What To Pack in Your Carry On

My carry on essentials. 

I love traveling. Airports have some of the best people watching ever. I think there's a few things you should never go with out while traveling, here's my must have list:

Magazines- I like to bring mine from home, I rarely buy them in the airport so I just grab what I haven't read at home and pop them in my bag.

iPad- Love having a movie ready to go on this, or playing a game. They are also great entertainment on long flights with kiddos. 

Small Cosmetic bag- Perfect for hand sanitizer, lotion, lip gloss and gum! All things that you MUST have when traveling and warding off gross germs and chapped lips. 

A small notebook & pen- Most flights I take are at least 2 or more hours long. I like to use this time to jot down ideas, work on things for the blog and my home. I love keeping a small notebook handy for this undistracted time.

My day planner- I don't go anywhere without it. Seriously. And even though I might be on vacation you never know when someone might call you and you need to know what's going on. My last trip I took without kids and the Hubby was home with them, so this was good to have on hand in case he called and needed to know some scheduling thing.

Wallet- nuff said. You need money and your ID when traveling.

Chargers for your electronics- I like to keep mine all together in a ziplock. Easy & effective.

A Big Bag to Carry it In: I love using my over sized Coach bag. It is big enough to hold everything I need any then some. 

I also love having a light jacket or scarf handy because planes can be cold and it's annoying to be cold on an air plane. Depending on where I'm going I also like to bring an umbrella in which I did on my recent trip to Chicago and it fit perfectly in this bag with everything else. It also nicely holds my DSLR camera & a lens. See, nice big bag. 

What are some of your carry on must haves?

Travel Tip: Leave Your Kids' A Surprise to Open

It's been a couple years since I've done a solo trip, the last time Ava was just around 15 months old. She didn't really know what was going on and before she could even really miss me I was home. When I traveled to Chicago a couple weeks ago I knew it would be different. For starters, she's 4 now and four year olds observe a lot!

I started prepping her a few weeks out and reminding her that Mommy was going on a trip with her friends and would be gone. I also wanted to do something a little extra for her. I decided to leave her a little surprise to open for each day that I was gone. 

As you can see above the 3 packages I left for her. I labeled them for each day that I was gone and left a little treat inside!

Where did I get my little treats for her? I scoured the Dollar Spot at Target, and found a few things in the dollar section at Michael's and put them in little treat bags. This doesn't by any means have to be expensive, you can make it what you want though. 

I talked to Ava each day that I was gone, and each time she told me about her surprise she'd gotten. It helped to make the time away for her fun and exciting to open something each day. I didn't do anything for Zane this time since he's so young and wouldn't understand, but I think this is a fun option for older children if you have them. 

Have you done anything like this for your children before? What sort of treats did you leave them to open? 

Next time we go on a trip I'm for sure doing this again! 

Girls Trip to Chicago

Last weekend I met my three friends in Chicago for a girls weekend. With 8 kids, husbands, careers, ministry, and lives that have a million things going on it was so fun to just get away together for three days. I met these girls when I was in college and we've been friends the last 13 years. We've seen each other through so many things; getting through college together, weddings, pregnancy, death of parents, I'm so thankful for each one of them. We haven't all been together for about 4 years. This time was overdue, welcomed and so needed. 

Three of us flew into Chicago and met at the airport, the other rode the train. And we all met downtown Chicago and an awesome hotel I found for us. Within walking distance to tons of food, shopping and the Pier. The first day we sat around a lunch table and talked for the longest time. Our day was filled with coffee, eating and talking! Chicago deep dish was on the must have list! 

Our second day Sara, Eunice and I got up early headed to the 27th floor workout room and go our sweat on. I loved having workout buddies! We spent the rest of the day shopping on Michigan Ave and ate lunch at Grand Lux Cafe'. 

Our third day we got up and spent the day at Navy Pier. We walked around, bought treasures for our kiddos, ate lunch and walked back to the hotel before it was time for us all to depart later that afternoon. 

Each evening we stayed up late chatting and playing Rook. I haven't played in years and needed a few refresher hands! I'm pretty sure my partner hated me those first few rounds. 

I can't even put into words how much these ladies bless me! I am so thankful for each of them. Our friendship over the years has seen its highs and lows. It's seen conflict, fun, laughter, peace and grown. I wouldn't be the woman I am today without them. They stretch me, challenge me, make me laugh and I trust them. A 13 year friendship that I know will go on and on. 

A weekend away with some of my best girlfriends was just what I need! I learn so much from them, and it was a great time of re connecting and laughing a lot! There are so many days that I wish that we could all just be together again in the same place, the same state and how much I miss those times. But I'm also so grateful that God has kept us together and kept our friendship over these years that when we see each other after a long time, and life takes us in all different directions we pick up right where we last saw each other. 

Common ground in the Lord is so sustaining for a friendship and I am beyond blessed by these friends! 

Have you taken a girls trip recently? Where did you go, what did you do? I'm already thinking about our next trip and declaring NOW that somewhere warm is a must!