Super Bowl Sunday

The Super Bowl is right around the corner and you know what that means? Our husbands/significant others are about to invite people over to our houses, which requires us to put on our hostess hat and get to work. In case you don't have time to plan, we've put together some recipes that are both husband and wife approved......ok, well maybe the Sangria is for us. We deserve something to sip on while we are cooking, right?!

Super Bowl Sliders
1lb of ground beef
1 egg
1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup of Italian bread crumbs
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon parsley flakes
Splash of water
* Optional - 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce - it adds a great flavor!
24 Hawaiian Dinner Rolls

Mix ingredients all together and make small slider patties. Cook patties in skillet or on griddle for 5-7 minutes depending on size. You can cook them on a grill as well, but I think they are juicer on a skillet!
Put patties on Hawaiian rolls and top with any of your favorite burger toppings - cheese, pickles, onion, lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup, mayo, mustard, etc!

Super Bowl Sangria

1 bottle red wine (such as cabernet sauvignon), chilled

1 cup pineapple chunks (frozen works great!)

1 orange, sliced

1 green apple, sliced

3 tablespoons Agave

1 cup orange juice

2 oz triple sec

2 oz peach schnapps

4 oz vodka

Mix all ingredients in a pitcher, chill in the fridge for an hour, and serve with a splash of club soda for a bit of fizz!

Super Bowl Spinach Artichoke Guacamole

2-3 avocados

1 lime, juiced

1 clove garlic, roughly chopped

¼ teaspoon sea salt

Pinch of red pepper flakes, more if desired

Black pepper to taste

1 ½ cups packed baby spinach (about 1 ½ ounces)

½ cup marinated artichokes, well-drained

¼ cup red onion, finely chopped

Combine all ingredients except onion into a food processor, pulse ingredients until desired texture. Stir in onion. To keep it healthy, serve with bell pepper strips or veggie tortilla chips! 

Lentil Pasta

The way Oprah feels about bread is how I feel about pasta. I love it!

There aren’t many things as comforting as a big bowl of spaghetti to me. But I also aim to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet including lots of vegetables. That’s why I love Lensi red lentil pasta. It tastes just like pasta (picky husband approved!!) but it’s made from one ingredient - red lentils!

Lentils are really having a moment right now and rightfully so! This legume is packed with protein, which is great news for any vegetarians out there. In one 3.5 oz serving it has 20% of your daily fiber needs, which will keep you fuller longer than your traditional pasta, promotes heart health, and helps maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Top it with your favorite sauce, meat, and more vegetables for a really easy weeknight meal!

This pasta was topped with pesto, sautéed carrots, green beans, and onion. Veggies on veggies on veggies! Healthy weeknight cooking win.

Bon Appétit! -Margaret

Favorite Find - My Mini Steamer

You know those days when you’re getting ready and you go in your closet and put on your shirt and it looks like it has been rolled up in a ball for years? Yea that happens to me every. single. day. And usually when I discover the wrinkled mess I’m typically running late and throw out a few cuss words because I AINT GOT NO TIME FOR THIS. I'll be honest, I absolutely hate ironing and have maybe only used mine four times in ten years (don’t judge).

Enter my life saver : My Mini Steamer

I have been using a travel steamer since my days as Miss Alabama and I’ve managed to go through a few duds. The first few that I had always seemed to wear out or stop steaming. Sometimes they would even shoot water all over my clothes. I realized that the common theme among all of the crappy steamers was that they weren’t basic enough. All I need is some steam! I don’t need a button or mechanism to control the steam or a pump to push out steam – Just give me steam so I can go on with my day please!! Luckily I was on one of my weekly target binges when I found "My Little Steamer Go Mini." This thing is AMAZING and it is only $19.99. It has an on/off button and once the water starts boiling in about 60 seconds then it will produce steam and rise through the openings until the water runs out. Finally! A basic steamer that doesn't have an inner pump that breaks or wears out! You would think this is rocket science or something! My college roommate had a similar steamer when we lived together and she has been using her for 6 years with no issues! So I'm pretty sure this one is a winner. Plus it comes in different colors! I've also turned several co-workers on to this steamer because it is great for work clothes when you're traveling! Try it out and let us know your thoughts.

