Friday, March 1, 2024

Tales of the Traveling Tote #38 and Giveaway

Hello, readers, and welcome to the 38th quarterly installment of Tales of the Traveling Tote. If you're not familiar with the concept behind this series of posts, you can read how it started here. My travel tales began shortly after the inception of my tote friends' travels, and you can see my history here.

Over the years, I have come to use my tote (aka Miss Luna C) for various purposes, but primarily as a weekend travel bag or, when traveling for a week or more, as a carry on bag with things like my laptop, snacks, and other essentials. Also over the years, I've accumulated a few additions to my original tote. 
Then there was the custom bag MacKenzie-Childs so graciously made for each of us traveling tote gals.  They are cloth bags, and very nice for toting heavier items, as when I used mine for an estate sale pick up just down the block, when my neighbor was moving.
My newest is the crossbody bag, found new with tags but on the secondary market. It's my new favorite! I am a small person and, honestly, I can get a headache from carrying a bag too heavy, so this one is perfect for running around town. In this case, it was the Disney on Ice show with my girls. 
When my sister and I went to pick up our auction wins a few weeks ago, I knew I'd be handling several boxes of 'stuff', so the crossbody was perfect in that case too.
Of course, when it comes to business, I like carrying my shoulder tote which allows for ease of slipping folders and papers inside. I am serving on the board of directors of the Charleston Ballet, and the bag below serves me well in toting paperwork to and from (please excuse the blurry photo, as I was trying to be discreet).
As this post is published, I am on a trip to Cincinnati for yet another Panoply sisters' gathering. We'll be sorting through some recent estate acquisitions and, who knows, perhaps a bit of retail therapy over the next couple of days. 
And here's something cute I caught this week while viewing the newest episode of Will Trent (scene below). That's Will's dog, Betty, wearing a MacKenzie-Childs dog sweater!
Happy March!

NOW, ONTO THE GIVEAWAY!

The Traveling Totes Tribe is offering another giveaway and Debbie at Mountain Breaths is our giveaway sponsor this time. One lucky reader who leaves a comment on Debbie's  post will have their name thrown into the hat for an opportunity to win this MacKenzie-Childs "To Go Tote". 

(Our giveaway is now closed, and our winner was Nana Diana. Thanks to everyone who entered, and be sure to come back on June 1 for another giveaway opportunity).

PLEASE NOTE: If your comment displays as anonymous, be sure to write your name so that you may be identified!


Be sure to check out my other traveling sisters' posts to see how they spent their winter months

Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths
Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch
Patti with Miss Kenzie and Miss Taylor @ Pandora's Box
Jenna with Miss Coquille @ The Painted Apron
Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda
Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply (you are here!)
Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul
Jackie with Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home
Ricki Jill with Le Countess de Monet @ The Bookish Dilettante

Join us again on June 1, 2024 for another edition of Tales of the Traveling Tote.
Thanks so much for your visit. I love reading your comments, and be sure to leave one on Debbie's blog for a chance to win our token gift. Stay safe, and Happy March (and soon-to-be🌷spring🌷 in the Northern Hemisphere).

Rita C. at Panoply

28 comments:

  1. You girls look adorable with your headbands at Disney on Ice. Like you, I love my crossbody bag since I am a small person and most bags feel heavy to me. It's perfect for running around town and so cute! Have a great time in Cincinnati with the Panoply sisters.

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  2. Such a smart looking group of bags! I prefer a crossbody too for shopping ease when out and about. Love the mouse ears and bows for your Disney on Ice. Safe travels and happy antiquing and shopping to you. ♥

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  3. What a great collection and the bucket bag is perfect for you!! Cute DisneyShow photo and your granddaughter looked so excited to be there! It's always fun to see the treasures you find on your travels! That is a trunkful!

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  4. Love the photo of you, Rita! Like you, I am petite and a heavy shoulder tote or bag leaves me with pain if carried for long periods of time. A cross-body is my favorite for travel. The photo of you and your girls is adorable! Enjoy the trip and be safe!

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  5. Black and white check is my go to in my home. I fell in love with anything McKenzie Childs years ago. I started with her kettle. In 2020 I replaced the flooring in our home from foyer all the way through the kitchen and breakfast room with black and white tile. I adore the way it looks and get many compliments. Because of age and other things I too prefer the cross body bags. Those give my hands freedom. This is my first time seeing and responding to your post but it won’t be my last. Thank you.

