Showing posts with label packing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label packing. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Lessons I've Learned from Over Packing circa 2013

I try hard not to over pack but I don't think I've ever travelled and used every item in my bag. I always pack too many, just in case items.  This past week was our annual beach trip. Try as I did to only pack the necessary, I still over packed.  My biggest mistake this year was packing at the last minute. I have had super busy weeks at work lately and didn't feel like packing when I got home. In summers past, I laid out my travel items. This year, I thought I would show you what I took with me and what I should have taken.

First the items I took with me. I didn't include my bras and undies. Also, these are similar to items I own but not all of them are exact. I've divided my clothing into beach and non beach items.

Beach packing 2013

 

Items packed:
2 pairs of cropped pants (3 total, wore one pair to the beach)
6 tank tops
5 t-shirts
2 fancier tops (wore one to the beach)
2 pairs of cut off shorts
2 dresses (sundress and a cap sleeve jersey dress)
2 skirts
2 cover ups
2 bathing suits (4 pieces)
2 sarongs
work out pants
socks
bras
undies
2 pairs of sandals
2 pairs of flip flops
1 pair of running shoes
1 large brim sun hat
1 panama hat
3 pairs of earrings
3 bracelets
Kindle
various magazines
book
craft projects

I didn't need three pairs of pants. I didn't need all of the jewelry I took. We don't go out at night. We cook dinner at the house and hang out and play volleyball. I didn't need two dresses and two skirts. I wore my cut offs most of the time. I took a pair that was frayed and a pair I cut in a scallop pattern.


Beach Packing 2013



Above are the items that went to the beach with me on various days. I definitely didn't need two cover-ups or three pairs of sunglasses. I also wished that I had a one piece suit instead of two sets of separates. I packed it all in my large suitcase.  We have a washer and dryer at the house and I always throw a load of laundry in while we are there. It's easy to do laundry while you're drinking at night. It makes it less like work. If I had condensed I could have packed it all in my small carry on size suitcase.

I didn't wear these items at all:
sundress
1 skirt
3 tank tops
1 t-shirt
white cropped pants
2 pairs of earrings
1 bracelet
1 pair of flip flops, not pictured

I wish I had taken:
A thin sweater or sweatshirt
another pair of cute diy cutoffs (these have not been created yet)

While at the beach, my dress is incredibly casual. We don't go out at night, instead we enjoy time at the house. {msL} and I had one date afternoon lunch at a nearby seafood restaurant. But it's the beach and a casual dress or embellished sandals is about as fancy as folks get. It's North Carolina, not South Beach. I really believe I would have been better served to reduce my clothing to the items below.

Beach Style 2013 - What I Should Have Packed

 
Instead of all of the skirts and the extra sundress, I should have taken a maxi dress and a short sleeve dress. I should have also taken a pair of aviators. I took a pair last year and I missed them this year. I should have taken one statement necklace and one pair of earrings. That's all I need. I should have skipped the two cover ups and just taken one sarong. It was chilly a couple of nights and I wished that I had a pull over sweatshirt. I took a 3/4 sleeve casual jacket but it wasn't warm. I should have also added one cute top, but I'm still contemplating the style I should take.

Hopefully, I will learn my lesson next year and pack a little better. My super organized sister is going on a trip to Italy later this month, with only a carry-on. I'm in awe.





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Monday, July 11, 2011

Beach Trip - Adventures in Trying Not to Overpack

I'll be enjoying a vacation at the beach this week. I've set up a few posts this week. I'll share pictures with you when I return.

I'm a chronic over packer when I go on trips. My Honey and family can attest to this fact. In the last few years I've tried very hard to plan my outfits so that I don't take a bunch of clothes I don't need or won't wear. There have been trips where I only wore about half of the clothing that I packed.

I've read a million strategies on packing. Some work for me and some don't. One of the best tips I picked up was to pick coordinating color palettes when packing. It helps me to keep from packing clothes that are random. Right now, I am loving the aqua and coral color palettes. It feels so summer and beachy to me. Even the items I'm bringing that contain other colors will still coordinate with that palette.


I also try to semi plan my daily outfits. I have an outfit for each day with the flexibilty to change things up on a whim.  I also pack a bunch of jewelry and accessories. They don't take much space and can take a simple tank or tee from day to night.

Here is what I packed for our week at the beach...

Clothes and Accessories
2 mix and match tankini suits (4 pieces): Land's End and Catalina
2 sarongs: beach shops in Key West and North Carolina
Maxi cover up: Target
Kaftan with seqins: Target

1 pair of cropped pants - black: Goodwill
Poncho tee - off white: Neiman Marcus Last Call
Gray tencel tee: Target
Multi knee length dress: Kohl's
Maxi dress tank style - aqua ombre: Target
Maxi dress hi-low - floral: asos
Maxi skirt - aqua: Lane Bryant
Assorted tanks - white with sequins, coral, orange: Target and Old Navy
Open cardigan - white: Calvin Klein

Workout clothes and running shoes

Shoes
beach flip flops: Havianas via Nordstrom Rack
flat sandals- silver: Simply Vera Vera Wang for Kohl's
Birkenstock - silver: Sandal Factory
cage suede booties- tan: MIA via DSW
wedge strappy sandals - beige: Sam Edelman via DSW

2 hats: San Diego Hat Co. and Eugenia Kim for Target

Canvas Bag: Loehman's
Belt: Lane Bryant
Jewelry: various (see below)
Small bag for the beach - island shop, Isla Mujeres Mexico

assorted undies, bras, and a half slip
pj pants and tanks


Accessories and Jewelry
Fedora - Eugenia Kim for Target, Sun hat - San Diego Hat Co, Belt - Lane Bryant, Bag - Loehman's,
Silver Bangles - Kohl's, Freshwater Pearl necklace - art show, Flower ring - VA Museum of Fine Arts gift shop,
Sienna bracelet - JewelMint, Potion necklace - JewelMint, Mosaic ring - JewelMint,
Unlock My Heart Necklace - JewelMint, Crystal Skull necklace - Kohl's, Chain and Safety Pin necklace - DIY
Silver stud earrings - Taxco Sterling, Turquoise stud earrings - Penelope

As you can see, I didn't think you needed or wanted to see my undies and bras.  I also didn't get a picture of all of my shoes. With the exception of the Fedora that I'll be wearing and the bag, which I'll be carrying, everything fits in my medium sized duffel bag. My makeup and beauty items will be in my Mary Kay Travel Roll-Up Bag. It's the most genius travel item ever! I don't know how I ever lived without it. If you'd like to purchase one of your own, just click here.



Beach here I come!!!


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