#5 in Our Summer of Organized Travel -The Carryon

/

#5 in our Summer of Organized Travel is fitting everything into one suitcase.

Nothing says ease like a rolling suitcase. Think about bringing one carry-on and then a personal item like a handbag or backpack for the items you'll use in-flight. This will save you time in the baggage claim and keep things simple while you travel. Nothing says "tourist" like a giant stack of suitcases on the curb outside the hotel. Not to mention they're a pain in the rear end to wrangle.

karen-brothers-organizing-your-carry-on

#2 in Our Summer of Organized Travel - Lists

/
 
summer-of-organzied-travel-road-trip
 

#2 in our Summer of Organized Travel is the road trip.

The fun of a road trip is the thrill of just jumping in your car and going. But we all know leaving home without your travel necessities like money, a change of undies and emergency Hot Tamales is a bad idea. Make a list ahead of time so that you don't forget anything that will make the drive more comfortable.

#4 In Our Summer of Organized Travel: Packing Tips

/
karen-brothers-organize-your-suitcase

#4 on our Summer of Organized Travel is my least favorite, Packing.Though it is essential, it doesn't have to be difficult:

Make a list before you begin, even if it's just a general outline of what you'll need. This works especially well with older kids who are capable of packing for themselves if they have a little guidance. Such as:

3 short sleeve shirts

3 shorts

4 socks

4 undies

Etc...

-Also, roll up your clothes to fit more into your suitcase.

-Bring extra plastic bags and be amazed at how often they come in handy (think: leaky shampoo bottles, snacks, wet clothes, laundry).

-Choose only a few pairs of shoes that can multitask.

-Always pack clothing that can be layered between indoor and outdoor venues.

-Bring clothes in complementary colors that you can mix & match for more outfit choices.

#3 in Our Summer of Organized Travel

/

#3 in our Summer Of Organized Travel is the itinerary.

-Flight numbers and times

-Phone numbers of rental car companies airlines, and hotels

-Addresses of hotels and any place you plan to visit

-When out of the country, the address and phone number of your country's embassy

It sounds really old school when I suggest that you write the times and numbers of your flights and hotels on an index card that you keep in your backpack or jacket. Having all of this written down will save you from wondering where you're supposed to be and how you're getting there, especially if your phone runs out of battery.

Thanks to The Spruce Blog for the awesome tips.

karen-brothers-itinerary-organized-travel

Under Where?

/
 
recycle-upcycle-undergarments

When your undies wear out, what do you do? Toss them in the trash, right? Under garments contribute to the 85% of textiles in America that will end up in landfills. Lot's of folks, like Goodwill and the Salvation Army will accept clean underwear in good condition. Your tightie whities are holey? Unsellable undies will head to facilities to be shredded and upcycled as furniture or automobile stuffing. If your underpants are happen 100% cotton, they can even be composted!

 

Paint the Town

/

Let's get creative with ways to dispose of unused paints.

Donate at Habitat for Humanity, @habitatsandiego, or a community theater that can use them to paint sets, such as CYT, Christian Youth Theatre, here in San Diego Otherwise, dry out latex and acrylic paint -- leave tops off for small amounts, or if you have a lot, pour in sand or kitty litter to absorb it -- and throw it away after it dries. Oil-based paints are considered household hazardous waste; check with the city for collection days.

What-to-do-with-unused-paint

Take 2 and Call Me in the Morning

/
how-to-properly-dispose-of-medication

How should I dispose of unused or expired medication? Well... some labels will say to flush down the toilet, but that really isn't the best option, especially with strong pain killers. The article How to Get Rid of Anything recommends this.

"Flushing isn’t the best method for most drugs, because they can contaminate the water supply and affect fish and wildlife. For those meds, law-enforcement agencies sponsor “take-back” days or supply drop-off boxes. You can also mix medication with kitty litter or coffee grounds (to prevent animals from eating it), seal it in a plastic bag, and toss it -- but scratch off personal information from the prescription bottles first. If you use needles for medical purposes (insulin or hormone injections, say), see if your pharmacy will take back used ones for safe disposal."