THE Essential All-Weather Minimalist Packing List: How to Pack Carry-On Only
Welcome to my essential packing list for a carry-on bag.
I put this blog post together with help from my sister, Lucia Parker.
Honed over seven years of international travel in dozens of countries and climates, this list distills everything I’ve learned about what to pack to be minimalist, comfortable, and fashionable, in any location - especially for a trip that includes weather extremes. I’ve taken the advice of my fashion icon sister to make sure each piece listed is not only adventure-friendly, but has a timeless elegance. In other words, this list is road-tested for practicality AND is stylish-sister approved.
Whether you’re planning a trip or just dreaming of travel, I hope this list is useful. No matter how cold it is where you land, you’ll be able to feel comfy and look presentable, and even glam, as my sister proves in this photo of her on a trip (Asia winter high desert climate - mild days and cold nights) wearing only items from this minimalist packing list:
Ready for anything and such a VIBE. ✨
Packing light is a challenge, especially for the inexperienced traveler, or the traveler who simply doesn’t have time to plan and think through packing in great detail. Did you know that a really good pack usually requires re-packing several time before your trip? Otherwise, we all tend to over pack. It’s human nature.
With this list, you won’t have to go through the effort to pack and re-pack.
This list will fast-track you to a thoughtfully-packed lightweight carry-on bag that contains enough of the right layers to keep you warm and cozy in cold, wet climates as well as cool and comfy when your location gets a bit of sunshine.
Other minimalist packs may contain less, but in my experience, truly tiny packs only work for hot climates. If you’re traveling to someplace with a variable climate (which is a lot of places, a lot of the year) you’ll need to pack a little more. But you can still fit it all in a carry-on suitcase that fits in the plane’s overhead bin.
In addition to clothes, I’ll also list the other necessities I find essential for any trip. I pretty much pack this way for all my trips, and if I don’t, I usually regret it.
This list will also provide for any length trip, from one week to one year, provided you are willing to do some sink laundry or find a laundromat or laundry service on your trip.
My goal is for this one blog post to serve as the last packing post you’ll ever need to consult to pack a minimalist carry-on bag. With this packing list, you can stop worrying about how heavy your bag is and focus on enjoying your travels!
Of course, you’ll want to make small changes to this list to make it work for your unique needs. But this is a great place to start to give you some structure. When thinking “do I need this?” you can reference this list. If it’s not on the list, you probably don’t need it.
Who it’s for: the list is designed for women planning any kind of travel except camping (which understandably requires different gear.) It’s not for family travel. (I have kids, and have to pack differently when we travel with the kids, and that kind of packing is more unique to each family situation.)
For some list items, I provide links to examples of the item or suggested items for your convenience. Some of these links may be affiliate links allowing me to earn a small fee through the link at no cost to you. This post is not sponsored. As always, all opinions are my own and are not for sale.
The List
Here it is: the last minimalist packing list you’ll ever need.
The Bags
1 Main carry-on bag. All other bags listed will be able to fit inside, should you need to deem this as your “personal item” for some particularly strict airlines. My sister recommends a leather or vegan leather backpack with a patterned lining (for fun and good visibility). While the exact bag my sister recommends is no longer available, you may want to check out this canvas option. Another option (and the one I prefer) is rolling carry-on luggage. I find rolling luggage generally better for my back and shoulder health, but it can be annoying to traverse a lot of cobblestone with a rolling bag. Either way you go, make sure your bag’s measurements fit your airline’s carry-on bag size specifications.
1 Slim cross body bag. A small bag to carry essentials like phone, wallet, and passport. Something that can leave your hands free.
1 Small press-closure clear quart size bag for liquids and toiletries that may leak. A Ziploc bag will do, with various airlines and aviation rules giving their own guidelines (check before you travel). I’ve been testing these Full Circle reusable plastic bags for about a year for snacks, and they have done well as a more sustainable option than disposable plastic bags. I used them to pack liquids and toiletries on an international trip and they did well.
2 Packing cubes. Too much bag organization is a waste of time, but a little is just right. I like to put my pajamas and other bedtime essentials, usually the first things I reach for when arriving, tired, at a new location, in one packing cube. You can choose what you put in the second packing cube, but I don’t recommend using more than two for the sake of saving time spent packing and unpacking.
Necessities
These are the absolute essentials for travel: ID and money. You won’t get far without them. In fact, arguably a passport and money are the only things you really need to travel internationally, as anything else you forget can be purchased easily. My necessities list includes a few more things as well.
1 passport,
1 alternate ID,
1 debit card/atm card
2 Credit Cards
100 USD, euro or local currency in cash
1 smart phone and charger
1 international plug adapter
1 small journal or sketch book and pen or pencil
1 mask if traveling with a cough or respiratory infection
Tops and Dresses
Let’s move on to clothing. We’ve recommended colors below, but of course you can choose your own colors, as long as everything goes together.
Bottoms
1 pair of blue jeans
1 pair of black jeans
1 pair of athletic /technical black leggings or yoga pants (I’ve been wearing these, hemmed for my shorter legs, for years. The Polygiene odor® control really works, so you can get away with laundering them less frequently than other leggings.)
1 pair of soft / lounge black leggings or sweatpants (You could go for a fleece-lined legging, or anything soft that doesn’t have a polyester or technical feel. You want a pair so comfortable you could lounge and sleep in them if need be. Here’s a highly rated pair.)
Shoes
1 pair of waterproof (or at least water resistant) hiking or running shoes
1 pair of walking boots (paddock or combat style)
1 pair waterproof slides (I have purchased these sandal slides several times and am wearing them right now).
