4 days until I leave for London!!!

So after doing this whole packing thing twice...I have a few tips to share with anyone who is about to study abroad!

First things first, contrary to most people's recommendations I always pack shampoo and conditioner! They might weigh a lot but overseas they are super expensive and aren't worth my hard-earned money! In Rome, the bottles were about 1/3 the size as in the US and they cost about €6 each! I honestly think I would have had to buy a bottle every two weeks and that €12 would've really added up! I am not sure what they will cost in London, but I am packing them just in case! 

My packing strategy is similar to what you will find suggested online. I pack my heavy items in the bottom to create a 'solid base' and then roll my clothes tightly on top. Both times as I packed I thought to myself "is rolling really the best method?" or "what if I just lay them flat?" but both times I just wasted time trying different techniques only to re-roll each piece of clothing. 

Lastly, I would never even think of packing only one suitcase. Just like when I went to Rome, this year I have two suitcases I am going to check (one a standard suitcase with wheels and one large duffle bag with wheels), a travel backpack as my carryon, and a very large purse! This may seem like a lot but for London I had to pack professional clothes and shoes, everyday clothes and shoes, evening clothes and shoes, and running clothes and shoes (hopefully I will actually use the running gear haha) so trying to fit that all in one suitcase would have been nearly impossible! 

Check back to see what I packed in my carryon just in case my luggage gets lost again!!