7 Tricks to *Actually* Enjoy Air Travel + Introducing the Next PSL
Plus, a brief recap of 2 trips, a cornucopia of Thanksgiving inspiration, a recap of 36 of the best restaurants in Des Moines and more.
Happy Monday!
We’re officially less than 2 weeks away from the start of Daylight Savings Time and just 15 days from election day. Since I’ll be traveling very close to that very important Tuesday, I proudly cast my ballot on Friday. If you, too, would like to make your voice heard sooner rather than later, check out Vote.org to learn more about early voting opportunities near you. 💙 ❤️
Since we last caught up about cookbooks, 30A and the flavor of fall, I’ve had a colorful and action-packed few weeks. Liz Lidgett helped me add more color and personality to my walls just before I departed on a cross-country adventure that started in Scottsdale, Arizona (where I spent a quick 36 hours to experience the newly-renovated Scottsdale Resort & Spa). In between, I had a day at home to catch up on work, unpack and repack. The conclusion of the whirlwind week: 36 hours in New York City.
About 10 days prior to making my way to Manhattan, the folks at Butterball (yep, of Turkey Talk-Like fame!) asked if I wanted to invite a loved one to the City to make new memories together and take part in an experience that I’ll be able to share more about once the embargo lifts. It was a tremendous gift to be able to invite my oldest sister, Amy, along for the ride. Albeit brief, we made the most of our time together catching up and connecting on a deep level, sharing marvelous meals at Le Botaniste and Shukette, getting our tarot cards read and walking and talking for hours.
The experience was priceless. I can guarantee that even just 5 years ago, I would had turned down the New York City opportunity, thinking, “I need to be at my desk and get work done after being away!”
Turns out, all work and no play—even when you adore your work—results in a more boring and far less inspired life. It feels incredible to be in my “yes” era and to find a really joyful work-life balance. I’ve learned that being away from my desk a bit more makes me a better writer, researcher, sister, daughter, human and friend. Just thought I’d share this little light bulb moment in case it sparks something in you, too.
One key aspect that has allowed me to be able to still fit in enough of that important work part of the equation? Maximizing airport days. So after recapping my newest batch of published work, I’m revealing 10 strategies I’ve integrated and swear by after taking 100+ flights in 2 years.
What to Read..
Continuing on with the travel theme, I’m thrilled to share that you can now find my writing over on the Conde Nast Traveler site! We’re kicking off with a series related to traveling with certain health conditions; I learned a lot speaking to folks with UC and migraines, and hope readers do, too. More to come next What’s Good!
Read on for expert-recommended supermarket picks (including at Costco), a guide to 36 of the best restaurants in Des Moines in case you missed The Eater Guide to the Heartland feature that debuted on October 1, plus to discover what might just be the next pumpkin spice latte. I don’t even drink coffee, but a Brown Sugar Orange Latte does sound really tempting!
Conde Nast Traveler: The Essentials Frequent Travelers with Ulcerative Colitis Never Leave Home Without
Peloton: Cycling Nutrition: 7 Tips for Fueling up Before, During, and After a Ride
Peloton: 5 Tips to Physically and Mentally Train to Run Longer
Allrecipes: The 7 Best Things to Buy From Costco, According to Professional Chefs
Allrecipes: I Asked 5 Chefs to Pick the Best Bacon and This Is Their Top Pick
Allrecipes: I Asked 4 Chefs for the Best Roasting Potato, and This One Earned the Top Spot
Allrecipes: Potato Farmers Settle the Debate: Do You Really Have to Peel Potatoes?
Allrecipes: The Best Way to Store Flour, According to These 3 Major Flour Brands
Allrecipes: I Asked 5 Pro Bakers for the Best Chocolate Chips, and the Top Pick Totally Surprised Me
Better Homes and Gardens: The 4-Ingredient Amalfi Diet Cocktail Is the 2024 Drink of Fall—Get the Recipe
Better Homes and Gardens: What's the Difference Between Seltzer, Club Soda, and Sparkling Water?
Better Homes and Gardens: How to Store Bananas (Plus 3 Common Storage Mistakes to Avoid)
Better Homes and Gardens: How to Store Brussels Sprouts to Keep Them Crisp for 1 Week (or More)
Better Homes and Gardens: How to Wash Brussels Sprouts To *Actually* Get Them Clean, According to Experts
Better Homes and Gardens: How to Store Carrots So They're Fresh for Up to 1 Month (No More Limp Veggies!)
Better Homes and Gardens: What Is a Ham Hock? 3 Southern Chefs Explain, and Share Their Best Recipes
Better Homes and Gardens: Should You Wash Turkey Before Cooking It? Food Safety Experts Sound Off
Better Homes and Gardens: Should You Wash Oysters? It Depends—Seafood Chefs Reveal When You Must
Better Homes and Gardens: 5 Cucumber Salad Ideas from Our Test Kitchen That Go Beyond the TikTok Trend
Better Homes and Gardens: The Decor Trend to Try Based on Your Go-to Fall Drink, According to Design Experts
Better Homes and Gardens: Say Goodbye to the PSL and Hello to Your New Favorite Fall Coffee Drink
What to Try…
My Top 7 Tips for Air Travel to Stress Less, Get More Done, and Actually Enjoy the Experience
I wouldn’t say I’m the most frequent of flyers, but after taking 48 flights in 2023 and what will be 53 flights in 2024, I’ve become a lot more comfortable, efficient and cheerful as I navigate airports and allocate a fair amount of time on planes.
