Is anyone else noticing an increase in rude behavior in the world? This past weekend we were at our cabin in the mountains for Labor Day. It is a wonderful community and has been for as long as we’ve owned a cabin there.

On Saturday night, there was an outdoor concert at the clubhouse. It was a beautiful evening with music and dinner. Two women mistakenly thought I “cut” in front of them on our way to pick up our meal. They instantly attacked me in such an aggressive way. Quite frankly, I was speechless at the intensity of their anger. Fortunately, another kind soul witnessed it and was equally appalled.

So I think it is time again to share my post on Kindness. Is it a post-COVID behavior or are people just so unhappy? It feels so uncivilized to me to lash out at someone you don’t even know, without giving someone the benefit of the doubt. What have we become if we cannot be kind to each other?

Kindness is one of those things that spans all barriers~~socio-economic, education, language, age and religion.  It costs NOTHING yet its benefits are priceless.  It may be easy when someone is mean or cruel to react in the same way.  But kindness is the opposite.  Its effects can lower the temperature of a situation or put wind under someone’s wings.

Kindness has been top of mind lately because I seem to see less and less of it in today’s world.

When recalling kind gestures that have left an indelible mark on me, two come to mind. They both came at a time when I had experienced great loss.

A few years back, my Dad came to live with us in Phoenix after my Mom passed away.  Our more moderate winter weather and sunshine seemed the perfect remedy for Dad vs. grieving alone in the cold Connecticut winter.  

Unfortunately, after 5 months, in May 2015, he passed away here in our home.  When the funeral home came to pick up his body, we watched these two strangers enter into this extremely personal and difficult time. They carefully and gracefully wrapped my father’s body in a beautiful tapestry cloth.  When they were getting ready to move him onto the gurney, one of the men slowly tapped my Dad’s leg, as if to say, “Hey, buddy. It’s time to go and we will take good care of you”. It was such a simple act, but letting my Dad go emotionally was hard enough.

But that simple, loving gesture, allowed me to entrust a total stranger with my Dad, the man who has known me the longest. A man I had loved all my life. It was so respectful and done with great love.  

The other kind gesture that I will remember forever was right after my first husband died. I was in my mid 30’s and we were having a second memorial service for him back in my home town.  I went to get my nails done at a local salon/spa mostly because I needed an hour with a change of scenery. The nail person began working on my rather sad looking nails and we were making small talk about the weather, etc.

She then looked up from what she was doing and asked, “So how are you”? And the tears began. I was sobbing, you know, that uncontrollable kind.  The kind of crying where you can’t even talk. She stopped what she was doing and just held my hands. It took me quite sometime to stop blubbering but until I did, she quietly and warmly held my hands in hers. Finally I was able to say, “I’m so sorry but my husband just passed away”.  She squeezed my hands and offered her condolences and then handed me a tissue. Nothing more than that. It was the kindest thing anyone could have done for me at that time.

These are such small but enormous acts of random kindness from people I had never known and will never see again.  But they taught me that being kind doesn’t have to be grandiose or public.  Sometimes a simple touch, hug, soothing word or tone can have a monumental impact. I’m sure neither of them know how much their self-less gestures meant to me.  See how something so small can be so BIG.

We never know why someone is acting rude or upset or why they have chosen to take it out on us.  But we don’t have to send that behavior back.  Maybe asking a simple question, “I’m sorry but it looks like you are having a bad day” or paying a compliment with a smile, would be a better response. I don’t want to perpetuate negative energy.  Instead, I want to change it and be part of the solution.  Those who are mean and angry need our prayers.

Imagine a world where for one day, everyone was kind.  Wouldn’t that be amazing? But kindness comes from within~~each and every one of us can choose to be kind.  Please think about that the next time a negative thought or word is getting ready to leave your body.  We can make a difference, one kind act at a time.

Sending kind and loving thoughts your way.

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.

After wonderful monsoon weather and a nearly dead garden, I am so excited to get the beds ready for Fall planting. Here is my September Garden Guide for zone 9b. The only problem lately is the influx of mosquitos resulting from all the rain. And those nasty little fellas just love biting me. But I am determined to start gardening again! It is also time to see what my gardening buddies are up to this month too!

