5 travel must haves

Passport Wallet//

This is soooo convenient!! I purchased mine from Marine Parents on Instagram, it's custom made and super cute! When we travel, I'm the one who takes care of the booking and reservations.  So when we travel I handle the passports and paper work.  Before I got this wallet, I would just get a folder and put the paper work and passports in there.  Since I used a folder I would need to bring a backpack or a large purse.  When I travel on a plane I try to bring the least stuff I can on the actual plane.  After I got this, I could put my passports, paper work, and boarding passes all in one small wallet.  The back of the wallet has a place for all my paper work and inside the wallet can fit up to 6 passports.  This easily fits into my purse, so I don't have to carry a backpack.  Makes my life a whole lot easier!  Having all my important docs and passports in one place makes checking in a breeze!

Power Bank//

This is a lifesaver!  I brought the smaller one we own, its an Anker, has 1 usb slot and is good for about 3 charges.  I bought my from Amazon, one of the smartest buys ever! When we travel, we travel with 2 ipads and 2 iphones.  Depending on how long the flight lasts, layovers, hours driving, this baby comes in handy and has saved me from meltdowns. haha  When traveling, outlets aren't always readily available.  Weather its to recharge my kids' ipads to keep them calm on the plane or to give my phone a lil more juice for an emergency call....a power bank is a must have.  They are great just to carry for every day use.  Now they are small and slim and can fit into most purses.  Just know that it has to be in your carry on luggage and cannot be packed in your check bag. :)

Camera//

Duh!  When traveling you want to take pics of all your memories and sightseeing!  I use my Panasonic Lumix GF3, its user friendly, takes great pics and is light weight.  I alsobring 

my phone also, but I like to take better quality pics with my camera.  I use my phone pics for the quick uploads to FB and IG.

Hat//

Hats are so in style right now.  I'm wearing a fedora, got it from a local store.  Adding a fedora to any outfit definitely styles it up!  When traveling, especially to sunny places, it serves two purposes....looking stylish and keeping the sun out of your eyes.  I love wearing a hat when getting on a plane, I don't have to worry about my hair getting all messed up , I don't spend any time on it when getting ready and I get static while on the plane and the hat helps me cover my mop up.  Then I have a hat for pool/beach time.  Such a light and helpful accessory!

Cross body bag//

Out of all the types of bags I own, this is the most convenient for me when I travel.  This one is from Forever 21.  I find that it stays out of my way for the most part and since I carry a medium size one I'm able to bring a decent amount of stuff.  I used to carry a big travel bag {ie LV neverfull} but then after I arrive at my destination, I'm stuck with a big bag that gets in my way and barely has anything in it.  I would then pack other purses to use while on vacation, but that meant more stuff in my luggage.  Now a days I try to pack as light as possible, and I pack things that are multipurpose.  So I use a cross body when I travel.  It stays out of the way, is stylish, and convenient!

Since we just got back from vacay, I thought I'd share my 5 must haves while traveling.  All 5 have been a HUGE help

Yippee for New Freinds!!

Confession time, I am terrible at meeting new people.  I suffer from a condition called permanent b!tch face.  My condition is acute and almost always hits when I'm meeting new people.  I think because I get nervous and I don't know what to talk about.  All my life people have been telling me about my face.  Even when I'm happy the face can strike.  I've been told numerous times to smile.  But, I think when I smile it looks fake!  Anyways, Hecuase of this "condition" I have trouble with first impressions, but if you get past that hump I'm actually a pretty awesome person. Lol {Not to toot my own horn but *toot toot*} I'm thankful for the friends that make it past the first impression, because if they didn't I would be one lonely person.  

Back to the lecture at hand, new friends.   It's always been hard for me.  I grew up in the same neighborhood and I had most of the same friends from elementary on up.  It wasn't until Morgan and I got married and we started moving around the country , I had to make new friends.   Most of my friends I acquired through Morgan.  His co-workers wives or girlfriends.  But I wanted friends that I could call mine, not through any association.  So everywhere we moved I got a job and made friends.  Some till this day are lifelong friends, even considered family.  Other then Morgan and work I didn't make friends out of those circles because of my terrible first impressions.  Until now.  

Facebook and Instagram helped me find me new friends. Hahah We were in a foodies group on FB actually, and then we started following each other on IG.  We chatted and commented on each others pics for a few weeks then one of the gals brought up a suggestion to meet up.  I was a lil nervous cuz of my condition.  We have been chatting for a little bit and getting along, so it helped me to feel more comfortable wih them.  But really... who does this?  Haha I mean,meeting complete strangers and it's not a date. Well it felt like a blind date of sorts. We had stuff in common, and we were available so why not?  To be honest, I don't know if I would do this in the states.  Being in Okinawa and the military community I felt safe about it.   So, we set the date, a dimsum lunch and coffee before. 

I couldn't belive how well we got along. The whole time we were laughing and talking.  It was a good time.  It did kinda feel like a date since we were all getting to know each other, but it was fun.  I'm so glad I did it.  I think in the past I wouldn't have gone through with the meet up.  I'm happy I met two new friends and we can share our adventures in Oki.  Now we can't stop planning our future "dates".   You just never know where your going to meet new friends :)

                               

       

                                  

:: we actually didn't get dimsum.  We went to Laguna Hotel, but they don't offer dimsum on thr weekdays.  This day they had an Italian buffet, still yummy.  I'm still craving dimsum tho lol ::