it’s Friday, gang! Black Friday. we hope your Thanksgiving was full of family, fun, and of course food. Thanksgiving was a real team effort over here at our house. my middle son made the potatoes, salad, and turkey. Kelly was in charge of the stuffing and put a twist on it this year: stuffing fried rice. it was all d.e.l.i.s.h. hopefully you have mountains of leftovers, and if you’re enjoying today from the comfort of your own home, we’ve got you covered. per usge, we’ve got a wonderful recipe and cocktail for you: chicken noodle soup for the soul. i’ve also compiled the top items of the month as chosen by you, my readers. so sit back and join us while you recover from your food coma.
fridays with oscar is always about the celebration of simplicity and comfort. this month, we’ve featured oversized sweaters and jackets, pullovers, and vests. today is no exception. i’m showcasing this turtleneck sweater from J.Crew. it comes in a variety of colors. if chosen vine, but if you’re looking for something more neutral, there’s one for you.
and how fabulous are these smoking slippers from Ann Taylor? they’re comfortable enough for when you’re lounging around the house and chic enough for when you’re entertaining guests. both J.Crew and Ann Taylor are having major 50% off Black Friday sales, so take this opportunity to pick up both.
turtleneck sweater | stretch wool jacket | smoking slippers | high rise pants
turtleneck sweater | stretch wool jacket | smoking slippers | high rise pants
our tablescape this week marks the transition from fall to winter—Thanksgiving to Christmas. the plaid napkins and placemats are perfect for fall harvest tablescapes but are flexible enough to make the transition into Christmas. same with these antiqued wood chargers and plates from Pier 1. decorations and place settings are investment pieces, and you want to get as much mileage out of them as possible. so when shopping for, say, fall decorations, keep an eye out for ones that can transition seamlessly into winter. similarly for all seasonal decorations.
antiqued wood charger | plaid napkins | plaid placemat | bee water glasses | bee water tumblers
i’m bringing you an old family favorite today: chicken noodle soup for the soul. it’s the perfect winter dish. super simple and unbelievably tasty. the recipe calls for rotisserie chicken. if you look, you can find organic or substitute the chicken entirely for your leftover turkey. both work great. and be sure make extras: this soup freezes and will be waiting for you if you catch a winter cold.
antiqued wood charger | plaid napkins | plaid placemat | bee water glasses | bee water tumblers
we’ve got a totally fresh and new cocktail for your this week: cranberry and ginger bourbon smash. bourbon and whiskey are great for the winter season: hot toddy anyone? today we’re pulling in the flavors from Thanksgiving—cranberry—into an old favorite: the bourbon smash. cheers!
below, i’ve aggregated your favorite items for the month of November. blazers and sweaters were a big favorite. no surprise. but some of my favorites boots and shows topped the list as well.
if you missed any of the above, make sure to check them out today. with all of the great sales going on, there’s a deal to be had. no doubt. i’m reposting my top brands and their Black Friday sales below in case you missed yesterday’s post.
Talbots: 40% off your purchase until midnight Friday
Gap: 50% off everything
Banana Republic: 50% off everything
Athleta: 20% off your purchase
J.Crew: 50% off your purchase
Ralph Lauren: 40% off when you spend $125
Boden: 30% off almost everything
Ann Taylor: 50% off everything
Tory Burch: 30% off full-price styles 60% off sale styles
Theory: 25% off $300 or more 30% off $600 or more
turtleneck sweater | stretch wool jacket | smoking slippers | high rise pants
November is almost over gang. can you believe it?! Thanksgiving is almost upon is, and then, well, there’s no looking back: full steam ahead into the holiday season. but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. after all, it’s been a great week over here on the blog. all week we’ve brought you our holiday style and decorating inspiration series: beginning with Thanksgiving and straight through New Year’s. but, as you know, today’s friday! and we’ve got a great friday’s with oscar: we’re featuring a comfy sweater guide for women during the holiday season.
