Complete Guide to Packing for Europe in a Backpack
Hey guys! If you don't already know, Tom and I are going on our first overseas vacation this fall. We'll be spending nearly THREE weeks traipsing...
Hey guys!
If you don't already know, Tom and I are going on our first overseas vacation this fall. We'll be spending nearly THREE weeks traipsing around Iceland, France, and Italy and seeing all the things, and eating all the bread and cheese, and drinking all the wine. It's our first real vacation since our honeymoon over four years ago, and we are overflowing with excitement.
This post is a "dumping ground" of sorts, for all my packing tricks, videos, and details. I'll do my best to stay brief, but there's a lot to consider, and as we're doing the whole "backpacking" thing, I want to be sure I'm thorough and clear about everything so it will be as helpful as possible. Keep checking back to this post - I'll be adding as I go.
The packing challenge I wanted to take on was bringing everything. Seeing if I could sacrifice no part of my routine and still pack super minimally in my carry-on size backpack. I set out on this, knowing that I very well may have to give up on some conveniences, and the prospect of that was perfectly fine with me.... but I just wanted to try. Just to see if I could hack it and bring it all.
Spoiler: I managed it all with room to spare!
I'll lay out each section the same, with a detailed written portion on each of my topics, with the corresponding video below. I'll cover makeup, hygiene, clothes/shoes, daypack, and how everything fits together.
If you have any questions whatsoever, please comment below or send me a message. I'd be happy to answer anything you're extra curious about.
Trip Overview
- 3 weeks
- 10 separate flights (2 of which are red-eyes)
- 16 nights in accommodations
- 9 Airbnbs
- 1 46L backpack each
- 1 daypack to share
Quick Itinerary
- Arrive in Newark, NJ
- NYC during the day, then evening flight from Newark-Iceland
- Iceland
- Iceland
- Iceland
- Paris
- Dijon, France
- Dijon, France
- Châlons-en-Champagne, France
- Florence, Italy
- Florence, Italy
- Florence, Italy
- Riomaggiore, Italy (Cinque Terre)
- Barolo region
- Barolo region
- Pisa, Italy
- Beauvais, France
- Newark, NJ
- HOME
For reference, these are the main items I'll be mentioning.
The packing cubes, the Osprey 46, and the daypack.
Makeup
I did it. I managed to fit my entire makeup routine (with room to spare) in one small packing cube!
Using the smallest of the cubes in the 4-piece set, I have packed:
- primer
- foundation
- concealer
- tinted powder
- bronzer, blush, highlight
- translucent setting powder
- eye primer
- eyeshadow palette
- eyeliner
- mascara
- waterproof mascara
- lip color
- brush set
- foam applicators (Target)
- lash curler (Target)
- 1 week pill container with misc items/extra product (Dollar Tree)
This is what my makeup typically consists of vs. the condensed, minimal version:
So the challenge with this was the time-frame we'll be gone. Three weeks with sample sized products seemed like a stretch, so the pill container will act as a nice little catch-all if needed (like for extra primer). Plus, I can even throw some floss or ibuprofen in there as well.
I don't know if you're like me in this sense, but when I'm traveling domestically for a week or so, I'm always sure my nearly-full bottle of foundation WILL run out while I'm traveling so I pack two. It's so dumb, because when I'm at home, I know just how long any amount of makeup will last me, but once I pack it, it's suddenly near empty. Haha! So before going on a trip with limited packing space, realistically think this through.
I'd definitely suggest trying to get away with sample sized products if you can. A sample sized mascara, for example, should be plenty for honestly even a month. And if you're not going to some third world country, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to pick up more wherever you go.
My primer, mascara, lip color, and eye shadow all came in a great sample set from Smashbox (linked here).
I also grabbed a travel size concealer and brush set. The rest of the products (tinted powder, translucent powder, foundation, eye primer, waterproof mascara, eyeliner, lash curler, and contour set) are actually full-sized. I just looked for smaller ones or condensed sets. For example, I usually use three different products for bronzer/blush/highlighter, so having all three in one set is saving me tons of room.
Lastly, be sure you actually TRY the products before you blindly pack them. I bought a different foundation for the smaller container, tried it, and hatedddd it. So I'm bringing one that's tried and true instead. Practice using the new brushes, or bronzer, or whatever, and be sure it's something you'll like for the duration.
Below, check out the makeup packing video for a 2 minute summary and see how they all actually fit into that small bag!
