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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Family holiday in Tasmania. |
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