Getting Ready

2 Days.  The countdown has begun and we are 2 days away from leaving for South Africa.  My partner (J)  loves to travel, in face some would say he's made a career out of it, I on the other hand like road trips and back packing, things that keep me very close the the ground.  The thought of being on a plane for over 17 hours scares the hell out of me.  J has done everything he can to ensure that the trip will be smooth, that we will be comfortable and that I won't be scared.  Guess I cannot know until it happens. 

The other part of getting ready has been packing.  And I must say I am very proud of myself.  We will be traveling from the 1st-15th and July and I packed it all in a rolling carry-on and a purse.  I am in love with my Carry-on.  J says it's the most obnoxious thing he's ever seen.  And he's right it is--and that's just the way I like it.  It's a bag that looks like no one else and no one is going to take it by accident. It's light weight and has 4 multi-directional wheels, which makes it easy to carry.

In addition to the Carry-on there are other things that have made packing easier.  The first being a roll-up organizer.  The 4 sections are perfect to divide and organize products.  Here is how I use them:
1) Make up:  I am going light on this trip and only packing the basics:

• 1 Lip gloss and 1 lip stick 
• Foundation, Creme blush and beauty blender
• 1 eye shadow trio and double ended brush 
• Eye liner crayon
• Roll on Perfume 
• Nude Nail Polish

2) Mouth and teeth

• Ora-gel 
• Travel Toothpaste 
• Travel mouthwash 
• Battery Electric Toothbrush 
• Dental Floss

3) Hair

• Solid Shampoo--There are a lot of places to get this, in the past I've used Several types from lush, however this trip I will be trying this 6-sample set 
• A travel Hair spray 
• Hotel conditioners -- Will be re-filled as we hit hotels
• Pony tail holders, a few stretchy head bands and bobbypins 

4) Body 

• Travel Deodorant -- I personally love Alba 
• Mini Hand Sanitizers 
• Travel body lotions 
• CeraVe Cleanser Bar--Mini travel size 

When i Spread it all out and type it up, it's actually a lot in an organized small space.  I actually leave mine flat in the front pocket of my carry on, but you can obviously roll it up--mine would be about a 4x4x8 if I did that.  I also have room in all of the sections left for more if I need them.

The second organizer is for my passport, pens, post cards and boarding passes.  cosmos organizer is just that.  It was cheap under $4 and is thin enough to fit in my shoulder bag.  It holds all of my pens, 10 cards and envelopes, stamps, passport, it's got space for boarding passes and a zipper pocket for other information.  This is NOT an RFID travel pocket book,  Your wallet and passport holder should be RFID, but because everything else is this is not.

Everything I have for 15 days is in a Carry-on and a purse for a trip of a life time.  This Blog will be used to update about this trip and others I take throughout the next years.