Leaving the house checklist

No matter how much planning I do and how many lists I make, there are always some things I forget to do.  Which is not good because when I forget things, like take the trash out, when I get home I’m greeted with a wafting smell of old beans.

As I was getting ready for my most recent trip, I took note of a lot of the things I do to make sure my house is ready for me when I return.  I thought of making a list just for me to have to check off for the next time.  Thought I would share it in case you need a list, too.

Here are some of the things that I do:

1. Take out the trash and get rid of leftovers.  I empty out every container in the fridge that has leftovers in it.  I get rid of all produce items that could rot, which brings me to my next point.
2. Juice produce. Instead of just tossing those apples and carrots in the trash, why not juice them?  I juiced all the produce I could find and drank it.  You can also freeze it by filling up ice cube trays with juice and thus having delicious juice cubes waiting for you when you get back.  Those should stay good for at least a few weeks. 
3. Turn off stuff. Turn off all electrical items and lights (except maybe one or two so it looks like there’s someone around), unplug hair appliances, turn off the Keurig, anything that would suck electricity while you’re gone.
4. Turn down heating or cooling.  If you’re not going to be in the house for a while, might as well not pay for just the mice to be comfortable.  You don’t want it to be frigid or burning hot when you get home, but turning it down enough to save some money is a good thing.
5. Do the dishes.  Make sure the bulk of them are rinsed and put away.  I usually have a few items still in the dishwasher, but make sure no stinky containers from your leftover purge are still in there.  I’ve made that mistake before and it really does smell the house up.
6. Bleach countertops and sink.  You don’t want to leave spots of jelly and crumbs all over the counters to rot and attract bugs, mold or anything else disgusting.  Make sure there are no bits of food hanging around the counters, sink or even on the floor.
7.  Make the bed.  I do this every day, but remember if you’re coming home late from a trip, you want to have a nice bed that’s ready for you.
8. Lock the doors and close the garage door.  Remember on Home Alone where the mother was asking about everything she possibly forgot.  She said, “did you close the garage?”  The father said, “no… that’s it… that’s what we forgot.”  He forgot that, plus his youngest son.  So not a bad thing to put on a list as a reminder.
9. Laundry.  I don’t do all the laundry, I never do.  But I make sure I don’t leave anything in the washer to smell like mold when I return.  I make sure the washer and dryer are both clear.
10. Water plants.  You don’t want all your houseplants to be wilted and brown when you return.  You want them pumping that oxygen through the house for you. 

These are some of the things that I do before I leave the house.  I’m sure there are more things, but I probably forgot. 

Traveling with other couples

My husband and I travel by ourselves, as well as travel with other people.  We love being alone and being just the two of us, but always when we're gone for a long periods of time, we miss our family and friends.  We do meet people along the way, but it's hard to not at least be a little bit homesick.

We went on a trip with another couple last year and it was a great time.  There were some added challenges to trip planning and figuring out hotel rooms, but there were some added bonuses as well.

Here are a tips to traveling with another couple that we picked up on our trip last year, that can help you if you're planning a trip with others:

1.  Plan a trip with people who have a similar vacation-style as you
If someone's idea of a vacation is doing nothing but relaxing at the beach, but your idea is waking up early and running around all day, you probably will have a frustrating time together.  It's not that you can't go on a vacation with anyone, but if you know you have conflicting opinions on how to spend the time, you're going to be frustrated and they're going to be frustrated with you.  There's nothing wrong with either one of those philosophies. It's just very hard when you're trying to plan a trip and please everyone at the same time.

2.  Be flexible
With four people in the mix, you need to be flexible.  You can't be on such a rigid schedule and determination to do something without considering that there may be a few hiccups.  For example, say someone woke up late and needs to finish getting ready.  "BUT WE NEED TO BE THERE AT 9!"  Well, you're going to be late.  So just walk around your hotel... take some pictures of random objects... do some guidebook reading... talk to the cleaning lady.  Just be prepared to be flexible.  Nothing makes a more frustrating time for someone than feeling rushed, or rushing someone else.  If you rush someone else and make them feel bad about running late, guess whose in for a terrible rest of the day?  Everyone.  

