Hi there! It’s been a minute. The close of 2025 and the start of 2026 were wonderfully full, and somewhere between planning beautiful trips for clients and hopping on a few planes myself, the blog took a back seat. Over the past few months I’ve found myself in Cancun, Las Vegas, the Lake of the Ozarks, and Curacao. Every trip reminds me that packing really is a skill you refine over time. I tweak a few things, leave something behind, add something new, and slowly get closer to that sweet spot where travel days feel smooth instead of chaotic. To ease back into blogging, I’m sharing my updated 2026 travel essentials and exactly why they’ve earned a permanent place in my bag. If you love feeling prepared, comfortable, + just a little bit ahead of the game, keep reading. You might find a few upgrades that make your next travel day noticeably better.

When it comes to packing for a trip, personal items are often the last to be thrown together—and more often than not, they end up being an afterthought. But here's the truth: a well-packed personal item can make all the difference between kicking off your vacation with ease or facing a travel nightmare before you've even reached your destination. After years of trial and error, I’ve perfected the art of packing the ultimate personal item, and today, I’m sharing my tried-and-true formula with you! Because we all know—vacation time is too precious to spend wrestling with disorganized bags or scrambling for essentials. Let’s dive into how you can start your journey stress-free and ready to make the most of every moment.