On the Road Again

My on-the-road workout, the chain meals I'm eating, and my favorite in-flight headphones

I have a lot of travel planned this month. Tomorrow, I’m heading to Salt Lake City (first-timer so if you have recs, please send them my way — I’m renting a car so I can explore!). Next week, I’ll be in Cleveland. Then, I’ll be in Tucson.

It’s Home Show season for me and it’s not uncommon for me to have three back-to-back shows like this (last year, I was in Minneapolis, then Charlotte, then Buffalo, all in the same stretch). Honestly, I like to be busy and it’s fun to explore new cities and connect with people who are new to vintage shopping at the shows.

This month will mark my 12th Home Show, which is kind of wild to think about. I feel so fortunate that I get paid to teach other people about my passion: thrifting for and styling vintage in the home. I also think that the amount of travel I’ve done in recent years has made me really skilled at packing for a 3-4 day trip.

With that in mind, I thought I’d round up all the bits and bobs that make my trips fairly seamless — the meals I eat when I only have access to chain restaurants, the face mask that I always apply the second I de-plane, and the pajamas I never leave home without.

Thanks for reading. As always, if you like this post, it helps me so much if you hit the heart button! xx

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• This oversized puffy tote is my new favorite thing and big enough to house all my essentials. There’s a sleeve for a laptop, even, and four different zipped pockets in which to store lip balm, hand cream, and the like. It also smushes down perfectly to fit under the seat in front of you.

• My new Bose over-the-ear headphones connect wirelessly to my phone and are noise-cancelling, so they mute all the sound other than my go-to podcast.

• I wear this bra and underwear set on every trip, whether’s it’s via a plane or car. It’s wireless, incredibly supportive (honestly, it looks like I’m wearing a push-up when I wear it) and more comfortable than a sports bra. This is the most-clicked-on-item I’ve ever shared, incidentally, and I get multiple DMs per week from others who adore it.

• I keep one of these does-it-all balms on my bedside table and one in my purse. I am truly never without it. It lasts for hours and I love that the application is via a tube, not a tub that you have to stick your fingers in.

• For an in-flight outfit, I love wearing clothes that do double-duty — you can wear them on the plane and then later in the trip, too. I just got these drawstring, textured satin pants and they fit the bill perfectly. They feel like sweatpants. To go with, a cashmere-blend tee that is roomy but chic is a good topper (and you can wear it again with skirts, jeans, etc.) Add a charm necklace, an impossibly-chic pair of flats, and a jacket and you’re golden.

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• This henley top and matching pants are the softest, comfiest pajamas I’ve ever owned. I also love this bra by the brand to wear underneath the top if I want extra support/want to throw something on to run down to the lobby to grab a coffee.

• I find it hard to get to sleep when I’m in a new place, so I always pack my favorite gummies and my silk eye mask.

• I always pack one of these undereye masks before a Home Show or big event (I applied them while I got ready for the White House Christmas Party) but they are great for a plane ride, too. They help to de-puff and make your undereyes noticeably brighter. The box comes with eight masks which is enough to last quite a while if you only use them so often, like me. If there’s a fridge in the room, I’ll pop them in there first. I also throw this face mask on pretty much the second I’m off the plane. It just calms your skin down and feels great.

• I travel with this body lotion because I find that some hotel room lotions dry me out, rather than moisturize. This one works wonders and it’s in a tube so it isn’t messy and won’t leak during travel.

• My Ziip is the one high-tech skincare device that I always pack because it’s so tiny it can go anywhere. I love my red light mask too, but it’s pretty bulky for travel. The Ziip is a nano current device, so it lifts over time and with continued use. It’s set to a timer so you glide it upwards on your cheeks and under your eyes and above your eyebrows for just four minutes, for a little lift. This is key before I do a public speaking gig or a live television interview.

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Let me be very clear: I love food and if I am in a new city, I aim to eat locally. But sometimes, I find myself stuck in a convention center for hours on end with no access to anything local, and in a part of town that’s only near an Applebee’s.

I have genetically high cholesterol and generally want to feel my best during these shows so I try to be as health-conscious as possible when I can. Here are my go-to chain restaurant meals if that’s all I have access to:

• Chick-fil-A: Kale crunch salad with a side of grilled nuggets (I add Buffalo sauce to make it more exciting and I do love a Sunjoy). In the morning, they have an egg white-grilled chicken sandwich on an English muffin that is high in protein and low in saturated fat.

• Chipotle: Burrito bowl with light brown rice, light black beans, chicken, corn salsa, pico de Gallo and lettuce. Small scoop of guacamole on top.

• Longhorn/Chili’s/Carrabba’s: Any of the Darden-type restaurants generally have a grilled salmon dinner. I order a side of broccoli or whatever steamed veggie they have, and sometimes a small salad to start.

• Whole Foods: A vegetarian Dragon roll from Whole Foods is one of my faves and fairly easy to access in various cities around America. The salad bar makes a great side or meal.

• Starbucks: Oatmeal or egg bites are a quick, easy breakfast that won’t make you feel terrible and will fuel you up. I eat oatmeal nearly every morning at home. It’s excellent for lowering your cholesterol, full of fiber, and it’s very filling and gives me energy.

• If I have access to one, I would choose Cava or Sweetgreen over any other chains as I find that they have the most diversity (I could eat at a Cava twice in a row and have a completely different meal) and the most nutritionally dense options.

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This 7-minute workout is pretty genius. I do it at home if I need to squeeze in something quick, usually followed by 30 minutes on the treadmill (I walk at a 12 incline at a speed of 3.5 mph, and wear ankle weights — this really does add muscle to your legs). It’s also excellent for travel because it requires no equipment — just a chair or bench for step-ups — and it hits all the hot spots: arms, abs, legs. It also gets your heart pumping.

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And I’ll leave you with this…