Chronically Ill and Flying... with Dogs, Part Four: Updated Lists!

I promised updated packing lists so here they are! Obviously these are personal to me so update them to fit your needs. I decided for this set I would group clothing items by style of attire... then I just have to choose how many days/outfits of each I will need for the trip. If using a printed list I would write out the number of each I need and check it off as it is put into my suitcase- not before. Otherwise I could have prepared it and STILL forgotten it at home. It has happened... brain fog is no joke man. :)

SUITCASE

CLOTHING

• PROFESSIONAL
• Slacks
• Nice Shirt
• Dress Socks
• DRESSY
• Dress
• Sweater
• Hosiery (If Appropriate)
• CASUAL
• Jeans
• T-Shirt or Casual Top
• Sweat Shirt (If Appropriate)
• Sweater
• ATHLETIC
• Running Pants
• T-Shirt
• Shorts Bra
• UNDERGARMENTS AND OTHER
• Bra
• Underwear
• Socks
• PJs

SHOES

• PROFESSIONAL
•  Flats
• DRESSY
• Heels or Wedges
• CASUAL
• Flats
• Sandals
• ATHLETIC
•  Athletic Shoes

ACCESSORIES

• PROFESSIONAL
• Jewelry and Accessories for Chosen Outfit
• DRESSY
• Clutch or Handbag
• Jewelry and Accessories for Chosen Outfit
• CASUAL
• Hat
• Jewelry and Accessories for Chosen Outfit If Necessary
• ATHLETIC
•  Phone Arm Band
• OTHER
• Swim Suit (If Appropriate)
• WINTER
• Warm Socks
• Coat
• Winter Hat
• Gloves
• Scarf

TOILETRIES

• HAIR
• Hair Ties and Headbands
• Brush and/or Comb
• Straightener/Curler/Etc, (If Currently Using)
• TEETH
• Floss
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• CLEANLINESS
• Soap
• Shampoo
  
• Conditioner
• Baking Soda
• AC Vinegar
• Coconut Oil
• Razor and Extra Blade
• Shaving Cream
• Deodorant
• Perfume/Scent (If Used... I Do Not)
• OTHER
• Vitamins and Supplements
• Essential Oils
• Contacts
• Makeup
• Bug and Sun Protection Items (If Necessary)
• Contact Solution
• Cotton Swabs
• Mini First Aid Kit
• Nail Kit

DOG ITEMS

• Food (If Less Than 3 Days, Otherwise Purchase at Destination)
• Bowls
• Toys
• Sweater (If Appropriate)
• Life Jackets (If Appropriate)
• Pup Pen/Crate
• Potty Pads (2/Day Minimum)

 PET CARRIER

• Leashes
• Water Bowl (Foldable/Attachable)
• Pet Waste Bags

 CARRY ON

IDENTIFICATION AND PERSONAL (FRONT POCKET/QUICK ACCESS)

• Wallet
• Cell Phone
• Keys
• Passport
• Medical ID 
• Boarding Pass/Tickets/Itinerary/Etc.

NOT IN AN ORGANIZER BAG

• Hand Fan
• Travel Pillow and Blanket
• Water Bottles (Empty for TSA)
• Extra Set of Clothing

WORK/SCHOOL BAG

• Laptop and Cord
• Kindle (If Necessary)
• Textbook (If Necessary... In Checked Baggage That Is Ideal Due to Weight)
• SCHOOL/WORK BAG
• Calculator or Other Necessities
• Paper
• Pen, Pencil, Highlighter, Etc.

