Pack your Bag!

I've been dreaming about taking a vacation. Okay, I've been more than dreaming - I've been scouring vacation sites and rental properties for the last few weeks! I would love to plan a little getaway, but for now, I'm just going to share with you how I pack for any trip.

I've been seeing a lot of stuff on Pinterest lately about capsule wardrobes and simplifying your closet. Let me just tell you...

...that's not my style.

I would love for that to be my style, and maybe someday, I will tackle that whole "purge your closet" thing. But for now, here's how I roll.

First of all - this is not a guide for how to pack lightly, obviously that's not my forté. Think of this more as a guide for how to pack efficiently.

Step 1: Wash all of your Clothes

If you're like me, you wear your favorites a lot, and then you want to pack them. This process is much simpler if all of your clothes are clean and put away where they are supposed to go. Trust me - I've spent many a late night frantically digging through piles of dirty clothes I emptied onto the floor in search of that one gray tank top I love.

Step 2: Pick out Your Outfits

I use Pinterest and Polyvore to help me choose my outfits. I even print out each Polyvore set so I have a "list" of everything to pack right in front of me.

Then, I lay the outfits out - shoes, accessories and all.

I think it helps to see everything in front of you.

Step 3: Try them on!

This one might seem crazy to you. And, if you're packing swimsuits or workout clothes because you're going on a very specific trip, this probably doesn't apply.

But I find that, the most common reason I overpack, is because I want to have some other options "just in case." Trying the outfits on beforehand eliminates the risk of not liking what you packed.

Seriously - I have so many photos of me in various outfits on my phone, people probably think I'm obsessed with myself.

Step 4: Roll 'em Up, Pack 'em Down

I stack each outfit together (except the shoes and jewelry) and roll them all together. Shoes go in first, on the bottom of your bag, and then each outfit on top. Pack your jewelry in a small accessory bag so it doesn't get lost.

The rolling method saves space and makes it really easy to grab each outfit and get your day started. I would definitely recommend you hang your clothes when you get to your final destination, otherwise, you will probably need to have an iron (or some wrinkle release spray!) handy.

Just a note:

Most of my vacations are road trips; if packing for a plane, I would still try on the outfits and roll them up, but be conscious of the weight restrictions and size limits when checking a bag or bringing a carry on.