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Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Packable Halloween Costumes

I like to travel during the holidays, and one of those holidays is Halloween. I'm an adult who will dress up for any reason. Costumes are fun. Even if you're just looking to pack a costume for the kids, they can end up taking up a big part of your carry-on, which is all priority space.  

We have visited Disney parks multiple times with costumes and still accomplished carry-on-only travel. Here are fun costumes you can easily pack.

We have visited Disney parks multiple times with costumes and still packed light and accomplished carry-on-only travel, so I think we've done it right. Here are some fun costumes that you can easily pack:

Sports Fan

This was a back-up plan of mine, because one October we visited Disneyland and it was suuuuuuuuuuuper hot. I knew the outfit I'd brought wasn't going to do me any favors, so I pivoted and ran to a sports store and purchased an LA Angels t-shirt, hat, lanyard, and matching sweat bands. Because it was the local baseball team, people got really excited seeing me coming. I was able to rewear that t-shirt on the rest of my trip, too. You probably already have some sporty gear for your chosen team. Add multiple pieces to really push it over the top.

Ice Cream Man or Barista

Eric doesn't like to wear involved outfits, because the added layers make him too hot. Ice cream man or barista really only requires an apron, hat and name tag. You can wear your regular clothes underneath, since most everything works. Purchase pieces separately, or buy the complete costume:

Free Guy

I really loved this movie and you don't have to be Ryan Reynolds to pull it off. You can purchase the above costume from Amazon, or you probably already have a shirt and tie that will work, and you can just order a name tag to go with it. You can add a set of blue light glasses or carry around a cup of coffee to complete the look.


Postal Carrier

Three easy pieces - a vest, hat, and bag - make this great outfit, plus you can use the accessory as your day bag and it'll look stuffed with mail. You may need to add some better stitching and a good closure before you head out, but that's not too hard to do. You don't want all your snacks and whatever leaving a trail behind you. 

Another idea for you is to use a blue bag you already have and add a logo to it with double-sided tape or sticky-backed velcro. I really love this Travelon bag for travel. The blue is a lovely dark color and it has anti-theft features.

Basic Witch

Most of us travel with a little black dress. If this is true of you, then you don't have to do much more. Pack a fun witch hat (these are great, don't require much maintenance, and you can add a variety things to them) and maybe some chunky jewelry that really says "witch". You can wear whatever black shoes you've brought to go with your dress. I, generally, just bring black flats that go with everything. A wand really caps things off, if it's not going to be inconvenient to tote around with you. It will make for fun, magical photos though.

Squid Game

This was such a phenomenon that almost everyone is going to get this costume. It's also laid back and comfy, and great for cooler climates, because you can easily layer warmer pieces underneath it if you need. You can get the official costume or add your own numbers to a generic track suit that you can wear again not on Halloween.

Clark Kent

Want to be a (somewhat) secret superhero? You probably have a white button-down shirt and a tie. Get yourself a Superman t-shirt to wear underneath and arrange your shirt partway open and your tie askew to look like you're Clark ready to quick-change. If you don't have a pair of glasses already, head to your local dollar store and buy a pair of black glasses that you can pop the lenses out of. 

Artist, Beatnik, Mime or French Person

I really loved this outfit that I wore for work one year. It's easy to do and still allowed me to move around like normal. I have several striped shirts, but if you don't, you can buy the whole costume. This makes a fun couple's costume, too. Here's the whole outfit for women and for men.

Robber

Replace the beret above with a black knit cap and carry a money bag (if you're lazy and cheap like me) or get the whole look with gloves and a mask to be an old-school robber. All you need is a pair of black pants and shoes and you're good to go. Get this in short sleeve or long sleeve if it's cooler out. If you're in need of a real purse to hold your credit cards and keys and stuff, there's always this bag. 

Sorry for this terrible picture. Good thing I've learned to take more and better ones since this.

On Safari

I feel like everyone has one of these outdoor shirts in khaki, brown or white. Get yourself a matching hat and add some cheapo binoculars and now you look like you're on safari. Easy peasy.

