I always make a packing list when we go on vacation, and I specifically make a toiletry packing list so I don’t forget anything. Except when I forget everything.
About five years ago, I bought a brand new hanging toiletry bag from L.L.Bean (it’s this one in case you’re interested), packed it with everything our family of four could possibly need.
Then I left the brand new, packed toiletry bag sitting on my bathroom counter. Hundreds of miles away from where we were.
After finding out that it would cost about $60 to overnight the bag to us, we visited the drugstore across the street from our hotel and spend that $60 on travel sized everything we needed to make it through the week. Needless to say, my husband had a field day ragging on his list-making, pack-a-week-in-advance wife for royally screwing up the actual packing part.
Thank God I packed my prescription medication in a separate bag. Otherwise we would have had a cute little souvenir in nine months.
Suffice it to say that I have never forgotten the toiletry bag again. And I never forget any toiletries, thanks to a handy dandy toiletry packing list. Click on it to print out your own. There are three columns for different family members, and blank spaces at the bottom to add your own items.
Just don’t forget to take the bag.
That is always my fear. There is not a trip in which I don’t panic when I have no recollection of packing my toiletry bag in my suitcase! You know what? It’s always there..except once. And it was when I was college-age and from Jersey and I couldn’t go without makeup anywhere, much less a night out in Boston. So I spent a lot of money in their CVS that day..
CVS must get lots of business from forgetful travelers. Our bill would have been a lot higher if my makeup had been in that bag too…
My cousin has one of those hanging bags and it is perfect- I keep meaning to buy it! Hope you are having a fun trip 🙂
We had a great trip, Kate – but it’s good to be home.
Great list and GREAT organizer! I left ours hanging on the back of a hotel bathroom during our last hockey tournament and have yet to find one I like… until now! Placing my order with LL Bean shortly!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ugh – leaving it at a hotel is almost as bad as leaving it at home! The LL Bean one isn’t pretty, but it gets the job done!
I had a list, the same one I’d used for years. It was nothing as organized as yours. This is awesome. I love you for sharing this before I’m going away for a week! Have fun on your trip, Dana!
Have a great week away, Katia! I’ve been living out of my toiletry bag for over a week now, and I’m looking forward to being back in my own house and bathroom. Not looking forward to doing all that laundry, though…
haha I do the same thing, typed. However I keep a file with notes from each year on it so I can go back and revise. haha
You’re a woman after my own heart, Kerry. Typed list, file, notes…I love you!
NICE! Going on vacation so just printed out a copy for myself!!! And I pack for everyone too, Rick just usually asks me what he needs to bring!
How come the packing falls to us? And then I get blamed if something is forgotten. Have a great vacation, MA!
Oh my gosh, that would be so awful to forget the whole family’s packed bag of toiletries! Great list, you really thought of everything!
Nikki
It did suck. I had packed so carefully and then had to buy everything all over again 🙁
forgetting it once will make sure that you NEVER forget it again, LOL.
That is some detailed list babe…I make lists too and it drives hubby mad since he just writes things in his over-used and SLOPPY notepad. I tend to overpack, but you never know when you might need something.
Exactly – I am an unapologetic over packer!
If you’re ever going to forget birth control, a family vacation with two doubles beds is the time to do it!! Miss you and hope you’ve had a blast in my favorite state.
We have had a blast – cant wait to catch up
when we get home!
Another reason we get along – packing lists! Hope you are having a great trip! (the fish are alive and well!)
Thank you Erica – I’m sure our lawn is a prairie from all the rain!
I feel like I really know you now that I know you use a shower pouf often enough to take it on vacation with you! Don’t leave the kids in CA, we would miss them! You are missing nothing but rain, rain and more rain on the East Coast. See you when you return!
I love my shower pouf, Laura 🙂 Happy almost birthday, btw!
I still get ragged on for the time when we went camping in Skyline Drive and I forgot Allie’s underwear. It was a two hour drive to the “local” Wal-mart
Ha – that’s a remote place to forget your underwear! At least we were in civilization where CVS was right around the corner.
I’m a list maker too. It drives my husband crazy but over the years I think he’s finally come to realize that it’s one of my good qualities. Hope you’re enjoying your vacation.
Thanks, Susan – we are! My husband rolls his eyes at my list making, but I think he appreciates my organization- one less thing for him to worry about!