{glitter and pine: the perfect accent on a mantlepiece}
Today is just one of those fist pumping kind of days, ya know? It’s not totally unwarranted, although my downloading of the new Hellogoodbye album has definitely helped to pep me up, even on the 7am commute to work. Although I can’t divulge all of what’s making me so jazzed right yet (I promise I will when everything has been firmed up and made official), I can tell you that I’m really excited to be heading back home to Ontario on Thursday.
Since it’s the holiday season, many of us are making the trek back to our homelands this week. For some, like me, that means flying. Honestly, I don’t really like flying, but I won’t elaborate on that here in case you do and don’t want me to ruin it for you. I’ll just say that I can handle it because I’m an engineer, and I know the physics behind it–rest assured, there are some serious forces at work to keep you up in the air. And if you were paying attention, yes that was a supremely nerdy pun right there.
Anyway, as a veteran flier (of the commercial aircraft passenger type), I will share with you my secrets of flight success. Because my usual flight isn’t long enough to warrant knocking myself out with sleeping pills, and isn’t short enough to just watch a movie and be done with it, I’ve got a few little secrets to keep myself happy, healthy, and feeling good upon arrival.
- You thought I was going to say coffee, didn’t you? No way. Flying dehydrates me like crazy, and to help remedy that I generally have a pre-board tea. Lately I’m loving DavidsTea’s Forever Nuts. It tastes and smells like candy, ’nuff said.
- Obviously a good book is in order for longer flights. On my to-read list (which you can see here) is The Help by Kathryn Stockett. And since I never see a movie before I read the book, watching the movie is definitely not an option for my in-flight entertainment!
- Again, say it with me: hydration. As much as I hate airplane washrooms and try to avoid using them, I force myself to drink at least a litre of water on the flight, because I know it’ll do me (and my skin) so much good later. And if I have to use those weird vacuum toilets, so be it…
- The markup on airplane food is unbelievable these days. $7 for cheese and crackers? I could buy the cow and it’d be cheaper. But since I lack the facilities to farm dairy, I always make sure to pack high-protein snacks that will keep me full in between those gourmet (not) airplane meals.
- Sometimes my eyes get tired of reading, and the onboard movies call my name. Sometimes I just want to plug in my ipod to zone out and get some beauty sleep. Either way, headphones are a must. And these ones smell like gummy bears. Mmmm…
- Depending on the time of day that I’m flying, it might be the only nighttime I get (ugh, red eye flights). I’m easily distracted and find it difficult to sleep on planes, but my sleeping mask helps in these situations. I generally stick with a plain black one though so that I avoid looking like Snooki and garnering funny looks from toilet-goers in the aisles. Unless I’m flying to Jersey.
- Although I have relatively normal skin, I get so dried out from airplane cabin air. Whether it’s the altitude, air quality, or whatever, I always find myself feeling pretty dry and flaky. This L’Oreal moisturizer is my favourite, and I always bring it in my carry-on for emergency use.
- Flying is always a crapshoot for germs–they’re inevitable. I do my best to touch only what I need to in terms of public items, and wash my hands whenever possible. When I’m not close to a washroom, I looove these hand sanitizers from Bath & Body Works. Currently I’ve stashed winter candy apple in my purse.
Despite my having a list of necessities, it’s inevitable that a few tag-alongs find their way into my bags. Flip-flops? Hey, I could need them. Four hardcover books? I might be really into reading all of a sudden. A jar of peanut butter? My parents might run out! Come on, there’s nothing wrong with preparedness.
Happy flying!
