packing

the tales of a young woman packing

i am a disaster when it comes to packing - self admittedly. i am the one who always forgets something incredibly important, and vital. my first trip to seattle, i forgot to pack bras and underwear. i went for almost 2 weeks, and it completely slipped my mind when i was preparing. i frequently forget my entire toiletries bag, shoes, or hair products. i once forgot any type of pants, shorts, or skirt, when packing - literally, i only packed shirts.
this is partially due to my adhd, and my inability to focus, organize, etc. but i also attribute a large portion of it to the fact that i HATE packing. despite what it means - going on a trip - i am horrible at planning outfits... i often simply throw the number of articles of clothing into a bag that i will require for the number of days i will be there... and assume that they will all combine into some sort of outfit. needless to say, this is not always effective.
so, the age old question: what to pack....
from my polyvore 
the essentials. since i'll likely be going out (alone - ha!), i'll need some good heels, and some pants that can do double duty. tanks tucked into maxi skirts with a belt; long tees over skinnies with heels - all bar suitable (though i may have to do some shopping - shame). for walking the city - moccasins and boots, and skirts, cropped cargo pants, and perhaps (depending on the weather) i'll sneak some shorts in too. for the plane - leggings, long tank, cardigan probably, and my lulu circle scarf... because it doubles as a blanket. a small light purse, some aviators, and a few small accessories? can't go wrong. 
this is my plan. 

i can't pack.


i was born without the packing gene.
literally. I am not exaggerating. more to come on that, while I struggle with footwear and hair products for NYC in june. but for now, I'm still rolling my eyes at myself for my ottawa road (train) trip clothing choices. out of 24 pieces of clothing that I packed (yes - 24), I wore 9. so, I'm determined to get better. first stop: packing for a cottage weekend. I'm the queen of wearing the same thing day after day. listen - at a cottage, if it's comfy, then who cares? I'll be at a campfire, in a boat, walking through the woods, and so on. who needs fancy outfit changes every 5 minutes? so, I'm determined to cut it down, and manage with 1 bag. no computer (gasp!). 1 book. 3 cameras (sorry - that can't be helped). and then, the clothes.
so, what is one to pack for the perfect (long) weekend cottage trip?
cottage rec


vitals. necessities.
sweatpants   //   underwear (but really - if i don't write this, i forget)   //   bathing suits   //   wool socks   //   birkenstocks   //   sandals   //   running/hiking shoes   //   sweater   //   jean shorts   //   3 tank tops   //   pants   //   long sleeve tee   //   hat   //   sunglasses   //   scarf