Tourist

You are one, so this should be easy. All you need is a Hawaiian shirt, a camera, and a map. Ask people for directions for more effect. I like these phone cases that look like cameras that you can wear around your neck, so you aren't carrying around something unnecessary.

You may see more costume suggestions before Halloween, because I love being creative with just a few things. I hope your Fall travels are looking good. Have you ever tried to travel with a costume?


Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, and I may be monetarily compensated if you make a purchase through any of them. Thanks in advance for helping me keep this blog going with your purchases.

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Saturday, September 3, 2022

Your Fall Travel Packing Blueprint

Fall is quickly arriving and with it comes the struggle of how to pack light when you have to plan for weather that may be warm, cold, or anything in between. While planning for our Paris trip, I've been checking the weather forecast nearly everyday to come up with a strategy. If you have a fall vacation booked and need some packing help, I'm here for you.

Fall travel comes the struggle of how to pack light when you have to plan for weather that may be warm, cold, or anything in between.

This will be our third trip to Paris at the end of the year and probably one of the warmest times we've been there, but there's always the chance that the temps will drop when we get there and mean we need warmer clothing. Here's how I've packed for us in these situations before:

Mix and Match & Layer

You want to make sure everything you're bring goes with everything else. I like a neutral bottom and a colorful top, but I try to stray away from many patterns, because if I have to wear multiple pieces at a time. Our last time in Paris, it was 20 degrees and raining every day, so we were wearing 3-4 layers at a time: t-shirt or tank and/or lightweight long-sleeve shirt, sweater, and coat with a scarf. We didn't bring heavy coats with us, which made the extra layers necessary, but we were comfortable, even while walking outside for long periods.

I always travel with a scarf/wrap a lightweight jacket and a cardigan or two. This way I'm covered if it gets cooler at our destination and for the chills on the plane. It may seem silly, but on the plane I wear a pair of stretchy jeans, comfortable slip-on shoes, a t-shirt, a cardigan and a scarf. If it gets warm, I can shed some layers, but if it's cold, I'm set. I have this awesome HappyLuxe wrap that I can also use as a blanket. In fact, I can wear it as a scarf while also covering my lap if my legs are cold.

Layering also gives you the ability to wear part of your travel outfit at your destination, so I always dress with that in mind. I work with three bottoms and four-five tops total. When they all go together, you have 12-15 different outfits. You can see how I've made different looks with each of these tops and bottom combinations.

I usually toss in an easy dress (and a pair of tights, in case it's really cold)  that can work for day and night, then go with just two pair of shoes. Both should be great for walking and at least one of them should work for your dress. Make sure you bring shoes appropriate for your destination. Paris has a zillion steps to or inside all their landmarks, so wearing shoes that aren't too confining are best, as my boots last time were a bit too tight with socks and I ended up with a stress fracture in one of my feet. 

Sneakers, open-top flats (like Toms) or some great booties with stretch. I prefer my Arcopedico booties, because I can walk all day (even on cobblestones and steep inclines) without my feet hurting. They're also pack down small, so I don't have to wear them on the plane to conserve space. Bonus: If you're going to Europe, you won't stick out like a tourist. My other biggest tip when it comes to shoes: don't bring shoes you haven't worn before. You will 100% regret it.

Do Laundry

There’s no way around it. If you pack light and you’re gone for more than a week, you’re going to have to do laundry. Schedule some downtime (which you should do anyway) to clean your clothes. It doesn’t sound fun, but you can take the time to hit the pool, watch a show or catch a nap. Just need to freshen up a piece? Spray some vodka on it. It deodorizes, and since it doesn’t have its own smell, you won’t reek of booze.

Accessories

Throw some accessories in your bag to give you other options. A lightweight scarf can jazz up an outfit or work as a head/shoulder covering in a church. A good piece of jewelry can literally turn a day dress into a nighttime one, especially if it's a cute little black dress, which is what I take with me everywhere. A fun sunhat can keep you from getting sunburned and also give an outfit a new twist. 

Now all your clothes fit in a carry-on. You know where all your things are. You don't have to wait at the carousel for your luggage. You don't have to pay baggage fees. You don't have to break your back trying to get your bag up stairs. Now, you just need to get working on making your toiletries lighter.


