And no, it's not a puppy. Sadly I have to wait until I return from the working overseas gig before I can fulfil that particular lifelong ambition.
I am head over heels for my newest love, and feel that I may simply burst if I don't share him with all of you. Caring and sharing, it's what I do.
My newest love is an all-round life saver.
My newest love helps me to pack my suitcase and assures me that YES! I can cram a few more shirts into my packing pile.
My newest love understands that taking three pairs of shoes is impossible, and that YES! Put in a couple more.
My newest love doesn't judge me when I pack ugly stripy toe socks.
My newest love was found in the cupboard here at home a long time ago, but is soon to be replaced with a much newer model.
My newest love will probably come to the USA with me next year, and you'll be able to admire him for yourself.
My newest love is handy with a vacuum cleaner.
Have you worked out who he is yet?
Yep, he's a Space Bag. And he's making the horribly daunting task of packing seem a whole lot less scarier. Now if only my love could magically suck away the weight of the clothing as well, I'd be all set. Don't get me started on the 20-freaking-kilogram weight limit again.
I'm sure some of you are seasoned packing professionals: care to share some advice on what to take when you'll be living out of your suitcase for possibly two years? (And if you say pack as little as possible, I may hurt you. I intend on cramming as much in as I can!)
i still can't believe you'll have to live out of your suitcase for two years. you have to find a way to take it all! :)
ReplyDeleteI roll my clothes...they seem to fit better that way :) Oh, and weight limits suck! They always get me.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there are things you SHOULND'T vacuum-bag... like teddy bears.... not that they're essential or anything.. just pondering :)
ReplyDeleteWell, knowing that I just recently packed for a year and am living out of one suitcase here... I actually hit the weight limit before hitting the space limit, so for me a space bag would have been utterly useless. But maybe it'll be different for you.
ReplyDeleteRolling your clothes is a good idea, but I didn't even have to do that.
Basically, take your favorite stuff with you. Leave everything you only wear every few weeks at home. I also only brought one or two comfy t-shirts... and save on shoes, purses, and jackets as they take up a lot of space. You will probably be buying new stuff anyway. And then, if you go home for a vacation, sort through your stuff, and take whatever you haven't worn much back home and leave it, that way you won't have to ship a load when you move back.
It is hard, but it is possible. I haven't missed a lot of things here, with the exception of some shoes, but that is why I will be taking a pair or two back here after Christmas.
Oh, and obviously do not bring any shampoo, body lotion etc, that is all way too heavy, and you can stock up nce you're in the UK.
Haha - I like these guessing games!
ReplyDeleteSadly, I have not traveled anywhere significant for a good ten years. So I am without sage advice.
It takes a real woman to be able to live out of her suitcase for that long and for that I applaud you. :)
ReplyDeleteI think one thing not to forget is all the orfaces you can stuff full. Like stuff all your socks in shoes. Don't pack anything that has an opening without shoving something in it first.
ReplyDeleteAnd I travel a lot and hate to take more than one bag, so I always roll my clothes. It seems to help.
When I first moved abroad I had one suitcase with 20kilos. I brought the bare essentials because you are bound to go shopping. You know you want to and you know you will, so don't bring too much.
ReplyDeleteIt feels very strange that you won't be an Aussie blogger any longer. You'll have to be my favorite British blogger! I am, however, planning a trip to England this summer, so maybe we can finally grab a drink. :)
ReplyDeleteHow can Fiona say that teddy bears are non-essentials!?!?!
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, packing advice? I always pack really light, so you'll probably hate my advice. But in terms of clothes - it's always best to stick to one or two major color themes, so you can minimize the accessories you need to pack (shoes take up a lot of space, and I don't think it would be good to vaccuum seal heels!).
And I'm going to say - DO take a few favorite purses. I always find that I don't have the one I need if I try to pack light. Clothes, though, you can and will buy. And DON'T take too much int he way of toiletries - they will only spill all over everything, and you can get them wherever you happen to be.
Love the new look, but miss the pic!
ReplyDeleteWhy do you have to live out of your suitcase? Do they not have closets or any other clothing storage items in London? Shoot, if I'm away from home for any more than 7 days, I'm putting my clothes into the chest of drawers! Also, what if you and Jason absolutely fall in love with London and want to live there longer? Or is that not an option?
