Did you know there is a National Hug Day, A Purple Day (and I have been missing out on this for years and I am obsessed with purple), A World Turtle Day, and even An International Left-handers Day?
So I have decided to declare June 15 to be International Paring Down Day.
I usually love to pare down, to minimize, and to declutter my wardrobe on a regular basis.
Two words…cheap therapy.
Well usually…
Unless the paring down involves what will go on a trip and what will stay behind. And when it is not a trip and more of a move, this whole paring down thing begins to suck.
Unlike the old days when I could sweet talk the person at the airport counter into looking the other way at the amount of luggage I came bearing, there are rules now… and strict ones at that.
So no suitcases are going. Only hockey bags for all that hockey my daughter and I play… NOT!
And even though Cairo has 4 seasons sort of, I have deemed their winter not a true “winter” in my books, and have pulled the plug on all those bloody thick sweaters that take up way too much room.
Yay! Back to having some space.
Now what am I going to do about these boxes filled with my wonderful teaching crap materials? I can’t teach without this stuff, whatever it is!
Out goes more clothes. Books out rank clothing any day! Unless you are talking about anti-bug clothing which my daughter wants to take.
Just kidding 🙂
Are you a pro at paring down when you move/ travel or do you struggle and resist? Have you ever been stuck paying extra charges at an airport for overweight luggage?
four camels and a coffee to go 
I had no idea International Pairing Down Day was a thing! I wish I would have known!!
In terms of avoiding those overweight luggage fees, I find it all comes down to the clothes I pack. Now I stick to more basic items that I can easily mix and match. Definitely helped a lot.
Best,
Lauren 🙂
http://www.SeeChangeOrganizing.com
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I just created it when I saw there were so many days that had been created! Mixing and matching is definitely the way to go. Especially when you are packing for a shorter period of time. Thanks for dropping by and commenting.
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I’m the worst packer on the planet. Maybe in the galaxy. I’d be far better off packing a replicator and leaving everything else behind. 😀
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Ha Ha. At least I am not alone.
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I’ve lived out of the country in one place (and traveled) now for 15 years. I’ve got tons of stuff. And I hoard. When I move, I am not going to love it. But listen…that whole body mosquito net works. I used one when I went to the Amazon jungle, we were the only ones not bitten.
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That is good to know re: the whole body mosquito net. I thought they might just be used in our mosquito filled parks here in Canada. And I do attract mosquitoes – so far both dengue and malaria.
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We didn’t want to get malaria, so we used these suits, and they worked like a charm!
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..and here I was giving myself bonus points for cleaning out my clothes closet this week. 😉 In a way paring down is liberating isn’t it? The closest I ever came to pared down living was in 1992 after Hurricane Andrew. We moved into temporary housing in Ft. Lauderdale with just the absolute basics while our house was being fixed. I didn’t mind it.. I mean the kids missed some of their toys, but we all got used to it. Do you have any idea how long you will be there? I can handle inconveniences better if I know it’s basically not a forever situation.
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That would have been something to have to move out but then you would learn quickly what you really used and needed as well. We are planning for 2 years at this point. Which is not a forever situation at all but we do want to have enough stuff to be able to change our clothes and for me to effectively teach. 🙂 I am trying to find the happy middle. Tomorrow I begin to tackle the boxes of teaching materials… that is a lot harder than clothes. I may want to sleep in. Ha Ha
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..or have a glass of Gamay! 🍷
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I grew up in a strict home where every usable item was kept… just in case someone could use it. To this day I find it difficult to get rid of things such as clothing and furniture and cooking items. On the other hand, when on vacay I am able to pack light so I’ve never paid a charge… yet. I’m kind of the yin and yang of stuff, aren’t I?
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Yes you are! You don’t fit in any particular box at all. I am probably the opposite to you.. no problem decluttering my house at all but find packing hard to do.
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I have a “system.” By that I mean, I pull out everything I want to take and pack as efficiently as possible. Realize that it can’t all fit. Unpack. Pull out non-“essentials.” Repack. Check the wight. Unpack again because I have 4kg to work with! Refold, remove, add a pair of shoes and maybe a straightener. Repack….. You get the idea haha I end up with a really well-stocked and well-packed bag, but it takes some time and concentration!
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You are a pro Katie! I have just unpacked my first packing and have repacked – some stuff hit the curb as a result… but I am sure I have way more packing, unpacking and repacking to do still. You are right… time and patience and focus are the 3 keys here.
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I am horrible at paring down while traveling (though rather decent at home!). Something about the idea of being caught without that perfect outfit when I need it…
And many dollars have been spent on overweight bags over the years with me, though more than once I’ve used a few tricks of the seasoned traveler to get one past the powers-that-be – one of which was employed at Christmas this last year with several overweight bags!
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How did you manage to be so sneaky and get past those powers-that-be since they are so challenging these days?? I want the inside scoop.
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I generally suggest the skycap, a good tip (because it’s far cheaper than the overweight fees) and a smile! It doesn’t always work, but it works a lot more often than it does inside the airport!
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Thanks Sarah. Great to know. i have never used a skycap before. I am usually travelling with one backpack nowadays so wasn’t “in the know” about this service.
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It’s great if you’ve over-packed (like I am quite prone to do). And no need to meander through the check-in lines!
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Great to know. This may be our tactic when we leave this time certainly.
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It’s not foolproof, but it at least gives you a shot!
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I am HORRIBLE at paring down! Though I haven’t moved in over 20 years. I should. It might make me toss everything that is heaped up in the basement.
