MorganiCat

Packing day is finally here! :D I am so excited!

 

I spent most of yesterday running around - bank, waxing, Target, Walmart, REI (dangerous! - bought new travel underclothing wallets and adorable mini pack towels for excursions and too much more), $ Store, Sprouts (crystallized ginger - no idea if I get seasick or not :( ).

 

I had my fashionista-est friend come over one night and help me make some final decisions on what to pack. This was either great or crazy, as she kept encouraging me to take it all! I will not be as organized as Indiana during packing as SO and I are crosspacking for the first time. He travels a lot for business and has that routine down pat, but extra days and shoes (not to mention travel hats) are throwing him off, as well as the crosspacking concept. We think right now we will each have a carry on bag (mine is not wheeled :() as well as 2 shared checked bags. My plan is to have what I would NEED (for the whole cruise) in my carry on in case our luggage is lost. Our clothing for Miami and Embarking and swimming and dinner will be in his carry on.

 

The problem of the cap strap is finally solved. I found one at REI! It is, however so ugly that I am improvising instead. I bought eyeglass straps at the $ store and am using either a tiny binder clip or safety pin on either end. One will attach to my clothing (behind neck) and the other to the brim of my hat. I will report back on how it functions.

 

So today I will be doing: my pedicure; power of attorney; instructions for care and emergencies - home, children and pets; shooing my son back to school - hopefully not driving him, but delegating that to another son; squaring away the Thanksgiving leftovers and quick cleaning the refrigerators; deciding between Nook, or books; spray tan appointment (probably never again); figuring out the camera on my new phone (may leave that for the airport) and then FINALLY - PACKING!! :D

 

I have purchased so many doodads based on advice from the Cruise Critic message boards- towel clips, drawer organizers, underwater disposable cameras, bugstick with DEET, ginger, seabands, dramamine, anti-chafing gel (must find!), collapsible water bottles, tons of ziploc bags, waterproof boxes, antibacterial gel - that it's hard to believe it will all fit. Since it is my first cruise, I'm erring on the side of overpacking instead of my lighter packing. The spreadsheet is crazy!

 

If I get a chance I will take some pictures of my clothing selections. If not, I will share from the cruise.

 

Ciao!

THis is beyond impressive!!! So jealous of your organizational skills!

 

Ditto!

2 weeks to my cruise. Going to follow Indiana's lead and start putting everything out to view. The hard part will be not bringing it all!

CelticGirlCruiser -
I am jealous of your closet!

Packing without a spreadsheet - FAIL!
I decided spur of the moment to do a road trip to the Grand Canyon with my kids, camping (12.5 hours each way). Not the time for no spreadsheets, but time was of the essence as school was going to start. It was a pack and shove job when in came to my and the kids' clothes. I can't even tell you what we wore. And it's a good thing I have the camping list down to a science as that could have really been disastrous!

Packing with only a paper list - not ideal, but doable.
Last week we decided to take a mini vacation and follow the US Pro Cycling Challenge. We took 3 days and went through Buena Vista, Glenwood Springs, Aspen, Vail and Breckenridge, checking out the bike race. No kids and nice hotels. :)

And, I finally made (most) of my cruise bathing suit decisions! We took some time in Glenwood Springs Hot Spring Pool and the hotel pools, so I got to "road test" my bathing suits. And I wore all 3 hats I packed. Yay!

I hope to lose weight in the now less than 90 days to my cruise, so I actually just went out and picked up a few bathing suits in a smaller size (here's hoping!)

My job ended, so I will be joining a gym as finally I will have some time. I had an interview today, though, so wish me luck! If I get this one, I will definitely splurge on another cruise!

Does anyone else save the soap and hair products from the nice hotels? I scored some Paul Mitchell and some other nice stuff. I am looking forward to nice products onboard. Can't say if I will use them or take them home to extend my cruise memories. What do you all do?

Geocruiser -

Yes, that is the Charming Charlie website. The store is much more impressive.

 

ChrisRoo - You don’t want to hear then that I went to 3 different Charming Charlie locations in my area. And I just found out that they will be opening one less than 3 miles from my house in Oct-Nov of this year. I learned my lesson yesterday, though, when I drove 30-40 minutes to get the 3rd location, only to find out that the BOGO clearance was over. Drat! I was sad as I put all (most) of the amazing cheap finds back. :(

 

Cobra -

I like all your posted selections. Your aqua top is my favorite of the tops. I love the LBD and the orange, too. I am jealous of your heels. I've veered away from heels lately and whenever I put on the ones in my closet, I just feel silly now.

