Thank you so much to EzPacking for providing product for this post. All opinions, bad jokes and packing faux-pas are 100% my own.
Packing and me have had issues for a long time now.
I procrastinate about it like crazy. It takes me forever. There’s too much to remember with three kids to pack for, and I always forget something.
And within ten minutes of arriving at our destination, someone needs to get something out of the suitcase and just like that all my neatly folded and segregated piles of kids’ clothing are in one tangled mess.
Today I am going to share something with you that has completed rocked my world. I can’t even begin to explain the awesomeness. PLEASE OBSERVE:
Yes, that is ACTUALLY MY SUITCASE.
I know. I’m shocked too. It looks so neat and orderly.
This is the suitcase of an organised person.
I kind of can’t stop looking at it. It makes me feel like an actual grown-up. A very efficient grown-up at that. I feel like my kids should all be perfectly groomed and perfectly behaved to go along with the image of this perfect suitcase. Also I should probably start speaking in a British accent and saying things like “Spit spot! Run along now, children!” (Because *obviously* all truly organised people speak like Mary Poppins.)
But I digress.
Said suitcase contains five days’ worth of clothes for myself and three kids. (This is the modus operandi at our place – hubby likes to throw a few clothes in a duffel bag and keep his stuff separate.) I could’ve easily fitted in a week’s worth of outfits in the suitcase. Each child has their own little packing cube filled with clothes, and they all slot in together like Lego bricks.
Packing cubes, you ask? What is this magic?
They’re my new secret weapon. I used the complete bundle of packing organisers from EzPacking (U.S. company). When it arrived in the mail, this is what it looked like:
My nerdy organisation-loving heart leapt a little at the sight of these lovely packing cubes. And then I saw these:
I will admit it, I giggled. They just made me think instantly of Sheldon…
So I’m OCD, but I’m not that OCD. However, I shouldn’t mock. A couple of weeks ago my husband went on a business trip overseas. He actually asked me how to fold a T-shirt. As in, he wanted the step-by-step tutorial. I mean, this guy is smart. He can put together business deals like nobody’s business. So how on earth has he lived for 36 years on this sweet earth and still doesn’t know how to fold a T-shirt??
Clearly I am enabling this by doing all the laundry in our house. Note to self: slack off on the laundry, honey-cakes.
Moral of the story, clearly my husband would find this device useful. Also it would be entertaining to watch him use it.
Moving along. Here’s how I packed the perfect family suitcase.
First, I used the large cubes for my clothes. This cube was exactly the right size to fit two stacks of T-shirts. I packed five T-shirts, three singlets, two “good” blouses and a dress. I could have easily fitted in a few more outfits if needed.
In the second large cube, I packed five sets of shorts and skirts, and also a pair of jeans folded in half. Again, this was a loose fit – I could’ve fitted more if I wanted to.
When it comes to toiletries, one tip that really works for me is to keep a toiletry bag packed and ready to go at the back of the bathroom vanity. Just about everything comes in miniature these days, so I use the “travel” sizes of all my products, from contact lens solution to shampoo and conditioner.
I also have a separate bag for makeup, and of course no self-respecting woman can travel for more than twelve hours without her hair straightener. (Husband: Why do you need to take that thing?) *Hold me*
Onto the kids. For the boys I used one medium cube each. My five-year-old’s shorts just fitted in lengthwise without doubling them in half, together with a stack of five T-shirts beside, and plenty of room for jocks and socks.
My six-year-old’s shorts needed to be doubled over to fit, but there was still room for five pairs of shorts and five T-shirts. This was more snug, but still not a tight fit. I would have been able to fit in another couple of outfits without putting strain on the zipper. It’s amazing how much air there is in clothes and how much they compress. The packing cubes are very space-saving that way.
I ran out of medium sized cubes at this point, so for my daughter I used the two small cubes. This was great too. One for shorts and skirts – a perfect fit lengthwise for size 3 clothes – and one for T-shirts, undies and hair stuff.
The “extra small cube” was perfect for stashing the kids’ essential toiletries. All I usually pack for the kids is a travel-sized bottle of shampoo or bath-wash, the toothbrushes and toothpaste, a pair of nail scissors, and emergency medication in case of pain or fever.
