Our 1 Year Anniversary Vacation
My husband and I will be taking our first real vacation! We didn’t get to take a baby-moon [the vacation time you take before you have a baby] or take a real honeymoon after our wedding on December 23, 2017. We had family in town for Christmas last year so we only did a small trip. We stayed in the states and went to North Caroline a few days in a little log cabin. So this year I’m excited and thankful for our full 1 week vacation! Our itinerary is very exciting and I can’t wait to share pictures and memories with you all when we get back!
Our Itinerary
First off we’re headed from South Carolina to sunny Florida in Fort Lauderdale where we’ll stay at a cute little resort stay for 2 nights and 3 days to get us ready for our cruise to the Grand Bahamas! We’ll get on a ship and sail to the island of the Bahamas and get to stay at a resort on the Bahama’s Island for 5 days !!! I’m super pumped as I haven’t been on vacation in forever! And especially with a baby, I’ll miss him on this trip but glad my hubby and I get a little time together. After the 4 nights on the Bahamas Island we get to sail back to U.S. soil and enjoy the cruise a just a bit longer. Then we venture our way back from vacation from Florida to South Carolina. Here are some tips and tricks up my sleeve when it comes to packing light for a week-long vacation …
What I’ll be Stuffing in my Suitcase
Okay, so let’s be honest girls, we ALL pack way too much for a vacation or even a one night out! So I’ve tried to pack minimally so that I can bring stuff back. Also because checking bags in at airports, now, cost a zillion bucks per/weight. Luckily we won’t be flying for this trip, specifically, but we will by flying for Las Vegas later during the year. This is generally what I pack on vacation.
Tip: If you roll your clothes instead of folding and piling them you’ll have a lot more room in your suitcase! 
Bathing Suits: A girls best friend as well as diamonds.
I always try to pack a minimum of two but since we’re going on a cruise and to the Bahamas I packed for, rolling the bathing suits and putting it into a zip block bag helps to keep organizes as well as save room for more clothes.
- A little Jewelry Bag: Diamonds are a girls best friend (even if some are just for dressing up and costume-y)
Keeping things to all minimalist on a trip I pack 1 pair of silver and gold earrings usually hoops that can go with any outfit casual or night out. Then also pack two pairs of fun cute earrings, and a pair of small studs for pool/beach days/exploring the island.
Dresses and Casual Day Wear: All of the special dinners and night outs!
This is one of my favorites to pick out because my casual day wear is cute but comfy style, Boho chic. and dresses save a lot of room because it’s a full outfit without the top and bottoms taking up room; it is only one piece. I like to pack classy cocktail dresses, and maybe one or two cute fun going out outfits like a jumper or a skirt and a bodysuit!
Carry-On: Because we always need something and this list is a little long but I need all of my essentials.
A must have is always a little mini bag of facial moisturizer, face wipes to refresh from the flight/drive, a good tinted moisturizer for some color in my skin, a sleeping eye mask, so I can’t be bothered when I’m trying to snooze a little. Lastly, I would bring my fleece blanket and a neck pillow.
Shoes: We have to have some for every occasion.
Just the basics, so I’m able to match it with a lot more, one universal color like white heels and black heels that way my bags aren’t weighed down by 5 pairs of shoes. Three pairs of heels and two pairs of flat sandals since I’m going somewhere hot and tropical.
Toiletries: Don’t forget these!
Sometimes I worry about what I’m going to wear and I forget what I’ll need for everyday activities like waking up brushing your teeth and washing your face! Duh, but we all forget the necessities because often times we think it’ll be there at the hotel and sometimes it’s not – or it’s horrible like hotel toothpaste isn’t my forte or their toothbrushes they’re very flimsy.
Snacks: Food is life.
Pretty self-explanatory, pack your snack foods for the ride easy foods that are spill proof like trail mix. Trail mix is high in protein and good fats. Coffeeee! We’re driving from South Carolina to Florida before and after a cruise so we’ll definitely need to keep to be caffeinated. I don’t really drink caffeine that much because I’m sensitive to it but once in a while Starbucks and Red Bull!
ENJOY YOU TRIP
Really, really try to enjoy your trip no worries and no stress. Try to use your cell phone to a minimum, only use it when capturing great food or memories then put it away and cherish those moments in the present. Try to stop using your phone at certain time and choose how many minutes or hours you can spend on your phone. Download an app that locks out your phone after you’ve spent so many hours or time on it. Social media kills relationships and interferes with quality time. It’s a proven fact whether we want to admit it or not – we need to look up more and create connections and memories not just store them on our phones.
