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A Very Special Fifth Anniversary Edition of the Tales of the Traveling Tote *plus* an AMAZING Giveaway!

Wednesday, January 15, 2020




Happy Wednesday, My Lovelies!  

Welcome to my blog, and Happy New Year!

Today is the Fifth Anniversary Celebration of the Tales of the Traveling Tote; this is a very special, one-of-a-kind Tales of the Traveling Tote post.  The Traveling Tote ladies all enjoy MacKenzie-Childs: The whimsy of the line makes us smile, and we actually found each other via collecting MacKenzie-Childs.  As a family, we have enjoyed how MacKenzie-Childs has made our home happy and fun everyday for thirty-one years.  Perhaps my favorite MacKenzie-Childs memories are afternoon tea parties with our daughters.  Our oldest daughter will be getting married next month, and she has registered for MacKenzie-Childs locally at Christine's.

I'm also enjoying making memories with the Traveling Tote Group: You can read more about us on my Tales of the Traveling Tote Page.  I'm honored to be a part of such a dynamic group of women!

So what, exactly, makes this post different from other Tales of the Traveling Tote posts?


It all started a few weeks ago when I received a special package in the mail.



What in the world could be in the large bag?  I didn't order anything large...




...from MacKenzie-Childs!


Let's open it up, shall we?





L@@K!!!  It is a lovely, one-of-a-kind tote!
I am so touched!
I especially like the little red flowers peeking out of the pocket!



Two artists who work for MacKenzie-Childs looked at my blog and created a beautiful tote that reflects my blog and personality.  I think they nailed it!



It matches lots of things in our home!


I love my tote so much.  I love the pretty fabrics the ladies, Joan and Julie, chose for me.  Because of the interlocking squares, I have named my tote Miss Square Peggy.  Isn't she perfect?



 I'm using my tote to carry my art supplies...






 ....and my library books.  Miss Square Peggy will also go with me to my favorite Indie bookstores!
Plus, she even matches my favorite book of 2019!



She's perfect for field trips to my favorite flower markets, too.



I can take her everywhere!  She even has handy dandy exterior (as well as one interior) pockets!



Finlay is curious about my excitement over the tote.



Sorry Little Buddy!  There's nothing in there for you!






I can also put prizes in it from my friends.  My friends spoil me with prizes!



Check it out!  Miss Square Peggy matches my favorite Christmas present, the MacKenzie-Childs Bazaar Coffee Pot.  










Let's take Miss Square Peggy on a field trip, shall we?  Let's take her to where I purchase MacKenzie-Childs in Birmingham:  Christine's in Mountain Brook Village.  I want to see what's new and popular in the MacKenzie-Childs line at Christine's.



Jean Clayton, owner of Christine's, says her customers love the new Royal Check line by MacKenzie-Childs.  



Miss Square Peggy and I like it, too!






The Flower Market Collection blends beautifully with it, don't you think?





I am so grateful for Miss Square Peggy.  I want to thank MacKenzie-Childs and Joan and Julie for their very generous gift.

The other nine members of the Traveling Totes also received one-of-a-kind totes based on their blogs and personalities.  You can see the ladies with their totes in the collage below.




And now it's YOUR TURN!
One lucky reader of the Traveling Tote Blogs will receive a one-of-a-kind tote.
This is what it looks like:


Isn't it pretty!  
This tote has been provided to us (Tales of the Traveling Tote Bloggers) by MacKenzie-Childs, or Aurora Holdings, LLC.

In order for a chance to win this beautiful tote above, please leave a comment on this post.  You will then be entered to win in a random drawing that is officially a sweepstakes.  Please see legal, above.  Winner will be announced January 27, 2020.

UPDATE:  Rhonda, who entered the contest at The Painted Apron Blog, won the tote in our giveaway.  Thanks to all of my readers who entered.  I wish one of y'all had won!  



Sorry, Mustang Sally....I know you love Miss Square Peggy, but you can't enter!






Please visit the other ladies' blogs.  Here are the links!

Debbie with Miss Tassie @ Mountain Breaths
Emily with Miss Lulu @ The French Hutch
Patti with Miss Tizzy@ Pandora's Box
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  
Ricki Jill with Miss Square Peggy @The Sketchy Reader
Cherry Kay with Miss Waverly  @ Entertaining Women





I hope you will join Miss Square Peggy and me on our next adventure soon!








Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill



71 comments

  1. I am so glad you are already enjoying your tote...and I adore your Christmas present!! HAPPY TRAVELS!

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    1. Patti, thank you for all you do for our group. I am so happy about my tote....I truly love it! Happy travels to you, too!

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  2. How fabulous is that! And it really is styled just for you! I chose adventure for my word this year! I'm ready! Sweet hugs, Diane

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    1. Adventure is a fantastic word...and I can't wait to see where your adventures take you this year. Haooy New Year, Diana!

