10 Toiletry Item Swaps - Eliminating Liquids in Your Carry On

I talked about how to slim down on your packing, and touched briefly on the space liquids take up. Eliminating liquids so you have more room in your carry on is easier than you think. I personally can't get as crazy as NO liquids, because things like shampoo bars don't work for me... but here are 10 of my favorite alternatives or combination products!

Michael Kors fragrance / Yes to Grapefruit exfoliating face wash / Deodorant / Deborah Lippmann nail care, $17 / Dr Brandt tinted moisturizer / Benefit makeup, $42 / NYX translucent face powder / Small item storage / Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Baby-Mild Pure Castile Soap - 32 oz.

Lip/Cheek Stain - Combination
This is such a great option for travel, because lip & cheek stain lasts for HOURS and a tiny bottle goes a long way. You can add a light layer on lips for day and darken it for night.

Rollerball Perfume - Alternative/Space Saving
I'm a big perfume fan. My favorites are all of the Michael Kors scents - the tuberose is beautiful! Something I never sacrifice in travel is my signature scents, but I wouldn't dream of packing the ornate, glass bottles (even though they are all under 3.4oz!). I received a rollerball perfume as a gift several years ago and have kept one in my purse ever since. Most designer perfumes are available in rollerball at Sephora for less than $30 and they last forever. If you're looking for a budget alternative, Target has a few under $15 (more in stores than available online).

Dr Bronner's Liquid Castille Soap - Combination
Although I buy this in a 1L bottle, I can decant it into a 1oz bottle and it would still last me a month. Castille soap is basically broken down vegetables and it can be used for almost anything. I normally use it as a body wash, for shaving my legs, bubble baths, laundry & back up shampoo, but it can also be used as a stain remover, hand soap, home cleaner, mouthwash and even TOOTHPASTE. I'm not going to lie to you and say it tastes good, but it will clean your teeth and is safe to swallow. I love the peppermint because of the cooling effect is has. It can also be used to relieve sore muscles & achy feet. Because it's highly concentrated, you only need a few drops. Its broad spectrum of uses make it one of my favorite products, especially because you need so little. Here's how I make my own laundry detergent using Dr Bronners!

BB Creme - Combination
I've worn tinted moisturizer since I began wearing make up (liquid foundation is no good for girls with freckles!), so BB Creme is a no-brainer for me. I really love dr.Brandt's because of how well it color adjusts to my skin! It's also very smooth & moisturizing and has SPF 30, so I'm good I'll be concealed, moisturized, and protected from UV rays! Almay also makes a budget friendly version.

Face Cleansing Cloths - Alternative
These are sold by just about every company who makes face wash, so chances are you can find a brand you like. If you can only find a large pack and are going on a shorter trip, take the number you'll need (and add a few for freshening up on the go) and place in a Ziplock bag. If you're unable to find your brand & are weary of chemicals used in face washes, try Norwex cloths. They are naturally antibacterial and require no soap or facewash - just add water to cleanse your skin. They can be used up to 4-5 days and can be laundered normally.

Translucent Powder - Alternative/Combination
Not only is it great for setting your make up, you can use it to absorb excess moisture (hello, walking in flats all day) & as an alternative to dry shampoo. Travel size bottles (1oz) of drug store brands cost the same as full size bottles (5-7oz!). Not only are they a rip off, but they take up loads of space for minimal use. Using translucent powder (try a cheap brand like NYC or Elf, don't waste HD Make Up Forever getting rid of a little oil) eliminates this from your bag.

Lush Deodorant
I always thought people who used natural deodorant were crazy.... until I tried it! Lush makes several deodorant bars; gel type bars, baking soda based bars, and powders! The gel/baking soda can be cut down and stored in a snack size Ziplock bag. The powders can be decanted into smaller 1oz containers or into snack size baggie for flat packing. Not only are you saving packing space and cash, but you're eliminating aluminum from your body :) Check them out here

Contact Lens Case
This might seem silly.... but there are some products you only need a LITTLe of (like cold cream to remove make up or hair serum), and a contact lens container is a great way to carry these! I had a friend carrying a bottle of hair serum in her bag (2oz is $15), and it exploded EVERYWHERE. Not only were her clothes covered in oil, it was $15 down the drain when she only needed a few drops for the weekend. Small 1-1.5oz cosmetic jars like these or these are a great alternative, too!

Nail Polish Remover Pads
These are a life saver in so many ways. I've always lived on the go, even when I'm at home! I keep these in my car to remove a chipped mani, and I do the same in my travel bag. Even if I'm not repainting my nails, they typically are chipping within 3 days, so it's time to remove & reapply. Carrying a 3oz bottle of nail polish remover isn't really worth the space, but it's not worth putting in a smaller bottle. These polish remover pads are pre soaked with remover & are the best for removing nail polish! I always have a few in my toiletries bag, and they always come in handy for me (& my girlfriends!)

Those are my favorite swaps! Some of these swaps are better than the real thing when you're traveling (nail polish remover & rollerball perfume, i'm looking at you!) - so give them a try! What swaps will you make to eliminate liquids in your carry on?

xo

Green on Green on Green

Sometimes.... your fridge is hodge-podge.

Sometimes.... you have three different vegetables all going bad at the same time.

