My Bags Are Packed I'm Ready to Go...

You know how there’s things that bloggers do that don’t really make sense to the rest of the general population, but they make perfect sense to us? Picture the dumbfounded look that The Boy gave me as I was standing on a folding chair taking pictures with my cell phone of things laid out on his bed. I’m glad he loves me.

*snicker*

Normally I write up a packing list a few days before I take off so that I have time to go “Oh right! I need to bring that!” This time I did it photographically. I’ve already remembered a handful of things that I’m missing, so you’ll have to bear with me. Also, I will one day get myself a decent camera and stop subjecting you all to my 3G iPhone photos, but until then it is what it is. Sorry.

I’m going to be in Maui for a week, and I have no intentions whatsoever of checking my luggage. I’ve only had my luggage lost once, and fortunately it was on the home stretch leg of my flight, but needless to say I don’t check luggage if I don’t have to. I like being able to pick up my bag and head straight to the door rather than waiting by the luggage carousel.

TOILETRIES:

1. Nail clippers
2. Nail file
3. Razors
4. Tweezers
5. Clarisonic Mia – Christmas gift from my sister. Yay
6. Hair brush
7. Shampoo and Conditioner sample packets
8. Deodorant
9. Tissues
10. Tooth paste
11. Hair oil – decanted into a sample sized container
12. Eyelash curler
13. Blotting papers
14. Moisturizer – decanted into a sample sized container
15. Powder blush
16. Face wash sample
17. Waterproof mascara
18. Eyeliner
19. Pressed powder
20. Neutral creme eyeshadow
21. Eyeliner sharpener
22. Roll on perfume
23. Lip balm
24. Tinted lip balm
25. Tinted lip balm
26. Lip balm sample
27. Hair ties
28. Bobby pins
29. Hair rollers pins
30. Toothbrush

ITEMS NOTICEABLY MISSING:

Hair Styling Products – HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Yeah, no. I have unevenly curly hair; pin curls on the bottom, frizzy waves on top. The moment that humidity hits my hair it’s game over. There’s a reason why I call doing my hair in the morning “Taming the Beast”. I’m going to embrace my texture in all of it’s frizzy glory and do a bunch of casual textured updos. They Boy is looking forward to seeing what happens to it. If he doesn’t run screaming I’ll know he needs an optometrist appointment when we get back.

Hair Styling Tools - See above. What on earth am I going to do with a blow dryer and a straightening iron?

Foundation, Concealer and multiple Eye Shadows – I can count on one hand the number of times a year I wear a full face of makeup; I’m certainly not going to wear it on a tropical vacation.

Prescriptions – The only things I have right now are topical creams for acne, but they make my skin really photo sensitive. Not good for a beach vacation. My skin is doing alright, it’ll be on it’s monthly upswing, not downswing, while I’m gone, and the containers are too big for me to carry on the plane. They’ll be staying home and I’ll exfoliate with the Mia while I’m gone.

Sun Screen and After Sun – These would be too large to take onto the plane as well, so The Boy and I will be stopping at an ABC or a Walmart to pick some up when we land.

Mascara Remover: My mascara has an interesting texture to it. It doesn’t come off when it’s wet by itself, but if you roll it a little between your fingers when it’s wet it comes off in chunks. It doesn’t actually require a make up remover. Interesting stuff.

The Boy’s dad and his fiance bought me a travel toiletry bag for Christmas. I already had bags at home that I typically use for travelling, but I figure I’ll give it a shot on this trip. Everything from the first picture is shown here, and I have room to spare.

I don’t do enough travelling to warrant keeping a stash of those liquids bags at home, and I certainly don’t want to get up to security and find out at the last moment that I can’t bring what I’ve packed because it’s oversized. The Boy ran into that problem the last time we flew somewhere together. Most of his flights are private charters that leave from air plane hangers, so he doesn’t go through security very often. I carried some of his liquids in my bag, but some of them ended up getting thrown out at security. I pack everything into a ziploc bag at home, because they’re pretty close in size to the ones at the airport. If you want a better idea of what you can or cannot bring on the plane in general, this is a good resource.

CLOTHING:

Is it minimalist? No. It beats the pants off some of the overstuffed suit cases I’ve seen others haul around with them though.

1. Black and red bikini
2. Blue bikini
3. Microfiber travel towel – In case I can’t take the hotel one with me
4. Purple halter dress
5. Blue cowl neck dress
6. Black high-low dress
7. Belt
8. Pashmina
9. V-neck T-shirt
10. Crew neck t-shirt
11. 3/4 sleeve button down
12. Shorts
13. Double layer running socks
14. Windbreaker
15. Long sleeved zippered top
16. Long sleeved running top
17. Yoga pants

We have a fairly diverse itinerary while we’re there, varying from attending a wedding to hiking to surfing to checking out the top of the volcano. The pashmina, wind breaker, long sleeved tops, yoga pants and socks are being worn by me on the plane, so they don’t need to go into the bag.

Originally I had planned on only packing one dress for the trip, but I didn’t really have one that was suitable. Then about a month ago The Boy’s mother and grandmother thought it would be fun to play dress up with me at the mall, and I ended up coming home with four dresses as well as some odds and ends. I have specific events picked out for three of them, so they’re coming with. Fortunately they pack small.

I never really understood the need for multiple shoes on a trip until now. I’m bringing a pair of runners, a pair of heels, a pair of decorative sandals and a pair of ballet flats. I’ll wear the runners on the plane, and the rest will go in the shoe compartment of my carry on.

ITEMS NOTICEABLY MISSING:

Jewellery and accessories: I’ll be wearing my iron ring and a pair of stud earrings, as well as packing a pashmina and decorative belt. That’s it. The only reason why I’m packing a belt is because The Boy said “The belt makes that dress” when I was trying the black one on, and that’s what I’m wearing to our belated anniversary dinner. Otherwise, I’m not bringing any accessories. I haven’t really gotten into wearing them yet, and I have this nasty habit of forgetting jewellery in hotel rooms…

Beach shoes: My flip flop cost me $6, and are about as many years old. They’re on their last legs. I’ll pick up a pair of flip flops when we pick up our sunscreen and whatnot.

Jeans: I normally live in jeans, but I really have little reason for them on this trip. The yoga pants will see me through the flights, the hiking, and going up to the top of the volcano where the temperature apparently drops significantly.

Boots, winter jacket, etc…: The only time I’d really need these is when I get back to Canada, and only if it’s quite cold. We’re being dropped off and picked up at the airport, so we don’t have to wander around a snowy parking lot looking for our vehicle when we get back. I’m going to layer and make do.

Bras and underwear: I just couldn’t be bothered to lay them out nicely for the photos. They’re coming with.

Everything fits in my bag with room to spare for some books and food on the plane. The one important thing I’ll be adding to the bag at this point (aside from my passport…) is an empty water bottle. I carry it through security empty, and then have one of the coffee shops fill it with tap water when I get to the other side before boarding the plane.

What do you think? What would you add or remove? How much do you normally take on vacation for a week?

Recommended Reading: I haven’t always been this way

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