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  3. They really did nail you in terms of matching colors, style and all! I love her name, too. Very clever! You had to be over the moon when that box arrived and so much fun to see the photos of you all enjoying your new "friends." Three cheers, RJ! (And I love the giveaway offer too -- beautiful!)

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    1. Thanks for your kind comments, and I think the giveaway tote is so pretty, too!

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  4. Ricki Jill Miss Square Peggy does match so many things that you love!! She is perfect and quite a good poser, all your photos and vignettes are just beautiful! How fun to take her to Christine's to mingle with her "cousins!" Mustang Sally is adorable, and I am thrilled to hear that your daughter has learned to love MKC too! What fun we will have with our new totes! We must plan an adventure with Emily when your life calms down! ❤️ Jenna

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    1. I look forward to life calming down after Shanley Belle's wedding. But I'm also looking forward to the big event. I'm praying for good weather at this point! We will get together soon!

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  5. Your tote is beautiful. What a great surprise, and one that will be filled with many memories!

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    1. It was the very best surprise. Thanks for visiting my blog!

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  6. Dear Ricki Jill, your tote is the perfect colors for you, she certainly fits! Love the pattern and colors. She will be very stylish as you make your rounds in town and travels. It was such fun meeting ups with you and Jenna for lunch where all the totes got together. Great post.........

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    1. Thank-you, Emily. I hope to see you and Jenna soon. We can all three go on a fun adventure with our new totes!

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  7. Hi Ricki Jill. I know you and Rita and Linda and they got you spot on with these surprise new totes made just for each of you. I cannot wait to see more of the travels with your new Miss Square Peggy. Beautiful bag.
    xoxo

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    1. Thank-you, Kris. Miss Square Peggy's first big adventure will be hauling necessities for Shanley Belle's wedding!

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  8. Love the fabrics and color combination of Miss Square Peggy! I am visiting from my friend Debbie's blog. I just love this story and adventure!

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    1. THank-you so much for linking over frim Debbie's blog, Suzy! We have had a blast with our traveling totes, and these new ones will add to the fun for sure!

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  9. Ricki Jill, Miss Square Peggy and you have been busy. She is so perfect for you. Darling photos of her. She is perfect for carrying those books you love to read. Lots of pockets for those fun accessories we gals need. How cute Mustang Sally is next to Miss Square Peggy.

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    1. Thanks, Linda. That Mustang Sally is the love of my life! ;P

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  10. Love this! love her name! and love Finley ( he's so cute) would love to have one of my own to travel with!!! I follow Jackie @ Purple Chocolate Home . matt621hew@yahoo.com

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    1. Thanks for linking over to my blog from Jackie's Cindy! I appreciate it, and thanks for your sweet comments about our Westie loves!

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  11. Wow what a pretty bag! Love that they were designed for each of you personally! They chose the patterns well for you too!

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    1. Thank-you, Liz. I do think the ladies at MacKenzie-Childs did a wonderful job choosing fabrics for our totes to match our blogs and personalities. Thanks for visiting my blog!

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  12. Miss Square Peggy is devine! To have a tote designed especially for you....what could be more special!? Enjoy your travels with her!

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    1. Isn't she, though!?!?!? I am so happy to have her. We will have many adventures, I'm sure!

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  13. Ricki Jill, your tote is charming, and like Miss Poppy, I see you are uusing her daily. These bags ae just perfect! I feel grateful and honored that Mackenzie-Childs would do this for us. Just one more reason to love this company! MKC's whimsy and beauty has brought us joy for decades, and remains my favorite company. Your new coffee pot is on my wish list. With a January birthday just days away, I just might treat myself! Cheers to MacKenzie-Chids and all our new travels in 2020.

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    1. Oh, Sarah....I do think you should treat yourself to one of the coffee pots. It is one of MKC's most lovely pieces, a must for coffee lovers! Happy Birthday to you!!!!

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  14. Wow, Ricki Jill! I can't believe how much of your personal decor and wardrobe go with your bag! Your name for her is perfect, too. What a great decision your daughter has made in choosing MKC as a wedding registry. I spy a very great idea from one of your friends (that book! I would buy it, her ideas are so great)! Your bag is as unique as you are, RJ, a true artist.

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    1. Thanks, Rita. Our decor matches Miss Square Peggy. We even have a pink island in our kitchen! ;P

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  15. Your tote already looks at home with you. What a beautiful bag. They did a fabulous job on all the totes.

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    1. Thank-you, and I agree that the ladies did a fantastic job making our totes!

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  16. What a gorgeous tote.
    MarionMPC[at]aol[dot]com

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  17. I spy some cute shoes in that last photo of Miss Square Peggy! I’m so impressed with each tote and the fabric that was lovingly chosen to reflect our individual tastes and personalities. I know there will be many outings together.