Travel has always been a passion, however, the “getting there” part hasn’t always sparked joy. But over the past 2 years as my business-related plane trips increased exponentially, I’ve found little upgrades that make long commute days productive and often quite lovely.
Whether you try one or all seven, I hope a nugget or two might come in handy during one of your future flights!
Splurge on high-quality luggage. From college and until 2 years ago, I used to purchase whatever luggage was on sale at Macy’s, T.J. Maxx or Amazon, only to find that bag would lose a wheel, end up with a broken zipper or otherwise fall apart in a shockingly short time. Once I upgraded to quality pieces from July and Beis, I realized not only was I sacrificing on the lifespan front, but I was also missing out on a suitcase that rolls better, packs more economically and comes clean far easier. (Use a hand vacuum to touch up the interior then give the exterior a scrub down with a Magic Eraser, and it’s almost good as new even after being tossed around by the gate staff!)
Sign up for TSA Precheck or Global Entry (if you don’t have these already). Many credit cards reimburse you for the fees so it’s essentially free! Opt for Precheck if you travel domestically or Global Entry if you ever go international. The latter grants you access to the shorter, less-hoops-to-jump-through TSA Precheck security line stateside and speeds you through customs when you’re entering back into the U.S. after visiting another country. Both have saved me countless minutes, and Global Entry has allowed me to catch a couple flights I would have otherwise missed due to tight layovers.
Wear comfortable walking shoes. Speaking of tight layovers, I’ve had a few recently, including two on purpose due to limited airline options and one accidental. One major reason I missed zero of those connections? Being geared up and ready to hustle. Instead of flip-flops that can fall off or uncomfortable dress shoes or heels that look great but feel less so, consider donning a stylish yet sprint-ready pair from a brand like Rothy’s, Kizik, Allbirds. During long layovers, these also come in clutch to keep my feet comfy during copious amounts of airport walking laps.
Consider noise-cancelling headphones. During those laps, I slip in my Apple Airpods Pro to either listen to Spotify, podcasts or make calls. I’ve been known to do everything from catch up with Mom to take part in meetings as I walk through the terminals. Then I keep these handy to wear after settling in on the flight to focus on work…and dampen the sound of nearby snorers or unhappy little ones.
Open browser tabs and make documents available offline. Unless I’m dining or on a deadline, I rarely sit at the airport. Instead, I walk to stretch my legs and get some steps in before working for the entirety of the flight (well, when we’re able to use large electronics and open our tray tables). Since I’m not being interrupted by emails or other distractions, I can usually get one to three stories done on each leg of a flight. To make this possible, I copy all of my research into my Google Docs for each project, open the files for the pieces I plan to tackle before I head to the airport and make all of my Google Suite content available offline. That way, I need not pay for the airline’s WiFi, which saves me money and keeps me more focused.
Pack snacks. Whether you bring them from home or buy them at an airport shop, it’s wise to have a couple snack options in your personal item luggage in case you end up circling your destination, diverted or simply feel low on gas yourself. Oberto Chicken Bites is my current Hudson News hyperfixation snack. (The teriyaki version is good, but the barbecue is even better, in my opinion!) Stay tuned, as one of my upcoming BHG stories highlights 7 more of my favorite travel snacks.
Keep your toiletries packed at all times. The moment I arrive home, I unpack and get a load of laundry going so I can feel grounded at home ASAP. I also unpack, take inventory of and repack my bath products immediately and store them in my luggage so that’s one less thing to pack before the next trip. True, this involves buying doubles of all of the essentials (toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash, skincare products, etc.) but it’s more than worth it not to have to remember everything that might come in handy if you’re on the road often. Knowing I have a fresh batch of daily contacts already situated alongside my glasses case, nail clippers and hair ties means that there’s one less thing to think about later.
Bonus: Seek out at least one moment of delight. This isn’t related to logistics and might not be for everyone, but I couldn’t resist sneaking it in! The airport can be a stressful place for a lot of folks. Still, I find it to be a quite magical place. Everyone is on an adventure (Where are you going? What will you learn?). Everyone has packed their own history and as hokey as it sounds, each can, and likely will, return home changed. If you look closely, there is an unexpected amount of little delights scattered throughout airports and airplanes. If you want to join me on this optimistic quest, I suggest keeping your eyes open for at least one delight—or perhaps helping make one possible for another journeyer. 🫶
Ooooo! I love #7!
Can endorse many of those Costco chef picks! The oat milk is 👌🏻