Outerwear & Accessories
1 black thin synthetic down jacket
1 black snow coat or parka (if going to a cold or snowy climate)
1 scarf
You could go with something like the charcoal infinity scarf my sister is wearing in the photo or substitute the more versatile peshtemal, or Turkish towel. Have you ever used a Turkish towel? It’s a pile less (no terry cloth loops) quick-drying, absorbent towel that gets softer with each wash. I’ve been using them for years since my sister introduced me to them. I love how soft they feel and how they treat my hair - fewer breakages than when drying with terry cloth. On trips I’ve discovered that they double or triple as scarves, sarongs, beach towels, and light blankets. I love to tie one on as a beach or pool cover up, or roll them up to make a scarf.
1 knit hat (bright color)
1 pair sunglasses
1 silver bangle, or other preferred jewelry
3 silver rings, or other preferred jewelry
Intimates & swimwear
1 set of flannel pj's
3 pairs of wool socks (recommended)
3 pairs of cotton socks
8 pairs of undies (recommended)
3 bras (1 black, 1 nude, 1 sport)
1 swimsuit
Toiletries (health & grooming)
Toilet article kits are highly individual, but here are some suggestions.
tooth brush
toothpaste (to try: solid toothpaste tablets)
dental floss
refillable water bottle
solid shampoo - doubles as bar soap
solid conditioner - some find conditioner doubles as a shaving cream
moisturizer (any liquids must comply with airport security regulations)
SPF 30 stick or cream (any liquids must comply with airport security regulations)
any medications, vitamins, or supplements you need
menstrual cup - I’m a fan of the saalt soft
menstrual pads (see my blog post on sustainable period products, or go with disposables)
nail clippers
disposable razor (if you want to shave)
a bit of makeup if you like (any liquids must comply with airport security regulations)
small hair brush or comb and hair elastics (my favorite type).
Your Turn!
Use this list to pack for your next trip. Now, go get packing, and have a great trip!
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Newborn on a Budget: Everything you Need for your New Baby for under $50
You don't need to spend an arm and a leg on your new sweet bundle of joy.
Yes, your new baby needs food, clothes, a safe place to sleep, and a few other essentials. But trust me, you don't need to spend thousands of dollars to take good care of your newborn.
You can be prepared for your new baby for under $500 with the list below. Whether you're on a tight budget, choosing a simple lifestyle, or just curious about baby-related financial matters, today's post will show you exactly how you can keep things frugal and low-clutter when expecting a baby, with specific suggestions on what to buy to save money in the first six months of your newborn’s life.
This is a companion blog post to my "Minimalist Baby Registry Checklist" which lists my road-tested pre-baby purchase list, as well as a bunch of things you do NOT need to buy to capably nurture your new baby.
Today’s post here will use that list as a jumping off point and specifically address how to keep to an under $500 budget as you prepare your home for baby.
Maybe you won't have a registry or baby shower, or you don't want to ask your friends and family to buy new items for your baby. Or maybe you just want to keep your registry very affordable. Whatever your situation, this list is for you if you want to outfit your home for baby for under $500. While both of my lists are minimalist, this is the EXTREMELY minimalist of the two.
While I have road-tested many of the items in my Minimalist Baby Registry Checklist post, in this post I will be making some suggestions for things I haven't necessarily tested, but which fit the budget, and which I would be willing to purchase based on good reviews, if I were going to prepare for a new baby all over again for under $500. Some links below are affiliate links, and I earn a small fee if you purchase through them (at no cost to you). All opinions are my own and are not for sale.
I've also left some things off this list that are on the other list (things that seemed essential to me, but perhaps not to other people). Consider this the ultra minimalist version of the minimalist registry post.
Finally, I'm assuming you'll be breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months, so we won't need to leave room in this budget for formula. This is a judgment-free zone when it comes to how you feed your baby. I don’t have experience with formula feeding a newborn and it’s not ideal for a budget this tight, so I won’t be addressing it in this post.
Let's begin with the absolute essentials:
1. Infant Car Seat
Don’t leave the hospital without one. Here's one with 4.8 stars on Amazon for $89.99.
Someone on Facebook asked, wouldn’t it be better to buy a travel system that comes with a stroller? Or a seat that transitions to fit the baby when they are older?
I do recommend a travel system as a great option for quality over quantity on my other post about minimalist baby gear. However, it’s not the budget option. For those on a tight budget, it’s still cheaper to buy a car seat and stroller (or carrier for baby wearing, as I recommend below) separately, and to upgrade to an affordable front-facing carseat when the time comes and you’ve had a chance to price compare. And from a safety point of view, you want to keep your baby in a rear facing seat (like the one above) for as long as possible.
Here’s why you want to avoid spending too much money right up front before your baby comes. First of all, you won’t know your unique baby’s exact needs until they arrive and you get to know them. Secondly, you’ll be joining a new community (if you’re a first-time parent). One of the best things you can do, both for your budget and for your sanity, is to join a group for new parents as soon as possible, even if it meets only weekly or monthly. You’ll meet and befriend other parents who are going through the same life-changing transition to parenthood that you are. And you’ll be able to swap and trade things you might need for your baby, saving you lots of money. For example, one parent in the group might have purchased an extra car seat they do not need, or might have a family member with older kids who is passing down an abundance of baby stuff they are happy to share. I have found that once you form a social circle with other parents, they’ll give you money-saving secrets, second-hand buying options, and sometimes, free stuff.
2. Diapers & Wipes
Grab these (I've personally tested) great reusable diapers. You’ll want to get two sets, as each set includes six diapers, and twelve is about the minimum you’ll need if you only want to launder diapers every 24-48 hours instead of more frequently. Try these wipes so you don't have to buy disposables.
