What I Packed

Today my suitcase is en route to Florida with my parents. I will be joining it on Friday, February 15th. It was kind of weird packing so early, knowing that I’m not leaving for a while. I’m sure it will be a great feeling passing through the airport with no baggage!

I tried a new technique for this trip: I rolled my clothes instead of just folding them and packing them in stacks. I had room to spare! On top, I put 2 shoe boxes which fit all 6 pairs of shoes listed below. To fill the shoe boxes, I stuffed socks and thongs around the shoes.

What’s in my suitcase:

2 dressy cocktail dresses for formal nights
- blue
- pink halter
5 outfits for casual nights
- cream/black print tunic & black leggings
- black maxidress
- red maxidress
- polka dot sheath
- brown/gold sparkly
several daytime outfits
- denim capris
  - yellow striped lightweight boyfriend cardigan & yellow tank
  - blue short sleeve tunic
- khaki shorts
  - orange 3/4 sleeve cardigan & white tank
  - yellow print short sleeve
- pink shorts
  - black/white striped 3/4 sleeve top
  - black short sleeve
- navy shorts
  - plaid lightweight button-down & navy tank
  - white short sleeve graphic tee
3 pool outfits
- blue print bikini
  - navy cover-up maxidress
  - yellow baseball cap
- green print bikini
  - green tank & tie dye cover-up shorts
- red/white striped bikini
  - red cover-up dress
  - red baseball cap
3 pairs of pajamas
- black top & polka dot PJ shorts
- red top & black PJ shorts
- yellow top & plaid PJ pants
6 pairs of shoes
- silver sparkly heels
- black peep toe heels
- gold sparkly wedge sandals
- white beaded wedge flip-flops
- black/silver flip-flops
- white rubber pool flip-flops
workout gear
- black capris
  - blue tank
  - yellow tank
- navy gym shorts
  - orange t-shirt
- blue gym shorts
  - black tank
accessories
- black belt & beige belt
- 3 necklaces: white statement, long gold beaded, silver chain
- 2 bracelets: silver sparkly, plain silver
- silver/blue ring
- assorted earrings
underwear
- 3 bras: nude, black, navy
- 3 sports bras in various colors
- assorted panties & thongs
odds and ends
- 2 black shrugs, long sleeve & 3/4 sleeve (for use with dresses)
- 1 ivory sparkly shrug (for red maxidress)
- pink lightweight cardigan (for use as a shrug with dresses or a daytime top if it’s chilly)
- white tank (just a spare or for use with pink cardigan)
- red cardigan & white long sleeve top (for travel day returning home)
- soft, warm, comfy socks (for hanging out in the cabin)
- 4 pairs of regular socks
- 5 bags
  - black/silver evening bag
  - ivory/brown print wristlet
  - small Vera Bradley cross-body bag
  - small brown bag
  - navy beach/pool bag

Also sent to Florida with my parents:

toiletry bag with makeup, sunscreen, toothbrush, etc.
2 books

What will be coming with me on the plane:

large purse
- passport & wallet
- cell phone
- Samsung Galaxy tablet
- digital camera
- book
- headache pills (just in case!)
- sunglasses
small duffel or tote bag
- running sneakers
- a couple more pairs of underwear (you can never have too much underwear!)
- assorted chargers
- another outfit if the weather is cooler than expected
- the coat I will wear on the drive to the airport

Yes, I know I over-pack. I don’t really care. I won’t re-wear anything that touches my underarms without washing it. I have been on trips where I didn’t overpack, and I had to go out and buy items. I also spent 5 weeks in Europe with only a duffel bag. I had to do the dreaded sink-wash, which I loathe. (I did manage to find a couple laundromats over the course of the trip). But I never felt clean and felt kind of schlumpy because I was wearing the same boring clothes over and over, and that really affected my level of confidence and in turn my enjoyment of the experience.

Besides, I like to experiment a little more on vacation with clothes that I’m self-conscious about wearing in my daily life…clothes that may be a little extra trendy or maybe even a little more sexy than I’m used to wearing, or even just clothes that don’t have much of a place in my day-to-day wardrobe. My hometown is quite conservative, even a little backwards, and decidedly un-trendy, so I’m reluctant to take fashion risks, especially around people that I see everyday.

I just realized how long this post is…if you’re still with me, thanks for reading! I’ll post as many “real life” outfit pictures as I can when I get back.

Some of the items that made it to the suitcase: