The Tales of the Traveling Tote is a series of adventures that share where our Mackenzie Childs tote bags have taken us. Four times a year a group of bloggers each write a connected post about the places we have been. We have built incredible friendships through our blogs and we hope you enjoy our tales as much as we do!
To read about how it all began, go HERE
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December 2019
To kick off the holiday season, a group of friends got together to make "Kissing Balls" at Beaver Lake Nature Center, Miss Kenzie carried all of my necessary supplies:
To kick off the holiday season, a group of friends got together to make "Kissing Balls" at Beaver Lake Nature Center, Miss Kenzie carried all of my necessary supplies:
Every year I donate to the Everson Museum Festival of the Trees and this is one of the trees I donated this year: The little Grinch Tree with a handmade tassel, sitting in the red truck:
At the Preview Gala I met Thom Felicia:
And as always, December had "Santa Shenanigans":
Right before the New Year I flew to DC to meet our new grandson who surprised us all by arriving 11 days early - I tried to smuggle him in my tote, but got caught by his Mommy:
This map shows all of the areas that my Traveling Tote visited in 2019:
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January 2020
The end of January came quickly and we were off to Hollywood Beach, Florida....
.....there was lots of excitement on the boardwalk: music, dancing, entertainment, and great restaurants and shops along the beach....
....and the next day we hopped onto a cruise ship and sailed for 8 days.
My totes enjoyed the sun and relaxation:
Our first stop was Curacao:
We toured the island by bus, visited the Curacao liqueur factory, and spent a few hours at Mambo Beach.
Sadly, I left my padlock on the ship and it was too late to return, but this HEART was loaded with "locks of love" - shopping in Willemstad, crossing the pontoon bridge and taking in the culture was more important!
The next day we went to Bonaire....
...and visited the slave huts, where slaves who worked in the salt flats slept during the week. Often 7 would sleep in each hut!
Across the street were the slat flats, with pretty pink water, flamingoes in the distance and mountains of salt!
Bonaire is a very colorful island, but Coco Beach was a bit disappointing due to the rocks and coral!
Our third stop was Aruba....we arrived just as Orenjestad was welcoming the sunrise....
We hopped on the Kooku Kunuku tour bus and sang, learned some Papiamento, shook our maracas, and had a fun tour of the island!
We were surprised to see all the cacti: sword cactus and tuna cactus!
Palm Beach was a beautiful beach, but very windy!....
My Traveling Tote matched the stop signs and curb markings in the islands!!
We enjoyed lots of tropical cocktails on the cruise ship and the beaches:
It was a great vacation and before we flew home, we had planned our cruise for February 2021!
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And then this little guy came to NY to visit and I couldn't resist tucking him into Miss Kenzie:
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Valentine's Day was spent in Aurora at MacKenzie-Childs....
....in this dining room...
....and you can read about it here:
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...and then there was this baby shower at a home filled with special MacKenzie-Childs decor and furniture:
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It's been an exciting 3 months and I hope you will follow the links, below, to see where my other friends have been traveling lately:
Jenna is hosting the giveaway this month:
Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths
Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch
* Jenna with Miss Coquille @The Painted Apron *
Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda
Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply
Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul
Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home
Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Sketchy Reader
Cherry Kay and Carrie Ann Hall @ Entertaining Women
- DEFINITION: (noun) people whom one has met at the MacKenzie-Childs Barn Sale or Warehouse Sale and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection for MacKenzie-Childs items
On this cold snowy first day of March..thank you for the inviting warm pics of your island getaway! 🌞🌞 Love to see where Miss Kenzie has been off to! Too bad you weren’t able to sneak that new little bundle home...he is precious
ReplyDeleteThanks also for including my stitching pic. Another friend says these totes get around more than she does!!
Patti, yours was truly a fun-filled, action-packed 3 months! Your daughter's timing was impeccable so that you could visit your sweet Pedro before your cruise. Your cruise was also timed well, prior to the frenzy this scary COVID-19. And your MacKenzie-Childs events, friends are over the top fun. You're living life to its fullest!
ReplyDeleteWow Pati, you had so many exciting happenings in the past months. I see your totes have been most helpful with projects and so many travel adventures. Santa certainly loved MC's, maybe he'll be getting a little help with his own totes to help deliver his gifts. And speaking of gifts, sweet baby Pedro, so precious. Love seeing all the fun you had on the cruise. I adore the pic with baby Pedro snugged in Miss Kenzie! You are indeed the happy traveler..........
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I love your purple door! Miss Kenzie sure knows how to have fun, and I am loving your warm, sunny photos from your cruise today. As much as I love the snow, I also love the beach. I'm glad I did my overseas traveling when I did, and this New York girl is enjoying her travels in New York these days. Pedro is just so precious in the tote, and Miss Kenzie is always ready to welcome a newborn.
ReplyDeletePatti, you have been a busy tote traveler for sure! Christmas fun, precious new grandbaby, an incredible island cruise, all topped off with a Valentine lunch in Aurora and an over the top baby shower! So much MKC love and fun!! I agree with Rita, you are living each day to the fullest!! I bet cruising the Caribbean in winter is a wonderful contrast to New York snow, I can't wait to find out where you're going next year! Happy March!
ReplyDeleteJenna
Patti, I want to be you when I grow-up. Your cruise photos are fantastic. Also, who wouldn't want to celebrate St. Valentine's Day in Aurora at the MacKenzie-Childs farmhouse! You lucky duck! Your little grandson is so cute. You are truly blessed! I can't wait to be a grandmother!!!
ReplyDeleteI need to go back and re-read your posts about Tommy's baby shower and the Valentine's Day luncheon. I loved reading about both events!
Thanks for being such a great leader for our TTT group. :D
xo,
RJ
What a fun time in the last few months. I have so enjoyed seeing photos of baby Pedro. The island cruise looks like a blast. I am sure getting away from the winter Weather was wonderful timing .You look fabulous and I love the cocktails. Having Valentine lunch with Rebecca at the Mackenzie Child's Farmhouse is so special. Thanks for taking us along on your wonderful adventures.
ReplyDeletePatti, I'd say you packed a lot into the past three months. You win the prize! It's fun to see baby Pedro. He is a perfect fit for Miss Kenzie! Loved seeing all the MKC farmhouse photos and the baby shower. Here's to a beautiful spring and lots of new adventuures!
ReplyDeleteI tried commenting on my phone, but I guess it didn't stick! What wonderful adventures your totes have been on. Your cruise looks amazing. We haven't been to any of those islands.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing you have toted though is that luscious new grand baby! He was so good to pose for you.
Your lunch at the Farmhouse was so over the top! I almost felt like I got to go along with you! Thanks for sharing all of your fun adventures - you are definitely a "Go-Go Girl" and your totes are too! Hugs from me to you!
Patti,
ReplyDeleteSo fun catching up with you traveling totes gals. Each one of you have amazing adventures. I must say that you have been a very busy lady, enjoying life and best of all welcoming your new grand baby! Congratulations!
Jemma
Congratulations grandma! He's adorable. Sounds like you had a wonderful trip too; those beaches look amazing. What a perfect winter getaway.
ReplyDeleteI love to see someone having fun, and girl, you have corner4ed the market on that! Wonderful, and congrats on becoming a new grandma.
ReplyDeleteTrying to comment again. CherryKay
ReplyDeleteyou have been one busy lady...just the kind that always has FUN!! we would make great friends!!
ReplyDeleteYour trip looks amazing and how beautiful the scenery was. You need to rest now.
ReplyDelete