6 Carry-on Essentials

Happy September! Can you believe that September is already here? I sure can’t! It seems as if time is flying by these days. I hope you all had a fabulous long weekend. I spent mine preparing for a trip – I’m headed to Florida today for a work trip. I know, I know, how cool is it that I get to go to Florida for work? That’s what I keep hearing, but it’s going to be so hot and humid there, I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle it!
I travel for work (and for pleasure) a fair amount, so I thought the perfect post for today would be sharing my carry-on travel essentials!

Naturally, I have issues packing lightly so don’t let this pretty little mashup of photos fool you. I have a checked bag, a personal bag, and a carry-on that always seem to be packed to the max! I’m always paranoid that the airline is going to lose my checked bag so I try to cram as much as humanly possible into my carry-on just in case my worst nightmare does come true.
I love this [shopsense shopsense_url=”http://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.katespade.com%2Fflatiron-nylon-lisbeth%2FPXRU4259%2Cen_US%2Cpd.html%3Fdwvar_PXRU4259_color%3D017″ original_url=”http://www.katespade.com/flatiron-nylon-lisbeth/PXRU4259,en_US,pd.html?dwvar_PXRU4259_color=017&dwvar_PXRU4259_size=UNS&cgid=ks-handbags-totes#start=5&cgid=ks-handbags-totes” save_to_store=”true”]Kate Spade nylon tote[/shopsense]. It’s the perfect weekend bag and carry-all – it’s pretty much a bottomless pit which is great for those of us who don’t pack lightly! Here’s my list of the 6 essential carry-on items:

1. Small Crossbody Bag: Even when I travel for work, I love to take my free time and explore the city I’m staying in. A crossbody bag makes it easy to carry your wallet, cell phone, and a few other essential items you might need. Lately I’ve been toting around a [shopsense shopsense_url=”http://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Frebecca-minkoff-mini-m-a-c-shoulder-bag%2F3450695%3Forigin%3Dcategory-personalizedsort” original_url=”http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/rebecca-minkoff-mini-m-a-c-shoulder-bag/3450695?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=Mahogany&resultback=1121&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-1_3_C” save_to_store=”true”]Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC shoulder bag[/shopsense].
2. Chapstick: Spending hours on a plane and then hours exploring a new city can take a toll on your lips. I always make sure to carry chapstick with me in every bag – either Burt’s Bees or [shopsense shopsense_url=”http://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.target.com%2Fp%2Feos-organic-lip-balm-sphere-strawberry-sorbet%2F-%2FA-13731791″ original_url=”http://www.target.com/p/eos-organic-lip-balm-sphere-strawberry-sorbet/-/A-13731791#prodSlot=medium_1_4&term=eos+lip+balm” save_to_store=”true”]EOS[/shopsense].
3. A Great Read: Currently I’m reading [shopsense shopsense_url=”http://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FTao-Martha-LIVING-Getting-Glitter%2Fdp%2F0451417631%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1%3Fs%3Dbooks” original_url=”http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Martha-LIVING-Getting-Glitter/dp/0451417631/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377976877&sr=1-1&keywords=the+tao+of+martha” save_to_store=”true”]Jen Lancaster’s newest book, The Tao of Martha[/shopsense]. If you haven’t read Jen Lancaster, start off with [shopsense shopsense_url=”http://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBitter-New-Black-Condescending-Self-Centered%2Fdp%2F0451217608%2Fref%3Dsr_1_6%3Fie%3DUTF8″ original_url=”http://www.amazon.com/Bitter-New-Black-Condescending-Self-Centered/dp/0451217608/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1377976259&sr=8-6&keywords=jen+lancaster” save_to_store=”true”]Bitter is the New Black[/shopsense]. You won’t regret it!
4. Sunglasses: I seem to always forget sunglasses when I’m on my way to sunny states. You might think you don’t need them, but you will! I tend to travel with a cheaper pair of sunglasses just in case I lose them or scratch them.
5. Gum: A must-have to avoid ear-popping take-offs and landings as well as keeping your breath minty fresh!
6. Laptop: When I fly I try to disconnect from the world a bit, but on longer flights a laptop can be necessary for watching movies or catching up on emails! And yes, I do have that snazzy pink case for my MacBook!

