Packing day!

After the long and enjoyable 4th of July weekend, I'm ready to finish packing for my trip to the U.K. and Spain.  Although I've been thinking about it for sometime, I'm just now putting it all together.

Packing is always a process for me, I have to plan, think, plan, think, etc., because I want and need to be prepared.  When I'm at my destination, I don't want to be debating about what to wear, worrying about being too hot/cold, or feeling out-of-place.  I also don't want to over pack which means lugging around extra stuff.  

I started the process when I returned from my trip last year.  I made some mental notes about what worked and what didn't and bought a few new things while the trip was fresh in my mind. I found some great skirts that are perfect for traveling, as well as a couple of tops.  The biggest issue I had was the type of fabric I took.  Everything I packed was a t-shirt type knit, which took a long time to dry.   And, since we were traveling light, we washed clothes often, so it was a pretty big inconvenience.  

Last year, I only packed a small carry-on and a backpack. I packed super light because we moved from place to place without a "home base".  The day after we arrived in London, we went to Dublin for a few days, back to London and Cambridge, to Spain, and back to Cambridge.   I had plenty of clothing, mixing and matching, but again, drying was an issue and my wardrobe was pretty drab - only gray and black. 

Two of the most important factors you must consider are the styles and climate of where you will be traveling.  You will always look like a tourist, but dressing appropriately is also a measure of respect and of course, comfort.  For example, London and Dublin were cool, sometimes wet, and a little more reserved. In contrast, Spain was very warm, no rain, and much more colorful.

This year, I am packing quite a bit more because I do have a home-base.  I will be staying for the most part in Cambridge with daily trips to London and a week in Spain.  I have separate outfits planned for our activities in England and our trip to Spain, as the styles and climate are considerably different.  Most importantly, I've discovered an incredible line of clothing that is perfect for traveling - LuLaRoe.  I often say, I'm sure they designed these clothes especially for me :) I'm not in anyway associated with this line of clothing, I'm just a huge fan. 

So, I will be posting the items I've chosen for my trip - stay tuned.