Travel Essentials

I don't go on a ton of trips, but I could call myself a fairly seasoned traveler. I've picked up hints here and there. I watch and read things that tell me how to do it right and what to bring along.

On this last trip I discovered some travel essentials -- some things I've used for awhile and some things I've never used before but will from now on. Because you are so good to read my blog I want to pass this wisdom on to you by sharing 6 of my favorite travel tips.

#1 Bring a brightly colored suitcase. Mine is just like the one pictured, except mine is lime green. It's awesome. I got teased for it (mostly by my mom who asked me if I was going to the Emerald City) but I didn't care. I didn't have to attach a ribbon or sticker to set it apart. I didn't have to read tags to make sure it was mine. I could spot it on the conveyor belt from across the airport baggage claim and say, "Oh, there's mine." AND, I didn't have to worry about somebody mistaking it for their own. LOVE it. $40 TJ Maxx.

#2 Tide pens. I only brought one but should have brought a couple more because not only was it incredibly useful for me, it proved useful for everyone else as well. I recommend these over shout wipes. I brought both. I think the Tide pen works better AND you don't need to dispose of it when you're done treating the stain. You just put the cap on and stick it back in your bag.

#3 Ziploc Baggies. Bring a lot. Especially if you have a lot of beauty products that expand and explode at high altitudes. My toner, moisturizer and hair gel all benefited from the baggies they were in. Well, I guess my suitcase is what benefited.

#4 Extra rechargeable battery for your digital camera. I'm really glad I bought one. It was an extra fifty bucks, but even though I brought my battery charger, a charger won't help you when you're outside and your battery dies.

#5 These shoes. I bought these Nike Mary Janes for my trip because I knew I was going to do a lot of walking and I knew I had to look kind of nice for a lot of the venues I was visiting. I brought four pairs of shoes, but I wore these about 75% of the trip. They're cute, comfortable and durable. After one hot day in Paris, I changed into flip flops so my feet could breathe. But as soon as I walked out of the hotel and down the street I realized how remarkably comfortable my Nikes were and I regretted changing into flip flops immediately.

#6 Fold up hanging Mary Kay cosmetic case. I don't know who this little girl is, but this is the best picture I could find online. I couldn't even find it on Mary Kay's site, so you may have to find something similar rather than the real thing. I noticed my friend Maria's when we went to D.C. a few years ago and thought it was the greatest thing ever and so she got one for me for Christmas or my birthday or something and I always take it with me. It's so perfect. All four plastic compartments are washable and they are velcroed on so you can take them off if you want. It folds up into this perfect cube for your suitcase and then it has a hanger on it so you just hang it on the bathroom door in your hotel room. I LOVE it. Get one.

So there you go. If you have travel tips for me, I'm still collecting for future trips.