My Little Steamer Go Mini

- Mary Margaret

Santa Fe Soup

The weeknight dinner struggle. It is real. Especially when I finally get home on a cold winter day and all I want to do is snuggle up on the couch under my heated blanket! Cue the soup. This delicious, hearty, and nutritious Santa Fe soup is ready in under 30 minutes and heats up great as leftovers. It is packed with fiber and protein that will keep you full, low in fat, and is less than 500 calories per serving! Make a batch today and enjoy having dinner ready for the next few nights in no time.

Santa Fe Soup

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium white onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cans cannellini beans
• 1 can mild diced tomatoes with green chilies 
• 1 can hot diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 can black beans
• 1 bag Trader Joe's Mexican style roasted corn with Cotija Cheese
• 1 lime, juiced
• Greek yogurt and chopped cilantro for garnish

Cooking Directions

1.  Heat olive oil over medium heat in large pot. Add chopped onion and minced garlic, sauté until translucent (about 5 minutes). Add spices (cumin, oregano, and salt). 
2.  In blender, puree 2 cans of cannellini beans with liquid from cans until smooth.
3. Add pureed beans to the pot. 
4. Add the rest of the canned products with their liquid (1 can of cannellini beans, 1 can of black beans, 2 cans of diced tomatoes with green chilies) and the bag of corn to the pot. 
5. Stir all ingredients together and let simmer until heated through. 
6. Finnish with juice of 1 lime. 
7. Serve soup with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt and a garnish of fresh chopped herbs such as parsley or cilantro. 

* If desired, shredded meat from 1 rotisserie chicken can be added while soup is simmering.

Nutrition Facts
Servings 6.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 402
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 8 g	12 %
Saturated Fat 2 g	8 %
Monounsaturated Fat 1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 6 mg	2 %
Sodium 1059 mg	44 %
Potassium 914 mg	26 %
Total Carbohydrate 65 g	22 %
Dietary Fiber 19 g	77 %
Sugars 8 g
Protein 21 g	41 %
Vitamin A	10 %
Vitamin C	24 %
Calcium	25 %
Iron	35 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

Nutrition facts are for the soup only and do not include garnish or chicken.

recipe adapted from: http://thebakermama.com/recipes/homemade-chick-fil-a-chicken-tortilla-soup/

How to Boost Your Immune System

The flu epidemic has taken over our country this year! The widespread outbreak has me wanting to quarantine my family in our house until Spring. Since that’s obviously not an option, I’ve been making sure that I take every effort possible to boost my immune system and avoid the flu. Here are some tips to make sure you stay feeling 100% too:

• Vitamin C. The recommended daily amount (RDA) for vitamin C is 75 mg for adult women. There are some surprising vegetables that have more vitamin C than an orange and meet your RDA in just 1 serving! Start munching on these veggies now to give your immune system an extra boost:
• Bell Peppers: Green bell peppers have 132 mg of vitamin C, red have 209 mg, and yellow have a whopping 341 mg per pepper! Sounds like the perfect reason to make fajitas and margaritas for dinner to me!
• Brussels Sprouts: 5 of these guys will give you 81 mg of vitamin C! Simply sauté in a skillet with olive oil and finish with teriyaki suace for a quick and easy side dish.
• Kale: 1 cup has 80 mg of vitamin C. Eat it in a salad, smoothie, or sautéed- it’s delicious any way!
• Broccoli: 1 medium stalk has 135 mg of vitamin C. Try steaming and adding to your favorite pasta dish or put it on top of a baked potato to punch up the nutrition and add a pop of color.
• Cauliflower: Half a medium head has 141 mg of vitamin C. Try mixing riced cauliflower (which you can find on the frozen food aisle!) into any rice dish for a hidden dose of immune enhancing power.

• Sleep. Catching some zzz’s at night isn’t just good for making you feel and look well rested. New studies are showing that people who don’t get enough good quality sleep are more likely to get sick. Adults should aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night while children may need as much as 10+ hours. I love to sleep (who doesn’t?!), but sometimes its hard to turn of your brain from a busy day. One thing I have found that helps me sleep much sounder at night is using an eye mask. After trying several different kinds, I will tell you, not all sleep masks are created equal! Using one made from 100% mulberry silk, like this one from Amazon, is essential for optimal comfort and rest. 
  

