A whirlwind trip to New York, a beauty stock-up for two homes, and a save-the-date that stopped me in my tracks: my 50th high school reunion is four weeks away.
Well, hello Friday. Grit & Glammers, if last weekend was about handbags and hand soaps, this week was about airplanes and epiphanies. I hopped a quick flight to New York for a YouTube x Nordstrom shopping excursion, came home with a few new treasures and one very full heart, and then opened my calendar to a date I’ve been circling all summer: my 50th high school reunion. Four weeks from now. In my hometown of Omaha. So consider this the official start of my high school reunion glow up — four Fridays of progress reports, outfit scouting, and, I suspect, a memory or two. Can you glow up over 50? You bet you can, and at 67, I’m about to prove it. Here’s week one.
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This Weekend at a Glance
- A picture-perfect New York minute: 82 degrees, blue skies, and a shopping excursion with Nordstrom — full What I Wore report coming next week.
- The NSale beauty stock-up for two homes: Clarins Double Serum, Elemis Cleansing Balm, and one well-earned splurge.
- A skincare discovery designed for menopausal skin: Natura Bissé’s Essential Shock (R)evolution Collagen Matrix.
- Fun summer jewelry in the mix: stackable bangles and a floral necklace.
- My 50th high school reunion is in four weeks — the outfit scouting has officially begun, starting with Staud dresses and a Gap matching set.
- The four-week glow-up plan: cleaner eating, consistent Pilates, and strength training back at the top of the list.
- Apartment progress report: the guest room is nearly finished, the couch is on its way, and my bedroom is up and running.
A New York Minute with Nordstrom
Some weeks hand you a gift, and this was one of them. I flew to New York for a YouTube x Nordstrom shopping excursion, and the city showed off: 82 degrees, blue skies, sunshine bouncing off every window. The kind of weather that makes you forgive New York for everything else.
I’ll have a full report of What I Wore in NYC plus everything I tried on at the store — and yes, a few things came home with me. (Was there ever any doubt?) Consider this your teaser. The full story lands Sunday.
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Stocking Up: The NSale Beauty Edit for Two Homes
Here’s something nobody tells you about setting up a second home: it’s not the furniture that sneaks up on you. It’s the duplicates. Skincare, makeup, brushes, a second hair dryer — stocking two vanities is a bit of an expense, I won’t pretend otherwise. But once both homes are set up, I’ll never pack a toiletry bag between Athens and Atlanta again, and that is the whole point of the no-pack life.
Which is why the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale couldn’t have come at a better time. Here’s what’s going in the cart:
- Clarins Double Serum — my must-have. If I could only keep one serum on both counters, this would be it.
- Elemis Cleansing Balm — the cleanser that makes washing your face feel like an event.
- Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Vault — my treat-myself pick, and with a reunion on the calendar, the timing writes itself.
- Estée Lauder Gel Eye Cream — for very tired eyes, of which I currently have two.
- New makeup brushes — because your products are only as good as the tools you apply them with.
My rule stands from my haul post: browsing is easy, buying is a vote. Every one of these earns its spot on two counters. And if beauty is your NSale category, my full beauty deals roundup has the rest.
The Skincare Discovery: Natura Bissé Essential Shock
I’ve been testing lots of new skincare products lately, and I have to tell you about the one that stopped me in my tracks: Natura Bissé’s Essential Shock (R)evolution Collagen Matrix. From the moment I put it on, I knew it was good stuff. It’s definitely pricey — I won’t sugarcoat that — but the Essential Shock line is a firming solution designed for hormonally changing skin, and that makes all the difference:
- Designed with menopausal skin in mind
- Supports the look of collagen and elastin-rich skin
- Deep nourishment and lasting comfort
So many skincare lines treat mature skin as an afterthought. This one treats it as the assignment. And since a little skincare TLC is precisely the mood four weeks out from Omaha, I’m adding the Intense Instant-Lift Mask and the (R)evolution Pro-Exo Collagen Cream to my cart, too. Full report once I’ve put them through their paces.
The Big News: My 50th High School Reunion
Now for the headline. In four weeks, I’m heading home to Omaha, Nebraska for my 50th high school reunion — and here’s the part that gets me: I haven’t seen my classmates in fifty years. I’ve missed every other reunion. Every single one. So this weekend is going to be serendipitous in the truest sense.
And the location? The big Saturday dinner is at the Omaha Marriott Regency Circle — the very hotel where I met my late husband, Mr. Style. It was the hotel’s grand opening, and he had just transferred from Anaheim, California to take the position of Front Office Manager. The Midwest was quite the plot twist for a man raised in Europe and educated in America — Menlo College, to be exact. But I’ll let you in on a secret: he loved everything about Middle America. Including me. So this trip is a coming home in more ways than one. Some places hold entire chapters of your life. That ballroom holds mine.
My senior photo — pink cashmere turtleneck, naturally. Some things never really change.
The itinerary: cocktails Friday night, a school tour and lunch on Saturday, and dinner at the Marriott Saturday evening. The attire is dressy casual for the two main events, casual for the school tour. Which means I need three outfits, and the scouting has begun.
What I’m Scouting: The Reunion Outfits
Here’s my thinking so far, event by event.
Saturday night — dinner at the Marriott. A red lip is non-negotiable. My favorite is Dragon Girl — so maybe a simple black dress will be the ticket, and let the lip do the talking. I typically shop Staud for accessories — their handbags, boots, and shoes — but I’ve been eyeing their dresses for years. It might just be time to try them on for size.
Saturday morning — the school tour. I spotted the cutest matching set from Gap: a maxi skirt and tank top. And can we talk about Gap for a moment? They are absolutely killing it with Zac Posen at the helm. Casual, polished, comfortable enough for wandering old hallways — done.