It will be worth your time to ask Google and YouTube your questions about cloth diapering. There are many helpful hygiene and sanitation tips to learn that make cloth diapering easier than one might think. (Hint #1: This technique, which was taught to me in my doctor’s office by our pediatrician in Ukraine, where many people don’t use or can’t afford disposable wipes, is easier, cleaner, and more sustainable than wipes. Update: last I checked, the video had gone private. Use a bidet or warm water from the bathroom sink faucet to rinse your baby’s bottom, soap up, rinse, and pat dry with a towel or cloth wipe.) (Hint #2: If you’re exclusively breastfeeding, diapers soiled with your baby’s bowel movements can go straight into the washing machine. Otherwise the poopy diapers will need to be pre-treated, a process that may include scraping poo off by hand and a chemical soak.)
I found it almost impossible for any cloth diaper to keep my baby dry during a 6-8 hour stretch of sleep, and a wet cloth diaper would wake my baby. So to get some sleep, I used disposable diapers (which have a larger capacity) at night. Since these aren’t in the budget, I recommend asking supportive organizations in your community to donate diapers. Do this well before your due date so you don’t have to worry about it once you’re adjusting to life with a newborn.
You may also want to check out programs, nonprofits, and religious institutions for free diapers and other baby supplies. It probably goes without saying, but if your budget is tight, stockpile as much free baby stuff as you can during your third trimester.
If you’re in the USA, try the National Diaper Bank Network (dial 211).
Total: $108.97.
3. Sleeping Situation
I love the ease of a play yard for sleeping. My children never used cribs because we found they could comfortably and safely sleep in a play yard. You could buy an after-market mattress for added comfort (see safety notes below) for a total of $131.59.
Always do your own research on safe sleep practices and check with the AAP to learn about safe sleep for infants. If you add a mattress as I recommend, make sure it fits the bottom of the play yard very snugly on all sides to avoid suffocation risk. The mattress is nice for added comfort for your baby and improves feasibility as a long-term sleeping situation, but always check with your baby’s pediatrician before adding any after-market products to a play yard that will be used as a sleeping area.
4. Feeding
For breastfeeding, you'll want a pump and bottle so that you can be away from baby during work or other activities. In the US, many states require your insurance company to provided you with a breast pump free of charge. I recommend selecting one from those free options that is listed as "hospital grade." If a free pump is not available to you, try searching for a second-hand pump for a deal. Or try this manual breast pump for $12.94 as well as this bottle and these breast milk freezer bags for a total of $29.92.
5. Clothes & Coverings
The final item on the essentials list is a few things to keep baby clothed and cozy. How about this adorable 23-piece set for $50.63? Looks good to me. Alternatively, you could take your $50 to a thrift store or a few garage sales and try to get more than 23 pieces for your new baby.
So far, our total for the essentials listed above is $411.10.
We have some room to spare in the budget to add a few more things to make your life easier:
6. Baby Carrier
For the first few months, and longer if you want, you can skip the stroller as I did and opt for a baby carrier for more skin-to-skin time. Carrying (also called "wearing") your baby has many benefits, including increasing your core strength and breast milk supply. It's also a great way to keep your baby close while freeing up your hands for the many activities hands do. Let's go with my favorite carrier, a LILLEbaby, for $77.69.
7. Organic Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is an amazing all-around moisturizer, nipple cream, and even (for some babies - ask your pediatrician) diaper rash cream. Get it for $6.69.
8. Pacifiers
While professional opinions differ on how long to use a dummy, binky, or pacifier (and whether to use them at all), what remains constant is that tired parents want a way to sooth and calm their baby at 2 am. Enter the soothie. Grab a 2-pack for $3.69.
This will bring our total to $499.17, which is neatly under our budget of $500.
Where's Everything Else?
The list you’re reading is extremely minimal, even compared to my other already-minimal list. There are so many things advertised for babies that we don't need. Therefore, they aren’t on this list, which is my most minimal.
Note that you'll need to use some things for your baby that are not listed here, things such as bath soap, laundry detergent, and a thermometer, that most adults, even non-parents, already keep supplied in their homes. You can usually use the adult version of these items for your baby’s needs as well. Some soaps for adults can be drying, so make sure you that after you wash your baby you moisturize their skin well with coconut oil or another baby-friendly lotion. You’ll also want to co-opt an old towel on which to change your baby’s diapers; you can use it on a bed, couch, or on the floor, but never leave your baby unattended there, even for a moment.
You can take wonderful care of your baby and keep them very happy and healthy with just a few well-thought-out essentials. I hope this list helps you do so in a budget-friendly way.
And, may you richly enjoy the many simple, delightful moments that parenthood offers.
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1-Month No-Spend Challenge (Free Downloadable Workbook)
Does a no-spend challenge sound like a fun way to get yourself on track toward your minimalism or saving goals? If so, this might be for you. Check out this free download (no email address required).
Heidi Thiel helped create this free resource on achieving a 31-day “no spend” challenge on behalf of Credit.com. She writes, “These days many of us are out of touch with where our money is actually going, and a no-spend challenge can help put things back in perspective and empower you to save for what's really important.”
If you’re interested in starting small, there’s a format to try a 7-day no-spend challenge within the PDF.
Download your free PDF workbook here.
Workbook credit link here.
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Minimalist Pregnancy Essentials
Pregnancy can be a joy, but it can also be uncomfortable. In fact, it can be worse than uncomfortable. The tough part is that it's different for each woman, so it can be hard to know exactly what will work for you to make your pregnancy a bit easier.
Today I'm sharing a minimalist list of nine items that have helped me or made me more comfortable during this pregnancy.
I wish I could guarantee that this list will solve all your pregnancy-related problems, but I can only say that these are some of the things that have helped me have a happier and more comfortable pregnancy than otherwise. Please don't take anything on this list as medical advice. As always, do your own research and consult your doctor when it comes to treating health issues during pregnancy or any time.
Minimalist Pregnancy Essentials
This post contains some links that may be affiliate links. As always, all opinions are 100% my own and not for sale.
1. Delicious Prenatal Vitamins
I'm a fan of adding a bit of deliciousness to anything you have to make a daily habit of. When it comes to taking a prenatal, you really don't want to forget, especially in that first trimester when it's important to get folic acid. My prenatal vitamins taste like candy. This makes it really fun to remember to take them every day.