Good Soil Structure

One of the foundations of a good garden is have equally good soil. It’s important to know your soil type. There are three soil types~ clay, loam, and sandy. Loam is the most desirable as it is a balanced mix of all three. How do you determine your soil type?

The best way to tell what type of soil you have is by touching it and rolling it in your hands.

1. Sandy soil has a gritty element – you can feel sand grains within it, and it falls through your fingers.
2. Clay soil has a smearing quality, and is sticky when wet.
3. Pure silt soils are rare, especially in gardens.

Or you can purchase a soil analysis test (see one here) which will include the pH and mineral content. I just ordered mine as the last time a soil test was done on my garden was in 2012. The results take 6-8 days online so I will be sending my test kit in today!

Getting the Beds Ready

Most of the beds are laying fallow over the last month and require a new burst of good soil. Since we do compost nearly everything we can, I have a large quantity of this amazing nutritious dirt.

These compost tumblers make composting easy and I cannot recommend them enough. For a good selection of compost items, click here. Composting is feeding your soil for free! Plus it is a great way to get rid of 30% of your waste.

The compost is placed on the top of the existing soil. I do not turn the soil much but I allow it to sit for a week or two before I start planting. To see my tutorial on composting, click here.

Check your Watering system

Last season, we had a drainage problem in one of the raised beds. What resulted was stagnant, stinky soil and poor vegetable growth and harvest. Now is a good time to make sure all systems are working properly. Too much or too little water can ruin a crop.

Our beds are equipped with an automatic watering system and the flower bed has a drip soaker hose with a timer. But sometimes these fail so it’s important to make sure they are in the best condition at the beginning of a planting season.

Shade Cloth?

In May, I did add shade cloth to protect the plants in the garden from the blistering summer sun. Since September is one of those months where it may still get really hot or we may see a shift to cooler temperatures, I will leave the shade cloth up for a while.

It is very easy to remove and during the winter months I replace the shade cloth with frost cloth on those few days we see below freezing temperatures.

Since the Valley of the Sun has different microclimates, it will be interesting to see how September pans out, weather-wise.

My planting guide for September

Starting early in the month, here is a list of items I hope to plant:

• Beets
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Cauliflower
• Tomato transplants

Closer to September 15th, I will add:

• Kale
• Lettuces
• Carrots
• Radishes
• Garlic

Since our weather has been a bit out of the ordinary (heavy rains, cooler temps), I will adjust what I plant and when. When the night temperatures fall in the 70s, the bulk of the planting will take place.

Here is a list of annuals and perennials to sow. I actually have seeds (carnation, larkspur, sweet pea, and stock) that I ordered from Floret Farm back in the Spring, but the planting for these seed groups takes place in the fall here.

• African Daisies
• Alyssum
• Aster
• Bachelor Buttons
• Bells of Ireland
• Calendula
• California Poppy
• Carnation
• Delphinium
• Forget-Me-Not
• Hollyhocks
• Larkspur
• Lupines
• Nasturtium
• Pansy
• Petunia
• Phlox
• Shasta Daisy
• Snapdragon
• Stocks
• Sweet Pea
• Sweet William
• Verbena
• Viola

The white picket fence around the garden is looking a bit tired. It’s an ambitious project but I hope to paint it when it cools off a bit.

As many gardeners around the country are winding down their gardens, here in Phoenix we are just starting a big planting season. I cannot wait!

Thanks for joining me today. And now off to the Garden Blog hop.

Garden Blog Hop

Chas from Chas Crazy Creations tells us The Actual Truth and Reality of Growing My Seasonal Garden.

If you have seen Kim’s garden, it’s hard to believe she makes any mistakes. However, today she is sharing 8 Mistakes Made in My Flower Garden and you can see it here.

Stacy from Bricks ‘n Blooms has a lovely garden in New Jersey. This month she shares How My Garden NJ Is Changing to Fall. See it here.

