming feel of a weighted blanket, but for your eyes, with gentle pressure across key points on your face and a strap-free design that works whether you sleep on your back or side. One side is soft velvet, the other is cotton, and you can even pop it in the freezer for a little cooling relief when you need it. It’s one of those bedtime comforts I now miss when I travel without it.
12. For Those People Mosquitoes Cannot Resist
Why do mosquitoes seem to make a beeline for some people and leave everyone else alone? There’s actually science behind it, but more importantly, this is the safe-for-kids (and pets!) spray my daughter-in-law uses on my 14-month-old and 3½-year-old grandbabies. EarthKind Stay Away Mosquitoes is an unscented picaridin spray that offers up to 14 hours of protection from mosquitoes and ticks, is water-resistant, and doesn’t leave that sticky bug-spray feeling behind. Read more about why mosquitoes love some people more than others here.
13. A Smarter Way to Wash Produce
This Purepod Produce Cleaner is so innovative that every time I explain what it does, someone says, “Really? That’s so cool!” You drop it into a bowl of water with fruits, vegetables, meat, or seafood, press one button, and it uses hydrogen ion technology to help clean surface residues in about 10 minutes, without adding detergents. I haven’t seen anything else quite like it, and I love that it’s portable, reusable, simple to use, and priced well enough to make the idea feel very doable. It’s so cool, it made our Holiday Gift Guide!
14. Closet Chaos, Meet Your Match
I recently did a major closet purge and reorganization, and these closet rack dividers ended up being one of my favorite little organizing tricks. I used the label maker I shared above to create sections for special occasions, blazers, game day, and even my different jeans styles like cropped, flare, and wide-leg. Now I can actually see where everything belongs instead of sliding hangers back and forth like I’m searching for buried treasure! Haha! Such a simple organizing tool, but it made a big difference.
