18 Travel-Sized Home Conveniences That Can Get Past Security

Visiting new places is always exciting, but the traveling experience might not be. For one, you don’t have all the conveniences you would if you were back home. Some people might call you crazy for wanting to bring your washing machine with you, but we understand. That’s why we’ve come up with 18 travel versions of home appliances, gadgets and conveniences.

1. Laundry Bag ($79): When we travel, all we worry about is having enough underwear, socks and clean clothes. But what do you do when it’s time to throw the dirty clothes into the hamper? Uh oh. This laundry bag from West Elm may seem pretty pricey, considering we’re stuffing our sweaty, stinky clothes into it, but it’s portable and has two compartments inside for separating. That way, you don’t have to sort out lights from darks when you return home. An added bonus is that it looks like a normal bag. No more using those plastic hotel laundry bags as a carry on anymore.

2. Portable BBQ Suitcase ($53): We know what you’re thinking: Why in the world am I going to need a separate suitcase just for a BBQ grill? Well, perhaps you won’t need it for business trips or visiting family, but the Portable BBQ Suitcase definitely comes in handy for any 4th of July getaways or camping trips.

3. Mini Folding Cutting Board ($10): When you’re vacationing, you may not be cooking, seeing as you’ll be exploring the restaurant scene. For longer trips though, you’re going to have to cook some of your own meals… or you’ll go broke! This miniature, foldable cutting board is the perfect solution to your cooking needs.

4. Small Hanging Travel Case ($17): Back at home, your shower is organized a certain way with the help of bathroom organizational tools. When you’re traveling, you’re going to have to find a new temporary home for your shampoo, conditioner, face wash, makeup remover, body wash… you see where this is going, right? There are just too many cleansers and not enough space in the average hotel shower to balance them all on the tub’s ledge. A hangable travel case helps so much with that dilemma. Also, you won’t have to unpack and repack all your shower things. They’ll already be in your traveling case!

5. Mini Ceramic Styler ($30): Ladies, when you’re packing for a long weekend getaway, which one do you choose — curling iron or straightener? What if there was a way to take a hybrid of both? Conair has this nifty two-in-one ceramic styler that can curl, straighten and fit inside your purse. Check out Conair’s miniYOU collection to see other hair stylers that you can take on trips.

6. Travel Alarm Clock ($26): Considering we live in a digital world where everyone relies on their phones for everything, bringing a travel-sized alarm clock may seem flat out useless. But you can never be too prepared when it comes to waking up for that 7 a.m. business call. That’s why having an alarm clock (the kind without all the fancy features and that you know how to work) can be extremely useful on trips.

7. USB Portable Humidifier ($30): Traveling means new environments, new people and new foods. It can be all-around pretty stressful and cause a lack of sleep or even a head cold. This USB-powered portable humidifier works with all water bottle sizes and automatically shuts off after eight hours.

8. Transformable Baby Bag ($150): Traveling with a six-month-old baby can be a little worrisome for the baby, the parents and anyone within earshot. That’s why this transformable baby bag is a must-have for all jet-setting families. The bag itself is extremely light, has many pockets and, when you open it up fully, doubles as a diaper changing station or even a comfy crib. So if a relaxing baby makes a stress-free mommy, the $150 price tag is so worth it.

9. Scrubba ($55): This tool is great for long trips where you would need to wash your clothes, but don’t have time to look for a laundromat and don’t want to pay for the hotel’s laundry charges. The Scrubba is your portable washing machine, lined with little nodules all over the inside to create a washboard effect. It uses minimal water and only takes about three to five minutes of manual scrubbing for washing-machine-quality results. Just be sure you have somewhere to hang up your clothes to dry.

10. Travalo ($20): Who knew it’d be possible to transfer your favorite full-sized perfumes into travel bottles? Travalo has a leak-proof design, and it’s made from aircraft grade aluminum so you’ll have no trouble going through security.

11. AirPort Express ($99): Metro airports meet Apple’s AirPort, which allows you to have your own personal WiFi during your layover or even in your hotel room. Because really, who wants to pay for overpriced, weak hotel WiFi?