These are the vitamins I've been taking during this pregnancy.
2. Additional Vitamin D Supplementation
I read that Vitamin D may boost your immune system. During pregnancy, catching a cold is especially onerous because you can't take many of the medicines you may have reached for to help you feel better when not pregnant. Every time I felt like I may have been exposed to a virus, or just felt tired and that I might be coming down with something, I took additional Vitamin D. Please do your own research to make sure you are taking a safe amount. The prenatal vitamins I recommended already have some vitamin D in them so take that into account. This pregnancy I also was in a cold northern climate over winter for the first time, so I think the Vitamin D was probably helpful for my whole system since I wasn't getting a lot of sunshine.
3. EXERCISE, Especially Yoga
There's a slight tendency for women to feel discouraged from exercising during pregnancy. However, as long as I listen to my body and not overdo it, it really seems to help my mental state and just to make everything a little easier. I've been taking a weekly yoga class on and off for years, but I find that during pregnancy, yoga is especially enjoyable for me. It seems to align and stretch everything at a time when physical changes are happening fast. Each class feels different for my changing pregnant body, and that makes it more interesting.
If you want to do yoga at home, simply searching “prenatal yoga” on YouTube always leads me to amazing (free) videos.
Beyond yoga, what works for me is cardio and light strength training about 3-4 times a week and a yoga class once a week. In general, my cardio is walking or using the elliptical machine (it's lower impact than a treadmill) at the gym. My strength training is squats, push ups, and weight machines at the gym. I will also do about 3-5 minutes of light yoga before bed. Every chance I get, I also hang from my hands (as in on the monkey bars). I'm not able to do a pull-up right now, but simply hanging stretches my arms, shoulders, and back out in a way that feels good.
4. Social Support
I think some people go through pregnancy feeling relatively private about the matter. It's not something they need or want to talk/complain about much. They draw inward, and that can feel really healthy and safe for them. However, for me, I love when people ask how I'm feeling, how pregnancy is going, and offer to help when I need it. I have long conversations with family and friends about how my pregnancy is going and what I can do to deal with certain pregnancy symptoms. This social support has been essential to me this pregnancy. I'm so grateful to my family and friends who have listened to me complain or vent for hours.
5. Coconut Oil
Most nights before bed I rub some coconut oil on my belly and anywhere on my skin that feels dry or like it's being stretched with pregnancy weight gain. It's a soothing evening ritual. Some claim that coconut oil can help prevent stretch marks, but I've heard that whether or not you get stretch marks is mostly a matter of genes. Still, it's nice to feel like I'm doing something to help my skin stay comfortable and moisturized.
I tend to buy coconut locally, but if you want to get it online here’s one to try.
6. The Softest Tees
I'm a big fan of Encircled. It’s not a maternity brand, but I find their shirts long and stretchy enough that they are still fitting me now in my third trimester. Encircled clothing is ethically and sustainable made. It's nice (and money-saving) to have something to wear that fit me before pregnancy and will fit me after pregnancy.
As far as other maternity clothes, I found that I needed to size up frequently with bras, buy larger leggings, and get a few pairs of maternity jeans. Other than that, I was the grateful recipient of lots of hand-me-downs from women in my community who had maternity clothes sitting around that they were done with. Once I'm done with them, I'll pass them along too.
7. Birth Practice
While I'm really happy that epidurals and other forms of pain management exist as an option, I wanted to fully experience natural birth with as few medical interventions as possible. I ended up training with Hypnobabies which was a wonderful experience, but it wasn’t exactly what I was hoping it would be. However, my birth was truly wonderful and very peaceful and positive. My sister was present at my first birth, and ended up using similar preparation technique for her births. Together we developed a new program called Birth Practice - basically what we wish existed when we were preparing for our births.
It's a very personal choice, but if you're curious about learning to relax deeply to allow birth to be a more empowering and positive experience, try Birth Practice. It's mostly about un-doing a lifetime of incorrect cultural programming that says birth has to be tense, as well as learning communication and deep relaxation techniques.
8. ASMR Videos
You either get it, or you don't, when it comes to ASMR. You've probably heard of ASMR, which stands for autonomous sensory meridian response. It's a relaxing, often tingly feeling some people get in certain situations, like when getting your hair cut or listening to rain patter gently against a window. For many, a video including both visual and auditory triggers enhances the relaxing feelings. For example, in real life when someone is chewing gum I don't feel much. However, if I'm watching a video of someone chew gum, I find the sound and visuals very relaxing to the point I may fall asleep. Weird, I know.
There are a huge number of different ASMR triggers people enjoy. Thousands, maybe millions, of people use ASMR videos to help them relax, recover from anxiety and trauma, and go to sleep. I've dealt with quite a bit of insomnia during this pregnancy and ASMR videos have helped me finally get to sleep. Simply search “ASMR” on YouTube to explore the world of relaxing videos. Here’s one I’ve enjoyed that is specific to pregnancy, if you’re into that.
9. Glow Nurture App
I've enjoyed the Glow Nurture App (search for it in your smart phone's app store) for the updates and forums. Every week it gives me a fruit or vegetable that is comparable to my baby's current size (this week it's honeydew melon). There's also a little cartoon picture of what the baby looks like and lots of brief articles covering pregnancy related topics. There's an active forum too, which I find fun to dip into occasionally. While it does get feisty once in a while, in general the "mommy wars" are absent from the forum connected to the app. There's also a function called time lapse that lets you upload photos of your bump each week, then loads them into a video so you can see how you've grown.
That's it! Those are my 9 pregnancy essentials as a minimalist.
I hope something on this list helped you solve a pregnancy-related problem or enjoy this time in your life more.
