Welcome to our September Issue of
Tales of the Traveling Totes where
twelve ladies explore the world
with our MacKenzie-Childs' totes.
As part of our traveling tales we always
include a giveaway, so stay tuned for that
at the end of this post, and take time to
visit the other travelers to see where they have
been off to.
Miss Madi K and I had lots of fun this
summer.
Our adventures together started out in Jackson Hole, Wyoming,
where Madi K and I took to the river for a river
rafting trip.
We stayed at a charming place called
Carlisle Ranch about 45 minutes
outside of Jackson where they have large
bunkhouses and these charming sheepherder
cabins. There is a pond with a paddle boat
and lots of space for kids to roam.
Our friends are experienced river runners
and have invited us, our children and even
our grandchildren for several years. Even
the three year old went down the rapids.
They have three boats and can take 30 at a time,
so we take turns running the river for two days.
It is a blast!!! This is my oldest granddaughter
taking a fabulous splash in the boat.
In July Miss Madi K and I had a calmer
experience as we traveled to Cabo to check on
the progress on our construction. She and I
especially enjoyed swimming up to the pool
bar and ordering shrimp tacos and shrimp
nachos and smoothies. We told hubby we
really liked being waited on at the pool!
This 20 foot tall rock had to be removed to fit the pool
in and we had fun watching as they drilled into the
rock, filled the holes with an expanding substance to
crack it apart. Later we received a video of it falling
down the cliff. LOOK OUT BELOW!
It's a slow process, much slower than we were promised -
surprise, surprise, but one of our favorite surprises
was this suspended circular stair outside that connects
the upper pool deck with the lower pool deck.
This is the main level, still not a lot of progress here,
but we return in October and the walls should all
be up.
Not much to look at yet, but we are starting to
see it shape up.
In August Miss Madi K and I flew to visit my sister
Jean in San Antonio. We were joined by two of my
girlfriends that I grew up in Wisconsin with. They
had never been to San Antonio, and one of them
requested that we take an overnight trip to
Waco to visit Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia
Market.
Of course we were hoping to see the lovely Joanna,
and I did, on the cover of her book, so of course
I had to add her cookbook to my collection.
The store was delightful. I just had to include
a tablescape from the Market.
Everything was so beautiful
but rather pricey.
I also had to pick up this gardening pad to use
at home. (It ended up being a nice airplane pad
too - haha!)
We spent the night in a hotel, but if I had it
to do over again, I would stay in one of the Air BNB's
homes that were featured on Fixer Upper. It would have
been about the same amount and we would have
had the whole home.
The next morning we were hoping to get a chance
to experience Magnolia Table. Reviews online
said that you could experience a wait of an
hour or more. The end of August turned
out to be a great time to visit! Baylor University
had just started and I guess most moms were home
getting their kids ready for school the next week.
We were given a wait time of half an hour. Miss Madi K
loved the decor in the waiting area, actually she loved all of
the black and white checks on everything Joanna and
Chip have created. After a lengthy 13 minute wait -
yes, only 13 minutes - we were seated.
We had to start our breakfast with Joanna's
famous biscuits. They are featured in her cookbook,
so I can't wait to try them. You could choose them
with strawberry butter or sausage gravy, but
we asked for a side of both.
The controversial avocado toast - Chip said it was too frou frou,
was amazing!
Most of the breakfasts came with their signature
Tater Tots, presented in a small cast iron pan.
They tasted more like Hush Puppies to me. I
am not a huge fan of Tater Tots, but I loved these.
Every employee we encountered at the Magnolia
spots were utterly charming. I finally had to ask
one if they all had to attend charm school. We
had a delightful time in Waco.
If you visit, you have to take time to find some of
the charming furniture stores that have sprung up
around Waco featuring a similar style. I just had to
take a photo of this gorgeous tablescape. Made me anxious
for fall.
You know me, I can't resist taking photos of
gorgeous tablescapes.
This one was at Simply Irresistable.
Check out Simply Irresistable
and The Findery. I am sure there are more wonderful
stores here in Waco. Wow if only I had a truck and
trailer to haul things home. I did bring home some
compotes in Miss Madi K that I found at the Findery.
It was a great summer of travel and fun.
Now to experience more travel and fun visit these
fine explorers and see where they and
their Traveling Totes have been off to.
Come along and travel with:
Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths
Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch
Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box
Katie with Miss Daisy @ Preppy Empty Nester
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
Lea and Miss Scarlett @ Cici's Corner
Now for the fun! This is our giveaway for this month.
I wish I could win! Aren't these the cutest MacKenzie-Childs's
towels. Makes me excited for Halloween.
Visit Linda at Life and Linda and leave a comment to
be entered to win these adorable towels.
Join us in December for another edition of
Tales of the Traveling Totes
and for another giveaway!
Yikes this gives me chills!
I will be posting this with
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