• Exercise. Ugh, working out in the winter feels like such a chore to me. But, it’s true, staying physically active does support a healthy immune system and decrease your risk of catching a cold or virus. So, lace up those tennis shoes and try some of these ideas to increase your immunity:
• Bundle up and go for a walk or hike on a weekend afternoon
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Start our 30-Day Challenge
• Do a YouTube workout (there are lots of great yoga videos under 20 minutes!)
• Actually go the gym – just be sure to wipe down all of the equipment with a disinfectant wipe before and after you use it!

I hope these tips help you stay well this flu season! - Margaret

How to Get Organized in Two Weeks (in under an hour a day)

Organization. It's an extremely daunting task, especially when our to-do lists are filled with so many more important things. However, coming home after a long day at work and knowing everything is in it's place is the best feeling. It's almost as good as getting in the bed and feeling your freshly shaven legs on the sheets! Margaret and I have spent many facetime calls trying to figure out how to tackle our organization to-do list, so we decided to stop beating around the bush and actually create a plan.

Our number one rule in creating this plan was that we could only offer one hour a day to organizing (if that). So that is exactly what we did. If you follow this guide and complete one task a day, then you will be able to come home to that feeling of pure bliss from your organized home in just two weeks.

Now obviously some days you may not have one hour to devote to organizing, so please adapt this as you choose! You may not need to do some of these tasks and you may need to add some! You can even knock several of these out if you have a free Saturday - one task per nap time! We are just hoping this helps guide you to making your own plan and completing it in a timeline that feels right for you!

Need some organizational containers and baskets? Check out the Dollar Tree! Organizing shouldn't cost you a fortune!

Happy Cleaning!
-Mary Margaret & Margaret

Hello Fresh - An Unpaid Review of the Subscription Box

I work….a lot. Sometimes, I get home at 6:30pm and I left my house at 6am. Finding time during the day to scroll through recipes is nearly impossible and going to the grocery store at 6:30pm is NOT what I want to do after a long day of work.

No matter what keeps you busy during the day, whether it’s chasing around little ones or chasing around coworkers, I think we can all agree that meal planning and grocery shopping can be a big headache. Both Margaret and I agree that the last thing we want to do at the end of our day is go and wander through a grocery store for an hour. Margaret has found a solution in Walmart Grocery Pick-Up, but I do not live close to a Walmart location, so I have turned to Hello Fresh. This is the second box subscription I have tried in the past couple years and I wanted to give you a real (unpaid) view as to my thoughts on Hello Fresh.

So is Hello Fresh worth it?

PRO: I don’t have to go to the grocery store much or meal plan. I will go on Sunday and pick up necessities like bread, eggs, fruit, snacks, juice, lunch meat, etc. But guess what? That requires no planning.

CON: I wish I could order some items that I need from the grocery store and have Hello Fresh send them to me in the box. I love having fruit and it would be an easy addition to the box if Hello Fresh offered that but they don’t. Sad.

PRO: Hello Fresh tells you how long recipes take, and honestly it is pretty truthful. I think it all depends on how fast you are with chopping, but once you get that down then things speed up. Normally they range anywhere from 20-40 minutes which is SO nice. Another box subscription I tried (cough cough Blue Apron) had great recipes but took forever! And who has time to cook all night? NOT ME.

CON: They are starting to repeat recipes now that I’ve been doing it for a few months and even their other recipes kind of seem similar. Example: Their steak meals generally have roasted potatoes and green beans.

PRO: I think I save money by ordering Hello Fresh because I’m not having to over buy certain items that I may only use half of. I normally spend close to $100 when I go to the grocery store but I only spend $59.99 for the Classic Plan (3 meals for 2 people). Also, now my fiance and I are less likely to go spend $80 out to eat on one meal! There are several different Plans you can choose from : Veggie Plan, Classic Plan, and Family Plan. Each of the options allows you to choose between 2 or 4 people and anywhere from 2-4 meals per week. The price varies based on amount of people and number of meals, but I definitely think it is equivalent or less than what you would spend on food a week.

CON: Sometimes I forget to choose my meals or skip a week. Normally I like the meals even if Hello Fresh chooses them for me, so its ultimately not an issue. What I feel bad about is having meals that I’m not home to use – but hey, what a good opportunity to bring the food to a family that may not have the money to afford a meal.

