I recently came back from my second circumnavigation of the globe as a family. I've got my packing list dialed in, and, since information wants to be free, I will share it with you so that you can benefit. Please let me know in the comments what part of this was helpful to you and if you'd like me to continue to offer my travel content.
The red bag holds The Toddler's car seat, which leaves three personal items: two black, and one pink. Guess which one was mine?
Where We Went
We went through conditions that ranged from cold and rainy England in late autumn all the way to hot and sweaty Thailand where I could feel the sweat literally running down my back.
Our official itinerary was:
Dorking, Surrey, UK — cold and rainy
Athens, Greece — mild
Cairo, Egypt — hot and dry
Bangkok, Thailand — hot and humid
Taipei, Taiwan — heat wave followed by tempestuous rains
Tokyo, Japan — chilly and rainy followed by mild
Temple City, California, USA — cold but warmed to mild by the time we were done
Who Went
Our travel party consisted of Mom (that's me!), Dad, The Toddler, and for Taiwan we added Nainai. We also connected with a friend in Taiwan and then the same friend in Temple City; this friend was on their own journey through Southeast Asia and lives 30 minutes away from us at home.
1x Branwyn busty bra in small✈️ // yes it is merino, but it is superwash merino which means it is coated in plastic and isn't any more special than any other bra, it is just one of the few that fits my small band size with milk-filled breasts and holds them supportively yet lacks an underwire (if nursing, you don't want an underwire)
1x eye-cups-having sleep mask (goes on sale frequently for $10 so set an alert and wait for that price) // Many years ago I feared that I lost this mask while on an overnight FlixBus in Germany and was actually very aggrieved. I was pleased to have found it. It makes any sleeping environment instantly cozy for me.
1x box pins and hooks (here is how I use them) // I really only ever used three of the pearl pins at a time, 2 on the ruana to hold it closed and 1 on my Halloween Dress to adjust bodice fit
1x pair Fruit of the Loom "like the ExOfficio undies sayeth the Reddit" as backup // never used this backup because the ExOfficio undies washed and dried so quickly and predictably, won't be taking a third pair in the future. Also, they are not like the ExOfficio undies at all.
(purchased during travels) 1x Decathlon active top in pink // I didn't need it and could have done without it, but we don't have Decathlon at home, and so I treated myself.
1x pair cheapo quarter socks for shoes-off-socks-on situations // left behind in Temple City yet often used in Asia
1x packable raincoat Sierra Designs Microlight (cheaper alternative) // use in rain, used as a wind-shedding outer layer in conjunction with sweater for warmth situations. This is part of my absolutely nailed and dialed in kit.
1x bra liner // I mostly used it in Egypt where combined with the microfine grit sand which was in the air everywhere, gave me road rash along my bra band line. In Thailand where it was hot and humid, I went braless and wore my jumpsuit the entire time so there was nowhere for the bra liner to go. I think bra liners aren't for me. Give away!
1x Halloween dress // costume piece just for Halloween (and as a quick layer to throw on if I needed to evacuate a burning building at night)
1x Uniqlo Airism shirt, black✈️ // this is a tried and true tested piece of kit, however the neckline proved too wide for where the straps of this year's travel bra sat. I still wore it but my photos all have bra strap showing
1x Uniqlo Heattech shirt, heathered dark gray // This is probably my oldest piece of Uniqlo garb and we had the same issue with the neckline. Still, it keeps me unreasonably warm for how thin it is, and it is a key component of my three-layers-for-winter system, as the base layer.
1x 100% cashmere pull over sweater, gray // in combination with the Heatteach base layer and the rain coat, I'm as warm in this as I've ever been in the best Arcteryx down puffer. It also keeps me comfortable inside buildings on top of the HeatTech layer. Never worn alone. I love this thing. So soft.
1x bra strap clip // I used the bra strap clip to help with Halloween dress fit
2x shoes: Tread Labs Albion sandals✈️ and Tieks in pewter // I wore the Tieks all of twice and didn't even need to wear them then. I could have done the whole trip on just the sandals if I were willing to wear the sandals with socks.
1x sun hat // I love this sun hat and wear it even at home. It keeps the sun off my face and my neck and is packable and has been well beaten up and keeps on going. 10 out of 10. The color I have it in claims to be purple, but mine is more of a pink-purple than a blue-purple
Firsty eSIM (I got a code to give you worth €3. U2QW-H72B) // used in all but the UK
smartwatch charging cord // I am still on the original one that shipped with my watch. One of these days, my luck is going to run out, and I'm going to lose it and be so sad. I should probably invest in duplicates before they stop selling them.
smartwatch, Amazfit 5 // the best smartwatch for me. Happy me.
XReal Air 2 Pro HUD glasses // in combination with Samsung DeX on the phone, this proved to be a very effective laptop replacement, allowing me to do almost everything I would have done on a laptop, but on my phone
Mogics Super Bagel // I think Greece was the only country where this wasn't used, and that is because we were given a USB power strip.
