Ugh, you guys…I have been meaning to write this post for weeks and have just not been able to get my stuff together because summer (and a bunch of other things). But I still think it’s worth sharing, so even though we are now almost into fall and my kids literally just started school a few days ago, I am giving this to you now because it’s better late than never. Right? ???? …Just bear with me.
How was your summer, mama? I hope you had a good one. Ours was pretty great. Lots of baseball, beach time, and hanging out with friends. In July, the boys and I went on a trip to Colorado to visit good friends of ours who moved there a few years ago. We had an awesome time getting to see where they live and exploring all the beautiful sights of Colorado Springs. (Check out the pictures below!)
But, since airline prices have been so crazy lately (at least at the time we bought our tickets), we went budget on Frontier and only had one personal item to bring each! So today I’m sharing with you how to pack for a week in one bag: the bags we used, what we packed, and how we managed to fit everything into one personal-item-sized bag!
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The Best Bags for Traveling Light
First, I found these great travel bags on Amazon that are specifically designed to fit under the chair in front of you on the plane. I got the mint color and the boys both wanted grey. They look nice, worked perfectly, and fit everything that we needed for a weeklong trip. Another cool feature is that they collapse down into a little pouch for easy storage. (So on other trips where you can carry on more luggage, you can stash one in your regular luggage to use as a beach or pool bag, or for bringing back souvenirs!)
What To Wear on the Plane
Instead of having to pack bulkier items like tennis shoes and a jacket, I wore them on the plane to save space. (Plus, it was comfortable.) Here’s the outfit:
My Packing List
Here’s what was in my bag:
- 4 tank tops
- 3 t-shirts
- 3 pairs of shorts
- 3 dresses
- bras, underwear & socks
- 2 pairs of sandals, 1 pair of tennis shoes
- 2 bathing suits
- 1 pair of pajamas
- Toiletries/make up, hanging toiletry bag
- Hairbrush and comb
- Jewelry pouch
- Book
- Amazon Fire Tablet & earphones
- Phone charger, tablet charger
- Small grey crossbody bag
- Travel packing cubes
Fortunately, we were traveling during the summer so we didn’t need to bring a big range of clothes for different kinds of weather, just mostly shorts, t-shirts, tanks, and dresses. But, if you were to adapt this for cooler weather, it’s still doable. I would pare it down to 2-3 pairs of pants, a mixture 4-5 long sleeve tops and sweaters, and perhaps additional items like a long sleeve dress, a puffy (but packable vest) and/or scarf. Pack less bulky flats in your bag and wear boots and a jacket on the plane. (When in doubt, go to Pinterest for inspiration.)
Also, since we were staying with friends, I didn’t have to pack things like shampoo/conditioner, body wash, a hairdryer, or sunscreen. But in most cases, if you are staying at a hotel, they will probably provide most of that for you as well, or you can purchase things like sunscreen once you arrive at your destination.
the Outfits – Summer Capsule Wardrobe
I stuck with a pretty neutral color palette so that everything would go together easily. This worked like a mini-capsule wardrobe and was perfect for everything I needed. It includes nicer tank tops and dresses for evenings out, plus an assortment of casual tops and shorts that can be mixed and matched for multiple looks.
For shoes, I had the tennis shoes I wore on the plane, plus a pair of nude and black sandals. These pieces worked great together and I had plenty of options to wear during our trip!
Here are some pictures we took while sightseeing:
I hope these tips come in handy for your next trip! Traveling lighter is not only possible, but it’s enjoyable too! I’m always looking for helpful travel tips, so if you have any to share, let me know!
For now, we are back to school and (sort of) back into the swing of things! Waking up early and getting into daily routines was quite the transition, but for the most part, things have been going pretty smoothly and the kids are enjoying school. Here’s a picture of the first day:
My little Evan is starting 2nd grade, and my oldest, Josh, is now a middle schooler!! #notready. ????They really do grow up too fast!
Also, speaking of getting back into routines, if you’re struggling with what to put in those lunch boxes everyday, make sure to check out this post!
With love,
Love the pictures!????