Friday, July 8, 2011

My San Francisco trip plus a ribbon GIVEAWAY! :)



My husband and I took a wonderful trip to San Francisco a few weeks ago. I've been meaning to share with you some pictures I took there. It's really a lovely place and I highly recommend going if you're ever able to. We also did quite a bit of driving around including a Pacific coastal drive along the Big Sur. I also picked up some goodies there to share with you so be sure to check out the end of the post for the giveaway!

I took along my regular camera as well but these two pictures were taken with my iPhone. I really love my iPhone camera! Along the Big Sur, are a couple of famous bridges, including the Bixby Bridge, built in the early 1930s during the Great Depression (part of the New Deal I believe?).


The vistas were breathtaking...


Here's my hubby and me posing...


On our drive, we also stopped by the Santa Cruz pier and amusement park. It's very old, one of the first beachside amusement parks. I didn't get to ride on any rides this trip (not until the baby is born), but it was fun just to walk around and take it all in! It was surreal to see a roller coaster so close to the beach!


Beautiful California poppies. These were popping up everywhere. Being used to Florida which is quite monochromatic, California's landscape is very colorful and vibrant with beautiful flowers.


We also stopped by Alamo Square which had gorgeous views of San Francisco. And someone was flying a kite that day too! ;)


And this is what it feels like to be crossing underneath the Golden Gate bridge...I took this with my iPhone in the car looking up as we passed through. Really amazing feeling!


Here's a foggy vista of the Golden Gate bridge. The ship going underneath the bridge there is the same one that we took when we took a Bay Bridge cruise underneath the Golden Gate. It was sooo windy, but so worth it!


And here's a pregnant belly shot of me with San Francisco and the bay in the background. ;)


We also stopped by Boudin's bakery and restaurant in Fisherman's Wharf. They are famous for their yummy bread bowl soups, which I tried. They also have the neatest breads baked into all kinds of shapes and animals including a lobster, a turtle, a crab, a bear, a gator and more!


I'm a total bookworm so a stop by the City Lights bookstore was a must! Such a cool store filled with unique books. This is where the Beat poets got their start and published their works, and it was named a historic site in 2001. They still publish books today.


And this was the view from the top of Macy's in Union Square in downtown San Francisco. You must go to the top floor if you're ever there. Very pretty views!


One of the crafting stores I found in downtown Union Square was the amazing store Britex Fabrics.


It has four floors filled with fabrics, ribbons, buttons and any other kind of trim you could think of from all around the US and the world. It is truly heaven! It is a one of a kind store, only one location and it's been there since 1952. Some of the famous guests include fashion designer Diane von Forstenberg and other designers and celebrities.

Here are some pictures inside this amazing store.


They had a huge section with tons of new and vintage laces in many colors.


Here are the cream laces...so many in a row and very elegant!


Here is their third floor filled with ribbons as far as the eye can see! Every width and style of ribbon.


That wall behind the counter is covered in BUTTONS. A whole wall of buttons all arranged by color (love!). Sorry there are no close-up photos. They do not allow that in the store!


Here I am standing in front of their wonderful wall of trims. ;)


More of the color coordinated fabric...I so appreciate that because that's how I have everything arranged in my home!


One of the ribbons that caught my eye were the 100% silk hand dyed, hand cut ribbons. They are so beautiful and silky and would be wonderful tied on a card or on project or sewn into something special.

As a thank you to my blog readers, I bought a yard of several different colors of this pretty 100% silk ribbon to give away.


You must be a follower to enter (just click the follow link to the side if you're not yet a follower) and then just leave a comment below. That's all you have to do! I'll ship it anywhere in the world and I'll pick one winner by random.org generator next week.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Sorry about the delay in posting, I have many more crafting posts ready to go and can't wait to share them with you!

18 comments:

Jen Adcock said...

Wow! I had forgotten how beautiful San Franscico is. You are looking pretty fabulous too Momma. I hope you are feel as well. I am not sure I could manage to NOT drool all over that beautiful lace. What a heavenly shop!! As for that silk ribbon, my oh my! If I had some, I think I'd never be able to bring myself to use it! I just sit and marvel at its complete beauty. Sounds and looks like an extraordinary trip. So well deserved no doubt. So fab!

Nadine said...

What a great post about your trip Monica! I loved looking at your pictures to see if I had been there too. We made sure to visit City Lights but I didn't get to ANY craft store (sob!). It looks like I really missed out. Your pictures are making me drool. I'll have some posts about my San Fran trip going up soon. :o)

And I must say you are looking quite fabulous! Pregnancy looks good on you!

Ольга said...

Beauty! To me in such shop! At you very beautiful tummy ;)

Joyce said...

What a great trip, and what a cute mommy-to-be. Love all your pictures. I am actually in SF right now--we drove up yesterday. I am waiting for sleepyheads to get ready, so we can get going. Perhaps I can convince them they want to go to Britex! We are planning to walk out to the base of the Golden Gate bridge later.

Cathy Weber said...

I really enjoyed seeing all your pics of your super fun trip, Monica. I especially loved seeing pics of you and your husband. You look wonderful as a pregnant mom to be. You must have had such fun in that store with all that ribbon and lace. Wow, it is organized so beautifully. Glad you had a great time.

Isha Gupta said...

Lovely pictures of your trip.You look very pretty with the pregnancy glow. Thanks for giving a chance to win these awesome goodies. I am sure you had tons of fun in the store:))

Leigh Penner said...

What beautiful photos! Looks like you had a great time!

Aimes said...

What a fabulous trip! You look positively glowing in the pics :D
Thank you so much for your super kind words on my blog - you're so sweet!
Hugs,
Aimes
x

Lee said...

What a wonderful holiday. Oh how I would love an overseas trip.

Stephanie said...

Wow, Monica!!! I think I'd be in that fabric store for hours and hours!! LOL Love that beautiful "glow" you have.......Thanks for such awesome photos!

Danielle said...

I'm so jealous! I went to San Fran a few years ago and fell in love. I've dreamed of moving there ever since (maybe in like 20 years when my husband retires?? lol). I'm so glad you had such a great time, it really is a beautiful place. And that ribbon is just gorgeous!

Diane Jaquay said...

I've always wanted to visit SF and now even more looking at your wonderful pictures! So happy you had a great time :)

Sue Ann said...

YOU LOOK SO BEAUTIFUL!!!! I loved our trip to SF but I have to say that I totally missed out on all this beautiful ribbon and trim you have on your blog today!!! I hope you are feeling well!!!

Ann said...

What a fabulous trip - I don't expect I'll ever get there but if I did Britex would be amongst my very first stops. Looks like a crafty heaven to me. I've a recently found half sister who lives part time in SF so to see some "real" photos of the city is lovely Monica.

Laurie said...

Monica you look gorgeous! I love that baby bump! And those trip pics are fantastic! What a great vaca! Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

I can't believe you were over here on our coast - and 7 mos. preggers! And I bet you miss hubs too ... :( You took some FABulous pics there.

Rebecca said...

Hey there. I have been so out of the loop. You look FABULOUS!!! Hope you are still feeling great and all is well.

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