Hygiene
This was the toughest area for me. The carry-on liquid limits (one quart sized bag per person, with products 3oz or less) definitely threw a wrench in my ideas, but I think we'll get by (barely). But, I did it again! I managed to fit my entire routine yet again. Here's the full list of my hygiene stuff (and Tom's liquids too).
Tom doesn't have any liquids beyond his shampoo, hair styling goop, and face wash (which we're sharing), so he's a gem and will take a few of my liquids as well.
Liquids (Bag 1)
- Contact solution
- Face wash
- Men's shampoo
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Toothpaste
- Tom's hair goop
Liquids (Bag 2)
- Dry shampoo
- Mousse
- Hair Spray
- Exfoliating face wash
- Contact solution
- Face lotion
We'll keep our liquids bags in a convenient location so we can pull them out easily for security checks, but once through security, I''ll move most of them to my hygiene packing cube for the sake of keeping things organized.
I also have a couple secrets...
I'm bringing a HALF bottle of shampoo and a HALF bottle of conditioner. If you look at the lower right-hand corner of the photo above at the small, clear, stacked tubs, there they are. Tom had the idea to dry them. The first ingredient in these products is water, so doesn't that make sense? I poured them on large sheets of parchment paper and let the water evaporate for a couple of days. This left me with gel-like substances that easily fit into less than 3 ounces. Just a small amount in the shower - where you (duh!) add the water back in - and it lathers up just the same as at home (I've tested this). It's a wonderful way to bring a lot more than 3 ounces in a concentrated form.
HOWEVER, because of the containers or the lack of labeling or whatever else, I could see TSA confiscating them. Oh well! Worth a shot. I'll be sure to circle back afterwards and let you know how it went.
Another concentrated item is our laundry soap (pink/red bottle, lower right photo). Several of our Airbnb's have washers (or else we'll be using sinks) and since we're gone for nearly three weeks, we'll need to do laundry. I didn't want to bring another liquid thing and we really wracked our brains trying to figure out what to bring. Then I remembered a sample of Norwex laundry detergent a friend had given me and I forgot about. For an entire load you only need a teaspoon, and since our loads will likely be smaller, we can probably get away with a half teaspoon. I think it'll be the perfect travel detergent.
Lastly, I really wanted to bring my hair straightener. Most of the places we're staying will have hair dryers (yay!) but I need a straightener to add texture to my hair (I actually use it to curl or add waves rather than straighten). Well, I discovered that even with a plug adapter, you would also need a voltage adapter so as not to blow fuses or break your appliance.
UNLESS you get a dual voltage appliance! After just a little bit of looking, I found this travel sized straightener (but not the teeny tiny kind) for only $11 on a lightening deal. It's about nine inches long - so just slightly smaller than a normal one. Every little bit helps! It doesn't have a temperature control, but it heats up to 410 degrees fahrenheit. I've tested it and am thoroughly impressed. Honestly, I'm pretty sure it's better than my usual one. Watch the video below to see what it looks like next to an average hair straightener.
The only thing I would recommend, is to buy a heat resistant case (which I did). I don't know about you, but I always do my hair last and then get stuck having to pack/awkwardly carry my hot styling tool. The case saves you that trouble and you can pack up your hot appliance and go. In fact, I should have bought one ages ago!
Below are the three main items I mentioned and the correlating video so you can see how all of this works. It's a bit longer than my last video but I wanted to be thorough :)
Clothes and Shoes
This took a little discipline to stay within a few boundaries, but I'm so glad I managed to stick to my guns. Clothes ended up being pretty easy for me!
Clothes List:
1 pajama top
1 pajama bottom
3 dresses
2 sweater cardigans
6 tops
4 bottoms (3 black pants, 1 pair of jeans)
1 blanket scarf
1 rain jacket
3 shoes (rain boots, cute flat/sneaker, tennys)
11 underwear
2 camis
8 not-socks
2 tall, thick socks
1 regular sock
1 pair of black tights
1 belt
1 swimsuit
In order to bring a lot of outfit options with a few pieces, I stuck to neutrals. You've probably heard this tip before, but make sure every top can go with every bottom and vise versa. I limited my colors to black, grey, green, and blue. Honestly, I typically wear this palette at home almost exclusively, so it wasn't that hard for me. I mixed it up by throwing in the patterned dress and a scarf, but I also wanted to leave room to buy a few small pieces overseas as well. I made sure I was realistic about what types of clothes I'm most comfortable in and how they would work together or layer. Layering is your friend - especially if the temps during various seasons can go up or down by the day. Since we're traveling in the fall, I decided to bring a mixture of dresses, short sleeves, and long sleeves. Easy enough!
