SO in the KNOW August | What I’m Learning & Loving This Month

Oh, baby! We are sweating it out in the triple digits 🥵 here in Dallas, where true blistering summer doesn’t usually hit until August, and fall rolls in around December 1. 😂 (I am not kidding you; our leaves change in late November/early December!🍂) If you’re a heat lover like me, you embrace the heat by going to the Bahamas in the middle of August! If you hate the heat, you go to Colorado! 🤣

It’s been a good month! I had a birthday, did a TV interview on Good Morning Texas, and was a guest on one of my favorite podcasts (out in September). Bob and I headed to Baha Mar in the Bahamas 🏝️with our son, daughter-in-law, and grandbaby, Lily, and we had a blast! Over Labor Day weekend, I’m popping back up to Montana (where our daughter has been working this summer) to drive back to Dallas with her. (Think three days of driving🚘, lots of long talks, and a lot of singing Broadway show tunes 🎶!)

As always, this post reflects my real life. Keep reading to see what I’ve been learning and loving this month!

As always, click the pink text links or any image (including the collages above or below) for more information.

What I’m Learning

Why We Forget Names

Are you bad with names? Join the club! According to Samantha Deffler, a cognitive psychologist at York College of Pennsylvania, names are especially hard for the brain to learn and recall because they’re proper nouns. Most people recall faces more easily. Though it seems to be virtually instantaneous, recalling a name actually involves a multistep process. Something has to trigger a memory of that person, whether a conversation, an item, or an event. To make matters worse, the ability to reject wrong responses gets worse with age!

Don’t worry! While forgetting names on their own doesn’t signal mental decline, forgetting biographical details, such as a person’s job or where they are from, is more concerning.

2025 Paint Colors of the Year

Two big paint companies have announced their “Colors of the Year!” These things always crack me up because they’re always so different! Aside from Pantone’s Color of the Year (Peach Fuzz, anyone?), which we do usually see in the marketplace, these things typically don’t mean too much. Still, if you’re trying to make paint decisions (or just want to be seriously SO in the KNOW), here’s you go!

• Sherwin Williams: Check out tranquil “Quietude” and the complimentary color palette HERE.
• Valspar: Check out rich, vibrant “Encore” and the complimentary color palette HERE.

Birthday Freebies!

Yep! I turned 59 this month! (See my Instagram Reel about my birthday HERE—and please follow me if you’re not already!) On my day, AARP thoughtfully 😉sent me this cool list of Birthday Freebies I was eligible to snag! I just wish I’d had it before my birthday so I could have made plans! (Which is why I’m sharing it with you.) 🎂

7 Anti-Aging Supplements to Try
(according to Consumer Reports)

Do you take supplements? Most of us do. We’ve all heard that it’s best to get nutrients from food, but even those of us who eat right can occasionally need something extra (not to mention that as we age, we’re less efficient at absorbing some nutrients). This month, Consumer Reports shared 7 Anti-Aging Supplements that they believe truly help (based on their copious research) and three that you might want to skip. You can check out the full article HERE. In the meantime, here’s the quick version, along with the brand Consumer Reports recommends:

1. Calcium – BONE BUILDER – Women 51+ need 1200 mg. daily
2. Collagen – SKIN & JOINT HEALTH – You need about 75 g. a day (for a 150 lb. person)
3. Fish Oil – BRAIN & HEART – 1 g. per day (or if at risk for Alzheimer’s, up to 3 g. daily)
4. Magnesium – MUSCLES & MORE – Women need 310-320 mg. daily
5. Melatonin – SLEEP – 1 mg. before bed
6. Vitamin B12 – NERVE HEALTH – Ask your Dr. to test your levels to see if you need it & get a recommended dose.
7. Vitamin D – BONE, BRAIN, IMMUNITY – Typically, 600 iu. if you’re under age 71, 700 in. if you’re over age 71. Ask your Dr. to test your levels to see if you need it & get a recommended dose.

Consumer Reports says to skip three supplements: Vitamin C, Probiotics, Glucosamine & Chondroitin.

What I’m Loving

1. Jackie-O Inspired Tweed Dress

Beth and I are always on the lookout for great designer-inspired-for-less (read that: dupes) that we can share with you! In fact, we love doing Splurge or Save posts, and we have a new one in the works!) This tweed Jackie-O-inspired dress is a really good one! Tuckernuck has it for $268 in multiple colors. (I own it in green). Amazon also has it in multiple colors for under $50! It’s a true classic, and the A-line shift style looks good on everyone!

2. Affordable Ice Cream Maker

I gave Bob this ice cream maker for his birthday this month, and we are having a blast making “ice cream” with just 2 c. skim milk and sugar-free instant pudding mix! Sometimes, we even put in a scoop of unflavored whey protein powder to up the nutritional value, or we make it with skim milk and the birthday cake-flavored protein powder I’m sharing as #10 below!