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    1. My name is Alice Genzlinger

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    2. Alice, thank you for visiting and sharing your own love of M-C. I'd love to have your email to communicate directly! Happy March!

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  6. That crossbody bag is especially cute and very versatile. I much prefer them, too. And the Disney show looks fun. I love your ears, of course! Now, wondering what is in those boxes in your trunk!

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  7. Rita, you have a lovely collection of MKC bags. I love the cross body bag, it is so light and perfect for shopping trips. You and your girls look darling in your Disney ears and bows. Such a fun outing. The photo of you is so pretty. Happy shopping and organizing with your sisters.

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  8. I love the variety of styles of MKC totes you have, especially the crossbody one Rita! My everyday purse of choice is a crossbody style and mostly use my large tote for my laptop when I go to the beach house. Cute pics of you and the girls at Disney on Ice, and the selfie! Have fun shopping and being with your sisters! Happy March!
    Jenna

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  9. Love love the headbands. Just adorable. Love to see where you girls go with your totes. Happy Friday. Kris @junkchiccottage.

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  10. Oh I love the pic at the ice show, so cute with your mouse ears! Rita, you have a great bag collection and I love the newest. I need to look for a smaller one, like you the lighter the better. It's nice to have the larger totes, I"ve also used them for keeping up with papers and folders. My tote sure came in handy when we moved. Love seeing the pic of you, you look fabulous. Happy March dear Rita........

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  11. Love your new do! It's always fun to see what the traveling tote is doing!

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  12. You all look so adorable in your ears! Love the smaller purse.

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  13. You and your girls look adorable, Rita! That large bag has never appealed to me because it would dwarf me. I do like your crossbody one, however. My shoulders get too tired anymore. Enjoy your shopping time with your sisters!

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  14. Have fun with the sisters! You look adorable, Rita. I'll be eager to see what you girls found. I have the same assortment of CC bags. I took Miss Merri Mac to several garden centers yesterday, and I can tell you, it was a work out! She is a heavy gal! Ha! Ha!

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  15. Love your collection of bags. I had not seen the cross body.
    The picture of you is great. Also loved seeing your darling grandchild enjoying herself at Disney on Ice.
    Enjoy your time with the sisters. I'm jealous!

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  16. Oh what a fun fun post!!!!! Great catch seeing that MC dog sweater! Sure like the traveling totes stories and really like all your wonderful ones. ♥

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  17. Rita your pics are so cool. Thank you for sharing your family at their/your Disney adventure. I love your hair...it makes you look 10 years younger my friend. I, too carry a crossbody bag....even though I have others, I find my neck thanks me when I abstain. LOL.

    Don't know what is happening with my Jayhawks...The Sand Lot team seems to be showing up lately...I miss our healthy, competitive, usually on top college team. 🥴 In stead of peaking...we are barely performing. However, I will always Rock Chalk Jayhawk for them...Go Big 12.

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  18. Rita- You lucky girl, you! I love that you have found some other MC pieces. I think it is addictive when you find something you love. I know it is for me. I have been looking at MC for a long time and threw my name in the hat to win a bag. Hope you have a wonderful week- xo Diana

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  19. Love everything you collect. I especially love seeing you with your girls and gorgeous grandbaby!

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    1. Thank you, Susan. I'm so glad you enjoy seeing what I share in collections. Happy March!

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  20. You have the neatest collection of MacKenzie-Childs bags! :D I love seeing you at the Disney On Ice Show with your girls. I can tell y'all had a blast! Your stealthy photo from the board meeting made me giggle, and it really isn't that bad of a photo. I hope you found lots of treasure with your Panoply Sisters! I could really use a girls' road trip about now.

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  21. What a great pic of you!! And going to see Disney on Ice looked like so much fun for all of you adorable girls. Hard to imagine this is the 38th installment of your totes escapades. I went back through your links; so much fun and travel. Loved the pup sweater! It made me wonder if they did a clothing line. Always fun to see what you all are up to!

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  22. Such a fun post and I love the story behind Tales of the Traveling Tote. Your collection of bags is wonderful and each tells a story with so many memories! Enjoy your travels and reunion!

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