ELECTRONICS/CORDS BAG

• Batteries
• Mouse
• Charging Cords
• Flash Drive
• Hard Drive

EYE CARE AND MAKEUP BAG

• Extra Contacts
• Contact Case
• Glasses
• Makeup
• Basics for Me: Lip Stick, Mascara, Compact, Eye Color, Eye Pencil

HYGIENE BAG

• Comb/Small Brush
• Wet Wipes
• Tissues
• Microfiber Cloth 
• Feminine Hygiene Products

MEDICAL BAG

• 2 days of Meds
• Emergency Meds for Pain/Nausea/Headache
• Cold and Stomach Meds
• Pulse Oximeter
• Blood Pressure Cuff
• Inhaler
• Peak Flow Meter
• TENS Unit and Pads
• Thermometer
• First Aid Items (As Necessary)
• Heart Rate Monitor
• Ceralyte
• Thermotabs
• Collapsible Cup
• Neck Cooler
• Anything Else Currently Necessary

PET CARE BAG

• 3 Potty Pads
• Toy/Ball
• Leash Coupler
• 1 Day of Food
• Dry Medications
• Syringes for Liquid Medications
• Brush
• Toothbrush
• Waste Bags
• Records (on Flash Drive) and Pet Passports

LIQUIDS AND GELS BAG (CAN BE DISBURSED IF NOT TRAVELING BY AIR)

• Anti-Nausea Meds (Small Bottle- Less than 3 oz)
• Allergy Meds (Small Bottle- Less than 3 oz)
• Contact Solution (Small Bottle)
• Lotion (Small Pot or Tin- Mine Holds 1 oz)
• Chapstick
• Hand Soap (If Necessary, Small Pot or Tin- Mine Holds 1 oz)
• Toothpaste (Small Pot, Tin or Tube- Mine Holds 1.5 oz)
• Deodorant (Small Pot or Tin- Mine Holds 1 oz)
• Eyedrops
• PanAway (If Necessary)
• Salad Dressing (If Bringing a Salad- Less than 3 oz)
• Almond Butter Packets (If Desired)

 FOOD

• Do not bring liquids, slurries, gelatins, etc.
• Whole fruit is allowed
• Food for travel is allowed but double check with TSA's latest list before travel

To get through TSA faster:

• Wear shoes that are easy to remove
• Have laptop and liquids bag stowed in a way that is easily/quickly removable
• Remove outer layers before arriving at the checkpoint
• Store nothing in your pockets until after you go through the checkpoint

Notes:

• You can call the airline and have them arrange a wheelchair/assistance for you to the gate and upon arrival if you need assistance.
• Make sure to confirm with the airline any additional arrangements you make on your ticket before traveling- from pets to food options to assistance... its better safe than sorry!
• Traveling with pets means that you will need to undergo additional screening at TSA so prepare by giving budgeting extra time.
• Avoid scented lotions and perfumes on the day of travel as they can affect those around you AND have been known to give a false positive on the initial check they do when you are traveling with a pet/in a wheelchair or assistance device/when you are selected randomly. It doesn't take long to confirm that you are a safe traveler but it is never fun waiting for additional time at security so better safe than sorry.

Chronically Ill and Flying... with Dogs, Part Three: Carry-On

When I pack my carry-on I have to make sure to be prepared for anything. Perhaps the pups and I will be stuck overnight (or all day... it's happened... the dogs ended up eating Qdoba because I wasn't prepared that day, it wasn't pretty) or maybe I'll end up highly symptomatic. I like to always be prepared for as much as possible.

I'll go bag by bag in this post to show you what goes into my carry on. I do not have the water bottles (empty until I am through TSA) for myself and the pups as I had already put them in the bag at the time of this photo... but they are the H2O4K9 bottle and my Camelbak Eddy.

Front right you see a couple dog toys and a small bag of dog food. I am trying to rearrange the dog's bag to fit the toys other than Izzy's ball as I think they will fit and make for less lose items in my bag so less chance of losing something when I open my bag. This is simply for if we end up over night or with a really long delay so that I can take them to a pet relief area and let them eat and relax a bit since flying can be stressful for all of us. The ball needs to come with me because if the airline were to lose my luggage and the ball was in there Isabel would freak out as that ball is basically her binky... she sleeps with it and pretty much has it with her 24/7.