3. Memory Mattress Pad

Despite sleeping on a good quality mattress, Bob and I both found ourselves waking up with sore hips and shoulders (Side sleepers, unite!). In our quest to find a simple solution, we ordered this memory foam mattress topper on Amazon. Not only has it helped, but we also found that we’re sleeping cooler. 🛌😴 Yay!

4. Waterproof Phone Pouch

We couldn’t have done without these waterproof phone pouches in the Bahamas last week! Our iPhones are waterproof, but I’ve had friends ruin their phones when just a few tiny grains of sand got into the charging portal! 🥺 These pouches are easy to lock, and you can use your phone right through the plastic.

5. Handheld Rechargeable Fan

My Florida-girl and Disney Season Passholder assistant Beth always has the best ideas for sun and fun! This rechargeable handheld 3-in-1 portable fan is amazing! Not only is it a pocket sized fan, but it also features a flashlight, and backup power bank. Wowza! I snapped it up and also added it to the Travel Essentials list on my Amazon Shop!

6. Fave Full Coverage SPF Foundation

Looking for full-coverage foundation that not only covers well, but also provides 50+ SPF coverage? I’ve got you! Whenever I’m in the sun for a significant time frame, you’ll find me wearing IT Cosmetics Best-Selling CC Foundation. Need help finding your shade? Click HERE and scroll down to “Find my Shade.”

I’ve been using the Matte version and also THIS great brush for application.

7. SPF Tinted Lip Balm

This was tinted SPF lip balm was another product that I loved last week when we were in the Bahamas! (I bought it in “Bonfire.”) Basically, I’ve decided that all you really need to look glam in the sun is a fabulous hat (See my Eric Javitts dupe HERE.), a pair of oversized sunglasses 😎, and this tinted lip balm! 😂

8. Refillable Natural Hand Sanitizer

Even years after the pandemic, hand sanitizer is pretty much a part of everyday life for me! Of course, I wash my hands before eating, but we all know that doors, tables, and chairs can be germy, and as someone with a compromised immune system, it’s important to me to keep my hands clean. My pal Wendy introduced me to Noshinku, the refillable pocket-sized hand sanitizers made with all-natural ingredients.

Made with italian bergamot, white cedar, jojoba, argan, rosehip and coconut natural oils, Noshinku effectively cleans your hands without drying them out. I love the slim design! I’ve linked a six-pack of their most popular scents, so you can stash one in your purse, the car, your travel carry on, and more.

If you’re looking for a similar product that uses alcohol instead of the natural ingredients in Noshinku , try THIS instead.

9. Elbow-Length Sleeve Amazon Sweater (Perfect for Transition!)

As we age, our upper arms are an area that most of us want to cover up. I get it! So I’m always on the lookout for great tees, cute tops, and chic sweaters that do the job, with style! I own THIS short sleeve sweater in the crewneck version in tan, but it also comes in a v-neck version, and the universally-flattering square neck version I linked in the collage above. I especially love the pleated puff sleeves (on every version) that make it look high-end, along with the softness of the fabric. It’s available in lots of color options. Click HERE for more details.

10. Birthday Cake 🎂 Flavored Whey Protein Powder

Oh, y’all! If you’re trying to work more protein into your diet like we are, I have a treat for you! A friend turned me on to this birthday cake 🎂 flavored whey protein powder (sweetened with Stevia), and we’re ob-sessed! According to the experts, whey protein is the best type to stimulate muscle growth in older adults. (Read more HERE.)

This brand also makes whey protein powder in chocolate brownie, peanut butter, and vanilla ice cream flavors. (But birthday cake is our fave!)

11. (Nearly) Instant Iced Coffee Maker

If you’re an iced coffee fan (and I know a lot of you are!), this quicker-than-quick iced coffee maker is an easy and effective way for you to chill your coffee (or any beverage). It works with ALL types of coffee makers and works in under a minute! Learn more HERE.

12. Feminine Swim Shirt

One of my favorite things I brought with me on our trip last week was this textured piqué UPF 50+ swim shirt that I bought in black and white right before we left! You layer it over your swimsuit (in THIS Reel I have it layered over a high waist polka dot bikini bottom and matching top) for breathable, flattering coverage!

The darling peplum ruffle makes it so figure-flattering, and I loved not having to worry so much about reapplying sunscreen while I played on the beach 🏝️ and on the water slides! It’s 50% off right now, fits TTS and comes in white, black, and wine.

I hope you feel SO in the KNOW! I love sharing my monthly finds with you. 😍

I have so much more to share with you about our multi-generational trip to the Bahamas last week, but, because we were in the Caribbean, I wore lots of summer styles, and I wasn’t sure you’d be interested! Honestly, I think “shoulder season” (roughly April through early June and September through October) is the BEST time for empty nesters to travel because the weather is usually mild, the crowds are gone, and prices drop! Let me know in the comments if you’d like me to do a post about our trip (including my outfits) next week, okay?