What to Pack for Spring Break

It's crazy to think that at this time last year I was busy planning for our trip to Charleston for my birthday! This winter has been rough the past couple of weeks (maybe an understatement with the -50 degree windchills we're supposed to have tomorrow!), and I think the worst part is knowing that there's no escape until Chicago decides it's time for spring. I currently can't travel (and we definitely won't be traveling once baby girl is here!) so I'm just living vicariously through everyone else's Insta-Stories and, of course, looking at all of the new resort arrivals. If I was taking a spring break trip, here's what would be in my suitcase:

Beach: Swimsuit / Bag / Shorts / Sandals

Nighttime: Dress / Earrings / Bag / Sandals 

Daytime: Bag / Top / Shoes / Shorts 

Travel: Suitcase

And here are a few more things that caught my eye:

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How I Packed for Hawaii in a Carry On Suitcase

We were just in Hawaii for 10 days, and I was particularly motivated to have Jeff and I just pack carry-on bags. This was partially because I'm pregnant and didn't want to buy a bunch of new stuff for the trip that I would get to wear once and never again, and partially because I was nervous about getting a checked bag home from our flights from Kauai to Honolulu and then Honolulu home on different airlines on the same day. Jeff and I are already nervous travelers, so removing any source of worry is great for us.

I've never previously tried to pack for such a long trip in a carry on, but when we went to Asia last year I only had a slightly larger bag and had room to spare with all of my warm weather clothes, so I knew it was possible.

Just a few notes - we did have a washing machine in our house in Oahu, where we stayed for six nights, so I was able to wash some of our stuff halfway through the trip which really helped. I also knew that our time in Oahu with Jeff's family was going to be fairly casual, as we ate most meals at the house and spent the majority of our time either hiking, swimming, or lounging. As far as toiletries, I tried to go as minimal as possible, and planned to pick up larger items like sunscreen once we got to Hawaii.

Since it's currently the depths of winter and since I didn't buy anything new for the trip, I had a hard time finding exact matches for the items I brought, so just know that a lot of these are approximations.

So here's what I packed!

My carry on suitcase: This bag is amazing (the 21 inch is perfect for a carry on), and the two different packing spaces really help me maximize my packing ability and stay organized. If it ever gets dirty, I just give it a quick wipe with a magic eraser and it's back to looking brand new. I did also bring a not cute backpack on the plane, and used it for hiking too.

Neutral sandals: I did pack two pairs of neutral sandals but I really could have gotten away with one. These are padded so they're comfy for all day walking, and the nude color works on the beach, during the day, and paired with my pretty dresses at night. Hawaii is really casual, I was never in a situation where I wished I had fancier shoes.

For the beach: I packed two swimsuits as well as two rashers from Land's End (they make the best ones!) because I can't stand putting on a wet swimsuit. Bringing two didn't take too much space, but let me rotate every day. I also included a beach bag that could lay flat in my carry-on, as well as one cover-up that would let me go out to lunch or run around the resort in my swimsuit.

For hiking: I brought one regular tee shirt, not true athletic wear, with the thought that I could wear it hiking and during the day. I just never ended up wearing it during the day because it got a little smelly ;) I also brought running shorts, which could double as loungewear, and wore sneakers on the plane that would work for hikes too. We only did really easy hikes since I was 24-25 weeks pregnant during the trip, if you're planning on doing more hiking you may want to bring more stuff.

For the plane: I wore a sweatshirt over one of my basic tees as well as a pair of maternity leggings (here are my favorite non-maternity) and some super sexy compression socks on the plane, and used the sweatshirt for cool nights in Hawaii too.

For daytime: I brought two basic tees as well as a fun scarf and earrings to mix things up. I also had my favorite maternity denim shorts from this summer (this pair is my favorite non-maternity) and a lightweight cardigan since the mornings could be a little chilly, as well as a basic dress that could work for day or night.

For dinners out: We only went out to dinner four nights on the whole trip (and one was just at a brewery) so I rotated through my three dresses. The patterned dress is really fun to wear, but I also liked that the white and black dresses could be mixed with my patterned scarf, earrings, and cardigan to make different looks. And of course I brought my favorite little woven bag from the summer, it made it into my suitcase with underwear and socks stuffed inside!

And then obviously not pictured were also things like pajamas and undergarments. All of this fit into my carry-on with room to spare, which was helpful for a couple of things that we added in during the trip like a few souvenirs, matching Hawaiian shirts that Jeff's cousin bought for the whole family, and the cutest tasseled clutch I couldn't resist at the resort spa ;)

Do you think you could ever pack for a long trip in just a carry on bag? Have I motivated you to try??

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Travel Tips: What to Pack for a Long Flight

Since we're headed out of the country on Friday (ahhh!! did I mention at least 10,000 times that we're headed to Paris?!?!?) and just about everyone I know is getting ready to travel for Thanksgiving or will be traveling in December, it seemed fitting to share my carry-on essentials today. I actually meant to share this post after our trip to Southeast Asia but never quite got around to it, but you know, better late than never!

Having survived an (almost) seventeen hour flight to Hong Kong, I now consider myself a bit of a travel expert. So what's always in my carry-on?

