Wednesday, May 21, 2008

WFMW- Packing for Vacation

We are leaving for vacation in just 3 short days and my to do list is very long, but I just had to share with you all this wonderful idea my sweet Aunt Twice Blessed Mommy, got from a friend...
I have taken all the kids clothes and separated them into outfits, shirt/shorts/underwear/socks.  I bought gallon Ziploc bags at Walmart (Walmart brand 40 for $2.19) I then packaged each outfit in a gallon bag and wrote on the outside who the outfit belonged to and what it was for, like casual or dressy or for our family pictures.  I spend alot of time organizing outfits, ironing and matching things and then my sweet wonderful hard working loving husband hands the kids clothes that don't match, he mixes up the whole program and I get a bit testie...  So this alleviates a whole lot of stress!  I can also pack shoes in the same bag with out worrying about clothes getting dirty.  
I am also a very big list maker, I write out everything for the trip, everything!  This helps alot with a large family.



Here is a picture of all the kids clothes packed up neatly, this it 30 outfits.  It really saves space in the suitcase too!



You can see here that one outfit is really small if you press all the air out of the bag.


 And we also packed sweatshirts and jeans for walks on the beach at night.  I added this photo to show my support to my TX readers and of course for Daddy who is from Dallas....

For more mind riveting  Works for me Wednesday tips go over to Rocks in my  Dryer, and be amazed!

16 comments:

bunchofbull-ers! said...

What a GREAT IDEA! I wish that I had it last week for our vacation! I will so use it when I pack for our family beach trip this summer too! I might actually enjoy packing this time! Hope you are feeling better.

Blessings.

The Nester said...

Hey Happy!

I love that idea! Nice job and those clothes are gonna take up no room!

Kristen said...

I love this idea too. I'm getting ready to pack for a short Memorial Day trip to my in-law's farm in Oklahoma. But I think I need zip locks first!

And, oh, thanks for including the Dallas Cowboy picture, I really appreciate it. :D

Twice Blessed said...

Now what am I going to blog about???????????

Anonymous said...

That's a great idea. I bet it cuts down on the chaos during the trip.

Have a good time!

Michele said...

Hi (I came via Amanda ;) )

A friend told me about this a few years back and I've been doing it ever since. Putting the socks and hair accessories in the bag with the outfit makes it sooo much easier - you can hand the kid and the bag to the dad and he's got everything he needs to get them ready. Love it!!!

The Maid said...

I hate packing...inevitably somebody forgets to bring underwear!
:)

The Maid

Wani said...

Thanks for sharing what works for you! I'm impressed. I'm not usually that organized. Maybe I'll try it sometime! C'mon by Wani's World to check out free films!

DD said...

Girl I been packed for Disney world for a MONTH!!! A MONTH, I SWEAR!!! :) Its just sitting there reminding me that its only 9 more days till Disney. Hooray for vacation. A little planning can go a long way!!

We pack everything in space-saver bags when we travel.

Amanda said...

I love that idea. A friend does that with her regular laundry and even her smallest kid can get dressed with no help. (That's too much stress for me!)

Have a great trip! I'd love to meet for coffee, but we don't leave until the 30th and will be in Orlando, then the Tampa area. Can't wait to hear all about it!

Unknown said...

Great idea! I hate how messy everything gets in the kids' suitcase. This is a great solution!

Dawn @ simply transparent said...

Now that is some seriously organize packing, that made a great deal of cents especially if your flying!

Have a good time and thanks for the "shout out for dem'Cowboys!"

ruth said...

I have done this for our kids when they have been without us--like when my son went to summer camp last year. I marked his packaged outfits with "Monday," "Tuesday," etc. and included socks and boxers--that way I knew (hoped) he'd really change them.

He liked the system so well, he asked me to keep doing it after he came home.

I didn't.

But I will do it again for him when he goes to camp this summer.

(I used "recycled" plastic grocery store bags and taped them shut, writing the day's label on the tape--then he could throw away the bag after wearing the outfit, and put the dirty outfit into the large garbage bag I sent along labeled for dirty clothes.)

Jessie said...

I am new to packing with a toddler and travelling - so this is such a great tip....I might cry a little! :) Thanks!

dreamingBIGdreams said...

Great idea!
We're traveling 3 weeks this summer to different places and this will be awesome for our trip!!

Tara said...

I love the idea... I always forget to pack this neatly until after the fact... lol We are taking some vacation next month, and I will be sure to incorporate the ziplocs. Thanks for the reminder :)