OVERALL: My experience has been very positive. The meals are quick and yummy and I get to choose between 9 recipes each week. I also can choose which day I want it delivered, which is sometimes limited with other subscription boxes. I get mine on Monday, which makes the most sense to me, but was unable to do that with Blue Apron. I also can skip a week if I know I will be gone for a few days that week.

I definitely recommend Hello Fresh and they always offer coupon codes for you first box! 

Let me know your thoughts and what other subscription boxes you’ve tried! 

- Mary Margaret

Why Essential Oils Are A Nightstand Necessity

I'm sure most of you can agree that our stress levels are fairly high at all times. We are stressed about finishing those last minute work emails, making sure our child doesn't eat something toxic, finding time to work out, keeping the house clean, finding clothes that don't look like they belong to a 10th grader, the list can obviously go on. My stress comes from constantly being on the go and trying to cram too much into one day. By the time I get in my bed, I'm exhausted, but I also can't fall asleep because my mind is all over the place and completely worked up. Cue Essential Oils.

After driving 6 hours a day through Atlanta traffic, essential oils have helped me relax the moment I get in bed. I have found three favorite scents and depending on the night, I may mix all three.

Lavender - If I had to recommend only one oil to try, I would choose this one. It is famous for being a stress reliever. It also has the following therapeutic properties: antidepressant, decongestant, antiseptic, diuretic, and sedative. I truly believe lavender oil helps me calm down after a long day, and BONUS it makes my dogs fall asleep quickly as well!

Eucalyptus - This one is known to help with respiratory issues. It has similar therapeutic properties as lavender. My favorite characteristic about eucalyptus is that it has cooling properties and helps with migraines and fevers. I get migraines and headaches very easily, so the second I feel a headache coming on, I turn on my diffuser right away.

Peppermint - This oil is also a cooling agent but it is known to enhance mood, sharpen focus, combat irritation and redness, alleviate symptoms of congestion, and aid in digestion. I love using peppermint oil when I am stuffy or have a cold - it absolutely helps keep my congestion manageable at night!

Chamomile - BEAUTY BONUS - You may have noticed the Chamomile Night Mist on my night stand. I love spritzing this on my face after washing all of my makeup off at night. Chamomile is known as a powerful calming agent and this spray is infused with nutrients to help your skin hydrate and recover as you sleep. It is definitely a must have! Use the code moderndaymargarets at checkout for 10% off!

If you are interested in trying essential oils, there are several options online for diffusers and oils. The first diffuser I got was about about $25 on Amazon. I will be honest, it wore out quickly. However, I do leave it running all night. The one featured in the pictures is from TJ Maxx and it was $39.99! It truly is amazing. It lights up, it has four sounds (I listen to waves every night), and it is extremely quiet. I found it online for $79.99 so I would recommend checking out the diffuser section at TJ Maxx first. For the oils, I have tagged them below! They are only $11.95 on Amazon right now. I ordered them a year ago and they are still about half full! Some people claim they aren't very potent but I haven't noticed, and I wanted to make sure I liked it before I splurged on nice ones!

Amazon Essential Oils
Ellia Essential Oil Diffuser
Chamomile Night Spray         use code moderndaymargarets for 10% off

Let me know if you have any questions! I hope they help you as much as they have helped me!
-Mary Margaret

Healthy Pizza Night!

Healthy, easy pizza? Yep! That’s a thing,
thanks to Trader Joe’s cauliflower crust pizza. 

To be honest, pizza night happens at least every other week at our house. To make it a little more wholesome and less of a guilty pleasure I get the frozen Trader Joe’s cauliflower pizza crusts. I know what you must be thinking, “Cauliflower pizza that’s good? Yeah right!” But I promise it is delicious. My husband, who is the king of picky eaters, actually agrees! We top ours with our favorite sauce (Mids) and desired toppings at home. My husband loves turkey-pepperoni and I love to pile the veggies on mine! Spinach, red onion, and bell peppers are a few of my favorite.

You can make it even easier and get the frozen Trader Joe’s cauliflower crust cheese pizza that already has sauce and cheese on it! Then just top it with any extra toppings you want and pop it in the oven. Enjoy this incredibly easy meal any night of the week and feel good eating a delicious dinner that is actually good for you. I’ll call that a win any day.

Enjoy! -Margaret

Traveling with a Baby

Who else is overwhelmed when it comes to traveling with a baby? For me, it seems like such a daunting event. I dread it! There are so many things to plan, remember, and consider. Honestly, after waking up twice during the night to a screaming baby, there is no doubt that I will end up forgetting something. After several trips with a baby, I've figured out a few things that can help your next family vacation a little less hectic and a little more peaceful.

