la dolce vita

I am buried in over my head with a million safari tabs open (in fact my macbook crashed the other night because I had 72 open at once) researching my Italian sojourn.  I have an excel, word and paper diary itinerary going all at once.  I am at the pointy end with just over 2 months to go.  I am too scared to look at my credit card.

This has by far been the hardest trip to plan as it involves the consideration of interests, tolerance and comfort of a 3 year old.  I am a massive fan of art and history and I couldn't imagine anything to be less interesting to a 3 year old.  Italy seems like a lovely place to take children and even Caffe Florian has a children's menu so it may work out okay.

I am the type of person who sets the alarm for 6am and needs to see every corner of every place and I can't help but schedule every panini shop and hidden Gelateria I can find.

I am not a hotel person when it comes to sight seeing holidays but I have had to ensure the toddler is comfortable and has her own space and comforts.

I camped out on Wednesday night to get tickets for Da Vinci's The Last Supper as they were released for my date.  I can't wait to take in Florence from a rooftop bar and enter Venice in a water taxi.

I am also trying to decide on only 6 outfits for a 3 week trip.  Gulp.  I don't want to be dragging luggage on and off trains and would like to leave some room in my luggage for a trip to Space (the Prada outlet).

On my packing list so far are:

a large Le Pliage.. a no brainer really.  Is very light, fully zips (unlike my LV Neverfull) and can fit essentials for carry on as well as day trip necessities like a change of clothes for aforementioned toddler, water bottle, snacks and my SLR.  

Muji packing cubes.  Cheap and a lifesaver since I've begun travelling with a small person.  I use 4.  One of my clothes, one for my shoes and same for her.  That way I can unpack my suitcase and not unpack the cubes but still know where everything is.  And how easy is it then to pack?  Place 4 cubes plus toiletries into the suitcase and you're off.  

I discovered Bared shoes this past summer.  They are designed by a podiatrist so are actually "good" for your feet.  They absorb shock on the soles of the feet, support the heel and support your arches while not looking like daggy pharmacy sandals.  Win!  

Bassike jersey harem pants.  These are the most comfortable pants in the world, especially for plane travel and I swear you can dress them up and get away with wearing them as part of a smart outfit  

Don't judge an old mutton like me but I am SOOO in love with this romper.  Will be making it's debut at Villa d'Este.  I might run into George Clooney.... :P

Travelling my way

I know that the "this is how you should pack your suitcase" blog posts and articles can get under peoples skins but I secretly love reading them.  Vogue magazines traditionally publish the most envy inducing snippets, favourite destinations and must pack essentials of the jet set crowd and I devour those articles every single time.  I have a fair bit of travel experience, including with baby and toddler so here go my thoughts-

1. Anywhere warm and beachy is my go to.   Noosa!  The weather is balmy and the water SO warm.  
2. I love to wear white on holidays.  All the pieces match and white looks awesome with a bit of a tan (mostly fake for me these days).  I am a devout fan of Ecotan.  
3. I obsessively pack everything separately.  I'm a sucker for anything travel sized and I have several small bags for make up, hair products, skincare etc which makes it easier to pack and unpack both at home and away.
4. Muji is my best friend.  I use this tote for toiletries and hair products and I own a gazillion of these squeeze tubes that I pour moisturiser, shampoo etc etc into and keep topped up and ready to go.  They're easy to label with a marker.  As soon as I return from a trip and begin to unpack I refill everything so it's ready to go for next time.  I also refill zip lock bags with cotton tips and pads and headache tables as they are always so easy to forget to pack and a pain to have to go and buy at the destination.  Who needs a pack of 50 cotton pads when you just want 5? Mesh zip cases are also great for the small bits and pieces - lip balms, pens, coins and so on as the contents are visible.  They have saved me digging through the bottom of an endless pit that is a large tote bag on many occasions.  
5. The key to travel with a toddler is novelty.  On many occasions the flight cards and the meal tray will keep them busy for hours but some new stickers, small toys and favourite books never go astray.  We currently love the Apples to Pears Farm in a Tin.  
6. When travelling with a baby or a toddler always pack an outfit change for the both of you.  Chances of them spewing are higher when you don't have a spare outfit... 
7. Take those exercise clothes and use them!  I love to do some stair runs early in the morning to get the blood flowing and there will never be as many leisure hours at home as there is on holidays.  

Getting away from it all

While some people prefer to end the year on holidays, I prefer to begin the year on rest. To rewrite my budget, recharge and set some goals and projects.

It's been 17 blissful days, spent mostly disconnected and for the first time in a while I did not access my work email. I was close, but I didn't.

I saw the above picture online yesterday and it absolutely described my actions. Things were hard and I ran away. And you know that's not always a bad thing. I didn't sleep much at all I'm afraid, but I felt so rested. I swam for hours each day, and hiked and walked in the stifling heat. My muscles hurt for the first time in ages, but my head didn't. I tried to absorb my surroundings. When your days are centred around reading, writing, swimming, walking and thinking, it's a bit hard to want it to end even if you're physically exhausted. Maybe the physical activities helped me to rest my mind.

I did my very best to pack light. I hadn't done any shopping leading up to summer, so packed the small selection of my old colourful favourites and took off. My tip is to always take about half of what you think you need. Being bogged down by things on holidays is no fun.

Things didn't get off to a great start due to being rushed to the airport and a few things I thought I couldn't live without we're left behind (Moroccan oil and GHD I'm looking st you), but you know what, I managed just fine.