My shoes are all insanely comfortable (which was my top priority) and they each have a purpose.
The boots will be used just for Iceland. I was sent them courtesy of Sperry, and they gave me free reign to choose what I wanted, and I couldn't pass them up! They're so cute and will be perfect for whatever climate or terrain Iceland throws at us. Though they're too bulky to pack, I was willing to wear them on each flight. That's not a bother to me, but maybe to others it is.
The pointed flats were sent to me courtesy of Dr. Scholl's and again, they let me choose. These just had the perfect sneaker/flat mixture I was looking for, and they were included on a bunch of lists online as "great travel shoes." They are crazy, crazy comfortable and I am super happy with them.
The lace-up sneakers are from Target and they are meant for days where we might go off the beaten path a little more. They're also very breathable, so if my flats get wet, they're a cute alternative. They even look cute with my dresses!
This video is longer, but I explain my shoes in detail and show them on my feet walking around. Plus I'll show you some outfit mixtures, and how all of my clothes fit into the last two cubes with ease. (Seriously you guys, buy yourself some packing cubes - they are incredible!)
Don't forget to follow me on social media to stay up to date and connected. Feel free to message or email me with any content requests, ideas, or collaborations!
#sponsored #ad #affiliate #co isn't fake. Let me tell you why.
This is a post I've wanted to write for a long time. I don't typically "blog about blogging" mostly because I always hope to relate and reach people outside the blogging realm, but, I think this topic has been unfortunately tainted by influencers (bloggers) and has caused readers, followers, and even other bloggers to click away from and ignore certain content.
That being, sponsored content.
Ugh. You guys, this literally makes me so uncomfortable to talk about because it's so personal. But I'm going to dive in and explain what it is, how I approach it, and how I hope you view my sponsored/affiliate/ad content moving forward. Again, let me just reiterate, this is MY approach and every blogger does it differently - to each their own!
What is sponsored/affiliate/ad/CO content?
Sponsored or Ad content is typically made up of content that is paid. Sometimes it's just free items in exchange for a mention within a post, a product review, or social media shout out, but most of the time, the blogger is being paid to write positively about the mentioned product or business. Here is an example of this type of post on Joy Lynn: Vitamin Water. I was paid by a third party to write a unique post using Vitamin Water from Sam's Club. This was essentially an ad, but it doesn't mean that the post itself was "fake" - just that it had to mention the product. The other tips within that post are honest-to-goodness tips I keep in mind when I'm doing some serious thrifting. Think of it like product placement in movies. Just because the characters are drinking Pepsi, doesn't mean the movie is just about Pepsi. They just got paid to mention it.
Affiliate links are no more than a link to a product that, should you make a purchase, will give a small commission to the blogger. They're used all over the internet and are not unique to blogs or bloggers, but YouTubers, businesses, and more. They cost nothing extra, but affiliates are a very positive, passive way for bloggers to make a few dollars for recommending great products to their readers. Any Amazon link you find on my blog is affiliate linked. So if you click on the KitchenAid mixer in my sidebar and buy it, I get a little moolah from Amazon as a way for them to say to me, "Hey, thanks for sending someone over and giving us business!" However, if you click that mixer, decide you don't want it, but continue to browse Amazon and make a different purchase - without ever leaving that one session - I'd get a small commission on whatever you bought in that session. It has no affect on you, but it's the main way my blog personally makes an income and helps keep my running costs in the black.
C/O (compliments of, courtesy of) is nothing more than free product. Typically, this means an item was sent to a blogger because the blogger asked for it or the company sent a sample on their own accord hoping the blogger will like it enough to mention it. This doesn't usually come with any requirements and bloggers might like something they received so much, that they willingly write a review on it, share it on social media, or use it as a giveaway item. Companies might ask for a share on social media or a review, but no one is contractually obligated. The difference between free items in the C/O sense vs. the sponsored sense, is that free items that are sponsored are "in exchange" for a post/social media share/review. C/O items may or may not be used or shared at all.
What did you mean in regards to some of these being "tainted?"