1x 4-port USB hub // used a lot in Greece where we were given one of those Ikea multiple USB port power strips where it is only USB ports, and we needed more than were given; this hub allows us to turn one port into four
1x headphone jack splitter // so that I can share media with someone, but no one wanted to share with me
1x headphone to airplane sound adapter // I haven't met an in flight entertainment system that uses this weird plug in yonks but I still carry it for superstitious purposes. I think it is time to let old habits go.
1x SIM tool // didn't need this thanks to eSIMs and the one physical SIM I got in Taiwan was installed by the phone company using their SIM tool. This may be obsolete, especially as I discovered that mechanical pencil lead can release a SIM tray and I always carry a mechanical pencil.
cell phone case attachment for a wrist strap // I highly recommend a metal one as the plastic ones will eventually tear through, which isn't what you want when that's what's keeping your cell phone attached to you.
1x pair wired earbuds // I have a personal vendetta against everything being battery operated and requiring charging. I will die on the hill of wired earbuds.
1x DAC-containing USB-C to earbuds dongle // I had two, one which allowed simultaneous charging and one which didn't, but in Greece the hand sanitizer I had in my bag spilled everywhere and got inside the charging dongle, rendering it useless and the charging wasn't consistent enough for me to rebuy
1x inCharge 6-way cable // for charging The Offspring's iPad or charging anything which takes micro-USB although if I really wanted to minimize, I could just use the built in cables in the power bank for that
1x 10k mAh portable battery with passthrough charging // I plug this in to one of the plug sockets on the Super Bagel and it gives me an additional USB-A or USB-C (not both at once) socket to use to charge The Offspring's electronics if necessary
Mom — Toiletries
lip balm
toothbrush // brought the compacted one from the toiletries post up until Thailand where toothbrush and toothpaste are provided as standard hotel give away, at which point that toothbrush became the one used for the remainder of the trip
10 mL dropper bottle of decanted Burts Bee's Mama Body Oil // to use as a moisturizer. I used significantly less than 10 mL because a drop goes a long way. I left the bottle behind in California because my cache there didn't have any moisturizer and that desert air and hard water has my skin begging for moisturizer. I would estimate I used 1 mL across the whole of the trip.
the flossing setup from the toiletries post consisting of the flossers, a small spool of floss pulled from a dentist-provided floss sample, and the floss cutter clipped off that sample package // by far more compact than taking the equivalent amount of disposable flossers for the entirety of the trip. I love this setup. It isn't for everyone, but I will nonetheless evangelize it.
The Sh*t Kit: a zip bag, pocket tissues, soap sheets (cheaper alternative), and adult wet wipes // you never know what the bathrooms are going to have in terms of amenities and this covers you in the event there is no bidet, no toilet paper, nor soap at the sinks. The only thing this doesn't have is a towel and for that, the hem of one's shirt will dry quickly and do nicely. Make sure you throw the adult wet wipes into the trash and if using the tissues in places with a bidet, you'll likely need to throw them in the trash as well.
Mom — Misc
small clip flashlight with red light option (cheaper alternative) // used the red light more than any other color due to the fact that it doesn't wake those sleeping near the light, however the moonlight mode was also useful at night with sleepers, and the focused beam worked well for looking under furniture for toddler-relocated items
(bought on trip) 2x twisting plastic s-hooks, one from Daiso and one from Muji // the Muji one proved less useful than the Daiso one as the opening was smaller
(bought on trip) 1x flat pack purse from Decathlon // I think it is an absolute genius purse setup for travel. Single shoulder, cross body, or waist pack, and the layout of the zipper for the big pocket is against my body for theft protection.
1x extendable back scratcher // aside from being used to scratch my back, I use it to grab things just out of my reach
3x short sleeve shirts in synthetic fabric // the synthetic fabric helped the clothes dry quickly overnight
3x pairs of shorts // despite having three pairs, we only ever used two of them
1x long sleeve shirt // oops. There were supposed to be three. Packing fail. So when in cold areas, we had to do laundry nightly and spring for a hot air dryer in order to ensure a clean and dry outfit for The Toddler in the morning.
1x long pants // same oops as for the shirt.
1x PUSO cloth diaper cover // intended for use as a swim diaper as well as, in combination with the next items, emergency diapering supplies. The one time we had access to a pool to go swimming, the child resolutely refused to get in. It was like trying to bathe a cat. Anyway, unused. I don't regret bringing, and so long as we are in diapers will bring in the future.
2x flats cloth diapers // because they are the size of a flour sack towel and made of woven white cotton they were brought both to function inside the cloth diaper cover in an emergency (we never had need) and to function as general cloths and towels outside of emergencies (again, we never had need). I don't regret bringing and will bring at least one in the future.
