I typically use excel spreadsheets for packing and try everything on before I put it in a bag which is very Type A tight assed of me, I know. I have spreadsheets for cruises, long weekend trips (air), long weekend trips (driving), lake trips, beach trips, week at the beach trips, week long vacation trips (air) etc. etc. What can I say? I love a list.
Since this upcoming trip is a laid back casual clothes situation with a washer and dryer available, I simply laid out soft stuff on the bed in the spare room, let the piles sit there for a week, picked some things out of the piles and added some new stuff, and boom, done. Note: The description of this trip should prepare you for the photos you will see on social media of me wearing the same clothes with no makeup and hair that resembles a planet due to salt air.
The only thing I have left to pack are books (I'll take at least eight), mags, and electronics. The small electronics go in these smaller bags and everything will packed in the larger Stella & Dot I didn't use for clothes.
Gotta run. MFD (who packs a half hour before we leave for a trip) is reading articles like Avoiding Shark Attacks aloud. I need to take refuge upstairs with a book. Ahhh, vacation in the summer of the shark. TTFN.
When I moved here, it was summer 2008/2009. There is now a documentary on Discovery that is shown during Shark Week called the Summer of the Shark (or something like that). A girlfriend of mine that I lived with when I first moved here worked for the Premier (think Governor), and she was in charge of his media relations. She was answering all these questions at all hours of the night about various shark attacks. One at Bondi Beach, one in Sydney Harbour, one was a navy diver in training...it was all a little crazy for this girl who just moved to Australia.
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I wish we could beam ourselves and our stuff to places.
ReplyDeleteSafe and sound and happy travels!
Love, Your Momma
That sounds like the perfect vacation! I am already counting down for my Maine trip in August. Lounging and reading books all day. That bag holds a lot! Hope the week floats on by!
ReplyDeleteWow you really are super organized! Well at least you're not packing at the last minute. Have you seen the new collection of Vera totes? My sister just bought one and they are not the quilt designs or that material. They are big and the inside is water & stain proof. She has the tote in a confetti pattern that is so cute and not typical Vera Bradley. Just had to share!
ReplyDeleteLOL at hair that resembles a planet... I need to co-sign that when at the beach! Love your organizational skills, I make a list too for packing but it's on a random note pad with cross offs.
ReplyDeleteHave an amazing trip girl :)
I like that stella and dot bag you're taking - it looks like it holds a ton which is amazing!!! You are going to have the best time and obviously fully prepared for anything! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteI hate hate hate packing for a trip, it use to be easy when it was just me. When I had a kid I had to pack half the house, luckily she's getting old enough that most of the house can stay home these days.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen or heard of anymore shark sightings in the last week or so, maybe we're safe!
The title of this post made me happy enough that I had to acknowledge it by comment, using my phone. That's love. Also, 8 books?! Dang! I don't even make it through 1 on vacation! Are you doing the literary ladies thing? You're clearly going to win.
ReplyDeleteAt least MFD packs his own stuff, albeit last minute! Andrew is hopeless at folding so I pack for him. I make him bring me his stuff but if we're going somewhere where he needs an undershirt, 90% of the time I forget to have him pack it. I don't wear them, so out of sight, out of mind. I need a good overnight duffle. Excited for you and your easy breezy vacation!
ReplyDeleteHow do you keep the dogs from shuffling the stuff on the bed? Grace would be burrowing through it all and Notso would be curling up in it, leaving piles of hair and sneezes behind.
ReplyDeleteAnd all those books is why I love my Kindle. Prefer the holding of real books, but love the space saving simplicity of the Kindle. Have fun!
Hahah I ALWAYS make lists whenever we travel, though not on excel. Husband does not. Husband winds up forgetting to pack something, then I get just a smidgen of satisfaction when I tell him it was on my list for him, and I grabbed whatever it was. Why must boys be so stubborn!?!? -Dorrie @ Bear Den Plantation
ReplyDeleteI like packing with purpose. I literally get anxiety if I get somewhere and realize I forgot something important. Excel spreadsheets... I will be using that for sure. Stay away from the sharks!
ReplyDeleteGeez Louise! How long are you going for?! And where is the beach chair/towel or sheet? I make lists too, but then actually pack the night before leaving usually, and depending on how long we're going for.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for getting that song stuck in my head!
LOL @ MFD's articles of choice. I start packing a week in advance but it still doesn't prevent me from over-packing usually by almost double. I've accepted this as a major flaw of mine that probably will never change. Husband rolls his eyes every single time. lol
ReplyDeleteLooks like you are all set and ready to roll! Have fun and safe travels!!!