all week we’ve featured various gift guides, and today’s no exception. scroll down for a comfy shoe and sweater gift guide, as well as ones for the home and pet lovers. sit back and take one deep breath before we plunge into next week. grab your cocktail glass and cheers to the weekend. after all, it’s 5PM somewhere.
over the past few weeks, i’ve tried to feature a healthy sampling of comfy, cosy outfits. today is no exception. i went with Anthropologie today. (make sure to check out their pre-Black Friday sale.) this fall and winter, it’s all about the layering. i’m starting with this beautiful wool sweater coat that pairs perfectly with the neutral-based cable knit sweater and pants. the dark grey and blue stripes of the wool sweater coat offset the light greys and whites sweater and pants just enough to be create visual interest. and boy, is this coat toasty warm.
i featured these toby flat earlier in the week with my cashmere jacket and sweater. i can get away with them because, although we do have cold spells in Athens, we’ve been hovering in the high 50s to mid 60s over the past week and a half. if it’s cooler where you are and you’re looking for some shoes with real warmth, take a look at this Easy Spirit gift guide I’ve put together for you.
wool sweater coat | cable knit sweater | toby flat | pants
wool sweater coat | cable knit sweater | toby flat | pants
as i’ve said several times this month, what’s better than a comfy sweater on a cold day? i’ve featured a lot of sweaters on the blog this fall. some of my favorites include this cashmere one as well as this funnel neck sweater. if you’re still looking for more styles and options, i’ve put together a little collection of some of my favorites for this fall and winter.
for our entree today, i’m going a bit meta: in the Thanksgiving spirit, we’re making stuffing stuffed mushrooms. that’s right, we’re throwing together a little stuffing pre-Turkey day and stuffing mushrooms—crimini or baby bell—with it. trust me, you’re going to love it.
in addition, we’ve put together a blue cheese ricotta spread that goes perfectly with just about anything. you can spread it on crackers or bread, but today, we’re pairing it with endive leaves. i’m a huge fan of blue cheese, and it compliments our mushrooms perfectly. if you’re looking for a fast and easy way to entertain your kiddos or grandkiddos that are arriving over the next few days, keep this recipe in your back pocket!
stirred, not shaken? no. shaken, not stirred. today, we’re featuring the classic dirty martini. it’s been a while since i’ve had one, but Kelly suggested we feature it on the blog today. and am i glad she did. super simple to make. you can go with either gin or vodka and some vermouth. i’ve chosen to do a gin one. let me know your favorite in the comments below!
and that’s a wrap gang! enjoy our Friday and take a deep breath before plunging headfirst into next week. as a special announcement today, i want to give a special “shout out” to my friend Patrick—a journalist student at UGA. Patrick spent last Friday with Kelly, junior style, oscar, and me shooting fridays with oscar. he’s doing a little feature on Style at a Certain Age, and we really enjoyed having him! say hi to Patrick—I know he’ll be reading this post—in the comments below.
how to dress stylishly during the holidays? that’s our theme for this week. each day, we’re focusing on a different holiday. specifically, i’m giving you fashion ideas as well as decorating tips and tricks.
yesterday, i modeled my first true winter outfit. it was all about cashmere, cashmere, and more cashmere. it’s the perfect fabric to get the winter started off right. i started with a beautiful cashmere sweater and cashmere sweater-blazer and paired them both with a pair of cropped wide-leg pants.
as promised, i’m taking the same pair of wide-leg pants and styling it a different way: with a mockneck sweater, tailored coat, and razzle-dazzle holiday glitter pumps. i need a little midweek pick-me-up and figured maybe you do to. so join me today as we jump straight into Christmas. i know you’re going to love it.
yesterday on the blog, i showed you how to wear cropped, wide-legged pants with flats. today, i’m taking the same pair of wide-leg pants and pairing them with a pair of glitter pumps. as you can see, these pants are very versatile and will work for you in both casual and formal settings.
if it’s particularly cold where you are, but you’re still looking to invest in a wide-legged pant, head over to this post for an example. there i show you how to style a full-length pair of wide-leg pants from Nordstrom.
