15 Tips for Successful Packing by: Joyce Moseley Pierce 1600 words - 65 character lines

Whether you travel for business or pleasure, frequently or only occasionally, it seems that we basically pack same things every time. Here are a few tips to help simplify process so you don't have to stress about it every time. Remember that most of these items can be purchased when you get there, but you don't want to spend your vacation money on things you already have at home, and if you're traveling on business, you may not have time to run to store for something you need at an 8 am meeting.

After reading through these ideas, you might want to make an itemized list of things you consider important to take. Keep it in your suitcase so it will be available next time you pack and use it as a checklist to make sure you haven't forgotten anything. If other things come to mind while you're traveling, update your list for next time, but be sure to return it to your suitcase.

Rule #1 for me is to keep it light. I traveled toBrazil for 10 days with only a carry-on rolling bag and backpack. My husband packed a rolling bag that was big enough to stuff a body into and it was difficult to manage when we stayed in hotels that didn't have elevators. I don't pack more than I can carry by myself and I try to leave a little room for those vacation purchases. I have a nylon carry-on bag that zips up into a small square that comes in handy for carrying things home if I get too carried away.

1. Pajamas or gown. I have a pair of pjs I keep in my suitcase just so I don't forget them. The reason I take pajamas instead of a gown is that hotels are usually cold and if I'm staying with friends or family, I want to be able to get up and use bathroom without having to have a robe.

2. Underwear. Pack a pair for every day and then include extras. If you're going to be doing activities that require showering and changing clothes during day, be sure to include enough for that. Don't forget bras and sports bras.

3. Make up and toiletries. Instead of having to remember what to take every time, go through your beauty routine at home and set out things you use every day. Refill sample jars from trial offers, or buy travel-size containers to pack your cleansers so you don't have to pack an 8 oz. tub of cold cream. Don't forget deodorant and shaving supplies. I keep a razor in my bag all time and just change blade when I'm leaving again. Keep your toiletry bag stocked and leave it in your suitcase for next trip,but be sure to check and make sure you don't need to refill any of containers.

4. Tooth care. Instead of buying a travel size tube of toothpaste, when I get toward bottom of my big tube, I stop using it and throw it into my toiletry bag. I also pack floss and toothbrush dentist gives me.

5. Feminine products. Don't forget to pack at least enough to get you by until you can get to store. A urologist once told me that women seem prone to bladder infections while they're on vacation. If you are, you might want to pack an OTC medication that will help relieve pain and lessen symptoms until you can get to a doctor.

6. Medications. I have a separated pill box that holds pills for a week. Usually my trips are not that long (unfortunately!) so I'll put in what I need for each day and use extra slots for aspirin or other things I might need while away. I have another pill box that I use for my vitamins.

For many years my mother worked in sales and lived out of a suitcase as she traveled country, but that didn't stop her from doing some of most beautiful needlepoint and cross-stitch work I've ever seen. When she retired, she quickly filled up walls of her home and kept local frame shop in business. After she had given favorites to her children and filled every white space in her home, she decided to start making quilts, but instead of just sewing pieces of fabric together, she cross-stitched or needlepointed squares that would be sewn together by town's quilting expert.

I was recipient of one of these beautiful quilts but because my children were small, I didn't want to leave it out on a bed where it might get smeared with peanut butter and jelly, or even worse, colored with crayons or a permanent marker. Instead, I folded it up and put it in my closet inside a plastic zippered bag that my bedspread had come in.

Well, when Mom came to visit next time, she went looking for that quilt. I assured her that it was packed away and that nothing could harm it. After all, it was sealed in plastic. Nothing could get to it. Boy, was I wrong!

I learned a lesson from Mom about how to store quilts:

1. Don't ever store them in plastic of any kind! It doesn't matter that your bedspread came in it. It's not same.

2. Don't store them in humid or hot climates. If temperature feels good to you, then it's okay for your quilt. If you live in Houston you shouldn't even own a quilt!

3. Don't store quilts in attics or garages. It makes a comfy bed for rodents and insects.

Instead, you should:

1. Store your quilt in a pillowcase or sheet, or roll it onto a muslin-covered tube.

2. Place a piece of fabric between pillowcase or sheet and your quilt to protect it from acids in wood.

3. Twice a year, when humidity is low and air is blowing, air your quilt outside, out of direct sunlight.

4. Mark your calendar to refold your quilt every 3-4 months so you won't make a permanent crease in it. Crumple up some acid-free tissue paper to help eliminate fold lines.

If you feel comfortable in displaying or actually using your quilts (and isn't that why we make them?), you'll want to follow these guidelines to make your quilt last longer and help retain its beauty.

1. Keep your quilts away from direct light. The sun will make them fade and will age fabric.