Sometimes... you have small amounts of leftovers that barely make a snack.

This meal was created because of all of these reasons. But I've made it on purpose several other times now, because it was a random success. It's also a winner in my book because it takes about 15 minutes from start to finish. Which means I can cook this and eat it faster than a pizza would be delivered to my house.

I call it Green on Green on Green because it's just that - Brussels sprouts with broccoli, on top of a bed of mixed greens (I like turnip greens and arugula!).

see what I mean?

Green on Green on Green

Ingredients

4 servings

1 lb Brussels Sprouts, halved

1 head of broccoli, cut into florets

2 TBSP grape seed oil (or other high heat oil)

1 clove of garlic, minced

1/4 tsp sea salt (to taste)

1/4 tsp pepper (to taste)

8 cups your choice of greens (2 per person)

Optional: 1 cup cooked lentils, rice, black beans, chick peas.... whatever you might have around. It just adds nice texture to have a third non-green element.

Directions

1. Cut brussels and broccoli, then place in bowl with 1TBSP oil and salt + pepper. Toss.

2. Place large skillet (that has a lid!) over medium high heat and add additional 1TBSP of oil with your minced garlic. Cook until fragrant, then add brussels/broccoli mix, leave uncovered for now, stir occasionally.

3. While those are cooking, fill each bowl with the greens and add your extra beans/rice/additional filler if desired.

4. After about 5 minutes, place the lid on your skillet. This will make the broccoli get reeeeeeally green and tasty. Allow to cook for another 3-5 minutes, brussels should start to get nice char marks.

5. Remove from heat and add a scoop to each bed of greens. No need for dressing, as the B+B mix takes care of that.

See the tiny bit of rice in there? Probably not even 1/4 cup.

The crazy thing about this meal is how filling it is. I usually find myself a little hungry after a salad, but this was so satisfying in a great way! Plus, greens are SO GOOD for you :)

Also, this is excellent as a leftover. Just stow the B+B mix on it's own and add to greens after you reheat them for lunch the next day. BOOM.

Enjoy ;)

xo

CSA Veggies: Sweet Potato Bruschetta

Even though I haven't picked up a CSA in over two weeks (it's over until springs... wahhhhh!) I still have a few sweet potatoes to spare :) However, I was stuck in a bit of a rut, making the same few things with them. Until tonight.

A not to secret is that i LOVE bread. Anything that involves bread, count me in. I'm the person who goes to Panera and PRAYS that they give me the baguette instead of the apple. It's a serious problem. I never buy it because i'll eat the entire loaf, but I love something that makes me think i'm eating bread. Cue bruschetta.

Who doesn't love bruschetta? It's SO GOOD! But instead of bread, i used sliced up sweet potatoes. I barely missed my beloved bread. Not to mention this is vegan, gluten free, paleo, and anything else you can be these days ;) It's also super filling! Great for an appetizer or in addition to a main course.

Sweet Potato Bruschetta

2 - Regular sweet potatoes, peeled
a little grape seed oil for the pan

1 - tbsp olive oil
2 - tomatoes, chopped
2 - green onions, chopped
handful of italian flat leaf parsley
1 - tsp salt
1 - tsp pepper
1 - tsp garlic
1/4 - tsp chili powder
couple dashes of cinnamon

1. Peel your sweet potatoes and then cut them in half, Slice each of the halves into 1/4inch slices.

2. Put a large pan on medium heat and add grape seed oil. Lay the slices of sweet potato in the pan and cover. Flip every 3-4 minutes until cooked through.

3. Chop onion, parsley, and tomato (to pico de gallo consistency), add spices and olive oil, stir and set aside. (Note: Try this, you may want to add a little more chili powder or cinnamon, just to go with the sweet potatoes. Or wait until you try just one slice and then add seasoning accordingly)

4. Once sweet potatoes are browned and cooked through, take off heat and top with tomato mix. Serve immediately, enjoy!

DIY Natural Laundry Detergent

So i'll admit it. I'm kind of becoming a hippie.

Maybe not an actual one, but I'm far too aware of all the chemicals in things we use on a daily basis, which has triggered a change. I've been seeking natural alternatives to household products and personal care products.

I started with the detergent because i've heard of friends doing this before, and having wonderful results!

It takes about 5 minutes, and what you make last over 6 months. Not to mention it cost me about $8 for all the ingredients.

Some people use Fels-Naptha soap, but I love Dr. Bronner's everything. Plus it smells amazing! They have lavender, almond, and a bunch of other scents, but we like the peppermint. I also use a cheese grater to shred up the soap. I've read about using a food processor, but mine is a little hard to clean, so I don't want soap bits leftover :)

That's literally it. I put mine in an old Oxy Clean tub and shake it for about 10 seconds to make sure everything is mixed, but you could easily use regular tupperware or any other type of bin. I found that i need about 1/8 cup for a normal wash, 1/4 cup if it's really large or really dirty. You could mark an old laundry scoop or use a leftover measuring cup you don't use anymore. 

You could make as large or as small portions of this as you wanted, just stick to the 2 parts Borax, 2 Parts Washing Soda, 1 part grated soap. The baking soda isn't even completely necessary, but it's naturally anti bacterial and doesn't hurt :)

Have you ever made your own cleaning supplies before?