At least my carry on was perfect - Sugar lip balm, Aesop hand cream, a big scarf to fight off the cold climate control, Tripit app updated and synced, new book to read and eye drops.

Packing pains. Again.

There's something magic about packing for a summer get away.  Floaty colourful things are a go, bright nail polish a must, the fake tan isn't out of place, a small clutch bag fits all the necessities (ie. a credit card and a tube of Maybelline Coral Crush lipstick).  

Despite painstakingly planning my suitcase for months before jetting off to Paris, as I've mentioned a hundred times over, I packed completely and frustratingly wrong.  On Saturday I'm off for a week back home to Queensland with a lot planned in a short 7 days... family lunches, catch ups with friends and a quick getaway to Noosa.

I did a huge cull of my wardrobe over the new year break and listed a bunch of things in eBay for 99 cents (some of which I paid over $700 for once upon a time when I had disposable income a plenty.) If you're interested check out username:bk6076

I am completely uninspired by everything in my wardrobe and fortunately have some pennies to spend on a couple of things on my lunch break tomorrow.  I want an amazing printed statement dress and a loose silk blouse.  I've left things to the very last minute so tonight I'm handwashing delicates and ironing in the stifling heat.  Serves me right.  Not to mention my obsession with making sure the house is spotless.  There is nothing that will ruin a post holiday feel than coming to back to a dirty house.

Couple of things are ready to join turquoise and bronze accessories, white shorts and a linen dress in my suitcase:

Studded Witchery Sandals

Witchery Leopard Clutch

Tinted moisturiser and a bright lip.  And nothing else cosmetics wise.  Gulp.

A fun flirty dress, like this Country Road Snake Print number.

Suitcase Stuffing

I'm trying to piece together some looks for the trip.  Things that will translate between mild autumn weather in one city and winter temperatures in the other. 3 pairs of shoes at the very most. Enough room in the suitcase to bring back LOTS of art books. One rule I always follow is taking only the things I love.  If I think it's perfect for a destination, yet I haven't worn it for 18 months, chances are it will sit in my suitcase at the destination too. A wardrobe (or 2 wardrobes) of things and nothing feels right.  Here's what I'm feeling but struggling to execute....

all via pinterest.

Winter weather...

I know I promised a delightful, summery post over the weekend but it was not meant to be.  On Sunday it was 11C in Melbourne - less than a week before Christmas!!

I had every intention of visiting the botanic gardens, shooting some photos and having a sorbet, but as soon as I stepped out of church, I made a bee line for the blanket and couch, which is where I remained for the rest of the day until I had to pick up a friend who is visiting from Canada to promote his new film down under.  He had spent the previous few days enjoying the sunshine in Perth and the wintry weather was a real shock, both to me and him!  Curse you Melbourne.

I so very much need a tan!

Zayt dress

Scanlan Theodore sweater

Witchery shoes

Various accessories - T&Co, Witchery, Tag

I managed to pull out my suitcase from amongst the boxes in the spare room that B has already diligently packed in anticipation of our move, which isn't for another 7-8 weeks! (he's clearly happy that we're leaving this place that we've very much out grown) and I have started to make a packing list for the trip (and a last minute shopping list - thank you 24 hour Christmas trading, you will come in handy tomorrow night when I realise I forgot to buy cotton balls.. or something).  People, trust me, the only way to pack light is to plan every activity and every outfit and only pack those things and nothing else.  And I think with that sentence, I've convinced you all that I am a complete and utter control freak.  But I like it! I take B to every corner of every city we visit until he cannot be taken any more.  Poor guy.

Once I actually got to packing, I got to 3 bikinis, 3 beach dresses and a tub of sunscreen and gave up.  Will that do me for 2 weeks?

I hate packing!  

And it's so cold, I'm going to turn the heater on.

Holiday packing - an artform

I like to provide myself an expert holiday packer.  I once went to Europe for 3 weeks with carry on luggage of 12 kilos (it was summer).

I did however learn my lesson after going to Europe in 2005 with two suitcases and 20 kilos of excess baggage for which they wanted to charge me 700 euros.  I then vowed never to do that again.

I love January.  In Australia it means 30C+ days, lots of holidays, tennis, birthdays, slave, Christmas... it's my favourite month by far.

Tonight I am flying to Queensland of 8 days... and all that I am taking with me fits into a small carry on sized case.  The trick to holidays packing is to ensure that each and every item is an outfit of it's own, or can be worn with at least 2 or 3 other items to create an outfit.

Let me tell you what I plan to do whilst there

• go to church for slava
• go out for Orthodox NYE
• celebrate my brother's 18th birthday and spend some time with him doing things that 18 year old boys do
• spend some lazy days at my parents house
• go to Noosa for a couple of days

My essentials are:

Scanlan & Theodore silk dress

Can be worn over a bikini at the beach... or shopping over a nude slip.. or while lazying around the house/going for a coffee/seeing a movie.  Pared with some flat sandals or havs.

Throw in some separates in the form of black Zara shorts and a pair of denim cut off shorts, completes the basis of the wardrobe.

I am taking 2 singlets and two dressy tops to pair with these bottoms for casual day time wear.

The cut off shorts were a pair of old jeans that were too short, that I cut off.  I love them!

This Topshop top is my go to item when I feel like I have "nothing to wear".  Souvenir  from said overpacking trip in 2005.

Witchery top is another easy to throw on item with the shorts and denim cut offs.

The Shakuhachi is to be worn for my brother's 18th.

Throw in two pairs of bikinis and a pashmina to wrap around myself when it's cold indoors and I'm set.