🚙 10 Roadtrip Essentials
My top 10 for 11 days on the road from Westchester, NY to Amelia Island, Florida — with stops in between
Hello from good old Rye, New York, where I just returned after 11 days on the road on a road trip vacation to Florida with my husband and Baby Reid. ELEVEN. That’s a lot of days to be away from your dishwasher and laundry machines with a two month-old. (We did laundry twice on the trip, rest assured).
I took a week off from this newsletter, which I haven’t done since launching it in 2021 — so I appreciate your patience with my absence! I’m back and I have a lot to discuss. Let’s talk.
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Spicing it up
First of all, I’m thrilled to have been reunited with my favorite seasonings, Spicewell New Salt and New Pepper. I bought these on a lark, mostly for the packaging, and they just flat out impressed the shit out of me. They’re my new go-to gift for housewarmings and any time I just need a small present for someone. These aren’t your standard-issue tableside spices. These are, per the simple yet genius name, something new. In Zima parlance, it’s zomething different. They make returning to regular S&P like going back to the farm after she’s been to Paris. Not only are New Salt and New Pepper better for you, thanks to being infused with vitamins, they taste so much better than the utterly boring pair currently establishing residency on your tabletop. Its subtle but complex flavor with added nutritional benefits. This is not sponsored in any way. I just want the Gulf of Mexico-sized containers of these spices.
Read: The Everything Shower: Winter Edition
What I didn’t bring that was a big mistake — huge
This incredibly useful jumpsuit that
recommended. It looks simultaneously chic and casual, is comfortable, and my size medium actually fit me one day before giving birth. It was like the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants except I’m all the “sisters” in this scenario at a range of sizes in the last two months. I didn’t bring it because I thought it’d be warmer in the cities we hit en route to Amelia Island — Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach, Charleston and Savannah. But it was weirdly chilly the majority of the time and I made do with the few sweaters and sweatshirts I packed. I followed my rule of always bringing two pairs of jeans if you’ll be gone more than two nights and I’m glad I did. I’m also glad I did a shorts edit before heading out — I wore shorts two days out of 11.Road trip MVPs
Soak Laundry Soap I’ve been a fan for years and years of this no-rinse hand washing detergent. The fig scent is divine, but I bought an unscented iteration for the trip for Reid’s laundry in the mix. It works by soaking a squirt in a sink with your laundry for 15 minutes, then you simply wring it out and hang it to dry. Easy peasy.
These are discontinued, but they have some on Amazon so snap them up at a great price if you can find them in your size. I’ve written about these before — they’re the most comfortable slip-on shoe I use for everything from working out to running errands. I just had the epiphany on my trip to cut off the hideous branded Adidas elastic band on the shoe, which simply makes it a bit more fitted/tighter. Now I’m not screaming a brand name, it looks more “quiet luxury.” Just take some scissors and remove it as close to the base as possible. It’s like it was never there.
Read on for more must-haves from my road trip.
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