1.       Plan ahead. I start making a pack list a few days (sometimes a week) before we head out of town. This helps give me time to plan what all we will need and make sure we bring our complete list of necessities. A packing list will make the actual packing process much easier and less time consuming. Write out what you will be doing each day so that you can plan outfits and gear appropriately. I even organize our packing list by person in the family (Mom, Dad, Baby) and then by categories (clothes, toiletries, medicine, gear, etc.). I never leave the house without our portable chargers and our baby’s sound machine. The last thing you want is for your Ipad to be dead when you could really use Micky Mouse Club House to occupy your little one and give you some free time. A sound machine ensures that your baby will sleep well while he/she is in unfamiliar territory!

2.       Make a home away from home. When you arrive to your destination, try to set up as similar to your home as possible. Set up the pack-in-play or crib for a sleep area. Lay out some toys and a blanket for a play area. Put the diapers, wipes, and diaper creams all by a changing pad for a changing station. Lastly, pick an area to keep all feeding supplies like bottles, pumping parts, and formula (close to a sink is always a good option). Getting everything organized and in its place as soon as possible will help decrease stress when bed time comes around and help you enjoy your vacation!

3.       Stick to your schedule. My son thrives on a schedule. If he gets off his schedule he tends to be cranky and doesn’t sleep well that night (which is no fun for any of us). When traveling, try to stick to your typical schedule as much as possible. This might mean finding a unique place to breast feed, having an early dinner, or planning activities around nap time. If traveling in the car, try to leave when it is nap time to help get the trip started off on the right foot. Keeping nap time in check is important, but not all babies like to nap in an unfamiliar crib. Once you are on vacation, try planning a walk during nap time if your baby likes to sleep in the stroller. My son is a fan of the ErgoBaby baby carrier which works great for staying on the go! Keeping the same bath and bedtime routine will also help your little one feel like they are at home. It can be difficult to maintain a schedule when you want to go and do all fun vacation activities, but in the end, it is worth it to keep you and your baby happy!

4.       Take turns being on duty. If your baby does like to nap in the hotel crib or is having a particularly fussy afternoon, take turns being with him or her in your hotel room. This works really well if you have other family members traveling with you. Grandparents and aunts will typically love to take a shift watching your baby while you enjoy a few moments of baby-free vacation time! So, don’t be afraid to ask them for help.

So, next time you are getting ready for a family vacation just remember: plan ahead, pack your essentials, keep a schedule intact, and don’t forget to enjoy yourself too!

Safe travels! - Margaret

Walmart Grocery Pick Up Review

Walmart Grocery Pick Up is my saving grace. Being a working mom, it's pretty impossible to find time to roam the grocery store isles for hours looking for one can of diced olives that is no where to be found. After my son was born, I was trying to find an hour in between feedings and nap time to run to the store and take care of the weekly groceries. It proved to be very difficult, so I took the plunge and finally tried Walmart Grocery Pick Up. It truly is my lifesaver, so I've put together a list of  my pros, cons, and tips for using my new favorite service in case you are interested in trying it as well!

Pro: Convenience. I can order groceries online while sitting in bed drinking a cup of coffee, breastfeeding my baby, or let’s get real- at night while I enjoy a much-needed glass of vino. And then there is the convenience of pick up: I don’t have to get out of the car, or get my kid out of the car, or worry about if he will have an explosive diaper in the middle of the store. I pull up to the designated pick up area, someone else puts my groceries in the car, and we drive into the sunset.

Con: Substitutions. Sometimes they are out of an item you ordered and you don’t want what they substituted. If that’s the case, they will take it off of your purchase order and remove the item from the bag. Totally OK, unless you really needed that particular item. Then you may have to actually go into the store or another store to get that item.

Pro: Produce. I’m super picky about my produce. I like everything to be as fresh as possible, and so far, my Walmart shoppers have not disappointed me. They have pick great lettuce, grapes, apples, spinach, sweet potatoes, and so much more. They seem to understand the importance of fresh fruits and veggies and I appreciate that!

Con: Alcohol. You can not add alcohol to your order, at least not in my state. Which is a con in my book, but also, it's not terrible because I honestly prefer to buy my wine from other stores … or even better, I can have my husband buy the wine and bring it home!

