I’m a practical sort of gal.
I’m not a follower of fashion, by any means, and I find the whole clothing shopping thing quite an unpleasant experience. I try and avoid it if I can.
Except recently while I was returning from a two week bikepacking long trip and I had the day to spend in Aberdeen before catching the ferry home. I popped into the local TkMaxx to see if I could find a new dress to take on an upcoming trip to Brussels as, I understand it, it can be quite warm on the continent (it wasn’t).
I found a fantastic designer Italian dress made from flax fibre that I loved the look of and, as chance should have it, it was in my size. I bought it. £20. Unpleasant clothing shopping experience avoided.
As luck should have it, when I arrived home (and a pile of parcels which had been delivered in my absence) there was a brand new Thornback and Peel tote bag waiting for me with a delicious pea green pattern screenprinted all over the outside.
I instantly fell in love with it and the grey carrying handle and natural cotton fibres matched my flax dress perfectly! There was my summer travelling outfit to the continent sorted! I’d also bought a pair of Clarks sandals in the sales in Aberdeen but ended up not wearing them, opting for my clunky biker style boots instead.
Told you I don’t follow fashion.
So, the lovely folks at Thornback and Peel have invited me to show them what’s in my tote bag. Well, this is it. I brought this tote bag to Brussels with me last week and it’s stood up to the travel test very well, in fact, after 36 hours travelling by Northlink Ferry, Virgin East Coast Trains, P&O Ferries and whatever the train was from Europoort to Brussels – and back (except the return journey from Aberdeen was via FlyBe – 24 hours travel), this bag looks nearly as good as it did when we left.
I completely forgot to get my husband to take a photo of me with the bag while we were in Brussels, so here’s one of the tote bag on the statue in the Hull railway station, looking all smart and stuff.
It’s been filled with all sorts while we’ve been away: a cuddly unicorn purchased at The Grasshopper toy shop in Brussels, Belgium beer, Belgium chocolate, Â Shetland chocolate (purchased on our return to Shetland on the opening day of a new chocolatier in Shetland), a pile of travel tickets, 2 x pairs of children’s sunglasses (never worn), 1-2 children’s summer jackets, six passports (I travel with two – one in date one and one with the visa that lets me back into the country), my notebook and pen and the book I’m currently reading, Nod, recommended to me by the staff at Waterstones in Aberdeen purchased that day we were waiting for the ferry.
It’s a rather good read, so far.
The Thornback and Peel tote bag range comes in a variety of quirky patterns and colours and they retail for only £20.
All in all, I am loving mine. It’s sturdy and well made – ideal for us practical sorts of gals, but it’s also affordable and has a nice design.
What design would you choose, and what would you style it with? What would you put in it? Let me know in the comments below!
THORNBACK AND PEEL GIVEAWAY
Win a Thornback and Peel Tote Bag worth £20! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter entry form below!
HOW TO ENTER
For your chance to a Thornback and Peel Tote Bag worth £20 enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Come back and tweet about the giveaway every day for more chances to win!
TERMS & CONDITIONS
This giveaway is open to UK entries only. Entrants must be age 18 or over. The winner will need to respond within 30 days of being contacted; failure to do this may result in another winner being selected.
The prize is offered and provided by Thornback and Peel. The prize is to win a Thornback and Peel Tote Bag worth £20. There is no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable.
There is no entry fee and no purchase is necessary to enter this giveaway. The promoter (Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary) reserves the right to cancel or amend the giveaway and these terms and conditions without notice.
Entry into our giveaways will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.
If you need some help using Rafflecopter, here’s a quick clip to show you how. Rafflecopter will pick the winners at random from all the entries received. I will be verifying entries and any automated entries or those who have claimed they have made the mandatory blog post comment and really haven’t will be disqualified. It’s mandatory! Please make sure your comment is eight words or longer or Google views it as spam. >>>>> All entries with comments fewer than the mandatory 8 words will be disqualified. <<<<<
Closing date is midnight (that’s 00:00 hours, 12 am on Sunday night/Monday morning) on Monday 11 July 2016 (GMT) and the winner will be announced shortly afterwards.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Don’t forget to check out my other giveaways!
Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary received a Thornback and Peel tote bag for review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are our own. This is not a paid post.
Boulets à la Liégeoise – a Classic Belgium Meatball Recipe
pea green pattern of the torn peel bag is awesome . I also carry this type bag when I go to town for shopping .
Id style it eith jeans a tee and glip floos and use it to carry sll my beachwear
I would style it with skinny jeans, nice floaty top, gladiator sandals, long necklace and bangles. It would the perfect bag for shopping! Xo
I would use it for shopping and would choose the wildest pattern 🙂
These look brilliant! I’d definitely use mine as a shopping bag, since I avoid plastic ones whenever I can.