1x rain suit // used a lot in rainy UK, also used in very windy UK as a wind breaker. I cannot say enough good things about this particular brand of rain suit. We've been using this brand since The Toddler was in 6m sized clothing. That it comes in a (separately useful) wet bag is just a packing and travel multifunctionality bonus.
1x pumpkin halloween costume // For a whole week leading up to Halloween we encountered Halloween events and this costume got well used. It was an Amazon Vine offering to me and I endorse it with high marks.
1x first generation iPad mini & camera adapter running VLC player, loaded up with handpicked videos // not included in this list are The Mister's bluetooth over-ear headphones that he lends The Offspring on flights when The Offspring gets tablet time
1x Mr. Buckles (not the official name) // The Toddler renamed this square plush toy "Happy". There's a zip at the top which offers a tiny pouch into which were put the next two items.
1x fidget // Based on times spent at the local children's museum's sensory room, we learned that The Toddler's favorite fidget was the Infinity Cube so that's what we packed. Fits into Mr. Buckles in flat rectangle orientation and still leaves room for this next item.
1x dinosaur mini-car // We got this as a party favor but it was perfect for fitting in to Mr. Buckles' pouch. A little smaller than a Hot Wheels. If you are following my link and buying for yourself, take more than one as they can get easily lost. Keep most in adult luggage and dole them out slowly. You can also give them as goodbye gifts to any toddler-friends made in travels. You'll have plenty!
1x Hello Magazine // Don't subscribe just to get one of these magazines, ask on places like FreeCycle.org. It is an everything-proof magazine that can go in the bath and won't be torn to shreds on the airplane.
1x Action Book // We bought Peekaboo House in England last year, so this was its second trip around the world. It works better than a lift-the-flap book because a child has to work incredibly hard to damage this book whereas pulling off flaps is easy peasy. These types of books are universal around the globe and will most likely be published by Candlewick Press.
2x Paper Page Books // We brought two of our least favorite books from our monthly Imagination Library shipments. We traded these out at Little Free Libraries and Public Bookcases around the world. There's always somewhere to swap books. It didn't even matter if the swapped-for books were in English, because The Toddler could always read the pictures.
red and blue painter's tape (normal width) wrapped around a popsicle stick // painter's tape = stickers, painter's tape stickers = scavenger hunt on the airplane (set it up when Toddler is taken to the bathroom by the other parent), painter's tape stickers = dexterity exercise to remove from the tray table, etc. This is a very useful resource. I also used it to hold open a very loose airplane window shade that wouldn't stay up on its own, so I taped it in the up position.
1x reusable gel sticker book // We brought a different set (vehicles) with us last year and it was a hit. I've never seen a kid so focused and quiet. The stickers would get put all sorts of places where they'd stick and with a quick run under the water and a wipe with a cloth (you absolutely have to wipe them after they are submerged in the water to get the gel to release all the tiny flecks of dust or else they won't stick again; don't believe the ads that show them just being rinsed off) the stickiness is restored. Useful on airplane windows. Useful on tile floors. Useful everywhere.
1x Bluey Activity Book // only because that's what I was able to buy at Aldi when they were on the aisle of shame. But truly, whatever a Toddler is in to, get them one of these books because it has lots of small bits, and toddlers love a good set of small bits. Plus there's a book and a playmat. The Toddler cared not for the playmat. The small bits became bath toys in addition to all-the-time toys.
1x 30 Second Dance Party Mini // this was the GOAT for emotional resets and dealing with very early rising (think 3 am) due to jet lag. Slap that button and get the wiggles out. It was recommended to me by one of our local La Leche League Leaders and bless the woman for having done so.
1x silicone cup/bottle leash // why this is The Toddler's favorite teething toy, I will never know. Still, molars were yet to appear so we brought it to help the molars when they made their appearance. That it also was able to corral bottles and such was just a bonus.
Toddler — Toiletries
4x toothbrushes // and we bought even more on our trip. Kiddo chews (literally) through them.
1x sample tube Sparkle Crest with a pin prick hole in the foil // only use an amount smaller than a grain of rice, said The Toddler's dentist. And we did. That makes a sample tube last for-ev-er.
1x microfiber cloth // we use them at home to do general rag clean up tasks all the time and this served the same function on travels. Traveling with a toddler is a constant combatting of sticky hands, crusty noses, tray tables that need a wipedown not before eating, but after The Toddler has had his way with it, cleaning off the gel stickers, and so much more. In addition, it cleans up in a snap in a sink with a good hand washing technique and some soap so we were able to use it as a washcloth.
1x flat folding stool // In my sleep deprivation I left it behind at the Taiwanese border, but this has been invaluable in offering The Toddler a way to boost his height so he can wash hands and brush teeth at the sink. I immediately bought a second to replace the one that was left behind. It functions in the house also as a sink-stool with the side benefit of being so portable.
