I like to pack light. Actually, let me rephrase that. I'm learning to pack lighter, lol. No one wants to be that homie who packs their whole bedroom and never hears the end of it. That's why I wrote this. So you can be that person whose packing up for the road trip and hears, "That's all you brought?" It will feel like magic and you will look like the cool, low maintenance friend. (Lol does anyone else have this thought process?) Either way, here's eight Walmart travel items you need to buy today...

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​1. Crème Brulee Vaseline $1.87
I don't know about you, but I use Vaseline as chap stick. It's much cheaper and I can buy a giant tub that lasts me for over a year. However, when I travel, I hate bringing that big ol' tub. That's where this lil baby comes in. I say Crème Brulee, because that's the best kind. Who doesn't want dessert on their lips? 

​*Tip: Buy a big tub for yourself if you don't have one. That way, when the mini runs out, you can just scoop some into the old container. 

​2. Dr. Fresh Flossers $1.00
​I don't find flossing fun, but these cute lil guys are my new best friend. Imagine a flossing life without cutting off your finger circulation, lol. Ordinary floss might be a tad cheaper, but what are you more likely to use? 60 picks come in one pack. I may never buy real floss again. (Mhm and by that I mean dig one out of the closet from all my past dentist appointments lol) 

​*Tip: Buy this brand, it's mint waxed and has a toothpick on the end.

​*Travel perk: These babies will help cut your flossing time in half. Less time getting ready and more time to enjoy your trip!

​3. Equate's Grab-N-Go Bag $2.94
This is the most expensive item on the list, can you believe it?! Lol, this bag was a lifesaver on my spring break trip. I doubt I'll ever bring my normal sized shampoo containers again. Four bottles come in each bag and there's stickers so you'll know what's what. They include two blank labels too, in case you need to make your own. I made a "face" sticker for my face wash.

​*Tip: The bag itself is the best part. It keeps anything from getting on the stuff in your suitcase.

​*Travel perk: The bag is re-sealable, so I took mine into the shower. It was so nice not to juggle four bottles in my hand on the way to the bathroom!

4. Dial Silk & Magnolia Body Wash $.97
​This stuff smells like my childhood and I love it. I've used the Spring Water kind too and it's refreshing. I like Dial because it actually feels like a soap on my skin. I've used plenty of body washes that leave me with stinging skin and it sucks. Try this stuff. It's cheap and I dig it.

​*Tip: This bottle will ALSO fit in your plastic bag from above. I fit five bottles in mine just fine and it was Gucci. What a win.

5. Equate Hand Sanitizer $.96
​If you hate washing your hands as much as I do, you need this. I was a little worried about trying this off brand, just because sanitizers are hit or miss. You know the kind that stay sticky and you feel like you're attracting more germs than killing? Yeah love those little devils. Anyway, I trust this brand. It ain't anything fancy, but it sure does the job.

​Travel perk: It's under 3.4 ounces, so perfect to take on the plane with ya!

​6. Gold Bold Lotion $.97
​This lotion is a killa. I always use it every time I put on sanitizer (because hey every sanitizer makes your hands dry). I use this stuff on my face after I shower too if I don't have my Vaseline lotion. Works like a charm.

​Travel perk: Saltwater can make my feet pretty dry. I like to throw this on them after I swim in the ocean!

​7. Toothbrush Holder $.97
I've spent the last 20 years wrapping my wet toothbrush in toilet paper to transport it lol. OR A PLASTIC BAG, don't judge me. (I've probably wasted like 100 bags now that I think about it.) I seriously just thought these holders were $5 LOL! Well, they aren't and everyone needs one.

​Travel perk: I have an issue with leaving my toothbrush places. (Among everything else I own lol) I feel like this bright pink container will definitely help with that.

​8. Q-tip Case $1.48
I use Q-tips for everything. Touching up my mascara. Removing nail polish. Cleaning my ears after taking out my earrings. This holder comes with 30 Q-tips ready to go and you can always fill it up when it goes empty. Normally I throw a few in a plastic bag and call it good. However, this case says let's get organized.

​Travel perk: Throw this in your purse or backpack and you won't have to worry about random germs sticking to the cotton!