12. Karma ($149): If you don’t have an Apple device, then Karma can be your WiFi hub. The Karma Go is a hub that provides 4G LTE nationwide coverage. After purchasing the hub, it’s $14 for every gigabyte you use. Your data never expires, and you only pay for what you used that month. You don’t need to sign a contract, and there aren’t any other additional fees. Karma Go will begin shipping next month, and if you reserve one within the next week, you’ll get $20 worth of free data automatically.

13. Collapsible Travel Cup ($8): If you’re traveling with your furry friend, having a collapsible travel bowl for food and water is a must. This particular one comes with a carabiner so you can clip it onto your carry-on and always have it ready to go for your pal.

14. Jewelry Travel Case ($45): At a first glance, this travel case looks more like a pencil case and even after opening it up, no one would ever think that this case holds your precious bling. With its multiple compartments, it can hold a variety of jewelry without having your necklace chain getting tangled around a hoop earring.

15. Portable Intruder Alarm ($13): This one is for those of you who like to feel extra secure and safe. Installation is super easy, and if someone opens your door, the little alarm is going to set off a blaring siren that’s powerful enough to scare off your intruder. A $13 well-spent!

16. Travel Steam Iron ($30): Your clothes were jammed into that carryon for three hours, so they’re going to need a little wrinkle releasing. This miniature steam iron is perfect for traveling because of its compact size and non-stick press plate.

17. Filtered Water Bottle ($20): Wherever you’re going, whether you’re a tourist or a local returning home, you should always have fresh, filtered water at hand. The Eau Good water bottle uses a filtering technique that the Japanese have used since the 17th century. That same technique is used in most water filters today, through the use of natural charcoal. When you first fill your bottle, give the charcoal six to eight hours to activate. It’ll purify your water for the next six months. Afterwards, your water is potable and stylishly portable.

18. Micro Pocket Projector ($300): If you’re on a business trip, this mini projector is a must-have. It’s HDMI-compatible with most devices, like smartphones, tablets and laptops, and the rechargeable battery lasts up to two hours — perfect for PowerPoints and slideshows. The projector can get as big as 50″, and its LED projector lamp creates great quality images. It also has a built-in speaker so you won’t need to bring any on the trip with you.

Which travel-sized options caught your attention? Talk to us in the comments below!

We might just be getting into the holiday spirit, but for the Radio City Rockettes, it's been Christmastime since September! In addition to a very enlightening game of This or That, twins Caitlin and Courtney Sullivan gave Brit + Co an inside look at what it's like to be a Rockette — and what they do the rest of the year. Consider this the perfect trivia for your Christmas dinner after you've mastered that Rockette red lip ;).

Here are 12 surprising things about being a Radio City Rockette.

1. Rehearsing for the Christmas season is a full-time job.

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Once the holidays roll around, the Radio City Rockette shows might last 90 minutes, but prepping for the season is a full work week. "The rehearsal season itself is six weeks long, six hours a day, six days a week," Courtney says. "So it is a long process and I feel like the rehearsals itself are like a bonding experience for us."

2. The Radio City Rockettes get some serious bonding time.

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"You spend a lot of time with the girls around you and within Radio City, our dressing rooms too," Courteney says of the Rockette rehearsal schedule. "I feel like that's the time when you really get to form those bonds with your sisters and really create magic that can be seen on stage too."

"Yeah, once we move into Radio City, this becomes your family, truly," Caitlin adds. "We spend every day, day in day out together, we spend the holidays together. So you naturally just become very close with everyone."

Each Rockette dresses up her getting-ready station.

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"Everybody dresses up their station to make it feel very homey," Caitlin says. "I like lots of like decor and festive lights, candles, all that fun stuff."

The women love to have treats in their dressing rooms!

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I'm literally snacking on a chocolate bar as I type this, and I'm not the only one who likes to have sweets on-hand! "I love Christmas cookies," Caitlin says. "We will do something with our dressing room and bring in treats every day. I feel like someone's bringing in something new."

The Radio City Rockettes perform up to 200 shows at Christmas.

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"The Rockettes perform up to 200 shows in a season, and the way that each show feels so special and individual, it's just amazing how you never know who's out in the audience seeing the show for the first time," Courtney says. "And the way the ladies in the line put their best foot forward every single time is so inspiring and made me want to give even more."

