This post has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #BecauseICan #IGottaHaveIt #CollectiveBias
I got back from SXSW in Austin pretty late last night and WOW am I feeling the effects of Daylight Savings Time this morning! Are you? But on the bright side, Annie now “sleeps in” an extra hour which I’m hoping she sticks with! 😉
As I was packing my suitcase before I left for the weekend I realized I’ve been following the same packing rules for a while now and I thought I’d finally share. These tips and tricks are things I’ve learned over time that have totally helped me maximize space in a small carry on suitcase. And because I’m all things fashion obsessed, extra space is key when packing a suitcase!!
And if you’re like me, you always need a little caffeine boost when packing your bag the day before a trip. (I always wait until the last minute!!) I’m teaming up with Diet Coke® today to share their brand new flavors along with a few colorful packing tips for your suitcase too!
Roll Your Clothes
Not only does rolling each and every piece of clothing save space, but it also keeps them from getting wrinkled along the way. On this trip, I opted not to take my mini steamer along to save space – knowing my clothes were perfectly rolled and wrinkle-free.
Pack Your Personal Items Wisely
Whether you’re flying or going on a road trip, packing travel-sized cosmetics and hair products not only saves space but it also saves weight. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten up to the counter to have my bag weighed … and it goes over. Switching out my shampoos and hair sprays with the travel size options has helped me to avoid this airline encounter numerous times. Plus, it helps you to not overpack excess items that don’t necessarily come in travel size. (Like that extra bottle of hair texturizer that you may love but can live without for a few days.)
Bring Along a Travel Sized Hair Dryer
Most hotels do provide hair dryers but let’s be honest, most of those hair dryers don’t compare to the ones we have at home! I love my travel-sized hair dryer and it even folds up to save space too. Same goes for straighteners. There are countless travel-sized options available these days and they look so cute & tiny too! Sadly curling irons can’t really come in travel sizes, but if you use a wand they are skinny enough to tuck into the sides of your bag.
Wear Your Bulkiest Pieces
If I want to bring along boots, a chunky sweater or even a hat with me, I almost always wear them while traveling to save as much space as possible. Not going to lie, sometimes it’s rough having so many layers on at the airport but it’s totally worth it when saving on excess baggage.
Don’t Let Any Space Go to Waste
Even when your suitcase looks full to the brim, you can still find space to squeeze things into. If I’m packing a purse or a tote bag, I’ll almost always fill it with either another purse or a cosmetic bag to save space. Same goes with shoes, I’ll fill them with socks or small bags of jewelry. No nook or cranny goes unused in my suitcases!
Another tip when traveling? Caffeine! From early morning wake up calls for those 6 am flights to road trips where you’ve got to remain alert, I’m always sipping on something to give me a little boost. I was so excited to have this opportunity to team up with Diet Coke and try out their new line of flavors that come in these sleek 12 oz. cans. (But don’t fret, the original Diet Coke flavor may look different but it still tastes just the same!) With exciting new flavors such as Feisty Cherry and Ginger Lime, there is something for everyone. My favorite is the Zesty Blood Orange but Twisted Mango comes in a close second for sure!
You can find these in on-the-go singles or 8-packs at most grocery stores and convenience stores but here in Texas – Albertsons carries them too! And better yet, you can earn $1.25 if you purchase an 8-pack of Diet Cokes AND any brand of avocados. (Both products must be purchased on the same receipt to receive credit for this rebate) . Hello, guacamole … this is right up my alley!
Now it’s time for me to pop open a Diet Coke (I’m thinking I’ll do Ginger Lime this morning) and get to unpacking from the weekend! Or maybe … I’ll put that off a little bit longer and play in the sun with Annie. After all, who really unpacks their bags right when they get home anyway!? 😉
As always, thanks for stopping by the blog! And big thank you to Diet Coke for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks to you guys for supporting the brands that make Lone Star Looking Glass possible.
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xo, alice