3.  It's easier to get along with your spouse when you have a constant audience
If it's just the two of you, you can hash things out and potentially stay mad at each other all day long.  However, when you have another couple there and it's their vacation too, you can let things go easier.  If you stay mad all day because you're upset at your spouse, you're ruining the day for everyone else.  It's better to just take care of things when the two of you are alone, and change your mind when you're with other people.  We've all been in a car ride with someone whose silently angry, and you know how that makes you feel.  

4.  Someone always has to go to the bathroom
For someone with kids, I'm sure this is a no-brainer.  However, no matter where you are or what you are doing... invariably, someone always has to go to the bathroom.  You can be ahead of the game by thinking about bathrooms throughout the day.  I know this sounds ridiculous, but it really will save you some headaches. Whenever you're at a restaurant, remind everyone to go to the bathroom before you leave.  If you're at a museum, everyone needs to go to the bathroom before you leave.  Otherwise, you're at a metro stop with someone hoping around saying, "I HAVE TO GO. I HAVE TO GO."  While everyone else panics and tries to figure out where there is a bathroom.  Remember what your mom always said when she told you to use the bathroom and you didn't have to go... she said, "Just try to go."  That way, you're not in a panic situation where all of a sudden you have to go and everyone is forced to run around asking every Tom, Dick and Harry "WHERE IS THE NEAREST CAN!?"

5.  Never let anyone get starving

Ever heard of hanger?  (Urban dictionary: A lethal combination of hunger and anger, the result of waiting so long to eat that your blood sugar drops to dangerously low levels, impairing both your mood and your judgment. Particularly manifests itself when you are with a significant other and trying to make decisions about where to eat now that you're both starving.)   Seriously, when you're running around doing things, it's easy to lose track of time.  Don't let yourself starve.  There is nothing worse than four people arguing on the sidewalk about where to eat, someone storming off, someone yelling "JUST PICK SOMETHING!" and someone blithely ignoring everyone else because all they can think about is how hungry they are.  Keep snacks with you at all times.  Get some nuts, chips, fruit, anything.  Just make sure everyone has some snacks and water with them.  Yes, I know we're adults, but for some reason traveling brings out the toddler in all of us.

6.  Be willing to make compromises
Not everyone is going to be happy with every group decision.  If you really want pizza, and everyone else wants burgers... be willing to get burgers.  Just make your opinion known and ask that maybe you can get pizza the next night.  Just remember that your opinion is one of many and you need to be respectful.  You can't have everything you want all the time.  Be willing to accept that and be sure to ask people to consider what you want for the next time.

7.  Spend some time apart from the group
Make sure to plan for a little time for just you, or just you and your spouse.  We would wake up early in the morning and go for walks individually as couples.  We would go to bed early some nights so we could spend some time catching up from the day.  It's great to spend time with others, but it's also good to take a little time away from the group and enjoy a little peace and quiet.

These were some of the things we learned on the trip, but I must say that we also had so much fun.  We laughed hard, we saw beautiful things together and shared an experience that enriched all of our friendships and marriages together.  We also had our own personal photographers and all got some great candid pictures of each other as couples and individuals that was really fun to come home and share.  As I said, added challenges, but added rewards as well.

Thanks to my lovely friends, Jeff and Tasha, for letting me talk about our trip together on this site.  (Especially since I never told you and you didn't give me your permission.  But here's me asking for forgiveness instead of permission.)

Friends don't let friends overpack

I used to insist on bringing so much stuff... just in case I might wear it.  Why did I do that?  I know I'm not going to wear most of the stuff, I just insist that I have the right to pack it all "just in case."

Well I'm here to tell you that "just in case" is a stupid reason to drag a heavy bag around for days on end.  I can think of a lot of reasons why you wouldn't want to check a bag, and it would be better to bring a carry-on.

1.  No waiting in long lines to check a bag

My sister and brother-in-law just went to Mexico and their flights were paid for my his company so the payment included the option to check a bag.  Even with checking a bag for free, I recommended that they bring a carry-on.