tailored coat | glitter pumps | wide-leg pants | mockneck sweater
tailored coat | glitter pumps | wide-leg pants | mockneck sweater
do you have your Thanksgiving menu set? are you already thinking about Christmas cookies? have you even thought about a New Year’s platter for college bowl season? i hope not: too much too soon. but i’ve got you covered. all this week, we’re featuring holiday tablescapes and decorating ideas over here on the blog.
every week on fridays with oscar, we try to give you tablescape ideas. we decided to blow that out this week by giving you one everyday corresponding to a different holiday. yesterday was Thanksgiving. today is Christmas. so make sure to scroll down to see our ideas!
tailored coat | glitter pumps | wide-leg pants | mockneck sweater | bracelet | earrings
are you going to an ugly sweater party this year? i have to admit they’re pretty find. and if nothing more, they remind us ’tis the season for… sweaters.
today, i’ve got a decisively not ugly mockneck sweater from J.Crew. as i mentioned yesterday, i’m all about J.Crew this winter season. i’m really enjoying their lineup, and they’ve got a fantastic 50% off sale going on right. let me know if you find anything that you’d like to see over on the blog in the comment section below.
tailored coat | glitter pumps | wide-leg pants | mockneck sweater | bracelet | earrings
like yesterday, we’re breaking out our tablescapes into two. we’re starting with a less formal kitchen one. i’m really loving the minimalist plaid runner paired with my trademark color pop: red plaid and green Christmas wreaths. how are you decorating this holiday season? let me know in the comments below.
white plates | christmas salad plates | bee glasses | plaid napkins | silver jingle bells | bottle brush trees
if you’re hosting a larger crowd this year and have to move to a larger table, then this tablescape is for you. i’ve pulled out my traditional Spode Christmas tree dinnerware set. i’ve been collecting it for years, and i bring it out every year without fail. do you have any holiday decorating traditions? have you been collecting something for years—a Christmas village, dinnerware, ornaments? i’d love to hear any and lll family traditions you may have.
spode plates | wood charger | similar red glasses| flocked pinecones | ceramic houses | red bead garland | bottle brush trees
we’re continuing with our gift guides today. below, i’ve put together a little collection of fun Christmas knickknacks. if you love to entertain as much as i do, check out the cheeseboard and charcuterie sets i’ve found. and if you’re a wine lover like me, you’re going to want to scroll through—i’ve found some really fun stemless wine glasses.
and if you liked my holiday pumps, you’re going to love this alternative selection i’ve compiled. take a look and tell me what you’re planning on wearing to your holiday parties this year. keep staying tuned this week for more tips on how to dress stylishly during the holidays, as well as gift guides that will carry you straight through the holidays.
the leaves are turning, the weather is getting colder, and we’re headed straight into Thanksgiving. the transition is upon us from fall to winter, and this week i’m bringing you my first real series of warmer outfits. today: cashmere from head-to-toe. after all, what is more luxurious than cashmere?
last week, my family brought you a series of holiday memories: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. keeping with that theme, join us all this week for holiday decorating ideas. kelly and i are bringing you kitchen and dining room holiday-themed tablescapes. you’re not going to want to miss them. i even put together a gift guide for you for each holiday: Thanksgiving through New Year’s.
it’s going to be a fun, light, and family-filled week over here on Style at a Certain Age. we know how hectic this season can be, but we’re looking forward to taking a break between the madness with you, even if it’s just for a little while.
it’s been all about J.Crew for me this fall and winter. (head over to their website for early Cyber Monday deals.) today, i’m sporting a matching camel cashmere sweater layered with a cashmere sweater-blazer. an easy way to break up this chromatic pairing is with a color pop. i’ve chosen to do so with this silk scarf from Talbots. i’ve been loving the silk scarves this year. and if you’re looking for some more ideas, this one from Talbots is one of our best sellers.
cashmere sweater-blazer | cashmere sweater | wide-leg pant | toby flat | scarf | tote bag
i’ve chosen to pair the cashmere sweater and cashmere sweater-blazer with this wide-leg pant from J.Crew. i’ve featured the wide-leg pant several times this year, including coupling it with a blazer. today, i’ve gone with a slight variation: cropped wide-legs.