Friday night — cocktails. Still open. Which is exactly the kind of styling puzzle I love. Watch this space.
A Little Summer Sparkle
Summer is always a great time to add some fun jewelry into the mix — it’s the lowest-commitment way to make everything you already own feel new again. How cute are these bangles? Stack them, mix them, wear them with a white tee and call it a day. And this floral necklace is pure summer — the kind of piece that does the accessorizing for you.
And can we talk about Lizzie Fortunato? The brand was featured in the Anniversary Sale, but they also have their own site — and you’ll find them at Tuckernuck, too. If you like big, bold jewelry, this brand is for you. Nothing shy, nothing dainty, everything with a point of view. I’m eyeing the charm necklace and the souvenir necklace — the kind of statement pieces that turn a simple black dress into an outfit. (And we know I have a simple black dress on the brain these days.)
And a reminder while we’re shopping: the NSale is in full swing and open to the public. I’ve published several posts sharing my favorites — the complete guide, my fifteen-piece haul, the shoe edit, and the beauty deals roundup — so if you’re still mapping your strategy, it’s all there for you. The sale runs through August 9.
The Four-Week Glow Up
Now, some honesty between friends. Between setting up the apartment, trips back and forth from Athens to Atlanta, family time, and work — this girl is pooped. My regular routine has been blown to smithereens the past two months, and I’ve been feeling like a bit of a schlub. Four weeks out from seeing people I haven’t seen in five decades? That’s all the motivation I need.
Here’s the plan. First, I’m cleaning up my eating habits — too many restaurant meals lately, and I can feel the difference. Back to my own kitchen. Second, I’m returning to consistent workouts: Pilates three times a week, Orange Theory once a week. And I’m seriously considering hiring a personal trainer again. Years ago, when I had one, I was in the best shape of my life — and one thing I know for certain at this age: if you don’t use it, you lose it. Strength training sits at the very top of my priority list, and I intend to keep using it.
Not a crash diet. Not a miracle. Just four weeks of showing up for myself — which, frankly, is the only glow up that ever works.
Apartment Progress Report
Meanwhile, back in Dunwoody, the apartment is coming along beautifully. The guest room is exactly one piece of art and two lamps away from the finish line, and it’s already earning rave reviews — friends and family have spent the night and can’t stop talking about the mattress and pillows. A guest room that makes people sleep in? That’s a five-star review.
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And the big news: the couch is on its way! Hooray! Which means it’s down to my bedroom — and it’s already up and running with my Tanner platform bed, scalloped quilt, quilted sham, and scalloped euro sham. Now I’m just waiting on the dresser and nightstand to ship — my favorite hobby of refreshing tracking numbers continues.
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On My Nightstand
With Omaha on the calendar, only one book would do: I’m rereading My Ántonia by Willa Cather. If you didn’t grow up in Nebraska, Cather is our literary patron saint — and her story of looking back across decades at the people and places that shaped you is hitting differently this time around, I’ll admit. Last week it was an Atlanta author while learning to call Atlanta home; this week, a Nebraska writer while packing for the trip back. I do love a little symmetry in my reading life.
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NSale Beauty Stock-Ups
- Clarins Double Serum
- Elemis Cleansing Balm
- Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Vault
- Estée Lauder Gel Eye Cream
- Makeup Brushes
- NARS Dragon Girl
Natura Bissé Essential Shock
- Essential Shock (R)evolution Collagen Matrix
- Essential Shock Intense Instant-Lift Mask
- Essential Shock (R)evolution Pro-Exo Collagen Cream
Summer Jewelry
- Bangles
- Floral Necklace
- Lizzie Fortunato
- Lizzie Fortunato at Tuckernuck
- Lizzie Fortunato Charm Necklace
- Lizzie Fortunato Souvenir Necklace
Reunion Outfit Scouting
The Apartment
Frequently Asked Questions
A high school reunion glow up is less about transformation and more about consistency: clean up your everyday eating, commit to regular movement like Pilates or strength training, and refresh your skincare routine so results show within a month. Four weeks is plenty of time to feel noticeably better — it’s not enough time for a miracle, and you don’t need one.
Dressy casual sits between office polish and cocktail attire: think an elevated dress, a matching set, or great pants with a beautiful top. Skip anything that reads too formal — the goal is polished ease, not black tie.
Start with brands that do elevated-but-easy well: Staud for a dress with personality, Gap’s Zac Posen-era matching sets for daytime events, and Nordstrom for one-stop shopping across price points. A simple black dress with a confident red lip is the most reliable formula for the evening event.
It’s essential. Muscle mass declines with age unless you actively maintain it — if you don’t use it, you lose it. Two to three sessions a week protects bone density, posture, and energy, and it changes how clothes fit more than any diet.
Yes — it’s the best time of year to stock up on serums, cleansers, and tools you already use, because the exclusive sets and bundle pricing only appear once a year. Public Access runs through August 9.
A blue-based red like NARS Dragon Girl flatters most skin tones and brightens the whole face. A velvet or matte-but-not-drying formula gives you staying power through a long evening without settling into lines.
Closing Thoughts
That’s week one of the countdown, friends. A New York minute, two vanities in progress, a couch en route, and a save-the-date that has me digging out my senior photo. Fifty years. Where on earth does the time go — and why does it feel like yesterday? Three Fridays to Omaha — I’ll report back next week on the glow-up progress and, with any luck, a verdict on that Friday-night cocktail outfit.
Now tell me — have you ever been to a milestone reunion? What did you wear, and what do you wish you’d known before you walked in? Leave me a note in the comments. I read every single one.
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Go put a smile on someone’s face today. Including your own. And I’ll do the same. Because style has no expiration date — and neither do you.
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