Sunday, May 29, 2011

Good Stuff

Just a few handy items for traveling.


 #1 Burt's Bees Res-Q Ointment

 This stuff is outstanding. Bug bites? Check. Minor scrapes and burns? Check. Stupid annoying paper cuts? Check. Small enough to fit in your pocket? Check! Granted, the UK isn't known for it's bugs. Let's be honest about this, it isn't warm enough to grow mosquitoes. Still though, this stuff is great for any minor itch, scratch, cut, or burn, for healing cracked heels, knuckles, cuticles -- seriously anything.





#2 Witty Luggage Tags

This one is by TravelPro (google it if you're interested) and while I find them humorous, I still just stick with a basic one. In any case, you must have luggage tags on your stuff and if they're bright and bold, that makes your luggage easier to distinguish from all the other black, brown, gray, and otherwise nondescript bags coming down the conveyor belt.








#3 Kleenex "Splash N' Go" Wipes

It's a shower in a wipe. Feeling grimy after a long plane ride? Bust out one of these babies and wipe, wipe, wipe, your face and neck and anything else within reach that isn't awkward to scrub in public and you'll instantly feel better. Sneak off to the bathroom to freshen up otherwise (do I need to elaborate? I think not). It may also come in handy when there's no TP. Actually, that really what they're for...





#4 Laundry (sink) Supplies

Barbaric, I know, but washing your clothes out in the sink is really not that bad of an idea, and in practice, not so bad either. You need to be able to stop the water and not all hotels have a little stoppy thingy so this cheap little packet gives you one and a bunch of detergent designed for cold water hand washing. Genius. One note though, the detergent is liquid so it either needs to be checked or it becomes part of your 3-1-1 carry-on challenge.








#5 Stretchy Rubbery Clever Clothesline

Well, you need a place to hang your freshly sink-laundered duds, don't you? Draping works but you only have so much room. This little clothesline is pretty great. It can hook onto stuff with the little carabeener clip, the velcro straps, or the suction cups, and there's no need for clothespins because it works a little something like this. Neat-o, right? It's also virtually weightless and takes up almost no space. Could also come in handy ad a bungee cord...








#6 Retractable Razor

How awesome is this! I just discovered it and it might have just changed my life. Perhaps that's a big extreme, but what a good idea. Buy one! Looks like they take any twin blade head...but I don't know.










#7 Dry Shampoo

I was a skeptic at first but now am a card-carrying convert. This. Stuff. Is. Awesome. It is essentially a powdery substance that sops up oil leaving your hair "clean" and style-able when you really haven't washed it in...however many days.  Be warned, it takes some getting used to and you really have to rub it in, since it's an enzyme that needs to be activated by the heat of your scalp. Okay so I might have made that part up, but what I said makes sense based on the science that I remember and on the fact that it actually is and enzyme and actually does need to be rubbed in quite a lot. The upside though is that it isn't liquid, goo, or aerosol so it's carry-on friendly. I still need my regular shampoo to feel groomed, but this is perfect for that morning when your alarm and back up alarm and double back up alarm didn't go off and you need to be on the bus in 5 minutes and you meant to get up early to shower...oh, it happens. It also works when you're just too lazy.















#8 Shampoo/Laundry Detergent Sheets

These are cray-zay. You know those little Listerine pocket packs? This is sort of like that but bigger and rather than a mouth-assaulting explosion, you get shampoo or laundry detergent. How well it works remains to be seen but it beats the 3-1-1 carry-on rule so that alone is worth giving it a shot.I bought some at the travel store on 394 over by Ridgedale. Go check it out, they've got some cool gadgets there.














#9 Compression Packs

These are by Lewis N' Clark, but Eagle Creek has some, so does Travelon, you can get them at Target, Wal-Mart and places like that. I'm sure fancy travel stores have them too. They can be quite expensive for-top-of-the-line nearly indestructible ones, but the cheaper versions work just as well -- just beware they can be punctured and ripped. For instance, I compressed one while wearing my wedding ring and sliced the bag right open. Oops. Some clear packing tape fixed it right up, though, and I still use it.






#10 Convertible Bags (Kiva)

I just picked up one of these guys at TJ Maxx for something like 8 dollars. It converts from a sling bag (with a strap pocket for that handy Burt's Bees stuff!) to a big ol' zip-top tote. It also folds into itself so it stores pretty tiny too. Awesome. I like the super light but super durable nylon. I got black because, well, that's what they had, but I also prefer black. It's good to be basic and non-flashy when traveling.

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