preparing to travel

With less than 2 weeks until our annual summer vacation, packing is in full swing here.  I posted travel/packing tips last year.  You can read about them here and here.  We're just a tad bit excited around here.  :)

This year I have the advantage of having a full 2 weeks off work before our trip.  My stress level is extremely low.  I have time to casually pack, little by little, day by day.  And in the mean time I've been able to get to all those pesky little house projects like de-junking and filing/shredding paperwork that seem to pile up (Ugh.  I hate paper junk!).  I prepared our packing list weeks ago.  I also prepared a small vacation binder, complete with our calendar, reservations, directions, etc.  As I always say, being organized makes for an easier trip.

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I have most of little guy's clothes packed, a few of mine, and most of our carry-on is done.  Today, I'd like to pack hubby's clothes and our extras ("extras" include some gifts and food items like chocolates for my family).  As I mentioned in my post last year, I try to pack as light as possible.  We have washer/dryer access and we shop a lot so there's no need to overpack.  A week's worth of clothing is usually enough.

We go to the U.S. with a lot less than what we return with. Uh, hello, shopping in the U.S. is soooo much better!  Lol.  Plus, this year we'll be able to visit not one, but THREE outlet centers.  Oh dear God, help our wallets....hahaha.  So anyway, I pack a smaller suitcase into a bigger one so we have less pieces going but then gain an extra piece of luggage to fill up for our return trip.  And the dork that I am, I made a diagram of our luggage, and what I plan to pack in each.  You would think that I had all the time in the world.  But honestly up until a week ago, I was quite busy.  I just make our trip a priority I guess.  It's the highlight of our year.  :)

I always wish I could be like those cool bloggers who keep an almost daily update of their adventures as they live them, especially their travelling adventures.  But the reality is that once we go, we're BUSY.  I don't have much time for the computer.  And you know, that's okay.  I'm away from my family all year long.  So if I have only one month to enjoy their company, for sure I'd rather spend time chatting, playing games, reminiscing, and eating some good food than being in front of the screen.  So, if I have time to update throughout our trip, I will.  But if I cannot, do not worry.  I'll have plenty of recaps (that hopefully include pictures) to write about afterwards.  ;)