I confess: I’m really, really bad at packing light. It’s not that I change outfits six times a day or require nine kinds of hair products; it’s that I hate to be unprepared.
“I need two choices of heels. What if I break one on an impromptu cocktail party jog?”
“I should probably bring an extra set of pajamas. In case I spill something on them. In my sleep.”
“I wonder if I can fit my favorite pillow into my carry-on…?”
I try to pare down to the essentials, but inevitably I always end up with fifty things I don’t need. This isn’t a problem when I’m driving or checking a bag, but carry-on regulations aren’t exactly friendly to the mammoth uprights I lug on family vacations.
Hence, tonight’s mission. To fit this:
Into this:
It can be done. I’ve limited myself to one extra outfit- because spills do happen, especially when I’ll be eating delicious food all weekend J
* * *
As I said yesterday, I’ve been a tad bored with my usual cereal breakfasts. This morning I switched it up with a bowl of blueberry-almond oatmeal.
- ½ c rolled oats
- 1 c almond milk
- ½ pint blueberries
- spoonful of almond butter, mixed in while cooking
- cinnamon and a drizzle of maple syrup
Perfection. My only gripe was that it was kind of hot to be eating oatmeal outside…but alas, they were delicious, and the weather was beautiful, so it was fine.
After breakfast, I headed to the gym. I did 20 minutes on the ArcTrainer, followed by half an hour of weight machines.
Lunch came in two parts. Un.
Tomato and basil on Vermont Bread Company organic whole-wheat bread, topped with oil + vinegar.
Deux.
MASSIVE smoothie containing:
- 1.5 c almond milk
- ½ pint blueberries
- half a bunch of kale
- 1 scoop Sun Warrior vanilla
- 1 t xanthan gum
- two spoonfuls of almond butter
- lots of ice
To give you an idea of the size of this thing, the drinking receptacle was actually a centerpiece vase from my brother’s wedding.
After running a few errands, I got down to business and started packing! It took a few hours, but all I have left to do is pack what I’ve laid out. Phew! My afternoon snack was the last of my Puffins- about three servings' worth. I'm only sick of cereal in the morning!
Dinner was similar to last nights’: cauliflower, zucchini, yellow squash, brussel sprouts and carrots roasted in EVOO and sea salt, plus a baked tofu marinated in EVOO and balsamic.
For dessert, I had a few bunches of grapes and four Drambuie-filled dark chocolates I swiped from my dad.
They’ve got a lot of kick to them!
Off to pack- talk to you from Chicago!!
Are you a light packer, or do you overpack? Any tips for organizing a suitcase?
What’s your favorite warm-weather breakfast?
26 comments:
I always overpack! I went on a week vacation recently and I probably had enough clothes for another 3 days at least! As for organizing a suitcase I find that you can roll up things such as shorts and light tank tops.
Oh and wearing your bulkiest shoes while traveling allows more space :)
Have fun in the Windy City!
I am not packing light! I need to make sure I have casual, dressy, workout, etc. It's ridiculous how big my suitcase is for a 4 day trip! See you soon!~!!!!
I am a total overpacker!! I've bought WAAAAY too much stuff to the HLS..what if I get hot/spill/don't like something suddenly/am overdressed/it's cold/it's hot/it's snowy....you never know! Better to have too much than not enough :)
Favourite warm weather breakfast = big smoothies, without a doubt :D
See you tomorrow!
I always pack A LOT, but I tend to forget something somehow, haha! I'm so excited for you for your trip - it's gonna be AWESOME! Kindaa jealous as well, haha! I will be living through you all weekend, ok? Cool.
Have a great evening!
I love that you're planning for an impromptu cocktail party jog ;)
I know the feeling though- my stuff is laid out all over my bed & I can't decide what should actually come or not. I am, however, a champ at cramming a TON into a suitcase. ;)
I wish I could give you some tips on packing, but I'm rather horrible at it. I'm always afraid that some weird situation might come up where I need a specific thing, and I hate being caught unprepared as well, so I always, always bring more than I end up needing. Ahh well, better safe than sorry, right? I hope you have a great time, though :)
My favorite breakfast is always oatmeal, regardless of the weather. I don't really like warm oats, though, so I always make mine on the stovetop and then let them cool before eating. It takes a little bit of extra time, but I'm picky like that ;) You could always try waffles or pancakes? Or overnight oats... or french toast. Lol. I'm a big fan of breakfast, if you can't tell :)
I BRING MY LIFE IN MY SUITCASE!!! lol! I always pack too much, but I always change outfits or have a hard time picking so I have to bring them all! When I modeled and traveled alot, I always had sooooooooooo much, I had to bring stuff for shoots and just regular stuff to wear, I had two huge suitcases and a carry on! I am a professional packer for sure, with modeling I learned how to be!
I am so excited for you to be going to chicago! U will have a blast ! I wish I was going! Have fun for me and a drink for me!!
Thanks for your sweet get well wishes, you are just a wonderful friend and I will tell you again, Im so glad we became friends through the blogland!
