This summer I plan to be on the go a lot. JustaBXgirl is getting older and while in some ways that makes traveling with her easier it makes it more difficult in other ways because she is a lot more vocal about her likes and dislikes. This means packing isn’t as easy as it once was. I mean before JustaBXgirl was born packing pretty much meant throw some bikinis, heels and a few dresses in a bag, grab my passport and go.
Having a child definitely changes that! I remember the first time I was getting on a plane with JustaBXgirl I think the bag I packed for her was bigger than the one for me. We were going away for about a week but I brought her enough clothes to last a month. Then there’s all of the necessary baby gear (strollers, breast pumps, car seats, etc). It’s a lot. But I think because it’s so much it makes you very meticulous with the planning and you rarely forget anything extremely important.
Now that she’s at a stage where I don’t need as many extra things for her outside of her RideSafer Travel Vest and a carriage for convenience I can start thinking about what I need for me again.
We all know the basics to pack, clothing, toothbrush, razor, hair care essentials but what else do we really need? I stand by my tips from this post but today I want to focus a little bit more on the parent than the child. I know CRAZY talk!!! But remember I am trying to make an effort this year to #LoveMe.
My first must pack is packing cubes. I can’t front. I slept on these for a long time because I was all about the travel vacuum bags. Now I have seen the light. I saw a friend using them and was thoroughly impressed. And this is great for when I travel with JustaBXgirl because the cubes come in different sizes and I can most of her stuff in a smaller one. I’m all about traveling with only a carry-on bag so making stuff fit in the cubes is a great start to making them fit in the bag. I have a TravelWise 5 Piece Packing Cube Set and let me tell you this works great. They allow me to organize items in a way that means when we arrive to our destination I won’t be going crazy trying to figure out where I packed something.
Another must pack for me is AfterBite. JustaBXgirl and I must be delicious so mosquitoes are always biting us. Random fact, did you know only female mosquitoes bite??? Yup, learn something new every day. Either way when we go on vacation we’re barely out of the airport before we start getting bitten. It’s not much better at home when they start flying around either. This year I will be bringing After Bite and After Bite Kids with us every where we go. It’s small enough to get included in my every day bag and thanks to my above mentioned packing cubes I can keep all my hygiene and first aid product straight.
I always keep baby wipes in my bag because they’re magic. You know what I mean. Baby wipes can work for everything and everywhere. This summer I’m also adding some magic for mama to my packing. Summer’s Eve Cleansing Cloths are mama’s secret weapon for staying cool and refreshed this summer. No one wants to go on vacation and feel not so fresh.
Now that we have what we need to pack without worry, find relief from bug bites and stay feeling fresh we still need to be entertained on our travels. Like JustaBXgirl my attention span only lasts so long so I try to bring a variety. I also try to set an example by doing more than just being on my phone of iPad. I pack a notebook because you never know when inspiration will hit. And sometimes you need to write something down midtravel and chances are if you write it on a slip of paper or napkin you will lose it.
I try to give myself options when it comes to reading books because you never know what mood will hit. I try to bring a novel and a non-fiction book. Parent, Thrive, Win has been on my reading list for a while and I am happy to now have my hands on it. Breathe Again is a novel I wrote before JustaBXgirl was born and I’ve recently had a few readers reach out and ask when the sequel will be available so I want to re-familiarize myself with the characters.
And it you’re blessed enough to be able to travel this summer you want to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays. I’m a firm believer that you have to take at least three pairs of sunglasses with you on vacation because one will get lost, one will break and you will then only have one left! Due to needing more than one I’m all about finding the most affordable options. That’s why I love Sunglass Warehouse. They have really cute styles at really affordable prices. 
To make your summer travel life simpler I have a great giveaway for you. One randomly selected winner will receive their very own set of TravelWise Packing Cubes, After Bite Itch Eraser and a pair of sunglasses from Sunglass Warehouse.
Happy Summer to you!!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
No purchase necessary to enter or win. A purchase does not improve your chances of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Open to legal residents of continental USA who are 18 years or older. Giveaway begins and ends at (“6/26 – 7/10/17”). Enter the Giveaway during the Promotion Period online by submitting the entry form. The entry form can be found on the following website at www.justabxmom.com. Winner will be selected by Random.org and be notified by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. JustaBXmom does not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of this giveaway.