Ahh! My mom RAVES about this thing all the time. I am more old fashioned with my packing and end up just sitting on my clothes.
ReplyDeletePack light, and don't pack lots of socks and panties. You can just buy more of those when you get there. Save that room for your favorite clothes.
ReplyDeleteDon't look at me. I hate having to pick and choose between my beloved things, even if they are just things.
ReplyDeleteYou can start hurting me now (and a few others above me). :)
ReplyDeleteI'd say pack light because you are bound to pick up a lot of stuff along the way. Two years is a long time.
And then think of lugging it all back with you. Unless you're not. ;)
so your new template isn't your new love? :-)
ReplyDeleteWait, there's a new template! When did that happen? :D
ReplyDeleteSpace bag is awesome - I've seen it on TV but never taken the plunge because I've never really needed it. You must be so excited!
Pack as little as possible ;) Seriously. Buy what you can over there, it will save on space (and it's less that you have to lug over there onto the plane etc).
I LOVE the new home! It looks so good, I'm jealous. One day I will get a fancy new made-for-me-only blog. But what I wanted to say was that those bags are awesome! My mom and I use them at home to pack away clothes. Happy you found them!
ReplyDeleteYou need less than you think, is my advice. I came to New York with two suitcases, thinking I'd need to bring out all the rest of my stuff later. I ended up never needing most of the rest of it!
ReplyDeleteI bought those space bags with the highest of hopes for being able to fit all my sweaters in one under-the-bed Rubbermaid, but I ended up returning them becaue they SUCKED. now I'm thinking it might have been my vacuum that sucked (no pun intended).
ReplyDeleteMy advice is wear your biggest shoes (ie, boots) on the plane. Saves tons of space!
Sorry honey, no advice from me. I'm a horrendous packer considering how much I travel. I have been known to pack 5 outfits for an overnighter. :-) Hopeless, I know.
ReplyDeleteBut I love the new template. Way cute.
I LOVE space bags! We use them all the time, since our house's closet space is just sad.
ReplyDeleteLove the new template, other than missing smiling Alynda.
ReplyDelete99.9% of the time I pack more than I should. Every trip I pack less and STILL end up not using it all. My advice is to go as light as you can manage and stand. You'll be glad you did.
Become EXCELLENT friends with the scale. Even if you are slightly over the weight limit, if they are *balanced* between the two bags, you're a lot better off. The airlines look more favorably upon two 21 kilo bags than one 20 and one 22 kilo bag. Been there, done that, spent a long night in Adelaide trying to balance out 4 bags. Ugh! Good luck.
okay, well. just pay the overweight limit.
ReplyDeleteI thought I was ion the wrong place for a second there...
ReplyDeleteAnyway. I hope you're talking about the space bag multi pack I've got for you sitting on my desk. Or are you cheating on them? They'll be quite upset, actually.
I'm taking everything to america in a space bag so I can hope to take everything in my carry on.
yeah I'm optimistic.
Great new design!
ReplyDeleteHave you investigated the costs to box up and ship your clothes directly to Jason before you leave so you don't have to haul as much with you? Imagine a cool sophisticated traveler with only a carry on vs. stressed out pack mule? (totally self identifying there, not at all saying you would look like a mule, just maybe feel like one!)
Rolling your clothes causes les wrinkles, or so I've heard. I suck at packing. The last time I went out of town for a few weeks I had to physically sit on my suitcase to get it to close.
ReplyDeleteOh boy, I LOVE space bags!! They are absolutely genious. I would like to kiss the man who invented them. The suitcase ones are great, and I have some huge ones that I keep my winter sweaters in, then throw them under my bed for most of the year. Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI've seen those thigns on infomercials and alwsys wonderred if they really work - you'll have to let me know!
ReplyDeleteI heart space bags. And your new blog layout. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is the template I wanted to use too! But my blog's name was too long. And how the hell do you fix things like that? Are you holding out on me? :)
ReplyDeleteSomeone else probably said this, but couldn't you pack your crap up into boxes and ship it to where you'll be?
ReplyDeleteLOVE them! Discovered them right before my 6 week trip to Europe! They saved my life.
ReplyDeleteAhhh, the joys and wonder of spacebags!
ReplyDelete