Packing Tips for Long Vacations!

Hi Friends! Such a fun Tuesday for me…not only am I sharing a post with you that I’ve worked REALLY hard on, BUT I’m also taking over the @likeotknow.it Instagram account (!!!) with some other fab blogger babes and we are showing you around Charlotte. Make sure to follow along!

Back to today’s post…about all things PACKING…how to do it efficiently, still leave yourself with plenty of choices and how to choose the right pieces to take along. To be completely honest I am a notorious over packer. I am also notorious for waiting until the very last minute and then just throwing everything I own into a suitcase and hoping for the very best. Once Landry started traveling with me, I quickly realized my ways had to change. I had to become more efficient when packing for both of us (especially if I was traveling alone and would be the only adult wrangling all of the bags), without sacrificing style and still giving myself options (the thought of only one outfit option a day honestly gives me immediate hives). I knew about our extended trip home to Louisiana well in advance, so I decided to really give efficient packing a whirl and share my experience with you guys…

Monogrammed Duffle

Objectives:

-Fit 13 days worth of clothing, shoes, accessories and toiletries into one checked bag, one carry-on and my purse.

-Fit all of Landry’s clothes, shoes and toiletries into one carry-on rolling suitcase (since she requires a full price ticket, she can technically have her own carry-on). If you’re counting that’s 4 bags total, only one of which is to be checked.

-Have at least 15 outfits each. Don’t roll your eyes…remember how we discussed the fact that I need options?? I truly do dress according to how I feel and as cheesy as it sounds, if I don’t have the outfit that I want my mood kinda shifts. #nojudgementzone

-Understand that I needed the full scope of clothes…workout clothes, mom clothes, girls night out clothes, lounge clothes…we really do cover all bases while there.

-Be able to fit all beach essentials (suits, coverups, beach shoes, hats, sunscreen etc) into the suitcases as well, given that during our stay we would be spending 4 days at the beach.

-Be able to fit toddler essentials (sound machine, monitor, i-pad, a few toys, and activity books) and mommy essentials (laptop, camera, etc) into the above bags.

-Be able to manage all of the bags + Landry in the airport.

…Quite the tall order, right?? At least for me it definitely was. The hubs did a little chuckle when I told him my plans. BUT, to everyone’s surprise (including my own) I DID IT!!! See how…

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I started with tops and bottoms and focused on things that were lightweight (especially for Louisiana weather) and could pack nearly flat in my suitcase. I also zeroed in on tops that were versatile and easy to dress up or down. For example, the lace peplum in the center was easy to pair with denim shorts during the day and then pair back to the white jeans for a fun monotone summer look at night. I also really liked having the military vest to throw on over the tanks to completely change up looks. So 5 tops, 2 tanks, 1 pair of jeans, 3 pairs of shorts and 1 vest…12 total pieces to start.

RtoL: Chambray Top | Lace OTS Top | Stripe Cross Front Tank | Racerback Tank | Lace Peplum Cami | White Tank | Black Tank | Denim Shorts | Military Vest

On to dresses…I managed to fit 5 dresses into my bag…2 off the shoulder that are easy for day or night, 2 midi dresses and 1 maxi. All lightweight and easy to travel with, and most were easy to dress up with accessories, too!

Olive OTS Dress | Chambray OTS Dress | Mara Hoffman Shirt Dress | Ivory Slip Dress | Similar Maxi Dress

I always like to run when I’m on vacation, so I tried to make my workout gear also function as lounge wear. Easy to wash and dry, these pieces are cute enough to wear when lounging or even running a quick errand.

Nike Boyfriend Tank | Nike Swoosh Tank | Nike Full Length Compression Tights | Nike Crop Compression Tights | Marled Sports Bra (Walmart, yall) | Black Racerback Sports Bra | Running Shoes

Next up, beach essentials. I managed to only pack two full suits (and one alternate top), two coverups and two hats. A fun tip that actually worked was stuffing the hats with paper and they maintained their shape packed in my suitcase.

Fedora | Statement Hat | Scalloped Top | Pom Caftan (LOVE this, it’s also on major sale now)

Felt a little strange about sharing this, but I really wanted you guys to see everything. I brought two sets of jammies (normally I would have packed at least 4 pair, but PJs are another thing that wash so easily, it really isn’t necessary), 3 camisoles, 2 bandeau bras, 1 lace bralette, 2 everyday bras and 1 strapless.

Zebra 2pc Set | Sleep Dress (my favorite purchase in quite some time) | Basic Camisoles | Bandeau Bras | Racerback Lace Bralette | Strapless Bra | Basic Bras

I was SO nervous about shoes, but thankfully I am loving all of my neutral kicks this year, so it was super easy. My sandals packed up easily, I brought the flatforms as an “in between” shoe that could go casual or a little dressy and then snuck the heels in just in case a fun dinner came up!