Next back is my clear quart sized bag of liquids and gels. This has the following:

• Anti-nausea meds
• Allergy meds (for Roxy but I could take it in a pinch as it is Benadryl)
• Contact solution
• Lotion and coconut oil
• Chapstick
• Hand Soap (the stuff in the last airport didn't do well with skin... no bueno)
• Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Eyedrops
• Salad dressing for my salad :)
• Almond Butter packets

The pink polka dot bag is the pup's bag which has:

• Medications they may need and syringes to administer liquid meds
• Flash drive with medical records and pet custody agreement
• Pet passports for if we need to go to the vet while traveling (it has happened... Isabel got really really sick the last time we traveled to KY)
• Brush and Toothbrush
• Extra waste bags
• Leash coupler
• 3 potty pads
• 1 Dog toy

Isabel's orange ball doesn't fit in the bag so it goes in alone.

We'll skip over the rectangular bag for now as that is my Medical Kit and we'll get into that in detail later.

At the back of the left side you can see my Kindle, laptop, a notebook and a hand fan in case I get overheated (my temperature doesn't always regulate well and overheating can make me more symptomatic).

On to the right side of the photo!

First you will see my checkbook and passport. I forgot to place my wallet, keys and phone in the photo but all of these will go in the front pouch for quick retrieval. I always have to check in at the desk to pay for the pet fees and arrange/make sure they have a wheelchair for me if I am feeling poorly as I won't be able to stand for long periods which if a sure bet at larger airports. This is easily arranged when you book your ticket or you can just give the airline a call and let them know. You could also do so at the airport but you may have to wait longer.

Behind that is my hygiene bag:

This bag is fairly thin. It contains a toothbrush, tissues, microfiber cloth, wipes and feminine hygiene products (not pictured). Everything else that would be in this bag needs to be placed in the quart bag for TSA.

The bag behind the hygiene bag I have since combined into my medical bag so I will not be using it. It contained hydration items like Ceralyte, Thermotabs, and a collapsible cup to mix the Ceralyte in should I get symptomatic and need a quick boost. It isn't as good as an IV of course but it does help and is a great stopgap when traveling.

Next is 'Eye Care and Makeup'. Pretty simply it contains extra contact, my glasses, a contact case and my makeup. I keep my makeup pretty simple most of the time so this is most likely the only makeup I will bring with me (lip stick pencil, eye pencil, compact, eye color, and mascara) for the trip. This is the smallest bag of all the pouches I organize with.

I purchased the puppy paws bag for the dog items but potty pads don't fit well in it (sad day) so it is now my "School" pouch. Since I am in grad school I will pretty much always have homework to complete while I am on my trip. It's a given, so I prepare for that fact as best as I can. This pouch contains the calculator my professor specified we have for the course, highlighters, and pens. Since it was so empty I ended up adding my cooling off items to this bag as well to better utilize space: the fan you see in the top photo, a neck cooler bandana (dehydrated to get through TSA), and a headband. The neck cooler in the photo is not dehydrated... I needed to use it yesterday so it is still airing out. I have since purchased another one just in case. Many times you will see me working on homework on my laptop while waiting on a layover or upcoming flight time. When I was teaching I would use that time to work on future lesson plans or grading. I like to have as little wasted time in an airport as possible since using that dead time wisely will mean more fun time once I arrive. Always a plus, am I right? If I won't have access to homework or don't have any then I will bring some cross-stitch work or a book of puzzles with me to keep busy.

Finally we get to the "Cords and Electronics" pouch. It has extra re-chargeable batteries for all of my medical gadgets as well as a USB charger for them, a wireless mouse, portable hard drive, flash drive and cords for all of my devices. It does not have the cord for my laptop as that one is too large for the pouch so my laptop cord just goes in the bag alone.

I used my workout clothes to represent a pair of lightweight clothes since my luggage has been lost before (coming from Korea... 26 hours on several planes not including the travel time to the airport or the hours early they want you to arrive for international flight and I didn't have luggage on the other end. It was sooo not OK). I typically will lay out a pair of lose pants, top, and undergarments then tightly roll them and place them in the bottom of my bag. I will need to iron (if they are ironing necessary clothes... this time they are not) but at least I will have clean clothing if we get stuck somewhere without luggage.