ReplyDeletehaha, nice!!! Sounds like the perfect type of vacay for a little lack of organization though this still looks pretty well thought out! Your last paragraph is really funny.
ReplyDeleteI always make lists for packing, especially for longer trips. Even with that I always feel like I'm forgetting something and/or don't wear/use everything I pack.
ReplyDeleteOn the shark topic...I am so excited that shark week starts in just under 2 weeks!
haha i am so much like you with packing. I think it's the right way to go. Also, our Michaels pack the same way. Ugh
ReplyDeleteI use spreadsheets to plan things, too. I like to be prepared. Better safe than sorry!
ReplyDeleteyay for vacay!!!
ReplyDeletevacation packing always stresses me out. i make my list weeks before the vacay, then the weeks leading up to the vacay, each day has a packing theme ie. monday i pack all beach stuff (and reference my list). then tues is going out stuff (and reference my list).
2 days before vacay, i will fold everything into the bag, checking off the list again.
the day before vacay, i will go through each item and check off the list again. that means that each item on the list has 3 check marks and if it doesn't, all hell breaks loose.
if that's not anal retentive to the max, i dont know what is. i'm just terrified of forgetting something important!
Ohh that striped bag is super cute!!! I am going to be honest, I am not one to pack ahead of time. I make out a list of things not to forget and the I wait until about an hour before we leave and throw it all together. I am just more productive that way and it forces me to make decision on clothes instead of going back and forth for a week or more. I work best under pressure. Haha!
ReplyDeleteNo matter if I over or under pack, I never ever wear everything I've brought. I'm a clothes horse! Lol Ever the optimistic that I'll need three outfit changes a day!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't always love the look but you can't beat a Vera duffle for backing for a road trip. It just fits EVERYTHING and can be put anywhere. Of course, I never end up using half the things I pack in it. But it's good to know it's all there... JUST IN CASE.
ReplyDeleteI borrowed a friend's Vera duffle for a trip because she swore up and down it was the best- and she was right! It's just too bad I don't love the prints usually, lol! As much as I try to be organized, packing for trips is the one major area I do struggle... I ALWAYS overpack!!
ReplyDeleteThis is one area in that I am not Type A about. I just wing it and it usually works out ok. I am a list maker when packing for Jack though; kids require a lot of shit. Don't want to forget the diapers!
ReplyDeletePacking for Mexico for him is stressing me out. I know I can buy diapers if we run out, but I had to buy sunscreen at our resort last time and it was seriously like $35. I'm not trying to pay $50 for diapers.
I have a love/hate with Vera, but I do love my duffel.
I approach packing like a ninja; I am always out to top my personal best. Driving will save you the aggravation of weight and size limits. Enjoy your time away, Steph!
ReplyDeleteInstead of Excel, I have a check-list on OneNote which I keep & copy from trip to trip. I plan to jam a lot of "book" onto my phone and Kindle before leaving for a trip. Have fun girl! I also go sans-makeup during vacation because the heat + sweat just smears it all away anyways :).
ReplyDeleteWhilst in all other areas of life I will spreadsheet it if it has more than one moving part, with packing I just go to pieces. I'm honestly the worst at it. I have all the best intentions - and usually even start a spreadsheet! - and then it all ends up being chucked in the night before and me muttering prayers at the check in weigh in. Dreadful.
ReplyDeleteSending a huge cyber hug your way for showing me (really my hubbie) that I am not the only awesome (crazy) person that has a spreadsheet for every instance under the sun. Enjoy your vacation!
ReplyDeleteThis is fascinating. I don't think I've ever made a spreadsheet unless required by work or school (unless you count a cleaning schedule). But I do make several lists in advance when packing.
ReplyDeleteScott packs 1/2 an hour before a trip too and always forgets stuff.
You already know how I feel about packing lists... however.. I couldn't find them (hence why Excel sounds like a REALLY GOOD IDEA) before this trip... so I'm in Boston with the bare essentials... which basically is better than no essentials.
ReplyDeleteI'm not at the spreadsheet level (but now thinking that's a great idea!), but I too love a good packing list.
ReplyDeletetype a tight assed - love it!! spreadsheets are my favourite. although yeah if i'm going somewhere with a washer and dryer i'm much less type a about it, which is good. i'm not a fan of the vera prints but i do like the size of the duffel, like you said. i might have to get me one!
ReplyDeleteNice post! Glad I got to know this.
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