Lastly, I always put my makeup in my carry-on bag. I figure that if they do lose my suitcase and I have to wear the same clothes for a few days, I can at least make sure my face looks good!
What are your carry-on essentials?
Carry-on Bag: [shopsense shopsense_url=”http://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.katespade.com%2Fflatiron-nylon-lisbeth%2FPXRU4259%2Cen_US%2Cpd.html%3Fdwvar_PXRU4259_color%3D017″ original_url=”http://www.katespade.com/flatiron-nylon-lisbeth/PXRU4259,en_US,pd.html?dwvar_PXRU4259_color=017&dwvar_PXRU4259_size=UNS&cgid=ks-handbags-totes#start=5&cgid=ks-handbags-totes” save_to_store=”true”]Kate Spade Flatiron Nylon Tote[/shopsense]; Crossbody Bag: [shopsense shopsense_url=”http://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Frebecca-minkoff-mini-m-a-c-shoulder-bag%2F3450695%3Forigin%3Dcategory-personalizedsort” original_url=”http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/rebecca-minkoff-mini-m-a-c-shoulder-bag/3450695?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=Mahogany&resultback=1121&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-1_3_C” save_to_store=”true”]Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC[/shopsense]; Chapstick: [shopsense shopsense_url=”http://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.target.com%2Fp%2Feos-organic-lip-balm-sphere-strawberry-sorbet%2F-%2FA-13731791″ original_url=”http://www.target.com/p/eos-organic-lip-balm-sphere-strawberry-sorbet/-/A-13731791#prodSlot=medium_1_4&term=eos+lip+balm” save_to_store=”true”]EOS Lip Balm[/shopsense]; Book: [shopsense shopsense_url=”http://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FTao-Martha-LIVING-Getting-Glitter%2Fdp%2F0451417631%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1%3Fs%3Dbooks” original_url=”http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Martha-LIVING-Getting-Glitter/dp/0451417631/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377976877&sr=1-1&keywords=the+tao+of+martha” save_to_store=”true”]The Tao of Martha by Jen Lancaster[/shopsense]; Sunglasses: [shopsense shopsense_url=”http://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2Fs%2Fray-ban-semi-rimless-aviator-59mm-sunglasses%2F3434363%3Forigin%3Dkeywordsearch-personalizedsort” original_url=”http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ray-ban-semi-rimless-aviator-59mm-sunglasses/3434363?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=Gradient+Brown&resultback=1656&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-searchresults-_-1_4_B” save_to_store=”true”]Ray-Ban Aviators[/shopsense]; Gum: [shopsense shopsense_url=”http://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.target.com%2Fp%2Ftrident-spearmint-sugar-free-gum-3-packs-18-pc%2F-%2FA-14709082″ original_url=”http://www.target.com/p/trident-spearmint-sugar-free-gum-3-packs-18-pc/-/A-14709082#prodSlot=medium_1_8&term=trident+gum” save_to_store=”false”]Trident Spearmint Gum[/shopsense]; Laptop: Macbook Pro 13″; Laptop Case: [shopsense shopsense_url=”http://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.nordstrom.com%2FS%2Fspeck-see-through-satin-snap-on-macbook-pro-laptop-case-13-inch%2F3557035%3Forigin%3Dkeywordsearch-personalizedsort” original_url=”http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/speck-see-through-satin-snap-on-macbook-pro-laptop-case-13-inch/3557035?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=2375500&fashionColor=&resultback=975&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-searchresults-_-1_4_B” save_to_store=”true”]Speck ‘See Through Satin’ Pink Case[/shopsense]