When they got the airport and all their friends were standing in long lines waiting to check their bags, they grazed through security and were sitting by the gates with their neck pillows ready for a nice nap.  My brother-in-law said, "Go Nina."  I took that as a compliment.  Even with it being free, it's still not worth it.  

2.  No fear of airlines losing your bag

Consider what happened to my parents when they went on a cruise.  They checked their bags and their flights were delayed and by the time they got to the cruise port, the airline had lost their bags.  That doesn't happen when you have a carry-on bag.  You always have your stuff with you.  They can't lose something that they don't have.

3.  No struggling with heavy weighted bags

Granted, I do work out so I am capable of lugging a bag around, but when you have multiple layovers and you're tired, do you really want to lug large bags around and try to drag them up and down flights of stairs?  Plus, it's actually kind of embarrassing watching people stare at you while you struggle.

Also, if you check a bag and it weighs too much, you may have to pay extra anyways.  They tag it with a "heavy bag" sticker and then it's no longer $50 to check a bag, it's $75.

4.  No waiting in long lines to pick up your bag

When you get off the plane, you can go directly to the cab or to your rental car.  Or, you can wait for 30 minutes while they get the bags on the luggage carousel and then spend another 15 minutes watching all the bags roll around and around the carousel.  Then when you see yours, you can run a bunch of people down and try to get it off before your arms become detached from your body.  I always watch people desperately trying to grab a heavy bag off the belt while it's moving and invariably someone else has to help them because it's too heavy and it's going too fast. 

Also, I don't know how many times the screens have been wrong about which luggage is coming from which airline.  I've waited for my bag, and it never came and never came, and turns out it was on a different carousel the entire time.  Ugh... wasted 45 minutes of my life.

Those are just some of the reasons why you would want to bring a carry-on.  I'm sure you have some of your own horror stories as to why you only do it, but I never will pack with a checked bag again unless I become a knife salesman.

Men's fashion: ditch the sneakers and the logo shirts

I'm going to take a moment to brag on my husband.  I've seen a lot of men trudging around Europe with their wives in white tennis shoes, logo t-shirts and baseball caps.  While this is fine for at home, in Europe you look very American, very touristy and very silly.  Maybe you aren't aware that when you wear that outfit, you might as well wear a logo shirt that says, "I love to be pick-pocketed."

My husband and I like to look presentable, and not stick out like a sore thumb.  It's really not that hard.   Instead of packing all t-shirts and medium colored denim, pack the button downs, the dark jeans and the dark shoes.  You can find great pairs of comfortable men's walking shoes, that don't look like white running shoes.  Take for example, this pair of Teva Clifton Creek Slip-ons.  They're comfortable, they look good and you don't look like you're getting ready for a track meet.

One of the highlights for us was when we were on a Spanish airline and two flight attendants spoke to us in Spanish.  We said, "no hablo Espanol."  We felt good that we didn't look American... that we could have been mistaken for being European.  Not that we're not proud to be American, but we'd rather not broadcast that all over.  We don't want to walk in a room and someone go, "Oh god...there's a loud, brightly colored American who thinks they own the place."  I'd rather someone just pay no attention when I walk in.

On another note, maybe for men it shouldn't matter what you wear, but most women do care.  Remember, the pictures from this Europe trip are going to plastered all over the house, in numerous picture books and all over Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  Why not look the best?

Below are some examples of outfits he's chosen to wear.  I love that he seems to really look the part.

Don't mind the letter to the police, we just got in a little fender bender in the UK in our rental car!

A little nap in the Lake District

Doesn't he look like a sailor?

And a little rustic with his green jacket?

Everyone was wearing those colored shades.  He actually bought them in Spain.

Enjoying the sun.

Looking very dark in Paris.  He looks French here, minus the smile.  Just kidding.

When in Florida... dress like a pirate.

Simple look, but doesn't stand out.

You can do it, guys.  Just pick some dark colors and some cool shades and you can look this good, too.

I'd like to apologize to my husband who quite possibly might be embarrassed by this post.  However, if I can't embarrass my husband on my own blog, then what's the point of having one?