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Creating a Digital Vision Board to Inspire Your Travel Dreams
Happy New Year! Today’s guest post is authored by Brittany Taylor over at SimpleLivingandTravel.com. It's about creating a place where your dreams are represented visually so you have a daily, hourly reminder of what's important to you. Many of you have written to ask how to overcome obstacles to traveling the world. Well, if you have your travel dreams in front of you all the time, your mind will start coming up with solutions even while you are working on other things. (Originally published in 2015.)
So many of us want to travel.
We dream of it while we are at work, going weak in the knees as we scroll through images of dream vacations in tropical paradise, clutching our warm mug in the dead of a northern winter. We fight reality while denying ourselves the dreams that linger deep within our hearts. Or at least that is what I used to do. Then, I decided to start living my dreams.
One amazing thing I discovered while on my journey to dream-realization was about creating vision boards. When I started indulging in vision board creation, I not only learned about the power of images, but I also started to view imagination in a whole new light. I realized that in my focusing on what I wanted, I had the choice to either allow myself to sink into a feeling of lack, concentrating on what I did not yet have, or I could embody the emotions I would feel if I had what I wanted and really indulge in my fantasy. I chose the latter and I decided to consciously start indulging in my dreams on a daily basis.
Images can be truly powerful. We have all experienced how a picture can be worth a thousand words, or how an image can be scarred into our memory. We can harness that power and use it to our benefit.The idea behind creating a vision board is to put together a collection of images that inspires us. We can then keep that
vision board somewhere close by so that you will see it regularly, thus activating those awesome emotions those images bring to us.
How to Do It
There are so many ways to go about creating a vision board. There is the old school way of gathering magazines and sitting around sifting and clipping. And there is the new age way of going digital and harnessing the power of the net. I prefer going digital because it doesn’t take up the physical space in my life and because I can usually find the exact image I know will bring me ultimate inspiration (and in much less time at that).
As far as the subject matter of a vision board goes, this too can vary greatly. It may feel good to just do a general board, hitting on various areas of our lives, or we may want to hone in on a topic, like our physical health, our living space, or our professional life.
For the sake of this piece, let’s hone in on creating a digital vision board that specifically pertains to travel. We want to travel. Nearly all of us want it so badly that if someone asks us where we want to go we already have a place in mind. Some of us have lists. Some of us have lifetimes of it planned. How about we make that a reality?
When to Create
There’s no wrong way to create a vision board, but the timing is important. It’s important to be in the right frame of mind when going into vision board mode. Perhaps you will find yourself inspired and ready to go. Or you may need to do some work to get there. Take a few minutes to clear your mind, to breathe and just be. Do some light stretching or movements to get connected to your body. Do whatever you need to feel comfortable in all parts of you.
Now that you have set your internal environment for the creative time ahead, allow your mind to fantasize about your travel dreams. What do those dreams feel like in your body? Do you feel good imagining them? Make sure you are feeling excited and abundant about them before moving forward. Then, try asking yourself some questions and see what comes up.
What places excite you when you think about visiting them? What sights do you want to see and experience? What cultures do you want to learn about? What foods do you want to try? What music do you want to hear? What smells do you want to breathe in? What activities do you want to try? How do you see yourself moving from place to place? Where do you envision resting your bones after a day of exploration?
Ultimately we are looking to gain a sense of the feelings you want to experience and the images that come to mind when you feel those emotions.
As far as project duration goes, don’t worry about having enough time to complete your vision board all at once. Some boards get created in an afternoon and some take shape over a longer period of time. Yours will come together in a unique way for you. Just set out when it feels right and leave the rest to unfold naturally.
Finding Images
Now that you have fully set the stage, it’s time to find those images.
Start by creating a “Vision Board” folder on your computer (or a safe space to store images on your phone or tablet). This is where you will save your images as you come across them.
Now seek out those inspiring pictures. Perhaps you already have some in mind, maybe from a friend’s recent trip or from something that caught your eye on social media. If that’s the case, grab those ones out first and save them (no worries about copyright infringement because this is for your own personal viewing).
Most images you are going to have to search for. This is the fun part, which I really favor using Google Images for (although I encourage you to use any image finder you enjoy). Using the first image you have in mind, search a word or phrase that you think will generate the results you are looking for. This sounds fairly straightforward, but sometimes it can be tricky.
Remember there are a lot of images out there. For example, you may get really excited by the thought of backpacking through Europe. However, upon a Google image search of “backpack Europe” you may find that the results are not what you had in mind.
I suggest honing in on what you are really envisioning. Is it a Villa in Italy? Or perhaps a small café in France? Is it the coast of the Mediterranean? Or night life in Madrid? Whatever it is, get more specific. Perhaps your phrase is something as precise as “moonlight on water in Greece” or “mangoes market Spain”. The clearer you can be, the more success you will have in finding the results you are looking for.
You may also decide you want certain inspiring words on your board. If this is the case you can either search for them or create them in a program such as Microsoft Word’s WordArt, then save them as an image file.
Putting it All Together
Once you feel like you have enough images, it is time to start putting them all together. There is no right or wrong way to do it.
There are a number of programs you can use to put together your digital vision board. Basically, choose anything that is easy to paste images into while still being able to crop and resize them. Some common programs that would work are Photoshop, Canva, Picmonkey, Publisher, Gimp, Word, Pages and (although I have never used any) I believe there is even software you can use that is specifically for vision board creation.
Once you have selected your preferred program, enjoy pulling in the images you found that feel good for you. Play around with where you want them positioned on the page, what images you want side by side, what size you want them, and so on.
You don’t have to use all of the ones you’ve gathered. You may find that you want to have a very open, spacious board
and so you just have a few pictures. Or perhaps you prefer the excited energy of having everything together. Whatever you decide, it is your creation.
Check in with yourself throughout the process of creating your vision board. Make sure you are feeling excited and playful. If it starts to feel like work at any point, just stop and continue the next time you feel inspired.
