Re-Entry

Image & Design: Laura Messersmith

This weekend I broke my own rules. And, I wish I could say this is one of those posts where I say how freeing it was or how I realize now that my rules were silly, but it isn’t. Nope, I really wish I had followed the rules – today would have gone much more smoothly.

Perhaps I should be clearer, yes?

The rules I’m referring to are my Pre-Travel Home Prep Rules. Not yet widely recognized, but it’s only a matter of time before Real Simple emails asking for an editorial piece. You, as my trusted readers will get the inside track.

I love coming home to a place where peace and serenity rule and in an ideal world I would do all of these every time we travel for more than a night. In this actual world that we live in I maybe get to about 75%, which still makes a huge difference. These aren’t about setting the alarm or stopping the mail (which I also recommend); they’re about making home feel welcoming and that re-entry day less stressful.

Laura’s Pre-Travel Home Prep

Clean Sheets. This one is the most ‘unnecessary,’ but is my most favorite – in the midst of all the pre-travel laundry I try to throw in our sheets for a cycle. Because after traveling isn’t it awesome to get home to your own bed? And isn’t it even better when it’s made up with fresh sheets? I rest my case.

Pack Neatly. Yes, the suitcase, but also the ‘discards;’ all those things you considered taking, but then wisely decided not to because you were packing light. Putting them away (rather than leaving them strewn around) means less chaos. Always a good thing in my book.

Weed. Not the garden, the refrigerator. Doing a little pruning of the fridge shelves and getting rid of that withering bouquet of flowers before you lock up reduces the likelihood of mysterious smells when you return.

Clear the Decks. Run the dishwasher, and take out the trash & recyclables. A sink full of dirty dishes or an overflowing garbage can don’t really say “Welcome Home” do they? Doing this step sets the stage for a good morning your first day back.

So, there you have it. My tried and true Pre-Travel Home Prep steps – if the day ever comes that I manage all four I will let you know. In the meantime, how about you? I there anything you always do to make the first day back a little easier?

F.O.M.O.*

Design & Image: Laura Messersmith

Lately I've been thinking a lot about time. Days, hours, and minutes and how all of these small bits of time add up to weeks, months, and years which seem to pass faster and faster as I get older. Remember how summer vacation in elementary school used to feel like an endless, golden stretch of days? More than 2 months to do nothing but swim, have sleepovers, and ride bikes! And it all crept by at a deliciously glacial pace. Bliss. 

Compare that to when I checked the mail last week and found our apartment lease renewal notice among the catalogs and credit card offers. I could hardly believe we were coming up on a year in New York. Yes, the boxes are unpacked and we do have pictures on the walls, but it still feels like we just moved in! Where did the time go?

I suppose what really got me thinking about time were the moments on our trip to Austria & Croatia, and more recently to Santa Barbara county, when I felt the simultaneous push-pull of exploration vs. relaxation. I wanted my feet to cover every square inch, to see it all and not 'waste' a second of our precious time. But, I also wanted to sit quietly, preferably with a cool glass of white or rosé in hand, and just feel the peace and beauty of our surroundings roll over me.

That conflict spills over into regular, real, non- vacation life too. There are so many things I want to learn, places I want to go, and experiences I want to have. I've talked before about some of my goals for 2014 and my desire to allow myself time to do ‘nothing’ like reading books. I suppose I’m hoping that by recording my efforts here that I’ll be a little more aware of when I need to let go and enjoy the relaxation moments or be more focused in the exploration times.

Which brings us to today, this afternoon is gorgeous and sunny – but I’ve been sitting in the park pecking away on my phone for the last hour writing this post. Time to hold myself to this little burst of insight. Time to bask, finish The Fault in Our Stars (excellent, by the way), and soak it all in.

*Fear of Missing Out

Confessions of an Over-Packer

Image & Design: Laura Messersmith

It’s official! We leave for our 10-day excursion to Vienna, Austria and Dubrovnik, Croatia on Friday, which means it’s time for me to get serious about packing. Specifically, packing LIGHT. The ultimate test for me is whether my suitcase is light enough to carry it up an unexpected flight of stairs or over uneven pavement. I’m looking at you subway stations, and you too charming cobblestone streets.

I always have the best intentions, but my imagination runs away with me and I convince myself that I need XYZ item “just in case we….” Here’s a classic example: my wardrobe for a three-day trip to northern Florida as seen above.

First of all, this is far too much clothing for three days, second of all, the temperatures weren’t supposed to be above 72F, but guess who packed a sundress and multiple pairs of shorts…. And, guess what items never made it into the rotation…. I could have eliminated a quarter of what I packed if I had been disciplined and been no worse off when it came time to get dressed in the morning.

For our trip to Europe I’m determined to pack only what is practical, appropriate, and re-wearable. So, I’ve been preparing by reading lots of advice posts and gathering tips from experienced travelers who also pack light.

Here’s what I’ve found helpful so far:

1. Consider your trip. What’s on the itinerary – hiking, wine tasting, wedding reception, museum exploration? What will the climate/weather be – beach, mountains, desert? Is your destination formal or informal – will you need to ‘dress up’ or will jeans and sneakers more than suffice?

2. Plan outfit combinations in advance. Select items in similar color schemes that can be mixed and matched (ie. neutrals!), or do double duty. Use accessories (scarf, jewelry, belt) to jazz up your basics. Two great examples of what this looks like in practice from Travelista and A Pair and A Spare.

3. Minimize shoes. Hitha on the Go says three pairs in different combinations depending on destination. (See point #1) I'm hoping I can make do with ballet flats, tall boots, and a pair of cute kicks...

4. Downsize beauty products. I love these multi-colored stacking pill boxes for gels and creams I just need a dab of, and I will always snag extra hotel shampoos like these babies for the next trip.

5. Make a checklist. Include your clothing, grooming, and travel accessory needs (chargers, camera, books, passport, etc.) and stick to it so you don't forget something crucial! Real Simple has several for different travel scenarios, or there’s this classic packing list from The Container Store.

I’m hoping that if I follow all these tips and reign in my active imagination I’ll have all the things I actually need (and no more!) with room for fun souvenirs along the way. Wish me luck!