FBFF: Red, white and blue and packing tips for you!

I was planning on doing a post on what I pack for vacation when Katy Rose of Modly Chic sent us the June questions for Fashion Beauty Friend Friday.  This week's questions ask what's in those bags we're packing! 

1.      When it comes to packing for vacation what’s your mantra?  My mantra is, "How many things can I stuff in this?"  I pack my clothes in a rolling suitcase because it's so much easier to handle.  I think in terms of one casual outfit per day plus one or two nice evening out looks since most of our vacations are family oriented.  I also take one more outfit than I think I'm going to need.  If you were to sit with me at a restaurant you would understand why I do this.  That was a joke...sort of.

See that spot on my skirt...I accidentally splashed water on myself right before my photo shoot.

2.      What are your must packs?  I've covered my clothes in the previous question so now I'll tell you about what I call my "carry-on bag" even though the only place I'm carrying it on is the car.  This is the fun bag to pack because it contains all my entertainment.  I've become quite addicted to my netbook so it's definitely coming with me.  Same for my DSLR camera.  I use these two items every day of my life.  I would not want to travel without reading material.  I always pack my Bible, a couple of magazines and a couple of books.  We like to play Madlibs in the car, so in it goes.  Same for cell phone, Ipod, journal, pens, gum and peppermints.

3.      What are you happy to leave behind?  Not much, actually.  I'm kind of like Donnatella Versace in that I like to bring plenty of stuff because you never know what you might need or want. 

Unless it's the middle of summer, I always pack a light sweater or jacket.

4.      Any packing secrets that help you get everything into one suitcase?  I often roll instead of fold because there's fewer wrinkles when you roll plus you can stick things in all those little crevices in the corners of your suitcase.

  

5.      Beach reading… what are you taking with you to read in the sand? I just grab up whatever I'm currently reading but I like a variety, too, so I take a fashion magazine, a home magazine, a fiction and a nonfiction book.  If I were leaving tomorrow I'd take British Vogue, Living, etc. ( I miss Domino; it was the best), Restoring Order (my nonfiction book on organizing I recently bought) and most likely a book of short stories.  There's no way I would read all these but I feel better just knowing they're there.

If you would like to be a part of Fashion Beauty Friend Friday just click on the link.  And check out Modly Chic while you're there and see how other bloggers answered this week's question.  If you are over forty and you'd like to be part of a Friday Blog Hop, then add your blog to the list on Never Growing Old and meet some new friends.  Have a great weekend!

What I'm wearing:
Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker white trench, $10, Steve & Barry's
Stars and stripes top, $2.50, Goodwill
Denim skirt, $3, Goodwill
Red tennis shoes, $10, Target
Red and white polka dot purse, $3, Goodwill
Jute belt, $1.50, Goodwill

Total cost of outfit:  $30