Thanks for joining me today! I hope everyone had a relaxing the Labor Day weekend.

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.

Happy Saturday, friends! I am trying to get back into the swing of things after being in Washington, D.C. for a week helping my son move. Whenever I get the opportunity to spend time with my adult children, I am ready, willing and able! So grab a cup of coffee or tea, and let’s chat about all the things that are happening on Saturday Meanderings.

Easy Way to Fill Walls

With a larger apartment, there are many blank walls and my son, Benjamin doesn’t have any art collected to date. An affordable alternative to purchasing art is to create your own. Michael’s is having a Buy One, Get One Free sale on all their canvases. See here.

During the week, we are able to create two paintings. One is an abstract which is completely out of my wheelhouse ~ a consolidated effort by me, Benjamin and his girlfriend, Delaney. The other is an ocean scene, incorporating the colors of his apartment. With one large brush and only a few paint colors, we did have fun painting “originals” for his new apartment.

Paint Does Makes a Difference

With a predominantly blue theme for my son’s apartment, the bright, red wall in the kitchen didn’t really work. Using Home Depot’s Behr One Coat paint, look how nice the new color looks.

If you ever want to do an affordable update to any room, consider a can of paint. Worst case, you don’t like it and can paint over it. This was a nice upgrade to tie the decor of his apartment together.

While I was in the painting frame of mind, I also brightened up the baseboards with a fresh coat of white paint. All the dings and dents disappeared~making it fell fresh and new.

Fun with Frosé

Recently, I made a Watermelon frosé and decided to take advantage of the Utah peaches that are currently available. I suppose you could use any fruit but the technique is pretty much the same.

• 4 cups of frozen peaches (cut into slices)
• 1 bottle chilled rosé
• Agave syrup or a flavored simple syrup of your choice (optional)

Freeze the fruit on a cookie sheet. Put in blender and add a bottle of chilled rosé wine (I leave a little in the bottle to add if it is too frozen). Blend. Add a squirt of agave syrup or for the peach frose I added a bit of honey/thyme syrup (a bit of water, honey and fresh thyme in a pot and simmered).

Here is the watermelon one….now I’m wondering if I can make it with cantaloupe, cherries, plums, pears or mangoes? This is an incredibly refreshing drink!

My First Podcast!

I would consider myself a bit of a technology dinosaur and tried not to feel too intimidated when asked to participate in a podcast. But it was such fun!

Two highly respected land use attorneys conducted an interview on neighborhood organizations. Since our neighborhood group works closely with this law firm, this podcast really felt like a conversation among friends. It will be available in 30 days and I’m hoping I didn’t sound totally goofy.

So what does one wear to a podcast? Heck if I know, but I did want to be comfortable since I would be sitting for an hour. White pants, black t-shirt and a kimono seem to be a reasonable choice. The vintage mirror has lots of age spots so ignore the photo boo-boos.

Squeezed in a painting

After having fun with the canvas paintings in DC, I am inspired to pick up a paintbrush again. Last March, I spotted this painting on Facebook and just loved the colors. I could not find a name for the painting but the artist is Johannes Evert Hendrik Akkeringa (1861-1942) from the Netherlands. Fortunately, I am able to find a larger picture so I can print it out as a reference point.

Though I believe I am still noodling this, here is the painting to date. My flowers seem a bit more dense, but I think that’s okay.

Copper and Fall

When I think of fall decorating, I love the copper colors that remind me of autumn leaves. Have you seen Martha Stewart’s copper collection?

I am sure she doesn’t do the polishing but what a stunning display. Makes me want to go and get out the few pieces of copper I own…however I am sure they will need a good cleaning. To see Martha’s tips on cleaning copper, click here.

Did I ever mention that long ago, I took a cooking class from Martha? This was before she because so famous but she demonstrated how to make homemade pasta. When I met with her after class and she gave me the leftovers~and for a brief moment I felt like the teacher’s pet!

Wishing you a happy Labor Day! The weather is perfect here in the mountains and the wild flowers are so abundant due to all the rain. Be safe out there!

