My Minimalist Packing Essentials

I love trying to see what little I can get by with! Its so liberating. You can go anywhere, take your stuff with you and not worry about public transportation, security, or anything. Here are some items that make it easy for me to travel with less:

The first essential thing is a backpack you love! I had the black one for a few years, got it from Disney World in 2015, carried it around for a few years until the straps and flap started to separate from the body of the backpack. It did give me an opportunity to assess my needs, though, and upgrade!

 I loved the canvas but I didnt want to invest in another canvas backpack until I was sure I had the right size, so I searched for inexpensive backpacks and focused on dimensions and convenience features. I knew a big heavy backpack wouldnt work for me because I love to carry my backpack every where I go, my whole life is in there! So after watching way too many minimalist YouTube videos, I determined that my place is somewhere in the 18-24L range and that I value packs that stay close to me and arent bulky and liable to catch on things.

I also determined that I wanted a water bottle pocket that was accessible without opening my pack. I constantly reach for my water while exploring and accessibility is super necessary for me. Mesh on the outside is fine, hasnt posed an issue at all, as long as the front surface of my pack is smooth I'm fine. I also really like pockets that extend into the pack instead, though, even though this does take away some packing space.

Lastly, I determined that, though I rarely lug my laptop around with me, I need to have the option to do so, and therefore it must have at least the dimensions of my slightly bulky cheap laptop. 

I settled on this Hikpro 20L pack to try out. The 20L volume seems generous to me, I think its actually smaller than that, but it claims 20L. This pack has come on 4 trips with me now and Its plenty big enough for any single-season trip. It also fits my laptop. :)

So, having confirmed 20L is sufficient space, now i get to start shopping for my dream bag! I have been eyeing the Tom Bihn Synapse 19 or the Thread International 20L Better Backpack on Kickstarter. They have similar sizes and features but the Synapse more closely resembles a school bag. Its a tough decision for me.

 

I think the next most important thing is organization. I used to have a school backpack that was divided and had a bunch of pockets and stuff. It turned out to be a huge pain for me because I couldnt organize it the way I wanted. I discovered packing cubes! My first set was Eagle Creek Specter Compression Cubes, and I love that they can be compressed to a more convenient size and shape, or I can choose not to compress them and fill them all the way to capacity. I've used them both ways. 

I recently also purchased a Eagle Creek Small Clean-Dirty Cube, which I appreciate because it allows me to separate my clothing so both sides are accessible without disturbing the other contents. This is more convenient on trips that dont involve unpacking... ever. The cubes come out, I change clothes, the cubes go back in the bag. Its wonderful to be able to do this without having to refold and recompress everything. 

My other items are separated into Toiletries and Tech bags. My toiletries bag just recently got upgraded to a larger one when my 5 year old blue bag lost its zipper. Im starting to thing the new bag is actually too big for most of my trips. Here is an example of my Tech bag: 

In my tech bag or my purse I always carry my little Anker powerbank. This little "lipstick-sized" powerbank charges up my Samsung S8 phone about 70% again, on the occasion that my phone doesnt make it through the whole day.

Heres a couple shots of the evolution of my toiletries bag:

I recently bought these leakproof travel bottles and I love them. I can squeeze that bottle pretty hard and it doesn't budge. They're pretty big, at 3.0 oz, and they are easy to fill and have a rotating lable you can change if you want to show shampoo, sun, lotion, etc. I havent used the loop yet but if you're doing a hostel this would be a great feature.

Hope some of this helps! Good luck with your minimalist adventures!

My obsession with backpacks

I have a problem. I am obsessed with finding the perfect backpack for traveling. I've decided I ought to be able to fit everything I need in approx 20 liters worth of bag. I like big main pockets so I can customize organization and maximize space. I also like accessible outer pockets that dont add bulk or catch on things (like other people, or airplane seats, or my long tangled hair) and i have to have a dedicated water bottle pocket. I choose to fit all my needs in that small of a space because i like to keep track of my stuff. If your backpack is small you dont need crazy strap systems. You dont need to leave it behind. It wont hurt your shoulders. It wont get in the way. And you dont need a purse.

So I found this cute purple hikpro backpack on amazon, it claims 20L but I honestly think its closer to 16. If it were a rectangle those dimensions would be right but its not. Anyway, I've done a few trips with it at this point and I really think its excellent. For a $17 packable backpack its really quite awesome. Drawbacks through, its not waterproof. Its hardly water resistant. I've been rained on with it twice and while everything survived it definitely soaked through. 

