Vacation Baggage

Don’t you hate it when you FINALLLLLLLLLLY get to your amazing vacation location and realize you have all the wrong clothes?  Or you forgot to bring those shoes?  Or you look way different than anyone else there?  Ah, me too!  I thought, with it being summer and all, maybe I should help out all my best girlies and create a vacation packing guide, for a couple common summer trips, and save us all from those, “One of these things is not like the others…and it’s ME!” moments as we vacay away our summer!  There’s always ways to plans my sweethearts, always!

Somewhere Breezy, Balmy, Beach-y

Be it San Diego, Hawaii, Bali, or Thailand, beach packing is pretty similar and the place most of us will end up (hopefully!) at least once this summer.  The basics are pretty obvious here:  swimsuit (suck it up!), shorts, sandals, etc.  So let’s talk about what commonly forgotten items we will all wish we had packed when hitting the sand and shores:

1.  Different types of sunscreen–  I really think you need at least two types of sunscreen before going to the beach, one sport/water resistant type and one really high-SPF designed for your face.  The direct sunlight on the beach is so harsh, and the chances of you staying there for an entire day mean that you need to be covered as best as possible, from both UVB and UVA rays.  Why go on vacation to age 15 years?  You need to be sure you have the right coverage, and that you re-apply liberally ALL DAY LONG.  I really advocate one for faces, though, because if your skin is anything like mine, your odds of breaking out and reacting to high SPF are pretty certain, and you’ll be happy later when you aren’t coming home with a minefield on your face.

2.  A mesh beach bag–  A lot of times in packing, you don’t think to pack more bags, but when you’re going to the beach, you are going to want one!  To cut down on the odds of stopping at a shop and dropping cash on a beach bag that you’ve forgotten, just stick one in your luggage.  Think of it this way: you’re going to want to bring sunglasses, towels, sunscreen, a cover-up, your kids toys, and about two hundred other things, and you’re not going to roll it out there in your suitcase!  A mesh bag folds up small, and is ideal for sandy gear being carted around each day.  Don’t forget to toss one into your baggage, you’ll be happy later.

3.  A straw hat–  Don’t you just want to be one of those chic women in black swimsuits and big straw hats with huge sunglasses on the beach, or is it just me?  The beach is BRIGHT!  But more important than that, your hair is going to look psychotic after a few hours of jumping in and out of the water, playing in the sand, and then lying back against your towel.  This is going to form that popular hairdo called matted-puffed-knotted-bird’s nest.  Scary.  So instead of trying to fashion some sort of bun without a mirror and half of your hair falling out of it and hanging in weird, wet clumps around your head, whip out your fashionista beach hat and voila! You look incredible!  Tip:  The bigger the hat, the more confident and sexy you look.  And if it’s in a bright color?  Well, aren’t you just the vixen of the water, bold mama.

4.  Mousse–  Even if you’ve never used it before, just go get it for this trip.  Your hair is different in a beach climate, meaning it’s wavy/frizzy/everywhere.  Don’t be the chick that’s blowdrying and straightening her hair for over an hour because the thick, humid air makes drying your hair take fifty times longer than ever before.  Everyone is annoyed with that girl, and then even she is annoyed when she realizes all that drying did nothing because the minute she walked outside her hair started curling and puffing.  Be the girl with the beachy, easy hair, and the only way to be her is to put mousse in your hair after you wash out the sea.  Mousse in your wet hair, swoop it to one side and stick a flower in it.  Done.  Now you’re THAT girl, the beachy-breezy girl, and the blowdry chick is looking at you with envy and wanting to know your secret to waking up like that.  It’s no secret, it’s just hair product.

A Cruise

Cruises are amazing and if you’re going on one this summer I’m SO jealous!!!  Cruises can be tricky, though, in terms of packing, because if you’re not a frequent cruiser, you’re kind of unsure on what to bring.  Let’s talk about a few things you’ll really wish you had packed:

1.  An evening dress–  The majority of cruises have at least one activity that is dressy, and you do need to be prepared with at least one nice dress and heels that you like to wear.  You don’t want to be the lady in flip-flops and bo-ho skirt while everyone else is in cocktail attire.  Now, I don’t think you need to be thinking of commissioning an Oscar gown or anything, just a nice, black dress and a pair of heels.  One is the minimum, but if you’re on the cruise for more than three or four days, you probably want to pack a few evening outfits because the ship will have fun things to do!