I dress in layers when traveling so that I can adjust to whatever temperature it is and however my body is acting at any particular moment. Honestly I dress in layers most of the time in general for the same reason. When I am traveling you will find me most typically in lose pants and top with a thick sweater or sweatshirt depending on the trip. And flats or athletic shoes... I never wear heels in an airport as it is sure to be a mistake for me. I bring/wear compression stockings... especially if I have had a hard week or am feeling tired or symptomatic. These can be a lifesaver. I also have a neck pillow attached to the outside of my backpack and, if I can fit it in, a small blanket in case I get cold on the plane (temperature regulation issues remember... I pack for being cold and hot). I was able to fit everything, including a travel blanket, into my Isopack if you were wondering.

OK, that Medical bag... this one is a big one and an important one. In it I have:

• 2 days of medications and supplements
• Emergency medications for severe nausea, headaches/migraines as well as my heart
• Inhaler
• All the hydration items I mentioned before
• Blood pressure cuff/monitor
• Peak flow meter
• Thermometer
• Heart rate monitor with chest strap
• Pulse oximeter
• TENS unit (small, non-RX unit for pain management) and extra pads
• A few small first aid items like Bandaids and Alcohol pads
• Cold and stomach medications (I can't take most cold medications so finding something when traveling could prove difficult)
• A couple other random odds and ends that change out depending on what's been going on medically with me lately.
• PanAway oil with a roll-on top (click here for YL oils ordering)

EDIT: The PanAway was moved to the liquids and gels bag... brain fog moment there. Oops!

This bag is one that stays in my backpack full time but I have to remove the liquid medications when traveling so it gets a little reorganized. If I'm not flying then you will find the liquid medications in here that are currently in my liquids and gels quart sized bag just like you would normally find most of the other items in the quart bag in either the eye care or hygiene bags when I am not traveling.

It seems like a lot... and it is, but I prefer bringing more than necessary but being prepared rather than the alternative. Something as simple as overheating which would be a nuisance to most can ruin my vacation as it will cause me to become more symptomatic. This would leave me exhausted and sick by the time I arrive which could take days to recover from. Your carry-on should fit who you are and what your needs for the trip are in my opinion. This bag will hopefully never be fully utilized but it allows me to have the best possible trip so it fit my needs.

This will be the first trip I am bringing food other than snack sized bars and bags of nuts. According to the TSA regualations there shouldn't be an issue since my cool packs are not gel and I am bringing no liquid foods. I have planned to pack chopped chicken, chopped veggies (fresh and cooked), a salad (the dressing is in my liquids bag), fruit (the website specifies whole fruit so I'll be bringing grapes, a banana and possibly try my luck with a quartered apple) and some nuts and seeds. I have a Spork and Salt and Pepper Plus Spice Dispenser in the front pocket of my bag along with the nuts and seeds assortment. The last few times I have had to travel I ate what was available at the airport and my stomach was very unhappy with that choice. This was most likely due to the gluten and vegetable oil that is in just about everything that I was able to find in the wing of the airport my gate was in. So this time I'm going to bring my own food... I checked with the airline and they are ok with it so long as it follows TSA regulations. 

That's my, quite over packed, carry on. It is obviously less packed when I am not bringing the pups and you would likely not need all that I bring since most of it is to manage or get in front of symptoms. Most people also would be fine eating at the airport I imagine as well so that's quite a lot that would be able to disappear from your bag. It works for me right now though so I'll keep bringing it along... until it doesn't anymore, then I'll adjust what goes in my bag. What is in your carry on bag? What is the one thing you cannot forget?

Chronically Ill and Flying... with Dogs, Part Two: Packing Lists

I'm a huge list person... it's pretty much how I keep from forgetting half my life. Brain fog is a symptom of several of the issues that I have so being forgetful is pretty common, as is confusion from time to time.

Here is a post from my personal Facebook page that shows a bit of the confusion side:

"So I just wondered where the rain was coming from and how it was raining in just one small area of the parking lot... When I passed through about a second later I was like, sprinkler... It's a sprinkler Heather. Hello brain fog! Still not as bad as last week's trying to punch the office number into the floor buttons on the elevator. I was so confused when I got to the zero... At least those are funny incidents smile emoticon the worst is having to be so organized... all... the... time... so that I don't forget something. If I ever tell you I'll remember, call me a liar and wait 'till its in my calendar/lists. Till then its a nebulous maybe even with the best of intentions."