 

And, it's ALL YOUR FAULT! about my excessive hat shopping now. I went out to try and find a white hat like the one you posted (or a nice neutral) and now I have all those others. I couldn't get one like yours in white, but now I got one in black last night, so now I have it in 2 colors, black and aqua. I also got a second version of that teal hat, this time in pink!

 

I've been shopping quite a bit now that others have posted about clearances. I wanted to make sure I got a swimsuit. Found a one piece in fuchsia as well as another tankini kind in black. Still on the hunt for one to wear snorkeling, possibly a rashguard. I found 4 coverups and will have to see how they play out. The swim/beach selection is getting thin, but I’d rather get something on sale in the store than have to buy a swimsuit online.

 

I am nowhere close to posting any pictures online as I am just shopping and buying and hopefully returning as I find more of what I am seeking. I’m not always in the mood to try on at stores and I’m trying to be strict about how much I buy and keep. I got new stuff from Coldwater Creek, Anne Taylor Loft, TJMaxx, Ross and Burlington (and Charming Charlie’s!). I really don’t need much of it, so I will be paring it down.

 

Indiana - How’s the vacay going with no spreadsheet?

 

Ws4 - love your dress.

 

Um yes, I fly in sandals or croc flops or slip ons sometimes. And then I bring socks for when I get cold on the plane!

Ooooh Cobra, love the hat and bathing suits. I remember the 2 piece days, sigh...

 

Went to Charming Charlie's for the very first time last night after work. Came out with way too much.

 

I was looking for a new hat. I found 3!

http://charmingcharlie.com/cc/product/productDetails.jsp?pId=3000302405&sId=11044700018&pgName=&pdpTrail=

 

• teal and silver thread with rhinestones!
  
• a large brimmed pink (almost fuchsia) straw hat with sequins
  
• a large brimmed straw hat with coral teal and natural colors.
  

I will either be completely stylin' or borderline tacky, only assembling and trying on outfits will let me decide. :eek: At least I know now that the bathing suit/cover up I am looking for will have to be pink or coral or orange or some combination of both if I want to take either of those color hats with me on my cruise. Does anyone know where you can buy those hat chains that make sure your hats don't fly off?

 

Don't even get me started on all the jewelry I bought. I really tried to restrain myself to the clearance items, which were also BOGO!

 

I don't know if anything I bought will wind up on a cruise, but I certainly have some cheap bling now. I will be all set for the murder mystery dinner next weekend when I have to come in character as the murdered billionaire's widow!

 

Ciao bella!

When I got in to work early this morning, I found a big Kohl's bag on my chair. I have a coworker who has been losing weight while watching me gain. :(

 

But, the upside is she just passed along to me a huge bag of shorts and capris!

 

I was so excited that I changed my grey long pants to a cute pair of olive green capris that pick up some of the floral pattern in my Anne Taylor fuchsia satin trimmed top. What a fun way to start the day!

 

Do any of you do clothing exchanges with friends? I know I will be going through this bag and calling a few excited friends about whatever doesn't fit me size or style wise.

:D

I can't leave smariba out there by herself!

I wear hats. A new hat is one of my quest items for my cruise. For vacations and just days in the sun, I have my trusty Columbia river hat. Blue, packable and with an adjustable strap. My last vacation hat is a fuschia grosgrain ribbon hat from Anne Taylor that I bought to wear to an ex-boyfriend's wedding. I'm looking for a white or neutral hat that will be easier to pack. My last shopping trip was a bust.

My SO wears a Tilley. Rocks baseball caps on bad hair days.

Most of my neighbors would never garden without their hats. They run the gamut from baseball caps to closer to Sunday church hats.

As far as nails go, I usually just have the DIY pedicure. Today, however, I have pink glitter nails as a gf and I went to a manicure and martini night last night. Fun concept but long wait. My gf got the Lizard color. I don't do designs or add ons, but might in the future.

Roothy123

I would love to get more info...

My email is elizabethmorgan237@gmail.com

 

Thanks!

Geocruiser -

What a fabulous idea!

 

I remember one road trip - CO to VA, 3 kids, BF and dog, where we had a wedding with one side of the family and ocean camping with the other.

 

We had a softsided luggage topper from Target that got ripped to shreds just during the drive (and the minivan was in a parking garage for the hurricane!). Everything for the wedding (inside a softsided suitcase and softsided duffels inside the topper) got damp. Your tip could have really saved a lot of hassle and weird drying time!

