Thanksgiving Weekend Sale

In honor of the biggest shopping weekend of the year, my Etsy shop will be holding a sale for the entire Thanksgiving weekend.

From November 24 to November 29 enjoy 20% off all items in the shop along with free shipping on all items in the sale section

Use coupon code NOVEMBERSALE2010 at check out for the 20% off discount.

Coming out of Seclusion

Yes, it's been a while! A combination of life and laziness took over the past couple of months and I just did not set aside time to post updates. But with a new season arriving (I love fall!) the shop is gearing up for some new inventory. Here is a sneak peak of some upcoming fall merchandise:


Grandpa Sweater


Vintage Tapestry Wrap Skirt


Vintage Burgundy Leather Boots

LA Heat

Yep, summer is officially here and the 100 degree weather is confirming this. Some things we did this weekend to try and beat the heat were watching a movie in a nice and cool movie theater and leaving our spot in between mountains and heading to Downtown Los Angeles for the very first LA Flea Market. Although it was still warm, there was at least a nice breeze which you don't find when you are living in a valley.

The flea market was definitely less overwhelming than the Pasadena Rose Bowl flea market. There were some great vendors as well as an array of food trucks! I'm excited about some of the finds for the store. Check out these lovely shoes coming soon to the shop.



People lining up for the lunch trucks


Yummy Kimchi fries!

Surrounded

Full campgrounds, insect bites, and unexpected rain. The natural wonders that surrounded me during my weekend camping trip in the Sequoia National Forest surpassed these small setbacks.

As expected, the Sequoia trees left me in awe. I originally feared bears visiting our campsite at night, but luckily we had none. Instead, we had a friendly passing with a blonde bear eating grass in Crescent Meadow. Speaking of meadows, Sequoia National Forest is full of them. I can understand why Hale Tharp, a miner during the Gold Rush, built a home within a Sequoia log near Crescent Meadow. Below is a photo of his humble abode hailed as "Tharp's Log."

Lastly, I have to say the most memorable experience of the weekend for me was seeing a shooting star. When you are up in the Sierra Nevadas, you feel so much closer to the stars. It's absolutely beautiful.

Christmas In July

Etsy is having their Christmas in July sale! Yours truly will be participating in this wonderful event beginning July 15th (which is this coming Thursday) all the way until July 31st.

Please check out the store beginning the 15th for the "Christmas in July" items, new listings, and for other special reductions on everything else in the store!

The Passing of Time

How did July get here so fast? We are already halfway through 2010. It's a little frightening how quickly time passes. Celebrating another birthday really came sooner than I thought and I can't help but ponder on how close I am getting to the next decade of my life!

Speaking of birthdays, today is Frida Kahlo's! She would have been 103!


Antique Frida Kahlo Pendant.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/48295485/vintage-frida-kahlo-necklace?image_id=147614085

Weekend of Celebrations

It's been a jam-packed weekend, starting with yours truly's birthday celebrations on the 2nd and 3rd and a day with friends and fireworks on the 4th. I am finally getting a chance to just catch up today, but much needed preparation for the Sequoia get away next week is underway.

One nice surprise I had over the weekend was one of my listings being featured on a fellow Etsian's treasury.

Here is the dress that was featured:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50770522/vintage-diagonal-candy-striped-pink

Check it out at Elisaloves Treasury, dedicated to stars and stripes! In honor of the 4th of July!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c300d612a938eef10909f34/stars-and-stripes-and-stars

I Heart Trees

I might have mentioned that I have an affinity for trees. As I was browsing through random pictures on the internet, I came across an article/post on Dumage.com dedicated to pictures of strange trees. Needless to say I was fascinated. Here are just a few I find intriguing:





There are many more fascinating pictures, some of which are recognizable. I am sure a lot of these pictures have been out for a while, but I think trees are always worth noting. Plus, my camping trip is about a week away, so I'm feeling very close to nature these days.

Monthsary

It's officially been a month since I opened the Etsy shop and so far it hasn't been too shabby. The amount of sales is not tremendous, but I made more than I thought I would in my first month. Now, I can only hope that things will pick up!

It certainly has been busy and there is definitely a lot more work involved than I anticipated, but it's been enjoyable. I know that summer just started, but I am already thinking about items to stock for Fall.

Check out some of my accessory listings!


http://www.etsy.com/listing/48878754/floral-cameo-coral-stud-earrings


http://www.etsy.com/listing/50014435/vintage-gold-tone-disc-necklace


http://www.etsy.com/listing/49860418/ethnic-red-and-black-woven-belt

Food Counselors

Mango and Apple Tisane, Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes, and breakfast hash.

Today, I had a nice Sunday brunch at BLD (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)with Helen and Stephanie. I met these two during grad school and found that aside from our professional field, we also share another interest; Food. It's been a non-stop gastronomic journey with these two, and I do not foresee an end. The highlight of brunch were the blueberry ricotta pancakes. Not only were they delicious, but hey are served with pure maple syrup in a cute tin!