Pro: IT'S FREE. Walmart does this service 100% free of charge! And if you use the code: WOWFRESH on your first order ($50 minimum), you get $10 off!

If you are busy like me, which I know you are, I would definitely encourage you to give Walmart Grocery Pick Up a try. It saves you time, it saves you money because you won’t be adding random items into your cart, and it also saves you from making those unhealthy impulse purchases! So next time you are dreading going to the grocery, give it a try, I really think you are going to like it! Let me know if you have any questions!

-Margaret

30-Day Challenge

With everything we are responsible for these days (work, laundry, kids, laundry, groceries, laundry, pets… did I mention laundry?), who has time to get to the gym, much less work out? Not me! That is why I created this quick and easy 30-Day Challenge that can be done at home with no equipment. Each day we will be doing a few more reps than the day before as we strengthen our legs, glutes, and abs. By the end of this 30 days we will be stronger, more toned, and will have taken a huge step towards living a physical active life in 2018. 

Here are a few tips and tricks to keep you on track and motivated for the next 30 days:

• Traveling? Do this work out in your hotel room! All you need is you, you don’t even have to have gym clothes with you!
• Have a baby or small pup? Use them as extra weight on your squats and lunges!
• Crunched for time? Split up the exercises. Do a set at a time when you have a few minutes in your day, like when you’re waiting for your dinner to cook, for the 3 minutes your kid is playing contently, or when you’re waiting on your coffee to brew. (Mom confession: I’ve definitely done squats while pumping breast milk. You’ve got to find something to occupy all the time!)
•  Exhausted from a long day at work? Turn your favorite show on TV, but don’t fast-forward through the commercials. Instead, use the break to get up off the couch and do a set of exercises.
•  Need a reminder? Print the calendar and put it somewhere you will see it every day (mine is going on the fridge!) Then mark off each day as you do it. It’s encouraging and satisfying to see your progression throughout the month. *Bonus- we will be doing this workout along with you and posting reminders and tips throughout the month. 

Printable version here. 

Let's do this!   -Margaret 

Mary Margaret's Top Travel Must Haves

I travel ALL the time – for work, for weddings, for family trips, for football games, for EVERYTHING it seems. From September to December, I spent 11 weekends traveling. Let me tell you, if was fun, but I was exhausted and wanted to lay in my bed for a full month to decompress.

The good news? I feel like a pro when it comes to traveling now and have found the items that may be small, but make a HUGE difference in my comfort while away from home.

I’m off to Miami today for work and was able to put together the list of my must haves to share with you!

Packing Must Haves:

• Disinfectant -  I refuse to fly without disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer. The second I find my seat, I wipe down the tray table and the arms rests. I will also use the hand sanitizer any time I eat or drink! I’ve been sick too many times to count thanks to flying so I don’t take any chances anymore! Extra Tip – use the wipes to clean your hotel remote as well!
• EmergenC - I always keep a packet in my toiletries in case I start to feel sick. Sometimes I will take it the evening after flying to be safe! It works miracles.
• CeraVe Moisturizing Cream -  I am obsessed with this lotion. It is the only lotion I put on my face now. I use it in the morning after washing my face and before bed. It’s hypoallergenic and luckily you can find an airplane friendly size at Walgreens. Grab a travel size of Gold Bond healing lotion as well – it is my favorite hand cream!
• Earplugs - This may sound like a random item, but in my family it is a necessity. Whether you’re having to share a room with a snorer or the couple next door decides to have a fight at 2am, earplugs are a MUST have.
• Wrinkle Release - does anyone else hate ironing as much as I do? I made it through 4 years of college without using an iron thanks to Wrinkle Release. It is great for anything cotton and for smoothing wrinkles that can come with traveling. However, if you have anything silk – I recommend bringing a travel steamer (more to come on this).
• Gel Eyemask -  My eyemask lives in my carry-on suitcase. I bring it everywhere. The second I get to my hotel, I put my mask in the refrigerator. I use it as a de-puffer for those early morning meetings and it also comes in handy if you have a *cough cough* wine hangover. I’m all about multi-use. I HIGHLY recommend getting one even if you don’t travel often. I also keep one in my freezer at home for migraines!

Happy Traveling!      - Mary Margaret