Tag Archives: packing light

Post-trip Packing Post: New Mexico

by Wendy
I have a few trips on the horizon, but a 4 day trip to New Mexico was trickier to pack for than it should have been. This was one of those trips like Iceland/England where I wanted to bring clothes suitable for several different activities: hiking, pool, walking around a city, lounging around a resort. The weather in Albuquerque and Santa Fe could range from 80s during the day to 40s at night. So this was a puzzle. A nice puzzle to have, but a puzzle nonetheless. Continue reading →

Unpacking Tips

by Wendy
A great vacation often results in a travel-high. You know, that glow from a beachy sun or hike in the fresh mountain air – or the inspiration from a different culture, geography, or language – or simply from the opportunity to relax and recharge. And yet…this feeling threatens to fade, often on the way home. If you’re not careful, your contentedness is quickly replaced by bewilderment as you prepare to face the first week back at work, the pile of mail, and the household chores.

When returning from a trip my Dad always cautions, “Don’t burn up on re-entry.” It’s good advice. Here are a few of my “unpacking” tips to help with the transition. Continue reading →

Post-trip Packing Post: Iceland/England

by Wendy
Packing for this recent trip was a challenge, as we traveled to two very different destinations.

Iceland: mostly outdoor activities. Even though we were going in summer, nearly everything we read cautioned us to be prepared for any type of weather. Basic hiking gear was a necessity.

England: we would be in London most of the time, with a day trip to Dover that included quite a bit of walking. Always good to be prepared for rain in England. Though London is a style capital, anything other than comfortable shoes would be pointless. We weren’t planning any formal activities but wanted to dress appropriately for tour and tea in Parliament.

Right. Here is my list and a few notes on how I organized everything. Continue reading →

Keep Calm and Check a Bag?

by Wendy
Follow me on twitter @wendylooksleaps

I have to admit: those of you who check a bag have a point.

This revelation evolved during multiple attempts to cram liquid items for a beach trip into a quart-size bag. It was quite the puzzle. Usually this is fairly easy. I don’t know if I’ve ever spent so long on this aspect of packing. The casualties were two split plastic bags, as well as the hour or so I could have spent doing something else. Continue reading →

Post-trip Packing Post: Spain 2 Weeks

by Wendy
Follow me on Twitter @wendylooksleaps

You know we love posts about packing on Looks and Leaps. We’ve written about the summer capsule wadrobe, spring transition, and packing for a ski trip, to name just a few. My recent challenge was two weeks in Europe (mostly Spain but also 2 days in France) with carry-on only. My husband Jack and I each took a carry-on suitcase and figured we could do laundry at some point. My goals were to 1) bring clothes that I really liked wearing, 2) mix and match items for a variety of outfits and 3) avoid any fashion fails. Continue reading →

Pack Quick (and get out of Dodge)

by Wendy
Follow me on twitter@wendylooksleaps

Jack and I take a lot of weekend trips – sometimes only for one night. I used to feel like I needed adequate notice to plan, organize and pack. Now I can be ready in a few minutes’ notice. Part of this is due to practice, but I think part of it is frame of mind. If you’re going away for 1-2 days, you really don’t need much. You can do this without a checklist, and if you forget something it usually is not a big deal. Of course, the situation probably changes if there are kids involved, but you can still pull your stuff together faster. This is how I pack quick. Continue reading →