21 inches

That's the amount of room I have to pack for a 17 day trip to Europe. When I brought home my fancy new suitcase yesterday, Wes just looked at it, looked at me, and said, "Oh, this is going to be fun. Prove to me you can pack in that bag." I am the typical overpacker. For a weekend trip to Conway, I pack at least one big duffle bag, my hanging bag, and a few extras. But now with the additional costs of baggage, I decided to try and change my ways. I first had to find a cute bag. TJ Maxx always can be counted on for high style at a low price, so I bought a $300 bag for $50! Second, I had to find a bag small enough to carry-on because I definitely do not want to check a bag on an airplane or pull a big bag on a train. So this new bag is only 21 inches long. I've decided to pack enough clothes for 1 week, and I bought some Tide travel packs that will allow me to do laundry in my hotel sink! It should be warm where we are going, so that helps. Smaller clothes. I'm actually excited about the challenge of packing in my new bag.

Oh, but the real kicker is what airlines are now calling "personal items." On my last trip to Europe, I took a carry-on bag, a large duffle bag, and a purse. Now, I can only bring my carry-on bag and one SMALL personal item. Woah...one of the personal items listed is a backpack, so I'm going to try and go that route...pack my purse in my backpack along with all of my other essential travel needs. Magazines, books, granola bars, and a toothbrush. This should be fun.

We leave next Saturday for London, Paris, Gimmelwald (Switzerland), the Cinque Terre (Italy), and Milan/Lake Como. Please pray for an efficient and productive week here in Arkansas and for safe travels in the few upcoming weeks.