SO in the KNOW | What I Learned & Loved in November

November was such a busy month! Raise your hand if you hosted Thanksgiving! 🙋‍♀️ I hosted ten adults and one 22-month-old! I’m a bad hostess, but thankfully, I had a lot of help, and somehow we pulled it off! Family trickled out slowly after the holiday. Last to leave was my daughter. We put her on a plane back to NYC early Monday morning. We’re headed there for a fun NYC Holiday visit in about ten days!

I hope you found our Black Friday/Cyber Week Sale page helpful over the long weekend! We worked hard to update it every day so it would be there when you were ready to shop. Thank you for shopping with our links! I also hope you took some time to check out the Empty Nest Blessed Holiday Gift Guide.🎉 With nearly 1K gift ideas in 10 categories! It’s our gift to you, and we hope it blesses you and makes your Christmas shopping easier!

In October, you may remember that I 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! They were kind enough to share an exclusive (and pretty much unheard of) FREE shipping discount code with me. You can use SUZYFREESHIP until December 10.

Let’s dive into what I learned & loved in November, okay?

What I’m Learning

FREE Covid Tests-AGAIN!

This surprised me, but the Federal Government is once again offering each household 4 FREE Covid tests! Click HERE to sign up on the USPS website. I’ve ordered mine!

At-Home Laser

I think I’m late to the game on this one, but I’m definitely in the game now! I’ve been using the
Nira Pro Laser for a few weeks now, and I’m so excited about it! The Nira Pro is an FDA-Cleared, clinically-proven, award-winning at-home laser. It’s the same laser treatment that your dermatologist uses, but at a lower frequency, so there’s no downtime. They guarantee visibly firmer skin, with fewer lines and wrinkles in 90 days, or your money back! I was blown away by the before and after photos on the NIRA website!

I use mine for about 10 minutes a day—I’m using it on my neck, too—and I’m about two weeks into my initial 90-day treatment. Click HERE to see the Instagram Reel I made when I started. I’ll check in with my Instagram followers at 30, 60, and 90 days to share my progress, so be sure you’re following me on Insta if you want to keep up!

If you want to try NIRA for yourself, now is a good time! Usually, my exclusive discount code SUZY_10 will get you 10% off any Nira product, but they’ve extended their Black Friday sale, so right now, when you use the same code SUZY_10, you can take 25% off sitewide! The discount ends December 6!

How Well Are You Aging? Take This Quick Test to Find Out

AARP researchers found that, when it comes to factors like walking, grip strength, knee strength, and balance that typically decrease with aging, balance showed the most significant decline with age. Specifically, the one-legged balance test—especially on the non-dominant leg—showed the highest rate of decline. Poor balance puts you at risk of falling, and it relies on a combination of vision, inner ear balance, and a network of muscles and veins throughout the body to maintain stabilization. Balance begins to decline in midlife and can be affected by conditions like arthritis, heart disease, and blood vessel disorders.

To assess, balance on one leg with your eyes open. If you can balance on one leg for 30 seconds and you’re over 65, you’re doing very well. If you’re unable to balance for at least 5 seconds, it’s cause for concern.

I’ve been working on my balance this year using THIS inflatable half-exercise ball balance trainer. I’ve seen a big improvement! I worked up from two feet on the flat side of the ball to one foot on the flat side of the ball, to one foot on the curved side of the ball. It’s challenging, but it’s definitely working!

What I’m Loving

1. Sherpa Lined Fleece Crewneck Tunic Sweatshirt

The older I get, the more I only want soft things touching my body! 😂 Are you like that too? Also, the older I get, the more I like my booty covered when I’m wearing leggings! (Maybe that’s just me!) This cute fleece checks both of those boxes. If you live somewhere cold (or if you’re traveling somewhere cold like I am next week), this Sherpa-lined tunic sweatshirt is what you need! I bought it in black for chilly NYC, but it comes in several other pretty colors!