i’m featuring them with these fun toby flats from Nordstrom because this look is on-trend this fall and winter. however, cropped wide-legs plus flats can tend to make one look shorter. stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, where i’ll take the same pant and pair it with heels. then you’ll really get a sense of how versatile these pants are.
cashmere sweater-blazer | cashmere sweater | wide-leg pant | toby flat | scarf | tote bag
it got cold in Athens last week. how’s the weather been where you are? are you going to get snow for Thanksgiving this year? all i know is this: it’s time to start bundling: cashmere head-to-toe.
cashmere sweater-blazer | cashmere sweater | wide-leg pant | toby flat | scarf | tote bag
all this week, we’ll be featuring holiday tablescapes over here on the blog. we’re starting with Thanksgiving. first up is a more casual, kitchen tablescape. i’m loving the retro vibe the green placemats contrasted with the laid napkins give.
and now for something a little more formal. this is our take on a Thanksgiving dining room tablescape.
below, i’ve put together some fun Thanksgiving decorating and gift ideas for you.
we’ve put together several gift guides for you this fall. in case you missed them, we’ve compiled them here:
we started the week remembering Thanksgiving with a guest post from my daughter-in-law Kelly. my oldest son remembered Christmas. what an outpouring of love we’ve received: you’ve made both Kelly and my oldest feel most welcome over here on the blog. we end our holiday memory week with New Year’s holiday memories as told by, well, me.
we’re bringing you a new addition of fashion flash this week. make sure to check it out above and leave a comment telling us what you’re favorite outfit is.
i’ve saved my most fun outfit this week for today. how cute are these plaid ankle pants paired with this turtleneck sweater? i’ve paired them with two pairs of shoes today, starting with these pumps from Banana Republic. i’ve shown off several faux suede moto jackets this fall.
make sure to catch our latest episode of the list to catch up on the top fall and winter coats this year.
turtleneck sweater | faux suede moto jacket | plaid ankle pant | leather hobo bag | lug-sole loafers | pumps
well, when you reach the age of 61, there are lots of memories floating around in your mind. some are crystal clear. and some need to be dusted off. but new year’s eve memories are fresh in mind and for well over twenty years went something like this. you see mr. style was in the hospitality industry for forty years.
and running a hotel, whether it’s 1,000 rooms or 300, is somewhat akin to running a family. the size really doesn’t matter. and when you’re in charge, there’s a responsibility to make certain everything runs smoothly.
turtleneck sweater | faux suede moto jacket | plaid ankle pant | leather hobo bag | lug-sole loafers | pumps
so mr. style’s new year’s eve was always booked as he wandered the hallways, kitchens, ballrooms, and specialty restaurants making certain his staff and guests were happy campers. every year the boys and i would pack a suitcase and traipse along to the hotel with mr. style. sometimes we headed straight to the presidential suite, ordered room service, and movies and settled down for the evening.
if my mother was in town for a visit she’d tag along and order a vodka tonic or two. i always brought along a stack of magazines to flip through. mostly home decor magazines because january was always the time of year to refresh my home. but other times we would join mr. style for a delightful dinner then head up to the presidential suite for what was certain to be a quiet evening.
when we lived in Guam, there was always a fireworks show at the stroke of midnight on Tumon Bay with the ocean as the backdrop. other hotels had live bands playing, or dj’s spinning their tunes, and the new year would be ushered in the traditional way with auld lang syne playing in the background. but no matter if we lived stateside or overseas i always looked forward to the low key djalali new year’s eve tradition.
tomorrow i’ll dust off a memory and share how i celebrated new year’s day while growing up. since i lived in cornhusker country, it always involved football!
for those of you that have been following closely the past few weeks, i’ve modeled these lug-sole loafers several times. i’ve said it before, and i’ll say it again, they’re comfortable and go with just about anything. make sure to pick up a pair.
