Tales of the Traveling Tote 44 and a Giveaway

Miss Madi K and I 

want to welcome you 

to our September 2025 

edition of 

Tales of The Traveling Tote.

We do get around and it is 

fun to see where everyone 

has traveled to, whether 

near or far.

Just last week we took 

a little car trip down to 

Bryce Canyon, one of 

the five National Parks 

in southern Utah.  

The pictures just don't do 

it justice.  It is so awe inspiring 

and so easy to access even 

if you aren't a big hiker.

I can blame this one on 

social media advertising!

I saw a Facebook reel that 

advertised 

Clear Sky Resorts.  

We had tried Under Canvas 

glamping a few years ago.  

It was fun, but the canvas 

kept blowing in the breeze 

and knocking into our bed.  

The indoor bathroom was 

extra and kind of primitive, 

and it was more of a one 

and done experience. 

I don't even know if you 

can call this glamping! 

You walk into the dome 

and it literally takes your 

breath away.  It was a 

definite "pinch me" experience.  

The views were so expansive 

with this over 20 foot high 

ceiling with curtains that 

can cover all of the windows 

or only the lower windows 

for privacy.

And then, walk into the 

bathroom and you know 

that you are going to 

be comfortable.

It also included a small 

kitchenette, which was 

so convenient.  

The domes extend up 

the valley a few miles 

outside of Tropic, Utah, 

and very close to Bryce.  

It looks rather otherworldly, 

and Clear Sky plays off of this 

feeling with their resort. 

It had a real modern feel, 

yet you felt like you were not 

on your own planet!

The big draw is that you can keep 

the curtains open during the 

night to see the sky.  We were 

a little nervous that with the 

cloud cover that afternoon 

we would miss out on that.  

The cloud cover began to 

disappear as the sun set.  

So before we went to bed 

we had clear skies!!! 

It was just magical to see 

all of these domes lit up 

as the sun went down, yet 

they are situated in such 

a way that you felt really 

private. 

We stood outside for a few 

minutes and saw the 

Milky Way and a shooting 

star.  

We chose to keep the upper 

windows uncovered during 

the night and both woke 

up about 4:00 in the morning 

and had such spectacular 

views.  

The lobby dome was so huge

and impressive and attached to it 

was their restaurant 

Sky Nova.

We had peaked into it on 

arrival and although we 

had reservations somewhere 

else for dinner, we decided 

we needed to try it out 

the next day for breakfast. 

Again, that futuristic, 

otherworldly theme that 

was such a cool vibe and 

the food didn't disappoint.

Look at these custom glasses 

with a faceted dome at the 

bottom of them.  So cool, wish 

they had some for sale!  

The flatware was irridescent 

and had their telescope logo 

on them.  They offer star gazing 

at night and free S'mores that 

you can toast in open fires all 

around.  

I chose the French Toast 

and it was so delicious 

we said we were definitely 

going to come back and 

have dinner here.  

This was such a thrill 

for a totally fun and unique 

stay only a little over 

three hours from home 

and next to gorgeous Bryce.  

We will be back!

Put this on your bucket list!!!

Now on to the giveaway - 

I always get excited for 

the really fun giveaways 

that Patti picks out for 

you guys.  This is such a 

fun tote that I would use 

all of the time.  

Visit Sarah and leave 

a comment to have a 

chance to win one. 

Then hop on over and visit 

all of the other MacKenzie-Childs 

loving women to see where 

they have been off to this 

quarter.  You will love it.

Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home (you are here)

Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths

Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch

Patti with Miss Kenzie and Miss Taylor @ Pandora's Box

Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda

Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Ricki Jill and Countess de Monet @The Bookish Dilettante

Thanks for visiting and 

I hope to see you again 

in December!

Birthday Break

For those of you who follow me on Instagram,

you know I took a fabulous break from cold,

snow, slush, shoveling, ice, (taking Christmas down),

etc. and took my entire family to Hawaii.  Only one little

18 month old was left behind with her favorite aunt.

We had so much fun in the ocean and pool and

celebrating

my big 60th birthday!  How can that be?  I still feel

30 something inside.  

(To create the cake, I ordered a two tiered

chocolate and chocolate raspberry cake

from the local grocery store, then found

macarons at Whole Foods, added fresh roses

and orchids and fresh raspberries.  The cake

plate came from Wal Mart on Maui and I had

ordered the diamond studded Happy 60th

on Amazon.)

Hubby and I went one day early and stayed

three days after the kids left.  

No, I haven't been gone this whole time,

but it was fun taking a break from blogging.

What a way to celebrate!

To be surrounded by my favorite people, little and big,

was the best present ever.

The Grand Wailea on Maui is our favorite place.

It is so family friendly and gorgeous.

There are turtles right on the corners of

the beach.

We offered a photo contest for the kids to encourage

them to take lots of photos too.

(A winner above!)

The only thing missing was the Grand Wailea

Pineapple Banana Split, that we looked forward to.

It was still listed on their online menu, but

sadly they had a new chef and he had crossed it

off the menu.  (Why, oh why?)

Our waiter quietly told us that all

of the new desserts were so small that they were

not worth buying - two bites apiece!  Loved him!  Big tip!!

So we promptly had to come home and make them

for Sunday dinner.

(They also told us that they had never served them

poolside - well we have pictures over the years proving

that wrong!  Time and time again!!)

Click here if you need to make this at home too.

We also got to see turtles coming in to rest

at night.  Yes, these aren't rocks - about 63 of them.

And we jumped by waterfalls.  Who knew the

water would be ice - I mean ICE cold!

Honestly, I have always wanted to do this

and I never dreamed it would be so cold

it would stop your breath!  Of course,

I still had to do it.

They also had a new water toy called

The Fish Pipe.  It turns and feels like you are

on a mile long waterslide.  It was fun!

Thanks family for the best birthday.

You made getting older fun!

Goodbye paradise!

Thanks for coming to visit and celebrating

my 60th year with me.  I am willing to celebrate

all year long!