What I Packed For A Weekend in Atlanta, GA

I am the QUEEN of overpacking but when you are only taking a carry-on there is no room for extra. I had a hard time deciding what to pack, and I figured I was not alone. So I wanted to share my packing tips and tricks with you. Everything from my carry-on to my makeup bag.

The key to packing light is versatility. Think about how you can mix and match outfits so you can create new looks with only a few pieces. For instance, I packed one pair of shorts for Friday but I paired them two different ways. From day to night, these shorts transitioned perfectly.

Airplanes are the worst, and if you are like me you feel the need to have everything at the tips of your fingers. I get distracted easily and I become very fidgeting, so I need things to keep me preoccupied like magazines, my computer, music, and a notepad, as well as other necessities.

You never know what the weather is going to be like when you land so I like to keep a chambray shirt and an umbrella in my bag just in case it’s cold or rainy. The chambray shirt can also act as a blanket or jacket if it’s cold on the plane.

I also like to keep a smaller clutch/crossbody in my tote so I don’t have to carry around a big purse while I’m exploring my destination.

Here’s a look into my carry-on purse:

The 3-1-1 rule might be the death of me. How can a girl survive on only 1-quart size bag of 3.4 fl. oz bottles. Although tricky, I promise it can be done. Pack only the things you know you will need. Instead of packing a travel perfume, pack a rollerball to save space.

A good quality bag is key. A ziplock bag simply won’t cut it because it won’t endure the maximum capacity. The last thing you want is for your bag to break right before you head to the airport.

Another tip is to keep your 3-1-1 bag in the front zipper of your carry-on bag. This helps for easy access when going through security. Your 3-1-1 bag is ready to put in a plastic bin.

Pack your every day makeup essentials but keep your brushes to a minimum. There is no reason to pack 50 different shadows and 20 different brushes, just pack a simple lid color, darker crease color, a few brushes and you are good to go.

My big splurge on space was my Benefit blush palette. I love switching out my blushes and I love that there is a bronzer in this palette. Since I had the space, I decided to throw it in. But be careful when packing palettes, you want to wrap it in something soft in case it moves around during travel. You don’t want to end up with your favorite palette being crushed.

The suitcase needs to be planned meticulously. You need to put thought into each outfit you will be wearing. Something I like to do is put each outfit on and see if you’re going to like it. Don’t leave anything to chance! A big challenge for me was going directly from our flight to a meeting. I needed something cute but comfortable that wouldn’t wrinkle. This maxi dress from LOFT was perfect because it was comfortable and the bold print hid any wrinkles.

Keep jewelry light. Simple gold pieces will do you wonders and will help you save space.

Pick a pair of simple comfortable shoes for the day/plane and pack 1 pair of shoes for nighttime. Keep your night shoes comfortable because you’ll never know how much walking you will be doing.

My last and final tip is don’t forget to leave space! You have to leave space to put in all the goodies you are going to buy. I like to pack only half my suitcase and let my souvenirs take up the rest on the way home. Even if I don’t need that much space, it’s good to have a little wiggle space.