Camping: it's not so bad

I would like to dedicate this entry to any woman who thinks she may not be the "camping type."  

I wasn't the camping type, either.  If I had the choice between sleeping in a dirty tent and smelling like ashy firewood, or waking up in a nice fluffy white bed with indoor plumbing, obviously I'd rather pick the latter.

Fortunately for me, my husband is a camping junkie and lovingly forced me to face all my camping fears.

I never thought I would enjoy camping, but I have to say that I really do.  Do I want to go without a toilet for an entire week? Not necessarily, but three days isn't bad.

The first time I went camping, there was nothing to write home about.  It seemed kind of boring walking into the middle of woods, looking at a fire and then going to bed once the sun went down.

But then.... beach camping happened.  We went to North Manitou Island in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, where we had our very own private beach.  We could wake up early, make coffee and walk down to the beach and watch the sun come up.  We could put our bathing suits on and enjoy the water.  At night, we could sit out and see all the stars which beat any planetarium I've ever been visiting.  I love our solar system, and this was one of the best things I've ever seen.

We went hiking and camping at Dolly Sods  in West Virginia and that was beautiful.  It was extremely challenging having to hike that much, but it was rewarding.  The views we saw rewarded us from our hard labor.

If you are a woman, and you want to try camping, and you're not sure you can handle it, let me give you a few tips that have made camping more comfortable for me:

1. Purchase a Go Girl.  Their motto is, "Women can pee standing up."  Trust me ladies, you want this.
2. Bring a pillow.  Even if it means leaving some clothes at home, better save room for this.  This is the difference between a sweet sleep and a splitting headache for the entire next day.
3. Do weight-training at the gym.  It's a misconception that lifting weights just bulks you up.  It actually gives you the endurance you need to carry a large pack on your back and not want to die.
4. Purchase a Klymit air-pad.  This was one of the best camping investments I've made.  After sleeping on a tree root all night, I wanted to make sure I didn't have to feel every single rock and grain of sand under my back.  This did the trick.
5. Bring your own Clif bars.  We call these "homemaders."  For some reason, when you're eating these, you forget all your pains while hiking for miles.  All it is is honey, peanut butter and oats.  Boy, they're good, though.
6. Good shoes, band-aids and clean socks.  Not much else to say about this.  This is crucial.
7. Have fun.  I shouldn't have to say this, but when you're achy and used to complaining, you have to be told to enjoy yourself.  Remember, you're outside enjoying the weather, collecting sticks to burn like a pioneer, and getting messy and dirty.  It really is fun, so enjoy yourself.

Below are some photographs from some of my camping trips.  Look at these views. Don't you want to at least try?

Shoes, shoes, shoes

The pair of shoes you choose to wear while traveling can determine if your trip will be pleasant or miserable.

Believe it or not, on my first trip to Italy I chose to wear moccasins (also known as fancy house slippers) on a sightseeing day in Rome.  We walked all over the city from sun up to sun down.  Needless to say, my feet were bleeding from blisters and sore from lack of support.  Yes, I did cry at the end of the day.

As embarrassing as that story is, I am telling it to you so you don’t make the same mistake I did. 

Bring good shoes!

I do research on shoes for weeks.  I read reviews on Amazon, I check out other travel blogs to see what others are saying about the best pair of walking shoes.  This area of fashion is subjective.  We all have different types of feet and we’re all different sizes which mean everyone will find different shoes more comfortable than others.

The other problem I've run into is most of the walking and hiking shoes are very outdoorsy.  They have velcro straps and lots of colors, which can look tacky and touristy, like a pair of Keens.  Not that those aren't good shoes, but I don't want to wear those to an art museum.

I want a good pair of stylish shoes that are comfortable and provide support. 