Once you have completed your board, sit back and marvel at your finished product. Then, post it somewhere you will look at it regularly. Perhaps it will become your desktop background, or the lock screen on your phone. Maybe you print it out and hang it on your fridge or in your office.
Take pleasure in the viewing of your vision board as frequently as you would like. Let the emotions fill you and remember that you can have everything you dream of.
As you grow and shift, so will your fantasies. If it is fun for you, keep creating vision boards along your journey, saving them, so you can look back over time and take note of all the beautiful ways your dreams have unfolded before you.
2017 Year in Review
It seems that these Year in Review posts get later every year. It's mid-May in 2018, which means I'm doing 2017 almost halfway into the next year. Oh well. I'll chalk it up to spending a good deal of (all of?) my free time chasing a rambunctious 3 -year old who never seems to be far from one hazard or another.
Although they may be later or more brief than they were when I started this blog (previously called Packing Lust - and today called simply "Genevieve's Blog") I do think having one post to summarize each year is something I want to continue, even if it takes me a while to get around to it. I've posted reviews of 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. These posts are mostly for me to get an eagle's view of my years, but they are also for anyone interested in what my family and I have been up to since 2012.
If you'd rather skip reading about what I did in 2017, and would rather read about what I read in 2017, click here, where I share the best 10 out of all the books I read in 2017. I guess you don't have to skip this post. You could read both. It doesn't have to be an either/or situation.
Travel Mini Blogs
Instagram. It was my favorite social media platform in 2017, and for perhaps a year or so before that. To see if I'm still using it, check out my current Instagram feed. I'm not sure how long Instagram will be around for, but so far in 2018 I'm still enjoying the highly visual nature of the channel. And because it's quick to post from my phone using Instagram, it's a way for me to blog from anywhere when I simply don't have my laptop or the time to spend writing out a long post with lots of photos.
And now it's time for a quick overview of 2017 by month.
January
2017 feels like the year we slowly traveled across the U.S.A., although we did a lot more than just that.
In January I march in the (now famous, it seems) Women's March in Los Angeles with my friend Andrea. I'm proud I showed up for the event to improve visibility about things that are important to women.
February
We started some serious slow-travel around the USA. Realizing after our lease was up and we were both remote-working that we had the flexibility to stay in AirBnB homes in small towns across America (which was also more affordable than big city rent) we decided to go for it. As a result we got to see we got to see our own country in a beautiful new way. The first stop was in the Sonoma, California area.
March
We stayed in each location for about a month, so March saw us travel up to the Portland, Oregon area where we got to see some dear friends.
April
We were still in the Pacific Northwest for this rainy month, so we left our kid with our dear friends and left the country for the first time in while. We visited Vancouver, Canada.
I also had a lot of fun testing out the newest bike from my family's company, Cruzbike.
May
In May we headed to Burley, Idaho. Prince Charming found this small town and wanted to see it. We really liked our time there. The people were the friendliest I've ever met. I'd never been to a small, non-tourist town that had healthy self esteem, but Burley had it. Instead of saying "why would you want to live here?" like many people in small industrial towns do, the people said, "Why don't you move here?"
We considered it, but I wouldn't be thrilled long-term with such a distance between me and the sea.
June
In June we got a rare chance to see some family in the Kansas City area.
Then it was time to take some new visa photos...
Because Charming accepted a new mission to help refugees in the Middle East. We sped up our planned trip across the country to get to my parents place in North Carolina and make arrangements to move to East Jerusalem.
July 2017
Before we left the country, we joined my family for a beautiful beach trip. I got to add a month to one of my passion projects -- the breastfeeding awareness calendar.
About the Calendar
Our culture uses glamour to sell just about everything to women, including unhealthy things, like chemical-laden "beauty" products. The goal of my calendar is to use a touch of glam to sell something really healthy and truly beautiful: breastfeeding. The calendar is entirely volunteer staffed. If you'd like to be part of this evergreen project which will raise money for a nonprofit that supports breastfeeding, email me at Genevievewrites@gmail.com. When I was breastfeeding my son, I found that I was uncomfortable taking part in normal life outside the house. I think this is partly due to a stigma that we still haven't erased in the USA and in many cultures. The calendar is my part of erasing a stigma that says breastfeeding is unusual, disgusting, private, or sexual. I know that most days, mothers don't feel glamorous when they breastfeed. Nor is there any need to feel or look any certain way when breastfeeding. However, many of us love to be pampered, have our hair done, wear a gorgeous designer gown, and look -- well -- like a woman straight out a magazine. Why can't that woman be breastfeeding? Of course she can. My 2017 addition to the calendar was this beautiful mom/baby model team, who jumped passed the "magazine model standard" and leapt straight into Greek goddess sculpture territory.
August
Prince Charming began his mission in East Jerusalem while the kid and I stayed behind in North Carolina, planning to join him after attending my sister's upcoming wedding. We took a family road trip with my parents and some siblings to see the total eclipse of the sun. It's apparently very rare to be so close to the path of "totality" as we were.
September
These two beautiful people married each other.
Photo by Susan Ely
My sister's wedding in a charming town on the northeast coast was splendid and exactly what she and her groom wanted down to the lobster and glorious September weather. Now have lots of babies, you two! Just kidding. No pressure.
Also in September? I released my book, The Wealthy Creative.
My son and I also went to visit Grammy and Trog in Virginia.
And we moved to East Jerusalem.
October
Settling into our new home in Israel Palestine was easier than last time because of that previous 2+ years we'd spent. in the Middle East. This time we were living in East Jerusalem instead of Ramallah, but we made lots of trips to see our friends in Ramallah. Also, one of my Los Angeles friends had moved to Haifa, so seeing her felt like moving half way around the world was sort of like walking a few blocks to see her like I used to do in LA.
November
My baby turned three. He's not a baby anymore.
