My Vacation Packing How-To

  I had the biggest challenge of my life! No, it was college finals before graduation or giving birth to my son. It was packing for an eleven day trip while sharing a suitcase with my son. Oh, and with very little space, in an already over-crowded car, that will be packed to the gill with my parents things as well. Wouldn't you consider that a challenge? The good thing about all of this is that the beach house will have a washer and dryer. That helped a little.

But I'm still looking at eleven days away from my closet which is so hard for me. I love going on vacation, like love going on vacation, but I always over-pack and I even then never have enough. In my opinion, of course. So I challenged myself with repeatable pieces, very few accessories, and just three pairs of shoes. That's right, three pairs of shoes! Here we go....

If you can't wear a palm themed top to the beach, when can you? I immediately thought of this cute Lilly Pulitzer for Target top when packing. And I thought it would look cute with my distressed white jeans or my pique white shorts. Dressy and casz covers all my bases. And I decided if I'm going white, I need to pack my blue and white striped top to the mix.

I mixed in some silver jewelry, a super neutral sandal, and a cross-body bag that replace a large handbag for the trip.

This LWD dress from Target is going to serve multiple purposes. First off, it's a dress and I can go with either black or natural accessories. But I also plan to use at a swimsuit cover-up. I perfect piece for taking morning walks on the beach!

I love it with all tough black and gold! It just takes the dress up a notch!

But I also love it with the tans and browns. Honestly, this dress is a chameleon!

So here's what I'm wearing on the road. I freeze in the car, mostly because my dad blares the air, so it's all about jeans and light weight tops. This gingham top is paper thin so it's perfect for trips in and out of the car. And, how cute will it be with either the white jeans or pique shorts? And I'm taking tennis shoes to help keep my feet warm! Seriously, he blasts the air!

For day two, it's repeat on the jeans and one of my favorite striped tees. I went with sandals, just in case, but will probably revert back to the Converse! I will definitely pack a pair of socks for the road.

I'm throwing in my mint green eyelet shorts. How cute will the on the road tops look?

Do you remember this little find from last summer? Coming in at under $10, this dress was worth the investment! Now, paired with my sandals of the summer and gold accessories, it's a great day option. But I'm also thinking of wearing it as a cover-up for morning walks.

I would never forget to pack my favorite denim cut-offs! And, because you never know it if it might cool on the beach, I've added a couple of my favorite summer sweatshirts.

Am I ready? Absolutely! Am I packed appropriately for the next 11 days, I haven't a clue. Here's hoping! Now to start packing McKinley....

Wednesday Wants - Beach Must-Haves

We leave for vacation a week from today and this girl is super excited! However, we will be gone for eleven days and this girl is super anxious to start packing! I am one to make a packing list. I plan out looks for each day, whether I actually wear it on that day or not, to try and help with over-packing. It 

doesn't always help, but it does give me a guideline. We are headed to a family reunion and then on to the beach where we'll spend a week at the Outer Banks in North Carolina!

While making my packing list, I found a few things that I need/want to fill in the gaps. Yes, it's the beach and I will be spending 90% of the time in a bathing suit, but there is the occasional day of sight seeing and a possible day of shopping with the girls. On those days, I'm going to need super easy pieces to just slip on and go. A cute maxi cover-up, neutral sandals, statement jewels, cool shades, an open weave sweater for chilly nights, and a flop hat to shield me from the sun! And, for those days spent on the beach, I really want to get started and hopefully finish, our next book club read. And I'll need a darling tote to throw it all in!

So with all that being said, I've put together my list of wants.  

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9

When headed on vacation, how do you tackle the packing process? Do you make lists or simply throw it in the suitcase? Since we will be gone for almost two weeks, and thankful for a beach house with a washer/dryer, I'm hoping to keep my packing light and repeatable. And, I plan to bring you my planned looks next week! Will any of the above pieces make the cut? Check back next week!

Living in the Moment - California Style

 

We are back from the big trip and I think everyone had a great time. I know I did! It was a birthday and trip that I will never forget. We ate, drank, walked, gabbed, sat in traffic, explored and shopped! It was awesome. I didn't take a single outfit pic. Instead, I just lived in the moment of the trip. Here are some photos from the trip that give you a peek into how I wore what I packed!

 

It was so hot on Friday which was perfect for our trip to Disney! Not one of us wore what we planned for the day! We started out with a sweater or sweatshirt, and by the time we entered the park, those tops were all a thing of the past! We even put McKinley in shorts! I instantly put the hair up in a pony and threw on a hat! Actually, everyone wore a hat and it was a good thing! This just happens to be my go to look. See it here, here and here!

 

 

We had a gorgeous day for our trip to the San Diego Zoo! It was a day that was literally meant for layers! The day went from warm to chilly all day long! This whole look was definitely a good choice!

 

 

For the birthday dinner, I wore my new leather dress that I got as an early birthday gift! During our trip to Rodeo Drive, imagine this jacket with leather shorts and my Rebecca Minkoff booties! It was a day of leather (real and faux) and my Chanel inspired Ann Taylor jacket! And the shoes...I love them! (Also, how darling is my mom???)