"It just really amazes me how dedicated and how hard working all the Rockettes are," Caitlin agrees. "And I think we always knew that, but then once you're in it, you have a whole new level of respect for how hard all these women work."

And each Rockette can perform in up to 4 shows a day!

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"I think sometimes people don't realize we can do up to four shows in the day, which is unreal and amazing," Caitlin says. "That might be a surprise to people when they're coming to a show. They might think we just have that one that day, but we actually might have two, three, or four in the day, which is pretty amazing."

But the Rockettes also find time to goof off.

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The Rockettes might be known for their precision, but Courtney promises their smiles are real! "We are having so much fun," Courtney says. "It's really just an amazing feeling to be on stage and we find times to laugh and joke around, but really obviously give our all to our craft. And I think people don't realize like we are really having an amazing time on and off stage."

The Radio City Rockettes really support one another.

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As you can imagine, a career as a Rockette comes with its challenges, but the ladies on the line always support each other. "I was really proud last year was our first season together and just to complete one full season is such an accomplishment," Courtney says. "I feel like we're ready to take it on again and know like we absolutely can do it. And with the support of everyone around us too, you know, you're going to get through the entire holiday season and you're gonna come out even stronger."

The Radio City Rockettes can work a bunch of jobs during the summer.

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The Rockettes have a busy schedule during Christmas — but that doesn't mean they kick up their feet the rest of the year! "Every person on the line has a very diverse background and they go to different job opportunities throughout the year," Courtney says. "People are pulled in different directions when the holiday season is over. The Rockettes do work year-round [with] different opportunities."

"We're always looking to continue to dance and work on our precision," she continues. "The summer though, our favorite thing is to go to the beach. We're from New Jersey and the Jersey shore is like our home. So if we're not dancing, you can definitely find us relaxing on the sand."

The best thing about performing New York City can also be the most challenging.

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You know how, when people talk about New York, they say, "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere?" That's because it's hard to live here y'all!

"This is just the city that never sleeps," Caitlin says. "There are people everywhere. It's always alive. There's just something magical about New York and I love that. And I think that could come with the biggest challenge as well: the city that never sleeps. You feel like you're going, going, going at all times. But that's pretty exciting to do at our age, living out our dreams. I feel like that will never get old."

"I feel like we have no complaints here!" Courtney adds.

Even as a Radio City Rockette, the work is never done.

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"I feel like there's always room for improvement," Courtney says. "Even today, as we're living at our dream, we're continuously working on our technique and our precision and going back to our foundation, I think the work is never done and you can continue to dream and accomplish some of those really major goals."

"Yeah, the work is never done is I think is kind of our motto," Caitlin adds. "Just keep, keep pushing, keep driving and just keep dreaming. And never give up."

The Rockettes are like one big family.

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Just like so many of our favorite TV show and movie casts, the Rockettes love to bond! "The Rockettes truly feel like a sisterhood and we are so lucky that we are real sisters on the line together," Caitlin says, adding that to dance "with your sister is everything we always hoped for."

And those connections make a magical experience like New York at Christmas even more magical. "[To] be welcomed with open arms has been such a dream come true for us," Courtney says. "We just love the holiday season and to celebrate it at Radio City, I feel like I can't imagine anything better."

Read 35 Magical Photos Of Christmas In New York To Inspire Wanderlust for even more holiday cheer!

There's one popstar who's ready to get her "love on" — Selena Gomez is engaged! And in addition to Taylor Swift throwing her hat in the ring for flower girl and Hailey Bieber seemingly sending love to the happy couple, Selena continues to feel great as we get closer to the big day. Here's the latest news on Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco's engagement, because I simply can't get enough.

Here's how Selena Gomez's feeling after her engagement to Benny Blanco — and how they celebrated.

Benny Blanco's proposal to Selena Gomez proves how well he knows her.

Benny Blanco reportedly popped the question on December 11, and we know from Selena's photo dump that the engagement began in a park with a Taco Bell picnic. And honestly? I've never had more respect for someone. And ever Selena Gomez's ring found its permanent home on her finger, sources says she's been "glowing."

“They’re so supportive of each other,” a source tells People. “He wants the best for her and she wants the best for him. They’re perfect together. They really are.”

These two know each other inside and out, and considering Benny Blanco grabbed Sel's favorite meal from Taco Bell, the proposal proves it! "It was very her," another source says. "It was a total surprise to Selena."