Thank you for sending in some really great packing tips after my last post. Since nearly all of us have traveled somewhere, it is so nice to share with each other. As requested here is more packing information. Again, this is what works for me after many years of traveling for both business and pleasure.

Packing for an airline trip boils down to a few categories: clothes, shoes, toiletries, makeup and technology. A previous post focuses on what I include in my purse when I fly. You can see that post here. Today, I am sharing everything else I pack for air travel.

Often, I will pack and then forget something ridiculous~like my contact lenses, or toothpaste. Since I’ve am traveling a great deal lately, I want to put together a comprehensive list of items that are necessary for me when traveling.

Toiletries

Since most airlines limit the # of ounces you can take on a plane, I always buy travel sizes, or take some of the freebie products you get at the beauty counter. Generally the standard travel sizes last more than one week.

If you have experienced a liquid exploding in your suitcase, you quickly learn that Ziploc bags are your friend. I use them to store Q-tips and always keep my shampoo and conditioner in one.

Here is a list of toiletries I take with me. My toiletry bag is always packed and ready to go. After each trip I assess what needs replacing and do it while it is top of mind. Therefore I do not need to recreate the wheel each and every time I go somewhere.

Face Products

• Face wash (Ole Henriksen Truth Juice Daily Cleanser)
• Skin Care (Lumivive System-day/night serum, HA5)
• Face Moisturizer (Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench)
• Sunscreen
• Eye Cream (Thrive Defying Gravity)
• Headband

Body/Hair/Eyes

• Body Moisturizer
• Razor
• Body Wash
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Hair gel
• Hair Spray
• Nail Clippers
• Tweezers
• Eye Drops (Lumify is my favorite)
• Contact Lenses
• Glasses
• Deodorant (I love Native brand)
• Fragrance-mini size
• Q-tips
• Toothpaste
• Floss
• Tongue scraper
• Mouth Guard/cleanser tablets
• Lip gloss (Carmex)
• Hairbrushes
• Bandaids
• Medication/supplements
• Optional: travel blowdryer

These products fit into a small cloth zippered bag, which fits nicely in my suitcase.

Make-up Bag

I really don’t wear much makeup, primarily because I don’t have a clue on how to apply it properly. But here are the basics I take with me:

• Primer-I don’t have a favorite but I use various samples
• Foundation -MakeUp Forever at Sephora
• Blush-love Laura Mercier or Hourglass Ambient Lighting blush
• Transluscent powder-prefer Lancome
• Eyelash conditioner
• Mascara (I love Thrive)
• 2 Eye shadows (both from Thrive: Estrella and Muna)
• Concealer
• 2 sponges for even application
• Lip liner-Lancome
• 2 lipsticks-Bobbi Brown
• Small sharpener
• 2 makeup brushes-one for blush and one for powder

All this fits in a flowered plastic-lined zipper pouch measuring 7″ x 10″.

Medications/Supplements

Any medication/supplements are sorted and organized before the trip. I always bring a few extra days worth just in case my travel plans change or I get stuck somewhere. Also, I put the daily pill container in a plastic zippered bag. This way the pills are protected from liquids or unexpected case openings.

What Suitcase?

To me, a suitcase is like a purse. It’s a very personal item. But since I only travel with a roller bag, I want one that is lightweight and of good quality.. Remember, after it is packed, you have to lift it to put it in the overhead compartment. Typically not many people are around to help, which is another reason to pack light.

In 2014, our entire family took a trip to Italy for 3 weeks. Everyone was allowed one roller suitcase and we invested in this Rimowa line. It is lightweight, has a large interior, multi-wheel system, telescoping handle and made of durable material. Each bag comes with a 5 year warranty and excellent customer service. It’s an investment, but this bag never disappoints. The steering is effortless which is a big relief to my shoulders. I rarely pull it as it glides easily along side of me.

To link to Rimowa products, click here.

Packing the Suitcase

Several years ago, I attended a presentation by a woman who shared her packing strategy. What stuck with me the most, was how little you need to bring if you are thoughtful in utilizing your clothes. For example, I have one black dress (from Target) that I can dress up or down. From this one dress I can create several outfits by accessorizing differently.

