As Lloyd alluded to in his post, one of my our goals was to pack as light as possible. He was going to San Antonio for Brittney’s confirmation, and he wanted to take a suitcoat to Texas. To Texas. It is a million degrees there in the winter, let alone spring, but whatever. It presented the opportunity for me to shop!
I found a tri-fold garment bag online for 30 bucks. It’s not anything magnificent, but for the price, I was impressed. It folded in thirds to make a neat-o carry-on.
It held:
- his suitcoat
- two Hawaiian shirts
- a pair of jeans
- a swimsuit
- sleeping shorts
- a t-shirt
- socks & underwear
- toiletries
- flip-flops (for the pool)
It could have held more, but this was its trial run and plus – I said he didn’t need any more stuff. Yes, I’m a tyrant. I had mentally packed my tiny bag (tomorrow’s post) a dozen times in my head, so it was flabbergasting to me that the night before he mumbled, “What am I going to take?” and then spouted some nonsense about three pairs of socks for a two-day trip. What a child.
He really balked at the idea of not taking his toiletry bag, but was adventurous enough to cave and shut me up try my space-saving ideas. He really pared it down. Aside from this baggie, he took a brush and his electric razor.
In the baggie:
- six Q-tips for his spotless ears
- a mini-toothbrush from a dollar store 5-pack (tiny travel score!)
- a dollop of hair goop inside the container I used for my braces wax
- the innards from an old deodorant (He’s brand-loyal and they didn’t have a mini size.)
- two Azo tablets (Don’t leave home without them.)
I told him he could bum toothpaste off his sister. Christina, if he didn’t tell you – he used your toothpaste.
Brad says
Mmm… deodorant popsicle…
I recently read an internet article about packing carry-ons. It said more clothes fit if you roll them instead of folding.
Beth says
Yes!
I always roll my clothes for packing.
Peggy says
I didn’t recognize the deoderant until I read your comment. HA! It reminds me of these:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/45599525/tupperware-popsicle-mold-set-with
My mom always made them with Kool-Aid when I was a kid. I LOVED them!!
Peggy says
Sometimes she used chocolate milk! They were the bestest!
Annette says
I carry more than that to work with me in the morning! Ugh!
Peggy says
I’m a very light packer myself…it’s amazing how little I take (I figure if I need something I don’t have, I’ll just buy it). I learned to pack light when my kids were little & you had to practically rent a U-haul to go anywhere.
(About rolling clothes: When rolled, they’re supposed to be less wrinkly too. I’ve never tried it’ cause it always seemed logical that it would all fit better flat…but now with Beth’s stamp of approval, I will give the old roll a try next time.)
Lauren says
Amen to the ‘just buy it there’. The only thing you really need to fly is your flight number and your wallet.
Lloyd says
I actually had to change into one of those Hawaiian shirts soon after arriving in Texas. I was dressed up as per Brad’s theory of plane travel, but that was clearly the wrong outfit for wandering through the Alamo. My dad said, “People will think that you’re our financial manager.”
So I changed in the parking lot.
Peggy says
So did you get special treatment being more dressed up?
Lloyd says
There was a mistake with the seating assignments and they moved me up to the second row. It’s not really first class, but there is a lot more leg room and they gave me the whole can of orange juice instead of the little cup I had on the connecting flight.
Peggy says
I doubt it was a mistake…the suit is magic!!
Christina says
Lauren should have let you bring at least one pair of shorts….it is Texas for crying out loud.
Lauren says
As I recall, shorts would have been fine, it was the extra pair of shoes I forbid. I’m cruel, cruel, cruel.
(He could have made his dress pants into shorts -- you had scissors, right? 😉 )