4x laundry sheets cut into fourths stored in a pill sized zip-top bag // exactly the right amount, used up every single rectangle by doing one load in Thailand and the remaining three loads in Japan. Everywhere else we did laundry (UK, Egypt, Taiwan) laundry detergent was generously provided by our hosts.
1x scrubba small wash bag // didn't use, won't take again. There was always an available coin laundry and traveling as a family we found the coin laundry time-economical.
2x NiteIze Gear Ties // didn't use, won't take again. They did hold my Scrubba into a small roll.
2x zip up mesh delicates bags // left one behind in California and used the heck out of both of them. One was used to wash Mom's bra in laundry machines and the other was used to corral the bath toys so they could air dry, clipped to the clothesline, without existing in pools of their own dripping. When not used for laundry purposes, these were used as general packing pouches.
Family — First Aid
Ibuprofen // The Mister ran through almost all of my Ibuprofen
1x Benadryl
styptic pencil nub
1x disposable surgical mask // used when I got the allergic sniffles and didn't want others to be uncomfortable with me being out in public. This isn't a political position so much as I'm traveling to Asia and this is the way Asian cultures have handled having to go out in public when ill so as to prevent spreading illness for yonks.
(bought in England) 1x Calpol // this is the British equivalent of Infant's Tylenol but for some reason The Toddler likes it better. We discovered that last year when I had a packing fail and forgot to pack Children's Tylenol for our travels and then bought this at our first destination (also the UK) and so this year we planned in advance for the purchase. Definitely if traveling with a Toddler have a fever reducer/pain remover. Especially if teeth are yet to make an appearance.
Family — Misc
2x Bluetooth trackers // used both, one to track keys to whichever abode we were in for the night and the second one in Taiwan to track the location of our portable Wi-Fi hotspot
1x furoshiki // used a lot. It was a backpack. It was a reusable grocery tote. Furthermore, it was a laundry bag. It was a nursing cover in countries where such things were required. It's just a handy bit of kit.
1x one-shot super glue and 1x thumbtack to close the bottle once done // on our previous circumnavigation of the globe we used the heck out of the superglue we brought but this time it wasn't used at all. Having used this system before, I will say that it is a great way to close a single use super glue to make it multi use. You won't get a more compact multi-use superglue for travels. Definitely take in the emergency repairs kit.
gaffer tape rolled around an old gift card // used it a few times on the trip, most notably to patch The Offspring's jacket
red electrical tape and 2" blue painter's tape wrapped around a disposable plastic straw // used the painter's tape for labeling the buttons on the Japanese bathroom control panel and not much else
black electrical tape and silver duct tape wrapped around a popsicle stick // used the black electrical tape to cover annoyingly bright indicator lights at night; to the person who next stays in our accommodations in Japan, you're welcome
1x velcro wrap tie // used anywhere a soft shackle of its size could be used, which wasn't very often
rubber bands // the rubber bands came in handy and I even bought more novelty kinds when in Japan
1x paracord bracelet with buckle // used everywhere one would use a soft shackle but also allows me to bring a vast amount of extra cordage along
1x clothespin from a helium balloon // you know the type that's used to weight the balloon down? came in handy for clothespin type roles
The Hooks Bag — 1x Clipa, 2x Handy Hooks All-in-One, 6x Incredapegs, 1x over the door hook wrapped in blue painter's tape to prevent damage to doors, 2x Daiso rotating s-hooks in aluminum, 1x old design Ikea s-hook (similar), 1x mini carabiner with small loop of jute cord clipped through it (non-DIY version), 1x mini Heroclip // Handy Hooks came in handy as towel hooks in Thailand and to hold up the laundry dryer in Taiwan. The Incredapegs were used as clothes pegs in Greece and then as bag closures in Japan. I ended up giving away one of the Handy Hooks and two of the Incredapegs to interested parties.
1x thin double gauze muslin swaddle blanket // aside from its ability to function as a travel towel, this also functions as a blanket and just a big piece of cloth for purposes of a big piece of cloth. But we didn't need it to function as anyting.
1x roll up harness for dining // didn't use. We also brought it on the trip last year and used it only once. Time to declutter this one.
1x GoalZero Crush Light Chroma // The Toddler sleeps with a red light on, at home, until the adults go to bed so we brought this portable lantern capable of giving us red light on the go. It was used nightly. It has a solar panel on it which I think is a gimmick, we charged it by USB. This thing packs so absurdly small and thin. It is important to give kiddos anchors that will be the same from lodging to lodging so that they can sleep easily and it won't feel so strange each time.
2x Chux Pad // The intention was to use this as a disposable changing pad should we ever have the need. One got used and one didn't. In the future, I will use it as a seat pad on an airplane in the future until kiddo is reliably potty trained... around age seven or so I guess.
More yet to come! This post is currently a work in progress as I unpack.
