Travel Staples

Traveling, no matter if it is for a weekend getaway or week-long trip, can be stressful when it comes to packing. You can make multiple lists, start packing a week in advance, double-check every bag and clothes stack, and still feel as if you are missing something. In the end, you still manage to leave something behind and end up buying the missing item and more at the store. I have found a few tried and true tricks to help make packing a little easier, less stressful, and more organized.

I still love making lists of items I know the kids will need, such as extra diapers for the baby, extra clothes for my toddler because things always get messy, and other items that could easily be forgotten. However, the one item I know I can always grab on the go is my travel roll-up bag. This bag contains all travel-size toiletries for the family, make-up, jewelry, and first-aid items. I use reusable bottles for shampoo, conditioner, and lotion. This way, I can refill the containers at home after every trip and not spend a small fortune on travel size bottles at the store.

What I also love about using a travel bag is you can hang it on the back of the bathroom door, so it helps to keep the small counter space in hotel bathrooms (and other places you are staying) less cluttered and to help you stay organized throughout the trip. Mine also has removable pouches. I like this feature because if I need to do make-up or fix the bedhead in the morning, I can grab one pouch instead of the whole bag, which makes getting ready a lot easier with kids who like to run around while trying to get dressed for the day.

My other trick to help me stay on top of things is to have a travel outfit. This outfit is one I wear while we are in the car, on a plane, or trying to get where we need to go. The travel outfit is comfortable, can be worn into restaurants, and is an outfit the family can wear when shopping little places along the way. I pack these outfits not only for me but for the kids as well. This way, they will be more comfortable in their car seats and is something that can easily be washed in a hotel room if needed. I make sure to set a travel outfit aside for the last day of our trip as well. Planing travel outfits covers one day of not having to worry about what outfit to wear and if we will have enough clothes since sometimes life happens.

My go-to outfits are my Zyia clothes. These pants, shirts, and jackets are so comfortable, fit incredibly well, easy to clean, and I feel fabulous wearing the different outfits. I love the jogger pants because they are lightweight, can go with just about any shirt, and are the perfect pant to wear during long car rides. I can easily mix and match this brand with my day to day clothes as well, which gives me so many options. Plus, I only need to pack one light jacket for those breezy spring and summer evenings. Having one go-to jacket helps to free up more space in the suitcase and is one less thing I have to worry about packing. Zyia also has terrific clothes for kids and men so the whole family can be comfortable while traveling.