The complete bundle also included these neat little packages:
The shoe bag – what a fantastic idea!! No more sand and dirt in my nice clean suitcase. The bags could easily fit five pairs of sandals/ ballet flats. When not in use, the bags fold up into a tiny little package with an elastic loop to keep them flat.
I thought this laundry bag was another really thoughtful touch. For such a small package, it unfolds into a capacious and strong bag for all those dirty clothes.
And finally, how clever is this??! It’s a teensy little flat pouch that can just slip down the side of the suitcase, barely taking up any room at all. But if you go a bit overboard with the shopping on your holiday and just can’t fit everything back in your suitcase (what is WITH the way luggage always expands on a trip, anyway?!)… you can unzip your secret pouch, and ta-da! you have an extra duffel bag at your fingertips.
So clever. It’s actually quite big, too. It would also be great for if you’re at the airport and about to be hit with excess baggage fees, and you need to quickly transfer some stuff out of your main suitcase and into a carry-on. (You can thank me for that tip when you save a wad of cash on your next trip.)
I love that once you reach your destination, unpacking is just a matter of pulling out an individual cube and placing it in the cupboard. Everyone gets their own cube – no more digging through an entire suitcase of muddled-up clothes in search of that one thing you just KNOW you put in there SOMEWHERE.
Here’s a video to show you how it all fits in together:
Right, so that’s the clothes and toiletries sorted in style. (Yes!!) The next step when packing for kids is to think entertainment. Toys can be bulky – but I have a few little tricks up my sleeve here.
Anything lightweight, small or flat is perfect to pack in a suitcase. Try to think of things that allow for extended creative play, rather than toys that they’ll play with once and then be bored.
These magnet books from Tiger Tribe are a great example. They’re thin and lightweight when folded, but they open up to make a nice flat surface to play magnets on. We have a street scene with cars and trucks, an underwater mermaid scene, and a world map for the eldest. These are also really handy to slip into a nappy (diaper) bag on the plane.
I always pack colouring books, sticker books, and some sort of activity book like a dot-to-dot or painting with water.
I keep these in a magazine holder at home, so it’s easy to just grab a quick selection and slip them into a plastic file folder. I always have a pencil case filled and ready to go in the cupboard (this is also handy to grab when rushing out the door to church or some appointment where the kids will need to pass time quietly.)
A4 plastic file folders are also great for puzzles, which otherwise are a nightmare to transport. One wooden child’s puzzle fits in neatly, and when closed, the lid stops the pieces from falling out and getting all muddled.
I love Usborne activity cards for the amount of entertainment they pack into a small deck of cards. These don’t take up much room at all. Our kids love the “Doodle cards” best – wipe-clean cards that come with a little dry-erase marker and funny, imaginative instructions.
Lego is always a winner, and it’s miniature sizing makes it perfect for travel (providing you’re willing to risk losing a piece in a hotel room here and there.) Minimise the risk by having an “only play at the table” rule. A sandwich keeper is the perfect size to store a small boxed set of Lego with instructions.
Our firm favourite are these Imaginets – magnetic shapes that can be arranged into an endless variety of creative shapes. The kids have gotten more entertainment mileage out of these than just about any other toy we own, and they’ve accompanied us on many family holidays.
If you’re travelling by car, it can also be fun to put together little toy kits to keep the kids entertained. Here are some ideas I came up with for different interests and age groups, using a divided lunchbox:
To help you get your packing mojo on, I’ve put together this handy printable checklist of everything you’ll need to pack for the whole family. Just tick and flick, and feel instantly organised. You can download it here.
If you want your suitcases to look THIS organised, don’t forget to check out EzPacking’s website and click on the SHOP tab. I used the complete bundle, but there’s also a cheaper starter bundle if you want to start small. Packing cubes are also available separately for a very reasonable price, so you can mix and match to suit your needs, and add to your collection over time. I’m totally in love with this product!
That’s why it’s such great news that the good folks at EzPacking are giving away ONE COMPLETE BUNDLE this week to one lucky reader.
