Friday Favorites – Packing
Happy Friday! What better day of the week to talk about packing than Friday? Dreaming of a vacation is always more fun when it’s the weekend right? I’m a perpetual over packer but have learned to pack a little lighter after missing a flight because I needed to check a bag. More trips than not, I now fly with a carry on and it’s made life so much simpler and I don’t have to worry about being without all my favorite things.
I love this packing flow chart and realized the step that might help me the most is to actually make a packing list! This seemed reasonable versus the haphazard way I was pulling out clothes the night before and shoving into my bag in fear of not having just the right thing to wear. Now I start with my itinerary and make a list of the outfits that work for each day. Once it is on paper it is so much easier to see what items could partner with one another on various days to create more of a capsule wardrobe.
Seems like a crazy question to ask if you can lift your bag, but this is one of the big rules I’ve had even for my kids. If you can’t carry it, you can’t bring it! Having a carry on rolling suitcase paired with a backpack has always been the easiest way for us to insure everyone can carry their own luggage. I grabbed this travel backpack for our most recent trip to Hawaii and was amazed by just how much it could hold and still fit under the seat on the plane.
I almost always head back to this post by Cassie at Hi Sugarplum and review before packing. Lots of helpful tips. One of my favorite tips I’ve learned from her is to use the space in my shoes to pack items.
Packing cubes are another solution I’ve found incredibly helpful. You will be surprised how much more you can actually fit into a carry on using the cubes to sort your items. Typically I use one for clothes, a small one for undergarments and athleisure and a third for my hair tools and miscellaneous items. Of course learning to fold the clothes to maximize space is the game changer and you can find so many You Tube videos that will show you just how to make this work if you want to invest the time. With baggage fees a given on most airlines, time literally is money!
Typically we are heading for short trips and coming home with lots of dirty laundry but sometimes there are items we did not wear and who wants to mix the clean and dirty laundry together? Using packing cubes can also help you keep the laundry separate or there have been many times I’ve added our dirty clothes to one suitcase with the remaining clean in another.
Of course the first step is always getting all the dirty laundry clean so the packing can begin right? Blah! I’m hoping the fact that our next trip is taking us away to a warm climate when we are just heading into spring at home will mean I don’t have to stress with this detail before packing!
Hope the next time you travel you are able to use a few of these tips to maximize your carry on but still have plenty of great looks to create a stylish vacation!
For the past two years we have not checked a bag when we have flown, best decision ever! I totally believe I could pack for 10 days in one carryon. I love the flow chart. 🙂 Have a great Friday!
Me too Jessica! I still manage to over pack even in my carry on!
Oh my gosh! I totally hate packing and need to go to an Over-packers anonymous meeting every time I travel. We always check our luggage, but we fly Southwest 99% of the time and it’s so easy with them. Have the best get away with your man!!!
A few years back we missed a flight and the year before had our luggage lost for over a week (on the way home thank goodness). After those two times I decided I was going to try the carry on method and now we are addicted to having our things by our side. We have kind of mastered it and I still mange to over pack every single time!
I hate packing too – it’s difficult for me to figure out what I might need. It’s nice when I’m traveling with my sister though because she’s pretty good at packing and I can use some of her things. LOL
-Lauren
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Lauren, traveling with a sister would be a game changer! I actually didn’t do half bad this time but still over packed.
Have a fantastic trip! Packing is definitely the most stressful part of a trip for me.
Me too Penny! The last thing I ever want is to arrive and feel frumpy about my choices!
Packing is so hard!!! I am so happy for you, you need this trip mama, you hard working babe! Have a ball!
Oh yes, I am always afraid of getting there with nothing to wear! I over pack all the time! I like the idea of a carry on and I try to do that but then I get anxious and start throwing extra things in.
You are going to have a wonderful time on a much needed and well deserved vacation with your man! Enjoy sweet friend, have the BEST time!
xo,
Kellyann
Kellyann I am pretty sure we are long lost sisters! I definitely have packing anxiety….I start off so calm and by the time it’s all done I’ve over packed AGAIN.
You guys are going to have a great time! Can’t wait to stalk your IG! 😉
I have gotten better about packing less but it’s hard for me! We just went to Florida for a week and knowing we had a washer and dryer we all packed three outfits… I was so sick of my three tops by the end of the week! But I did love travelling with just a carry on. Next time I’ve decided I could pack fewer bottoms and one or two more tops. 🙂
I have mastered the carry on but am still managing to over pack. This trip I had two dresses, one pair of pants and 4 tops I didn’t even touch. Lol…I’m paranoid about arriving and feeling like I have no choices.
Oh my gosh, I’m a habitual over-packer, and I HATE packing. I can spend really the entire day before a trip just packing! I love you list of how to pack! Can’t wait to see photos from your trip!
I’m always terrified I will have nothing to wear once I arrive! It’s kind of ridiculous. Even in my carry on I managed to over pack and could have stayed another 5 days! haha
I am sitting here in my chair, watching RHWONJ and reading blogs. LOL annnndddd I should be packing for Maui. Have a fabulous getaway with Keith! I better get my butt in gear! Aloha!
Hope you guys have had an amazing time! Your IG made it look fabulous!
I’ve gotten a little better at packing, but I could definitely do better. What a great flow chart! Have a wonderful vacation!
I still over pack…even in my carry on Lana!!
I didn’t realize your Az trip was coming so quickly. I just saw your room on Instastories…luxurious!! Hope you have a fabulous time. Regarding packing, for awhile I was trying to use a United credit card to get free checked bags. Then I just decided that I didn’t like hauling a big bag around anyway, so now we are all carry-on in our family. I bought a wonderful new suitcase, but now I’m not quite sure when I’ll get to use it! Maybe spring break!
Learning to pack in a carry on has seriously been a game changer. Even this time I had 3 outfits I didn’t even wear so it’s obvious I totally have been over packing all of my life. We grabbed this last set up carry ons from Target but I definitely think when we pass them down to Carly and Dillon we will invest in some a little nicer…I’d like the hard sided ones. I’m so sorry your Thanksgiving plans got cancelled friend!!