It easily fits my packing cube of clothes, my toiletries cube, tech cube, and waterbottle, and those are the bare minimum requirements. The mesh water bottle pockets make up for not having as much space as i was anticipating. 

So im looking to upgrade to something sleeker. For a while I have been looking at the Tom Bihn Synapse 19 because of the awesome pockets the provide so much organization without making the bag all wonky shaped. I like that the water bottle pocket is centered, i like the bottom pocket for a sweater and socks when i randomly get cold, and i like the side pockets for organizing my tiny things. Plus, one of my favorite youtube minimalists has used this bag religiously for a long time now and she swears by it. And apparently Tom Bihn has amazing customer service. Which is a plus. Runs about $190, but its be worth the investment for me. 

But now I just discovered a new backpack on kickstarter, and it looks like a dream come true. It's rectangular and looks less like a gradeschool backpack, has approximately the same dimensions, but has a quick access panel for laptop which is great for TSA, and its only $130 right now. Full price itll be $170 i think but kickstarter price is lower. I like the side access pocket for my phone and wallet, that would effectively eliminate the purpose of my purse. Oh and the water bottle pocket is hidden in the side, zips up-down, and is apparently large enough for a bottle of wine. So, seems amazing. *Bonus* the canvas is recycled plastic salvaged in haiti and the company provides jobs for the locals. So thats dope. I'm not like, allergic to wastefulness but i do try to use glass and stainless steel for my foodstuffs when plausible. Im one of those, brought-my-own-straw people about half the time right now. 

So this is my current dilemma. What do y'all think? Which would you get?

Minimalist Packing: Summer Weekend in New Orleans

In June of 2018 I was fortunate to have 3 days in New Orleans on my own, with lots of ideas and zero actual plans. My goal here was to fit all my necessities in my 18L backpack because I didnt have any hotels booked and no car to store things in either, so I was carrying all my things, all day, every day. I was a success! I knew i was going to be walking around a lot and that its hot outside and cold inside, so tennis shoes and a light jacket were paramount. With such a short trip, I didnt have to worry about laundering anything but its so freaking hot outside that nothing was really wearable 2 days in a row. Except bras, I only ever use one bra. Thats just me though. Anyway here's my packing list and some of the sightseeing and tours, as well as hotels and public transportation I used!

 

EDC-(every day carry) I usually keep phone, kindle, and wallet handy. I use them constantly so either in the front of my backpack or in my small crossbody purse. Also my water bottle gets constant use. I keep it on a carabiner so if I ever go anywhere without my backpack(lol) I can clip it on my purse. I never go anywhere without sunglasses. They also serve as my headband most of the time. Also, keys if applicable. They werent necessary during  this trip so they stayed in the bottom of my backpack. I also always bring a packable tote (that little blue rectangle) because you just never know when you're gonna meed it for snacks or souvenirs or fitting your jacket in your backpack is too much work).

Clothing(including what I was wearing when I took these pictures)
- 2 pairs of shoes- as a rule I bring walking shoes and slip-ons, which in this case are my amazing reef flip flops. I have arch support issues so these have been my go to brand for flip flops for years now. My walking shoes are also my running shoes, Mizuno brand. 

- Lightweight denim jacket
- 3 tank tops

- 1 tshirt 
- 2 pairs of shorts
- 1 very loose fitting pair of thai pants. I adore these for hot climates. Keeps bugs and sun off, but also stays super cool. Bonus: modest when necessary.
- 5 underwear
- 1 extra sport bra
- 1 bikini(didnt end up wearing it, but again, I'd never leave it behind)

Toiletries-
- 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner(white)- also serves as my body soap when none is provided by hotel. I use hotel stuff when available so I dont deplete my stash
- Laundry soap(blue)- didnt use it, but good for when you dont know where youre gonna sleep and might need to wash something. Could have left it out for such a short trip but oh well.
- Sunscreen(pink)- I only used this once, I ended up having a pretty easy time staying in relatively shaded areas. Still wouldnt leave it behind though.
- Bugspray
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Razor- shouldnt have briught this for such a short trip lol
- Nail file
- Tweezers

- Feminine products- I have tried so many different products(cups, discs, various tampon/pad combinations. Haven't tried the underwear yet, cant convince myself its a good idea lol) and they just haven't been as reliable as good ole tampons. O.b. is amazingly compact though and without all the plastic applicators and stuff that take up space and produce unnecessary waste.

