To say it has been a while since my last post would be an understatement. I have neglected my happy place and am committed to myself and all of you to share my passion for this lifestyle I believe in so much.

Last August, when I posted my last blog post I was also in the process of leaving my job of 12 years and starting a new job. This was an exciting and scary time for me. Getting out of my comfort zone and adapting to a new normal. I’ve been adapting over the last year and ready to get back into posting

My new job has me traveling a lot. In the past ten months I have traveled to New York, New Jersey, Chicago, North Carolina, Charleston South Carolina, Southern California, Georgia, Cancun Mexico, Ottawa Ontario, Winnipeg Manitoba in March - it was the coldest place I’ve ever been to - and several trips to Montreal and Toronto.

I’ve learned a lot about traveling and I am here to share my top 8 travel tips for survival when being vegan.

1. Luggage: Invest in some good compact, lightweight but spacious luggage. It took me 5 months before I gave in to buying some new luggage. You don’t realize how heavy a carry on without anything in it can be or how much 360-degree wheels on a suitcase is until you have to walk from terminal A to E. After some research, I purchased the Away bigger carry-on and the medium size luggage. I wanted a carry on that has good storage space for a short 3-4 day trip and something larger for a 5+ day trip. I can’t say enough good things about these bags. They come in various colors. I got them both in the sky blue. I ‘m loving this color, plus its easier to sport in a sea of endless black luggage. They are such a great investment, plus away will repair anything that is damaged for life. I mean how could I say no?

2. Snacks: Snack prep is essential. Airport snacks are typically overpriced and the options can be limited depending on the airport. These snacks will give you a quick pick me up between flights or work days. Here are some of my favorites to bring.

• Unsweetened mangos (no added sugar and sulfites)

• Sea Salt roasted chickpeas

• Hippeas organic Chickpea Puffs

• Vegan Jerky (I am loving Louisville vegan jerky. I also really love Unisoy, but have to order it on Amazon)

• Raw or roasted Almonds and cashews

• Unreal Peanut Dark Chocolate Crispy cups

• Health Warrior chia bars

3. Organization: This might just be me, but I have so many cords and chargers that I carry when I am traveling. I place them in a long makeup bag and it keeps everything so organized. Here is a list of what I usually carry with me.

• Headphones - regular Apple Airpods plus an old school pair if I want to watch a movie on a plane.

• I carry two iPhone charging cords.

• External iPhone charger battery with charging cord

• And a personal hotspot

4. Keep your immunity up and not getting sick: Airports, Airplanes, Ubers, Hotel rooms. I hate to say it but endless places to pick something up. I live for natural spray top hand sanitizers and Seventh Generation sanitizing wipes. We know that airplanes are full of germs and don’t get a full scrub down between flights.  I’ll always utilize wipes on the armrests of my airplane seats, tray table if I am using and tv screen on the plane. It may sound crazy, but I can’t tell you how much dirt and grime those wipes pick up.  Hotel room’s phones and remotes I’ll clean too. I’ll keep on hand vitamin c drink supplements and carry various vitamins. Let me know if you're curious about which ones I take, I’ll be happy to share in a future post.

5. Combat dehydration: The airplane environment is very dry with only 10-20% humidity compared to an average 30-60% to help replenish your body. I’ll drink at least a large bottle of water for a short 1-3hr flight. If you want to save on plastic bottle waste bring your own empty reusable bottle. Many airports have specific water bottle refill stations.  The Summer Friday’s jetlag mask is incredible to give your skin that boost of hydration. For an early morning flight, you can guarantee I have this on. This mask is so creamy and luxurious. It’s very hydrating without being too greasy and thick. The mask is clear, so you don’t have to worry about looking like Friday night binge watching Netflix.

6. Grocery Store: If you are on a leisure vacation, of course, you will want to taste what the city has to offer more often. For stretches of time away from home, while working I’ll always take a trip a grocery store or natural grocery store if I can find one. You can get so much more for your money and can pick up some healthy snacks and quick breakfasts while in town. I’ll typically gravitate towards the following:

• Fresh fruit/bananas berries/sliced pineapple or watermelon

• Carrot sticks/sliced cucumber

• Hummus

• Organic corn chips

• Plant-based cheese spread and crackers

• Green juices

• Plant-based yogurts

• Vegan cookies/Dark chocolate

7. Travel Crystals: I got my travel crystals a couple of months after I started traveling frequently. I believe in the energy that a crystal holds and how they can carry with them calming energy.  Crystals are a very personal thing. If you are ever shopping for some, the best advice I was given was just walking around and pick the ones you gravitate towards. These are the ones that are choosing you for your needs. Here is my travel pouch of what I carry.

• Obsidian - Stone that does not need to be charged. This is a stone of protection and protects against negative energy

• Rose Quartz - Lowers stress and tension in the heart

• Opal - This is a stone that must be gifted to you. A protective stone enhances your consciousness and stimulates intuition and insight

• Citrine - Emotional balancing, promotes motivation creativity and self-expression

• Angelic - Calming and soothing raises your state on consciousness

• Garnet - Keeps us grounded and in the present moment

• Quartz - Universal stone that magnifies the healing vibrations of other stones

• Moonstone - very protective for those traveling by night. It is a very uplifting stone

• Selenite palm stone - Used as good luck, protection repeals negative energy.

8. Happy Cow and Google Maps: A plus side to traveling so much has absolutely been tasting the delicious vegan food from around the country. One of the easiest ways to find out what is around you is by either using Google Maps and typing vegan food. So silly but I use it daily when I travel. The closest spots will pop up around me with images and ratings. I have also been using the Happy Cow app which is another great option to find out what’s around you. The app will narrow down the choices for you depending on what type of vegan or vegetarian spot you are looking for. I have so many great places that I have gotten to try, that I can’t wait to share with you.

I have so many ideas and topics about living an obtainable wholesome lifestyle. I am excited to dive back in and share them with you.

Let me know below if you found this helpful and if you have any topics you would like me to focus on.