We Leave Town in 2 Days!

Aubry is packed.

10 days,

3 warm weather days,

6 cold weather days

and one day travel back to sunny, warm, Florida.

travel day outfit is on the left

All packed and ready

I use gallon bags to pack her clothes in.

I put a few days in each bag, I find it helps keep her clothes contained.

The clothes outside the suitcase are the ones she'll wear the day we leave and an extra outfit in a gallon bag to go in her back pack. Speaking of, her back pack will get packed after school on Wednesday. {that's tomorrow}

My bag is mostly packed and I am going to share with you, someday, my bag within a bag packing system.

I'm a bag whore, I can't help it.

So tonight, 2 days before departure, I will almost finalize my suitcase and get all the toiletries in their carry-on baggies.

I'll continue to prepare the house for my absence. 

Oh and I am also going to be blogging our vacation.

So join me, starting this Thursday, as we fly to LA for a brief stay before road tripping to Colorado, including some pretty sweet stops sprinkled throughout the trip!

happy trip

-m

2 Weeks

2 Weeks out
Two weeks from the time I am typing this I will be picking up a rental car and making our way to Dockweiler State Beach on the Pacific.

Remember the two things I ask myself regarding a family vacation

#1 what will we wear?

#2 what will we pack in?

Well, by 2-weeks-out and I have started to add in a few more questions for myself

#3 what travel entertainment do we need?

#4 what needs to be taken care of on the home front? housesitter or pet sitting needs?

Back to #1- what will we wear?
I have piles going already in the closet, long sleeve shirts, pants, all gathered in one place,
soon they'll make their way into suitcases.
{still need to purchase my suitcase}.
10 days packed in one carry-on,
we have an 80 degree high to 30 degree low temperature range.

This will be a challenge...
however,
I have a chart that helps me plot out what I'll need to wear for each day.
{I will get that posted over this next week.}

I am a repeat clothing wearer, 
if you prefer a different outfit each day then I suggest going over to this post titled "Fit 30 Outfits in Your Carry-on". It's a little more complicated but a great way to pack a lot in a little.

#2- What will we pack in?
We will each get one carry-on and a backpack, or other bag.

#3- What entertainment do we need?
I think this post titled What's in My Toddler's Carry-on, is a great post on packing for toddlers. I use similar items to ones she does. 

--School age kids I recommend audio versions of Adventures in Odessey or radio theatre. 

--An iPad and headphones are great for all ages, download new games and perhaps a new movie for the trip and delete any games or apps you don't want them playing.

#4- What needs to be taken care of on the home front?
I find having friends and family live with you makes traveling easier; someone is always in the house and the house duties fall on them.

However,
if you don't run a boarding house call a friend, local kennel, grandma or whoever but get your pet/house/garden details sewn up.

So that's that.

As I finalize this post we're 9 days out from the trip start date!!
I am getting excited!!

Happy trips friends!!
-m

Come Along with Me...

... as I prepare for our upcoming 10-day road trip from California to Colorado.

Steve, Aubry and I will fly to LA, stay for 3 days and then drive to Colorado Springs via a lot of pretty places.

I will do this stress-free and you're welcome to join me at the beginning... about a month out from a trip I ask myself 2 things-

#1: what are we all gonna wear?and #2: what are we all gonna pack in?

I should now clarify how lucky I am- I DO NOT pack or have any part in Steve's packing, so by "we" I mean, myself, age 40 and Aubry May age 3; I pack for the two of us. My big boy husband packs for himself so we can stay married.

#1- What will we wear?
For this trip it'll be Florida summer clothes, FL winter clothes or some sort of combination of the two. 
LA and Colorado have different temps this time of year.

I did cash in on the end of winter sale while on a recent trip to Virginia and purchased some long sleeve shirts and a cute dress for Aubry.

#2- What will we pack in?
Aubry really, really wants her own roller suitcase this trip, and since we have a few flights already on the calendar for this year I am looking at what to get her for a roller. More on that later.

I like to travel simple and small.
I find I do not wear a portion of my suitcase every trip I take, so each time I eliminate more items.

I also need a new carry-on suitcase.

I will be purchasing this suitcase from Target. 
Aubry and I will both pack in this, which will be a challenge as I've already mentioned the weather differences. 

Aubry has this backpack that she will carry on with some clothes and travel goodies. I like getting kids an LL Bean backpacks, or pack-pack as Aubry calls it, because they last and are guaranteed. plus it brainwashes my kids that L.L. Bean as well as all thing New England are superior

So that's 30 days out-- thinking about 
#1-what we'll wear and
#2- what we'll pack in.

I'll be back with more, like how we manage a fun, relaxing, healthy road trip starting a plane flight away.

Happy Trails,
-m