The Evolution of oo la la!

At least once a week for the past 6 months, I have had fleeting thoughts about the store blog. Fleeting because I have been moving at the speed of light and have been trying to figure out what the store does and does not need, what I can and cannot do and whether I will or will not stay.

If you're a regular at the store, then you've noticed that in the past year or so, the store has become part-time. I've always done more than one thing and my travel schedule, youth & adult trips and change in lifestyle have had me all over the place...particularly in the past 18 months. What's interesting about my new part-time status is that as long as I place the heart-shaped note on the front door of the store with my return date on it, you all show up to see where I've been and what I brought back. To be honest, it keeps everything interesting for me because I don't have the "stay put" gene in my DNA. Maybe I have ADD. LOL

I'm writing this post mostly because it's time and secondly because I just registered with a new vendor (LOVE their jackets!) and left the space blank when it asked for my store Web site because this site hasn't been updated in quite some time. Now is as good as any to get current, don't you think?

A week from this Monday, I am leaving for Paris and will be back in the store early December with goodies from The City of Light and from my new vendor. I'll be pre-selling to my Facebook tribe and checking in while I'm away, but in the meantime I want you to know that I am dedicated to my part-time status here at oo la la! I love being a buyer and I love that you love what I buy. I get such a kick seeing you leave with items that excite me as much as they excite you and appreciate your ongoing support.

Guess I'll sign off and get back to work.

With all my heart,

Tracey

Your part-time Oakland Shop Girl

New Digs!

No, no, no!  The store doesn't have new digs!  Instead, I'm using new digs for the Annual Trip to Paris!

I have compiled some photos (below) of the apartments that my guests will stay in this November for the trip to Paris.  Lynda + Alice will share a 2 bedroom apartment and Judy will stay in a studio apartment. 

If you can't make it in 2011, consider 2012.  In fact, Sherry Trujillo of San Jose, California has already made her deposit for 2012!  She'll be turning 45 in the City of Light.  oo la laaaaaaa!

Here is Lynda & Alice's two bedroom Paris apartment!

  

Now here's traveler Judy's studio apartment 

Aren't they the cutest?!  Hope you can make it some time.  If not with me in November, then Just Go!  Hope to see you soon!

Tracey

Your Oakland Shop Girl

Be Careful What You Wish For...

Resting in the Lounge Area at Accessories/The Show
Las Vegas 2/15/11

In case you might have noticed, I've been moving at the speed of light lately.  After my annual November holiday in France, I had a lovely holiday season (December) at the store.  It was fun catching up with customers and getting into the holiday spirit! 

It's lunch time!
Martinique, French West Indies
January 2011

In January, I took off for the Caribbean (Barbados and Martinique) to belatedly celebrate my 10 year wedding anniversary.  (My actual anniversary is in August.)  And as much as I love to travel, getting back home for longer than a month was heavy on my mind.  There is, after all, no place like home.

So here I am on my last day in Las Vegas where I went to MAGIC (at the Las Vegas Convention Center), WWIN (at the hotel Rio) and Accessories/The Show (at The Venetian) to see what was unique, cute and new in retail.  In the picture above, I was pooped from shopping and taking a break.  So, yes, it's true.  A woman can actually tire from shopping.  *Smile*

Specifically on the lookout for new sunglasses, body shapers and a refund from a vendor that took my order and my money in August 2010 (!) and didn't send me my stuff (long story), I found what I was looking for and more.  I can' wait for everything to start rolling in...

2011 is going to be busy for me.  The store has turned into a part-time business (Noon-6pm Monday through Friday when I'm in town) because I spoke some things into existence by putting my desires out there into The Universe about more travel and my continued celebration of culture.  As a result, I signed a contract with American Airlines' BlackAtlas.com to travel and provide content for their site; I won a spot in a travel blogging contest with Wyndham Worldwide; I'm going to be a panelist at a big blogging conference; and I am actively marketing my travel adventure camp for girls.  All I can say is Be careful what you wish for.  You know the rest...because you might just get it!

Thanks for putting up with me!  I love my store and I love all of you for your support. 

See you tomorrow!

Tracey

Your Oakland Shop Girl