Essentials | Pad Patter 4.12.18

My list:
My pillows (2)
My Art bag
Lap tray (so I can “work” in the car)
Mello Yello
Baby wipes

 

Purell

 

My iPad, loaded up with Kindle books
And a black Papermate Flair pen

 

I just got back from the beach. We drove. We took everything! My instant pot, my blender. (I had to make egg bites!). My ice tea maker. Not to mention my laptop (which was useless because I couldn’t find the WiFi password). 2 cameras and my new favorite toy - a selfie stick!

I’m so glad we’re flying to beach at the end of the month. That means I don’t have to take all that other stuff, only cameras, laptop, and kindle.

 

Lol hubby makes fun of me for always bringing my pillow- but I'm an epic car sleeper! He has started too now though also since he hates the pillows at my mom's house!

Besides my pillow- we ALWAYS bring my son's little nebulizer. He's needed it ONCE while we were traveling & we didn't have it. That was the last time I didn't bring it. It is small, easy to pack. I am fairly certain now that as long as we have it, he wont need it!!!

 

My pillows, sound machine, iPad, Kindle, phone, earbuds, chargers - I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Haha

 

I take all the usual devices - phones, laptops, cameras, iPads, but always at the top of my list - my small Keurig!!!

 

I always bring Starbucks Via (Instant coffee) when you are flying most places other than the normal packing things and camera and iphone, I definitely pack the coffee so that I know I have enough in the morning at the hotel

 

my first priority on all trips is a huge box of medical supplies, sometimes for small trips that is bigger than the rest of the luggage.

 

My pillow is a must. Last time we flew I couldn’t bring it, but miraculously the pillows at my friend’s house were amazing... and that is saying a lot because I am increasingly stingy with pillow compliments!

I also always take healthy snacks for my daughter. She is a vegetarian and so picky, so it can be hard to find non-junk food to offer her while traveling.

 

I'd say the first thing I make sure to have is my camera... in recent years, that sometimes just means my phone (and charger), but sometimes I still bring my big camera bag for the zoom action. Also, yes to a pillow for the car ride! And earbuds if I feel like watching a show or listening to an audiobook on the way.

 

Pillow, phone. But, apparently, they seem to be the norm, who knew?
Plus everyday regular stuffs you need to pack.

 

sleeping pills
I have a hard time, as in can't fall asleep in hotels, every noise, light and I am back awake if I do fall asleep.
so,
my little pink pills for each night.
I think I am legally dead after I take them. bhahwhah

 

The only thing I ALWAYS take is my camera. It could just be a normal family dinner at my aunts, but I bring my camera.

There was one time I was on a plane that I didn't have it, (I'd went to the restroom & it was a small airport in Alaska that started boarding, so my aunt took it with them & we didn't have assigned seats so I was way up front & them it back), and it was SO SO SO weird not having it at my feet!

Other than that I don't think I have a "thing" that comes along with me consistently.

 

I take a laundry hamper. One of those small mesh ones that fold up flat and pop open. Then the kids always know where to put their clothes instead of leaving them laying all over the room! I also have a mesh laundry bag that I move the clothes into and it is easy to just add to it every morning out of the hamper.

(I also take all the usual stuff -- camera, tablet/computer for photo editing and scrapbooking, tablet/eink reader for reading, yarn project if I have one, folder with itinerary and for collecting brochures, power strip with a multi-USB hub for charging everybody's devices every night. LOL)

 

My pillow always goes with me on car trips. I just have a hard time using whatever pillows are provided where I'm going. And, the pillow isn't to use to take naps when I'm driving... because I'm always the driver! No naps for me.

With my previous vehicle, I would always take CD's to listen to as I drove. It was an older vehicle without Sirius/XM radio and I hated trying to find radio stations on long trips. This vehicle has Sirius/XM so I'm good there.

If I'm driving, the laptop and kindle go with me. If I'm flying it is just the kindle. Camera goes all the time and I'm not talking phone camera.

 

If traveling by car, I always take my electric pot, mug, spoon, tea, sugar, and milk. I have to have my cuppa in the morning and at night.

 

Pillow, camera, laptop, phone, chargers... (I once left my laptop charger at home and didn't realize it until we were already 6 hours down the road, after using the laptop for 2 hours).

 

Hmmm, I think it would be my own snacks/food and most definitely my water bottle. I don't leave anywhere without it.