how to pack your carry-on.

Earlier this year, I felt like I lived on a plane. We were in the thick of wedding season and I rarely unpacked my carry-on bag. As I prep for my first plane ride in a few months, I realized I should think long and hard about keeping that carry-on manageable. There is truly nothing worse than walking off a plane with sore shoulders! If you can swing checking your suitcase, these tips will simplify your ride in a serious way.

Pare down your make-up bag. I know you're thinking that a make-up bag is definitely not the bulk of your carry-on, but hear me out. Unless you're going straight from the airport to the club, you don't need  an eyelash curler or your palette for your smoky eye. Get down to the barebones (i.e. what you'd need if you weren't reunited with your checked bag for a day or two). 

Make friends with the staff at your favorite make-up counter. Places like Nordstrom often have samples of the products you use all the time. When I purchase my Clarins moisturizer and cleanser, I always ask for a travel-sized sample. It never hurts to ask!

Leave your laptop at home. I know I have bold plans of blogging while on vacation, but let's face it: it is vacation. If you're looking for the easiest way to lighten your load (literally and figuratively), this is your best move. Your smartphone works wonders these days ;) Stepping away from the computer isn't always a bad thing. You'll also save yourself loads of effort in the security line...

Pack a Hanky Panky (a.k.a. a discreet pair of underwear). I don't think I have to go in-depth to explain this one, but believe me, if you need a pair, there is nothing worse than knowing they're under the plane and you're in your seat. One pair would add virtually no weight to your bag, but the peace of mind is priceless.

Don't bring your entire library with you. If you're lucky enough to have some sort of electronic reader, this point is moot for you. If you're not, consider how much time you'll actually have to read on the plane. If you have an hour flight, you won't need three books! Books are best left for your suitcase. If you must, you can make your suitcase your traveling library. (Trust me here: Growing up, I was the girl with the crazy large backpack--stuffed to the brim with books and schoolwork. My shoulders got a daily work-out.)

Be a big girl: leave your crazy large purse at home. Ok, ok. Your massive purse can often help you circumvent the "one carry-on and one personal item" rule. I pushed the limits (to the max) during my college years. As a somewhat frequent flyer, I can tell you this: nothing annoys me more than a woman with a huge tote as a "purse" and another large carry-on. When I said you should pare down your make-up bag, the same applies for your purse. You don't need all your rewards cards, ten cases of mints and four lipglosses. Most of the time, I pack a small purse (sans valuables) in my suitcase and put my wallet in my carry-on. One bag is so much easier to manage than two.

What other tips would you add to the mix? I could go on for another ten paragraphs, but I'll leave it at that. I've learned a lot over the years (especially when {cv} and I were long distance), so I hope these takeaways help you save your shoulders and back the next time you fly! I can't wait to see your travel chic Friday's Fancies :) Follow along with our girls' weekend via Instagram--we land in Jamaica tomorrow! xoxo {av}