turtleneck sweater | faux suede moto jacket | plaid ankle pant | leather hobo bag | lug-sole loafers | pumps
we’re heading straight into the holidays. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and before you know it, we’ll be welcoming in a new decade. how quickly time passes. (i wonder what New Year’s 1919 felt like.)
we hope you’ve enjoyed our tour through the holidays and my new year’s holiday memories. how are you celebrating the holidays this year? let us know in the comments below.
turtleneck sweater | faux suede moto jacket | plaid ankle pant | leather hobo bag | lug-sole loafers | pumps
fall is well underway, and we’ve officially entered the holiday season. as we all know, as fun as this time of the year appears on paper, it can and is stressful. whether you’re traveling afar, hosting a crowd of people, or dealing with it alone, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s back-to-back can be overwhelming. this week on the blog, we’re going to talk self-care. self-care can take a lot of forms, and we’ll talk a lot about it this week, but today i’m going to focus on managing grief during the holidays.
as a disclaimer, i should say upfront: i’m not a grief counselor, therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist. nothing i say here is intended to take the place of a trained professional. it is only my goal to share certain difficult aspects of my life and strategies i use to cope. it is my hope that posts like today not only provide you a pleasant distraction by continuing with me on my fashion journey, but also a sense of camaraderie as we enter a season that but most accounts shouldn’t be difficult, but oftentimes, is.
grief can come from a variety of different sources and places, and it can manifest itself in unforeseen ways. you may have lost a loved one this year. you may be estranged from a family member. you may find yourself facing an illness. you may be going through financial hardship. or it may be something else quite entirely.
funnel neck sweater | similar sweater | wedges | similar wedges | pants | shirt | bag
as many of you know, i lost my husband of 36 years this summer. this is the first holiday season i am going to face alone. not alone alone—my kiddos will all be here—but alone in a sense all of those who have been married will understand. it’s difficult; it’s painful; and it’s just plain heartbreaking. it’s all of those things. and based on the outpouring of support, i know many of you—my readers—are going through the same thing this year.
first and foremost, know that i’m sorry, and i empathize. there’s nothing i can say—nothing anyone can say—that will make things better in any meaningful sense. but here inlies my first point: this holiday season, it’s important not to deal with grief alone.
you may not know how to make your grief precise—you may not know what to say at any given moment—and the same may be true for the people in your life. i can assure you that our family and friends want to take take your grief away—at least in part—but may not know what to do. words oftentimes fail us.
but don’t try to tackle your grief alone. take your friend up on their offer for a coffee. answer that 9:48PM phone call from your sister. fly out to visit your daughter for Thanksgiving. sometimes the sheer act of being forced to articulate our amorphous thoughts and feelings into words is therapy in and of itself. or, maybe this year it’s time to take the plunge and seek out a therapist.
the point is simple: reach out to the people that make up your life, and allow them to reach out to you. don’t face the holidays alone.
are you responsible for Thanksgiving dinner? are you hosting a family Christmas this year? do you have a series of office parties you’re expected to attend this December? do you have an entire house to decorate for November, December, and January? do you have Hanukkah gifts to purchase for children and grandchildren?
funnel neck sweater | similar sweater | wedges | similar wedges | pants | shirt | bag
the holidays bring with them all sorts of responsibilities and expectations. some of those expectations are brought on by others, but many of them are self-imposed.
those expectations can create an enormous amount of stress, and if you’re also grieving, that stress can exacerbate the grief and lead to guilt. all of a sudden, you’re now trapped in a feedback loop of stress, grief, guilt, and guilt, grief, stress. it’s not fun. to say the least.
you can break that cycle: subvert expectations. what i mean is this. to alleviate holiday stress and help manage grief, it’s OK to do things a little bit differently this year. if you’re traditionally responsible for a homemade Thanksgiving dinner, scratch “homemade”, and order one from Whole Foods. (i’ve done that many times, and trust me, it’s good.)
if you’re supposed to host family for a week this Christmas, but that feels just a little bit too overwhelming, ask your daughter and son-in-law if they’re willing to. if i’ve learned anything about you, my readers, you all have broad shoulders. you can and do take on and handle a lot. but i’m here to remind you—only because i have to remind myself—it’s OK to be vulnerable and ask for help. especially during the holidays.
