Tales of the Traveling Tote - Custom Bags From MacKenzie-Childs

Welcome to a special edition of

Tales of the Traveling Tote, 

where we are celebrating five years of travels 

around the United States,

 and the world, with our 

MacKenzie Child's totes. 

 As you can see from the collage above, 

my MC bags have been from Hawaii, 

to the Caribbean, to 

London, Rome and Paris, 

and all the way to South Africa,

 besides 

having lots of fun in the 

United States and Mexico.

  If you have been following for a while, you know 

Patti from Pandora's Box started this fun group

five years ago, featuring the large checkered tote from 

MacKenzie Child's.  Click here to see how it all got 

started. 

I was invited along three Christmas's ago

 by Sarah and Linda, 

and have had so much fun taking my checkered tote 

around the country and around the world. 

 This was a highlight as I visited the flagship

 MacKenzie-Childs store in New York in 2018!

As self-appointed ambassadors for the 

MacKenzie-Childs brand, 

at the end of October Patti let us know

 that MC was creating 

a surprise gift for all of us in the group -

 a custom made 

bag, individually designed for each of us, 

based on our blogs. 

In addition, they created a gorgeous bag 

to give away to 

one of our loyal readers - 

this is quite the grand giveaway!!! 

Keep reading to the end to see how to win

 one of their 

lovely custom made totes!

It was so fun as the totes created by Julie and Joan 

at the Sewing Department of MacKenzie-Childs 

started arriving to our group across the country.  

Here in Utah 

mine was one of the last to arrive, as 

they were coming from New York. 

 We went out of town 

by the time it arrived.  My daughter 

told me a huge box had been delivered. 

 It was so exciting to come home from our trip and

open it and finally see my custom tote.

I held my breath as I drew her out of the bag.  

It is just as big as Miss Madi K, so it is 

wonderful to take around with me.

I decided to name her Miss Pansy, 

because all of her colors remind me of 

the colors of pansies in the spring.

We were told that some of the details would be 

similar to have continuity in the purses, 

and I think all of us fell in love

 with those details. 

Look at the button and tassel closure,

 and the metal name plate!  Just wow!!! 

The name plate is my absolute favorite detail.

I also adore the MacKenzie-Childs ribbon that 

becomes the handle, and the checkered trim

on the top and bottom.

Miss Pansy arrived just in time at 

Purple Chocolat Home 

to celebrate Christmas.

Once everyone had received their totes,

we each had a chance to guess whose bag was whose.  

I only guessed a few right, and that was with some 

help.  Of course, mine was easy, as it had purple on it!

We also wanted take our photo on a 

carousel horse.  It was a cold Thanksgiving morning, 

but I found a cute carousel in St. George, Utah, 

and went for a ride with a couple of my

 granddaughters.  We had the carousel 

all to ourselves.  

There was a sign that said no bags 

were allowed, but I explained the bag 

was the reason we were there!!!  

She was very kind 

and let us get some pictures.  She told us the music 

wasn't working, but we said that was ok, we would 

sing songs ourselves.  So we sang and made up 

Christmas songs as we rode around, and around, 

then did it again.

 Miss Pansy enjoyed the holidays, 

just spilling over with lovely Courtly Check items. 

 We wanted to do this post up in a "grand way", 

so what better place for Miss Pansy's debut 

than at The Grand America 

in Salt Lake City, for our traditional over-night

 right before Christmas with all of our

 children and grandchildren. 

It's our little reward for working so hard to get 

Christmas ready, and The Grand knows how

to do it up in style!

Miss Pansy was happy to be invited along, 

and she felt every so elegant there. 

She felt right at home with the lovely decor, and 

especially these gorgeous Mark Roberts nutcrackers.  

I really would have loved to purchase these, but 

they were way past my budget.  

We both went to the French patisserie in the Grand 

and ordered croissants and macarons.

Then we were off to The 

Grand America Gingerbread House, 

which was a replica of The Grand America 

this year with little vignettes of Maileg Mice

in each window.

I feel so honored to have received 

this amazing gift. 

Thank you so much to the 

lovely people at MacKenzie-Childs 

who made these beautiful 

custom totes for us, 

and to Patti who got all of the fun started.

Miss Pansy just sparkled with the holidays.

Here is our carousel of travelers with their 

matching totes.  Look closely to see 

if you can see their personal style 

in their custom-made totes.

Thanks to Linda for our 

collage and Cherry Kay for our poem.