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. My Aussie friends – I do sincerely apologise. You ARE able to order from EzPacking, but you’ll need to factor in about $50-$70 for shipping – if you’re interested, just contact them here for a personalised quote.
To my U.S. friends – good luck!
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| Family holiday in Tasmania. |
Let’s chat: Do you love packing or hate it? What tips and tricks would you add for packing with kids? And just for fun… what’s your dream holiday destination?
Wow! I can't believe how much you managed to fit in one suitcase! These look really useful. Thanks for the giveaway.
You're so welcome Emily! Good luck! And yes, it is amazing how much you can fit in when it's all compartmentalised like that. 🙂
Dream vacation would definitely be to Hawaii, and this could help keep all of our stuff organized!
Hawaii would be amazing!!
Oh I love this post! What a wonderful way to
travel. Unfortunately this product would be far too expensive to buy here South
Africa, but I will certainly keep my eyes open for alternatives to pack this
way. And I love that toiletry bag of yours! I absolutely hate packing, because
it always seems like we want to take the whole house along, it takes forever
and everybody makes fun of our baggage. On the upside, we are never caught
without something we should have packed. Early in our marriage I started the mother
of all packing lists in a Word table, and absolutely everything is on there. I
expanded the list to include the children, even with notes about what is
needed at what age and during pregnancy… and then just the other day our
perfect track record came crashing down when we were halfway to the next town
and I realized I didn't pack underpants for the boys… we hadn't travelled
since they both completed their potty-training, and it wasn’t on the list! I
even thought about them while packing, but thought, no, I'll get to them later
on the list. Not. I will certainly take a look at your packing list and see if I can improve my own. My expanded list is in dire need of some order and categorization. You have some great tips
about the toys and entertainment, thank you! I try to keep toys going along to
a minimum, as I find that my boys are usually much more interested in the new
things at our destination than the toys we brought along. Even on the road I
found that the sights on the way seem to keep them entertained – at least now
that they are 3 and 5 – even for a five-hour journey. I throw in a few
favourite storybooks, a playmat with roads on it and a few cars, and we are
good to go. Dream holiday destination? Ha! Any accommodation that includes
three meals a day and preferably laundry as well. And if it could be at the
beach and have a few easy hiking trails and beautiful views, all the better!
I love how organized your suitcase looks. We just got back from traveling for my brother's wedding and I wish my suitcase looked like yours!!!
Believe me, Tina, this is a first for me as well! 😉
The organization looks so wonderful! I usually use a large duffel suitcase and throw clothes for all three of us in it. Sometimes if I'm really organized, I'll separate them by person in a backpack or other bag, but that doesn't happen often.
My dream vacation would probably be South Africa.
Okay, I am so envious of your very organized suitcase! I would love to travel to Costa Rica with my family.
My dream vacation would be to Thailand! It would be even dreamier to pack so organized;)
This suitcase is a DREAM!!! 🙂 I don't have any children, but I would love for MY suitcase to be this organized.
Dream vacation= Paris!
Wow! I can't believe how much you managed to fit in one suitcase! These look really useful. Thanks for the giveaway.
You're so welcome Emily! Good luck! And yes, it is amazing how much you can fit in when it's all compartmentalised like that. 🙂
Dream vacation would definitely be to Hawaii, and this could help keep all of our stuff organized!
Hawaii would be amazing!!
Oh I love this post! What a wonderful way to
travel. Unfortunately this product would be far too expensive to buy here South
Africa, but I will certainly keep my eyes open for alternatives to pack this
way. And I love that toiletry bag of yours! I absolutely hate packing, because
it always seems like we want to take the whole house along, it takes forever
and everybody makes fun of our baggage. On the upside, we are never caught
without something we should have packed. Early in our marriage I started the mother
of all packing lists in a Word table, and absolutely everything is on there. I
expanded the list to include the children, even with notes about what is
needed at what age and during pregnancy… and then just the other day our
perfect track record came crashing down when we were halfway to the next town
and I realized I didn't pack underpants for the boys… we hadn't travelled
since they both completed their potty-training, and it wasn’t on the list! I
even thought about them while packing, but thought, no, I'll get to them later
on the list. Not. I will certainly take a look at your packing list and see if I can improve my own. My expanded list is in dire need of some order and categorization. You have some great tips
about the toys and entertainment, thank you! I try to keep toys going along to
a minimum, as I find that my boys are usually much more interested in the new
things at our destination than the toys we brought along. Even on the road I
found that the sights on the way seem to keep them entertained – at least now
that they are 3 and 5 – even for a five-hour journey. I throw in a few
favourite storybooks, a playmat with roads on it and a few cars, and we are
good to go. Dream holiday destination? Ha! Any accommodation that includes
three meals a day and preferably laundry as well. And if it could be at the
beach and have a few easy hiking trails and beautiful views, all the better!