After years of collecting the perfect tiny spoon and fork, discarding what doesn’t support our travels, and keeping what does, I present my portable picnic kit. This kit fits into my adventure bag, which I carry when on travel adventures. It’s different from my at-home picnic setup—designed to feed a whole picnicking party, not just me.
The Carry-Around Picnic kit, all packed up into a two-pocket mesh (and this truly does mean open so can dry through) pouch which I bought at Daiso.
If you are familiar with the Little Free Library concept or the Public Bookcase concept then the idea of a free, gratis, asynchronous book swap location is well known by you. For everyone else: go here to drop off a book you have finished and pick up a book to replace it.
On travels, this helps lighten your load, literally. Although there is risk involved... There is no guarantee there will be any books waiting (because some people are Greedy Gus and they take without giving), and even if there are books there is no guarantee any will be in a language you can read, and then even if there are books and they are in your language there is no guarantee they will be anything you want to read. But hey, the risk is part of the appeal, right?
Without further ado, here are the book swap locations I have managed to find in Taipei, Taiwan.
Taipei Songshan Airport, International Terminal, Second Floor, Landside There is a support post stylized as a tree and on one of the four sides is a public bookshelf with a sign on it explaining how swapping books for free works. I entered it into the BookCrossing list of swap locations just to make things easier. MRT Brown Line direct stop.
cococafe coffee shop, Songshan Airport MRT Station, Before the Barriers Inside this robotic automat of a coffee shop there is a public bookcase. You will be directly facing it once you enter the door. MRT Brown Line direct stop.
7-Eleven at the Neihu Sports Center (backside) On the rear of the building which houses the Neihu Sports Center is a rather unique 7-Eleven. Unique in that it will not provide you with eating utensils, so you'd better have brought your own. And also unique because tucked in by the tables is a public bookcase for swapping tomes of literature. There are even children's books. MRT Brown Line plus some walking.
Taking a toddler to the Greater Los Angeles Area? Here are some actually free things to do with them given that search engines are full of promises which end up being in the hundreds of dollars.
Sprayground and playground at unnamed La Habra park. Standard playground with slides and climbing features and a mulch base. Fully fenced and enclosed sprayground with limited hours but is free; bathrooms near by to change clothes.
Live Oak Park playground in Temple City. Huge activity park with big kid and little kid play structures. Space theme. Picnic tables a-plenty for dining al fresco. Waterbottle fillers on the water fountains. Bathrooms require walking to the basketball court (outdoor) or entering the community center (indoor).
Primrose Park playground in Temple City. Small playground with a lot of shade. Great parking. Easily accessed bathrooms. Lots of picnic tables. Big kid and little kid play structures. Semi-fenced.
I am taking a month-long trip to southern California and flying Frontier personal-item-only. I am traveling with my toddler child and my spouse. We are going to visit my mother-in-law, so this is a low-stakes trip. Still, personal-item-only means traveling compactly and so everything I bring needs to be the essentials and of those, the smallest, most compact version I can find. Here is what I am testing, and my thoughts on those.
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Floss
Mouthwash (yay gingivitis!)
deodorant (not to be confused with antiperspirant)
nail clipper
Here it is, laid out next to a full size tube of toothpaste for size comparison.
From top to bottom, left to right: Mouthwash concentrate, small decanted dropper bottle of 7% glycolic acid as deodorant under a two-part toothbrush (more on that later), repurposed plastic zip bag topped with a two part stainless steel floss holder, string floss, and a floss cutter taken from an old floss container, orange topped zip pill bag topped with a Victorinox nail clipper, full size tube of toothpaste.
I recently got back from a two week trip to Japan traveling with my family - husband and toddler. We went to Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, and Tokyo. I thought I extensively researched ahead of time ... Not even close! Here is what I wish I had known before going.
Firstly, a video specific to traveling Japan with a toddler (or even a crawling baby):
Not all public bathrooms have soap. I discovered this the hard way. The 100¥ shops have these little packages of soap leaves and I picked one up and carried it in my toilet kit - yes, I needed a cute little mesh pouch as a toilet kit (Amazon dupe). However, those plastic cases aren't waterproof and it is crucial that the soap leaves don't get stuck together. At home I have this awesome lip balm sized soap which doesn't require as much vigilance about keeping dry. I wished I had known so as to bring it instead. The 100¥ shop where I got my soap leaves was Can*Do. Daiso (another 100¥ shop) also has them. If you have space in your liquids bag, just bring a tiny dropper bottle of Dr. B's.
The public bathrooms aren't reliable on having a way to dry your hands, either. Japan has a lot of obscenely tiny hand towels for sale - lots of character options at Don Quijote, inexpensiveish Imabari Towel versions at Hands. At first, I thought that these were baby washcloths but learned otherwise when I saw an adult woman pull one out of her toilet kit at the Ghibli Museum. I ended up using a bandana I had with me for other reasons or just shaking my hands and letting them air dry. If you go to Japan, plan ahead for public hand drying.
