I’ve been doing a fair amount of travel these past weeks, waking up my suitcases and my packing muscles after a couple of years of hunkering down home with Leo. It feels SO GOOD to be getting the change of scenery! And, I’m learning something: that coming home blown or unbalanced is not optional. Wherever I go, I need to take my rituals, routines and “basics” with me so I come home as tip top as possible. There’s a tiny man waiting for me here who needs me at my best (not to mention some personal goals, flattering professional obligations, and more.)
This months “ORBIT” is all about the travel necessities that make me feel whole when I’m on the road; the things that come and go with me wherever I roam.
This beautiful little tool was the first thing I chucked into my bag for a recent photoshoot in Utah, to keep my legs fresh + unencumbered to push for DAYZ. I’ve been using it to scrape the facia on my upper and lower legs specifically; my quads, hamstrings, calves, ankles, IT bands….you name it. It’s effective, firm, so portable, and not so ugly that I mind it if it’s laying about the house.
I discovered Evolve Together a few months ago, but haven’t really had the occasion to put their sleek balm + sani to the test. I typically buy the tiny lip balm (no, it’s literally the size of a AAA battery!) set and then stuff a lip balm in every pocket of my backpack, day bag, pants, bar bag – wherever a chap stick might live when you really need it most. The scent and texture are divine and they leave my lips feeling SO soft. The second new favorite of theirs is the hand sanitizer set which is absolutely the sleekest, most civilized of the things ever. With a chic twist-up dispenser, a gorgeous scent featuring notes of bergamot and sandalwood, and smart recyclable refills, this is sustainability and style at their best, and even in the packed airport bathroom.
When I discovered that this yoga mat could be folded up and placed neatly in the bottom of my suitcase, I was hooked and my travel life hasn’t been the same since because I can have a proper practice in my hotles=s because it fits, but I also can have a place to wake up, stretch and command. Even if I only get a few minutes on it at the end of the day to roll around and wind down. And now, with the addition of this little collection of myofascial release balls, I’m getting up again feeling like I’m absolutely winning at life. (Not to mention that I’m staying injury free, in touch with my body more and generally feeling more limber, loose and dialed.
By now you’ve heard me rant + gush about how much I love Vintner’s Daughter’s products; I’m often asked about my skin care routine and the answer is always short because my routine is reeeealllly simple; I only use three products religiously, and these are two of them! This little travel set is an easy way to avoid transporting big, more expensive bottles of these favorite products AND, for those of you curious if the line is for you but you’re not sure if you want to make the investment, it’s a great way to dip your toe in and see if you like the way this incredible pair performs. (I bought my travel set as a trial, and never went back!)
Even when I’m on the road, my morning lime water comes with me. I pack a little tin of flaky sea salt, a couple of limes (unless I plan to grocery shop in which case I’ll buy them upon arrival,” a pocket knife (if I’m checking bags,) and a big insulated water bottle to put it in. In the morning, I squeeze, sprinkle, boil some water and enjoy. And the water bottle doubles as a hydration strategy through my trip.
I was traveling with noise cancelling headphones well before I started studying Ayurveda, but now that I understand just how elevated vata dosha becomes in an airplane and through the act of flying, no one in our family leaves home without them. Not even Leo! When we think about vata dosha – the bioenergy of movement and change – and think about how much sound, movement and change is involved in flying, it’s impossible to deny the impact even short flights have on us. Flying through the air at hundreds of miles per hour, in tiny echo chambers? The ears are the sense organs of vata dosha, and keeping them covered helps not only reduce the vitiation but prevent the “wind” from entering the mind and physical head (according to the Ayurvedic texts.) I find that I simply feel more collected, calm, balanced and at ease in flight and after when I put them on + tune in.
…and, it’s filled with snacks! I’m not a big fan of airport food and will do just about anything to avoid it, but packing my own breakfast/lunch/dinner is a pretty easy sell even if the airport food is only half bad. Often I’ll pack a grain bowl, or a sandwich. Sometimes dumplings or onigiri. And other times I’ll just pack the box filled with snacks to enjoy as I travel. Latest favorites have been these bars, these bites, these cookies, and these little candy-like treats. While it might feel clunky to carry a box like this, I find it’s always helpful through my trip. Sometimes it keeps small things organized in my day bag, is available to pack snacks in transit in my destination, can hold a meal on the way home, or special items I don’t want to get squished. On our last family trip, it brought home a couple of seashells Leo loved and a jar of the most amazing honey.
A little thing about me: I eat chocolate every single day. Sometimes twice. Usually after dinner, with a cup of chamomile tea. Just a couple of little squares. I have a few “virtuous” chocolates that I love, nearly all of them are 100% and unsweetened or sweetened with date or coconut sugar. I despise erythritol, stevia, monkfruit and the other healthy-sounding fake sweeteners out there and really hate it when I get to where I’m going and “healthy chocolates” with those empty foods are the only ones I can find. SO, I pack my own. every flavor is good, but I’m partial to the pure chocolate in the blue package.