The great thing about this list? It doesn't even hit $12. I feel like an expert traveler running around with these. Walmart is the best. Buying things for an upcoming trip doesn't have to be an investment, just be smart. :) I hope this was helpful! 
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​*What travel items do you love? Do you consider cost?

​*I love buying a few new clothing pieces before each trip. (and by new I mean GOODWILL) Would you read a post about that?

​Related posts:
​-5 Packing Essentials for Colorado
​-4 Camping Inspired Outfits
​-7 Verses to Remember While Traveling

​Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest for more tips and inspiration :)

Pinterest is my second highest source of traffic. I often mention this in various Facebook groups and 90% of the time, bloggers ask for tips. That being said, I've been compiling a word document of helpful information and thought hey, this would be a great blog post.
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1. I pin 30-50 times a day and receive a follower rate I'm proud of. Every week I focus on a different social media platform to pour my time into. If it's Pinterest, I'll aim for 100 pins a day.

2. Delete group boards unrelated to your niche. When I first heard of group boards, I went crazy and applied for all sorts of boards because I wanted to get my posts in front of EVERYONE. It was the wrong move. You want your posts in front of the right people. 

3. To find the right people, use pingroupie.com. Use the category section to identify your niche and then apply to boards that would be your ideal audience/blogging community. I look for boards with a high following.

4. Be mindful when you're pinning. I use to carelessly throw pins into boards and not look at them again. Before I pin to my "Travel Inspo" board, I ask myself, "Would I post this photo on my Insta?" I ask that because my boards represent me and my brand. I want people to come to my profile and expect a certain standard. Pin carefully and choose pins that will help you stand out. 

5. Always, always, always pin to group boards after you publish a blog post. Make a spreadsheet of what each group board allows. (This is why you need to be selective with picking boards. Participating in too many can be overwhelming.) Don't forget to pin relevant content (that isn't yours), so you won't spam followers/contributors and get kicked out.

6. Don't stop reading blog posts about Pinterest. I'm not gonna lie, I hit 1,000 followers and I thought I knew everything. The moment I stopped reading, was the moment I stopped learning. I hope to edit this post one day and add a world of new tricks.

7. I get tired of my pins (made on Canva) easily. Delete pins that didn't get much attention and change up your typical look. Find a new template you love and stick with it. People will still recognize your work. Remember to include your blog domain to remind people who you are. 
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8. I hated writing Pinterest descriptions at first. They aren't fun. I just finished a blog post and the last thing I wanna do is write a description, including key words. However, these are straight up NEEDED. I find mine by typing my blog post topic into the Pinterest search bar and recording those key words. (Is this how other people do it too lol? Always wondered.)

9. You want to be known for your boards. That being said, make sure you have a fair amount of pins in each board. Most bloggers recommend having a 100 pins at minimum.

10. Teach yourself how to pin super fast (+mindfully) or invest in a software like Tailwind. I tried the free trial and didn't necessarily understand it. I plan on purchasing a plan sometime this summer once I have the funds to do so. I wouldn't normally recommend a software without successfully using it myself, but a lot of bloggers I trust use it and receive insane traffic with it. 

I've taught myself to do 100 pins in about 15 minutes. I put in my headphones and play three killa hype songs, then boom, I'm done.
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11. Use your Facebook groups to learn about Pinterest and find boards. I probably found 70% of my boards using my Facebook groups. Board owners often create a thread and ask people who are willing to join. (Look for these!) If you can't find any, create your own thread and ask if anyone is looking for board contributors, in your specific niche. (Make sure you are allowed to create your own threads before you post)

12. Track your progress using Pinterest Analytics. I normally only write down my monthly viewers, follower rate, and occasionally monthly engagement. Generally, on the first of every month, I'll create a Pinterest follower goal. This is an important habit to start if you are just beginning your blogging journey. It will motivate you to be consistent and complete your social media routine daily.

I had high hopes of creating an "Omaha based" travel post this week. Although, I didn't factor in that I'd be spending most of my weekend in Aurora for Hunt's birthday lol. (My sister) I hope this post helps you kill it on Pinterest! I love watching my account grow and helping others do the same. 

*What Pinterest tricks do you have?

*Do you have a Pinterest account for your blog? How often do you pin?

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