Starting Another Year on the Road

Yesterday, I set off for a 10-day training camp in Spain. January training camps basically serve as the start of the season and from this point forward, I really have no idea my schedule and how often or little I'll be home. Different seasons lead to different schedules and I've had years where I've had at least two separate nearly 2-month blocks on the road. Right now, I have no idea how 2017 will play out and to be honest, that excites me. 

It might look like chaos, but that's organized chaos.

I live out of a suitcase and in hotels quite well. There is something soothing about it but it requires planning and organizing. There are times when I'll have a less than 24-hour turnaround at home, which basically means doing laundry and heading back out. Due to this, I like to make packing my suitcase as simple as possible. I own doubles of nearly everything and it lives in my bag so I don't run the risk I leaving my glasses or UK laptop phone charger at home.

Earlier this week, I dumped out my suitcase and went through everything piece by piece to see what may need replacing or refilling. It also meant I got rid of stuff that I don't use anymore and simply cleaned out all that random stuff that winds up at the bottom of a bag.

And then I set off on a few last minute errands to make sure everything was stocked up and ready to go for 2017. First up, more charging cables and a dongle (yes, I giggle every time I say dongle). I travel with three phone chargers--one for my suitcase, one for my backpack/spare battery and then one with my GPS for a rental car. At training camp, I'm doing presentations and training, so instead of always needing to borrow a mac-to-projector dongle, I finally got around to buying my own.

The Lush purchases are the real excitements. Everyone that travels frequently needs to know about Lush's bar shampoo and conditioner. Bar shampoo and conditioner! When you live out of your suitcase for weeks at a time, bottles take up a lot of space and add weight. These bars eliminate both those issues. I've been using them for over two years and I don't think I could ever go back. They've got a huge variety to choose from. I go for the ones that moisturize, designed for blondes and make my hair smell yummy. It took me awhile to find a conditioner that worked but trial and error led me to the Jungle. I'm also a fan of the (affordable) travel tins to keep them from rubbing on everything else. I probably replace those every six months.

And there you have it. I'm set for 2017 travels!

July Product Reviews

July has been a pretty heavy travel month. It began with a trip to the Tour de France and Paris with my family followed by nearly tens days in Poland. Now I've already hit the road again for another long run beginning in Denmark, then Utah and finally over to the Czech Republic. Obviously, that means a lot of flights. When I'm traveling this much and for this long, it might sound counterintuitive, but I like to keep my bag extra light. I can deal with a too heavy bag for 3 to 4 days, but nearly three weeks of lugging a brick around simply gets old. So, I really make myself be selective about what makes the cut,  especially when it comes to "extras". 

Below are my favorite products this month and the things I decided were must-haves on my current trip.

L'ARTISAN LA CHASSE AUX PAPILLONS EAU DE TOILETTE

I'm obsessed with this scent. It screams total summer with strong notes of lime, orange blossom and jasmine. I like a strong perfume but not a heavy one, if that makes any sense. I like to start the day with a little too much so I have some still lingering at 5pm. This one makes me happy every time I spray it on.

SUPERGOOP SETTING MIST WITH ROSEMARY

As a freckle face, I try to keep them from spreading and connecting. This little gem has been my multitasker. It's saved me on those rainy days where I skip sunscreen and suddenly the sun pops out. I can spray this on and my makeup stays put and it has a lovely refreshing scent. The other time I tend to use it is on insanely long days out in the sun when I can feel my morning sunscreen has worn off. A few quick sprays and I'm safely protected again. 

Lush Montalbano Shampoo Bar

I'm slowly, single-handedly spreading the love of Lush's shampoo bars to all the females who travel in pro cycling. This little bar takes up little space, weighs next to nothing, doesn't count as a liquid and smells absolutely heavenly. Lush has a variety of shampoo bars but for my blonde hair, this one is my favorite. It is made with brightening Sicilian lemon oil, lemon juice and fresh olives and sudess up like a normal shampoo. I never leave home without it. 

KOPARI COCONUT SCRUB

I'm not a body scrub person. Rarely does it do anything for me. But I received this sample from Birchbox and I liked both the smell and the texture. It is free of silicones, sulfates, parabens and GMOs. It isn't overbearing nor has a fake coconut smell, actually the scent is more sugary than anything. But it's thick and does a good job at leaving my skin soft and smooth. I prefer to use it before I get in the shower instead of waiting until I'm already wet. 

YOU ARE AMAZING LEMON MERINGUE BODY LOTION

I bought this lotion by complete accident. I was in the US for another day or two and had run out of body wash. I wanted to grab something cheap just to get me through a few days before returning to Europe and I always gravitate towards lemon. The price point was ridiculously cheap and I was planning on leaving it in the US, so I was sold. I got home and figured out it was lotion, not body wash and I was bummed. Then I tried it. The smell is absolutely amazing. The best way to describe it is Girl Scout Lemonade cookies. It is delicious but not so strong someone standing next to you would find it offputting or sickeningly sweet. What turned into an accident will now be a regular purchase.

I definitely was not paid for any of these recommendations.