If you come in to Osaka airport instead of Tokyo airports, you can get an Icoca card and don't have to stress buying specific tickets for all your public transit rides. Suica and Pasmo are the brands of contactless card you will learn about all over the internet. Icoca works just the same and is the contactless card from the Kansai region (Suica and Pasmo being from the Kanto region). All contactless cards acquired in Japan work everywhere in Japan.
Carry a reusable shopping tote or be prepared to purchase bags everywhere you do shopping; Japan does not do free bags at checkout.
Shrine/temple stamps are only able to be done in a special book which can only be purchased at a shrine or temple. If you don't have the book, you will be given a sheet of rice paper with the stamp.
Mailing anything more than a post card from Japan is a whole ordeal. Google ahead of time for information in English about how to fill out the - thankfully online - form.
Yodobashi Camera's flagship store in Akiba doesn't have all of their offerings on display. By all means go and wander the aisles for the experience, but preorder to click-collect what you really want to own as it might need to be shipped in from another store or even from the warehouse.
That said, Yodobashi Camera's flagship store in Akiba does have a copy of every single gashapon machine that Bandai makes and they are available in a giant cluster on the toy floor. So if you regret not picking up a capsule from a machine you saw earlier, you can have a second chance. (Pro Tip - Miramar Mall in Taipei, Taiwan also has all the gashapon machines on their children's floor.)
The water is hard. It is so hard that I could see the hard water salts forming in front of my very eyes as I attempted my first load of sink laundry. If you are like me, your hair will fall out due to the hardness of the water when you shower. Also, plan ahead to bring or buy water softener for sink laundry. (1 TBSP per sink load will do ya, 2 TBSP per machine load)
You don't need to buy clear umbrellas. People forget them all the time and if you need one then you can use an abandoned one.
Eki stamps / stamp pads being out of ink is rare. Don't be me wandering around with a stamp pad you never use.
Portable Fan — not only can you use it to keep you cool on the go, but you can have it plugged in and still have it on which means you can aim it at your sink-washed laundry to help the laundry speed its way to dry, overnight. Not all fans in this space can be on while charging/plugged in. If you do sink-laundry and/or hang-dry your clothes, this is a feature you need to specifically look for.
My Wardrobe Staples
At least one MAXI SKIRT. I can wear it as a maxi skirt, a pull-up midi dress (which doubles as my bathrobe), a bubble skirt, a sexy halter dress, a bubble hem halter top, an infinity scarf, a neck cradle/neck pillow, and more. I've also used it as a towel when I don't pack the Lightload mentioned above and given the material of my maxi skirt, it dries in reasonably short order. This skirt then covers use cases of bottom half of my outfit (maxi skirt and bubble skirt), bathrobe (pull-up midi dress), beach cover up (pull-up midi dress), going out clothes (sexy halter dress), presentable wedding clothes (pull-up midi dress), top half of my outfit (bubble hem halter top), warmth garment (infinity scarf), airplane pillow (neck cradle), towel, changing poncho (pull-up midi dress), airplane blanket/wearable airplane blanket for my lower half, and more. It can also be layered under or over outfit pieces in order to add warmth; on one trip I layered it with another skirt in cold areas because I forgot my thermal leggings at home and it worked!
At least one WRAP SKIRT. In addition to being able to do most of the things the maxi skirt can do, it is also far easier to turn this into a dress or use it as a towel. One shoulder dress is a real winner. My current wrap skirt stable, of which I choose only one for travel, are linen, silk-weight synthetic, and silk-worm silk. All three dry quickly, pack light, and are great in hot weather.
At least one UNIQLO AIRISM SHIRT in a round necked, short sleeve tee style. They pop up in my size at the local Really Really Free Market quite often, so I've amassed an off white, a blue, and a black top. The off white does pass along the color of one's bra to the rest of the world's awareness, but it was my first so I've worn it the most. They are a great layer for keeping one cool, thin as gossamer so don't take up much packing space, and as synthetic fabrics used in hot weather go, are decent at shedding stink when sink washed.
At least one UNIQLO HEATTECH SHIRT in a round necked, long sleeve style. I own one. It is gray. It has been perfect. This is not in any of the fancy ultra warm or warm varieties, just the base-level gossamer-thin top. And it does keep one warm. Paired with a thin cashmere sweater, I'd never know I wasn't wearing a down puffer.
A pair of MERINO COMPRESSION SOCKS. Not just for the plane but because walking a lot is so much easier on the feet when compression socks are involved. Mine are from Sockwell. Do with that information what you will.