How many times have you as a reader come across a post that's tagged as #sponsored, #ad, #afflink, etc... and immediately passed it by because those tags, to you, have become synonymous with "fake content?" Probably a lot. I'll even raise my hand for this one... I still do this.
The thing is, I get it. I understand why you do that.
It's because at one point you clicked on one of these posts and found the substance to be completely vapid and lacking, except when it came time to praise a product. The photos were filled with pretty staging and gaudy-labeled products as the star. The post, though intriguing by the title, ended up being nothing more than a glorified ad for chocolate milk from Wal-Mart. You felt used. Like you were the audience adding to the success of an online "figure" who just needs you for numbers and "support" for their ad company. This "trick" happened to you more than once, until finally, you developed an instinctive response to simply scroll right past any and all posts with "#ad" associated with them.
How are these approached on Joy Lynn?
I'm writing this post preemptively so that in my future posts, you aren't quick to judge. I want to communicate to you - you as an individual - how honesty and integrity works on Joy Lynn.
Sponsored/Ad Content:
Thus far, to be completely honest with you, I've not pursued many sponsored opportunities. There are various places you can land sponsored gigs for money, but because authenticity is of the utmost importance to me, I cannot bring myself to write a meaningful article about frozen dinners from Target even if it comes with a nice paycheck. I have a hard time feeling as though that's true to my blog and honest and valuable to my readers.
Pitching to companies I love is also insanely daunting - even small area businesses. As much as I, of course, feel that my blog and my readership would be beneficial to these businesses, it's hard to go in and say, "Hey, I love your business and I want to share about your products on my blog, but it'll cost you $---." And unless you have a massive following with huge social media numbers, the big brands you want to work with probably won't even acknowledge your existence, let alone PAY you. Sponsored content is not my strong suit. I am not very "salesy," I care very deeply about authenticity and only promoting products and businesses I absolutely love, and I never want to disappoint my sponsors or readers. Maybe it's a fear of failure, but more than anything, it's a fear that my readers may see my blog in a negative light should it become too "sponsored." I hope that in the future, as I perhaps pursue some of these higher paid routes, I'll have the support and understanding from my readers that these posts are necessary for my blog's success and they are still real posts.
Affiliate Links:
These links are the driving force on Joy Lynn. They are passive in nature, and I only link to products that I either own, are very similar to what I own, or would consider trying (like the ones linked in this post). I'm not pushy about them, they bring in only cents on the dollar, but are such an easy, positive way for readers to give back to this little online space. How many times do you order off Amazon in a month? Next time, I hope you'll think of me and click through one of my links before filling up your cart and purchasing :)
C/O (compliments of, courtesy of):
Though I think it's very important for bloggers to be paid monetarily for the hard work they put into their blogs, receiving products is also very fulfilling and can feel so rewarding. I've received several items over the years and only shared with you the ones I love. Social Print Studio, as an example, is a company I've purchased from for years, and when I pitched to them and they agreed to sponsor a post, I was ecstatic because they are such a genuine fit for my blog and I felt my readers would appreciate it too (here's that post). To this day, if I ever see someone looking for a great place to order prints, I point them to SPS because they are truly my personal favorite. Not because they worked with me, but because I genuinely love their company and products.
Really, it's just an awesome perk to be able to share with you actual items I would choose or purchase, but instead be given them so I don't go broke buying up all my favorite things. I have a few items for our upcoming trip that were sent to me, because I reached out to them, I picked their items, and I would have bought them anyway. If I didn't like them, I certainly wouldn't share them, but I do! And I can't wait to recommend them to you.
How do I hope you view my sponsored, affiliate, etc... content moving forward?
In terms of all the different ways I make a living off this blog, I hope with all my heart that you'll continue to be supportive. I don't push anything on my readers and never will, but in doing so I've sacrificed a lot financially, and in ways it's even held back my success. I do not buy followers (many, mannnyyyy influencers do) and I always want Joy Lynn to be 100% organic, authentic, and real. In order to keep this up, I need your support and trust. I need you to not ignore or skip those posts that are sponsored or affiliate linked or C/O, because those posts took a lot of guts, pitching, time, and energy to land. When I have the opportunity to share a brand with you, it's because I love that product and I think you really will too.
It hurts bloggers when they put so much blood, sweat, and tears into their online spaces, only to be shunned by their readers when they finally get a paycheck. As if readers suddenly don't appreciate their work if they get paid for it. How crummy is that? To work so hard to be honest and trustworthy, only to be pigeonholed by the word "sponsored" or "affiliate."