Here are some that I have purchased and loved:

The Teva Ballerina Mush shoes have been one of my favorite travel shoes.  They are so comfortable and breathable.  Unfortunately, they don't make these anymore.  They do have a hot pink version on Amazon but it looks like it's out of stock.  The only reason I'm putting this on here is because if Teva sells anything with this "mush" material, it is fantastic.  They make these sandals out of the same material, which you still can get:

I bring these Teva Olowahus everywhere.  Even if I'm going somewhere cold, I bring them to wear around my hotel or if I am running down to breakfast.  They are so comfortable.  If you're going some place warm, these will provide you with great support.  And these you can purchase.

These are the most comfortable boots I've ever purchased: BORN Trisha Boot.  I wore these on my last trip overseas, and I basically wore them every day and my feet didn't hurt once.  They look great with a dress and with jeans.  I wore them to hike up a rocky mountain and I wore them into the British Museum.  They are a perfect travel shoe.  They look modern, but they're comfortable and functional.

Flats are the most difficult shoe to shop for when it comes to travel.  Flats are lightweight, they look great with jeans and skirts, but it's hard to find a pair that you can wear for long periods of time without aches and pains.  I have tried all kinds of flats, and these Easy Spirit Gessica flats are some of the most comfortable.  Your feet will still be sore at the end of a long sightseeing day, but I've had much worse.  These also make your feet stinky... so bring some baby powder.

Finding good travel shoes is an ongoing process, but I will give you a couple tips to help you find the best pair.

1. Read reviews online, but take them with a grain of salt.  Everyone has different feet so the type of shoe you need may be just what someone else hated.  Make sure the reviews are decent, but make up your own mind about them.
2. Purchase them way ahead of time.  You need plenty of time for your feet to adjust to the shoes and for you to make sure you will have minimal blisters.  You want a good, well-broken in pair of shoes before you go.  Plus, you want to make sure your outfits match them.
3. Always bring at least two pairs.  Even Olympic runners have two pairs of shoes that they rotate daily.  You need to give your feet a break.  Switching between two pairs of shoes can ensure that your feet aren't rubbing against the exact same part over and over.
4. Bring band-aids.  Even with the best shoes in the world, you still will get blisters.  Keep band-aids with you and the moment you notice a blister starting to form, put a band-aid on right away.  You'll thank me for this tip.
5. Make sure at least one pair is water-proof.  Either you have to bring a pair of large, heavy rain boots, or one of the pairs you bring needs to be leather.  A nice pair of leather boots are really a good investment for a trip.  They're sturdy, comfy, stylish, and "all-weather."
6. Aim for a solid color.  Multi-colored or brightly colored shoes limit your outfit choices.  If you bring a pair of Keens, you're going to look silly in a skirt and tights.

What are your favorite travel shoes?

Packing cubes: a travel must

I can't say enough about the importance of purchasing packing cubes.  They are the beginner's step to staying organized and packing light.

There are many different kinds.  My husband has Rick Steves cubes, and I have the eBags I purchased on Amazon.  

This is of one of the smaller cubes I use for my dedicates, socks, tights and pajamas.

They don't look like much, but they are quite possibly my most favorite travel purchase thus far.  You can purchase different sizes, but I think a set with one small, medium and large will do the trick.

Here's a few reasons why I love these things so much:

1. Organization.  You roll up each item and place it in the cube.  Then each item has a spot that it can be returned to.  Everything is neat and orderly.
2. You can see it all. Since everything is rolled up, you see all of your clothing options at once.  As opposed to pulling stacks of clothes out and going through a pile or riffling through a bag. 
3. Tidier Room.  Since you have a spot for each item, after you've worn it, it goes right back.  Thus, you won't have clothing strewn about the hotel room.
4. You can fit everything.  Everything is neatly and tightly packed and stacked up like a tetris puzzle.  All your items fit inside the bag without you having to sit on the suitcase and try to get it closed.
5. Realistic.  This help you stay realistic with your packing choices.  If you roll up all your items and see that you have three white sweaters and you can't fit a pair of pants, you can make better choices.  Just bring one white sweater, and one pair of pants.  
6. Lightweight.  If you limit yourself to fitting all your clothing in these cubes, then if it can't fit, it doesn't go.  It really helps you figure out what you really want and need instead of just getting a bigger bag for more sweaters that you don't need or won't wear.  