You can do it!

Carry-on packing can be difficult at first, but with some practice you can become a pro and save baggage fees. With fewer bags to deal with, you’ll feel freer as you waltz off the plane and get right onto your vacation while everyone else is still waiting for their suitcases. 

Our last international trip had us taking two large carry-ons and two large personal items, but we were also going to a wedding and needed fancy clothes and shoes. This trip I'm challenging myself to pack one large carry-on and two medium personal items, one of which will fit into a smaller carry-on (in case we bring back souvenirs). 

What are your biggest struggles when trying to pack light?
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Wednesday, August 31, 2022

My Baltimore Wish List

We're getting closer and closer to our trip and we'll have a whole day to spend in Baltimore on a layover. Neither of us have ever been there, so we found a place to store our luggage for the time we'll be in the city and then we're going to focus on exploring the Inner Harbor, since that won't require us to have a car or use rideshare more than getting there and getting back to the airport.

We're getting closer and closer to our trip and we'll have a whole day to spend in Baltimore on a layover. Here's my wish list.
photo credit

This isn't the first time we've done a long layover where we've used it as a full vacation day. We did this in San Francisco, on our way to Philadelphia. We won't have as much time in Baltimore, but I think 8 hours should be enough to sightsee and get some delicious food. Here's my ambitious wish list:


American Visionary Museum

When I asked for suggestions in a group of friends for where their favorite must-do places were in Baltimore, several people said, unequivocally, this was their top choice. Started by an artist using unconventional materials to create something cool and wanting to showcase them, the AVM exhibits that wild, weird, and unique art that you don't really see in most museums, and I'm into that.


Pride of Baltimore and Federal Hill Park

We love ships. I'm not sure why, but we do. I think I'm fascinated by people who choose to devote their lives to sailing around the world on what is usually a very uncomfortable mode of transportation, due to cramped living quarters and hard labor. This is a reproduction of a ship that sank in the 1800s and is used for maritime education, not just in Baltimore. It may not be in the harbor when we're there, but if it is, you know we're going to appreciate it.

Across the street is Federal Park that has both a Civil War cannon and a war memorial, but also has reviews that say it's a great place to walk your dog. Seems pretty chill, and free.


Baltimore Heritage Walk & Baltimore Visitor Center

On our way around the harbor, we're going to stroll the Baltimore Heritage Walk. I'm not sure what to expect, but since we're already going this way, might as well check it out, learn some stuff, and get some lovely harbor views. 

The Visitor Center is always a great place to learn a little bit more about the city you're in and you can usually find discounts for attractions and activities.


Top Of The World

If you've been following me for a while, you know how we adore going up in tall buildings and landmarks to get the lay of the land. Up on the 27th floor of the World Trade Center, visitors get a 360-degree view of the city, and for just $8 per person, it's also budget-friendly.


Visit Baltimore sign

Literally, right next to Top Of The World is a park with the Visit Baltimore sign, with the harbor right behind it. I know this is one of those basic B tourist attractions, but I love these signs, so call me basic if you must. They make wonderful vacation photos. 


Baltimore Harbor ships

A maritime museum in a collection of ships along the harbor, included in one admission ticket. Just $19.95 gets you into all ships that are open and you don't even need to visit them all on the same day. There's no greater way to learn about the history of a destination than by exploring actual pieces of their history. 


Lobster rolls

Did you even visit Baltimore if you don't have a lobster roll? Well, probably, but I'm not about to find out. This sounds like a great, filling late-lunch/early dinner before getting back on the plane, but also light, so we're not overfull and can sleep. I was told I couldn't leave without trying Maryland lobster.

Other things

If there's time, we'll try to get to a few other things, including Edgar Allen Poe's grave and an old lighthouse on the harbor. 

I also want to check out BWI's observation gallery. We get in very early in the morning, so that seems like a good stop before we head out to enjoy the city. I hope to also get in some art peeping before getting back on the plane, since the airport is full of gallery walls and individual pieces, including a huge Chesapeake Bay blue crab made of stained glass.


Have you been to Baltimore? If so, what are your must-see, must-do, or must-eat recommendations?

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