Sneak peek of New MNC kits by me

I think some of these may appear on the website really soon but here are 4 kits that I have in the works right now for MondayNightClass.ca - New kits will be release on the 1st of each month which is just around the corner.

The missing is found ..... and other stuff about me

You are in the right place ........ I changed the URL for my blog from http://www.livelovelaughandstamp.blogspot.com/ to http://www.shannontompkins.blogspot.com/ ......

Many people have asked me why and when I post I am sure many more of you will.  Anyone who has followed my blog knows that I started out as a stamper only and over the last 1 1/2 years have become more of a scrapbooker.  I am sure my stamps are lonely as I have neglected them for months but I am really loving SB'ing right now and can't seem to pick up ink unless it is to distress paper edges so, with that being said I have changed my blog URL to my name.  However, if you have the old URL linked it will still work as I went back and registerd the url again after I released it and edited the HTML so that it would redirect to here. 

I want a new blog name but I can't seem to come up with anything to reflect me and my style. So, I am turning it over to you ...... give me an idea for a stamper/scrapper ... papercrafter ..... if I choose your title then I am sure I can find something great to send you .....like my extra copy of the spring issue of Canadian Scrapbooker or something more stamping related if you don't scrapbook.

Also, I know I left off on our trip at Day 13 ... when it really went 19 days.  I plan to finish very soon but I am visiting my Mom and StepDad in Regina right now.  I have to finish as the blog journal is my memories for my scrapbooking journalling.  I'll be posting again right away with some sneak peeks of my new kits that I think are going to be released this month.

Shannon

Day 13 - Rainy day in San Francisco

Friday, April 2nd

Other than wind in Vegas we have been very fortunate with the weather until today.  Rain in the Bay area ..... I guess we will be doing the motorcoach bus tour over the motorized street car.  It is foggy her so the pictures are going to be so so ... but that is the Bay area and now we can say we have seen a sunny SF day and a foggy, rainy one.

We packed up and checked out of the hotel in Lynnwood after our tour today we are going to cross the Golden Gate (Hwy 101) and stay in North SF area tonight probably around Santa Rosa.

One of the only pictures I got off with D3000, should have checked the battery the night before .... the day was shot with the point and shoot ...... The Bay Bridge in the fog.

Empty Street Car

The rolling hill streets of San Fran

Love the name .... probably a great place to eat

Gorgeous Catholic church

City Hall, encrusted in gold

Motorcoach self portrait, Hailey looks thrilled

Victorian Home, painted lady as it uses 3 colors in its color scheme most only use 2

Painted wall

View from Twin Peaks

A little rain can't hinder our smiles

Hailey all bundled up for the ride at our stop at Golden Gate Park, this is the area around the Japanese Tea Garden which we didn't see as we only had 15 minutes at the stop and it was a $7 entry each.

About to cross the Golden Gate on the bus in the fog

Across the Golden Gate

It started raining pretty hard and was windy so Hailey and I stayed on the bus however, Ian got some pictures and someone took a picture of him and the bridge.

Hailey was pretty happy when her Daddy came back to the bus.

All done the tour, headed back to Pier 39 for a bite to eat.  It was much quieter in the rain so, we took some photos with the famous carasouel.

The view from the upper floor of Pier 39 where all the yummy restuarants are.

The skies started to clear as we ventured across the bridge in the MINI which was great as we wanted to drive a bit of the coast.  Hailey was fast asleep in her carseat after our big tour.

Sharpie was HERE!

This photo was taken about 2 hours after we were at the bridge viewing area the first time what a difference without the rain.

What a weather change.  However, the car is now dirty which depresses Ian.

San Fran view from the GG Bridge viewing area.  The first time you couldn't see across the bay because of the fog.  Bye, bye San Fran.  I already miss the sourdough.

And we are off for a drive along Hwy 1 the coast road.  The sun is shining now.

The road had lots of twists, turns and switchbacks which Ian says is perfect MINI driving.

The sky is blue, I love how this tree grew.

The Pacific Ocean ..... we would love to show you more pictures but by this point in the day both camera batteries are dead so the rest of the drive along the ocean had to be pressed into our memories.

We stayed the night in Rohnert Park in a Best Western again.  It was a great room, we were only 5 miles from the Santa Rosa area.  After a rainy start to the day, the late afternoon and evening turned out great.

I did the laundry again.  Hailey hit the sheets by 8:30 and we all had a great sleep in this quiet hotel.  It was Good Friday today as well ... though when you are on a road trip vacation it is hard to notice the holidays such as this.

We plan to start driving towards Oregon tomorrow but we want to take the #1 for awhile so it is going to be a slower drive.  Hopefully the weather isn't that back.   I don't think we will make it to Oregon tomorrow night just probably the end of California. 

Day 12 - No joke, we are in San Francisco on April Fools Day

Thursday, April 1st

No jokes here!  We are really in San Francisco on April 1, 2010.  The day is cool but sunny and we are off to Pier 39 and lunch at Bubba Gumps...... we know we want to do a city tour but we are planning on saving that for Day 2 along with the Golden Gate Bridge.

After a good sleep, we got up and headed towards the Bay Bridge and Pier 39.  We were both suprised that the freeway was so rough.  Concrete freeways are definitely loud and rough with the MINIs low profile tires.

Hailey is ready for another day.

Pier 39 - Just like in the movies!

The famous sea lions though not as many as there usually is.  A low herring year in the bay has many of the sea lions gone, though they have been spotted in Oregon coasts.

Golden Gate in the distance.

The big highlight of the bay - touring Alcatrez.  We don't have the time nor does have Hailey have the patience for this one but someday we will be back.

I look like I've hit the mother load and in candy terms with me I have.  I love salt water taffy so I loaded up with lots.

Can you guess where we are headed for lunch?  While waiting for a table the gal in the gift shop gave me a sticker for Hailey it read 'I'm eating at Bubba Gumps'

I was so excited to be going to Bubba's again.  I ate at the restuarant in New Orleans and knew Ian would love it as he loves the movie.

Run Forrest Run

Onion rings and shrimp .... so good.  We had the cajun shrimp appetizer too but didn't take a picture.

Life is a box of chocolates.

The Bay Bridge.  We came across this on the way in.  I didn't take the camera out as I was just taking it all in.  We were suprised that the toll for 2 axels was $6 though you only pay one way.

Ian's hero, Sponge Bob.

A view of the shops on the Pier.  It was a very crowded day.

Fisherman'sWharf .... all the seafood stands looked amazing.  I would have loved some chowder in sourdough bowl but we were so full from Bubba's.

Sourdough is on the agenda for tonight or tomorrow.  I did stop at Boudin's and get a half pound and some butter for the hotel later.

The ride back on the Bay Bridge not as spectular on the lower deck.

We had another great day.  We are really hoping that the weather holds and the rain that is forecasted doesn't come as we want to do the motorized street car tour tomorrow.  If it does rain we will just have to take the motor coach tour doesn't sound as thrilling though.