Packing Light How To! Though not my style. As always, pack your style with these guidelines in mind.
“Packing light doesn’t come easily to most people. However, it’s a skill you can hone with a little planning and organization. Here’s some of my best tips for evolving into a light packer.
1. Choose versatile clothing and footwear that fit into your travel activities. Versatile clothing means you pack fewer items, especially if they can do double duty.
2. Stick to simple color schemes and patterns so that all clothing mixes and matches. Separates give you lots of outfit possibilities. Add colorful accents if desired.
3. A packing list can help you organize the items you’re bringing. Critically look at the packing list and see where items can be eliminated or replaced with lightweight or double duty items.
4. Do what I call a “shakedown” a week or so before departure. Lay everything out that’s on your packing list and make sure all clothing coordinates. Try things on if necessary because you may not have access to a full-length mirror during your trip and you want to ensure all your outfits fit well. Edit out any unnecessary items. Note any thing you might be missing.
5. Bring enough outfits to last a few days and plan on laundering clothing. That can mean doing laundry in hotel/hostel sinks, laundromats, or using a laundry service.
6. Lightweight materials dry quicker and take up less space than bulky knits. Look for clothing made from modal, viscose, rayon, tencel, cotton blends or lightweight cotton. Avoid 100% bulky cotton clothing, it takes too long to air dry and takes up too much precious space.
7. Wear bulky items on travel days. Items such as jeans, sweaters, boots, and coats worn on travel days keep your luggage light.
8. Choose clothes that help you layer appropriately for the weather conditions of your destination.
9. Accessories increase your outfit options and keep your looks from being boring. A belt changes a look instantly, so can a scarf. Introduce color and pattern in you accessories if you like.
10. Pack double duty toiletry items. If you are carrying on luggage make sure all toiletry items meet TSA standards.
11. Keep your secondary carry on bag light as well. There’s nothing worse than lugging around a heavy carry-on in addition to your luggage (I’ve been there).
12. Constantly edit and evaluate what you plan on bringing. Look at your packing list after a trip and note any unused items. This will help you pack for your next trip and become a light traveler.”
Via travelista
It is finally Spring! Summer is now officially around the corner, which makes writing a blog geared toward the perfect (though not always thanks to the odd rain showers) tropical Jamaican weather a lot easier. While it does keep your imagination alive to dream about wearing shorts and breezy tops in the dead of winter, it really is a whole lot enjoyable to look outside your window and see flowers blooming then it was to see ice sickles covering bare branches.
- Jamaica’s normal temperatures are in the 80s.
- Though this is determined by your proximity to the coast. The further inland and the higher the elevation, it is tipically cooler.
- The coast can reach well into the 90s in the day and 80s at night.
- And inland the days will be hot and nights cooler, though hardly ever cold.
So, taking into account the drastic change in weather here in one of the California mountains and also to the shift of images and trends in magazines, I am doing a post about spring colors!
- The Spring colors are pastels, normally for bottoms. This means skinny jeans, legging jeans, shorts and cropped jeans in pastels like coral, light lime, mint, yellow, and some blues.
- Tops are also pastels or of a brighter color and have been paired mostly with colors opposite on the color wheel. For example, coral and blue.
- Mix and match colors you wouldnt normally put together!
- No crazy neon’s and reds. Blah. That doesn’t read easy breezy and summery does it?
First and foremost this blog consists primarily of tips on style, culture, and travel information while volunteering in Jamaica but second, it is for curvy women. So with that in mind curvy women normally stay away from bright colors that could bring attention to parts of their bodies they would like to conceal. As a rule of thumb most wear dark colors on the bottom to appear thinner. I personally covet the coca cola body shape (small on top, big hips) so I don’t mind that my hips may appear bigger (I know, you may think that is crazy.) And for those of you who may be like me, colors on the bottoms is a good choice. Those who prefer to wear dark colors on the bottom should branch out with festive colors on the top, coral being my favorite!
- Colors will bring attention to your body, so pastels on the bottom may be a weary choice for curvy girls who want to minimize their trouble areas.
- For those who love the coca cola body shape, colors on the bottom are great!
- And if you’re like me and dont like your arms, a great option is a sheer light weight cardigan in a summer color that you can mix and match.
curvynfitcali:
Always thinking about escaping, always dreaming about it. It is very difficult.
What a way to live…
Okay, so THIS is literally the post I have been looking for since I started packing research over a year ago. Literally the perfect list I could imagine; just pack what fits your style while using the same concept! Ahhh, so excited that half the work is already done for me.
But dont you worry, this blog will still be updated with different goods. But just had to share this one!
swellstyleblog:
PART 1 of a month-long style, travel and surf diary in Australia.
How to pack for a month in a carry-on…
Yes- it is possible. The only things you’ll be missing are the inevitable wait at the airport, bag fees, the gut-wrenching sound of wheels at your heels, the freedom of being able to skip…
Remember all my ranting about lipstick? Instantly lights up your face; which is EXACTLY what you want at the end of a long and sweaty day at work.