 

Tech bag- pretty much just powerbank, phone charger, headphones.  the car converter and aux cord were for another phase of this trip, the extra charging cable and wall adapter were totally unnecessary. The other weird looking one is actually the charger for my smartwatch, whether or not I bring my smartwatch depends on if I have room. It's low priority, regular watches suit me just fine. My kindle lasts about 2 weeks, and charges with micro usb when it does occasionally die, so it doesnt need anything of its own. 

Meds bag- almost entirely unnecessary, should have just brought my ziploc of various pills and called it good. I don't think I was thinking when I grabbed this. It has a bunch of random stuff like cough drops, bandaids, moleskin, etc.

While I was in New Orleans I enjoyed a lot of walking around downtown, all of market street and the garden district, bourbon street and the french quarter, and a couple other random places like Marie Laveau's grave in St Louis Cemetary #1. I got my hotels around noon on the day of, turned out to be some awesome deals. The last photo is the lobby in my second hotel room. I also got around mostly on on foot and on the buses and trams, its $3 for an all day pass on the public transportation system. Sweet deal. 

Frozen north travel, carry on only.

Okay so, this is actually the largest bag I own for leisure travel. I have a couple major duffels for when I'm actually moving residences but this is more than enough space for my purposes on vacation. This trip was anywhere from -5 degrees Fahrenheit to -30 degrees Fahrenheit, and I needed the extra space for extra layers.

 

I will say the most important part of minimalist packing to me is tailoring your packing list to things you will absolutely use/wear more than once. In this case I was actually traveling to visit my husband, we have never lived together though so I had zero cold weather clothes at his place. So I had to bring them. I didnt, however, need most toiletries, because I just use girly shampoo and deoderant, that's it. And my own toothbrush. Lol.

My purse held pretty much anything I could want on the plane,  even including my water on a carabiner. I take a book everywhere. Powerbank also. And a nail file/tweezers. Idk maybe it's an OCD thing lol.

So, clothes!

- 5 underwear
- 2 bras (underwire and sport bra)
- 2 fleece lined leggings (LOVED THESE)
- high waisted skinny jeans (super stretchy but classy. Im self conscious about underwear lives in leggings, si i really appreciate the jeans)
- 2 sweaters

- 1 flannel 3/4 sleeve blouse

- 2 base layers
- fleece mid layer ( do not underestimate your midlayer! Seriously the difference between either coat alone versus combined with my midlayer is astounding)
- packable, long line insulated jacket (you really want something that comes all the way down over your butt. It makes a HUGE difference if your pants are mostly leggings or jeans, or anything other than snow pants)
- long wool peacoat(this was totally an indulgence, I would have done just fine with the packable only, but i adore this coat. Its about 10,000% NOT packable at all.)
- 3 pairs of wool socks
- black waterproof snowboots, love the faux fur trim, very warm. My toes didnt get cold EVER.
- scarf ( yellow mickey scarf a friend gave me a long time ago. Nothing particularly special about it technically, I just love it. Ive never felt too cold under the parts it covered anyway)
- beanie
- gloves(walmart, surprisingly amazing at insulating)

-Workout shorts/sport bra/tank top (my misplaced ambition. I have learned I wont work out on any vacation under 1 month. )

- Swimsuit (in case we wanted to go to a sauna or spa or something)(we didn't)

So, it turns out that in such climates, its totally plausible to get by for a whole week with about 2 outfits, plus a mid and an outer layer. And enough undies of course. A single pair of leggings would have been fine,  maybe more sweaters instead of dedicated base layers since I'm not sweating like the skiiers those base layers are designed for.  And my extra coat was unnecessary. Either would have been fine, the wool coat was actually extremely effective keeping out the cold but the packable down insulate was more effective against wind.

We walked around the Fargo zoo in -20 F and lasted about 30 minutes before I admitted I couldn't take it anymore.  Obviously the zoo knows that though so there are plenty of inside exhibits.  It was actually my knees that suffered worst,  between my boots and the bottom of my coat, I only had the fleece and jeans, but it just wasn't enough for sustained time outside. The rest of my house body felt great though.