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    1. Debbie, I am enjoying my tote so much! I look forward to many adventures with Miss Square Peggy!

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  18. Your stories are so interesting and it would be amazing to see how a designer matches your personality with fabrics! Happy travels to you!

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  19. Miss Square Peggy is a perfect match for you Ricki Jill! I know you girls were thrilled and honored to have a bag designed by MKC with you in mind...so generous and impressive. It looks like there are additional pockets in MSP that can hold a few treats for Finlay and Mustang Sally too. ;) Happy wedding planning and wishing you good weather.♥

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    1. Thank-you, Mary. I'm hoping that the weather cooperates, too, because people will be traveling from all over the country to attend Shanley Belle and Christopher's wedding!

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  20. I just love that you named your tote. And it is you! Beautiful. Looking forward to all your adventures.
    Carla

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  21. P.S. Love the shoes you have in the photo! FUN!!

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    1. Thank-you, Carla! They are from England, so there is a certain amount of English quirkiness to them.

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  22. Hello Ricki,
    I LOVE those Travelling-Totes, they are gorgeous!
    Love your little Dog too, I had one too, but he went over the rainbowbridge a few years ago ...
    Wishing you a lovely rest of the week!
    Love and hugs, Claudia xo

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    1. Thank you for stopping by, Claudia! Our fur babies are such a tremendous part of our lives, aren't they!

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  23. Miss Square Peggy's colors are wonderful! I know that you will enjoy lots of adventures with her. Such a special thing for MC to do for you all. It's so nice of y'all and MC to let some lucky gal in on the thrill too!!

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    1. I still can't get over how kind MCK has been to us. :D Thanks for stopping by!

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  24. How nice for each of you to receive a tote from MKC.

    Thanks to you all for the give-away.

    Sheila

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    1. MKC has been very nice indeed! Thanks for stopping by!

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  25. Miss Square Peggy was created so perfectly for you!! I'm sure you'll be going on many more fun excursions with her! How lovely of MCK to create another tote for a special giveaway for some lucky recipient.

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    1. MCK has gone above and beyond....so happy with their generosity!

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  26. Congrats on being in the TTT group for 5 years. I love the bag that was made up for you from MC. I look forward to reading about more of the travels with your bags.

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    1. Thank-you, Julie! I appreciate your stopping by. The next big adventure will be our oldest daughter's wedding! It will be in about four weeks!

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  27. Ricki, you look fabulous in the picture! I am so excited for all of you getting some wonderful new totes. That was very generous! Your bag is perfect for you.
    Now, your MCK coffeepot is adorable that you got for Christmas!
    Thinking of you as the wedding time approaches. Blessings!

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    1. Aw, thanks for your sweet comments, Bonnie! :D
      It is a happy time for our family for sure! One of Miss Square Peggy's first adventures will be the wedding next month!

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  28. I cannot think of a better pairing than Mackenzie Childs🏁 and books📚. Such a lovely new tote. Looking forward to the new adventures with her!

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    1. Isn't it a great combination? Thanks for stopping by my blog. Our next big adventure will be our oldest daughter's wedding. :D

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  29. These totes are so pretty! I'd love to win one, too.

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  30. I thought that Miss Square Peggy might be your. Debbie and I were collaborating - so I can't say that I knew! She will have so much fun with you. You are lucky to have a store close by - I love the blue and white checks too, and I usually don't love much blue, except for aqua. We have to go all the way to Vegas to see a few items!

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    1. The Royal Check is extremely popular here in Birmingham. I wonder if they will have any ceramic pieces like the Parchment Check and Courtley Check. I hope you are enjoying all your birthday activities!

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  31. Beautiful bag. Enjoy.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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  32. Miss Square Peggy is living her best life. Congrats on your 5th year anniversary and the great custom gift from Mackenzie-Childs. Isn't it amazing how the patterns, colors and fabrics MC uses automatically complements other products in their line. I'd like a custom tote to find fun and adventure too. Please count me in the giveaway. Geaux Mackenzie-Childs. Geaux Tales of the Traveling Tote.

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    1. Geaux Tigers! (I couldn' resist....our daughter is at LSU!) Thanks for visiting my blog!

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  33. Lovely post. The bag is outstanding!

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  34. Miss Square Peggy and you will make wonderful traveling partners on all your outings!

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  35. Thanks so much for entering! Entry submission is now closed!

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Hello!

I'm Ricki Jill. Welcome! I'm honored that you're reading my blog. I enjoy sharing my creative lifestyle @ The Bookish Dilettante. For more information about my blog, please read the Start Here page. Thank-you for stopping by, and I hope you'll consider following me via email.

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