if cutting back on the decorations is going free up a late November weekend, do it. spend that weekend taking care of yourself. if skipping a holiday party is going to allow you to grab a drink with an old friend and reconnect, then skip it. what is going to help manage grief more? personal interactions trump impersonal ones. every single time. this year, let go of both implicit and explicit expectations. it will help you manage your grief in totally unforeseen ways.
for those of you that follow me regularly, you know the importance i place on family. what do we really have in this life if not family? that being said, family isn’t always easy. oftentimes, it’s just plain work. but is there any better way to deal with grief than to reach out and bring your family closer? (the power of a hug is actually amazing.)
funnel neck sweater | similar sweater | wedges | similar wedges | pants | shirt | bag
oftentimes, family can bring with it stress, anger, and resentment. it’s hard to say that out loud. but it’s true. we may have a sibling who said something hurtful all those years ago that we’re still holding onto. we may have a child who made a decision we don’t agree with, which in turn led to a fight, which in turn led to six months of radio silence.
stories like this run the full spectrum of existence, but we’re all familiar with them. if we’re dealing with grief, the added complexity of family history, spurred on by holiday expectations, can be a recipe for frustration and sadness. but let’s flip that script for just a minute.
there is no time of year that better allows an excuse to reconnect and rebuild our familia relationships than the holidays. what’s stopping us from picking up the phone and reaching out to a brother we haven’t spoken to in years? what’s stopping us from getting on a plane and visiting a daughter who moved away last year?
the holiday season affords us the power of forgiveness. and it’s always worth exercising. no matter what. because at the end of the day, family is everything. and even when—especially when—we’re grieving, a hug from a loved one is transformative in a way only words can barely capture.
today, we talked about managing grief during the holidays by i) not facing the holidays alone; ii) letting go of expectations; iii) reaching out and/or reconnecting with family. it’s my hope that one, if not all of these strategies help, at least in part, you deal with any grief you may be facing this year.
given the potential heaviness of the post, i didn’t walk through my outfit of the day in any real detail. however, the theme today is obviously “cozy” and “comfort”. part of self-care is taking days to just be cozy and comfortable, and you’ll find links to each item of my outfit inline above.
first and foremost, i want to thank all of you for making last week’s travel week a resounding success. by all major metrics, it was our biggest week on the blog. and in fact, October was our biggest month of all time. in case you missed my river cruise with junior style, check out our travel diary part 1, part 2, and part 3. and if you’re looking for travel tips and tricks, check out the definitive guide to international travel.
moving forward, we’re changing up your YouTube schedule slightly. we’ll be regularly posting Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday. in case you missed it, yesterday we published a new entry into our Style Secrets series. checkout the video below for my final fall haul from JCPenny.
we’ve got a lot of exciting content lined up for you during the holiday season, so make sure to keep sharing these posts on your social media channels like Facebook. and if you haven’t already, sign up for our email newsletter on the sidebar to your right if you’re on desktop, and at the end of the page if you’re on mobile.
as we get older, it’s easy to get stuck in our fashion ways. so many of our closets are packed to the brim with neutrals: blacks, whites, grays, and beiges. and there’s nothing wrong with that. neutrals serve as the backbone of any well-established wardrobe. but if you ever feel like you’re in a fashion rut, it’s easy to get out by spicing up your neutrals with a color pop.
a single splash of yellow, red, orange, (light) blue, or green can go a long way to breathing new life into your closet—and a good way to make a bit of a statement. and given the layering options fall presents us—blazers, coats, and cardigans—you’ll never find a better time than autumn to introduce a little color into your wardrobe.
today i’m showcasing a simply stated, comfortable but quietly chic outfit from Talbots and Banana Republic. i love, love, love Talbots’ glen plaid pants. they’re extremely versatile and have gotten a lot of mileage this fall. you can pair them with just about anything: sweaters, blazers, you name it.