2. The Couples Bundle Stationery and Notepad

When Bob and I became empty nesters, using the stationery we had that said “The Mighell Family” just seemed weird! I wanted gift cards and notepads that said “Suzy & Bob” and some that said “LouLou and PopPop” too! Count on my pals at Joy Creative Shop to come to the rescue! This bundle would make a great gift for newlyweds or empty nesters! Use code ENB10 for 10% off your entire order!

3. The Case for Christmas: A Journalist Investigates the Identity of the Child in the Manger

I reread this book by award-winning journalist Lee Strobel every December! The author goes behind the traditional story to unlock the truth of what really happened that first Christmas. Is the story true? Who was the baby in the manger? What does that mean for us? If you’d like to know more, this short (112-page) book is perfect for you.

4. 11 Colors Rainbow Tulle Rolls Kit

Wanna make bows that are crush-proof, inexpensive, and showy? You need to use tulle! I ordered this tulle ribbon set early this fall and have used it ever since! I use it for birthday gifts, gift bags, and more! Also, I like non-traditional holiday gift wrap, so I’m using my tulle ribbon like crazy right now!

5. LED Christmas Light iPhone Charger Cord

Sometimes, you just need to treat yourself to a totally unnecessary FUN gift! (At least I do!) When Beth sent me a photo of her fun LED Christmas Light iPhone Charger Cord, I knew I needed one, and I needed to take one to our fun-loving daughter next week when we visit her in New York! It would make a darling stocking stuffer for guys or girls, men or women! Yassssss. 🙌

6. Spode Christmas Tree Latte Mug

I like big mugs, and I cannot lie (especially in December)! We all need a little extra caffeine (or holiday tea) in December, and this 22 oz. Spode mug will not disappoint. Bob and I kept fighting over our two, so I bought 6 more for an early joint Christmas gift! Buy it HERE at Belk or HERE at Target.

7. Cashmere Feel Winter Scarf

You know your girl Suzy loves a good dupe! This pretty cashmere feel scarf is a dupe for the classic Burberry Novacheck scarf. It’s a great price and super soft! I love it for dressing up an all-black outfit (dressy or casual) in December!

8. Ultra Thin InvisiLite Quarter Socks for Ankle Booties

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 booties and tall boots, 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. The Joy of Doing Nothing: A Real-Life Guide to Stepping Back, Slowing Down, and Creating a Simpler, Joy-Filled Life

As an Enneagram 3, I have difficulty slowing down and relaxing. My friend recommended this book, and I thought I’d check it out! I haven’t read it yet (too busy 🤣!), but if you struggle with the same thing, you might want to check it out too!

10. Holiday Napkins & Cocktail Napkins

Every year, I order pretty holiday napkins for my powder bath AND to use at the table. I thought you might be interested in seeing this year’s selection! In the bath, it’s more hygienic than using a regular towel, and I love that the napkins can also be used at the table with my Spode china. These napkins also had a cute coordinating (but not matching) cocktail napkin.

11. Warming Mat for Food

At Thanksgiving, I was so thankful for my built-in warming drawer. Even though we’re not big entertainers, we put one in when we built our house 20 years ago. It was wonderful when the kids were in high school and all on different schedules, and I love it now when I do host gatherings.

My good friend, Jennifer, doesn’t have one but uses this amazing warming mat instead. Have you ever tried one of these? Since the true challenge of serving a big meal is getting all the food hot and ready simultaneously, a warming mat like this can be a lifesaver!

12. Stackable Water Bottle Organizer/Holder

My water bottle cabinet is pretty organized. But still, every time I reach in to grab an insulated bottle for a smoothie or a fresh refillable bottle, something falls over, and it’s like a domino effect! A big mess of water bottles, lids, and straws inevitably goes everywhere! This water bottle organizer to the rescue! With the holiday season in full swing and (more!) company coming, this little helper was exactly what I needed!

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 email me at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram!

Cheers to a joyous December, my friends!