Use every inch

It is also important to use every nook and cranny of the suitcase. On the telescoping handle side, I maximize the shallow wells with underwear, socks, or sleepwear.

Lay clothes flat

Layering the clothes and utilizing every single space on my suitcase is the goal. I don’t roll my clothes, but flatten them out so they aren’t as wrinkled when I get to my destination. Or better yet, fabulous fabrics are available that don’t wrinkle or require ironing.

Turning the clothes different ways allows me to maximize the depth of the bag. While packing, I constantly feel for dead space that I can use and fit items accordingly.

Clothes goes on one side and shoes, toiletries, makeup go on the other. If I need to put shoes on the clothing side, I insert them into protective bags. The Ziploc bag in the above photo holds my portable electric toothbrush. Utilize the inside of shoes for smaller items like socks, small pill bottles, or underwear.

My bras fit perfectly into the corners of the suitcase and therefore are not crushed upon arrival.

The Rimowa has flex dividers that can be adapted to your needs and helps keep the items in perfect order during transit. With a zippered pouch on each, it is the perfect place to put dirty laundry or easy access items.

Keep essentials nearby

If I am traveling to a cooler climate, I generally pack a jacket last so all I have to do is reach in and grab it when I land.

Naturally, your clothing selection will be based on climate and activities. With a few good basic pieces, you can create multiple outfits, yet never appear as if you are wearing the same clothes. Having a washer/dryer handy at your destination helps too!

What I wear on the Plane

I no longer wear anything open-toed after a recent flight from Orlando to Hartford. Unfortunately the women sitting across the aisle from me got violently sick and didn’t know about the barf bag in everyone’s seat pocket. She literally pulled down her mask and emptied the contents of her stomach in the aisle. I think you get the picture. My first stop getting off the plane was the ladies room, where I had to wash my feet and sandals.

The other item I will never wear on a plane is white pants. Back in the day when the seats were fabric, someone had spilled their cola on the previous flight. When I went to sit down, I could feel the beverage soaking into my backside. For the rest of the trip, until I could get somewhere to change, I looked like I was incontinent.

So nice jeans, dark pants or an attractive legging is my go to on the bottom. A blouse or lightweight long sleeved t-shirt for the top. I will either wear a lightweight vest jacket or bring a shawl or scarf, as I find myself freezing on the plane. Items above: The sooo comfortable Chico’s Brigette Slim pant here; Chico’s reversible vest (similar) here; Paul Green Hadley sneaker in black leather here.

Unpacking and Cleaning

Ever since COVID, I do unpack my suitcase in the laundry room. There I can toss all dirty clothes directly into the washer. I also use disinfectant wipes to clean the entire suitcase, including the handles, zippers, exterior and wheels. It may be a bit of overkill, but it makes me feel better to put a clean suitcase away~ready for the next trip.

Other Packing Strategies

If you would like to see how others pack their bags, check out the following blog posts. It is surprising how everyone has a different packing style.

Annie from Most Lovely Things has a post on Carry-on Packing Tips You Need to Know before Your Next Trip

Cindy Hattersley writes about How to Rock an Over 50 Travel Wardrobe

Ashley from Modern Glam shows all her cute things she packs in a Carry-on for a Week

Mary Ann from Classic Casual Home is a lucky traveler going to Europe for two weeks. Here’s her post on her packing tips.

Packing Checklists

Thanks for joining me today. Here are my checklists for packing if you would like to use them. I am trying to figure out how to include a print function on this post, but didn’t understand how to do that. However, you can screen shot them and then print. Or email me at marycrz@cox.net and I can send you an email copy.

My friend, Chas from Chas Crazy Creations suggests this: keep the checklist in a plastic sheet protector and use a dry erase marker to check off the items as you pack them. Then wipe the sheet protector clean, leave it in your suitcase and use it again and again. Brilliant!

Have a happy Wednesday!