My everyday wear, jeans, tshirt, cardy. It would most probably contain my shopping as it looks a good sturdy bag
I would use it to ACCESSORIZE every outfit from casual to smart because its a statement piece. I would put my phone, purse and make up bag – the ESSENTIALS of life.
I would wear it with my jeans and take it shopping
black skinny jeans, black leather jacket , 🙂
I’d use it for days out, paired with cutoff jeans and a summer top. It would have my purse, phone and tissues in it
a nice floaty maxi dress and I would put my Kindle, phone, keys and a notepad and pen in it
I’d wear my new cropped jeans and green flowery blouse, so would love to win the bag with rabbits on it-it would all tie in together nicely. Now that shops aren’t giving out free bags anymore, I’d use my bag for all the bits and bobs of shopping I do when in the city. For example, a few toiletries, a new piece of clothing and a new book. I’d be really proud to carry my new bag! 🙂
I’d pin it with badges to take shopping.
I would style it with white skinny jeans, a pretty top, sandals and sunglasses. I love cookery mags so I would definitely have at least one of those in it. I would also have my purse, phone and make-up in there too.
dressed casually filled with purse and makeup
I’d put this with so many things 😀 And Especially my lovely broches 🙂 I’d carry lots of bits n bobs in it x
I would style my tote bag with my favourite pair of skinny jeans and my favourite gypsy smock top with a pair of wedges. I would fill this fabulous tote bag with a map of London, sunglasses, my purse, my mobile and my Visitor Oyster Card for our week’s stay in London in the summer!
My library books and food shopping plus other goodies
I would style it with skinny jeans, a summer top, some pretty sandals and sunglasses. I would put all my essentials in it such as my purse, phone and bottle of water 🙂
I’d pick the Mums & Roses Bag and style with it with a cream coloured summer dress and some navy blue pumps, with a silver statement necklace.
I would style it with a lovely Summer dress and would use it to carry all of my holiday essentials (sunglasses, sun lotion etc).
i love the colour of the peas in a pod one! it would be great to take my lunch to work in
It would be lovely with a summer dress on the beach to hold my sun cream and book
Really love these bags they are so pretty
I would wear mine to work everyday to carry my lunch and a few light work files in. I’m liking the strawberry one 🙂
Id love to style this with light blue jeans and a nice white tee and sandals
I’d style with my new white summer dress and sandals and carry picnic items and a nice book if it’s a lovely summers day 🙂 xx
DARK JEANS AND A WHITE SHIRT AND SUNGLASSES WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED.. PERFECT STYLE
Such a nice collection of bags..would love to win one for my everyday shopping 🙂
It would be lovely with a summer dress on the beach – and would be useful to carry suntan lotion etc.
skinny jeans, sandals and a blazer, I would use it for my library books
I would style it casually for a shopping trip, so gladiator sandals, dark blue jeans and a kaftan and beads
I would like mine with colourful butterfly design and use it to carry my shopping
I would choose the pea design I would use the bag on daytrips for drinks and sandwiches
I would love one with breeds of dogs on, I would put all my dog training bits in there
My jeans and a t shirt and would have a beach towel and my sunglasses and take my little one to the beach with it
I`m a nursery teacher so I carry an unbelievable amount of stuff with me to work from wet wipes to glitter.
Honestly, I have no clue how to ‘style a tote bag’, but I know I would stick it in my handbag so it was always on hand when out shopping!
Janie x
I’d choose peas and I’d fill it with delicious food, preferably with some loooong leeks or a baguette poking out!¬
This is so nice I would use it everyday for work – id keep my very important things in it like my glasses and lunch 🙂
These would look great with a boho skirt. I’d carry my ukulele music in it
The style of the bag speaks for itself so I would team it with black wide leg pants and a white t-shirt. I’d carry my book, my bottle of water and my phone in it. And the ubiquitous British brolly!
I’d take it the pool on holiday so i’d put my book and sunglasses in it!
Such a nice looking bag. I would use it everyday and fill it with my most important “things”.
I would use it on market days to carry home my shopping.
Lovely looking tote bag would have it I would have it with me all the time. So it would be will every outfit i have 🙂
I am a veggie & the rest of my household are meat eaters so i would use the rabbit & hare bag to keep my shopping sepearate, its a gorgeous print i love it x
rabit & cabbage print 🙂
i’d style it with linen trousers and a summery blouse. i’d put penguins in it
I would style the tote with a light summer dress and I would keep all my summer essentials in it like sunglasses, sun cream and a good book.
I’d give it to my wonderful lady.x
As a mother of a toddler it’s likely to have baby wipes, a sippy cup or water, a pack of plasters and a random toy in it!
Can’t say I’m a big follower of fashion either so there’d be no styling, it would go with whatever I’m wearing! I’d use it for all sorts from a beach towel, sun cream and a good book to a general shopping bag and for taking goodies to a friends for a girlie night.
What a lovely looking tote bag, I wouldn’t mind trying this one myself for my many weekend getaways abroad as it looks so practical.