Love u!!!!!!!!! xoxo
I am a terrible packer. It never fails that I'll leave it to the last minute, so then I just throw in a bunch of tops, pants, underwhos and socks without really thinking of reasonable outfits. luckily, I don't go on big trips often :P
Your meals today look amazing - those oats are gorgoeus, and it has been farrr, far too long since I've had a tomato sandwich. yours looks great!! And not just because it's VT bakery bread :P Have you tried their spelt bread? that's really good, too :)
I always pack too much...I feel it takes me days to pack, because I always change my mind. Plus I hate most of clothes, ugh, haha.
Have a great time! Wish we were going we would love to meet you!!
hahah SAME HERE! I always overpack- even if it's an overnight stay I always find I pack wayyy more than I need too. hahha but wow haha sometimes I even pack 2-3 lunches- just incase I dont know what I want! Im very indecisive I guess :)
as for warm weather breakfast... pretty much anything. I find I have toast with PB&J and fruit, or cereal and fruit a lot when it's warm out. even yogurt, fruit and cereal. I rarely have oatmeal or anything of that sort when it's hot. But I actually DID have a bowl of oatmeal a week or so ago, and it was quite refreshing. I forget how good it tastes! :)
have fun on your trip!!!!!! Im jealous!!
uhhh i am the queen of overpacking. im just too indecisive!
p.s. that is one blue bowl of oatmeal!
have a relaxing night, dear!
love, becca
http://fromheretothereinpurple.blogspot.com
hahaha..i wish i had a suitcase! i have to use backpacking backpacks! hehehe! i'm a bit of a light packer after living on the go for so man years though. so, i never fret! i work with what i have or just borrow something, or buy it! there are always options!!! :)
i can't wait to see youuuuuuu!!!
Yeah, I'm REALLY bad at packing, too. I usually just figure, 'whatever,' and take it all. Also, what did you think of the Drambuie chocolates? I love chocolate and I (shamelessly) love liquor, but I can't seem to bring myself around to liquor-filled-chocolate...
Lay all your clothes flat on a bed, then put them in a dry cleaning plastic bag, fold in half and put your jammies, socks, bras, etc inbetween the fold..saves room and reduces wrinkles.
Have fun!
Oh dear God I am not a light packer. I ake everything. I often have to take stuff out of the suitcase and jam it into the carry on to get it under the weight limit. I just can't decide -- what if I want to wear dress A? What about dress B? Or dress C? How am I going to know what I want to wear in five days!!!
I have gotten really into hot oatmeal in the last few weeks..when summer started at first I didn't want anything hot. But it's just so tasty I don't care.
Have fun at HLS! I am so jealous I'm not going. I can't wait to hear all the gossip.
we are the SAME person! When I was in chicago two weeks ago, the boy made fun of me when he tried to carry my bag. I need to remember to leave room for SWAG or else Ill be throwing out my favorite pair of heels sunday morning in order to make room for food lol
CANT WAIT TO MEET YOU!
xo- Molly
Omigosh. I saw this and almost fainted. Finally someone with the same problem with me. I always need to pack extras of everything, just in case something happens.
I totally understand your packing problem!! I do the exact same thing. I try to prepare for every single possible scenario and then end up with eighty extra pounds of things that I really don't need.
thanks for the love tonite :)
and girl, you're going to chicago, not siberia. they have ummmm...world class shopping!! there! i am from there. you will be just fine as long as you dont break a heel or spill in your sleep (loved those!) and yeah if you need shopping tips, holla!
i am so jealz youre going. i want the REAL DIRT. No fake blogger b.s. REAL info please!!!!
I can't wait to get a recap of events! I'm a brand new health and fitness blogger and I'm so excited to finally find others online. Your site is great, looking forward to stopping by often;)
Gabriela, I LOVE that you drank out of a flower vase. Hahaha sometimes super smoothies call for huge glasses like that! And I am loving your blueberry breakfast. My favorite breakfast for summer is probablt overnight oats with lots of fruit and nuts!
All you gals leaving for Chicago makes me wish I was going. I really hope they have one next year. Have so much fun!!!!
I'm a total overpacker too! My problem is that I hate to decide on outfits beforehand, so I like to bring a variety of outfits to choose from once I get there! :P
Your oatmeal looks so good. And so purple! I don't really have a problem eating hot oats in the summer. But my favourite summer breakfast are definitely yogurt messes with tons of berries!
i always overpack. i'm so paranoid i'll get there and hate everything i have. i'm not even kidding, when i went to massachusetts i packed like double the amount of clothes i needed. i wore 2 different shoes the whole vaca and i packed like 8 pairs. RIDICULOUS!
The chocolate look like kidney beans!
Oatmeal...god choice! ;)
I never pack light...too many shoes and clothes (in case...)
I'm definitely a light packer. I feel less stressed if I don't have as much stuff to lug around and look after. Plus, after backpacking in Europe for 7 weeks and living out of a suitcase in China for a semester, I'm very good at living with little.
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