packing lately: big kid DC getaway

Starting way back during our regular pandemic walks when Hendrik and I often played a thought experiment game of "where would you go if you could travel anywhere?", his top pick has always been Washington, DC ("Mom, did you know all of the Smithsonian museums are FREE?!"). And for his 11th birthday this month, we decided to finally make it happen with a big kid-only trip. It was great! 

What to pack for a whirlwind of museums, Capitol tour, and even a Capitals hockey game?

fisherman sweater | cashmere sweater (similar) | long-sleeved tee | jeans (similar) | lightweight down coat (similar) | joggers (similar) | sneakers | beanie | gloves | walking shoes | popover blouse (similar, similar) | belt bag | socks | striped tee (similar)

Here's a little put-together casual capsule for a spring wardrobe color palette on a fall getaway - leaning on the camel to turn it more seasonal, and taking my current favorite springy light purple into the colder months in cashmere and knit beanie/gloves. Comfortable for lots of walking but polished enough for museums (though admittedly the blouse never made an apperance - no time to go back and change into dinner outfits!).

Of course all the layering is involved in a fall getaway - it was chilly in the early mornings, but then nice and sunny and pleasant in the afternoons, so I could go down to jeans + a tee at that point. For our nighttime tour of the National Mall/monuments in an open-sided vehicle I was definitely glad I had a packable down coat and that I had thrown in the hat and gloves. Also that I am attempting to move beyond millennial mom and update my no-show socks into taller ones... kept those ankles warm!

DC also means all the walking, so I just had to give in and go with the athletic shoes for the most part. Finding my go-tos in a camel color feels at least a little better to me, blending in a bit with the wardrobe.

packing lately: my hospital bag!

Well, we're in week 38, and you've already seen all of what I've been wearing lately, so how about what I've just finished packing: my hospital bag. Everything is tucked away into the new diaper bag, just the right size for holding the few things I feel like are essential for me...

bag (similar) | grippy socks | birkis | robe | pouch with essentials (phone charger, invisibobble hair ties, toothbrush/toothpaste, gum, protein bars) | button-front PJs | nursing bra | baby blanket + hat | bebe going home outfit | mom going home outfit | car seat

It's not all that much - I feel like when I'm in labor there won't be a whole lot I really need to have aside from my trusty support partner hubby + doula, because I am going to be in the zone... but the birkis could be nice as shower shoes, my own pair of grippy socks nicer than the hospital-issued ones, and the pouch of essentials will be easily accessible in case I need to tie up my hair, we need a phone charge, or that trusty support guy needs a snack or breath freshener.

Post-delivery, there's not a ton either, but just a couple of things to help myself feel more comfortable - my own soft, nursing-friendly pjs +  a nursing bra, a robe, and some matching accessories for bebe because I couldn't resist. I'll also have some travel-sized toiletries (mascara, lotion, shampoo) that are nicer than the hospital ones. But otherwise, since we live only a mile from the hospital (and also will be checking out of there as soon as we can!), I'm not worrying about packing much more - it'll be easy for Peter to pop out and grab anything we might want, especially as he'll be popping out at some point to pick up big brother for a visit 💙

And then all you really need to be able to take a baby home is the car seat (which Peter installed a couple of weeks ago to help me feel more prepared). Also something to wear for both of us: a roomy/comfy/easy nursing access dress for me, and 2 outfit sizes for the little guy, a super soft footie outfit and also this adorable striped kimono set, depending on how big he turns out to be. 

I don't *think* I'm missing anything essential, but it's been a while since I packed one of these... anything else you found you couldn't live without?

in the [beach] bag

Crazy but true, I haven't made it to the beach yet this summer. We've been to my parents' cottage, but on those trips either the weather didn't work out or it just seemed like too much to cart everything down to the beach with a baby of this age... This week, though, quality grandparent time = 2 days of pure Michigan time for us! So I've got my bag packed and ready to go with my beach day essentials:

1. towel | 2. reading material | 3. sunnies | 4. hat | 5. snack & drink | 6. sunscreen | 7. pouch with essentials (hairband, lip gloss with sunscreen, iPhone protected from sand)

My beach bag of choice is a Baggu canvas tote, which I had monogrammed at the embroidery stand in the mall for about $10. Some other great options:

Pretty much my idea of a perfect day off: sunshine, reading an entire book, and having an early happy hour with my toes in the sand. Quiet Dell is next up for one of my book clubs, and I think it'll be perfect for a vacation read - reported to be a "riveting" novel based on a real-life crime. With no mom duties, I think I'll easily get through this one in a day or so. And speaking of no mom duties... when it comes to vacation, I say beer-thirty arrives in the middle of the afternoon. This local brew is my current favorite, but I'm just as happy with any summer ale or Mike's lemonade, which tends to be well stocked at the cottage. Happy Monday!

Check out what's in my other bags: handbag | diaper bag | gym bag

mix & match suitcase, summer baby edition

I learned from our Florida trip this spring that while it's nice to plan outfits and pack around a cohesive color palette for a baby's suitcase, it's not really worth trying to pack as little as possible in terms of clothing for him... Hendrik's stuff really doesn't take up that much room, and he gets it all dirty so fast! It's more sensible to make my suitcase as efficient as possible to free up room for him.

But for our trip to Michigan this week I still had fun creating a cute little man capsule wardrobe - here are 8 outfits from 8 of the items I packed for him (which in theory should more than cover us for the length of time we'll be gone, but in practice will get used up right quick):

Though he'll have more than this in his suitcase - plenty of pjs, extra onesies and pants, a bunch of burp cloths and bibs, and of course a case of diapers - it's nice to know that the "main" items (pants, sweatshirts, shoes) all mix & match well, so they can be used with any of the under-layer onesies, and he has about a zillion outfits available for when the inevitable drool soaking, diaper blowout, and sweet potatoes everywhere wardrobe changes become necessary. I still aim to pack light for everyone when we have access to laundry facilities, but I'm upping his allowable quotas to maybe, hopefully cut back on at least one of those daily loads I was doing in Florida!

Shop the suitcase (or similar):

mix & match suitcase, black & white edition

Typically when it comes to a beach-related trip, I default to navy and white as my base palette for packing (like with last year's beach suitcase) because it always feels nautical. But last summer I decided that my post-pregnancy bathing suit was going to be a great, classic black bikini - which I found at J.Crew in time to pack for our Florida trip this spring. So when it came to getting ready for a trip to Michigan, part of which we'll be spending at our favorite place - my parents' cottage - I would try a black & white suitcase instead, with some well-placed pops of color of course.

Doing a mix & match suitcase like this is really helpful in not overpacking for a relaxed beach/family trip like this one. I always start throwing a bunch of extra (usually random, so not that helpful!) stuff into my bag, just in case, but really, when it's a few days of hanging out by the beach and a few days of catching up with family, one just really doesn't need to pack that much. (And that's one of my favorite things ever - when you don't need real clothes until about 6pm because you've gone straight from pjs to running shorts to bathing suits.) Other than a graduation open house and maybe a dinner out, I really don't have anything other than relaxation to get dressed for... so it makes sense to pack light and be smart about it.

So here are 8 outfits from 8 items (not counting shoes/accessories) perfect for sitting at the beach, enjoying happy hour afterward, reading on the porch, stopping by the farmers market, visiting family, and maybe a little shopping/dining out. And if I was maybe over-optimistic on the high temperatures for the week, I'll just do a little more layering - and remember these great outfit options for later in the summer!

Shop the suitcase:

Sharing on Friday's Fancies, Mix it Mondays, Style Sessions, and What I Wore.