Tavia Brown
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Age: 33
Occupation: Owner, designer and creator of taviametal
Even though Tavia Brown only has two children, she often jokes that she has four. “My husband owns a business too, so with the kids and the two businesses, it’s like having four kids,” she says. Accordingly, Tavia has honed a very simple, family-oriented approach to packing: She throws in what the kids will need, and then puts in a few things for herself. She travels a lot for work—craft shows take her all over Virginia, plus to places like Chicago and Philadelphia—and she spent a month in Europe during college which, she says, was “fantastic.” But Tavia’s best travel time is spent on vacation with her family. “Just going to the beach,” she says, “not a care in the world. Just put me on the beach.”
Toothbrushes
“I say ‘toothbrushes’ because I have kids,” Tavia says. Her son Watts, 4, and her daughter Macey, 16 months, influence a lot of what she brings overnight.
Colgate toothpaste
Because her husband has really sensitive teeth, Tavia buys “normal, old-school” tartar-control Colgate. “He can’t use toothpaste with any sort of whitening,” she says. But every once in a while, if she has them on hand, she’ll throw a few tubes of toothpaste from the dentist into her bag.
Mary Kay Tinted Lip Balm in Apricot
“I just bought this,” Tavia says. “It has SPF in it, which I really like.”
Travel bottles for shampoo and conditioner
A self-described low-maintenance traveler, Tavia usually packs whatever she has on hand. “Whatever’s in the bathroom is what I squirt in the bottle!” she says. “I don’t even own a hairbrush.”
Almay Antiperspirant & Deodorant
This non-scented deodorant really appeals to Tavia because it’s hypoallergenic.
Vitamins
Tavia is a big believer in vitamins. “I take one a day,” she says. “Having kids, it’s essential.”
Covergirl Instant Cheekbones blush in Sophisticated Sable, Clinique Lash Doubling Mascara, Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Birthday Suit
Tavia doesn’t generally wear makeup, but the bright lights of indoor craft shows leave her looking washed out. “I just need something to brighten me up,” she says. These three products—in neutral tones—do just that.
Lubriderm lotion
Because of her Basal Cell Carcinoma, Tavia was attracted to this lotion for its SPF 15. Plus, it’s not greasy and it doesn’t leave any residue. “At the end of the day, my skin felt like skin,” she says.
A box of taviametal jewelry
Tavia always takes a box of “personal” jewelry—her own work—with her when she travels. A professional jeweler, Tavia’s industrial designs come from memories, family and life experiences. “It’s a bunch of different stuff because I never know what mood I’ll be in.”