I love how organized your suitcase looks. We just got back from traveling for my brother's wedding and I wish my suitcase looked like yours!!!
Believe me, Tina, this is a first for me as well! 😉
Great ideas! I am so excited to use this! Thank you!
my dream vacation would be tahiti… just so i can stay in one of those bungalows over the water.
The organization looks so wonderful! I usually use a large duffel suitcase and throw clothes for all three of us in it. Sometimes if I'm really organized, I'll separate them by person in a backpack or other bag, but that doesn't happen often.
My dream vacation would probably be South Africa.
Okay, I am so envious of your very organized suitcase! I would love to travel to Costa Rica with my family.
My dream vacation would be to Thailand! It would be even dreamier to pack so organized;)
This suitcase is a DREAM!!! 🙂 I don't have any children, but I would love for MY suitcase to be this organized.
Dream vacation= Paris!
Great ideas! I am so excited to use this! Thank you!
my dream vacation would be tahiti… just so i can stay in one of those bungalows over the water.
What size is your suitcase? That can't possibly be the carry-on size is it? My dream vacation would be to Australia of course 🙂
What size is your suitcase? That can't possibly be the carry-on size is it? My dream vacation would be to Australia of course 🙂
We're planning our first trip to Disney World and I kept looking for packing solutions. . . this is it!!! I'm so excited for a neat and organizied suitcase!!
I would love to travel to Australia. My sister spent a semester abroad there and my parents went to visit her. The pictures they came back with were AMAZING.
We're planning our first trip to Disney World and I kept looking for packing solutions. . . this is it!!! I'm so excited for a neat and organizied suitcase!!
I would love to travel to Australia. My sister spent a semester abroad there and my parents went to visit her. The pictures they came back with were AMAZING.
I live in South Africa, and I tend to agree! We've got so much beautiful scenery and peaceful spots that I would have to be really bored with all my money (not likely!) to consider a holiday elsewhere.
I live in South Africa, and I tend to agree! We've got so much beautiful scenery and peaceful spots that I would have to be really bored with all my money (not likely!) to consider a holiday elsewhere.
I am ALL about making traveling with kids easier!!! My dream vacation would be somewhere on the East Coast with lots of sun. But for now Portland in a couple of weeks will do. We have not traveled a lot because I have a daughter with life threatening allergies. It makes leaving home a little more complicated, so organization helps me feel a little more in control so thank you for the great post and opportunity!
I am ALL about making traveling with kids easier!!! My dream vacation would be somewhere on the East Coast with lots of sun. But for now Portland in a couple of weeks will do. We have not traveled a lot because I have a daughter with life threatening allergies. It makes leaving home a little more complicated, so organization helps me feel a little more in control so thank you for the great post and opportunity!
This is an organizational persons dream come true!
I love this! I am crazy OCD when it comes to packing – This would have saved me so much trouble traveling over the Holidays with the family! My dream destination? Thailand!
Where did you get those divided lunch boxes?
Thes would be PERFECT for Camping !
This is an organizational persons dream come true!
I love this! I am crazy OCD when it comes to packing – This would have saved me so much trouble traveling over the Holidays with the family! My dream destination? Thailand!
Where did you get those divided lunch boxes?
Thes would be PERFECT for Camping !
Love this! I'm planning a 10 day trip this summer, and to save on baggage fees, my husband, daughter and I will be sharing one suitcase. We managed to do it once before, but our suitcase was not nearly so organized. Germany at Christmastime is my dream vacation.