Floral Prints

Aside from moccasins and tribal/ethnic prints, I've been gravitating towards florals. If you happen to share the same attraction, please check out some new items in the shop


http://www.etsy.com/listing/49943728/vintage-floral-sleeveless-mini-dress


http://www.etsy.com/listing/49857036/vintage-sheer-floral-victorian-inspired


http://www.etsy.com/listing/49861553/vintage-multi-colored-nina-piccalino

Summer

Today is the first day of summer. For me, summer seems to be the busiest season and as a result it flies by. Trips, birthdays, and longer days are just a few things to look forward to, but what tops my summer to do list is consumption of fruit. My fruit cravings become stronger in the summer time, particularly for those that are tropical or exotic. One of these is lychee. It is such an attractive fruit with it's color, texture, and unique flavor.

I decided to buy some fresh lychee yesterday and devoured almost half of it.

New at Cher Opal

New items in the Etsy Store! I went hunting over the weekend and came across some great finds. All I can say is I was drawn to color, florals, and ethnic-inspired prints. Here are some items I just listed in the shop.



http://www.etsy.com/listing/49365673/yellow-linen-slingbacks-size-6-7


http://www.etsy.com/listing/49368516/ethnic-woven-drawstring-bucket-bag

http://www.etsy.com/listing/49367404/vintage-ocean-blue-sleeveless-dress


More to come (including some new floral dresses).

Trees, and Tents and Bears. Oh my.

My weekend summer getaway has been officially planned. It looks like I am heading to the Sequoia National Forest in July for a weekend of camping, hiking, time with family, and great views. However, aside from these exciting activities, I feel a tinge of anxiety about some possible visitors; bears. The hubs is working hard at looking up dos and dont's while camping in bear country. It'll be great, I'm sure, but definitely unfamiliar.

Things I'm looking forward to are seeing the great giant Sequoia trees and the meadows. I hope to see something like this:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryting/320802294/


I love trees. Can't get enough of them.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/scott_hurst/1470299707/

I Want to Eat This

http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/diningtravel/culinarytravel/campaniapizza

Once in a while, I will mention food that I would like to try or that I am simply craving. This week, I really want to eat a pizza, but not just any pizza, a pizza napoletana or Neapolitan pizza. I usually like Sicilian style pizza, but the crispy thin crust of Neapolitan pizzas can be irresistible. Ideally I'd like to eat a slice of this (most likely more) at a pizzeria in Naples. For now, I'll have to find one in the Los Angeles area. Any suggestions?

Long Weekends

Spring is almost over and Summer is drawing near. Time to start planning vacations or weekend getaways. After this three day weekend, the wheels have begun turning. Perhaps a nice trip to the Sequoia National Forest? Or a quick weekend in San Francisco? We shall see.

Here are some items that will surely spice up your getaways:

Romp around in this spring/summer floral shorts romper.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/48245193/floral-shorts-romper-small

Pack up your belongings in this floral tapestry weekender bag by "Leisure."

http://www.etsy.com/listing/48308351/leisure-floral-tapestry-weekender-bag

Going to the "Regal Beagle"

I grew up watching Three's Company and often looked forward to what Janet, Chrissy, or Terri would wear. These dresses remind me of something these gals would wear on an evening outing at the "Regal Beagle." For those of you who might not be familiar with the sitcom, it was aired in the late 70s to mid 80s. If you get a chance to see an episode, look out for Mrs. Roper, she had some great floral dresses.




http://www.etsy.com/listing/48305009/pink-and-grey-hal-ferman-secretary-dress



http://www.etsy.com/listing/48293740/70s-cascading-fuchsia-party-dress

Up and Running!

Cher Opal is officially open. Please visit my shop on Etsy! http://www.etsy.com/shop/cheropal and check out my hand-picked vintage items.

Nature Walk

My Sunday was spent hiking the San Gabriel Mountains. The destination: Heninger Flats, located in Eaton Canyon Park in Pasadena. Heninger Flats can be found by hiking an ascending 3 mile trail. Although going up hill was at times a battle, the sights along the way as well as the end point were well worth it. Pieces of history including parts of a railroad and a small cabin built in 1875 were pleasant surprises. The views of Downtown LA and Pasadena were beautiful as well.

Coming Soon

There is still work to be done, but just a few more weeks and my Etsy Store will be up and running. Here is a a sneak peak of some items from the store!


Dropped Waist, White Lace dress




Ethnic Print Mini-Skirt



Floral Sweetheart Cut Dress



Gingham Day Dress

Saturday Breakfast

Woke up to a beautiful Saturday morning. The hubby and I started off the day with a nice breakfast at the Urth Caffe in Downtown LA. Vegetable omelet, cinnamon raisin apple bread pudding with steamed milk, and honey vanilla latte. Oh my.