Peridot Skies

Birthday Recap

August 06, 2012

I celebrated my Birthday last Friday! I took the day off and spent it eating and shopping on the Plaza. It was a great day. We enjoyed sushi and wine at Kona, then a birthday red velvet cupcake! We even ran into old friends we had not seen in over a year. Such a joy!

We then met my sister and her family for dinner and drinks and spent the evening enjoying games. My sister experimented with a new cocktail to try. She made cotton candy martinis, and they are sweet. I usually like sweet things, but these are almost too sweet even for me! My sister gave me a skull scarf for my birthday that I love, and I will have fun styling it soon!

I mention the Plaza often so I thought I might describe what "The Plaza" actually is. Located south of downtown Kansas City, it is approximately 18 blocks of shopping. With shops like, J Crew, H & M, Sperry, Burberry, and Hall's just to name a few. It is sidewalk shopping, so you stroll from store front to store front admiring the windows and people. There is a Starbucks so you can pick up your favorite beverage, or stop and have lunch at my personal favorite Kona Grill, or Brio and sit out on their patios. When I lived in Tulsa we had a similar shopping area I really enjoyed know as Utica Square. The difference is, The Plaza is about 10 times larger!!

The rest of the weekend was spend relaxing and catching up on a few things around the house. I caught this shot of a double rainbow Saturday evening. Isn't it bright? I could see the entire bottom rainbow across the sky.

My mom is coming to visit next week to spend some time so I needed to get an idea of all the fun things we will do while she is here. She is a real mover and shaker! Not a shopper and a luncher, but a project and a crafter kinda mom. I am hoping to have some new DIY'er ideas soon for you guys!

I am spending today at The Nationals Golf Club. It is a magnificent course designed by Tom Watson. No, I do not play golf, I am attending a charity event. I will instagram pics of the day to share. How was your weekend?

Photos by Lisa

August 06, 2012
1 Comments

Blair Ritchey

August 03, 2012

Colors

I cannot tell you how excited I am for today's feature. If you have not yet noticed, I absolutely love Blair's designs. I received my mini Lulu this past week in pale pink. It is the softest leather, and such detail is put into the design and quality. I adore the detachable tassel too!

Originally from Pennsylvania, Blair from a young age had an eye for fashion. She attended college taking a "safe" route and studied Psychology. However, the strong desire she had for the fashion industry lead her to New York interning for various designers during her summers.

You know the saying, "you will know it when it's right?" Blair's passion was discovered when she first interned for a handbag designer. Her designs are simplistic, and transition from day to evening, as well as season to season. Not only are her bags beautiful, and complimentary to your outfit, but it was important they maintain functionality.

Blair Ritchey's bags are a piece of luxury. Made of lambskin, they are so soft, and lined with brushed canvas for a delicate lining. The hardware is gold metal with a detachable tassel. Each Mini Lulu is made to order, making your Lulu special and unique.

I asked Blair to answer a few questions to get to know her a little better.

What made you take the plunge and start your own business?

Creating a handbag line was something that I always wanted to do. For too long I waited for the perfect time or opportunity to begin. Then one night I literally thought I was going to burst if I didn’t just start. I sat down at my dusty little sewing machine and made my first bag…and so it began!

Do you see the line evolving into other products?

I definitely see the line expanding into other markets down the road. Right now I am having so much fun designing bags, but sometimes I do get excited thinking about designing ready to wear pieces.

What are some of your favorite trends going on right now?

There are so many trends right now! I would have to say my favorites for fall are the mixing of different patterns and colors (LOVE!) and I’m totally obsessed with brocade.

Share a little bit about your personal style, what would we find in your closet and in your home?

Lots and lots of grey and black! The past few seasons I have added a lot of color – but I can’t seem to kick my obsession with grey. My style is more on the classic side, and I love to accessorize and layer.

In our home we have very large dark furniture so to brighten it up we have accents of white and pops of color. I try to have fresh white hydrangeas in a vase as often as possible; I love how they complete a room.

You know the Mini Lulu in pink is my favorite, which is your favorite?

It’s so hard for me to pick – it literally changes daily. I am using the coral Mini Foldover a lot – it’s the perfect size when I don’t need to haul everything I own for a night out.

Thanks Blair for sharing a piece of your world with us.

I want to share a Blair Ritchey with one lucky follower. Win your very own pale pink mini Lulu with a wristlet just like mine by entering the giveaway. Good Luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

August 03, 2012
37 Comments

97 years

August 02, 2012

Birthdays

That is my youngest grandson's hand and my grandmother's hand. A span of 5 generations! My grandmother turns 97 today! Her birthday is the day before mine and I grew up always celebrating together with her. I learned so much from these hands. While they are no longer smooth and straight, they tell a story. A story of family, love, and life. She has raised 6 kids, is the grandmother to 18, great grandmother of 19, and great great grandmother to 7. Yes, I am from a large family! She has taught so many valuable lessons thru the years to so many generations. She is a true blessing. She may not move as fast as she once did, and see as clear, but she will hear a pin drop from the other room and let you know it!

She taught me how to make homemade applesauce from apples in her own orchard. I learned how to make pie crust, and gravy in her kitchen. She could make a mean fried chicken every Sunday afternoon, and we all loved her homemade pies. Spending the night was always a treat growing up. She would make root beer floats with you, and let you stay up later than you should playing a fun game of cards, and would always help you win if you could, and later became a domino queen! She has lived longer than my Grandpa whom she was married to for 70 years, and all her siblings but one. So I remind the BF often...... there is a good chance I will be around for a long time! Longevity runs in my family!

This is my Grandmother in the middle when she was a little girl with my Great Grandparents.

Here she is the day she graduated from school.

And her she is last month for the 4th of July.

Now if you will excuse me, I will eat the seven macarons I purchased in honor of her birthday!! (Well my birthday is tomorrow, so its only fitting.)

August 02, 2012
1 Comments

Turquoise Denim

August 01, 2012

Bracelets

Tank- Madewell on sale right now, Jeans - Target (similar), Sandals - Beverly Feldman (old), Friendship bracelet c/o Gypsies & Debutantes, Black Jade bracelet - personal collection, Silver stripes -Tiffanys (old), Blue skull - Bauble Bar On Sale right now, silver cuff - personal collection, Sunnies - Ray Ban.

I have to give a huge thank you to Sandy and Meggy for this post. Meggy took the pictures for me while Sandy stood off to my right telling me to "pose"!! "Like this"!! And as you can see in the last photo I was studying hard! Haha! They regularly post outfit pictures so I knew I was in good hands. I had not planned on having outfit pics taken, but when we met last week for the J Crew preview, Meggy insisted she take pictures for me! We had fun, and I might actually do these a little more regular!
Photos by Meggy

August 01, 2012
10 Comments

Pages

Birthday Recap

Blair Ritchey

97 years

Turquoise Denim

About Peridot Skies

Popular Posts

Fierce 50 Member

Partners