Travel right aka light.

A roadblock in countless women’s lives - the never ending attempt to travel light. I used to be downright awful at packing light. If I was headed for a weekend to New York I’d want to cram in a 1001 different potential outfits, shoes, my hair products, my straightener, my gizmo chargers, my shower kit, and all the ifs, buts & maybes. Name any situation and I was prepared. But to be honest, 99% of those potential situations where I might have needed what I thought I needed...would never quite arise.

Write it off to an over active imagination, paranoia of not being prepared or simply just being indecisive, but you’d be surprised at what I was capable of packing. Over time I’ve come to realize that traveling light en route to the destination is much more efficient. Think about it this way, it gives you flexibility to travel heavy on your return journey. ;)

So, out with the unnecessary wants & in with the necessary needs. That’s the formula we need to strive for in order to achieve travel-light perfection. It may take baby steps to get there, but at some point you will. :)

1) Google & gizmos never fail you: If you are going away for a weekend, then before getting down to picking out outfits, google the 3 day forecast. This helps you narrow down your choices and prepares you for any unsightly rain showers. As for the gizmos, it doesn’t have much to do with physically traveling light, but it can alleviate a lot of stress and let you travel light, mentally. How? Well, the key is maximizing the potential of your smartphones. Be it your iPhone, LG Prada or Blackberry make sure you download useful apps such as the currency exchange, travel planner (jot down your itinerary, flights details, passport number, etc), world clock, language translator & anything else you consider handy. Oh sweet technology, heh.

2) Mix & Match: This rule applies for clothing, accessories & shoes. For instance, pick out a pair of pumps that matches more than just one outfit. Pair your skinny jeans with a couple of different blouses. A slight change in attire can make your jeans looks like a new pair – it’s all about how you accessorize. Be a little flexible and you’ll start seeing some rather obvious and achievable mix & matches unfold in front of your eyes. :)

3) OCD about your hair? Hair products can weigh your luggage down. Especially if you’re born with naturally curly hair. You’ve got your mousse, hair spray, leave-in conditioner, serum, straightening balm, frizz-ease lotion and god knows what else. And for someone like me, there’s no way two ways about it. If I want my mane to look tame, I need my trusty products. Especially when traveling to humidity stricken countries, ick! So pretty much, I make room for them by cutting back on other goodies, heh. Though, I do try to minimize them down to the quick & easy products like my TIGI Catwalk Curls Amplifier (a hybrid of mousse and gel) & Curls Booster (hairspray). It’s a short two step process and achieves perfect curls.

4) Make-up Pouch: Depending on the purpose of your vacation this will either multiply ten-fold or remain at the basics. It’s never really a factor since make up is so weightless, but knowing how to pack your make up is key. You don’t want to end up with a cracked press powder or leaking liquid foundation. So, make sure you lock any pump-like bottles – this usually requires you turning the nozzle in the opposite direction. If you can’t, then take a small plastic bag, rotate it and tie it around the spout to prevent leakage or spillage. Also, always cushion any products that are in glass/breakable packaging. I’d write all of this off to common sense, but rumor has it common sense isn’t really all that common. :P

5) Loofah through to Toothpaste: We all have our favorite bath & body products. Be it a BodyShop Moringa Shower Gel (it’s bliss, I swear!) or Kiehl’s Coconut Shampoo & Conditioner, there are some must-haves that we pamper ourselves with. If the original bottles are too bulky then I suggest transferring the necessary amount into smaller, more portable containers. That way your favorites can travel with you! Morning showers are what set my day in motion, so why shouldn’t they be lavish and indulgent? :)

6) Breathing room: Make sure once your bags are zipped that there’s some room for vacation goodies. :) Don’t deny it, no matter where you vacation you’re bound to buy tons of little touristy knick-knacks. I always make room for them in advance because you never know when your eyes see something that simply needs to be purchased aka the new addition to my plush-toy family, Coklat! Any guesses as to his origins? ;)

[Photos courtesy: fotosearch.com]