I’d style it with my jeans and I would use it as my shopping bag.
I would put my purse, make up and phone in this bag
jeans, tee and blazer with pumps, I’d keep my impulse buys in it!
Oh I love the pea design, and sounds like it stood up to some pretty serious travel! Thanks for linking up with #TriedTested
These bags would be great as shopping bags. Love the design.
This bag is super cute!! It looks like a good size. Especially love the blue one xxx
This bag looks great – love the whole look. And how you hung it on the statue – hilarious! I can’t enter the comp as not UK based but would love to!
This looks like such a lovely bag, love the photos. I really need to invest in some new bags as I just use my sons changing bag whenever I go anywhere these days x
Black jeans, ankle boots, and a sweater. I would use to go off shopping, carrying all my newly bought things in.
Just with my work clothes to carry my marking to school.
id style it with my jeans when i go shopping
These bags are really cute. I do love tk maxx for some bargains!
I would use it for shopping in town and to carry my phone and purse
I’d style it with a Breton tee and carry my holiday essentials for my weekend break in Dorset.
I would put my day to day stuff in it when the weather is nice
I’d style it with a lovely summery navy scooped neck tee and white lace gypsy skirt and I’d have a beach towel, my shades and a book to read inside it on my way to relax in the park. x
I would fill it full of treats and give to my daughter to take on holiday
I would use it for shopping as they are pretty and useful
I’d choose the one with Rabbits and Lettuces ….. even though the rabbits ate virtually ALL my lettuces and other veggies off our Veggie Patch last year. (I still think little bunnies are THE cutest things in the world.)
And I would style it with my darkest jeans and green summer top and my green sneakers ….. the green is exactly the same as the lettuces 🙂
And what would I put in it …. all the usual stuff that ends up packing out my bag every time I go out, purse, phone camera (doesn’t every blogger always carry a camera), nibbles and a bottle of sparkling water, and hopefully … if the sun decides to show her face again soon … my sunglasses!!
I would use it to carry my belongings when I go and visit my mum and dad.I’d wear a summer dress with it.
Not fashionable either, but I do love bags, especially ones with lovely designs like this one! Great stuff 🙂
My shopping, I’ll save the planet and 5p by using this bag
big maxi skirt and top. And I would fill the bag with a sketch pad and pencils, and rhubarb & custard boiled sweets
I love a tote bag and this one is a lovely colour. They are just so handy x
I love the slightly boho chic style of these bags and the fact that they’re roomy enough for me to put everything in. Yes I’m that person with everything and everything in my bag – book, notebook, pens, phone, sunglasses, makeup, hand cream, camera, need I go on?
I love these tote bags, I would love to carry it around at the weekend shopping in town in my trendy casual gear. I could use it to carry all of my lovely purchases.
A crisp white shirt and skinny jeans
I would love the rabbits and cabbage tote, I would put in it my purse my lip loss & of coruse my phone save taking my handba with me
all my grocery and all my other household shopping – oh and my pacmac
I’d wear it with a nice flowing summery maxi dress and I’d use it to go shopping or to go to the beach
my wife loves these , she as a collection
I love using tote bags – they are so light for carrying everything in – I would hope to use mine for a picnic – all we need is some lovely weather 🙂
Love it for walks in our countryside
I would style it with jeans and sandals and a white top. I’d put my purse, sunnies and a brolly in it, the way this weather’s going I’ll probably need the brolly more than the sunnies!
I would style the Thornback and Peel Tote Bag with my green top & black trousers & I would fill it with food for a picnic 🙂
I would love one of these I’m a bit of a tote bag fan. I would use it when I’m dressed casually in jeans and a nice top and carry my keys, phone, purse and tissues with me
I would carry my bag with my casual work outfit long cardi boots etc and would colour scheme the whole ensemble i would use it to carry my every day handbag stuff and my lunch for work
I would use it to take with me on a picnic,full of lovely food.
A summer dress and a chunky cardi, and full of my books for my dissertation!
I’d get a pretty summer dress on, tie a little floaty scarf round the tote handle and pack it with my sunglasses, water and guide book and take myself off somewhere interesting for the day.
Would be perfect for carrying my lunch, wipes etc. going to work. I’d style it with either my work uniform or just casual if going shopping x
i would style it with a summer dress and put all my summer essentials in there
ooo id take this shopping and match it up with m accessries !
jeans and a nice jacket and i would put the usual in it keys purse phone wipes thankyou
I would put some bag charms on it and use it for summer days out
I’d use it when dressed casually for day to day use and carry my purse, keys, sunglasses etc in it when out and about.
A would want a holiday picture pasted onto the bag – such as of a sunny landscape to remind me of happy times
I love the blue and white one! I would use it as my shopping bag!
I have lots of cute badges and brooches so would personalise my tote with those. I would carry my clothes and accessories shopping in it when I go to town!