The Friday Five: Five Essentials to Pack in Your Carry-On

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For as long as I can remember, summer has been my season to travel. It’s probably because I’ve been in school all of my life, I’ve been a elementary school teacher, and now I teach at a university. In my life, it’s always been a tad tricky to take time off during the September-June months. July/August has been much more convenient. And I’ve always tried to take advantage of the downtime to escape the city and regular life and have an adventurous or relaxing holiday.

This summer is full of travel for me, and I couldn’t be more happy. I feel so very fortunate to have such travel experiences, and a job that affords me to escape for a couple of weeks.

I’m ecstatic to be in Europe, touring Italy with my dad, then heading off to Copenhagen for a few days. I thought it was fitting, therefore, to share with you five of my essential items for my carry-on luggage.

1. Sleeping eye mask

I absolutely do not care how ridiculous I look when I wear my sleeping eye mask. It offers complete darkness and definitely helps me get to sleep in the ol’ economy class. I usually bring this mask with me, but I quite like the look and feel of a fancy silk one, too.

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Manito silk sleeping eye mask

2. Notebook

I don’t think I really go anywhere without a notebook. I’m always jotting down ideas (all kinds) and to do lists, and when I don’t have my notebook, I feel slightly out of sorts. A notebook is a must of the plane so that I can write down things I want to see/do, review my itinerary, etc.

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Moleskine notebook

3. Water

I never find that the flight attendants provide enough water for my flights, and I know it means more bathroom breaks, but I like to stay fully hydrated during my flight, so I always bring my own bottle and fill it up before I board.

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Kate Spade water bottle

4. Face and hand cream

I know some people mist their faces on a flight, but I tend to apply moisturizer to avoid the feeling of dryness. I don’t pay much attention to brands, I just need creams that come in carry-on friendly containers.

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L’Occitane hand cream

5. Socks

I rarely sleep with socks on, but on flights, I find they’re necessary. I take my shoes off as I get to my seat (on short or long flights), and I don’t like putting my bare feet on the airplane carpet, so socks are a must. I find them especially cozy on long flights when I’m trying to get in a decent sleep.

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Happy Socks

What are some of your must-haves for short and long flights?

Fashion: Packing for a Beach Vacation

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I am counting down the days until I’ll be on a Floridian beach doing just about nothing. I am very much looking forward to shutting down for a few weeks and living a life filled with sunscreen, ice cream, and outlet shopping.

I don’t pack a lot when I go down to Florida, but here is a glimpse into what I’ll be packing for my low-key beach wardrobe.

beach-travel-what to pack1. A straw hat is great for the beach and for walking around town. It protects your face from the hot hot sun, and it adds instant style to any outfit. (floppy hat, $38, American Apparel)

2. Flip flops are a must for Florida. I pack a couple of pairs of Havaianas because they’re comfortable. (white flip flops,  $32, Havaianas)

3. A lightweight carry on luggage is a must for any trip. I have been using Le Sportsac’s weekender for many years now, and it has definitely been worth the investment. (large weekender bag, $142, Le SportSac)

4. A new bikini makes every beach trip better. Thanks to TYR, I’ll be uber comfortable and stylish in this black and white number. (Milos Isle Kai mesh top, $29.99 and Lilou mesh hipkini, $24.99, TYR)

5. An easy dress that can be used as a coverup is definitely worth packing. I love a good multi-tasking piece of clothing. (linen tee dress, $49, Joe Fresh)

6. I don’t wear much jewelery at all when I’m in Florida, so a cute pair of studs can go a long way. Wear them with a simple dress, and the put-together-factor instantly increases. (care to dance stud earrings, $68, Kate Spade)

7. An easy-to-wash pair of white shorts is another must-pack item for me. While I have yet to buy a pair of good white jeans, I do have white shorts that I’ll be wearing all summer long. (white shorts, $12, Old Navy)

8. Waiting for luggage to come out on the airport conveyor belt stressed me out. I never actually feel confident that my luggage will arrive. Adding an easy-to-spot fun luggage tag to my bag is definitely useful. (luggage tag, $14, Kate Spade)

9. For several years now, my friend Shannon and I have been hitting up Tropicana Field to watch the Tampa Bay Rays play against the Toronto Blue Jays. Honestly, I don’t know much about baseball, but watching games in Florida is definitely fun. Buying tickets is easy, and the field is air-conditioned. I bring along my baseball cap to show support. (This year, the Jays won’t be in town while I’m there, but I’ll wear my cap regardless. (Blue Jays baseball cap, $29.99)

10. A dress that can move from day-to-night is yet another thing I’ll be packing. I really like this inexpensive striped one from Old Navy. (jersey swing dress, $13.50, Old Navy)

What essentials do you add to your suitcase when traveling to the beach? I’d love to know.