So many people are posting fall items now, but quite honestly, it’s hard to think of autumn when it is over 100 degrees. Inspired by this dilemma of a hot summer but longing for cooler temperatures, here are two seasonal tablescapes, utilizing some of the same elements, but creating two totally different vibes.

There are two talented women who encourage me to think out of the box when setting a table. Chloe from Celebrate and Decorate oozes of talent and innovation. You may recall, Chloe using a large antler shed last November and making the centerpiece of a gorgeous table out in our orchard. See that post here.

Though I have never met Bonnie Chase from Bonnie Chase Designs, I follow her on Instagram and drool over her beautiful tables. Check her out at @bonniechasedesigns. So channeling my inner Chloe and Bonnie, I set forth in creating a summer and fall tablescape.

Summer Tablescape

In the most recent My French Country Home box, the theme for August is Saint-Tropez. (If you are unfamiliar with this quarterly subscription, see more information here). A pretty raspberry and white striped fouta is made exclusively for My French Country Home and is just stunning. What is a fouta, you ask?

The fouta is a piece of thin patterned cotton or linen fabric of Yemeni origin used in many Mediterranean countries and Yemen. Among other uses, they were worn, by both men and women, wrapped around the body while at the public baths in 19th-century Syria. However, this large fouta is perfect as a tablecloth.

Starting with a green basketweave dinner plate from Pier 1 Imports, I add my cherished Wild Strawberry pattern teacups from Wedgwood. I bought these at Harrod’s in London many moons ago. The embroidered “C” napkin is an online order by Jan de Luz linens in Carmel, CA.

There is something very summery about pink and green~perfect for a Sunday breakfast. Pink flowers, such as these very fragrant star lilies are cut short and placed in glass juice glasses. Have you ever seen this multi-petal lily before? My husband did buy them at AJ’ Fine Foods.

My trusty Wallace Napolean Bee flatware adds a bit of gold to the place setting. I just purchased another set of 8 as I find I am using this all the time. I cannot say enough about this flatware! You can find it here.

Since this is a breakfast table, I add my Wedgwood tea pot and sugar bowl. Pink etched glasses from Pier 1 are perfect for water (or wine or mimosas?).

I do like to add something a bit whimsical and unexpected to the table. Meet my bejeweled frog box. I don’t really like knick-knacks, but this little guy just makes me happy.

So here is my summer breakfast table for two. Now let’s move into the fall season.

Fall Tablescape

This wool blanket reminds me of fall tailgating parties and has all the luscious colors for the season. I will use this as my tablecloth. Here are some similar wool blankets. You can use many things as tablecloths-shawls, scarves, throws or a piece of fabric. Use your imagination!

Utilizing some of the same elements as my Summer breakfast table, it’s easy to change it up a bit for Fall.

Here you can see I am using the same green basketweave plate, but am adding a clear gold rim salad plate (from Leslie Roy) and Villeroy & Boch yellow and green plates and an espresso cup and saucer.

Same silverware, different napkins. These hemstitched yellow linen ones are from Sferra. See them here. You can also find similar ones on Amazon here. The wine glass has autumn tones in the stem but I cannot recall where I purchased these.

For flowers, orange hue roses and alstroemerias (from Safeway) are cut short and again, put into small juice glasses. Our huge pine tree in the front yard is dropping gorgeous pinecones every day. Using items from your yard or garden is such an affordable way to add nature to your centerpiece.

Even the frog looks at home in his new habitat!

Overall, just a few additions and you can use your dishes to change the look of the table from season to season.

Wherever you live, I hope you are enjoying the end of summer or the beginning of fall. Here it will be hot for several more weeks, but as it does every year, the cooler climate will be here before we know it.

Have a happy Tuesday!

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.

This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday #675 and Thursday’s Favorite Things #560

I find it interesting the different ways people pack for airline travel. When I was working in corporate America, I traveled 92% of the time. Packing and unpacking, staying in different hotels in numerous cities, made me very efficient living out of my roller bag. And because of that, I did learn a great deal about packing, especially my travel purse.