I've never "colored" my hair. I do get highlights and have on occasion gotten low-lights as well. As I child I was a towhead and my hair darkened as I aged. It wasn't until my hair was noticeably darker than my children's hair that I started to get highlights. So I guess I've been highlighting my hair 2-4 times a year for almost 12 years. Right now I have blonde highlights - I guess they just bleach the hair, with some strawberry blonde low-lights (or maybe those are highlights as well). My natural hair is a dark blonde - way darker than I can stand! I know I am overdue for highlights, but I am scheduled for July.

 

I think I have a few grey hairs; found my first one 4 years ago. Sometimes at red lights, I look for them to see if I can find any. It's mostly inconclusive.

 

I'd love to have the courage to dye my hair red at home, but even though I've purchased the dye before, I chicken out.

 

I have highlighted my kids' hair, all kinds of crazy bright colors when they went through that phase, but I don't mess around with mine.

Indiana -

If you are in Erie, I highly recommend you check out Gabriel Brothers. I think it's on 12th St on the West Side of I-79 if I remember correctly. You might have to pick through stuff and you never know what their selection will be, but they consistently had great bargains when I lived in that area. I often got name brands (one time a Victoria's Secret current style bra $6.99 instead of $48) at amazing bargains.

 

Also, Value City - I think they closed on the West side, but are still open on the East Side and in Meadville, PA, has amazing bargains on good dresses. Those 2 stores were always my favorite places to shop, they ruined me for anywhere else.

 

And then of course, there's The Winner (think it's in Sharon, PA). Not a bargain place by any stretch of the imagination, but always great for formals as well.

 

Grove City Outlet (Prime Outlets) was always pretty good, too. They had an Atlantic Luggage outlet at one time.

 

Hope you are having fun on your trip!

Enjoy!

Alright ladies, what do you think about “travel clothes”?

I am loving the jersey knit stuff.

 

I will be keeping an eye out for some new pieces in great colors (maybe a coral or tangerine or turquoise) that will supplement and complement my work wardrobe, in addition to being a treat for my November (first) cruise.

 

Here are some of the lines I am talking about:

 

Boston Proper - Travel Separates

Coldwater Creek - Travel Knit,”Destinations”

Chicos - Travelers

GoLite - Reversible travel clothes

HSN - Slinky, Citiknit

LLBean - Indispensable knit, etc.

QVC - Susan Graver Liquid Knit, etc

REI - convertible pants (not exactly cruisewear, but great for shore excursions, right?)

Target - some Merona, Mossimo

Travelsmith - Voyager Knit

Walmart - George, Norma Kamali

 

Has anyone had good luck with any of these lines? Does anyone have stories about their favorite travel clothing pieces? What do you think about these for cruisewear?

CactusGirly -

I definitely saw your spreadsheet (read the WHOLE thread :D!) , it is pretty much a flipped version of mine (col and row). I haven't color coded my sections, though - I may give that a try. I also have a section that lists different variations of outfits. I don't necessarily decide what to wear each day in advance, but like to have lots of options planned out. That way I don't miss part of a potential outfit. I did talk to a friend of mine who was laughed at by her family as she gave them all scheduled clothing changes. I thought that was great!

 

I do have to admit that I have already started my spreadsheet for November, although I hope to drop lots of pounds by then and hopefully will need new clothes before I go!

 

All my bedrooms are occupied, so my spreadsheet is my cruise room. That way I can drag the whole vacation out as long as possible.

OK, it’s taken me over a week (here and there), to make it all the way through this thread, but whew! I finally did it! We are booked for our first cruise in November.

While I wouldn’t consider myself a fashionista so much as an aspiring “perfect packer”, I loved all the photos and super tips in this “pajama party.”

Here are my favs so far:

All the great links to new and exciting clothing sites - so many I haven’t had time to even click on them all, they are all just cut and pasted for later viewing.

The pics - great inspiration! Looking great ladies!

countdown list

tips on what to bring/not bring

fashion party w girlfriends before the final packing

 

My packing style:

Spreadsheet! - first column with items by category (dresses, shoes, sleeveless tops, jewelry, etc.), columns for each day with breakdown of outfits by time or event (4-5 rows). I usually pack around 1 or 2 theme colors - last trip to Cancun was aqua. Everything has to match or coordinate. After each trip I do a “lessons learned” where I go over the spreadsheet and see what I didn’t wear (um, yeah, and also calculate my % success rate <blushing geek>).

 

Indiana - I think I have some of the same luggage as you - the Atlantic floral!

 

We are booked on Oceania - no formal nights - what do you think people will wear at night? We are definitely the change for dinner types.

Has anyone packed for 7 nights carryon? I think that is how I am leaning right now....

Thanks!

We are headed there on Oceania (Nov 2012)and would like more information with recommendations about what to do while in port.

 

Thanks.