The Lazy Girl's Guide to Packing

Well, a few days ago, I came to you all with a post about the difficulties and hardships of packing. And while I do really really hate packing, I am not a damsel in distress. And so, today I want to talk about how exactly to master the challenge, that is packing.

Me, writing my plan...

1. Plan

It is so easy to get overwhelmed when packing. The easiest way to stop this from occurring, is by planning. Make a list of everything you will need to bring, which you can check items off of as you pack. Go as far as to plan out what you are going to wear each day if it will help you. Just make sure that you know exactly what you need to bring, even before you start packing. 

2. Know your destination

Don't bother looking at guide books, but do check the weather forecast. You can then pack accordingly. Oh, and if, for example, your destination is cold and it's the middle of winter, don't bother packing shorts and skirts. You'll just be wasting space. It is good to be prepared, but sometimes that preparation can lead to wishful thinking and unrealism.

I think I'm doing pretty well on my packing, so far.

3. Work your clothes

Overpacking is always the worst thing you can do. (I once heard someone say that you should always lay out everything you want to pack, and then pack half of it). The best way to avoid overpacking, is to make sure that every item of clothing you pack can go with multiple outfits. That way, you can take less clothes and you will be less tempted to overpack.

4. Pack for where you're going, not where you wish you were going!

This links back to what I said before about packing and wishful thinking. It is so easy to pack for a holiday you wish you were going on, instead of a holiday you are actually going on. I am excellent at doing this, and I waste a lot of space, packing clothes that I am unlikely to wear. This being said, do pack to the requirements of your holiday. If you are going to be attending some formal event, then bring  a nice dress. However, don't bring four fancy dresses, if you are only going to one event

And finally... Don't forget to leave room for any purchases you make while on holiday!

And that's basically all you need to know. Packing can be easy if you just tackle it in the right way. A lot of being good at packing is down to good organisation skills and planning. Oh, and resisting the temptation to bring your entire wardrobe! ;)

Kajsa x  

Only the Essentials...

Everyone has those days. Those days when you find yourself needing something (e.g. a pen) and you realise that you don't actually have one on you. In reality, an item such as a pen is something that most people know that they should have on them at all times and doesn’t involve a whole lot of effort to obtain. You never know when you're going to bump into a cute guy in the street and need to give them your number! 

            In our day and age, we are all so busy and our lives are all so cluttered, which is a complete reflection of our handbags. Our bags will be filled to the seams with stuff that we do not need, while the items we actually need are left at home. So, I've decided to help all of you with bags that feel like they weigh a ton, by making a list of essentials for any handbag. The bare necessities. Now you guys can leave the clutter at home, and feel happy knowing that your bag is a lot more organised, and is a lot less of a weight on your shoulders.                                                                                                       

Along with a pen,  you should always have on you:                                                                                      

• Lip balm or Vaseline. The ultimate saviour for wind chapped lips, base for lipstick, emergency ‘glamour-iser’ and thing to apply when you’re bored. Also, did you know that vaseline can prevent blisters? If you're ever wearing uncomfortable shoes and you know a blister is about to form, apply some vaseline to the pained area and you can stop a blister from forming- or at very least soothe the pain a little. 
• Tissues. A sudden case of the sniffles never looks (or sounds) particularly attractive. Nor does tomato sauce all down your top, as I have learnt on many an occasion. 
• Chewing gum or mints. After eating that garlic salad for lunch, the person you work with will be thanking the heavens that you had some gum in your bag.
• Safety pins. A little odd, I know, but necessary. There have been too many occasions, where I have been at school and the strap on my school bag has decided to snap. Safety pins are the saviour here. As are they in the awkward situation of your button popping off your shirt and revealing a little too much cleavage...
• A mirror. I hate those days when it's incredibly windy and I've had to walk to school. I arrive knowing that my hair looks like some birds have taken residence in it, but a quick glance in the mirror, at least helps me to confirm it. 
• Hairbands. To help tame the bird's nest, mentioned above
• Bobby Pins. Because even with your hair tied back, you're going to have some untameable strands that need an extra boost. 
• Comb, or mini hairbrush. If you've left your hairbands at home, you can always try to battle your way through the jungle that is your hair. I only suggest trying this as a last resort!
• Your phone. Sounds a little obvious, but I felt like it deserved a mention anyway. I don't know about you guys, but I always feel really bare when I do not have my phone on me. Maybe I depend on my phone a little too much, but considering the plethora of things that you can do on your phone these days, it isn't really much of a surprise.
• Tampons. Yes it's practical, and a little boring, but I always think that it's better to be safe than sorry.
• One of those mini umbrellas that fold up to fit into your bag. This might not be as essential if you live in... the Sahara Desert, for example, and it hasn't rained in years. However, living in England, I have come to realise that if there is ever only one thing to leave the house with, it should be an umbrella. The amount of times that it has been sunny outside, with not one cloud in the sky, and I've left the house, only for it to start raining five minutes later, I have well and truly learnt my lesson. It's always raining in England, so I always have an umbrella on me. 
• Moisturiser. Especially important during the winter- moisturiser makes short work of tired and dull skin. At a push, a little on a tissue will also help remove makeup and in lieu of foundation it’s an instant way to make skin radiant. So forget carrying around hand cream and go for moisturiser – the do it all!
• A nail file. Because a broken nail is really annoying and can also be really painful. Not to mention the fact, that you will probably end up breaking your tights...
• Which brings me onto the next thing... a spare pair of tights. Because tights are always ripping at the wrong time (like on the way to a really big interview... or on the way to a date with the guy that you've been stalking for the last six months and has finally agreed to go out with you. Obviously he's taking you to a really classy restaurant- one where people with massive rips down their tights are NOT allowed in). So yeah, just don't risk it- bring a spare pair of tights with you. Oh, and if your tights aren't ripping, then the problem is that you just aren't wearing any tights! (Reference to the fake sun we have in England, which only pretends to feel warm...Grrr...) Unfortunately, blue legs aren't particularly classy either. 
•  And finally... the most important thing to carry around with you is (drum roll please...) Your wallet! Another obvious one, although it definitely deserves a mention. Your wallet is likely to hold your I.D, money, health insurance, driver's license etc. If you suddenly get kidnapped, but manage to leave in a daring escape straight out of 'Mission Impossible', it's not an umbrella that's going to get you home, (although it will be particularly useful if you are abducted to India, slap-bang in the middle of the Monsoon season) it's your wallet. So never ever, under any circumstance, leave home without it! 

So there you have it. My list of handbag essentials. The survival kit for life. Whatever you want to call it, I hope it will help you to know exactly what to have in your handbag, as you go through the daily motions of life. 

Kajsa