Organize Your Packing

I took a few minutes to make a packing list for a one week trip to my sister's house and watching the kids in action was pure heaven. They picked out the clothes they wanted to take and laid them on their beds so I could check to make sure they would work. Then they busily ran around the house collecting the rest of the items while I soaked in the tub. No, not really but it was a nice fantasy. I mean the tub part. I think I was busily scrubbing the kitchen sink.

The kids got the car cleaned out and vacuumed this afternoon while I did the really hard stuff like plan meals for a week at my sister's house for 10 people, forward my e-mail and make this list. I started with one I had made for our two week trip to California last December. We could get by with fewer clothes I guess but I don't want to spend any time doing laundry that I could spend visiting with my big sister and I don't know, ripping down walls and pulling up carpet. Hopefully none of that will happen on this trip but you never know. I'm trying to talk her into starting a new business and I have finally talked her into homeschooling next year so we have a lot of planning to do on this trip.

I'm taking my crock pot because I am in love with it now. Aren't I SMART?

Did I forget anything? Feel free to study my list and let me know if I need to add anything.

Kids Clothes
8 pairs of underwear
2 pairs of pants
2 pairs of shorts
7 Shirts
Church clothes
Two pajamas
6 pairs of socks
Jacket
Hat
Tennis shoes
Cowboy boots

Kids Swimming
Snorkel bags
Towels
Sunscreen
Flip flops
Swimsuit

Kids Other
Bikes
Activity books
Reading Books
Library CD’s
Scriptures
Sewing project
Drawing supplies
Games
Checkbook
Sleeping bag
Pillow
Flash light
Stuffed animal

Kitchen
Picnic Organizer
Plastic Cups
Granola (No, I don't go anywhere without it.)
Crock pot
Water bottles
Big water jug
Small cooler with snacks for car
Big cooler full of food for next week

Mom
Camera with charger
Cell phone with charger
Mp3 player with batteries
First Aid kit
Medications
Dramamine
Garbage bags
Quilting projects
Toiletry bag
Brush
Hair Straightener
Book

Lovely
Doll
Stuffed Animal
Blanket
Stroller
Sipper cup for car
Bib
Plastic pants (no diapers, woo hoo!!!)
Wipes
Swimming float
Swimsuit
Hat
Play Clothes
Church clothes
ALL the Panties she owns
Jacket
Mud boots
Crocs
Travel activities

Here are some things I had to do before our trip besides pack.

Visit the library so we don't have any overdue books while we're gone and to pick up books on tape for the drive.
Clean out the car
Collect ice in bags for the cooler. I never buy ice because it's not as cold as the ice from my own freezer and it melts too fast.
Forward e-mail to my web account
Charge batteries

Go swimsuit shopping

Lose ten pounds

Go back and actually buy a swimsuit

I still need to water the plants, clean out the fridge, wash all the sheets so we have clean beds to come home to, and finish my packing. What am I forgetting? Oh I know. Going to bed.

Stranger says he's not going to miss us and to make sure we don't come home until I'm positive the Lovely is completely potty trained.

Disposable Bibs

This is going to be a short and sweet Works for me Wednesday. Did you know that a plastic grocery bag works great as a disposable bib on the go? Just stick a couple in your diaper bag to have on hand, tie the handles around your baby's neck and you are all set!

I keep a stash tied up into bundles in a drawer by the door so they are ready to throw into my purse, my car and my diaper bag. They are one of the many things I keep in my Purse Organizer. They're great for dirty diapers, muddy shoes or collecting leaves, rocks and sticks on family adventures. I couldn't live without them and their million uses!

Picnic Organizer

I got to use my Lazy Picnic Organizer today when we went on a field trip to the Tracy Aviary. When we got home I re-packed it and put it away for next time. The grocery bags are for garbage. If you tie one around your baby's neck by the handles it makes a disposable bib!

Paper plates
Paper trays
Napkins
Spoons
Forks
Knives
Baby Wipes
Plastic Grocery Bags

What else could you put in a picnic organizer?

You can buy my Lazy Organizing Bags here.

The Lazy Organizer's Club

Thanks for attending our second meeting of The Lazy Organizer's Club! It’s fun to talk with women who are as interested in getting organized as I am. Do you like my sign to advertise for the club at Church? Yes, that is a giant paper clip! My dear friend Amy was so sweet to make it for me. (I don't scrapbook.) Even though “I’ve never helped her do a single thing in my entire life!” Apparently I’m lazy and SELFISH! Oh well, she loves me anyway.