First Road Trip Alone Tips

(I don't have any sponsors or anything, the links in this post don't make me any money, they're just there for you if you want them.)



My first road trip all by myself was in 2015, it was about 9 hours one way. I was going to meet friends and my trip had a couple different phases, but the first phase was one very long drive. I was so excited that I woke up at 5am that day to start my trip, and got to see the sunrise while i was driving which was surprisingly pleasant since it was on my left side, and not directly in front of my face. I was wired on adrenaline, I must have been because the week prior I had not slept hardly at all, between working and hanging out with friends, drinking and dying my hair. I had a friend put my hair in french braids because I know that if I leave it down or in any hairstyle where I can play with it I'll be too distracted while I drive. lol.
   
ANYWAY

Here are some tips I think are really important for anyone, not just women, who are considering a long road trip on their own:

Check out your insurance.
Make sure you have some. Make sure theres a copy in your car. See if you have roadside assistance and if not, see what it'd cost you to call AAA if you need it. Just good to know before you find yourself on the side of the road having a panic attack.

Do you have a spare tire? Can you change it?
Seriously. Actually do it, if you've never done it before. It seems silly, but if you have a spare tire, and a tire iron, great! But what if you have no jack? Or what if you're missing something else you had no idea you would need? Try it before you hit the road. Roadside assistance can do this for you but you'll lose minimum 3 hours of your day. Depending on your location, possibly much longer.

Do you have jumper cables, and have you ever jump started your car before?
Again, this seems silly, until you need it. All it takes is forgetting to turn off your headlights because it stopped raining while you were driving, and having your car be dead when you come out from dinner. Its such an easy fix, if you have the right tools. Any car can jump you, but if you don't have cables, do you want to just hope that someone else does? I wouldn't. Not by myself, anyway.

Tire pressure. 
This is pretty harmless on the daily, but when it comes to road trips, if you start losing tire pressure and you don't notice, it can lead to warping and a blowout, which can give you much bigger problems, even a wreck. A tire pressure gauge is like $6 at an Autozone, grab one when you get those jumper cables and make sure you know how much pressure your tires are supposed to have. Some cars have different needs for the front and the back tires.

Tech. 
I think most people are pretty used to the idea that they need to keep their phones charged nowadays, but just keep in mind that road trips can be a much faster wear on your battery depending on how you intend to use your phone. GPS, bluetooth connection, audio books, streaming or playing downloaded music, etc can all use up battery if you're trying to do it 10 hours straight, even if you're not touching your phone. I'd definitely recommend a car charger as well as a power bank, just in case you end up stranded for some reason and your car cant charge your phone. I bought that little power bank a couple years ago, it charges my phone about 70%, which is wayyyy more than i usually ever need it for, and it'll charge up pretty quickly as well. Or you can get a better one that'll charge your phone all the way.  also, Aux cord if you need it. I also recommend downloading maps like Google maps of your destination area and/or your route if you're not a physical map type of person, because you never know when your phone signal is going to go haywire. You may also want to download an app like Hotwire for hotels, to find yourself someplace inexpensive to stay when youre tired, you can see the guest recommendations and make sure not to stay in a bad neighborhood but still get a great price. I've been using Hotwire Hot Rates for almost 10 years now and I've never had a bad experience when i use their guest recommendations.

Make sure you know how to keep yourself awake! For me, its singing. I usually bring CDs with me on road trips but now I'm more invested in Spotify so I typically download my playlists to play offline. Singing keeps me stimulated and awake no matter how tired I am from lack of sleep and crazy shenanigans! Other people like audiobooks, podcasts, or skimming local radio stations every hour or two. Just be careful you're not too distracted trying to switch up your entertainment.

And in general, every time you stop, make sure you take care of the big 3: go to the bathroom, fill up with gas, and grab something to eat. Typically this will last you 2.5-3 hours before you have to stop again, unless you have to stop more frequently to go to the bathroom or for gas.

Have fun, enjoy the experience, and if you've got comments to add, go ahead and pop em in the comments :)

Minimalist Packing: Long Autumn Weekend in Dallas TX

So while I was living in Florida I pretty much purged my life of most of the things I owned. I got a job, and got an apartment first thing. Some may have considered it prematurely, considering my lack of car... or internet... or other such luxuries, but I made it work. I became very married to my backpack, hence the name of my blog. Typically, regardless of the length of trip or the destination, if it didnt fit in my backpack, it just didn't come with me. I got this backpack as a souvenir from Disney World, it was not a large backpack.

