Heyyy there, Lunatics!
I am back with, hopefully, a short post on the four different ways I make my vacations as homey as possible. You know, because when I am away, I can get a little homesick, so to make things comfy, I…
Let’s read on, shall we?
#1 – I Pack Some Food Staples – Seriously!
Yes, I pack some food staples. Like what?
The number one thing I pack is some ground coffee. What do I mean by that? Exactly what you just read. I’ll grab one of those little storage bags and pack my Bustelo coffee. I typically do about 1/8 to 1/4 cup of ground coffee per serving, so I pack enough for each day and a little extra, in case I want to make some at night. I also pack little packets of Stevia in another storage bag. (BTW, this is not sponsored by Bustelo, Stevia or Ziplock – but, you know, HMU!)
Even if there is a local coffee shop nearby, sometimes I don’t want to get up early to go grab some coffee and I’d rather make it in the AirBnb. As long as they have a coffee drip coffeemaker, I can make my own coffee and then get out of the way early in the day.
Once I get to my location, all I have to do is stop at that store and pick up some heavy whipping cream for my bulletproof coffee. What is that? Another post welcome to explain a bulletproof coffee.
Below, you will see how I pack my coffee and Stevia so it’s not messy.
# 2 – Bring on the Spices!
Going back to food, because I typically cook in the Airbnb, sometimes I bring seasonings like Adobo, sazon, and some herbs like parsley, basil and oregano already mixed in one of those tiny little containers. Who likes bland food? I don’t – for sure! Since I follow a keto and low-carb way of eating as much as I can while I’m away, my diet mostly consists of eggs, cheese, salami, pepperoni, maybe some pre-cooked chicken, some green salad. I usually go to the local supermarket and find all this, but they dont carry a travel size version of the seasonings, so buying full size bottles of anything it’s not the best way to go. Plus, packing my seasonings saves me money and my tastebuds while I am away!
There used to be a time when I traveled often and after day #3, I was so homesick. Most of it was because of the food. Now, I can go on for days away from home and I am okay.
I also pack Himalayan salt for a couple of reasons. I tend to add some to the food I’m cooking, especially my eggs. I also add it to my water.
I like to walk a lot when I am away, go on hikes, take the sights, do things! The Himalayan salt helps replenish the electrolytes keeping my leg cramps away. The last thing I want is to wake my neighbors up or the hosts if they live in the same area or your companion if you’re not traveling solo.
I pack it the same way I pack the seasonings in little containers, which make it very convenient when I’m away. I am not saying pack your whole kitchen, but I pack some things so that I can enjoy my food.
#3 – A Heating Pad
I had a lumbar fusion in 2008 where six titanium screws were installed in my lower back. I am also as active as I can be especially when I’m away. By the time I get back to the Airbnb, if I have a bathtub, most likely, I will soak in the hot bathtub to relax my lower back. While I am doing that, I leave my heating pad plugged so it gets nice and warm so when I get I out, I can lay down and rest later. My heating pad has traveled as much as I have at this point.
#4 – Laundry Detergent. Say W-H-A-T?
The next thing I pack is laundry detergent. Hear me out! I know it sounds crazy and nobody wants to do laundry on vacation, and you’re probably wondering why… but there’s a logic to my madness.
If I’m staying for more than seven days, I try to choose an AirBnB with a washer and dryer. About a year ago, I found earth breeze. These are so convenient and produce very little waste for the landfill. In addition to minimizing garbage, they also save me money. They are little sheets of detergent that dissolve in the washer. Don’t let them get wet outside of the washer! (Lesson learned!) So, I pack 2 Earth Breeze sheets and a few dryer sheets.
Here is the other reason why I do laundry after so many days: to Save MONEY.
So, instead of paying between $30-$50 for a full suitcase for 7, 10 days or 12 days, I take my carry-on. I have a limited number of outfits and in the middle of the week, I do my laundry to half clean clothes for the second half of the trip. On laundry day, I usually take up the time to read, write a new blog post, review my pictures, plan my next few work days, tidy up the place and re-organize, or just watch TV on my tablet as the laundry is being done. It usually takes me a couple of hours to wash and dry my clothes, so the full day is note exactly wasted.
One final trick up my sleeve…
As a person who lives life as a Wiccan, I have a mini travel kit with incense cones or sticks, a mini Tarot card, some herbs, maybe some crystals and a mini candle. Depending on where I am, I may light up some incense and a little bit of my old magic while I’m away. I watch for the Moon phases, I check to see what my Spirit needs and I do what I need to do.
Storage tip for you – Use. Your. Sneakers or whatever you call them!
You shoes are the perfect place to store your coffee/Stevia (or whatever sweetener you use), your spices, and any lose inexpensive jewelry you may bring with you! As long as everything is tightly sealed, you should be good to go!
Anyway, I hope you find these helpful. I will be posting more shortly to share other things I have done to make travel easier on my soul, my spirit and, my heart and on me overall.
Until next time, remember to continue living “lightly ever after!”
We all know that very often, airlines will overbook flights. In most cases, they have a have a sold out flight. In either case, they will offer to check your carry-on for free at the gate and you collect it at the final destination. It happens to me more often than not.