I organize my life currently with an App/Website called Cozi. I keep a To-Do list called "Vacation Packing List" and one called "Weekend Away Packing List" so that when it is time to pack I don't have to come up with a new list and forget something important. The only big difference between the two lists is how they are arranged as for a weekend away I need to pack dog food and pack everything for the pups separately as they will likely stay with my mom for the two days. When I travel on vacation, if it is more than a couple of days, I will need to buy food once I arrive and their items will be in my bags since they will be traveling with me. Clothing for all seasons are on the lists so I look through it before I start packing and check off things that I know I will not need. There is also a note for me to check my itinerary and the weather before finalizing my packing. You will also see items listed for my hair that I do not need any longer since my hair is quite short at the moment but I am leaving them there as it reminds me to check and see if there is anything in that drawer (my hair items drawer) that I should take for a specific outfit. I am sharing the lists below in case anyone else would like to utilize them... feel free to let me know if I've missed anything! When I am away if I find that I needed to pack something and forgot it I just pull up the app and add it right then and there so that I don't forget it the next time. This list is for when I am driving for the most part but for most people could be used for flying as well. I am working on a better organized version for flying to show how I separate between my carry-on and checked luggage. The difference you will see is mostly just in how it is organized but there are a few odds and ends I need only when I fly as well as a few duplicates that need to be in both my carry-on and checked bags just in case. Sooo... here's my current list!

VACATION PACKING LIST:

DOG ITEMS

Ball

Bowls

Leashes

Toys

Brush

Toothbrush

Sweater (If Winter)

Life Jackets (If Boating or Etc.)

Pup Pen

Paperwork/Records

TOILETRIES

Hair Ties and Headbands

Accessories and Jewelry as Needed

Brush

Shampoo and Conditioner

Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Soap

Deodorant

Lotion

Coconut Oil

Makeup

Essential Oils

Contacts and Glasses

Vitamins and Meds

Medical Bag/Kit

WORK/SCHOOL

Laptop (and Charging Cord)

Kindle

Book

Cords Bag

School Bag

Notebook

CLOTHES

Sweater

Jeans

PJs

Underwear

Bras

Socks

Tennis Shoes

Sweat Shirts

T­-Shirts

Workout Attire (Depending on Symptoms)

Nice Shirt

Slacks

Flats

Fuzzy Socks (Winter)

Coat (Winter)

Gloves (Winter)

Scarf (Winter)

Hat

Swim Suit (If Boating or Etc.)

*Check Weather and Itinerary Before Finalizing Bags

Chronically Ill and Flying... with Dogs, Part One: Packing the Pups

I am going to visit my family in Kentucky soon! I'll get to spend time with my cousins, aunts (except one, who lives in California), uncles, grandparents, sister, niece, parents... pretty much the entire family. It's pretty exciting. Buuuuuut, traveling can be difficult with a chronic illness as you know. So I'm going to show you how I pack to be prepared for anything that might come up during travel, and while I am away from home. For both myself and the wonder pups that will be showing up in the photos (they thought we were leaving because they know the drill for when it's time to get gone... which means that they didn't want to be left behind and were pretty much underfoot most of the night I was taking the photos for this and a few other of the posts in this series). I will have a post on how I pack the pups, how I pack my carry on, my go-to packing lists, and what I do the week of my trip to prepare my body for the stress of travel. I will end the series with a post on anything that comes up during the trip to KY.

Let's start with how I pack the dogs...

Aren't they adorable? How could I leave them behind!?! I couldn't is the answer. They are well seasoned travelers at this point and actually love traveling most of the time (grandmas and great-grandmas spoil them rotten so why wouldn't they love visiting?). Those who ask why not kennel them and travel lighter... have you seen kennel fees? With my girls being so small we can travel for cheaper usually and I never have issues with them at airports. People often don't even realize I have them until they look closely or one of them moves and it catches their eye. Also, I don't like leaving them with people I don't know or exposing them potentially to kennel cough or other nasty bugs unnecessarily. I do their grooming at home typically as well to save money, reduce the stress on them and keep them healthy.

