Packing Like a Pro: Advice From a Vegan Shopaholic

I happen to love packing.  However, I'm notorious for packing for an entire village.  This past May I went to Italy for 6 weeks.  I planned, and planned, and planned and successfully managed to fit EVERYTHING into one 30" suitcase. I could have fit in that suitcase. When I got to the airport, Virgin refused to take my bag because it was 100 lbs! The limit for an overweight bag is 70 lbs!  Luckily, I was allowed two bags.  I was at the airport early enough for my parents to drive home, pick up my other suitcase, and drive back to the airport.  I was literally re-packing all of my stuff in the loading zone of LAX.  When I returned to the bag drop, they accepted my two 50 lb bags, and I was off to Italy!  Yes, I overpacked.  I learned my lesson.  However,  I was prepared and comfortable, and that was most important to me.  It was a fabulous trip.

I'm leaving for fabulous Santa Fe, New Mexico tomorrow.  I'm already packed, and I've fit everything into one carry on.  For me, that is impressive.  I pack using Flight 001's spacepack.  Everything is so organized, compact, and avoids any spilling.  I'm obsessed.  Just to be safe, I still tape any liquid bottles.  There's nothing worse than a shampoo covered suitcase.

I collect travel products and save them for an upcoming trip.  The cruelty free and eco friendly products that I use on a daily basis have travel sizes.  I'm obsessed with Alba, and thank goodness they have travel sizes.  I refuse to use any products by big companies like Proctor and Gamble.  They test on animals and are they're bad for the environment.  If I'm traveling where I know I can find a Whole Foods, I'm all good.  I get practically everything at Whole Foods.  Skin products, vitamins, food, etc...  I love that store.

Once I started traveling a lot, I got really into earning frequent flyer miles.  I signed up for a Miles reward credit card, became a member of every airline's frequent flyer program, and I do any online shopping through the Virgin Atlantic online shopping section.  When I bought my ticket:

• I earned miles using my card.
• I got miles from being a member of American Airlines
• I bought my ticket through Orbitz, but I went through the online section of the Virgin Atlantic.

My Santa Fe trip earned me about 1000 frequent flyer miles.  Pretty good, eh?

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Packing Like a Pro: Advice From a Vegan Shopaholic