Travel Essentials for fall!

As we ease from one season to another, and hit the road to view fall foliage, we can make life easier by adding in a few fun travel essentials. Who doesn’t want to make life simpler?

Trevel essentials, taking skin care into consideration.

Exposure to the elements when enjoying outside fun comes with a cost to the skin. I was blessed to receive the wonderful MyCHELLE DAERAMCEUTICALS Deep Repair Cream, MyCHELLE Agless Refining Sugar Cleanser, and MyCHELLE Remarkable Retinal Serum. These products are made without harsh chemicals. They also don’t use artificial fragrance and color. Taking care of my skin as I age is important to me because in my youth, sadly, I did not. The combination together has made my skin smoother and younger feeling. To find out more about these great products, log onto their website.

Don’t forget the teeth! The Brushee Disposable Travel Toothbrushes pre-pasted with a floss pick are great! If I forget anything when traveling, it is my toothbrush. I love the convenience of this disposable toothbrush I received to review. I have taken them on several trips.

All about the snacks and the food travel essentials!

Sometimes on the road it’s all about the food! Being diabetic, I have to be cautious with my snack and food travel essentials selections. When I received the Taste & Bliss coconut cashew bars to sample, I knew I had hit a home run. While they taste sweet, they all use the patent pending sweetener called NouveauSweet™. Developed to be both in syrup form and granular form, it’s an all-natural, low glycemic, 1:1 equivalent to sugar without the negative effects. These bars have been a go to for hitting the road and taking to the tractor shows I attend. I hauled some of these fun snacks to the Half Century of Progress, and now I need to refill the coffers! For information about Taste & Bliss, check out their website.

When I was traveling recently in Wichita, Kansas, Visit Wichita supplied us with The Spice Merchant’s wonderful Vietnamese Cinnamon which is a bold and flavorful cinnamon. I have used this spice in my cooked apples, and an apple pie, and loved it!

Having the perfect flavoring is sometimes what cooking is all about! From a trip to Fairfield Iowa, Visit Fairfield supplied the writers with Sweet & Saucy BBQ sauce. It tastes marvelous on porkchops, and I want to try it soon on ribs! It was developed by the Sweet & Saucy Restaurant!

At this years Midwest Travel Network 2023 Conference in Kansas City, Kansas, Sonya Nash of Shipshewana gave writers a wonderful spice mix called Happy Salt from the Shipshewana Spice Company! This has been a wonderful seasoning addition to my cooking! It spices meat just right.

Another cooking highlight I have enjoyed after arriving home from a road trip are recipes from the book Les Dames d’Escoffier New York Cookbook, Stirring the Pot! Published by Arcadia Publishing, I just tried the Apple Bread recipe and loved the results. This book was sent to me to review, and I give it four stars so far!

Les Dames d’Escoffier New York (LDNY) is a group of successful female leaders in all sectors of the food, beverage, and hospitality industries. Located in the most dynamic and competitive city in the world, Les Dames d’Escoffier New York (LDNY) is the founding and largest chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI), a 501c3 non-profit organization guided by three objectives: Education, Advocacy and Philanthropy. Profits from this book which sells for $29.00 goes to the group’s New York scholarship fund.

Cooking at home and on the road

Whether you are looking for a great charcoal grill to tailgate with, or for home, the cube grill made by Everdure by Heston Bluementhal is perfect for either occasion! I haven’t got my gas grill out since receiving this little grill that is perfect for my husband and I. It took me a bit to get used to cooking with charcoal, but the benefits are great. Plus, grilling is a heart healthy and diabetes healthy option!

Another wonderful cooking option I received to review was the great cast iron enameled 3-quart Dutch Oven by V_vancasso. This Dutch oven has been perfect for prepping my fresh garden produce. I used it for green beans and ham and potatoes, my favorite summer meal! I have also made ham and beans and other perfect fall dishes in this beautiful and functional cooking utensil!

The perfect business bag!

I mentioned traveling to Wichita to attend the Kansas Media Event. When heading that way, I was given the durable 6L Nomatic Navigator Sling to try. I found this bag perfectly held my iPad, along with some paper and purse essentials. Best of all was the fact that this protects my iPad and allowed me to be hands free when not using it. It fits over the shoulder. As they share, it is “Designed to maximize function and organization all while giving you a sleek, simple look.”

While too heavy to use for a shopping trip, it is the ultimate bag for a business meeting, which I find myself going to quite often. I than using my trusty notepaper! There are several different options for the bag, so you have a choice for the perfect one to suit your needs.

Comfort for the feet!

Dr. Motion outdoor compression socks rock. I received these wonderful and colorful socks to review. I like them for outside travel but admit to loving wearing them around the house during the evening especially. They cuddle my feet and are warm and fashionable!

Prepare for the weather!

Fall is often a rainy season. So, I need an umbrella as part of my travel essentials. I often find that when a stiff wind comes that they turn upside down, and look more like a tulip, than an umbrella! With Blunt Classic umbrella that I was given to review, problem solved. I love the rubber handle with its great rubber grip. When I found out that the umbrella could handle hurricane winds, I was in!

A book in hand….

I must have something to read when on the road! My latest fun read is famed broadcaster Max Armstrong’s More Stories from the Heartland. Max takes his stories from over the years and shares them in this heartwarming book. I read it from cover to cover and felt an affinity for so many of the people and events he profiles. If you love listening to him, you will also love his books which is like reading a conversation with Max!

This summer, I reviewed and enjoyed 100 Things To Do in Peoria Before You Die. Molly Cruzen Bishop’s book allowed me to find fun things to do in Peoria for my grandson and me. Sara Broers 100 Things to Do in Iowa Before You Die has also come in handy, I often find myself in the Iowa countryside. I received a copy of Tim and Lisa Trudell’s amazing 100 Things to Do in Nebraska Before You Die at the Midwest Travel Network Conference in Kansas City. I hope to check out some of their fun options soon. While at the conference, I won Lori Helke’s Let’s Go Camping Conference Journal & Logbook: Camping Journal Log Book, RV Journal And Camping Logbook, Record Your Camping Adventures. Since my son and his wife are campers, this was the perfect book for them!

As a woman of faith, I enjoyed the book, What Did Jesus Say… by Rev. Terry Allan Christian to review. This book uses Jesus words to assist you during your day to day living.

All of these travel essentials just add to the trip making it easier to enjoy the ride. Soon my eBook, Agricultural Treasure Guidebook will be available here on my website sharing locations of some of the country’s agricultural treasures, focusing primarily on the Midwest.  If you love to learn about farming and the farming past, you will enjoy the chance to stop at these amazing locations that I have had the privilege of visiting over the years. Along with the featured agricultural treasure, I am including nearby things to see and do!

Recording your travel!

Besides the phone, and camera, I have found a way to make your memories last long after you have returned home. The Heirloom Video book is a great way to save pictures and be able to look them over and share them with loved ones! I had a chance to review the Heirloom video book, and loved he results! As they share, It is, “A customizable photo and video-playing book that puts your memories into your hands.” Give it a try.

The Wrap!

Happy traveling! I’d also love to hear about products, what travel essentials you have found that have made your life easier!