"I take more stuff for one night in Vegas than you just put in my car." -DW
Another adventure that seemed far away until about yesterday has arrived. This time is partly for work and partly for play. In the past couple of years I have become quite attached to the practice of only carry-on luggage especially when traveling internationally with multiple layovers (everybody's doing it. It's like green juice and pumpkin spice lattes.). I even got a new "regulation" suitcase that was decidedly smaller but has substantially decreased the chance of airline officials and the TSA intervening in my travels. "It's just the front pocket." I would say. "I have carried it on many times before." Followed by a please-let-me-by smile. Thankfully those days are gone.
This trip is particularly challenging due to the need to look professional, have normal clothes, and work out in two very different climates. Thus, I quickly entered complete denial that packing was even necessary. You really only need your passport, money and your phone right?
Last night after mini acai bowls and "guacamole" smoothies (an aside: making fun of the delicious antioxidant beverages we were drinking is apparently the new "I think you are hot. Please talk to me." It's not the best pickup line mostly because my friend and I were now focused on the idea of drinking guacamole. Could you just blend the chips in too? I don't even remember what the guys look like.) and all the errands had been run, it was finally time to make myself pack.
Since I successfully used carry-on only to Tanzania with not one but two pairs of hiking boots (one pair being gargantuan in size), I was determined to do it again. Workout clothes being nonnegotiable, the professional wear was going to be the problem.
Earlier in the week I had pulled things out of my closet and threw them on the bed or the floor (mostly the floor). I did this because everyone knows: 1. This is how all excellent trips begin and 2. Everything becomes so much clearer when stuff is in a pile.
Luckily due to my sister's love of convertible fashion and her decision that I should share that love, I have several pieces of clothing that can turn into a variety of looks from a scarf to a dress (I realize this happens in misguided ways in nightclubs all over the world on a daily basis and furthermore anything can become a scarf (just wrap it around your neck and voila!, but bear with me for a moment). I also have one (called The One) that turns into pants (in addition to dress, skirt, top & jacket). Woo hoo Pants!!
 |
| http://shonmodern.com/products/lookbook-theone |
The thing about convertible fashion is that even though you could pack two pieces and have a different outfit each day for three weeks, it takes practice and YouTube videos, at least for me. If you ever need a coordination gut check I suggest standing in front of a full length mirror while simultaneously spandex wrapping yourself as you watch a video demonstrating how to do it properly that is playing on your phone which is on the ground. The women on the videos twirl with the sheer joy and it excitement of their new creation. When I first tried it,I looked like a oddly wrapped rumpled mummy.
Last night I didn't practice strategically wrapping myself to travel fashion greatness, admittedly a potential oops that could lead to two weeks of all scarves all the time. I just packed 3 convertibles, 1 pair of pants, 1 jacket, 2 shirts, running gear, yoga clothes, a swimsuit, a rain jacket, the necessary footwear and my jump rope.
This morning I pondered opening my not so full suitcase and spastically adding #allthethings that would fit #justincase but I resisted. Instead I made an equally regrettable decision when I cooked an egg scramble of #allthethings that were left in my fridge (proof of my Southern and Thompson/Yarbrough lineage. Everything can be a casserole you know.). In retrospect the tomato curried cauliflower rice did not need to be in my eggs. You live. You attempt to put cauliflower in most things. You learn.
I packaged up my egg creation, grabbed my bags, and off the airport I went (thanks Donna!). I am sure the people who sat beside me on my first flight were super appreciative of my egg curry cauliflower situation.
Here's to countries 32-35! (& the least I have packed in a while). 4 hours of flying down. 26 to go!
The above mentioned clothing should be given credit because it is awesome:
Angelrox: the wrap, the hourglass, the flirt
Kaliyana: the one
No comments:
Post a Comment