If you see sponsored here...
Know it took so much bravery, hard work, and dedication-to-authenticity to land and put together in a genuine post. It's 100% real.
If you see affiliate here...
Know it's one of the few ways this blogger can continue to follow her dream of creating a helpful, positive, wholesome online community.
If you see c/o here...
Know it's a product this blogger either asked for and chose herself, and feels so grateful to have the opportunity to receive and share it. Or she was given this product and really loves it and thinks you'll really love it too.
(Keep in mind: Not every free product makes it to the blog because it may not have made the cut in terms of quality/style/various reasons)
Finally, I just want to express my sincere gratitude for my followers and small, engaged community. Whether you're a blogger or not, I love having you here. I think about my readers on the regular, I love your comments, I write for you, and I share my heart here hoping it can bring something positive or relatable to your feeds of grim news and heartache. I do real here, and sometimes that means sharing hard things, but each and every day, when I open up my blog or my social media, I feel at home. I cherish the messages you send me and love when you tell what you like to see and read. I want to continue to nurture this space and take opportunities for growth, but I need your supportive words and presence to keep doing what I'm doing. I know it's easy to look at the life of a blogger (a career that many still think is bizarro - haha) or writer or creative freelancer, and think they have it easy and their life is just a staged photo, but behind the scenes are struggles, and insecurities, and many "no's," and few "thanks," and all for such little pay. But it's something I care for so deeply, in the way anyone cares for a work of their own hands or their small business. It's a place that feels worth the frustration and failure and slow growth when that one person reaches out and to say they feel validated, inspired, understood, or happy.
I hope I'm acting as a light for Christ, a light in the world, and a light to someone's day.
We need more lights, but you have to pay the bill to turn on the light. So please. Don't be afraid of #ad.
Don't forget to follow me on social media to stay up to date and connected. Feel free to message or email me with any content requests, ideas, or collaborations!
Hondo's Favorites
Welcome! If you’ve landed on this page, you likely landed here via Hondo’s Instagram. His Instagram was started when we first got him as a place for me (Joy) to picture-dump because I just knew I was going to take wayyyy too many photos of him. Well, that silly little page (that I made really for myself) has grown into a fun, positive community of people who get laughs and smiles from our favorite bear-of-a-fella. In fact, Tom (my husband) posts for Hondo pretty often now, too! We are so grateful and glad to have you following along on Hondo’s derpy adventures and we hope this page comes in handy for all you new - or not new - doggo owners! We own and use all of the items listed on this page, so this is certainly not an “ad” page. The crowd favorites (which you may have seen featured in some of Hondo’s videos) are the stainless steel rake and the paw-washer. Both are listed under “grooming.” My personal favorites are the magic fur remover brushes listed under “for the house.” They save you from those annoying lint rollers and the endless sheets that still leave hair behind. These brushes get ALL the hair off my clothes, the couch, bedding, etc. Truly magic! Anyways - so glad to have Hondo’s followers finding their way onto my blog, so if you’re curious, please take a look around my site. If you have any questions comment below, DM us on Instagram, or email me here.
This post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase through one of these links I may receive a commission, but at no cost to you. These affiliates are essential to the livelihood of this blog and help cover the expenses necessary for running Joy Lynn.
Basics
Grooming
Toys
Walking
For the house
Don't forget to follow me on social media to stay up to date and connected. Feel free to message or email me with any content requests, ideas, or collaborations!
Custard Rhubarb Pie
I am not really a "pie person." I would prefer cookies, or brownies, or ice cream. Pie is sort of "meh" to me.
But this pie. OH THIS PIE. I can...
I am not really a "pie person." I would prefer cookies, or brownies, or ice cream. Pie is sort of "meh" to me.
But this pie.
OH THIS PIE.
I can (and may have) eaten an entire one of these pies all by myself. Tom can explain to you what this pie tastes like with words like "decadent, tangy, sweet, but not too sweet, buttery.."
This is his favorite pie. EVER. I get some serious wife points for that. He tells everyone about this pie, and if Tom is bragging about something, it's going to be worth bragging about. He's usually hard to impress. BUT THIS PIE.
Honestly, just try it.
Crust
2.5 C flour
2 sticks COLD butter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
6-8 tablespoons ice water
Pie Filling
4 C rhubarb, diced
3 eggs
2 C sugar
1/4 C flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon butter (melted)
