Packing

I'm back from Atlanta and I'm just getting settled in. I still haven't uploaded my pictures yet, so I'll have to wait to show how I used these items on my trip, but I figured I could do a packing post today before catching up and going on to regularly scheduled outfit posting.

So I knew that B. and I were going to be in Atlanta for about five days, and I knew that there would be a picnic and some swimming, but I had no idea what we'd do the rest of our time there. I never know what to expect when I get together with my girls, but I know it's guaranteed to be a good time. This uncertainty about ATL events is partly to blame for my compulsive over packing. The other part of it is my own compulsive over packing gene - I swear that exists. Anyway, I like to think I'm getting way better with the over packing, but I'm still trying to pare down my packing list...


This is what I pulled out Thursday as I was packing, and I ended up wearing the jeans and the white tank, so they weren't in my suitcase. I figured that dresses would be best for the 90 degree weather, so I packed plenty of them, and I threw in a skirt that can be easily dressed up for a night out.


I brought four pairs of shoes, five if you count the other pair of sandals I wore on the plane. This is always the hardest thing for me, leaving my shoes behind. I almost threw in another pair of heels, but I figured these red wedges would work for any situation that called for a heel.


So here's my suitcase after the first stage of packing, before I threw in my shoes and all that extra stuff. I added a sarong, my jammers (pajamas), leggings, and a clutch.
Clearly, I subscribe to the rolling method of packing. My daddy was in the Army for nearly thirty years, so we moved often and I have definitely been infected by the travel bug, so I feel like I am forever packing. Rolling allows me to fit more things in my suitcase and to keep the wrinkling to a minimum since I pretty much never iron. I hate ironing.


This is stage two of packing. Now I've got my shoes, my jewelry, toiletries, swim suit, and a blanket. I knew I would be sleeping on the floor at least one night, so I needed some "bedding" that wouldn't take up too much space.

In the end, I wore four of the five dresses, both of the tanks, the jeans, three pairs of shoes, two of three belts, and my swimsuit. Could I have left a few things at home, of course. But I'm glad I had the variety available just in case.

B. and I have a few more trips planned between now and November, so we'll see if I can get this pared down further for the next one.