5, 4, 3, 2, 1: How to avoid overpacking!

Follow this method of 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and avoid overpacking for a week away. The boyf and I are looking forward to a week in Tenerife and I thought I would share with you a recently discovered godsend.

It essentially means packing: 

-5 tops (which includes jackets), opt for a kimono/denim jacket, I shouldn't be encouraging cheating so early on into the post but wear one on the flight and pack the other as part of your five tops. Then keep your options open with a black one, a white one and a colour one, then throw in a different sleeve length to be on the side of caution.

-4 bottoms, a pair of denim shorts, a pair of cotton shorts, a skirt and for me a pair of white jeans as the Canary Islands can get quite windy! If you don't want to pack jeans throw in another pair of denim shorts for good measure! 

-3 dresses + shoes, opt for your favourite pair of sandals/trainers and a nice pair of heels just in case. For dresses go for a day dress a more evening dress, and a playsuit or maybe some dungarees!

-2 swimsuits + bags, pick your two favourite swimsuits and pack a beach/pool bag along with a little over the shoulder bag for day trips!

-1 pair of sunnies (also goes for hats/watches/ beach towels) I always take 2/3 pairs with me but I know exactly which ones I will end up wearing all week!

Stick to this and you should end up with a relatively light suitcase. Obviously this rule does not apply to the extras that find themselves in your suitcase (toiletries etc) but keeps you from packing 50 outfits for a secen day trip but leaves you with options. 

Things you should overpack: 

- knickers, kinckers, knickers, empty the whole damn draw into that case

Things you CAN NOT forget

- your passport/important travel docs (duhh!) 

- a plug adapter 

- suncream + aftersun

There you go, simple but effective. Just the way I like things!

Leave me a comment with any packing tips you may have...

Packing 101

Two weeks.. Two weeks until we pack the car and head two hours west to a town extremely similar to our own. Seriously though, a typical british holiday means driving to a campsite two hours away squished up against your siblings and the suitcases. It was were 'do I have to stop this car' was invented all those summers ago. My Nan spent her childhood summers in camp/caravan sites, my Mom did and now I do. It's the same dull weather, except there's no work or annoying neighbours. There's also a beach, but the waters so far out you hit sinking sand before sea, and when the tides finally in the waters so dirty you just don't bother. But... It's still a holiday, and it's always surprisingly an amazing week. It doesn't seem like the potentials there, but boy oh boy it is. So my point is it's still a holiday (or vacation for you Americans) and you still need to pack, so I thought while I was packing like a pro, I would share my tips.

If your clothes don't fit in your suitcase, then you probably have to... Get a bigger suitcase. It's true, you need to make room for more shirts you wont wear that week because it's necessary to have options.

Always leave your packing till last minute, because it's very important that it's as unorganized as possible, this means when you're on holiday you can make an excuse to go clothes shopping.. See, I got your back.

Roll your clothes instead of folding them. It gives you more room to fit in more clothes.

If you have two or three of the same white tank tops you should take them all, you don't want to have to do laundry. (Actually this might be a pretty good tip.)

Never forget to take jewelry on your trip. Just take your whole jewelry box because I promise you, you will need it; and you're gonna thank me when you summer fling notices that your classy because you remembered your pearls. How are you gonna have a good time, if you're not accessorized?!

Use straightners to get creases out of your clothes, because let's face it no one wants to do ironing on holiday. (Is that even a packing tip? Is that a really bad idea or...)

So if you follow all the tips above... You're probably going to have a packing nightmare, but don't worry I survive them every year; mainly because my mom always double checks my case...