Oh, the things you can find if you don't stay behind - Dr Seuss
Leaving tips and links for myself for my trip through Europe and Thailand
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Most embarrassing moment travelling
So, after traipsing around Europe for over a month (mostly camping thank you very much!), I’d finally returned to my ‘home base’ hostel in London. Being very hostel like there were a heap of people and…not a heap of washing machines and a dryer that would take an entire reading of all the Game of Thrones books to dry a mildly wet sock.
This didn’t bother me too much, I was a TRAVELER! I knew the area, I knew the lay of the land and even more I knew there was a launderette around the corner! I packed my bag to absolute bursting point, grabbed some change and hoisted my bag onto my shoulder, and smugly teetered by the latest group of people milled outside the hostels 2 washing machines (hard to do when the bag is so heavy you are leaning slightly to one side).
I rounded the corner and triumphantly entered into Launderette heaven - big room, numerous machines (front loaders!) and best of all, dryers even I could fit inside of. Hefted my bag over to one particular machine near the middle of the room, got my clothes inside and set it to go while I sat back and relaxed with my back leaning on a nice and warm dryer behind me.
Next to me was an older gentleman, a local who had headed down (or pretty much been told to) after a DIY disaster in fixing his own washing machine We chatted about food and theater and the whims of electronics for almost a half hour…right until older gentleman got a strange look on his face, he gestured towards my machine ‘What on earth is that?’ he asked me.
I look over and to my horror, among everything potentially embarrassing that is spinning around (bra’s, g-strings, etc) there is one thing that has decided to stick itself to the front glass panel, one little beacon of un-mistakable, wrapped in blue, forgot to empty that pocketness… Of all things…a tampon.
Everything else swishes about but this sucker is front and center and stuck to the glass for all to see.
(Older gentlemen went red and left the launderette without his laundry…)
Just quietly…
Traveling on my own is the best thing I have ever done!
and I was so worried about it too :)
I’m going to figure it out when i’m on the plane - but here is what I have…enough to be getting on with anyway…I choose to be impressed with how awesomely light I pack…
- pair jeans
- denim skirt
- jeggings
- ‘flashdance’ pants
- long swishy skirt
- long sleeved shirt
- 2 short sleeved shirt
- 2 singlets
- going out top
- over swimmers shirt
- sets pyjamas
- 2 swimmers
- 5 pairs socks
- 10 pairs undies
- 4 bras
- maxi dress
- 1 wind breaker jacket
- 1 dressy jacket
- 1 hoody
- 1 lightweight shrug
Preparing to go on vacation can be REALLY stressful.
I made this chart to help me through my feelings…
-Carrie
How about hell yes!
16 Days until I get on a plane
then 23 hours of travel until my little feet touch British soil…or…floor.
16 freaking days!!!!!!
I want to go here.
Bulgogi Pasta
Browsing the ‘travel’ tag and came across this - Never heard for Bulgogi before…but I tell you I’m craving it right now
Got vaccinated today
Have to go in one more time the day before I leave for one more (yes, I left it too late…oops) but lucky me it was about the same as a mosquito bite…which ironically is one of the things that could get me sick.
Just booked somewhere I never would have thought of
Stockholm, Helsinki and Tallin - all booked.
Can. Barely. Contain. Excitement!!!!
I travel A LOT, and when I say a lot, I mean it - At least every other weekend. Traveling can be super fun, but can also cause a serious lack of style sensibility. I find myself feeling lazy and disorganized when it comes to packing. Since I love fashion and putting outfits together, this can be a problem, which is why I came up with these 5 packing stand bys. When getting ready to zip up my weekend wardrobe, I make sure to check off every single one of them, that way I know I’m ready for whatever Saturday and Sunday may bring..
1. Pack at least 1 tried and true option
*If you end up hating everything you brought, you have at least 1 thing you know you love and looks great!
2. Accessorize!
*Jewelry and scarves are great options to spice up any outfit, and they are very easy to stuff into your bag.
3. Pick a color
*Choose one pair of shoes or handbag and build your outfits around it. This way, you don’t have 4 different pairs of shoes taking up room.
4. Plan out your outfits
*It may take up a little extra time, but you’ll be happy when you don’t have 6 shirts and no pants. You can even try them on to make sure you like them!
5. Choose the travel size
*Toiletries are usually the items that take up the most room in my suitcase. Instead of bringing your full size gallon shampoo, opt for the travel size to save room. Now, I have 3 Henri Bendel bags (with cute little images to denote what goes inside) that I use for all of my essentials.
What i’m packing
Having so much time gives me the opportunity to reaaaly plan what I’m packing.
Wearing on Plane
- 1 ‘fashdance’ pants
- 1 simple top
- 1 Hoodie
- 1 Pashmina scarf (these beautiful things are wide enough to double as a blanket)
- 1 Plane socks (because the are freakin cosy)
- 1 slip on shoes (because screw you weird security that makes you take your shoes off)
- sunglasses (to help shut the world out when I’m trying to sleep)
- undies and a bra - obviously.
- french braid (yes, I’m planning right down to hairstyle…honestly can’t help it)
On Board luggage
- Extra undies (for ‘lost luggage and after 9 hours new undies and socks will feel glorious)
- Jeggins (shut up – change of clothes in case of lost luggage….I swear!)
- spare top
- Lip Balm
- Moisturiser
- Wet Wipes
- Deodourant
- A book
- Pill/Asthma stuff
- Travel Doc Wallet (which I will all but staple to myself)
- Brush and hair tie
- iPhone – charger and headphones
- Camera - charger
- travel pillow
Checked Luggage
- 1 ‘nice’ Jeans
- 1 (more) pair of ‘flashdance’ pants - one is black, the other dark blue
- 2 skirts - (one to skulk around town in, another I could possibly team with a nice top to go out in)
- 1 nice top
- 1 dress
- 2 singlets
- 2 short sleeve t-shirts (green and black)
- 2 long sleeve t-shirts (purple and grey)
- 1 walking shoes
- 1 heels (nude, possibly wedges)
- 1 thongs (don’t get any ideas - I think americans call them flip flops)
- 5 socks
- 10 undies
- Thermals (in my case, they are a cheap pair of skins)
- sports bra
- 4 normal bras
- 2 pairs swimmers
- 2 pairs of pajamas
- Micro-fibre towel
- thin beach towel
- Cold and Flu tablets
- Headache tablets
- vitamins
- antibiotics (for contiki cough if i get it)
- Hangover medication
- NoDoze
- moisturizer/concealer
- foundation powder
- eyebrow pencil (I have two half eyebrows)
- mascara
- washing powder
- Sink plug
- Travel clothesline
- Stain remover pen!
- Febreeze
- sunscreen
- Bottle opener/corkscrew/can opener - (for things which will remain a mystery)
- Hand Sanitizer
- Power point converter
- memory cards for camera