Here are three packing cubes, a toiletry bag and one bag of shoes.  See how they pack inside a carry-on in a neat orderly way.

So what are you waiting for?  Get some now!

My favorite travel bag

Happy Monday, everyone!

I wanted to tell you about my favorite travel bag I've bought so far.  I was looking for a bag that would double as a tote bag and a backpack.  I have found lots of bags that double as messenger bags and backpacks, but I couldn't find one that was a tote and a backpack.

I like totes for when I'm at the airport.  They're easy to access and they sit right on top of my carry-on.  However, I like having a backpack for if I'm walking up steep hills, or I'm going to be out and about for a long time during the day.

I purchased a backpack from this same company about two years ago, and while searching on their site I saw the bag.  It's a brand called Fjallraven, and the bag name is Totepack no. 1.  It's $110 on their website, but depending on the color you choose, you can find one for as little as $90 on Amazon.

You can see that there are three ways to carry the bag: as a tote, over the shoulder with longer straps or as a backpack.

I would consider this a pricey bag, since I'm more of a $20 bag type-of-gal.  (Unless it's a Kate Spade outlet, but that's another story.)  However, to me it was worth it.  It is functional, and not hideous.  I absolutely love this bag.

Sometimes you have to search for awhile before you find the bag that you're looking for.  This was the bag I was looking for.  And it has treated me well.

On the same day in Wales, here's me using it as a tote bag and as a backpack.  

I had just gotten off the train and stuffed my rain jacket in there.

We are at Conwy Castle, and it was easier to climb up all those stairs with this on by back.

How about you?  Do you have a special type of bag you're looking for?

How to save money on travel books

A good guidebook can be the difference between an extremely frustrating trip, and a very simple one.  I've had poor guidebooks that have left me tons of unanswered questions, terrible maps, inaccurate pricing information and wrong train timetables.

Looking for a good guidebook with the information you need can be a challenge.  Sometimes it involves getting five books before deciding on one to bring with you that will actually be a help.

Since you need good guidebooks, you will have to spend money on them.  However, I've purchased a lot of travel books that aren't good and I end up not using them.  Here are a couple ways I've found to reduce my travel book costs.

Since I work in a library, I'm obviously going to tell you that using libraries to get travel books is a great idea.  I always check out the book prior to purchasing and I find the one I like the best, then I go on Amazon and purchase it.

Not only do libraries have travel books available for checkout, but they also have a lot of travel eBooks.  If you were planning on taking your tablet or iPad with you, you can check out the travel eBook and not even have to pack the book with you.

You can also download audio guides for free on a number of sites.  (Rick Steves, for example.)  Free Travel Audiobooks lists a number of sites that offer free audio guides as well.

Did you know that a lot of libraries have used book sales?  These used book sales include last year's travel book editions since the library will have purchased the most up-to-date guide.  Some of the guides don't change a whole lot in a year, and you may be able to purchase a travel guide for $1.  I wouldn't recommend getting any guides that are two or more years old.  Those have way too much out-of-date pricing information.

You can use Book Sale Finder to find the nearest used book location to you.  When you click on your state and local city, you can see which libraries have book sales, their hours and their prices.  In Columbus, a lot of the used book sales sell books for $.50 and $1.  A $.50 for a year-old guidebook is a great deal.

It's also fun to collect guidebooks for places you want to go, and cut out sections of them and clip them together.   Then when you're ready to start planning, you already have some good information with you.

For guides in the states, I recommend going the state's office of tourism website and signing up to receive a free guide.  Almost all states have guides they're willing to mail to you for free in hopes that you'll come to visit.

Hotel Guides.com organizes the free guides by state and all you have to do is enter your name and address and get your free guide in the mail.

I love a good travel book, and I loathe a bad one.  Use some of these tips to avoid wasting money on the bad ones.

Making the most of your quart-sized bag

Packing with one carry-on means that all your liquid items must fit inside a quart-sized bag.  Not only that, but each item must be 3.4 ounces or smaller.  They call this the 3-1-1 Liquids Rule.  "Liquids, gels, aerosols, creams and pastes must be 3.4 ounces (100ml) or less per container; must be in 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin."