Awesome, Ashley! So glad this was helpful! xo
Australia is wonderful. 🙂 (I'm biased) 😉
You're so welcome Edra! Travelling with kids can be stressful, and sounds like your situation is way more stressful than most. It's true that being well-planned and organised gives us a sense of control and helps everything flow more smoothly. Good luck with the giveaway! xo
Olivia, they are from Tupperware. 🙂 xo
Yes, so true Shauna! xo
These are perfect for a shared suitcase for sure! Enjoy your trip! 🙂 xo
Sure is Craig! 🙂
Oooooh my husband and I actually did this in our former life B.C. (before children) – it was AMAZING!!! Good luck with the giveaway, Lucy! xo
You're welcome Jennifer!
Thank you Elise! Good luck with the giveaway, girl… and here's to your dream trip to Paris! 🙂 xo
Kim, no, this is our jumbo family suitcase… LOL 🙂 It's 28" long x 18" wide x 8" high. Come to Australia, you'll love it! 😉 xo
I'd love to go to Hawaii!
Love this! I'm planning a 10 day trip this summer, and to save on baggage fees, my husband, daughter and I will be sharing one suitcase. We managed to do it once before, but our suitcase was not nearly so organized. Germany at Christmastime is my dream vacation.
Awesome, Ashley! So glad this was helpful! xo
Australia is wonderful. 🙂 (I'm biased) 😉
You're so welcome Edra! Travelling with kids can be stressful, and sounds like your situation is way more stressful than most. It's true that being well-planned and organised gives us a sense of control and helps everything flow more smoothly. Good luck with the giveaway! xo
Olivia, they are from Tupperware. 🙂 xo
Yes, so true Shauna! xo
These are perfect for a shared suitcase for sure! Enjoy your trip! 🙂 xo
Sure is Craig! 🙂
Oooooh my husband and I actually did this in our former life B.C. (before children) – it was AMAZING!!! Good luck with the giveaway, Lucy! xo
You're welcome Jennifer!
Thank you Elise! Good luck with the giveaway, girl… and here's to your dream trip to Paris! 🙂 xo
Kim, no, this is our jumbo family suitcase… LOL 🙂 It's 28" long x 18" wide x 8" high. Come to Australia, you'll love it! 😉 xo
I'd love to go to Hawaii!
My dream vacation is anywhere warm with a beautiful beach. 🙂
My dream vacation is anywhere warm with a beautiful beach. 🙂
We're going to Alaska this summer to see friends. That'll be an amazing trip. Though I'm normally more into the beach, I can't wait to explore with my family and our friends.
How neat!! (literally!) I've seen these before but you are by-far the most detailed post- love it! It gives me hope that maybe one day I can be that organized, too!
We're going to Alaska this summer to see friends. That'll be an amazing trip. Though I'm normally more into the beach, I can't wait to explore with my family and our friends.
How neat!! (literally!) I've seen these before but you are by-far the most detailed post- love it! It gives me hope that maybe one day I can be that organized, too!
my dream holiday is traveling the orient! these would be perfect for a long long holiday
my dream holiday is traveling the orient! these would be perfect for a long long holiday
I'd love to take my kids to Spain and these individual pods would work great in a large backpack too!
I'd love to take my kids to Spain and these individual pods would work great in a large backpack too!
Thanks, Megan! 🙂
Thanks, Megan! 🙂
Good choice, Haley! I'm a South African and I really have very little desire to go anywhere else. There is so much natural beauty, variety and truly breathtaking peaceful spots right here. And if you prefer diverse cultural experiences, we've got plenty of that as well!
Great post! I am pinning it for future reference and will keep my eyes open for a more affordable alternative here in South Africa (I'm being veeeery optimistic!). I hate packing, because it always seems like we want to take the whole house along, it takes forever and everybody makes fun of our baggage. On the upside, we are never caught without something we should have packed… until recently. Early in our marriage I started a giant packing list on my computer, and absolutely everything is on there. I expanded the list to include the children, in just as much detail… and then just the other day our perfect track record came crashing down when we were halfway to the next town and I realized I didn't pack underpants for the boys. We hadn't travelled since they both completed their potty-training, and it wasn't on the list! With regard to toys, that is one thing that I keep to a minimum, as I find that my boys are usually much more interested in the new things at our destination than the toys we brought along. I throw in a few favourite storybooks, a playmat with roads on it and a few cars, and we are good to go.
