Essentials ?

Also for me, I find after having a baby, tampons are really really uncomfortable, they seem to turn around and just feel terrible. I was using pads, but then my friend suggested this (I feel like saying, Mom, do you ever have that "not so clean" feeling) and I bought one at our local ethical vegan supermarket, and I liked it!!

Exactly.  Plus, pads are really bad for the environment in addition to being mega expensive, IMO.

I've not been back to the US in 8 years (about to experience reverse culture shock when we finally venture back), so whilst I do have things I like to have brought along, for the most part there are subs and alternatives that work in a pinch if need be.

Heh. Sounds like you guys are talking about the Tassaway. It hit public consciousness about the same time as the Tasaday. I always get them confused.

Heh. Sounds like you guys are talking about the Tassaway. It hit public consciousness about the same time as the Tasaday. I always get them confused.

I saw a movie about the Tasaday when I was in sixth grade, I remember it like it was yesterday. It was the same week as "Bring your Cabbage Patch Doll to shool day" I just remember it...dunno why. And shortly after that we saw a film about how our bodies worked. AND I have a Tassimo machine to make coffee, but I don't remember the Tassaway. 

The Discovery taco seasoning is so close, I don't notice the difference (there isn't any curry powder in that one, at least!) But I tend to do my own these days. It's pretty easy to do. ... If you want to think ahead to Thanksgiving, and you have something that you would just NEED to have in order to make it feel like the holiday, you might want to bring it.

I haven't heard of Discovery before.  Thanksgiving reminds me that canned pumpkin is hard to find here.

(Okay, that's got it. I'm sure there are no guys on the thread any more...)

Unfortunately, that was incorrect  .  However, my wife is an evangelist for the Diva Cup  (which looks like the same thing as the Moon Cup except from the States?), so I'm used to this kind of talk.

Dude, what's up with that?  I bought a container of cajun spice from ASDA and the cumin is so strong I can't stand it.  I like curry, just not in my canjun. How any one can confuse the two is beyond me.

Have you looked online for recipes to make your own cajun spice?  One of my friends (from Texas, no less) tried making some chicken once and said he was using the cajun spices from here and couldn't tell the difference.  He clearly was wrong!  I still get family to send me large containers of Tony's Seasoning when I run low.

I recommend the Mooncup (www.mooncup.co.uk). So much easier than buying tampons and/or pads every month!

Did you try Instead Softcup when you were in the US? Is it similar?

On a personal note, if you really like oatmeal, you might want to bring some, as all I have found here is porridge, which is mushy and not the same whatsoever.

If it's "old-fashioned" oatmeal you're after, look for "jumbo oats". A bit harder to find than porridge oats (which are pretty much the same as quick oats), but health food shops and larger supermarkets should have them--try goodnessdirect.co.uk if you're desperate.

If it's "old-fashioned" oatmeal you're after, look for "jumbo oats". A bit harder to find than porridge oats (which are pretty much the same as quick oats), but health food shops and larger supermarkets should have them--try goodnessdirect.co.uk if you're desperate.

I'll keep that in mind for the future, however, my mom is sending me some of the packets of maple and brown sugar instant oatmeal... yippeee!!!!    Yeah, porridge is like prison food. It's gruel, not oatmeal!!! 

I'll keep that in mind for the future, however, my mom is sending me some of the packets of maple and brown sugar instant oatmeal... yippeee!!!!    Yeah, porridge is like prison food. It's gruel, not oatmeal!!! 

Ewwww, instant oatmeal is wallpaper paste, not oatmeal!

Ewwww, instant oatmeal is wallpaper paste, not oatmeal!

OK, well you got me there, but it's still at least 100 times better than slop porridge! I do love the real deal with cinnamon apples on top, but I'm usually too lazy to do that myself in the early mornings. I used to get it this way at a restaurant called Le Peep in the states, but I think the chain shut down anyway, so no point missing it! 

Essentials for me would definitely be things to make Mexican food with--mainly chile verde sauce in a can, for easy green chile enchiladas and burritos. I have yet to find that, all I can find is Old El Paso in Morrison's, and it tastes *alright* but not quite the same 

Thankfully I haven't had problems finding tampons/pads here in the UK; I use pads generally (it's what I was raised on, and it's the most comfortable for me IMHO) and Tesco has the name brand stuff I use here in the US (without divulging too much info, I stick with the brands I know--my body doesn't really like new stuff ). And I actually don't mind English peanut butter, even though I've heard horror stories

So yeah, stuff for Mexican food if that's your deal, maybe stock up on some clothes (I find I have cheaper and more varied options here in the US). Definitely OTC stuff like Tylenol (or PM) and stuff--nothing makes me sadder than only being able to buy one tiny box of paracetamol and only tiny box of ibuprofen, like I'm gonna overdose on the stuff and need to be protected

Speaking of Mexican food, I think I read something on here about not being able to get Adobo seasoning in the UK. Is this true?

Each time I've visited the States I've always gone to Costco and bought:

-double pack of Lawrys Course Ground Garlic Salt
-double pack of 500 count Ibuprofen.
-100 count pack of DayQuil & NyQuil Gelcaps (or generic equivilant)
-300 count bottle of generic claritin.
-4pk of Secret Platinum invisible solid.
- and 2 cartons of DH's ciggies (we each pack 1 carton).


Everything else I've been able to find a UK equivilent. Though next time I go I'm gonna try to bring back the HUGE Safeway Southwest Salsa (medium) jug.

Huh. I'll admit it was more convenient to buy a few hundred pills at a time -- and the bubble pack all pills come in here drive me wild -- but I buy packs of 48 double-strength (400 mg) ibuprofen at a time. Which isn't that big an imposition.

Also, does Nite Nurse not have the same active ingredients as Nyquil?

OK, well you got me there, but it's still at least 100 times better than slop porridge! I do love the real deal with cinnamon apples on top, but I'm usually too lazy to do that myself in the early mornings. I used to get it this way at a restaurant called Le Peep in the states, but I think the chain shut down anyway, so no point missing it! 

We used to go to Le Peep in Boca Raton FLA near where my grandparents live, when I was there in Boca last month I was thinking about Le Peep...I think I had a Le Peep TShirt in the 80's.

Funny, it never really occurred to me to bring back meds when I was living in the UK.  I just went with whatever I found in the chemist's.  May have yearned for Kaopectate (don't they sell that now?) The only food items we brought back were kid stuff like the plain Cheerios and Annie's mac and cheese ("Bernie Bunny").  No, I tell a lie: I was known to bring in unsweetened chocolate for making brownies! And B&M baked beans, which were regarded as too precious to eat so sat there until they exploded!  My mother once brought a large steak in her hand luggage (raw).  She thought we were dying for meat from their favorite butcher.   
Also yellow "legal" pads for DH.  Never brought in deodorant or cosmetics -- except what I might have bought while visiting.  Did bring Coast soap though.