Ditch the excess baggage

The holiday planning is still going strong this week, with last minute tour booking, completing the “FUN PASS” for our cruise, and since it’s getting so close to the time we leave, I’ve also started thinking about PACKING! How on earth am I going to pack 5 weeks into 1 suitcase? And if I’m hoping to shop up big in the US of A, how will I fit everything back in my bag to come home?

Note: This is not me….(hahaha)

I’m beginning to realise that if I want to have a comfortable holiday experience, I can’t have my bag weighing tons and killing me as I carry it around. I also don’t want my husband to feel like killing me because I need him to carry it around for me 🙂 I can’t have my baggage holding me back from having the best holiday experience I could possible have.

Seriously, excess baggage can really put a damper on things. Not only can it be physically taxing, but it could really hurt your hip pocket if you end up having to pay for it when you check in at the airport! Come to think of it, emotional baggage is much the same. It can really hold you back. But, after my breast cancer experience, I chose to ditch the baggage. I decided I was no longer going to dwell on the unimportant or the mundane in life. I wasn’t going to let other people make me feel inferior or uncomfortable. Instead, I was intent on prioritising and simplifying my life. And it’s really worked. I love my life right now more than ever before. I appreciate it more and focus on what truly matters now and I’ve “ditched all the excess baggage”!

More time focusing on the good things in life (like love, laughter, family, baking cupcakes) and less time on the baggage.

I’ve discovered lots of great packing ideas both from the internet and many a well-seasoned traveller, who are always more than happy to share their knowledge. Here are my top 5 packing tips that I’m set to try out:

Documents – Scan your important documents (passport, tickets) and email them to yourself, so that you will have instant access to them if they got lost or stolen. Keep important documents and medication in carry-on luggage.
Toiletries – Place your toiletries in plastic bags to prevent any leakage.
Beach bag – If a beach destination is included in your trip, pre-pack a beach bag and put that into your suitcase, so that it’s ready to go.
Clothes – roll rather than fold your clothes in order to fit more in your suitcase; only pack what you know you’ll wear (you can always wash); and divide items into separate ziplock bags eg. socks in one, undies in another, etc. Also make sure to put your shoes in plastic bags so that the rest of your things stay clean and odour-free.
Valuables – separate your valuables so they’re not all in one place, in case of theft. For example, my hubby and I will split our cash and credit cards between us. And we’ll give some cash to the kids too. That way, we’ll always have access to cash or credit cards, unless all of our bags got stolen or lost, which would be very bad luck!

Although all this planning is taking up lots of my time at the moment, I still make time for other things. After all, I don’t want to be so intent on our dream holiday, that I miss out on enjoying what life has to offer each and every other day.

So when the opportunity arose to attend a Cupcake Workshop run by the gorgeous cupcake expert, Michelle, who I introduced to you a little while ago, do you think I could resist? No way!

Michelle is my “cupcake hero”. Take a look at some of her amazing creations for the workshop…

Some of us girls in action and the results, which were pretty good for beginners. Michelle was a great teacher…

And the day would not have been complete without my Foodie Five buddy, Bianca from Eat.Drink.Write, who just couldn’t resist sneaking a taste of the sugary sweet icing. She thought no one was watching…

Don’t you just love cupcakes??

And tell me, do you have any good packing tips to share? I’d really appreciate some comment love!