When it comes to packing, the category that gives me a headache is electronics. Back in the day, when we weren’t using mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, laptops, etc but just books and analog cameras, the most we had to worry about were AA batteries and travel adaptors. Now it’s cables, cables and more cables!

I’m an electronics junkie when it comes to travelling. I’m that cable chick. Even though I draw the line on bringing my laptop with me (I don’t have one of ‘em fancy and light Macbook Airs), I bring my iPad, sometimes a Kindle, phone, iPod, camera and Fitbit with me when I travel. This is on top of the beauty appliances I sometimes bring with me e.g. my flat iron (almost a non-negotiable. If you really know my hair, you’ll know that my flat iron is a must) and sometimes a hairdryer (if I’m not staying at a hotel or self-serviced apartment).

After a number of holidays overseas and interstate, I’ve finally learned how to pack my electronics properly without worrying about tangling cables and bringing one too many travel adaptors. If you’re like me and you gotta have your electronics with you when you travel, here are some tips for you that I’ve learned over the years.

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Oh gee. How very eloquent. Beauty thingies indeed, tsk tsk. By beauty thingies, I mean toiletries and makeup. 😛

It has taken me years to sort my travel toiletries out because even though I no longer bring full-sized products with me unless I absolutely have to, the amount of products I end up with still make it seem as though I’ve overpacked. Yes, I really do use that much products. Yikes!

Having said that, I’ve learned the incredible usefulness of decanting and even though travel-sized products are more expensive per ml, I still love the smaller packaging and often get sucked in to getting them as I wait in line to pay for my items (clever, sneaky marketing ploy for beauty stores to line the waiting area up with cute travel-sized products. I’m looking at you, Sephora). For me to get all of my skincare, body care and haircare products in one toiletries bag instead of 3 is a vast improvement compared to years ago when I’d literally pack 3 toiletries bag for one short trip. Ugh.

While the whole travel toiletries thing is still a bit of a work-in-progress for me, I’m happy to say I’ve narrowed my travel makeup to a T. I don’t use a lot of makeup when I’m travelling and bring only what I need.

Anyway, after that long, rambling introduction, I thought I’d share with you how I pack my toiletries and makeup for travelling. In other words, my beauty thingies. By the way, these go in my checked-in luggage. I have a separate one for carry-on if I’m on a long-haul flight.

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It’s a guilty pleasure of mine to watch what people bring with them in their carry-on bags on YouTube. It’s almost as bad as watching “what’s in my bag” videos, I tell ya. It’s like I’m living vicariously through those who are travelling when I’m not. After watching the hundredth “what’s in my carry-on” video, I thought I’d show you what I typically pack in my carry-on luggage. In case you’re a sticky beak like me. 😛

I have 3 carry-on bags that I rotate. The luggage I use as part of my carry-on highly depends on the destination I’m heading towards. If I’m going to be doing a lot of walking between accommodations (e.g. walk from the bus/train station to the hotel), I’ll use my wheelie bag. If I’m going to be bringing a lot of food back from my holiday and I won’t be staying at more than one hotel, I’ll bring either my Country Road duffel bag or my Lo and Sons Catalina Canvas Weekender. Both of these bags do not have a strap that I can carry on my shoulders (I lost the one that came with the Country Road duffel) so I have to make sure I don’t carry heavy items in those bags. Food is packed in my carry-on instead of check-in luggage because it eases Australia’s strict customs check.

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