pants (Talbots) | top (Banana Republic) | duster (Banana Republic) | similar handbag | similar shoes
and what says “fall” more than a duster (Banana Republic). they’re so warm. so cozy. and eye-catching for that matter. they’re a perfect layering piece whether you’re spending the day at home or out and about.
pants (Talbots) | top (Banana Republic) | duster (Banana Republic) | similar handbag | similar shoes
now for my color splash, i went with Banana Republic‘s red wrap top. it stands out no doubt. and maybe that’s not quite for you. but you can imagine pairing this outfit (or one like it) with a more subdued red, yellow or orange. whatever you go with, you can’t really go wrong. simple color splashes go a long way. and i’ve pulled this post and this one for some more inspiration.
pants (Talbots) | top (Banana Republic) | duster (Banana Republic) | similar handbag | similar shoes
all this week, I’m revealing my top 5 classic movies one day at a time. in case you missed #5, check out my post from monday. in my #4 spot is the classic It Happened One Night starring Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable. this is an older one, so some of my younger readers might have missed it, but i definitely encourage you to check it out.
the movie follows a well-to-do woman played by Colbert who falls in love with a journalist played by Gable. did you know It Happened One Night is one of three films to receive all of the major academy awards? can you guess the other two without clicking the above link? do you agree with my list so far? what have i left out? stay tuned for the top 3 coming your way.
it’s friday gang! time to take a deep breath and relax. finally. per usual, i’ve got a wonderful recipe and cocktail for you. a perfect manhattan paired with a skirt steak with chimichurri sauce. one of my daughter in-law’s, kelly’s, favorites. you’re going to love it.
it’s been another big week on the blog. we’ve rolled out a new series on YouTube: friday fives. every friday, i’ll be showcasing my 5 favorite items that week. this week, i’ve picked out 5 essential lipsticks for you. make sure to watch the video below.
we’ve talked a lot about self-care, change, and growth this week. today, i want to shift gears, just a bit, and talk about the constants in our lives—the bedrocks. for me, that’s family. as you all know, i’ve got three kiddos and a daughter-in-law. and they mean the world to me. amidst all the change that’s going on in my life, they serve as a constant reminder of what’s important, and who is always there for me.
and family isn’t always easy. it can be a bit messy (or a lot bit). but it’s worth it. when the grounds seem to be shifting around us, there’s nothing better than being able to call and confide in those that know and love us best. and really, what’s better than sitting around the table, cocktails in hand, with sharing a lifetime of family stories on a friday night.
fridays are always about contempo-casual, which is just to say “comfort”. i get a lot of questions from readers about what i wear when i’m “bumming around the house”. today’s outfit of the day is a perfect example. fall’s finally broke here (for real), so i’ve got a beautiful, oversized, cocoon sweater from Talbots. i’ve paired it with a comfy but classy pleated, silk blouse. (you can find simile ones here and here.)
sweater (Talbots) | similar blouse 1 | similar blouse 2 | similar camo pants 1 | similar camo pants 2 | driving mocs | similar belt
camo is always in, and this year is no exception. you can grab similar pants here and here. pair the whole outfit with a pair of driving mocs, and you’ve got the perfect outfit for lounging around the house or running errands.
this month, i’ve shown you several variations on a fall harvest tablescape. (see here and here.) i’m continuing with that theme today, only with a modern twist. i’ve kept with pumpkins (but see also pumpkins 2 and pumpkins), but swapped out my place mats and napkins. i keep the spirit of fall with plaid, but introduce just a touch of modern flare with black and white.
plates (Macy’s) | glasses (Macy’s) | place mates (Pier 1) | napkins (Pier 1) | pumpkins 1 | pumpkins 2 | pumpkins 3
one of kelly’s go-to recipes for entertaining a dinner crowd is skirt steak with chimichurri sauce. skirt steak is a cheap cut of meat that packs a big punch when cooked on the rarer side and paired with chimichurri. broil it or grill it, you can’t go wrong.
over the past few weeks, so many of you have wondered what happened to Ollie. well, here she is. her and Oscar are doing purrfect, and are here to share my cocktail pick of the week: the perfect manhattan.
