December's Tales of the Traveling Tote and a Giveaway

Welcome to this quarter's 

Tales of the Traveling Totes,

where MacKenzie-Childs loving bloggers

take their beloved totes with them near and

far, and at the end of our tale, we offer

a MacKenzie Childs giveaway.

I am the host of the giveaway this December,

but more on that later.

Miss Madi K and I have some tales to tell!

We were not invited - can you believe that - 

on the family backpacking trip.  Hubby and I

used to go backpacking when we were first married.

I was young and foolish then and the tale I love

to tell is that we took back our wedding gifts

and exchanged them for backpacking equipment!

Gasp!!! I know that is hard to believe now, but it 

is true.  One nightmare trip after another, starvation,

getting lost, nearly getting killed in lightning storms,

and I was done.  )Truth be told, I found out there were

more luxurious ways to vacation!)  But the first part is

true too!!

Well, anyway, back to the story, I decided I would

got this year as my daughter had a new baby so

she couldn't go, which meant I didn't have to babysit,

but hubby said he didn't think I should.  I have had 

upper back stress since I was 14 and went through

the windshield of a car, and he didn't think I could

handle a backpack for that long.  I told him that I

knew he would carry it for me, but he said he wouldn't!

Hard to believe as nearly perfect as he is. Anyhow,

that is how this Tale of the Traveling Tote began.

My son who didn't go with everyone texted me

and said, "Dinner at Cheesecake Factory?"

I replied, "And overnight at the Grand America!"

So he and I and granddaughter Goldie headed up

to Salt Lake to party while Papa and the others were

out of town.

I have posted about the Grand America Hotel

in Salt Lake before. 

 It is like experiencing an

elegant Old World hotel, and our family loves it.

We love their breakfast buffet

which is elegant and delicious and one of our family

and friend traditions.

Now mind you, last year I was so good to the backpackers,

and I bought them dinners from Cheesecake Factory

and freeze dried them in my Great Harvest Freeze Dryer,

but this year I hadn't done that and instead, we kept texting

pictures like the above, saying things like,

"Did your bed sleep this comfy last night?"

"Is this what your breakfast looked like?"

"Did you have this kind of hot cocoa?"

We had a lot of fun teasing them, as they didn't

know we had decided to party while they were gone.

This was in late September and the flowers were 

still fabulous.

And Goldie decided she wanted to do all of the posing

with Miss Madi K.

These are all taken in their courtyard.  You can see

why it is so enchanting.

Goldie and Miss Madi K, and of course

Marcus and I really enjoyed their indoor pool.

It was a foodie weekend with eating twice

at Cheesecake Factory, the Grand Buffet,

and then we stopped at our favorite macaron

shop, Fillings and Emulsions on the way

out of town.

When Papa returned Goldie said, "Papa can you go backpacking

again really soon?!!"

I agreed!  No sitting home feeling sorry for

myself.  He said he was staying home next

year and going with us!

We have had a little difficulty

here at Purple Chocolat Home.

Miss Minnie M has gotten

very jealous of Miss Madi K, and

decided she wanted to be mentioned in

a post too.

She was wonderful running

all over Disneyland.

Now to the really fun giveaway.

 Patti found this fabulous

MacKenzie-Childs canvas tote bag

that is our giveaway prize this time.

Leave a comment below to enter to

win!  And tell me what you would 
like to tote in your new bag.
Wish I could win too!  The winner

will be chosen by midnight December 7, 2018.
Only US addresses will be eligible (sorry,
but due to postage we have to limit it.)

And visit all of our participants this time

and see where they and their famous totes

have been off to.

This will be Cherry Kay's first tale

with Miss Carrie Ann Hall, so be sure

to welcome her.

And come back March 1st when

we will have a fun and unique twist

on our traveling tales.

Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths 

Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch

 Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box

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   

Queen of Halloween

Every year I get the comments that 

I am the

Queen of Halloween.

Well, this year, I felt like one.

I have never had so many fun costumes

and had so much fun

during October!  The many faces

of Mrs. Purple Chocolat Home

(and that doesn't include the Olaf

costume I spent two days making!)

The house was decorated early,

tables were set,

and we had lots of company to enjoy 

the fun.

In addition, we have been able to

run from one fabulous event to another

making this the best October ever!

We have hosted a Halloween Party

for over sixty,

We have tried out new treats and

new crafts to feather our "scary"

nest.

We made fun cupcakes that were on our 

bucket list for years,

We got to enjoy Witches' Tea at the Grand America
which is our first time for this at Halloween.

We had so much fun

creating quite a stir as

a Disney cast of characters,

while we enjoyed delicious afternoon tea
or hot cocoa.  The food was all fabulous!

It was so fun to hear, "Oh, can I have a picture
with Ursula, she is my favorite Disney Character?" or
"I want a picture with Snow White!"  or "Maleficent,
can I have a picture with you?"

Of course the cutest was, "Mom, the real
Elsa is here, can I have a picture with her?"

But in the end, I think Ursula

stole the show with her purple face

and waving tentacles!

We went to Witches' Night Out

at Gardner Village with family

and friends and had faces painted,

ate fun food and danced the night

away until our little witchy feet

couldn't take anymore fun.

Camera Shy at Gardner Village took

professional photos - 2 poses for $20 so

we took advantage of that.

The highlight of the season had to be

going to Disneyland for 

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

where the Belles reigned supreme.

In addition we helped with Trick or Treating

down at The Shops At Riverwoods.

Can a girl have more fun than this year?

I doubt it! 

 Now all I have left to do 

is buy candy for over 300 that come

on Halloween Night!

Halloween will never be this fun again!