Trust me.
Jamaica is not like the States, especially when it come to laundry. The majority of households do not own a washing machine and most definitely (almost always) do not own a dryer. If you are lucky to come across a hostel with a washer or a host-family with one, then you are blessed; like I had been.
Though it still will cost you a crazy amount in the opinion of my roommate and myself to use the facilities 1500JMD ($17.34 USD) EVERY load. This seemed a bit extreme, though I had been willing to pay because I realised it was how it had always been with the previous volunteers. My roommate though, had a different idea of this and ultimately lead to the, somewhat embarrassing and awkward conversation, with our host family. Needless to say, they allowed us not to pay anything which I wont lie, really helped with my financial situation from then on.
- To avoid a potentially awkward run in with your host-family, come prepared with the laundry knowledge. What is this you say? Be prepared to pay for the washer. It uses water and electricity which obviously raises their bill. Keep in mind also, that they do not wash as often as you may and there for keep the bill pretty low. Also, In Jamaica they use water tanks and not a piping system which means they have to have people come refill the tanks for the shower, kitchen, and anything else that requires water. It IS going to be expensive, especially if you plan on keeping up your cleaning routine like you are used to back home. But that is just it, you are not home, so try to adjust to your surroundings accordingly.
However, the majority of volunteers did not have a washer and had to wash all their clothing by hand. We are all very used to the finer things in life, so much so that the excessive technology for others has become a necessity for us. Though it is important to point out that the Caribbean weather is quite different from the rest of the world, and where it is doable to hang your clothing out to dry during the day in Jamaica, it is impossible in a place that snows, obviously.
There is a possiblity that there are laundry mats around your area, but don’t count on it. If you do happen to find one, chances are it way further then you wished it would be. Meaning, one, two, and possibly three taxi rides to your destination. Walking to and from each taxi stand, lugging around all your baby puke and sweat stained smelly laundry in a packed to the brim taxi cab. HA! Pretty funny right?
- You will be doing your laundry in the sink or outside, do not kid yourself. Buy some solid soap sheets like this one. (Sorry for the annoying URL, for some reason the attach link isn’t working **http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000Y0CL8K/worldscheapes-20** I cant really coach you much on this side of things, but this is how my lovely second Jamaica laundry trip is looking. So, I better start learning a thing or two, too.
So, this whole Laundry situation is important to know when packing. Which, I had gave little thought about apparently. Ohhhh, so you are telling me that the more clothes you pack, the more you need to wash? Meaning more loads? More money? AND more trouble? Wowwww, who would have known?
- Pack light. Jeggings are the heaviest clothing option you should go for. Anything more seems like a disaster.
- Buy clothes hangers to hang outside on the wire (assuming they have one and you are able to utilize it). Otherwise, youll just be hanging it over a rail or on a tree branch… hell I really am not sure. I am hoping the first is an option. GOODLUCK, damn laundry.
I feel suffocated here. All I want to do, is pack a hiking backpack and leave… go far far away.
Anonymous asked: What type of shoes would you recommend packing?
I would recommend sandals and flat boots.
You will be walking a lot, probably more then you would back home. I bought tan sandals on sale for $7.00, which worked well for the first month but started to fall apart towards the end of my service. I’d stick with the sandals that clasp around the ankle so they don’t fall off or someone doesn’t step on the backs by mistake.
Go for a lighter brown or tan color so it doesn’t make you look shorter, and also because the red clay poses a problem for anyone who hate for white shoes to turn brown.
Also, my Dutch roommate, by some miracle, had a really strong industrial type of glue that I used to glue back the flaps of my shoes. Would be smart to invest in that as well!
Now, why couldn’t I be that smart! Luckily now, you at least know. And good luck!
There are three major jacket pieces that you need in your wardrobe.
- A jean jacket that hits at your waist to wear with dresses, jeans and everything in between. This American Eagle jean jacket is really soft, which is perfect for me. I hate being restricted in clothing, this one in particular allows movement. I personally don’t like a jean jacket to hit at my hips because one, it isn’t flattering on my short figure. And also, I love my waist and want to show if off, even if the jacket is supposed to be a loose fit. If it hits at your waist, its most likely going to be flattering, especially with dresses. I hate my arms, so I always need a dress with sleeves, or to find cute overlayers to go over them… without looking like a chubby little girl with a shrug.
- A nice leather jacket, with a resonable price. I havent tried this jacket on yet, but I love the color. The fit is, of course, important. So try it out first.
- A cardigan that isn’t short and that is sheer to let your skin breath in the hot weather. A longer fit is ideal because you can wear it with a dress, or with jeggings that require a little length for your back side and you know… not to reveal your cooch. Just sayin’.
Three Key Overlayers by fattieja featuring zip jackets
I’d like to say “Not all who wander are lost” is true for me too, but at this time in my life I do feel a little lost. I am using this time to find myself, to make mistakes and try new things. I am lost, but I will find what I am looking for… eventually.
Though I’d like to say, I am having the best time of my life being well… lost!