My dream destination would be at the seaside with a few easy hiking trails close by, and, very important, must include three meals a day and laundry services!
Good choice, Haley! I'm a South African and I really have very little desire to go anywhere else. There is so much natural beauty, variety and truly breathtaking peaceful spots right here. And if you prefer diverse cultural experiences, we've got plenty of that as well!
Great post! I am pinning it for future reference and will keep my eyes open for a more affordable alternative here in South Africa (I'm being veeeery optimistic!). I hate packing, because it always seems like we want to take the whole house along, it takes forever and everybody makes fun of our baggage. On the upside, we are never caught without something we should have packed… until recently. Early in our marriage I started a giant packing list on my computer, and absolutely everything is on there. I expanded the list to include the children, in just as much detail… and then just the other day our perfect track record came crashing down when we were halfway to the next town and I realized I didn't pack underpants for the boys. We hadn't travelled since they both completed their potty-training, and it wasn't on the list! With regard to toys, that is one thing that I keep to a minimum, as I find that my boys are usually much more interested in the new things at our destination than the toys we brought along. I throw in a few favourite storybooks, a playmat with roads on it and a few cars, and we are good to go.
My dream destination would be at the seaside with a few easy hiking trails close by, and, very important, must include three meals a day and laundry services!
Love the puzzle storage. My girls love to do puzzles but we can't take them anywhere because we always come home missing pieces. Where did you get the A4 file folder boxes? Here in US we don't use A4 size much…
Love the puzzle storage. My girls love to do puzzles but we can't take them anywhere because we always come home missing pieces. Where did you get the A4 file folder boxes? Here in US we don't use A4 size much…
LOL – I love that story about the missing underpants – that is too funny!! I'm sure I've had plenty of those moments over the years… my track record is definitely not squeaky clean. 😉 Also, your dream destination sounds AMAZING purely for the meals and laundry service. 🙂 Aaaaah…. bliss!! xo
Courtney, I bought them at Officeworks, which is an Australian store stocking stationery and office supplies. Maybe you could try Staples or somewhere similar? I didn't realise A4 wasn't a standard size in the U.S. Do you use foolscap instead? You learn something new every day! Good luck with your search hon! xo
Our standard paper size is 8 1/2" x 11". I'm sure Staples or Office Depot or even Amazon will have something similar. Thanks!!
LOL – I love that story about the missing underpants – that is too funny!! I'm sure I've had plenty of those moments over the years… my track record is definitely not squeaky clean. 😉 Also, your dream destination sounds AMAZING purely for the meals and laundry service. 🙂 Aaaaah…. bliss!! xo
Courtney, I bought them at Officeworks, which is an Australian store stocking stationery and office supplies. Maybe you could try Staples or somewhere similar? I didn't realise A4 wasn't a standard size in the U.S. Do you use foolscap instead? You learn something new every day! Good luck with your search hon! xo
Our standard paper size is 8 1/2" x 11". I'm sure Staples or Office Depot or even Amazon will have something similar. Thanks!!
I love all your ideas! I'm going to have to link to your post – I've got a travel post brewing 🙂
A South African organising queen 🙂
No worries! Hope you find what you're after! 🙂 xo
Awesome, Marcia – thanks for the link love! xo
I love all your ideas! I'm going to have to link to your post – I've got a travel post brewing 🙂
A South African organising queen 🙂
No worries! Hope you find what you're after! 🙂 xo
Awesome, Marcia – thanks for the link love! xo
So sad about the US only giveaway, but just wanted to let you know that my husband recently got some similar packing cells from Aldi (Australia). Might have to snaffle them from him I think!! Thanks for all the great ideas. I too am a packing procrastinator so any inspiration is always welcome.
Awesome, Ruth! That’s good to know! xo