Minimalism:

When you eliminate excess, you make room for LIVING LIFE. Living does not require possessions. That said, what items do remain are essentially more curated, succinct, and peaceful.

Soaring over the Rockies

I’m going to break down how I pack for  6 months – 1 year  in  one large checked bag (22 kg / 48.5 lb)  and  one EUROPEAN sized carry on (6 Kg/ 13.2 lb) (55 x 40 x 2 cm).

Because of the cheap flights I booked this time, this is the lightest I’ve ever packed.

Every time I arrive I feel like Mary Poppins

Guidelines:

• Take a good ratio of  CASUAL : ATHLETIC : BUSINESS : OCCASION  pieces

• INTERCHANGABLE, NEUTRAL colored basics should be the majority of what you pack. Add variety with accessories, hair, and makeup.

• Do NOT bring duplicates of things or redundancies. Do NOT bring poor quality items that will fall apart after a few months.

• Taking a reusable bottle and utensil can help cut down on plastic and paper waste considerably.

• You will do laundry there, don’t worry about bring the minimum number of something

• If you forgot something essential don’t worry, you can buy another once you get there

• The TSA has always checked inside my bags (they leave a paper slip), so keep things organized & transparent. They will repack your bag when they’re done- so if you did it in a specific way, they’ll probably not be able to replicate it like you did.

• Keep things compact. See the KonMari Method HERE

Keep Reading:                                                             How I Never Overpay for Flights

Notice how we can rotate the top and bottom rows, and they all make wearable outfits? I typically take more tops than bottoms– they’re not as heavy and can easily add variety.

TOPS: tanks, long, and short sleeves. BOTTOMS: jeans, athletic leggings, jean shorts, athletic shorts, and black pants for work or nicer occasions.

JACKETS: one warm one (I wear it in the coldest months and when we go skiing), one light waterproof one.

Wanderlust?    Here’s $40 on Airbnb

OTHER LAYERS: sweaters, sweatshirts, a running jacket, denim jacket.

DRESSES: casual, work and holiday (special occasions). WORK: a blazer, collared shirts, dress pants, skirts.

Sunrise over the Swiss Alps

HANDBAGS: One large and one small. I will typically take one on the plane and pack the other. SHOES: comfortable walking flats, everyday heeled shoes, athletic shoes for workouts, heels for nice occasions, optional: wellies/hiking boots for hiking and being outdoors.

BRAS: sport, t-shirt, and strapless. SOCKS: warm wool socks, cotton socks for everyday and workout. UNDERWEAR: one of everything you typically wear, don’t forget spandex to workout in. SWIMSUIT? 

*If your bag is overweight, these are typically the first to go. You can always buy a new pack once you’re there.

Other RANDOM things I bring to France:

• Natural deodorant (My Fave) + A stick Anti-perspirant (in France, it’s mostly roll-on and aerosol)
• Floss and Fluoride rinse (never found any I liked/worked)
• Razors and Tampons (they’re more expensive)
• American team jerseys
• Gifts from home: homemade apricot jam, Local Organic Hawaiian Honey
• Favorite Coffee, Hot Sauce, Spice Blends
• Medicine: Prescriptions and other favorites like Advil liquid gels (in France their ibuprofen dissolves in water like Airborne)

All smiles at 6am (we actually got up at 4am to catch a bus and the metro and another bus to the airport), this was a short flight over to Geneva for Christmas.

Bon voyage et Bonne courage,

(Have a good trip and Good luck!)

Anne