A New Chapter for Fridays

For years, Fridays at Style at a Certain Age had a rhythm all their own.

We eased into the weekend together — a cocktail, an appetizer, a little style, and, of course, Oscar. My beloved German Shepherd was more than a handsome face around here, although goodness, he was certainly that. Oscar became part of the SaaCA family, and I know many of you looked forward to seeing him on Fridays as much as anything else I shared.

But Fridays with Oscar were never really about what we were serving or what we were wearing. It was about slowing down at the end of the week — taking a breath, setting out something simple and delicious, pouring a cocktail or a mocktail, and making room for a little joy. Oscar had a way of making even the most ordinary Friday feel like an occasion.

As many of you know, Oscar passed away last December. Losing him was heartbreaking. Anyone who has ever loved a dog knows they are never “just a dog.” They are companions, shadows, greeters, protectors, comedians, and keepers of our daily routines. Oscar was all of that — and then some.

So today, I want to pause and honor what Fridays with Oscar meant. To me, to Kelly, and to this community. It was a sweet chapter at SaaCA, and I am deeply grateful for the years we shared it with you.

And Oscar’s isn’t the only chapter turning. Kelly, who has been part of so many of these Fridays behind the scenes, is setting off on a new adventure of her own — and we wish her every good thing. Over the years, Kelly brought so many wonderful recipes to Fridays with Oscar — the appetizers you saved, the cocktails you mixed for your own Friday evenings, the dishes that found their way into your weekend rotations. Those recipes live on right here on the blog, and every time you make one, a little bit of this sweet chapter carries forward. If there’s anything this season of life keeps teaching me, it’s that nothing ever stays quite the same. Seasons change, and so must we. I’ve learned to meet those changes with an open heart — because more often than not, they’re making room for something wonderful.

So it feels right to let Fridays with Oscar rest now — with gratitude, not goodbye. I won’t try to recreate it, because some things are special precisely because they belonged to a particular season of life.

But Friday isn’t going anywhere.

In fact, a new Friday series arrives soon: Weekend Notes: Atlanta.

As I settle into my new Atlanta apartment, I’ll be sharing a fresh take on weekend living — city style, small-space decorating, cocktails and appetizers, dinner plans, what to wear, where to go, and the little rituals that make a weekend feel special. For years, Oscar gave Fridays their name. Starting soon, Fridays will arrive as notes — from a new city, a new chapter, the same Friday spirit. And I cannot wait to take you along for the ride.

There will be outfits, of course. There will be home decor. There will be a cocktail or two, because some traditions deserve to be carried on. (And yes — Ollie will undoubtedly claim the best seat in the apartment, so the supervision will continue.) Most of all, there will be plenty of inspiration for making the most of this season of life, wherever you call home.

Thank you for loving Oscar, for showing up on Fridays, and for being part of this community through every chapter. SaaCA continues to evolve, as all good things do, but the heart of it remains exactly the same: style, beauty, home, good food, good company, and finding joy in the everyday.

Oscar will always be part of that story.

And now, we turn the page.