December
Santa came to the kid's wonderful school on the Mount of Olives.
The kid and I did a mandatory visa run to Cyprus. The luxurious beachfront hotel and beautiful sunsets were not mandatory. They were magnificent.
10 Books to Read in in 2018
Find a cozy couch corner and snuggle up with a vouched-for book. Last year I read four dozen books and took notes. If you like the same things I like, (mainly memoir and motivational or business nonfiction) this list could save you hours browsing Amazon and take you straight to the good stuff.
These are my top 10 favorite of the 48 books I finished in 2017. It was hard to narrow it down to 10, because I typically abandon books I don't like, (meaning I enjoyed all 48 books I finished) but I did finally whittle it down for you.
This list includes affiliate links so I make a small percentage (at no cost to you) if you click through and buy a book. I've linked to the format I read, so if I read it on Kindle, I linked to the eBook, if I read it in paperback, then I linked to that format, and if I listened to the audio book, I linked to that. Thanks for supporting my blog.
Happy reading!
Gabrielle Bernstein's latest (at the time) book had all the new-agey, straight from the heart, Real, spiritual-but-not-snobbish stories and advice I could want about making decisions from a place of love instead of fear.
9. Contagious
Most business books I read go in one ear and out the other. But thanks to his S.T.E.P.P.S. acronym, Jonah Berger's book is one that I remember and actually apply when I want to make something ( a blog post, a book) as shareable and viral as possible.
I will usually devour anything Anne Lamott writes, this book on the three core prayers being no exception. In my imagination, Annie is my writing godmother and she has an on-again-off-again relationship with with my writing godfather, Mark Twain. Clearly, era is no obstacle in my imagination.
7. Love Warrior
After finishing this book, I wanted to ask every woman I know to read it. Glennon Doyle was born with no insulation around her emotional wiring and she just lets the current fly. It hits you right in the heart and zings everywhere. Read it and then google what's happening with her now because the ending has a mild cliff hanger.
6. Big Magic
I challenge you to finish this book without having started writing (or whatever your creative calling is) before the end of it.
If you like raunchy feminist comedy from a self-described "trash receptacle" (The incredible Amy Schumer) then you'll laugh your way through this no-holds-barred, memoir-ish jokefest.
I've read just about every self-help book out there. This one takes all the traditional advice and turns it on its head. And somehow ends up being really inspiring, just like the traditional advice. The cliff-edge ending (not a cliffhanger) really stuck with me.
This is part memoir about losing a loved-one to brain cancer, part love letter to a lost husband, and also part of the "things I want my child to know as he grows up" genre. It's sweet and funny and sad and heartbreaking, and ultimately beautiful and uplifting. Also, Mandy Moore likes it. “Thank you for the perfect blend of nostalgia-drenched humor, wit, and heartbreak, Nora," says Mandy.
2. Essentialism
I've written and read a lot of stuff about minimalism, but this book manages to hone in on exactly what makes focusing on only the essentials so powerful. It applies to corporations, small businesses, managers, and individuals.
1. The Big Leap
I finally read this self-help modern classic that's been recommended to me over and over. I can see why it's so beloved. If you've heard the phrase "upper limit problems," but aren't really sure what it means (my situation before reading this) then this will give you the answer for how to break through the limits that are holding you back.
BONUS: The Wealthy Creative
Because what kind of indie author would I be if I didn't plug my own book? It's really, really good. Get it. I interviewed dozens of creatives all making a living from their work and organized their answers by the vital practices and habits we all need to succeed. Reviewer Steve Garvin calls it "upbeat, encouraging, valuable." He writes, "I rank The Wealthy Creative right up there with Steven Pressfield's The War of Art and Austin Kleon's Show Your Work."
Book Cover Reveal, Plus a Location Update
I'm thrilled to post my beautiful new book cover for my upcoming book THE WEALTHY CREATIVE: 24 SUCCESSFUL ARTISTS AND WRITERS SHARE THEIR WINNING HABITS.
But first, I'll share a family location update. This is what I posted to social media yesterday (in case you missed it):
"So, we moved to the Middle East. Again. Yes, this pic is a metaphor of how I feel with my baby living in the diplomatic blocks between the Israelis and Palestinians. But it's also what actually happened today. Because not far from the dormant conflict zone where we now live there's this great zoo, and it was a beautiful day, and we bought the annual family membership and got to see 🐅 .
So, we'll be taking breaks from this political seam to spend time with the animals and ecology experts at this little oasis of zoology.
My plans also include continued study of and writing about my own species. Next book: soft launch/hard launch September 30/October 3rd."
Book Cover Reveal
My book cover was designed by my sister-in-law Morgan Parker, who, on top of being a gifted graphic artist, also just launched a company: Powerhouse, a botanic distillery (powerhousebotanics.com). Her products will help you love your skin. Check them out if you are into plant-powered handcrafted skincare sorcery. But back to my cover reveal. Here is it is! Squeaking with excitement over here:
Isn't it beautiful! I love the cut-out letters. I can't wait to soft launch in just five days!
Join THE WEALTHY CREATIVE Launch Team
Speaking of launch, allow me to invite you to be part of it. You can join my launch team! Launch team members will get a free copy of THE WEALTHY CREATIVE in either Kindle format (which you can read on any device with the free Kindle app) OR the Audible audio book version when it comes out (later). In exchange I ask that you post a review of the book on either the Amazon or Audible website. Of course, you can also do anything else you'd like to help the book find an audience, like share the link with your friends and family and talk with all your coworkers about how they just have to read this book and post a selfie on Instagram where your e-reader is open to the cover page and you are smiling and drinking a pumpkin spice latte/merlot/vodka martini. Extra points if you are also in the bath, but please be careful with electronics around water.