It's those tiny moments that are the most romantic to me because they prove you're willing to go the extra distance on tiny details other people would overlook. "Benny and Selena were so excited to share the news right away with their loved ones," the source continues, mentioning that the couple had an "impromptu gathering" with some friends and family members after Selena said yes. "It's such a true partnership between them."

And Selena Gomez has talked about how much Benny Blanco means to her.

Selena Gomez has spoken about how much Benny means to her, saying "he is my absolute everything in my heart" in the comments of an Instagram fanpage, while Benny told Howard Stern in May 2024 that he couldn't imagine his life without Selena in it. "I just know that when I look at her, I just say, ‘I don’t know a world where it could be better than this.’ That’s what I always say to her.”

And in March 2024, Selena Gomez posted the sweetest tribute for Benny's birthday, honoring his "emotional endurance, positive disposition, unbelievable talent (that blows me away), undeniable humor and loving, kind heart." Now they get to spend every birthday together!

Check out Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen's amazing proposal pictures for more celebrity engagement goodness.

If Gilmore Girls andThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel have shown me anything, it's that creator Amy Sherman-Palladino always has an incredible story up her sleeve. Her new show Étoile, which is coming to Prime Video, promises to be a beautiful and sophisticated look at the world of dance, and if the fact that it's from Amy wasn't enough reason to watch it, it's also Prime's first new show to get a two-season order! Here's everything we know about the series.

What is the next Sherman Palladino show?

Writer/Producer/Director Amy Sherman-Palladino, Writer/Producer/Director Daniel Palladino seen at Netflix's Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life premiere.Eric Charbonneau/Netflix

Following our beloved Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Dan and Amy Sherman-Palladino's next series is Étoile, which is set at two world-famous ballet companies in New York City and Paris. When both companies run into some trouble, the decide to swap their most talented stars in a last-ditch effort to save themselves.

And based on the first set leaks from New York City, it looks like Étoile will definitely be packing on the drama. This short clip shows Luke Kirby standing outside Lincoln Center in a serious conversation (probably about the fate of his ballet company, TBH).

"Well, guess that plan for early retirement will have to wait," Dan and Amy said in a joint statement (via The Hollywood Reporter). "Instead, we’ve decided to embark on an international journey with an unbelievable group of players and the most talented ballet dancers in the world. We will sleep when we’re dead."

But this isn't the first time ASP has forayed into the world of ballet! Her ABC Family series Bunheads (which premiered on June 11, 2012) follows Michelle (Sutton Foster) who moves to her hometown of Paradise and starts working at her mother-in-law's dance studio The Paradise Dance Academy.

Who will star in the new show?

Photo via WB

The best part is that the role of Michelle's mother-in-law is played by Emily Gilmore herself, Kelly Bishop!

When does Étoile premiere?

Anya Juárez Tenorio/Pexels

We don't have an official release date yet, but considering THR recently revealed the show will finish filming soon, we're hoping to see Étoile in 2025. Just like Gilmore Girls is the ultimate fall rewatch, maybe Étoile will be the ultimate winter rewatch!

Who's in the Étoile cast?

Luke Kirby attends the The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Finale Celebration at the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles on Mon, May 22, 2023. Todd Williamson/JanuaryImages/Prime Video

So far, we know that Étoile will star Luke Kirby, Gideon Glick, Camille Cottin, Simon Callow, Lou de Laâge, and David Alvarez. Yanic Truesdale, who played our favorite Gilmore Girls concierge Michel, has also joined the series as a recurring character! I'm so excited to see Yanic working with Amy Sherman-Palladino again — it's like a Gilmore Girls reunion!

What does Étoile mean?

Jeremy Thomas/Unsplash

Étoile translates to "star," and there are so many different connections here! We have the ballet stars themselves, but you also wish upon a star and reach for the stars when you're working towards a dream. If you ask me, Étoile is the perfect name for this series.

How many episodes does Étoile have?

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The first season of Étoile will have eight episodes total, but considering Prime Video ordered two seasons, we'll definitely be getting more episodes.

Are you excited to watch Étoile? Check back here for the latest news on the series, and stay updated on your favorite TV shows and movies on our Facebook!

This post has been updated.