Flatforms | Lace up Sandals | Basic Flip Flops | Similar Gold Slides | Similar Lace up Gladiators | Lace up Heels

Accessories were REAL hard. If you knew me well, you’d know that I ALWAYS get stopped in the TSA security line for a “suspicious collection of metal” in my carryon…ahem my accessories. They always laugh when they open the bag and ask if I’m moving to my destination, but I do not take accessorizing lightly. This time, I really zeroed in on what pieces I wear most often…neutral crossbody, go-to ballcap, gold hoops, statement necklaces, and gold bangles. I also use my jewelry organizer to gauge how I’m doing, as it fits the perfect amount of jewelry, without being aggressive.

CLT Hat | Neutral Crossbody | Leopard Clutch | Gold Hoops | Starburst Earrings | Gold Tassel Earrings | Body Chain | Gold Statement Necklace | Squash Blossom Necklace | Wooden Beaded Necklace | Gold Bangles| Beaded Bandana

Kendra Scott Jewelry Organizer for Travel

Toiletries always prove to be a last minute headache for me. I pack all of my clothes and then bam my luggage becomes over weight because I add 10lbs of face creams. Luckily, I have toothpaste, a razor, contact solution, shampoo and a blowdryer at my parents house, so that took a lot away from my normal essentials. One of my best tips for packing toiletries is to ditch the cutesy makeup bags and opt for packing things in plastic ziplocs. Ever since I had a perfume break in my bag and ruin all of my clothe,s I am scarred. I always double the bags and if something spills or leaks within them, the cleanup is easy and the mess is contained.

Colleen Rothschild Cleanser + Moisturizer + Facial Oil | Sublime Bronze Makeup Body Lotion (this stuff works miracles for a quick tan and any uneven skin tones) | Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer | Sublime Bronze Tan Towels | Needle Roller for Face | Round Brush | Volume Brush | Volume Tonic | XL Curling Wand

Next up is my duffle bag. First can we talk about how cute it is?? I cannot tell you how many people stopped me in the airport to ask about it…most thought that it was Louis Vuitton. Nope, not even close! It’s from a brand called Barrington gifts and is such a great price. They offer so many base patterns + stripe combinations and monogram fonts that my head was spinning. I decided on this one, which I feel is classic with a little whimsy and not something that I will tire of quickly.

In my duffle, I always pack:

-An extra change of clothes for both Landry and I

-My makeup bag

-My jewelry case

-iPad

-My laptop + camera

My purse is reserved for snacks, toys, wallet, phone, earbuds, and a water bottle

So, there you have it TONS of outfit combinations, 7 pair of shoes, beachwear, tons of accessories, athletic clothes, pjs, undergarments, and 2 weeks worth of toiletries…and my bag weighed only 41 lbs!!! Here’s how I made it all come together and some tips along the way!

Packing Tips:

-I started with an EXTRA light suitcase. I scooped this super lightweight spinner at Marshalls (but I found it even cheaper HERE) and it was a total game changer. I did not realize how heavy my previous suitcase was and, not only was this one easier to roll, but I came in well under weight and was able to pack a lot more.

-ROLL YOUR CLOTHES. Best tip of ever. If you tightly roll your articles of clothing, you are able to fit so much more in your suitcase, keep things very organized and the clothing stays put while traveling and doesn’t end up a wrinkled mess.

-Group your clothing into categories, roll them up and pack them in groups. This makes unpacking your bags at your destination easier and you can quickly find what you need.

-Identify key pieces in your closet that can easily be dressed up or down or worn various ways..pack these pieces. Also consider packing things that you always feel confident wearing…you know that one dress that you always feel great in? Pack that, too!

-Keep washability and wearability in mind. I try to avoid packing anything that isn’t machine washable, because who wants to find an out of town dry cleaner or let a stain get set while you wait to take it to the dry cleaner when you return home. Also focus on how many different times or occasions that you can wear a certain piece for the duration of your trip.

-Narrow down your beauty essentials. I always do a through clean out of my makeup bag before big trips and get rid of all of the fluff that builds up in there. I also really streamline what I pack regarding skincare. It’s always fun to try new things and experiment with beauty products when I’m at home, but when traveling I only have room for my tried and true items.

-Wear some of your heavier pieces during travel. I wore jeans and my heavy squash blossom necklace on our way there to alleviate some weight form my suitcase.

-Turn your clothing inside out to remind yourself what needs to be washed when you return home.

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Here’s how my bag came together…I packed tops + bottoms first, then shoes, then dresses, next was beach wear, then athletic clothes and finally toiletries. Undergarments always go in the inside flap (which is a great way to add some cushion so that your toiletries don’t break).

Here’s a peek at Landry’s. For her, I used this Hartmann spinner, which is SO much larger than it appears. In here I packed 20 pieces of clothes (shorts, shirts, and dresses), 3 pair of jammies, 4 swimsuits, 1 coverup, 4 pair of shoes, 6 bows, toiletries bag, her monitor and a bulky sound machine. Amazing, right???

And here we are…all ready to go!

So, what did you think? How did I do? I think that I did pretty well, especially for a girl who LOVES n outfit options. Would really love your feedback!