2.  Non-drowsy Dramamine (2 packages)–  Ships rock, dip, and sway.  Humans do not.  Your stomach is going to be very touchy on this trip, especially the first few days, so be prepared before you get on board.  Popping two non-drowsy Dramamine before getting on board, and then a few (hundred) more times when needed, is going to save you those miserable moments in your small cabin bathroom wishing you could just jump and end the nausea.  It’ll get you through the nights, too, until you get your “sea legs”.  Trust me, this is something you really don’t want to forget, and buyin git on the boat after you’re already sick isn’t as smart as taking them first.  Think like the Boy Scout motto: be prepared.

3.  Knowledge of where you’re docking–   Your ship is going to dock in various spots, and you will want to get off the boat, but depending on the cruise line to entertain you can be both expensive and sometimes overly tourist-y, so do your research before you go.  Find out the ports beforehand and google them!  Maybe there’s some amazing “locals” restaurant or a great hot springs site that the cruise line doesn’t have listed in their excursions itinerary.  Maybe it’s really easy to take a taxi to the next town where they have a salsa club that you just need to go to, who knows!  If you’re going on a cruise, you should take advantage of every opportunity to have a little adventure, and really see the places you’re going to.  Who knows, you might head into that little town and realize you just found your new home/boyfriend/dress/favorite food.  Make your own experience, it’s your vacation.

Visiting Family

Ahhhh family trips.   They are so great, they are so fun, they are so very irritating at times!  You’ve been getting so excited about leaving town and taking a break, and then you get to your cousin/sister/grandma’s house and it hits you pretty fast: this is no vacation, this calls for a drink.  Don’t worry, you can pack some things to ease the strain of excessive family time and make sure you all get to relax:

1.  Wine–  Unless you’re going to a home where no one ever drinks (turn around, retreat, think twice), bringing the gift of wine is a gift to you also.  First off, it’s only polite to bring a gift to someone allowing you to stay in their home, and wine is both classy and useful.  After you’ve all settled in, go crack it open with your host and ask what you can do to help.  Then keep re-filling her/his glass.  This will put them at ease (come on, they’ve been cleaning furiously for days before your arrival and stressing that the sheets don’t match), and will set a great tone for your trip.  Wine, the gift of peace, in my opinion.

2.  A great book–  Your hopes are to relax and you’re goal is to feel like you’re on vacation, but with family they will intrude on your boundaries much more than a stranger would.  So instead of feeling the constant pressure to participate in millions of well-intended plans and constant conversation, a book can be the best weapon.  Very few people will interrupt someone reading, and even fewer will stick around to watch you read.  This means on those odd days when you’re in their home, there isn’t a definite plan, and they’re hovering to figure out what entertainment you need next, you whip out your book and just like that, their pressure is relieved and your privacy is restored in close quarters.  Also, when do you have the time to read at home?  Take advantage of this time away and get lost in a book.  It’ll keep the close proximity friendly and easy.

3.  A few ideas of your own–  How scary and stressful is it when a person comes into town, to your home, and then just….is?!  What do you do with them?  How much entertaining is necessary?  What the heck does your boring town have to offer anyway?  When are they going to leave?  Well, when you show up at their home, it’s no different!  Yes, they’ll definitely be trying to plan before you get there, but give them a hand.  Research the town, find out what movies are showing, find a concert, something!  Don’t show up and put it all on your host, because they’re already trying to make sure everything is perfect for your arrival.  A really good guest is one who doesn’t put the whole burden on the host, and why would you?  I mean, what if they’re planning the lamest activities ever?  I picture myself showing up at my cousin’s home in Washington with no plans, and then being told we’re going to hike and camp.  Umm…..not happening.  Nope, before I get there I’m going to scout out some landmarks from Twilight and see what movies came out that weekend.  I’m not going to leave MY vacation in someone’s (possibly camping) hands.  Do your part, it’ll make everyone happier.

Vacations are supposed to be the best time spent, but oftentimes they are pretty stressful and if you head out the door unprepared, it can really affect your ability to enjoy the things you’ve been looking forward to so much.  I really think you can plan ahead, though, and not just plan the logistics, plan for the way you want to feel.  If you’re looking for peace, don’t forget your favorite music and books.  If you’re looking for adventure, don’t forget your maps.  Here’s an example:  I am in San Diego this weekend and my goal is to relax (this studio had a crazy month of May!), and my friend there offered up Sea World.  My first instinct is YES!  I love Sea World!  But then I started thinking…..parking. crowds, long day, seagulls attacking me, children-type noises annoying me in a public space….is that the vacation I really want?  So while he was lovely to offer, I declined.  This is MY vacation, and I’m packing my personal agenda first and foremost!  Head out ladies, with all the essentials, most importantly a good, excited attitude!  Vacations are a luxury!