My travel schedule has increased this year going back and forth to the east coast to handle my aunt’s affairs. Though many people are hesitant to travel in light of COVID, I am not. Quite honestly, months ago when no one was traveling it was quite nice to fly around on nearly empty, clean airplanes. Now airports and airplanes are extremely crowded, and some of the pre-checking luxuries like CLEAR and airline clubs have limited hours.

My Purse

I never check a suitcase for two reasons. 1) I am an efficient packer. 2) My roller bag serves as a platform to carry my purse, taking unwanted pressure off my shoulders.

Style of Purse

The tote or satchel bag is my preferred purse style to carry onboard a plane. There is a direct correlation between the size of the satchel and the length of the flight or trip.

It needs to be big enough to carry my iPad/laptop and Kindle. My blue Coach bag has both handles and a shoulder strap so I have the option to carry it crossbody too. See similar purse here.

This particular Coach bag has 3 sections. The center section zips closed and the other two sections are large enough for me to carry the following.

Health Supplies

Since COVID, I now carry items that are essential to maintain good health on the road: Oil of oregano, Vitamin D, a probiotic, Vitamin C (in either lozenge, pill, or powder form), elderberry zinc lozenges, alcohol pads (for cleaning my phone), surgical gloves, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. I keep a small supply of these in my purse for easy access on the plane. For a more detailed description and links on some of these products, see below.

Since it is still a federal mandate to wear masks on the plane, I take a supply of Jaanuu masks in a small drawstring bag. This prevents me from wearing the same dirty one throughout the trip. Jaanuu face masks are made from the similar, soft fabric as their signature scrubs, which are treated with the Silvadur™ antimicrobial preservative technology. These face masks are washable and reusable, designed for durability, reinforced with a mesh lining, and feature comfortable, stretchable ear loops. You can find them here.

Other Essentials

Additional items in my purse include sunglasses and cleaning cloth, spare set of contact lenses, emery board, travel size cologne (liquid or solid), hand cream, a lipstick, business cards, purse hook and a set of rosary beads.

A purse hook is a travel must. Hanging your bag next to you in a restaurant is safer (and cleaner) than leaving it on the floor or chair next to you. Lots of purse hook choices here.

Travel Documents

For as long as I can remember, I always travel with printed travel documents. In a plastic sleeve, I keep hotel, car and airline confirmations. Once while traveling in Ireland, we went to a hotel with 3 very tired children, only to discover they had no reservation for us…..even though I had an email confirmation. Unfortunately, the hotel was completely booked and we had to scramble to find something else at the last minute.

As a result, I always carry confirmation of my trip’s details.

A Handy Checklist

How Does it Fit?

The Philosophy bag with the health supplies, lipstick, emery board, hand sanitizer and rosary beads, goes in the center of my Coach bag. One side pocket holds my wallet, sunglasses and masks. The other carries my travel documents and either laptop or Kindle.

When I first began writing this blog, I was hoping to share my overall packing strategies and travel clothes. But that will have to be for another time as I didn’t realize how much information would go into just talking about the items in my travel purse! If you have any fun travel packing tips, please share.

Heading to Washington, DC this week to help my son move to a new apartment. It will be such fun (and hard work) and looking forward to spending some quality time with him.

Not sure if I will be able to post while I’m gone, but if not, I’ll connect with you when I return. Stay safe out there.

Always remember to consult your physician before taking any supplements.

Oil of oregano: A 2017 studyTrusted Source found that oregano essential oil, especially from the leaves of the oregano plant, has strong antioxidant properties. The researchers noted the traditional use of oregano oil in treating fevers and respiratory symptoms, which are both associated with the flu. I purchase Gaia Oil of Oregano here.

Elderberry and Zinc: You will often see elderberry medication combined with zinc. Zinc has several studies showing that, if taken within 24 hours of cold symptoms, can reduce length and severity of said viral illness.  Zand Elderberry and Zinc lozenges can be found here.

Probiotic: I take a probiotic every day, especially when traveling. A healthy gut is the basis for good health. Probiotics are live microorganisms. When taken in sufficient amounts, they can help restore the natural balance of gut bacteria. I like UltraFlora Control by Metagenics. You can find it here.

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.