if you’re a whiskey-rye-bourbon fan, then you’re going to love this pick. this family of liquors pairs perfectly with steak.
cocktail shaker (Pottery Barn) | coupe glasses (Williams Sonoma)
alright, gang! that’s a wrap. the weekend is here. Oscar, Ollie, and I all wish you a wonderful one. for those of you that haven’t left a comment for me this week, make sure to say “hi” below. we here at a Style at a Certain Age love nothing more to hear what’s going on in your world, even if we can’t respond to all of the comments. after all, you all are our extended virtual family. and there’s nothing more important than family.
sweater (Talbots) | similar blouse 1 | similar blouse 2 | similar camo pants 1 | similar camo pants 2 | driving mocs | similar belt
it’s friday gang! it’s been a solid week over here on the blog. in case you missed it, we did a deep dive into fall fashion aimed for the career woman (but also here). we also officially introduced a new YouTube series fashioned squared over here on the blog. definitely check it out, especially if you’re looking for outfit ideas. i show you three ways to wear a white shirt. video above. but today is friday. and i have a crowd over tonight—all of my sons are in town. and of course we could go out to eat, but there’s nothing quite like a home cooked meal. in the spirit of keeping it simple ya’ll—more time for laughs—i’ve got an instant pot turkey chili recipe for you. time to kick back, relax, and pour a drink.
it’s casual friday over here at the office today. and by office, i mean my kitchen. in keeping with the theme of styling a white shirt, i’ve paired it with a beautiful cashmere sweater from Everlane. i’ve thrown on a pair of black slacks, but you could do navy just as well. and of course i spice everything up—just a bit—with leopard print shoes. head over to Talbots to grab a pair.
keeping with our tablescape from last week on friday’s with oscar, i’ve retooled and added to my pumpkin patch. in both fashion and decorating, i’m a big believer in versatility and reusability. decorations, just like clothes, are investments, and the goals is to get as much mileage out of them as possible. all i’ve had to add from last week’s tablescape are these cute pumpkin chili bowls. gives it a whole new vibe. love it.
similar pumpkin | similar pumpkin | similar pumpkin | similar pumpkin | placemats | napkins | bee glasses
if you don’t have an instant pot, get one. they were and are all the rage. and for good reason. what can’t these modern wonders do? very little. i get a ton of use out of this gadget every fall and winter.
there are so many different types of recipes out there to choose from. and they’re all so easy. today, i’ve chosen a turkey chili one for you. i’ve picked up the ingredients from Trader Joe’s. check out last week’s post on how to eat healthy at Trader Joe’s.
similar pumpkin | similar pumpkin | similar pumpkin | similar pumpkin | placemats | napkins | bee glasses | silverware | plates
when you’ve got a crowd, you’ve gotta have sides. what’s better with chili than chips and cornbread? chips before and during the meal. have ’em with a little salsa and sour cream, and save the rest for dunking in the chili.
cornbread is a Trader Joe’s mix spiced up with some jalapenos and shredded cheese. i love cornbread because it’s the perfect mixture between sweet and savory. how do you do yours?
similar pumpkin | similar pumpkin | similar pumpkin | similar pumpkin | placemats | napkins | bee glasses | silverware | plates
we’ve done a lot of fall cocktails over here on the blog. last week, it was the white pumpkin. the week before, it was an apple cider mojito. today, i’m keeping it simple: beer. my kiddos love beer, and i do to. Athens’ craft beer game is strong. we’ve got Terrapin Beer Company and Creature Comforts to name a few. if you see them in your local store, make sure to pick a case up. you won’t be disappointed. i’m a light beer gal myself: pilsners and lagers. coming from the Bay Area, my eldest son is an IPA fan. what’s your favorite type of beer?
alright, gang! that’s a wrap here. we’ve covered a lot of ground this week and are ending on a high note. let me know what you’ve got planned for the weekend in the comments below. are you traveling? going to see a movie? dinner for two? have a new recipe you’re into? found a new microbrewery near you? i love to hear what’s going on in your life.
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