The Best Travel Pillow
I've tried several different travel pillows before but didn't love any of them - this one is a total game changer! The sides are harder so you can lean to the sides if that's more comfortable for you, the back is flatter so it keeps your neck in better alignment instead of forcing it forward, and it has a clip in the front to secure it around yourself. Oh, and it's made of foam and rolls down to fit in a little travel bag, so your travel pillow isn't just bouncing around on the outside of your carry-on and (gasp!) potentially touching the floor.

A Cozy Cardigan and a Scarf
I'm probably more sensitive to temperature than the average human being, and it drives me crazy that planes tend to switch between cold and hot and cold and hot as you taxi, take off, and reach altitude. For me, layers are always key. I like to go for a cardigan because it's easier to take on and off than a pullover, as well as a scarf that can double as a blanket.

Colgate Wisps 
Using my toothbrush in the airplane bathroom always grosses me out, so I love pulling out these little mini toothbrushes on the plane whenever I feel the need to freshen up. They have a tiny bead of mouthwash that you use to brush your teeth, and then you can toss them afterwards.

Travel Organizer
I used this for the first time on my trip to San Francisco, and I'm never traveling without it again! Usually when I get on a plane I'm constantly rummaging around in my bag pulling out the different things I need, but now I can put them all into this organizer and just put that in the seatback pocket. It's big enough to fit my iPad mini, phone, a charging cable, headphones, your passport or ID, a credit card, chapstick, hand lotion, a hair tie, and whatever other little knicknacks get lost in your bag. Plus, you can add a monogram. It took me thirty years to get here, but monograms are my new favorite thing.

Card Holder
You likely don't need everything in your wallet when you're traveling, and you definitely don't need it on the plane! I like to pop my ID, insurance card, and one or two credit cards into a little card holder and call it a day instead. I actually picked up my current one in Florence, and use it almost every day instead of my regular wallet because it fits better into my small crossbody bags. My mom asked what I do with all of my rewards cards and store credit cards - I just ask stores to look up my account!

Portable Charger with Built-In Prongs
I got one of these as a promo item at work, and let me tell you, it's a travel game-changer. I have issues with a lot of portable chargers. They either won't stay plugged into your phone, or they barely hold any charge, or they have a separate cord and charger that they need to use to charge up. This one has built-in prongs that plug directly into the wall so you never have to worry about keeping track of another cord, can fully charge your phone three times before running out of batteries, and has a lightning cord built-in so you also don't have to find your phone charger.

Seriously, it's the best. I also recommend putting your phone on low battery mode as soon as you leave for the airport, even if it's already fully charged. I do this for every trip / when I know I'll be out all day, and it makes my battery last so much longer! I actually didn't even use my travel charger during my whole trip to San Francisco earlier this month despite being out all day and taking photos/videos.

iPad and a Paperback
I always load up my iPad with shows from Netflix (I just finished The Good Place - so good!) and games, but in case my eyes get tired of looking at the screen or I somehow run out of battery despite my precautions above, I like to bring a paperback book too. I just finished Little Fires Everywhere and loved it, it would be a great travel book because it's not too hard of a read, but the intertwining stories and complex themes give it more depth than your average vacation read.

Lip Balm and Moisturizer
I'm addicted to lotion and chapstick in my everyday life, so in the dry air of an airplane the problem gets 10x worse! These hand lotions are a splurge but are my favorite for traveling - the little tube fits anywhere! Oh, and I've talked and talked about these lip balms - I love the basic one for travel, but the rose color gives such a pretty hint of color for everyday.

Refillable Water Bottle
I don't know why, but the water on overseas flights tends to be gross. I actually thought it was so gross on our trip to Hong Kong that I made Jeff buy me five bottles of water at the airport for our flight home. Jeff, however, brought his refillable water bottle and didn't have to waste forty dollars on bottled water. Most airports have water bottle fillers these days, so you can easily fill up once you go through security. I love that this one has a straw top so you won't risk spilling all over yourself on the plane. Not that I've done that.

Extra Underwear and a Full Outfit 
Unless you're carrying on all of your luggage, there's always the risk that you could lose your bag. I always bring a full extra outfit plus a couple of pairs of underwear in my carry-on in case something happens, that way I'm ready to go once I reach my destination. If I'm traveling somewhere warm I also bring a swimsuit too, because shopping for a swimsuit is hard enough when you aren't extremely rushed and only shopping at weird beach boutiques!

When I travel internationally, I always love these travel adapters (lifesavers when traveling to multiple countries with different outlet types!), charcoal pills in case the food upsets my stomach (which has happened every time I've traveled out of the country), and this little digital camera that's way more convenient to carry around than my DSLR!

Do you have any travel tips? Let me know!

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Heading Home

Today I'm finally heading home after a week of travelling!

So what's in my carry on?  

- Lots of activities because I get bored easily, including my phone, iPad, magazines, and a book.  

- All of the essentials in case my checked bag gets lost: a swimsuit, a clean set of clothes, and makeup.

- Stuff I'm scared of checking, like my laptop and DSLR.  

- Plane essentials: chapstick, hand lotion, and a neck pillow.  

I hope you have a great weekend!  I'm going to a Guster concert and a goodbye party tomorrow night (one of my friends is moving across the pond!) and then running a 5K through the zoo with my sister on Sunday morning.  And then doing lots of napping.  Lots.

P.S.  Today I'm being featured on Simple Easy Style, check it out here!

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