Welcome to the Tales of the Traveling Tote
Adventures and Giveaway
January 15, 2026
Where my fellow Tales of the Traveling Tote friends and I share our latest travels, projects and our most current events. You will have an opportunity to visit other members at the end of this post and learn about our giveaway.
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December
Happy New Year dear friends!
This past December started off with my fun birthday celebration. I love to celebrate all month long!
Christmas Afterglow
After the last ornament is put away, I enjoy strolling through photos I've taken of my Christmas decorations. This brings such joy from decorating and remembering time spent with loved ones. I hope you will enjoy a few, well actually a lot of my many Christmas memories.
My front doors adorned with lighted wreaths
Foyer
Our living room tree
Jim decorates the nine foot tree so we have
his and her trees!
Hall
The French Hutch
Dining room
My flocked tabletop tree
The dining room with my little flocked tree and one of my holiday table settings
Our Advent calendar, in the dish room sits on the Harrod's hamper, a gift from my family a few years ago
Our study where the bears come out
A tea station for afternoon tea
The stairwell landing
Sweet Stella, our grandson's dog
And Sweet Lulu, my sister's cat
I love them like my own...
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Planning our spring getaway
Every spring we plan a vacation to Seaside, along beautiful Highway 30A in the Florida panhandle. Today I'm sharing a pics from a past trip a few years ago. We are in the process of planning this trip for either April or May. Come along to see what I love to do for a fun and restful getaway.
Seaside, Florida
I love to walk in my favorite neighborhoods. Shady and a lovely spot to stop and enjoy a favorite drink or snack
Of course long walks along the beach and shopping for fun tees for lounging
A morning at the beach
After a morning on the beach then strolling through town for a little afternoon shopping
A must visit to my favorite book store
I love these artisan hand painted pieces
We always enjoy dining out at one of our favorites restaurants
Redbar
Atlanta Farmer's Market
When we visited my sister and brother in law in Atlanta one of the places I wanted to go was to the International Farmer's Market. Unlike our southern markets, this market offered foods from different countries. It's always an interesting visit.
A fun place for finding gifts and stockings stuffers
Great bakery selections
Always a nice selection of vegetables
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Now for the Giveaway!
Debbie at "Mountain Breaths"will be hosting the giveaway for a chance to win the Eye Glass Case from MacKenzie-Childs. Just leave a comment on her blog post. Thank you Debbie for hosting.
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Tales of the Traveling Tote members would love for you to visit.
Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths
Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch
Patti with Miss Kenzie @ 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
Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home
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Tales of the Traveling Tote
next on May15, 2026 for more fun adventures and another giveaway
Tale of The Traveling Tote
Schedule for Publishing
Schedule for Publishing
January 15, 2026
May 15, 2026
September 15, 2026
Add us to your calendar...
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Happy New Year!
Peace!
What a glorious post! Your Christmas afterglow -- WOW! I'm glad you shared it and so many photos. So many images I fell in love with. I think if I came into your holiday home, I would never want to leave! It's like a magical kingdom. Your door wreaths are terrific, too, and every bit within. I'm sure it takes you days to get it up and in place but it's worth every minute. Aren't those wax amaryllis fun? I had a couple before Christmas and one small white one just bloomed and it is staggeringly beautiful. Everything here makes me smile! I hope your next visit to Seaside is a good one/1
ReplyDeleteYour home holiday decor was fabulous. You have such a flair for decorating and I wish I could see it all in person. I am sure you look forward to your Seaside trip as it looks so peaceful there ( love the quote!). Happy travels!
ReplyDeleteThat anonymous comment was from me. New iPad here! I also came back to view all your pics again. I enjoyed seeing them all again!
ReplyDeleteEmily, the Christmas decor details are overwhelmingly stunning! I can tell you've pretty much completely settled into your new home, and it shows. The dining room tree is my favorite. The silver fox (!) and all the birds, just beautiful. That stuffed dog - a goldendoodle or poodle? - adorable. Your Advent calendar (and the dish room) is really nice. Your style reminds me much of my sister Marcie's - romantic at heart. Your trip to Seaside is always a fun one to visit vicariously, as we have been there. The market in Atlanta - those swan pastries (oh my!) and all the various country offerings - really would make for a day's worth just to peruse. Your plants all look so healthy and happy, and the floral arrangement by the bowl with cloved oranges and cones is outstanding! I really enjoyed seeing your home in its Christmas finery - a real treat!
ReplyDeleteStunning! So many beautiful vignettes. . .has me wishing for Christmas '26!
ReplyDeleteEmily, your home looks so beautiful all decorated for Christmas. Each room looks so festive and magical. The darling bears and all of those fabulous ornaments. The wreaths are so lovely on your door. Love how you decorate your hutch and are wowed by your pretty collections. Your Seaside trip looks wonderful and I know you and Jim will enjoy visiting again. Nothing like getting away to a fun spot, dining, shopping and exploring. Happy January.
ReplyDeletesuch beautiful pictures! christmas decor is next level! And that is the most beautiful cat i have ever seen! 🥰
ReplyDeleteEmily, your home could be on a Christmas tour! I try to attend as many historic home tours as I can in our area during the holiday season. You have added your decorative touch to every room which I love. The bears add a cozy touch, and your door with the wreaths is fabulous. You could have your hutch featured in a magazine. I know you will enjoy your time at Seaside, and I was thinking of you the other day when my co-worker from Florida sent me a local magazine that featured hiking trails at Gulf State Park in Alabama. She went in October and knows I would enjoy the trails. I've never been to Alabama so perhaps in the future. Your grandson's dog and your sister's cat are the sweetest! I thoroughly enjoyed seeing your home decorated. I could go on and on about this fabulous post. Happy January.
ReplyDeleteEmily, what fun to have this fabulous photo tour of your beautiful home decorated for the holidays. I'm in awe of all you and Jim do. Love the special vignettes under your tree. Just the thought of your hutch filled with special treasures against the backdrop of your wonderful Quimper, makes me smile. Happy planning and dreams of the Seaside trip that awaits for spring. Fun to look back on these previous trips. Sand between your toes!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy, Happy 2026, dear friend!
Emily, your Christmas decor is fabulous! I enjoyed every photo and will look again to take in all of the details. I know that it takes a lot of time and energy to put it all together so beautifully! I love 30a and Seaside. We used to visit yearly, but not so much anymore. We have eaten at Redbar, great food! The Atlanta Farmer’s Market looks like a place that I would love. Thanks so much for sharing and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteOh Emily, your home is stunningly decorated for Christmas!! All your pictures should be in Southern Living magazine or your home should be on a Christmas home tour. Thank you for sharing all your fabulous decorations, ornaments and keepsakes. It’ll be so nice for you to getaway to your favorite vacation spot. One of my son’s and his family have a trip planned there for July. The Atlanta Farmers’s Market looks like a fun destination. Happy New Year to you!
ReplyDeleteI love how you documented everything. I take some pictures, but I need to do more. Your MC bears are so adorable and that MC partridge/bird - wow I love her. I love that you are planning your trip to Seaside and shared with us. We still have yet to go to the Panhandle. We had a trip planned in the fall, but our host ended up with a medical condition. It looks wonderful. Have a very Happy New Year.
ReplyDelete