When the girls and I travel we always attach a medical ID card to their carrier as well as my carry-on, just in case. I sometimes have their ID cards attached as well but typically I carry those in my wallet (I am STILL waiting on ones with updated addresses... come on HomeAgain, get your act together). I prefer to have their collars outside the bag so that I can prove their shots quickly if asked without having to take the girls out of the kennel in the middle of the airport (airport people don't like it when you do that). Plus they are a little heavier than I would like on my small pups since where I am currently living has A LOT of required tags. For this reason when I am home and they are just relaxing I often remove the collars. We are on the second floor right now so they won't get out and be lost and even if they did they are both micro-chipped with HomeAgain per our last duty station's regulations so it will be easy to identify that they are mine and contact me if something were to happen. I will go into what they need in my carry-on bag in bit. Just as an FYI, you will have to take them out when you go through TSA as well as have your hands wiped for explosive residue (or whatever that test is... that's what they said it was for last time) which takes a few more minutes so budget your time for that.

Now, before anyone complains that the kennel/bag is too small for my babies let me just say this: I wish I could take two kennels/bags so my babies could stretch out and enjoy the flight but the airline won't let me (and it is quite expensive as well). Now that I am single I am only allowed to pay for one carry-on pet kennel allowance since I only have one seat to place it under. They sleep the entire time once we are settled on the plane, I do not make them stay in it one second longer than absolutely mandated (so we get on the leads as soon as we leave the airport doors), and it is a lot roomier than it looks due to the sides expanding and they travel in it with the part you are looking at facing the ceiling so they get the entire 'height' as the length instead... plus my babies are both pretty small and they can (and do) turn around in the carrier. They just can't do a whole lot of moving about during the trip, which I hate but I can't move a lot in the airplane seat either and its better that they spend a few hours sleeping in close quarters than days in a kennel upset and not eating. Isabel doesn't eat we when I'm not around I found out when I went for a visit with a friend and left her with my mom, who she loves and knows well. All that being said- if you can take one kennel per dog that is, without a doubt, ideal and the best practice to stick with. A lot of airlines have made this the rule anyways so please check and ensure that if you are traveling within the guidelines for your airline. Further, if you have a layover and there is a pet relief area please, please let them out to stretch if at all possible. Just like we like to stretch after sitting for so long they need to as well. They also need to be able to relieve themselves and be comforted by seeing you again after being locked away beneath the seat for the duration of the flight. Traveling with a pet is not easy and making sure to bring them the best comfort you can is very important to their well-being. My Roxy LOVES her bag and tried to jump in it as soon as she saw it when I took the picture above actually (I had to hold her so that I could get a good picture and not hyper puppy blur) and will often go lie down inside it if I forget to put it back in the SUV after cleaning it just like with her pup-tent (collapsible pen). She has traveled with her sister inside it before without issue BUT not all dogs/pets will be able to do so. Now that that has been said... back to packing...

First off, their leads/leashes... super important. I never pack them in the check-luggage as it has gotten lost before and then you end up needing to go purchase new ones until the ones you packed are delivered back to you (hopefully). You will also need the leads in any pet relief area and once you arrive at the airport when you let them out of the carrier so bringing a set is imperative. Wasted money I could be spending on having fun on my vacation in my opinion. In the side pockets of their I-Go-2 Plus I have each of the leads... one side has the lead with the attached canvas bowl and plastic waste bags and the other side has the lead with the harness for my super excited pup. These stay on the leads full time for the walks we have been trying to get in lately so that I don't have to worry about getting it on and off every time we leave the house.