 

 

I was expecting a cool day by the ocean when we hit the Santa Monica Pier, but it was actually a fairly warm day! We played in their old time arcade, walked up and down the pier, ate lunch and played in the ocean! It was perfect! And, I have to say, I love the beach with all of my heart and soul! The salty ocean smell and the sounds of the waves crashing have to be some of my favorites things! Oh how I wish we lived closer! 

 

Sadly, this was our last day and we were off to the airport shortly after this photo was taken. I am in LOVE with these new pants from J.Crew. The fit is amazing and I'm pretty sure I will live in them for the remainder of fall and winter!

 



 

I am so happy with everything I took. I can't believe the amazing weather we had! It was truly a picture perfect birthday and trip with family and friends. One I will NEVER forget! 



California Packing

We leave a week from today for our big LA trip for my 40th birthday and I am stressing over what to pack! Yes, it's warmer there than here, but the temp changes from warm to cool as soon as the sun rises and sets. This leaves me in total contemplation on what exactly I will need on a daily basis. I'm told lots of light layers, but how many is too many and how few is too few? I've researched last seasons looks from some of the California bloggers I follow. I've reached out to them via Twitter for advice. And, my mom has been asking her friend Joan on her thoughts as well. Layers, it seems, is the underlining theme.

 

I've continued my search by looking at some of the fashionable ladies of Hollywood to see what they are wearing around town. Again, layers are key. Let's take a peek at the looks from the always stylish Jessic Alba! Check out the key pieces in each look. Sweater, boyfriend jeans, leather jacket, scarf and "comfort" shoes. All of these items I have in my closet. And, what I love most, is that she's not afraid to repeat. That's a key essential to any suitcase. Repeatable pieces worn throughout the trip!

 

 

 

Then I looked at Reece Witherspoon, another reliable fashionista from the Coast. What I love about Reece is that she's stylish in the preppiest of ways. Not a stuffy preppy. Just a darling prep with luxe finishes!

 

I personally love this look!

 

Another regal LA Lady is Gwen Stefani, however her looks are entirely too cool for me to ever achieve. But, I was able to find two looks that are similar to something I could pull off. And, I'm thinking I need a polka dot sweater....

 

 

 So here's what I'm thinking I need to pack: boyfriend jeans (which I have plenty of), scarves, blazers, sweaters and flats. Again, all things I currently have in my closet, but now I'm going to be tasked with how to style them without looking like a tourist! Photos of outfits to come...

 

Now, what to pack for McKinley.....

Photos of celebrities courtesy of the following:

http://deliriumtrendy.com/category/street-style/around-the-world/

http://thefashiontag.wordpress.com/2012/11/07/sweaters-jumper-cardigans-winter-2013-trends/

http://www.thetrenddiaries.com/2013/01/jessica-alba-out-in-los-angeles.html

http://www.flights-of-fab-fashion-fancy.com/2013/04/style-inspiration-for-wearing-summer.html

http://perezhilton.com/category/reese-witherspoon

http://www.popsugar.com/Reese-Witherspoon-Ava-Return-From-Paris-Tour-30768599

http://www.fabsugar.com/Gwen-Stefani-Wearing-Polka-Dot-Sweater-26968536

http://www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/five-stars-daily-celebrity-style-sightings/

How I Wore It - Vacation Packing

A couple of weeks I blogged about what I planned to pack for our trip home to Virginia. Five days, a handful of looks and three people in one suitcase! We made it, with checked bag fee and overage charges to boot! (Thanks to my parents who drove for allowing us to borrow a smaller suitcase to come home with sans overage charge!) I didn't get around to taking one outfit pic. Instead, I enjoyed time with family and just lived in the clothing I wore. So, instead of posed photos, I'm sharing with you pictures from the trip and I wore what I packed!

 

This is what I wore on the plane ride to VA. I never needed the white blazer, but it did come in handy later in the trip.

 

 

 

On Sunday we attended the picnic style family reunion. I changed out the red belt for a neon yellow, but ended up leaving it on the bed so it never got packed! No worries. I felt more comfortable without the belt, and with the statement necklace I wore, it might have been a little too much!

 

 

Goofing off with the family while my dad was getting the right exposure. I wore the white blazer earlier in the day as there was a slight chill before the rain set in. (Note that my mom and I have both have on black and white. Not planned but always happens!)

 

 

Hello humidity! That's what happens with rain. And, there was no need for the jacket after that!

 



 

After the reunion, we ran home to change in time to hangout with some additional family members. It was a day of reunions!

 

 

 

We spent Monday with my dad's side of the family in the early afternoon and on my Great Grandparent's Farmstead later in the day. I wanted to capture photos of McKinley on the farm since he won't get to spend the kind of time I did as a child.

 

 

Normally, I tuck in this top but I was at a point where I wanted to be comfortable, so tucking wasn't an option! It felt a lot more relaxed as a result.

 

 

We had a wonderful trip and spent valuable time with family. So many new memories were made, and on a styling note, I truly packed appropriately for the trip! I was comfortable, at times a little warm with the gross amounts of humidity due to afternoon showers, and never felt the need to have my closet near by. Mission accomplished!

 

Here are a few more photos from the trip. Enjoy!