So, it was my only luggage visiting my friend in New York in October and it was my only luggage visiting my family in Dallas in November. I am by no means anyone's definition of a fashionista, in fact, its amazing that I managed to attract anyone, but I did manage to stay clean and dry and in clothes that I love. So here's what I had:



In my backpack, one pair of shorts, three comfortable t-shirts, one dress, underwear, socks, and flip flops.
Toiletries consisted of shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, and razor. Also included no matter where i am going, ponytail holders, tweezers, nail file and/or nail clippers, a bobby pin, and a safety pin or two.
I also made sure the backpack had room for my book and my water bottle, but i wore my headphones around my neck on my travel days.
I carry that very small purse simply for my phone, my wallet, and my powerbank and/or phone charger.

That's it! Thats all I bring. I never carry much with me anywhere, I buy food wherever I am (I used to live super close to a small airport and EVERYTHING had a connecting flight in Atlanta, so I became very accustomed to getting Popeyes in terminal B) and I just enjoy where I'm going when I get there. I'm no professional blogger or anything, so I just take pictures with my cell phone for now.  Maybe I'll upgrade if I start getting feedback.

Here's all packed up and my airplane outfit:



I also had a denim jacket, not pictured. I think I honestly ended up wearing those boots the whole time, I didn't even need the flip flops I brought! Figures, even an ultralight packer like me can manage to waste space. Was a great trip though! Took tons of pictures catching up with people I hadn't seen in over a year. Those are some of my favorites.

Royal Caribbean Dining

So I haven't been on a cruise in a long time, because I remember being disappointed thinking that everything on board was included and ended up not having enough money. That was like 4 years ago, and now my husband wants to take a cruise, so I looked into it again, and I found that the newer ships on Royal Caribbean actually have a pretty decent variety included, as well as some specialty restaurants on board that are not included. Here's what I found.

Royal Caribbean's  Harmony of the Seas - sailing out of Orlando

Included Dining
Park Cafe - B/L - Prix Fixe (Deli)
Vitality Cafe - B/L - Cafe (Healthy)
Coastal Kitchen - B/L/D - A La Carte (Mediterranean fusion)
Windjammer - B/L/D - Buffet (Global)
Mini Bites - L - Deli Cafe
Sorrento's Pizza - L/D - Pizza
Dog House - L/D - Burgers and snacks
Main Dining room?

Other Dining
Room Service - $ 24hr - A La Carte (American)
Starbucks - $ - Coffee
Johnny Rockets - $ L/D - 50s Diner
Sabor - $$ L/D - Prix Fixe (Mexican)
Jamie's Italian - $$ L/D - Prix Fixe (Italian)
Solarium Bistro Restaurant - $$ D - Buffet (Healthy)
Izumi - $$ L/D - A La Carte (Japanese)
Chops Grille - $$ L/D - Prix Fixe (Steakhouse)
Wonderland - $$$ D - Prix Fixe (Imaginative)
150 Central Park - $$$ D - Prix Fixe (Modern)
Chef's Table - $$$$ D - Prix Fixe (Gourmet)

On the Oasis of the Seas, the only differences are the addition of:
Giovanni's Table - $$ L/D - Prix Fixe Italian
and there is no Wonderland or Jamie's Italian Restaurant, and no Mini Bites.

I was actually super impressed when I started looking into the inclusions of the Harmony and Oasis ships, I could easily spend a week on those ships, never leave, and spend money only on maybe one very nice dinner with my husband, inevitably, and tips for like everyone. But other than that, the inclusions are magnificent. Everything from dance lessons and broadway shows and comedy shows to exercise and roller skating or ice skating and acrobats. Its pretty amazing. not to mention, the ship itself is incredible. Central park, royal promenade, etc. Check it out at the links above if you haven't yet. Again, be wary of things that aren't included, like purchasing formal photos, or shore excursions, or certain things on board like cooking classes. And they're always trying to sell you duty free alcohol, jewelry, perfume, etc. I'm not there to shop, personally, but hey, that's up to you. Enjoy!