I always make sure they have water available. Roxy is an excited pant-er so she needs water often when we travel (or when I get home, or when we go to Grandmas, or when we go to the dog park... you get the idea). Isabel takes a little more work to get to drink when we are out of the house but it is important that all three of us stay hydrated. I like the H2O4K9 bottle I have now the best out of all the bottles we have used over the years as it is stainless steel and has a drinking cup for them built right in that allows me to return any water that was not drunk to the bottle. Neither my own nor the dogs' water bottles are full when we go through TSA of course so one of the first stops on the other side is to get water for all of us.  
Hi Roxy! She was insistent on being right there every second in case we were leaving so that she could come... she knows the packing drill. :)

In my carry-on they have their H2O4K9 and a small bag that has their medications (other than the Benadryl Roxy needs in Kentucky for allergies... which is in my 'liquids and gels' bag for TSA purposes) along with anything needed to administer them, several potty pads and extra waste bags, a lead coupler, their brush and toothbrush, thier medical records on a zip drive along with an abbreviates version in thier 'passports', a couple of toys including Isabel's orange ball (that we must not EVER lose for fear of the freak out session that would surely ensue... think baby's lost teddy bear at bedtime but 24/7), food for one day and a couple of treats just in case. In the photo I do not have the toys because the dogs are playing with them or treats because I forgot to grab them from the packing prep area I had assembled.

In my main suitcase we have their collapsible pen, a single and double Popware feeder (single for water and double for feeding... traveling with one dog would just need a double), some more potty pads and food for the trip. Since we are only going for a few days I am going to be trying to pack their Gamma2 TravelTainer so that I don't have to go buy food once I arrive as it will store enough food for them for 3-4 days. You could also use some gallon sized ziplock bags but I don't have any right now and I do have the TravelTainer. If I am able to fit it in my suitcase then I will leave behind the double Popware feeder as the TravelTainer has built in bowls I can feed the girls with (if you have one pet you don't need a water bowl either!). If you want reviews on any of the items I use with my pups let me know and I will write one... most of these items I have been using for YEARS and I love them all. I pulled the links from the purchases sections on my Amazon account (ran a search for 'pet' to see everything I had purchased for them over the years) so these are the exact models I have right now. As always, check around for better prices or alternatives if something doesn't quite fit what you are needing.

No... I did not purchase all of this at once. This has been over years of traveling frequently with my girls. They have a diaper bag I picked up at a yard sale for $5 that stayed packed in case we decided at a moment's notice to go out of town for the weekend... just grab the bag, fill the water bottle and fold down the pup-tent and away we went (my ex-husband and I already kept hygiene bags packed so it was just a matter of grabbing clothing and medication and we could be on our way). We used to road trip to my aunt's house about once a month when I was married and living in California and have gone cross country as well as on trips to visit family out of state with the girls. I've accumulated their travel kit over the nearly 5 years they have been alive. If it is your first trip with your pet you can easily purchase a small bag of pet food at your destination (I do if the trip is longer than 3 days for sure... I might this trip if I am not able to fit the TravelTainer in my suitcase!), use other bowls you borrow or purchase at your destination inexpensively and get a $1 canvas water bowl to give them water from your own water bottle during travel. The canvas water bowl I have attached to the girl's leads currently for walks I actually purchased at the Dollar Tree several years ago. The reason they have their own water bottle is because I will go through several bottles of water during the course of a 4-6 hour trip. At work, not in a dry environment, I drink about 1.5 L before lunch alone. It makes it easier for me to pack for them the way that I do so that I don't stress once I arrive or on the trip to get there any more than necessary. Being less stressed makes my illness easier to manage so I enjoy my trip more which is pretty much the point of a vacation. Oh and yes... I like pink. :) My favorite colors are actually pink and green, though not together.

Packing for a Workday

Since I work so far from home I take a lot of things with me on a daily basis that many people wouldn't necessarily take with them. I need my meals with me for the day as well as clothes to go for my lunchtime walk, medical items and schoolbooks to study on work breaks or while waiting for people to arrive at an after work activity I participate in. I think the best when I am not overly fatigued so I am not always at my best come evening for studying and therefore like to fit in a little whenever I can. If you meal prep for strength gains and go to the gym before or after work you might end up packing similar to this. You might also pack like this if you have a lot of food allergies or are trying to save money by meal prepping and live a very active lifestyle where you are out of the house for the majority of the day and evening. When I pack for a workday I usually end up packing at least half of my daily meals (depending on the day possibly all of my meals) in a lunchbox, at least one schoolbook, notebook, pens and a highlighter, workout clothes, jogging shoes, medical supplies, toiletries and chargers for my electronics. I don't take my laptop as it won't fit in my bag. I normally pack my bag the evening before so that everything is ready and I just have to grab my lunchbox out of the fridge, toss in the icepacks and head out. Depending on the meal plan for the week I may scramble some eggs fresh while I am getting ready for work.

