An Overpackers Guide to Packing

If you're anything like me, chances are you are excited by the idea of adventure and stuff everything you could possibly need into your checked luggage. Well I realized how ridiculous that was during my trip to Ireland. I brought an extra pair of shoes (that I never got to wear), a swim suit and cover up dress (even though I never went to the pool), hair appliances, extra product, and about three days of clothes extra. Had I not packed so much I think I would've felt more comfortable bringing home  more souvenirs. I was very conservative when shopping because I was concerned about things not fitting in my bag.

After going to Ireland I learned what I did and didn't need when packing, so I thought I would make a checklist for both my readers and my future self.

• Travel Laundry Bag 
• 1 Pair of casual sneakers 
• I wore these on the plane so I didnt have to pack them
• 1 Pair of shoes for fancy dinners or going out 
• bonus if you are traveling for an occasion and can manage to wear this pair for that too I packed these
• Bandaids 
• In case of blisters or minor cuts
• Extra Hair Elastics
• Mine tend to break when it counts so it's wise to have backup
• Makeup Removing Wipes
• Travel Adapter (along with any charging cords you may need, I also bought a separate magsafe MacBook plug for my laptop) 
• Deodorant
• Any makeup you may wear everyday, plus one special lipstick or eyeliner that you may want to use for an occasion
• I completely overpacked my makeup bag which really wasn't necessary
• Nail Clipper
• Tweezers
• Enough Bottoms for half of the days you will be away
• Ex; bring 3 skirts, shorts, or pants if you will be away 6 days. Realistically most people rewear their jeans a few times before washing, so it want smart of me to pack 2 skirts, 3 pairs of pants and a dress for a week long trip haha
• Shirts for enough days you are spending away +2 
• in case of spills I think it's ok to pack an extra shirt or two
• One casual dress
• you can dress it up for a night out, or use it as a coverup if your hotel has a pool (I brought a similar one to this) 
• One Cardigan
• One Hoodie 
• I usually wear this on the plane
• One Wind Breaker
• great to layer over your hoodie on stormy days
• Backpack
• I use this as my carry on, stuff my handbag inside along with my travel documents, my hoodie (if I'm not wearing it) and a neck pillow
• Flip Flops
• If you plan on going to the pool or spa

I honestly think I could've survived a week with just those essentials, I was jealous of my boyfriend and his tiny luggage. Haha I'm an overpacker for sure, but seeing how little a man can pack by comparison is an eye opener. I even felt like packing extra shampoo and body wash was a bit of a waste of space, it's provided at the hotel and my hair can adjust to most shampoos at least temporarily. 

Hope this little list helps you avoid overpacking! Here are a few products I've mentioned and would suggest traveling with. 

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