Marie Denee Listen, I am beyond geeked to get home for the holidays. Each Christmas season, I take a long holiday back home. Home to my mother, nanna, sister, and my babies, Noah, Zoee, and Silas. Home to my family and friends who I have missed throughout the year. Living 2500 miles away can at times be lonely, but when the holiday season rolls around, I tend to get excited for my three-week trip back to California. Also, hellooo weather!
BUT, when I make the travel home, the journey is JUST as important as the destination. I am talking about the flight, the parking, the dogsitting, tying up loose ends with work- all of it! So, as I prepare for my holiday, with the help of Always Discreet, I thought to share with you my Holiday Travel Checklist and the TALK I wish we women had a little bit more…
Did you know that over a third of women admit the threat of bladder leaks affects their ability to travel, and it limits almost 1 in 3 women’s ability to visit their friends? Girl. We have to be able to travel confidently, comfortably, especially for the holidays. Just so you know, your girl is prepared!
Now, different from a traditional travel checklist, this one will have more than a few must have items, specifically as you are with and around family and are away from the comfort of your own bed. I will be gone for three weeks, so I need to make sure that I have more than a few of these handy, and the others on the list? Are just too good to pass up!
So, let’s talk about our Holiday Travel Checklist & Must Haves
The RFID Travel Bag
So, the thieves are getting bolder and sneakier and after an episode of someone using my cards in another state, I buckled all the way up! My weekender bag from Baggallini has RFID technology! You know, RFID technology shields your personal information encoded on credit cards, passports and other forms of identification! Not only do I have the bag, but I also got the RFID cards that protect you when your bag is not in the weekender!
A Fancy/Incognito Flask
Listen. Sometimes you need a drink. Like a good one. Sometimes, you are at a place where getting a good one is not so easy. SO, what do you do? Bring it with you and always be prepared with this Uber handy and extremely brilliant FLASK! Come on now! Who would have thought to make a bracelet a flask? MIND. BLOWN.
The Backup Mobile Charger
I never leave home without it. I have been obsessing over MyCharge since this was sent to me and I cannot speak more highly of it! This sucker gives your phone the ultimate fast charge, is sleek enough for your purse, and will hook both the iPhone and Android user up with a great boost! I mean, it is the holidays and I imagine, if you are anything like me, photos and videos will be aplenty!
Noise Cancelling Headphones
Listen, sometimes, you are on a plane and kids go ham. Sometimes, you have that chatty Cathy of a seatmate, or sometimes, when you are home, you just want to zone TF out. Either way, with a great pair of headphones, you can disappear into your own world, all while looking uber chic! Can I get an Amen?
The Uber Handy Travel Kit
Being away from home means not having all of your nifty goodies and normal go-tos in your life. So, when we found this all in one travel kit, we knew that we had to add this to the list! From an eye mask to a phone stand?! This trusty kit has it all!
The Family Friendly PJs
Normally, in the comfort of your own bed, you may like to sleep nude, close to nude, or whatever. BUT, when you are with family, sometimes, you have to switch up the sleeping gear! You never know who will saunter through your door! So, reaching for a pair of your uber comfy and family friendly PJs is always a must! I know I cannot be alone here!
A Great Book To Read Or 2
What is on your reading list? For me? All the books about leadership, business, and being a badass. SO, for me, I am going to make sure I take the time out to pour into myself with a great read or two! I am taking You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero and Self Made by Nely Galan on my trip!
TSA Friendly Hair & Skin Care
I do not know about you, but I almost always hold my breath as I go through the TSA line. As a woman of color, I have tons of butters and creams that have a 50/50 chance of being taken, even as it falls within the guidelines. Like my deodorant. With such an arbitrary rule, left to the expertise of the TSA agent, it is better to travel safe than sorry. I still remember the ladies’ face as they tossed her Clinique face lotion. It was under 4 ounces, but since it was not halfway, dude tossed it, because he could not tell if it was 3.4 or not.
The Ultimate Cape/Throw/Blanket
I saw this and thought… BRILLIANT! I mean, sometimes you have that family member whose house is always freezing. Sometimes, you want a chic all in one cape/jacket/blanket. This one? You can also plug in! How about that! This will do the trick wherever you go!
The Uber Playful Pair of Socks
Because it is cold and you are feeling a bit bad ass. Why not a pair of fun wide calf socks? I hate walking around on cold floors, so these fancy Sock It to Me Socks will do the trick! Right? Especially as they say ‘Bad Ass’ how much fun will these be?
Your Always Discreet Pads and Liners
Listen, we have started this discussion a year ago… talking about things we wish we talked more about. But as I get ready for this 5-hour flight, the 1 ½ hour drive to my sister’s new home, and ready myself for the 2-hour drives to see the rest of family, your girl has to be ready. Especially as 1 in 3 women AND 1 in 2 African American women experience bladder leaks, and I happen to be one of them. I will not be worrying about long distance leaks… no ma’am!
Always Discreet gives you secure protection you can barely feel, so bladder leaks can feel like no big deal. Ha! With OdorLock Technology and Soft LeakGuard barriers™, Always Discreet pads keep you dry without all the bulk, and I am here for this!
You can pick yours up at Amazon.com!
Which leads me to the TALK that the women in my family need to have.
Why do we not talk about the issues women face as we get older? DO you know how much shame we give ourselves, not knowing that we are NOT alone with bladder issues? Random hair growth. Moles and more? Why does it have to be a surprise?
Can you imagine the sigh of relief I found with Always, knowing that 1 in 3 of us experience bladder issues? But as I near 40, I also found out that having a sensitive bladder is a reality for more than 40% of women over 40. Not only is it more common, but there are products, communities, and information out there to help us live our best life!
Like Always, I believe that body changes are a natural part of being a woman, and we should talk about it, and all its changes! These changes shouldn’t hold anyone back from the activities they love. Right?
Right.
So, you can bet, when I get home, I am going to have a very funny and frank conversation about our bodies’ changes and what I can expect even more from myself! I cannot be caught out here surprised!
But I am curious… Have you had conversations with the women in your life around your body? The changes? And what to expect? And if you had to have the conversation, what prompted it?
In the meantime, you better believe that Always Discreet is high on my travel must haves list… let me find out if it is in my family’s arsenal, and they didn’t tell me.
You can learn more about Bladder Leaks and solutions at AlwaysDiscreet.com!
So tell me… have you and the women in your family talked about things like this? Bladder leaks? Menopause? Random Hair? Where did you start having this conversation? For me, it was with my girlfriends…
Now that we have rounded up our holiday travel checklist & must haves, you have to tell me, what did we miss? I cannot wait to hear from you!
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