You can see that my scrambled eggs container is empty in the photo above. I also have a container of nuts that isn't always in my bag, depending on the week's plan and the day, pictured here. 

So... starting in the kitchen:

I have my lunch/meal-box here. For this day I have a container of soup, a chicken thigh with zucchini, an egg muffin and sausage piece, a large salad, fresh veggies, an apple, nuts, seeds, a protein bar, and salad dressing. The nuts, seeds and protein bar will stay at work for the duration of the week for those times that I stay late at work (or run off without my eggs... it has happened people... my brain these days!). Most of the time I don't get through even half of what is pictured on the nuts and seeds front but I prefer to be prepared. That brings this day's meal plan to:
Breakfast: eggs and sausage piece
Snack: egg muffin and an apple
Lunch: soup and fresh veggies with homemade salad dressing
Dinner: chicken thigh with salad and zucchini
For the Office (for the week): mixed nuts, seeds, and a protein bar (organic, no extra junk added)

 
I have three small bags that fit inside the front compartments of my backpack.

• The smallest contains my makeup for work.
• The medium has the charging cables that I use when I am out and about as well as a spare set of re-chargeable batteries and mini usb charger for them.
• The largest has my heart rate monitor and a few smaller medical supplies that I use daily. 
• I can't fit very many toiletries in my bag so I have the ones that I use daily stored in my desk at work (small brush, deodorant, toothbrush for after lunch, some coconut oil, band-aids, little odds and ends) in another slightly larger but still small bag.

Everything fits inside one bag this way (barely) and I don't have to worry about lugging around multiple bags... which I can't really do all that well. On the side pockets I put my water bottle and my green smoothie. If I decide to bring tea then I can carry that pretty easily- I don't put bottles, even hard bottles like the ones I use, inside after an issue I had with an exploding smoothie...
When it comes to after work activities I don't pack them into this bag as they don't fit and there really is no reason to do so. I pack for the week's activities on the weekend like so:

• Choir and church binders are organized in a box in the trunk of my car along with a Bible, an umbrella, and an ice scraper (obviously it doesn't get much use here in Texas). E-copies of my music are on my Dropbox so that I can practice them and not grab my binder all the time.
• Folkdance has it's own bag that has my shoes, apron, skirt and a t-shirt as well as a few things like band-aids for blisters and an extra pair of socks just in case. I don't need to put a water bottle in here because I have one in my backpack above that I just refill.
• That's it... A lot of people think I am super busy but in reality I just have those three things... and live far away from work. Most of my evenings and weekends are actually spend at home doing schoolwork.

This bag was a gift and is wonderful for what it is- a laptop backpack- but it doesn't really do everything that I need it to do so I have been looking at getting a meal management backpack such as the Isopack or Expedition 500. I will likely still use this bag if I don't need to pack meals as I think it is really well made and has a ton of storage areas. One of the things that I need it to do is hold the rest of my medical odds and ends so that I can stop carrying a purse on workdays... I can't really leave them in the car as the heat can cause issues with them and replacing them can get quite expensive. There has been a lot of review watching and reading, comparison shopping, and debate on which bag I will get but I think I am just about ready to make a purchase. Since it is a larger purchase I will be cutting back in some other areas for a while on my budget to pay for it but I think it will be worth it in the end. Once I make my final decision and use the bag for a while I will do a review of the new backpack. Feel free to put any comments in the bottom if you already own a meal management backpack that you own and love/hate... I'm always open to more information when making a larger purchase like this! The two that I am currently spending most of my focus on are below: