Summer Travels

Things to pack + taking a break

Things are starting to get very real around here. I told you about my upcoming book tour in my last post, and it’s coming up fast — less than two weeks away, as I write this! I’m so excited to hit the road to promote my new psychological thriller, Every Lie I Told, but one thing I haven’t mentioned is that I’m also writing another book right now — one that I’ll be trying to finish this summer. It’s an incredibly hectic time, and I’ve decided to take a step back on some fronts… which is why I’ll be pausing the Gluten-Free Guidebook for this summer.

What does “pause” mean? Mostly, it affects my paid subscribers, who won’t be charged while I’m away. (Monthly subscribers won’t be billed, and annual subscribers will have their subscription automatically extended by the number of weeks that I’m away.) No new paid subscriptions will be able to start until I’m back, so apologies in advance to anyone who wants to access paid content but can’t.

While I’m away, I want to leave you with a resource to help with your own summer travels. I’ll only have a carry-on bag on book tour, and here’s what I’ll be bringing with me, from gluten-free treats to travel gadgets I can’t leave home without.

Snacks + Supplements

Protein Bars: I never travel without them. My go-to bar for a long time has been made by Pure Protein — the Brookie bar boasts 20 grams of whey-based protein in a 190-calorie bar. It’s actually delicious, not a brick. A more recent favorite is David High Protein Bars in Red Velvet. While I don’t count macros, but I have friends who do, and they are all obsessed with David’s. Why? The stats per bar: 0g of sugar, 28g of protein, 150 calories — and the bars are certified gluten-free. If you’re gluten-free, vegan, and have a nut allergy, my niece Sage recommends the bars by Balanced Tiger, which contain mushroom adaptogens.

Velamints: These are my favorite mints in the world — especially the Coconut Lime flavor. Ears popping in flight? Have a mint. Thinking about snacking when you’re not actually hungry? Have a mint.

Almond Brothers Roasted Almonds: Ironically, I stumbled across these at Newark Airport a few months back (EWK is famously bad on the gluten-free front). The Crispy Onion n’ Chili flavor is beyond addictive, but the Lemon Roasted is also pretty great.

Kasugai Frutia Gummy Candy: These delicious made-in-Japan gummies are individually-wrapped, making them perfect for travel. I discovered them many years ago, but gave them up after I was diagnosed with celiac disease because I didn’t think they were gluten-free (they contain glucose syrup, which was considered off-limits for years). Fortunately, Kasugai has started certifying that the gummies are gluten-free. My favorite flavor is lychee, but the yuzu, muscat grape, and strawberry are lovely, too.

Skincare + Toiletries

Sunscreen: It doesn’t matter if I’m going to the North Pole, I’m wearing sunscreen. My favorites are by La Roche-Posay and Dr. Jart because they melt into skin and make me forget I’m wearing them. I also use a brush-on mineral sunscreen, which gives an extra layer of protection while mattifying the skin; Brush on Block is my pick.

Fomin Antibacterial Hand Soap Sheets: I know these are marketed to people going camping, but I’ve been in plenty of city washrooms that have run out of soap. The solution: these paper-thin sheets. Just add water and lather up!

Aquaphor Healing Balm Stick: When you fly, carry-on liquids are limited to what you can fit into your 311 bag, which is why I love this moisturizer. It’s a solid stick, so it stays out of the 311 bag, and you can apply it anywhere (it’s not just for lips, like some other stick moisturizers). It doesn’t contain any ingredients that have gluten.

Gadgets

Baseus Magsafe Portable Charger: Because I spend a lot of time on my phone when I’m traveling — taking photos, sending messages, playing word games on the NYT app — I stress about battery life. That means I always have charging cables packed in my carry-on, and I bring along a backup battery.

Anker Nano Travel Adapter: Foreign travel means packing power adapters, a process that always makes me wonder why on earth we have a different plug on almost every continent. This amazing adapter has all four essential plug types — Type A, Type I, Type G, and Type C — and it’s got two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports to power up your devices. Genius!

Kindle Paperwhite: The truth is, I prefer reading on paper rather than on a screen. At one time, that meant I lugged books with me wherever I went, but that is just not practical. My Kindle is my constant companion on the road, because it lets me bring a library with me and yet it weighs virtually nothing. Having experimented with a couple of different types, I’ve settled on the Paperwhite as the easiest on my eyes.

Miscellaneous

Mack’s Slim Fit Soft Foam Earplugs: These have saved me from screaming kids on transatlantic flights and paper-thin hotel walls. I never found earplugs comfortable to wear until I discovered these, so they’ve been life-changing.

Open-Toe Compression Socks: Because of an old injury, the toes on one foot are immediately in fiery pain when compressed, making traditional compression socks almost impossible for me to wear. This open-toe version is heaven-sent: they’re just as good at preventing DVT on long-haul flights, but they’re as comfortable as these things can get.

That’s all for now, my friends! See you around Labor Day. If you’d like to know how the book tour goes and what I’m up to this summer, come find me over at my author newsletter.

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