My packing tips.

You all know that I travel enough for the both of you, me, and then some - some for fun, but mostly for work these days.  My flight back to LA from Atlanta on Sunday will be flight #24 for me this year, and it's only the 32nd week of the year...ouch. 

To ensure a successful all-around trip, I've come to learn very quickly that I must pack effectively.  On the rare occasion that I've done a terrible packing job and not paid much attention to what I was throwing in my suitcase, I've ended up having to make multiple trips at the drug store or running to whatever local clothing/shoe store I can find to supplement what I've brought with me.  (And then there are the extreme times when I've landed without baggage at all - remember the time my suitcase traveled the world without me and ended up being found in Mexico?  That was brutal.)  I know that many girls I know start prepping for a trip and packing a week in advance, but with the frequency at which I find myself at an airport, that would just leave me in travel-mode constantly.  So I'm the opposite of that: I pack practically the morning of.  (I packed, showered, and was out the door and on my way to the airport in right at an hour Wednesday morning!)

Renee asked me this week if I've ever done a "How To" post on packing, and I realized I haven't!  Since I have kind of developed a system for packing though, I thought I'd try to share a bit of how I execute the packing process, in case it may help any of you in prepping for your next trip.  (Thanks for the idea, Renee!)

I think the most important part of my packing system is that I have a Hanging Cosmetic Case (similar to this one) that I only use when I travel, and that I always keep stocked with travel sized basics: 

• tooth paste, tooth brush, floss
• bobby pins, ponytail holders, hairspray
• nail clippers, clear nail polish, nail polish remover pads
• dry shampoo spray, humidity-resistant mousse (for those hot Southern trips)
• contact lens holder, contact solution, extra set of contacts
• Q-tips
• body lotion
• deodorant stick, extra razor
 

When it comes to time to pack my toiletries, being able to just grab this off the back of my bathroom door and throw my regular shampoo, conditioner, and facewash into the bottom pouch makes the process that much less stressful.

Then I go through my mental checklist.  I always think by bigger category and then narrow it down, which keeps my mind from going in fifty directions at once.  Here's what I think through:

• Clothes
• Apparel to match the weather.  I've come to kind of know the general weather of my regular travel destinations around the country depending on what time of year it is, but if I am unfamiliar, I definitely check weather.com.  And definitely make sure to pack a sweater no matter where your destination.  No matter if it's chilly or not, you may run into vicious air conditioner indoors.
• Undergarments.  The usual, plus a sports bra or two for workouts, and always socks. (For your sneakers for a workout, and for sleeping - hotel rooms can get chilly!) 
• Shoes. 
• I know us girls always want to pack heels and be cutesy, but definitely make sure you pack your flats.  You never know when your go-to heels will suddenly rub you the wrong way, or God forbid you sprain your ankle or something and all you've packed are heels and sneakers??  Pack the flats, girls.
• Also, I make sure to pack my sneakers for the nights that I get to squeeze in gym time.
• Toiletries.  See above for what I always keep in my travel toiletry/comsetic case.
• Makeup / haircare. 
• I keep all of my makeup in a makeup case (I like this one, by Stephanie Johnson) as it is, so that's easy for me to just toss in my suitcase. 
• For hair care, I go more minimalistic when I travel.  I don't bring all of my fun tonics and sprays - just my regular shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in conditioner (I used Davines - it seems to do a great job protecting my hair from all the climate change that I put it through).  Additionally, I always pack my hairdryer (I hate hotel hair dryers - they always seem to take forever to dry my long hair!), straightener, and both hair brushes that I use: one flat wooden brush + one round one for drying.
• Jewelry / accessories.
• Last but not least, I always pack my jewelry roll (mine is similar to this one, also by Stephanie Johnson).  I really wear a lot of black or solid colors in my everday life, but I love to accessorize - necklaces, big rings, earrings, bracelets...you get it.  So I make sure to stock my jewelry roll with my favorite pieces so that I can accessorize based on what my mood of the day is. **Very important: I never put my jewelry roll in my regular suitcase.  This always gets tucked into my carryon bag or handbag.
• At least one scarf.  I'm a scarf-aholic.  (And I always find myself chilly.)
• Belts.  Part of my job involves selling leather belts, so I need to always make sure that I have belts for function and fashion.
  

• Carry-on.
• Last but not least, I generally carry a carry-on bag in addition to my handbag du jour.  My go-to carry-on is the Large Metro Tote in Black by MZ Wallace.  I la-la-love this bag and it's capacity to fit everything, plus my kitchen sink.  In here I always put:
• Laptop & iPad.
• Chargers for my electronics.  I learned back in February 2008 when I was stranded at the airport during a Chicago blizzard to NEVER pack your phone charger in your checked bag.  If you are stranded for 10+ hours like I was, your phone will die, and you will have a minor anxiety attack from the combination of claustrophobia (from being stuck in the same terminal for so darn long) and no-phone-aphobia.  Take my word for it.
• Whatever book I'm currently reading.
• A hairbrush and a few makeup basics (powder, concealer, mascara), just in case.  (You never know who you'll end up running into at an airport - like the two separate times in a year that I was seated next to Brad Goreski.)
• Neck pillow.  I only bring this for my cross-country flights, not for shorter ones to Dallas or Vegas.
• Last but not least, a bottle of water (bought post-security, of course), and some sort of energy bar in case I get hungry.  Nothing is worse than being stuck during descent when you can't signal flight attendants but you all-of-a-sudden are overcome with thirst or hunger.  Dramatic, I know, but when you can't control a situation, don't you feel like you need whatever it is that you need, just that much more?

So there you have it.  Do you have any travel staples that I did not mention?  Or any tips or tricks that you follow?  Again, I think the most important part to my system is keeping my Hanging Cosmetic Bag stocked and ready to go at a moment's notice, but that may just be me :)

PS.  Happiest of 22nd birthdays today to our sweet girl, who we miss and love dearly. xoxo.

 

(Photo source)