Now for the fun for you -

  This gorgeous bag has been 

custom made by MacKenzie-Childs 

for one lucky winner!  

We will be submitting names to Patti of those who 

are loyal followers and commenters on our blogs, 

Instagram and Facebook pages.  She will then 

randomly pick the winner.

This is definitely the grand prize of all of our 

MC giveaways, to celebrate five years of 

Tales of the Traveling Tote fun!  

Good luck to the winner.  

Be sure to comment below and visit and comment 

on all of the posts of our fellow TTT ladies. 

 Patti with Miss Tizzy@ Pandora's Box

Debbie with Miss Tassie @ Mountain Breaths

Emily with Miss Lulu @ The French Hutch

Jenna with Miss  Hello Gorgeous @ The Painted Apron

Linda P with Miss Gigi @ Life and Linda

Rita with Miss Penny @ Panoply

Sarah with Miss  Poppy @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Jackie with Miss Pansy  @ Purple Chocolat Home  (you are here)

Ricki Jill with Miss Square Peggy @The Sketchy Reader

Cherry Kay with Miss Waverly  @ Entertaining Women

Then join us again in March for another adventure

with another giveaway.

Afternoon Tea With Santa at the Grand America Hotel

The snow is sparkling and lights are 

twinkling and at this special time of year

we were lucky enough to get reservations

for

Afternoon Tea With Santa

at the

Grand America in Salt Lake City.

Just walking into the lobby of the

Grand America transports you to

a more elegant time, perfect for

Afternoon Tea

and at this time of year there are

wonderful Christmas decorations

and animated windows and a lifesize

gingerbread house to see so come

along with us as we 

celebrate Christmas

with 

Afternoon Tea.

Miss Utah County, Hannah Harkness 

and her Little Miss Utah County,

Kylie are perfect in their princess gowns.

They fit right in with the European decor

of the Grand America.

We have to start by affixing the

crown on our Little Miss and

donning her sash.

The Afternoon Tea is held in

the lounge right off the lobby and

at the entrance you are greeted with

the menu.

I expected to be seated at a

dining table so imagine the

delightful surprise when we

were shown that this 

gorgeous and comfortable

seating group was for our 

party of six.

They have a huge selection of teas

but I have had their hot chocolate

before and it is so rich and wonderful

that I chose Peppermint Hot Chocolate

for my drink.

While you waited for your

drink selection the waittress

poured hot water over what

looked like a dried nut and

it opens into a flower.

For your starter the table already

has strawberries in chantilly cream.

We all loved starting with something

rich and sweet.

Next came your tea or in my case

and Kylie's too, Peppermint Hot Chocolate.

This is so rich and creamy, I am sure it

is decadently made with cream.

We each had our own tea pot and we

all thought that would be so fun for

Christmas morning - to have your own

pot to pour your hot chocolate out of.

Next came scones and finger sandwiches

with clotted cream, lemon cream and

raspberry jam.

There was a wonderful variety of

savory and sweet on this

tower of treats.

Then that tower was removed and

a new tiered tray of sweets came out.

The tier started with jellies

And had wonderful gingerbread men,

chocolate cake and fruit tarts.

Here Mom and Little Miss are

enjoying their gingerbread men.

Just about the time you are finishing

up all the goodies, who should walk by

jingling their bells as they go but

the wonderful 

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.

First they sing songs and have some

fun with the children and then

they greet the families, one table

at a time.

And of course the little ones get 

to tell Santa what they want.

The Misses had posed for pictures

with the children before 

Mr. and Mrs. Claus came.  

It was fun to see how excited the 

little girls were to have their pictures

taken with the princesses.

After a story with Santa and a candy cane

you simply must tour the main floor to

see all of the glorious trees and holiday

decorations.

And we can't forget the fun, animated

shop windows.

And finally the giant gingerbread house

which is located all the way around the halls

to the back of the building

where a darling elf stands and hands

out chocolates!

This grand gingerbread house

 took 1200 lbs of flour, 400 lbs of sugar, 

1200 eggs, 800 lbs of powdered sugar,

4 chefs and 40 cooks and nearly

700 hours to create!

Our last stop was to tickle the keys

of the Steinway.

Of course we couldn't leave without

a few spins in the revolving doors.

What a Grand time!

I sure hope we can make this

one of our new Christmas

traditions.

I will be posting with

Oh The Places You've Been

Home Sweet Home

Let's Dish

Tablescapes Thursday

Pink Saturday

Seasonal Sunday