Issue #246: Daily Essentials I Love So Much, I Bought a Second for My Van

Plus other obsessively selected items.

When I picked up my van last fall, I had been planning for it and working with my builder on it for over a year, and saving for many more. I had plenty of time to envision (and obsess over) my dream space on wheels, which functions at times as a forest cabin, urban oasis, surf or ski shack, festival headquarters, or writing retreat, depending on the day. One of the aspects I found most challenging, but also appealing, was how to create this in such a tiny space; I wanted it to be all of these things, and look cute at the same time (…the phrase “backwards and in heels” comes to mind).

I thought carefully about every single item I put in the van, ensuring that everything, down to the dish towels, would be both functional and decorative. I may have driven myself a bit nuts in the process, but the effort feels worth it, given how inviting and functional the space is now, with only my absolute favorite things. My deep-dive into hyper-curating a small space also had a reciprocal impact on my home: I filled the van with some of my favorite products from home, while I began to donate things at home once I learned how little I really need to feel like I have everything. Today, I’m sharing my favorite things in the van, including:

• The items I love so much from home, I bought a second for the van

• Functional clothes that work for hiking or dinner

• Those gorgeous dishtowels (which I’ve used and loved at home for years!)

P.S. As always, there are no affiliate links, partnerships, or trades in this post—just genuine recs!

*Our Place Pans. While ceramic coatings have notoriously short lifespans, I still love my Our Place pans, which I appreciate for their ease and cute colors. I bought the mini versions of the two I have at home and rarely find myself limited by what I’m able to cook in the van (you can often find them new on Poshmark, which is how I bought most of mine!). *Denotes something I loved so much, I bought a second one for the van.

Yeti 14-Ounce Mug. I once tested around thirty to-go mugs for an article, but this one is my favorite for a few reasons: It’s the perfect size for my matcha, it keeps the contents warm (even without the lid, which I try to avoid drinking from, since it’s plastic), and it has a wide mouth, which feels more like a ceramic mug. If ordering a drink to-go, I generally use one of my tumblers from Stumptown Coffee, since they’re cute, have spill-proof lids, and are slightly smaller.