I don’t know about you, but I like seeing the random things people pack for their vacations. Since I’m sharing PART ONE FROM OUR TRIP TO JAPAN today, I thought I’d share a few random items with you that we took with us.
It’s an eclectic mix…
…starting with a lot of protein bars.
I’ve started traveling with protein bars because they make an easy breakfast and/or a quick snack. I used to take protein powder with me but bars are just easier and less messy in the suitcase.
I almost always travel with…
I love this one in particular because it’s incredibly light, very slim, fits easily into my crossbody, and can charge a variety of devices. Love.
Speaking of love…
…I bought both Kensington and Ashby a KUSSHI HAIR TOOLS BAG for Christmas this year.
They both have athletics first period, so they take all of their hair products to school to get dressed each day. They take this bag daily to school and when they travel, and it easily holds every tool and product they need.
Of course, of course, of course, I brought my favorite travel companions with me…
…MY LAY FLAT DRAWSTRING MAKEUP BAG…
I’ve used this a gazillion times and never once has anything gotten broken in travel.
My favorite TOILETRY BAG…
Yes, I carry a pair of scissors with me. Ha! I added these about a year ago, and it SHOCKS me how often we pull them out while we’re traveling. I clearly don’t carry them if I’m carrying on, but if my luggage is checked, my scissors go inside my TOILETRY BAG.
THIS TRAVEL JEWELRY CASE is a must for me!
It comes with these tiny pouches inside so that your jewelry stays organized, untangled and undamaged.
It’s compact…
…and thin too!
My travel hand mirror is an oldie but goodie. If you don’t travel with one, they are excellent when bathroom lighting isn’t great…BUT I find that they come in handy the most when there aren’t enough outlets in the bathroom and I have to plug my curling iron in on a desk or on the floor. I found THIS OPTION since mine is old.
I never travel now without my HEAT RESISTANT SILICONE CURLING IRON MAT!
You can unplug that curling iron and stick it in the pouch hot right inside your suitcase. Love.
Okay, don’t forget, I’m sharing PART ONE FROM OUR TRIP TO JAPAN today too!
See you tomorrow 🙂 .
Elspeth Mizner says
I always love to see what people pack as well! Great idea with the hair products bag!
http://www.elspethsdayvyday.com
Emily says
I put the toiletry bag on my Christmas list one year based on your recs and it has been a lifesaver when I travel! Holds so much! I keep it stocked with all the essentials so I can just grab and go when it’s time to pack.
Carol says
Great post! You may think it’s boring, but I’m kind of interested in your travel day for such a long trip! Israel, followed by Italy, are the longest trips I’ve made.
Mix and Match Mama says
I don’t think it’s boring at all! I should have taken photos, but I clearly blanked and did not. We left our house around 8:00 and got to the airport around 8:45. We handed our luggage over, went through security (zero wait!), and then got Starbucks. We arrived early in case the security line was bananas, but it wasn’t (woohoo!). I think we boarded around 10:40, but we had to sit on the runway almost two hours because we had to get a new pilot. For some reason one of the pilots we had (we had four total) didn’t have the right approval for our aircraft, so they had to swap him. We took off and they fed us right away. As soon as I ate, I watched a little TV and went to sleep (I read during the two hour wait on the tarmac). I woke up about an hour before we landed. We arrived in Tokyo and went through immigration quickly, got our luggage and met our driver. It was about an hour drive to the hotel, and I slept the whole way. It was really pretty easy!
Tiffany Vorse says
How in the world did you sleep?? That is my biggest issue with long, intercontinental flights (Europe, Hawaii). Any and all recommendations please!!🙏🏼
Mix and Match Mama says
I always sleep on long flights. I have a post about it! https://mixandmatchmama.com/2017/02/inflight-routine/
Paula Hobbs says
That hair bag is an awesome girl gift idea! I’m adding to cart now!
Katie Compton says
Just added some this to my Amazon list! I’m curious about that Barebell flavor… I haven’t seen that one! Can you describe it? They are my favorite protein bar. 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
Okay, don’t tell Andrew and Smith that I said this, but I think it has a very subtle coconut flavor. They love these bars, but they’re not big fans of coconut. It doesn’t say coconut anywhere on the label, but that’s what it tastes like to me.
Katie Compton says
SOLD!! Thanks!
Lisa says
I also have a small pair of scissors in my travel bag.
Mix and Match Mama says
Now that I have them, I can’t not travel with them.
Karen says
Great list!! Just please remember not to bring nuts/nut butters on a plane. (Those protein bars look nut-free tho!)
Lea Ansamaa says
Wow, such a good post! We are going travelling with our van to Europe for a month so I ordered many products you recommended. Especially that silicon mat! So far I have had to put my curler outside to our cars stair and I am always worried if I will forget it and loose it.
Mix and Match Mama says
That mat is such a game changer!
Bren says
Welcome back, Shay! I cannot travel without my travel scissors. It is crazy how much we use them and I wonder how I took care of things before bringing them along! Can I tell you what exactly I use them for? Nope! But I know I keep them out handy and use them often. 😊
Also…I saw that jewelry organizer via both you and Sheaffer, ordered it and I love it so much! I’m all about organization and that makes my organizing heart so happy! Next up – that hair tools bag. I think that’s a great Easter idea for my grown daughters! Thanks so much, Shay!
April says
You actually can bring scissors on board if they no more than 4 inches long from the pivot point, which is most household scissors. I know as a friend and I brought a sewing project on a plane once and carried on full sized sewing scissors and had them out the whole flight. The looks we got from other passengers lol but we got our project done. And now I always bring my small manicure scissors.
Betsy says
I keep a pair of scissors in my toiletry bag and in the center console of my car.
Nikki says
Could you (or have you?) done a post with what’s in your carry on bags when you’re only carrying on and not checking a bag? I don’t travel much and am planning a trip to FL soon and need to plan ahead.
Mix and Match Mama says
I shared a post in October! You can read it here: https://mixandmatchmama.com/2025/11/inside-my-carry-on-boca-raton/