I am not a minimalist when it comes to packing but I have tried over the years to become a more organized packer. Trying to decide what to pack is always the hardest part for me! Obviously, where I am going and what I have planned there is a big influence, but what about those unplanned events that require another outfit? You have to be ready for anything, am I right?
So, now I take one outfit per day, an extra outfit for a day that I don’t want to wear what I brought for that day, and a few extra shirts because who knows when the mood for something else hits, or I spill my lunch all down the front of my shirt! I also pack a few extra socks…I hate wet socks! And a couple extra pair of underwear, because, well…I am getting older and who knows when I will pee on myself from laughing too hard or, honestly, standing!
Once I have laid everything out on the bed, I start to organize, putting a shirt with each pair of pants.
Then, I put two pairs of underwear and a pair of socks with each outfit. I may or may not need it all for the day, but it is all together in one neat package. Then, I roll the outfit all together into a burrito. I would much prefer to have the shirt on the outside, because that is really how I pick what I am going to wear each day, but it rolls much easier with the pants on the outside. Try to leave a little of the shirt in sight so you don’t have to unroll every burrito when you arrive at your destination.
Before the roll 
After the roll
Then, line them up by day and you are good to go!
Something else I have fallen in love with are packing cubes! I put my shoes, toiletries and extra outfits in them. They are also great for those clothes that get especially dirty while on vacation (remember the reasons I bring extras!). Stack them on top of the rolls or on one end of the suitcase and you are ready to go!
I am now ready for my next adventure….Alaska, here I come!!
Where There's a Will There's a Plane 