Launch team members will also be thanked by name in the book. But! You have to join the launch team by THIS Thursday (September 28, 2017) to be part of the launch team and get your free book. All you have to do is sign up here with your name and email address, and fill out which format of the book you'd prefer to get for free.
An Alternative to S.M.A.R.T. Goals (which can suck sometimes)
Sixteen hours ago my sister, Lucia, posted these words to Facebook: "I am overcome with love and grief."
She was writing sweaty, dusty, tired, living out of a van for a week on the road following a team of cyclists who are racing across the U.S.A. Two days ago on her 30th birthday she woke up in a Wal-Mart parking lot. What a celebration.
She is crewing for a team of racers with the goal of raising $50,000 for brain cancer.
They are failing at this S.M.A.R.T. goal.
They are almost completely finished with the journey but they are only half way to their fundraising goal.
They could seem like losers -- dirty, tired, drifters hanging on to their sanity by a thread as they pursue a goal that they likely won't achieve.
This is the fifth time Lucia has volunteered for team 3000 Miles to a Cure's Race Across America. She's in a peak emotional state -- that is, fully alive, feeling all the love and grief and depth of human experience that we all long to feel. She's using her natural talents in service to a world-changing goal. She's connecting with people who, like her, have lost a loved-one to brain cancer and she's actively doing something important that is making a positive difference. She is winning at life. So is her team of cyclists. This is not just something that happened by fluke this week. This is how her life works.
I'm a big fan of the self-help genre and the business advice genre, both of which are really into a certain type of goal-setting. If you've ever looked up goal-setting advice, you'll have come across SMART goals (an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound).
The problem with SMART goals is that they are better for team projects in service to VALUES than they are to guide the overall trajectory of your life. When you use SMART goals to measure the value of your life or to decide whether or not to pursue an unexpected opportunity, they can can get you off-track. They can keep you playing small, saying "yes" to things that should be "no" and "no" to things that should be "yes." They can discourage you. They can become the be-all, end-all when they should be one tool in your arsenal. Achieving SMART goals won't make you happy in the long-term.
Living from well-examined and consciously chosen values brings lasting joy.
My sister Lucia is clearly not stuck in the S.M.A.R.T. goals framework. I've known her for her entire life.
She didn't dream of growing up to crew for a team of country-crossing bicyclists. She didn't set out to be a fundraiser for brain cancer researchers. If someone had asked her ten years ago to write out SMART goals for the decade they wouldn't have included either of those things. Her steps are guided not strictly by goals, but by her values.
My mom started 3000 Miles to a Cure almost five years ago with the goal of raising one million dollars for brain cancer research. She still hasn't reached that goal and doesn't know when she will. It's not a S.M.A.R.T. goal in that way. It motivates her, but it could also discourage her since she's been working on it for so long and making "slow" progress. The goal may change since it hasn't been achieved. After all, the larger mission is to cure brain cancer.
I made up an acronym that is more useful than S.M.A.R.T. goals for making life-altering decisions and confronting opportunities. It fits the way life works more than S.M.A.R.T. goals. After all, life isn't a blank slate you fill with goals. It's a riot of opportunities you must navigate. In this culture of FOMO, (Fear Of Missing Out) you want to make sure you aren't missing out on great opportunities. Openness to what the universe has to offer you is important. On the other hand, you don't want to become trapped in "shiny object syndrome" -- chasing whim after whim based in dubious values without ever achieving something truly meaningful.
Enter M.A.V.E.N.
It's a useful framework for examining your values and making decisions. If your life feels "off," lacking in meaning, or somehow out of alignment, you may want to consciously choose M.A.V.E.N. values and allow your choices to serve what you really stand for.
M.A.V.E.N. stands for:
MEANINGFUL - I start from the why and embrace my reasons behind why this matters to me. What's the deep meaning that will keep me going.
ACTION-ORIENTED - I can identify small actions that will get me started living this value out right away. Like, right now. These actions will lead to motivation and more action. I am flexible and open to taking different actions that support my true values.
VERIFIED - I am honest with myself about my values (even if previously chosen unconsciously) and take full responsibility for the values that have gotten me to where I am in life right now. I confirm that my values are in my domain of responsibility -- they are about my choices, not those of other people. I may not be able to control what happens to me, but I can control my response.
This is probably the most important component, now that I think about it. Look at your life. If you think you value honesty, but find yourself lying, you don't value honesty. Identify what your true value is and try to change it to a more meaningful one. Values are hard to change, but it is possible, and I've seen it happen in the lives of the people I most admire. Believe it or not, changing values starts with taking a small action, usually an experiment, like telling the truth where you would normally tell a lie.
EMOTION / ENERGY - My values and choices today support my core target emotions -- how I want to feel in body, mind, and spirit.
NATURAL - I'm not developing my weak areas, but instead, am going with the flow and ease of my natural strengths as much as possible. There are always many paths to choose from -- I choose the one that aligns with my natural abilities and sensibilities. What I focus on grows, so I focus on serving, giving, creating, building, solving, or leading from my innate talents. When I develop my strengths I naturally excel.
One simple way to test MAVEN for yourself right now is to respond to an opportunity. Right now I'm inviting you to give money to 3000 Miles to a cure. 100% of your donation goes straight to fund cancer research. (Operating expenses are covered by earmarked donations).
Donate $50 here!
MEANING: Cure brain cancer (take a step to relieve global suffering and help scientists understand the human brain.) Honor the memory of a loved one or honor a friend fighting cancer.
ACTION: Click below and put in your credit card information.
VERIFY: If you value giving, connection, healing, and science, this is an opportunity to prove it. If you don't regularly give money or time to a cause like this or similar, you probably don't value these things. And that's okay -- I'm not here to judge your values.
EMOTION: This gift can help you feel generous, loving, connected, euphoric, and powerful.
NATURAL: If it feels natural to give, then this is a no-brainer.
I invite you to donate to help cure brain cancer today! Click here.