You bought the plane tickets

booked the hotels

planned.. planned… planned

bought the perfect lightweight Tumi luggage.

You made contacts ahead of time, and figured out how to mix some business with pleasure, but really you love what you do, so business is pleasure.

You’re excited, counting down the days, and then you realize that you have to pack. ( insert your favorite swear word)

Packings not my favorite either, in fact I hate it, always put it off until the last minute, and then start throwing things into my bag. I once arrived armed with lots of pants and only one top.

I guess that I was planning on going topless the whole trip.

Well not really, I just didn’t actually plan. And there must have been more pants and skirts than tops laying in plain sight on the floor around me. ( putting away laundry also is not one of my strong points)

I’m hoping for your sake that you’re better at packing than I am , but just in case, I’ll tell you my secret and let you know what always saves me, even when I only pack one shirt.

SIDE NOTE: it is also helpful that my husband and I wear about the same size everything, he’s an awesome packer, and I’m beginning to think that sometimes he packs knowing that I”m going to come to him, asking for socks and workout clothes. However, most couples aren’t luckily enough to have the convince of being the same size.

SCARVES…SCARVES…. AND THEN A FEW MORE SCARVES.

Here’s why I love scarves ( yes, I know that I make them, so I might be biased )

1. They don’t take up much room in my Travelpro luggage

2. I don’t have to fold them, anything that I can put in a ball and still wear gets bonus points

3. They go with anything, and even when I only have one shirt, can make it look like I actually changed my clothes each day

4. Scarves can also be used as pillows

5. Large Scarves, shawls, wraps, ( whatever you want to call them) also work awesome as blankets , and are so much better then the ones that they give you on airplanes

6. They make you feel like a superhero ( or maybe that’s just me)

7. They fit perfectly into your purse or backpack, so you be prepared for sudden changes in temp

Don’t let all of your planning be ruined by not having the right clothes to wear or buy not feeling stylish enough as you walk down foreign streets and feel everyone silently judging you.

If you take my advice, and buy 2 or 3 of my one-of-a-kind handwoven scarves for your trip, you’ll only be getting stared at in a good way.

PS: if you’re feeling jealous that you and your man don’t wear the same size anything, and can’t share, here’s one last hint. Scarves fit everyone, and I make scarves for men, that you’ll want to steal.