A "warm fuzzy" MIDLAYER. Even if I'm going to the surface of the sun. I pack it for the airplane. I pack it for times when I just need to be surrounded by something snuggly. I pack it for psychological comfort and it also ends up doing double duty as a warmth layer in the event I need a warmth layer. I have a variety of options ranging from a rayon open-front cardigan to a puffer coat, to the aforementioned thin cashmere sweater.
At least three pairs of QUICK DRY UNDIES. I am partial to my older-than-dirt ExOfficio bikini briefs, however I've recently added some mesh Fruit of the Loom panties to my travel underwear drawer. I have not tried modern ExOfficio and the internet seems mixed on whether the good qualities I adore have changed in recent years.
A SLIP DRESS. This serves as my nightwear when staying at places where I'm a guest in someone's house and will be sleeping in a public space (such as an air mattress in the living room). It is also what I've told myself I will wear if I have to evacuate a building due to a fire alarm or somesuch given that it is perfectly acceptable streetwear while also being quite comfortable sleepwear.
Have you had Golden Curry? It is the tongue-satisfying corporeal embodiment of the flavor: umami. It is stew, cooked in a fraction of the time it takes to cook stew. And it can be cooked entirely in the Instant Pot. I know there are other Instant Pot Japanese Golden Curry recipes, but they all contain meat and use pressure. This one is just the saute feature and is vegetarian, making it a dish that can be cooked anywhere there is a power outlet.
Golden curry is WORK though. Nothing minimal effort here. Lots of stirring and cutting on the front end. On the back end is a lot of waiting. This is probably why people in Japan only have this dish a few times a month.
My favorite way to eat it is half rice and half curry in a bowl, side by side (rather than top to bottom). Enjoy!
Bibliography time! I started with this recipe, which I have made on the stove top many times, but modified it to my preferences. Feel free to make both versions — mine and Yoto Omura's — and tell me which you prefer in the comments.
Picture a chair with an ottoman. Any chair with its matching ottoman. If you cannot picture one, I've got an assortment of images for you. We have it in mind? Good!
At what height is the top of the ottoman with regard to the height of the surface on which you sit your butt?
You won the game if you said, "The same height, J. The same height."
And there is an ergonomic reason for this height equivalency. So when it comes to sitting in a chair for a long period of time, and that chair being in the sky because it is part of an airplane, the exact same ergonomic win can be had if only you had an ottoman.
I was craving Eggplant Parmesan (aka Eggplant Parmigiano), but I really, really hate making it myself. There's the slicing of the eggplant, the salting of the eggplant, the dabbing away of eggplant moisture, the breading of the eggplant, and I could go on forever.
So I usually buy this one. All the better to let someone else do the labors and me enjoy the flavors. My favorite Eggplant Parm dealer, Alfredo's Pizza Villa, has an option to serve it over pasta.
Could I recreate that at home? In the Instant Pot?
I usually have closing remarks, but this time I don't have any because I'm too busy tucking in to my second bowl of Close Enough to Eggplant Parm. Pregnancy cravings ... whatchagonnado?
Bibliography time! I started with Urvashi's recipe to use as a base, but modified it because who can estimate what 4 cups of chopped eggplant is when standing in the produce section, and why does anyone need the hassle of having leftover tomato paste?Using extra butter in the bread crumbs, decreasing the amount of Mozzarella and adding the Parmesan to the dish for melting-time (y'all, I cannot begin to tell you the flavor difference between my recipe and the base recipe due to just this one simple change), and leaving the oven out of it were brainstorms of yours truly as taste-tested in comparison to Alfredo's masterpiece. Feel free to make both versions — mine and Urvashi's — and tell me which you prefer in the comments.
Do you have fruit that is about to go bad? This recipe will help you turn it into a muffin-cake type thing in no time. It is #vegetarian, but not vegan, on account of the eggs and yogurt; I have not tested this with dairy-free yogurt nor a functional egg substitute. I have tested the cornstarch-and-water egg substitute and the cake doesn't work well, but no egg substitutes beyond that. If you test dairy-free yogurt or find an egg substitute that works, give me a comment to let me know how it fares.
This cake works quite nicely as a sheet birthday cake (#birthdaycake), without the need to ice, as the fruit topping adds that extra delight that icing typically does. Tested at a 9 year old's birthday party to the happy smiles of all and the delight of parents that it only contains 1/2 cup of added sugar for the whole cake.
I will also add that pureeing any lemons you have which are not going to go bad in the near future and freeing that puree, or pureeing any "spent" lemon wedges from your summer infused water and then freezing that puree, will allow you to have a good freezer stock of lemon puree that can substitute in any recipe which calls for BOTH lemon zest and lemon juice. Work efficiently not grating lemon zesty. The added fiber from the pith of the lemon will promote good gut health and won't alter the recipe's flavor.