Your homework for last time was to clean off the front of your fridge and gather up those piles that are accumulating on your kitchen counters. All of that clutter is going to get thrown away or organized into your new Lazy Paper Manager. For those of you waiting for the Apple Cobbler recipe, you can find it here. Victor says the picture looks disgusting but it tastes good!

Your homework for this month is to make your very own Lazy Organizing Kit. You have many options to choose from or make them all! Bring your Kit to show everyone at our September meeting. For any internet readers who want to play along, take a photo of yours and post a link here.


Here is my Traveling Organizer that includes the following list which is all included in this bag. I found my bag at Dillards 6 years ago for about $25. It’s large enough to hold everything I need but it didn’t have a shoulder strap. As soon as I was sufficiently annoyed by this, I came home and stole one off of a messenger bag and sewed it to my Traveling Organizer. I keep it by the back door. I can grab it as I’m walking out the door if I need to shower at the gym and it’s a big time saver to have all the essentials packed and ready to go when we travel. It also supplies me with back ups when I need them. One day my blow dryer broke so I grabbed the dryer out of my travel bag. The only thing I use that’s not in my bag is my hair straightener. I think $100 is a little too much to spend on a second straightener! If you use up anything from your bag make sure you add it to your shopping list or re-fill it as soon as you get home and start unpacking.

The Organized Traveler (Sorry about the commentary, I couldn’t help myself!)
1. Comb/Brush – for your unruliness
2. Hair clip/Elastic for your controlling-ness
3. Blow dryer/Extension cord for your dampness
4. Shampoo/Conditioner for your nappy-ness
5. Gel/Hair Spray for your stiffness
6. Bobby Pins for your secure-ness
7. Blush/Eye shadow for your beauty-ness
8. Lip Stick for your kissy-ness
9. Mascara for your flirty-ness
10. Foundation for your blemish-ness
11. Facial Cleanser/Lotion for your wrinkle-ness
12. Body Lotion for your scaly-ness
13. Deodorant/Body Spray for your stinky-ness
14. Tooth paste/Tooth brush/Dental floss for your anti-toothless-ness
15. Soap/Wet wipes for your grubbiness
16. Nail clippers/Nail file for your pointed-ness
17. Tweezers/Razor for your furry-ness
18. Earrings for your Highness
19. $20 cash/change for your stranded-ness
20. Sewing Kit/Safety pins for your button-less-ness
21. Facial Tissue for your snotty-ness
22. Feminine products/Spare skivvies let’s not talk about this one
23. Medical tape/Ace bandage for your wounded-ness
24. Cotton Balls/swabs for your waxy-ness
25. Band aids for your clumsiness
26. Baggies for your cleanliness
27. Cough drops for your sickness
28. Advil/Tylenol for your achy-ness
29. Claritin D for your sneezy-ness
30. Other medications dependant-ness
31. Power Bar for your hungriness
32. Scrubber w/liquid laundry soap for your sloppiness
33. 2 plastic shopping bags for your filthiness
34. Pocket knife for your trimness
35. Pen for your poetic-ness
36. Umbrella for your sprinkle-ness
37. Lighter for your I’m-cold-and-lost-in-the-wilderness

Here are some more kit ideas. Of course my Organizing Bags work wonderfully for these kits but you can also use a Zip-lock baggie or any other type of bag that will do the job. Add any of the above items along with these additional suggestions. I’m sure you’ll have many more ideas so please share!

The Organized Baby – Make a Lazy Organizer Bag to keep in the diaper bag or in the car for your baby. It might include baby Tylenol, wet wipes, baby powder, diaper rash ointment, a pacifier, a thermometer, etc.

The Organized Student – Make another one for the students in your life. Add band aids, safety pins, a comb, a hair elastic, tissues, cough drops, wet wipes, emergency phone numbers, spare change etc.

The Organized Swimmer – include shampoo, conditioner, comb, sunscreen, lotion, etc.

The Organized Purse – use this list.

The Organized Gym Bag – pretty much the same but you definitely need the body spray in this one!

The Organized Car- napkins, plastic utensils, carsick medicine, water bottle, sunscreen, pocket knife, etc.

The Organized Picnic - here

Have fun and Get Organized!