Oh friends. What a fun weekend we had at the Becoming Conference. The leadership is awesome and the girls were the sweetest and California is as dreamy as you can imagine.

I’m on weekend three of a five weekend run of speaking and traveling. I leave tomorrow for Atlanta where I do a couple of events (including this conference that you are welcome to attend if you’re in the area) and then I head to Austin for IF:Gathering. I have THE BEST JOB at IF. I can’t wait to tell you about it.

There are a handful of things that go with me to all the places. I think that’s important when you travel – especially when I’m only sleeping in my own bed 1-2 nights a week right now. So taking home with me really matters.

Example? My pillow. It goes everywhere, even if it means I have to check a bigger suitcase, so be it. Where I go, she goes to hold my noggin.

Also? Nail polish. When I don’t have a color with me, bad habits return- like me biting them. Woof. Also? Headache meds. Man, I get migraines. Have we talked about that? It’s not fun- but luckily the amount of headaches continues to decrease now that my body hasn’t had dairy in A YEAR (we will talk about THAT in February) and I don’t eat much wheat. But none the less, I still get them. So I do not leave home without proper meds.

Speaking of no dairy, I bring Larabars on every trip. While most churches and venues work hard to provide dairy-free options at every meal, sometimes it is just easier to bring a snack along that I know tastes great, fills me up, and isn’t made by a cow.

Also in my carry-on? Usually a long sleeve sweater of some sort. I do not prefer to be cold and if I have an early or late flight, I like to get all snuggly and snoozle. Also in my carry-on? Laptop, iPad, magazines, Bible study book, earphones, and… ahem… a pair of underwear.

I also don’t leave home without my Jackery Bar – my mama got this for me. It’s a portable charger for my iPhone and iPad! Pretty much it has three full charges in it. So I keep it full and carry it in my purse most of the time to make sure I am never stuck in RandomTown, USA with a dead phone.

Here I am, obviously very casually talking on the phone and charging it at the same time in the Orange County airport while some old guy napped beside me.

And so those are my main must-haves. If I keep this collection of things with me, I feel like I’m at home even when I’m not…. almost.

But then when I get home? I unpack IMMEDIATELY thanks to Jeff Pardo‘s recommendation- as a member of Matthew West’s band, he is a professional traveler and told me that is the BEST way to feel at home quickly. (He’s right. It changes everything to get unpacked right away.)

And I light my favorite candle.

But seriously. I can’t quit this smell.

. . . . .

What are your travel must-haves? I bet there is something you take with you that I’m gonna realize I need to take with me everywhere. Tell me. Please? 🙂