Weekly What’s in My Bag: Travel Edition

Real Bags. Real Life. Real Hacks.

What’s In My Bag

Ever wonder what people actually carry to get through the day? Each week, we’re unzipping a new bag — from travel totes to mom must-haves, nurse essentials, teacher tools, and more. It’s a peek into real life, one bag at a time. Because what we carry reflects how we live — and how we hack it.

Let’s Talk Travel

Whether I’m escaping for the weekend or sprinting through TSA with a latte in one hand and a phone in the other, my carry-on is more than a bag — it’s my mobile command center.

This week, I’m sharing exactly what I pack to stay calm, comfortable, and chaos-free on the go. From skincare to sanity-savers, here’s what makes the cut — and what you’ll want in your own travel arsenal.

The Bag Itself

It all starts with the tote — because the right bag carries more than stuff... it carries your sanity.

Flight Must-Haves:

Beauty & Skincare Kit:

• Mini makeup remover (especially for overnight flights)

• Travel toothbrush + toothpaste

• Floss and brush on the go

  • Mini Carrying Case

• Pore wipes

• Tinted moisturizer

• Mascara + Blush

• Chapstick

• Face mask (overnight? Always.)

• Mini hairbrush or detangler

• deoderant

The Health Pouch:

• Daily vitamins

• Emergency meds

• Mini first aid kit

  • Blister bandages (hello, airport sprints and Miles to be discovered)

• Tweezers, nail file, nail clippers

• Nail glue (dip and gel, girls, you know)

• Eye drops + contact lens solution

• Sunscreen

• Feminine products + wipes

• Poo spray (it’s real life, okay?)

• Hand Sanitizer

• Mini Lysol or antibacterial wipes(Wipe down your seat, tray table, armrest, and seatbelt!)

Electronics Corner:

• AirPods or headphones

• Charging cords (for every device)

  • If traveling overseas - Converter

• Portable battery pack

• Laptop or iPad — or both (YOLO)

• Charging cord organizer

• Phone holder (in-flight lifesaver)

Snack Attack:

• Water Bottle: Empty until you’re past TSA — then fill it up and stay hydrated.

• A designated snack pouch

  • TSA-friendly snacks

• Hydration & energy sticks (like Liquid IV or LMNT)

Comfort & Courtesy:

• Neck pillow + travel blanket (doubles as a leg hammock!)

• Eye mask (Black Out)

• Compact umbrella

• Full Set of Change of Clothes (if Checking a Bag)

  • or fresh panties

• Compression Socks (Longer Flights)

Entertainment:

• iPad, Kindle, or Nook — downloaded content is key!

• Podcasts, playlists, and offline movies

• Books/Journal + puzzle books (crosswords, Sudoku, word finds)

• Pens and Pencils

Final Hack:

Pack with intention, not panic. Think of your carry-on as your calm zone. You don’t need to overpack — you need to smart-pack.