Here are a few things things that DO count as liquids, that you may not have considered: 

• Mascara
• Lip gloss (and Blistex)
• Liquid eye-liner
• Gel medications, such as Advil Liqui-gels
• Eye drops
• Aerosol bottles

Here are a few things that DON'T count as liquids, that you may have had a question about:

• Deodorant
• Lipstick
• Solid lip balm
• Vitamins

Stay tuned for another article on things you didn't know you could bring on a plane, where I'll explain that yes, you are allowed to carry-on a pointy metal comb and a razor. (scary, right?)  For now, though, I'm going to stick to the quart-sized bag.

I love to use lots of beauty products.  On my first trip overseas, I of course checked a bag, and of course brought full-size shampoo and conditioner bottles, hairspray and lotion.  Now, I look back at clueless Nina and shake my head with disapproving eyes.

I now can fit all my liquids in a quart-sized bag with room to spare.  And I'm going to clue you in on how you can do that, too.

Basically, anything that you're going to bring you should purchase in travel size.  If you can't find the item or don't want to buy it, then buy some empty travel-sized containers.

I usually bring a few travel items that fall under the larger side (3.4 oz.)  You obviously can't bring only large bottles or you won't be able to fit anything else.  I have invested in some GoTubbs, which have been fantastic for conditioner and curling gel.

These are great for gels, conditioner, or even powder.  I wouldn't put shampoo or anything real watery.  I would stick with thicker liquids for these.

There is my toiletries bag which includes a quart-size bag that can snap in and out.  It makes organizing a lot easier and makes the bag easily accessible when going through security.  You can see here I have a lot of the larger 3.4 oz items in here.

Here is a list of what I bring in my quart-sized bag (and yes, these are all in travel size:)

• Toothpaste
• Shampoo 
• Conditioner (in a GoTubb)
• Miss Jessie's Quick Curls (in a GoTubb)
• Face lotion
• Body lotion
• Hair spray (aerosol)
• Mascara
• Sample-sized perfume bottle 
• Foundation (in a GoTubb)
• Body wash
• Sunscreen 

And that's it, for liquids.  My husband wears contacts, so he includes that in his quart-sized bag.

The rest of the items I bring fit in my toiletry bag, and include the rest of my make-up products (blush, eyeliner pencil, eye shadow, lip salve and a lipstick), a razor, deodorant, a metal comb, cotton balls and swabs, ibuprofen, band-aids and hair-ties.

Let's play desert island: liquid beauty products.  If you can only bring five liquid items, what would they be?  For me, it would be mascara, face lotion, hairspray, foundation and perfume.  And the reason I would bring these is because I know that any hotel or b&b I stay in will have shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and toothpaste.  So I could live without those items knowing I could find them somewhere else for free.  But some of items I use such as perfume and face lotion are essential to me and I might not be able to just pick them up at a drug-store anywhere.

Now that you've thought about what's really important to you, it's time for you to pack your quart-sized bag.  Add in the items that you've decided that you can't live without.

Aside from the absolute essentials, make a list of everything else you use daily.  Don't include things that you use once a year or that fun sparkly New Year's Eve eye-shadow Those things are frivolous, and we're all about what's necessary, not "that would be nice to have." 

Try adding some of these items to your bag and see how much you can fit.  You might be surprised how much you actually don't need to bring if you really think about it.  Do you really need hair gel?  I don't.  My hair is straight most of the time and yes, it's nice to use, but I don't need it.

Another tip I have for you is how to collect more travel-sized items.  If you have an extra $10 a month and want to invest in some travel-sized products, consider signing up for Birchbox.  Every month, you get 5-6 sample products that have included anything from dry shampoo to after-sun lotion to perfume.  This has been a great way for me to get quality travel-sized products.  

One of the bonus' to traveling this light is that I keep all my items together in a bin.  When I'm going on a trip, I already have all my travel-sized items ready to go.  All I have to do is throw in a few of my make-up items that I use every day and then I'm ready to go.

So how about you... what are your five desert island liquid items?