Tuesday, July 22, 2014

how to pack a carry on (and a giveaway!)



I decided to pack solely in a carry-on for my trip to Chicago. I used the Delsey Hyperlite 20.5-in. Spinner (love!) and my beloved Lo & Sons OG bag. I was only there for three days, so really, there was no reason I couldn't fit it all in these two easy-to-manage bags. But to be completely honest, I have not always been a light packer. In fact, I've been known to pack way more than necessary for just about every trip I've ever taken. So let's just say that scaling down to just the essentials hasn't come naturally.

In packing my carry on, I didn't really have to sacrifice the amount of clothes I wanted to take. I didn't have to mix and match outfits. Instead, I just learned how to pack more efficiently. And those are the tips I'm sharing with you today.


ROLL (OR FOLD) CLOTHING IN TISSUE PAPER TO DECREASE WRINKLES //
Tissue paper will help decrease wrinkles in your clothes because it gives the fabric a slippery surface. Lay down a piece of tissue paper, then set your clothing item on top. Just roll (or fold) the tissue paper and the clothing together. This drastically reduces wrinkles, but I always pack a travel size of Downy Wrinkle Releaser just in case. (That stuff + a hair dryer will work wonders on wrinkly clothing!)

PACK EACH OUTFIT INTO ITS OWN PLASTIC BAG //
This is something I just did for the first time and let me tell you, I will never not do this. It made packing more organized and made my trip itself easier. No more shuffling trying to find the right top to go with the right skirt. Each coordinating top and the bottom was packaged neatly in a one gallon size Ziploc bag.

WRAP ANY CORDS USING GEAR TIES //
Where have gear ties been all my life? They are inexpensive, reusable, and completely take away that overwhelming sea of cords that I know you've all experienced. 

USE A JEWELRY ROLL WITH INDIVIDUAL POCKETS TO TUCK AWAY JEWELRY //
I used the Travelon Jewelry Roll to organize my jewelry. Enough said about that. It rolls up neatly and the see-through pockets are really handy when in a rush.
USE A PILL ORGANIZER TO PACK STUD EARRINGS! //
This is a great way to keep small jewelry pieces organized. You can just tuck the pill organizer into one of the pockets and off you go! 

STRAWS. THEY AREN'T JUST FOR DRINKING //
That's right. They also keep your necklaces from getting tangled. (These fit perfectly in the jewelry roll!)

TRAVEL SIZE EVERYTHING. //
Scour the travel section at Target. There is a whole lot of good going on in there. This travel sized razor is one of my favorite purchases of the year. No really, it is. As is this teeny tiny wet brush. When I travel, I always use baby powder as my dry shampoo because a little of this goes further than dry shampoo and it's a smaller package. 

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE SAMPLES! //
Some of the things up above aren't free samples, but you get the picture. I always hang on to free samples I receive, whether it's from a makeup counter (like the foundation!) or little packets that I've received free with a purchase. I also hang on to nicer hotel toiletries and reuse them for my next trip (or I just reuse the bottle, like I did with the Aveda lotion). 
*Side note- I ended up not taking the lotion and the two reusable shampoo/conditioner bottles because I remembered that W hotels have Bliss toiletries and I didn't want to miss out on using those!

USE SHOWER CAPS TO PROTECT SHOES (AND TO PROTECT LUGGAGE CONTENTS FROM GERMS!) //
I always save shower caps when they are included with hotel toiletries. Why? They are the perfect shoe covers! 

CLEAR POUCHES RULE THE WORLD. //
It's always nice to use a clear pouch for packing travel essentials. Keep it within easy reach and rest assured knowing that all contents are visible for easy grab-and-go. My favorite is this TSA-approved small Clarity Clutch from TRUFFLE.

USE PACKING CUBES TO CATEGORIZE CLOTHING //
Seems simple (or maybe unnecessary?), but packing cubes really make a difference in suitcase organization. Inside, I stack the Ziploc bags that contain each outfit. But here's the game changer... In one packing cube, I put all daytime outfits. In one cube, I put all nighttime outfits (this one isn't pictured above). In one cube I put pajamas and lounge clothes. I use the smallest cube for undergarments. 
...and now you all have a chance to win the exact set of these Eagle Creek Packing Cubes shown above! Enter below for your chance to win! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

11 comments:

  1. Um that straw thing is genius! Definitely keeping that in my memory bank for my next trip.

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  2. I have always rolled my clothes when I pack and it is such a lifesaver! Plus, I feel like I can get more in my bag. Got a trip coming up in two months and this would be great to win!

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  3. So many fabulous tricks!! I had zero idea about the straws for necklaces and the Ziploc bag for outfits---genius!!! Thanks for the tips! tonidreist@yahoo.com

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  4. My husband has an Eagle Creek shirt folder and I've been dying to get some of my own gear! Thank you for the wonderful tips and the fab giveaway! Looks like you had an amazing trip!

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  5. ooo i LOVE the tip about the straws... and the shower caps! so smart. xoxo jillian

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  6. Thanks for all of the tips! These are great, and I will have to use them in the future. Wish I had known about these when I went to Chicago a few weeks ago!

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  7. Excellent tips! You've convinced me to try the Ziploc bag trick and the shower caps for shoes is brilliant!

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  8. I am a FREAK for packing cubes. I have the Eagle Creek ones you have shown, and the Compression set that goes with it, as well as the Flight001 set, and I use the Eagle Creek folding board to fold my shirts down and then often roll them if I am going to need more than 4 days worth of clothes. I also set my outfits out and put them together, though since using the cubes I've stopped doing the ziploc thing and just keep them "together". I am not a "day/night" dresser, because I am lame and don't do much partying. I can usually get an entire week's worth of clothes, including PJs and underwear/socks/bras into one clothing cube from Eagle Creek, unless it's winter, then I put my camis, underwear, bras and socks into a smaller eagle creek so let my clothes fill the Flight001.

    It's like a game to me now, how can I cram all my stuff into a single carry on, or pack for two giant humans in one carryon with little spillover in a smaller one (like medicines and liquids and the magazine stash in that one)

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  9. What fantastic ideas! And then I'll just designate a "packing" section on one drawer in my bathroom closet for these little handy items!
    http://cheshire-hunt.blogspot.com/

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