Bibliography time! This recipe was adapted for the efficient cook who doesn't want to dip a measuring cup into a bag of flour nor zest a lemon from a great website called Yummy Toddler Food. Using sugar instead of maple syrup and using only baking soda instead of a combination of baking powder and baking soda was a brainstorm of yours truly as I stared at my pantry shelves and realized I just don't tend to stock those two ingredients. I did the math for the conversions, myself.
Let's talk decanting into travel toiletry packages for a second. Did you know that you need less than 2 mL of liquid roll on deodorant for a week long trip? Did you know that you can leave the bulky roller ball at home if you decant it into a tiny dropper bottle to apply with your fingertips?
Let me know in the comments what your permanent, shower-proof solution to labeling your travel toiletries is and/or how much you love your new vinyl labels and will never go back to your old solution.
There are many types of #neurodiversity and #ADHD is just one of them. A lot of times, an Instant Pot is a godsend for the easily distracted, whether that be adult caregivers to children who have the urge to draw a masterpiece all over the living room in lipstick, or a person whose brain is the child trying to draw a masterpiece all over the neural-living room with cognitive-lipstick. Which is why so many of my recipes are written for people with low working memory and cover meals that would be faster and, some might find, easier to prepare without the Instant Pot. And today is no exception. Today, I present: boxed macaroni and cheese.
Bibliography. The base of my adaptation was this already-Instant Pot recipe, from which I subtracted milk because liquid dairy isn't something I keep on hand and plant "milk" doesn't cook right in mac and cheese. Oddly, water cooks better than plant "milk"; go figure. Annie's brand modification came from trial and error. I also rearranged the order of some of the steps to keep the macaroni from sticking to the bottom of the Instant Pot. It turns out that the butter was the culprit so it got moved to a later step; it melts just the same.
basic lifestyle/emotional coachingHow to Do the Work and How to ADHD (if you are considering a lifestyle coach, the vast majority of the tips from How to ADHD are broadly applicable to all in need of coaching)
Zoom, Google Meet (paid); those sweet, sweet breakout rooms with unlimited timeWonder or Discord
Zoom, Google Meet; that sweet, sweet unlimited time limit without breakout roomsJitsi or Skype
Applecare Screwdriver Set for MacBook, Tri-Wing Phillips Pentalobe 5 Pentalobe T5 Pentalobe T6 Screwdrivers Repair Tool Kit for Apple MacBook Mac Retina Pro Air (search it on the Amazon) + how to videos from YouTube
Have you ever had colcannon? A St. Patrick's day favorite, colcannon is an Irish potato recipe. [source] At its most essential, the colcannon recipe is mashed potatoes mixed with chopped cabbage or kale. Other additions like bacon, ham, scallions or yellow onions are also common. [source]
We paired our Colcannon with a 3 hour long St Patrick's Day episode of the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast cast to our smart speaker.
Garnish to taste with extra chopped onion, scallions, or chives and allow guests to add salt and pepper to taste; we recommend encouraging guests to add pepper first to brighten the flavors and then salt only if necessary. We then paired our Colcannon with a 3 hour long St Patrick's Day episode of the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast cast to our smart speaker. Since we aren't alcohol drinkers in this house, we used kombucha served in shot glasses to fake a nice hearty Irish beer ... it didn't work but the effort counted.
Tools to make this easier. Instead of using a knife to do the chopping, or for more consistent results, I like to use a hinged dicer. I cannot praise my smart speaker enough for its ability to have multiple kitchen timers running at a time so recommend the upgrade over devices that only allow a single timer at a time; there are websites that do the same if you open in a new tab. I find that when I sauté in the Instant Pot, the inner pot likes to spin and spin so I use a refrigerator magnet clip to hold it in place on the rim; Instant Pot sells an official one. Instead of a traditional masher, I prefer to use a chop-stir (I got mine at Dollar Tree for $1.25) which I think is easier to use and does a comparable job to the more traditional kind of masher.
Serving suggestion. Serve it on steamed or cooked rice with a side helping of traditional Chinese music.
Bibliography. The base for my adaptation started with this great Orange Veg Chick'n recipe. All tweaks that came after were entirely mine and of my own experimentation.
Craving a lasagna but don't have access to an oven? This soup'll do ya! This recipe can be cooked in a crock pot/slow cooker instead of an Instant Pot if you cook the included lentils a different way. This recipe can be made vegan if you substitute vegan cheese for cow cheese.
I will also add that snapping lasagna sheets into bite sized pieces is great when in one of those rage days where the destruction of items is cathartic; I think I shall cook this on those days henceforth.
Bibliography time! This recipe was adapted for the Instant Pot from this omnivorous slow cooker recipe. Using lentils instead of meat or any other convenient meat substitute was a brainstorm of yours truly as I stared agog at the price asked of 14 oz of Morningstar Farms faux beef crumbles. After that, I used my favorite bookmarked method of cooking lentils in the Instant Pot to figure out how to get the lentils done in a way that preserves the soup's very essence.