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Ha Ha! Yes, we know the thought of the scary basement and garage… what is lurking there…and even after one big move last year, I still have stuff to pare down and decide on. It never seems to end, the accumulation of stuff!
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Excuse me, but….What is Paring Day supposed to be about? :O
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Paring down means getting rid of excess stuff. It is a strange English word that is not used too much but means declutter, get rid of, reduce. 🙂
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Sounds like a *simple* day 😉
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moved a few times in my life. once being forced to pack the dearest things into two suitcases… no fun. dislike.
But Egypt… wow 🙂
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I dislike it too. But the end result, I hope, is worth the pain of packing and discarding. 🙂
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Cute!!! I’m purging in my home now (or attempting to) and admit I struggle still with paring down oftentimes when I travel but think it’s all in my head really! I minimize on occasion but other times I just talk myself INTO bringing things because “I might need it” when in actuality I barely even get to it or unpack it lol! I have unfortunately suffered from overage fees but bite the bullet as punishment to myself! Side note: I’m left-handed and am aware there’s an International Left-handers day but for the life of me I forget when it is until it’s upon me…..smh :-)! Happy Travels Cheryl!
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I do that too.. the fear of leaving something behind that is desperately needed but never is…Just to be on the safe side. I haven’t paid overage fees yet but have been known to take stuff out and put it in carry on as well as wear all my heavy clothes onto the airplane!!
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LOL!!!
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I’ve never had to endure such a monumental task as moving internationally. You have my deepest sympathy – and respect.
I’ve never traveled light and I suspect it would be a nightmare task for me.
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And I suspect this one will be for me as well. Other times I didn’t have to drag professional clothing nor professional books/materials with me. No one cared if I looked like a slob in the Cambodian jungle! But a private school in Cairo might! Oh well.. have to suck it up and just do it.
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I like international paring down day! the rule I’ve heard is to put everything on your bed and then get rid of half of it. i am really good at that when I pack for my kids. however, when it comes to my suitcase, slightly more like 2/3 make it into the suitcase :-))
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Ha Ha! The kids’ clothes are always so much easier. Mine on the other hand…not so much. The shoes take up so much room and this time, I need some nice stuff as work is involved. I can’t look like a disheveled backpacker for a year teaching! But seriously, good idea. I think I shall do that. Dump it all out and go through it all again.
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You may be able to get good tailoring in Egypt. P
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Yes. Another good thought.
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Girl…listen. Listen. Being students who move ALL the time (literally moved four times in four years, and one was out of state), we LIVE the pared down life. We never owned a stick of furniture until we moved to FL because we couldn’t find an apartment that was furnished- even now we only have second hand furniture or things with rips that were on discount. Our storage consists of empty boxes ready for the next move
I am anxious about fitting our lives into 4 suitcases though. Before, the rule was- if it fits in the car (a 2 door hatchback hyundai, already very small), we can keep it. Now we have to pare down to half of that.
But unlike you, we are moving to a location with INTENSE winters. I mean, I’ve never experienced temperatures that low except when visiting NYC…so we have to pack the heaviest things like big sweaters first (they are expensive in Turkey)….
Can we make a second national paring down day in late July? 🙂 This one is too early for me
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You are hilarious. Yes, you will need one in July. I will need another in July as well. Yes, you got to get the sweaters in especially if they are expensive at the other end. This is what ours looks like as well – 4 suitcases and that includes my teaching stuff. Maybe I can convince my daughter to use only 1 suitcase? Ha ha.. and then I get 3. Doubt it highly.
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I tried that with my hubby… “darling, don’t you think you only need ONE suitcase?”… 🙂
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This looks like my nightmare – I can’t even pack light for a weekend away. Good luck….
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Thanks. I will need it. 🙂
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I feel your pain! I hate packing for a short break, never mind a move.
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I know. As I sit here on my computer and continue to procrastinate!
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I prefer to prepare boxes and change places than not to do them and stay in the same place. Last year I managed to reduce my wardrobe by 1/2 😀 it felt good!
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You are so right! I have to remember that. Half of your wardrobe… you did very well!
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I can easily get rid of stuff, except for books and co. I still have my notebooks from the university. Of course they are in a safe place in Italy, I don’t travle with them 😀
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I guess shipping some stuff would be way too costly? That’s A LOT of teaching supplies/resources! Those are really important. Couldn’t you tech-ify the boxes’ content? Like take pics (okay that’d be a lot of pics) but you could have your resources on an itty bitty memory stick instead or a CD and when you need them you can print them (in Egypt) from the CD or memory stick. ?? *shrugs shoulders hands you high quality chocolate as stress reliever*
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I haven’t looked into shipping but then I would worry about its arrival, I think and the “when” part. Oh and yes, you are a smart and wise woman with tech-ifying things… which I probably should but I think that might lead to a full blown anxiety attack so my family would forbid me from trying that route. It is my teaching books and regular books that I love so much that I will have to seriously go through. I was known for having a large classroom library! I think I will need that high quality or even low quality chocolate!!!
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Nooooo, no full-blown anxiety attacks por favor. You are allowed to eat as much chocolate as your stressed soul needs. HUGZZZZZZZZZZ.
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So chocolate may need to be in high supply for the next month or so!
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Chocolate makes EVERYTHING better 😉
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You are so right!
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Not jealous! I HATE doing it so much that I have not yet learnt the word for it: paring down it is then. Even if I only travel for a weekend, I must carry a full suitcase of choices. Who knows what mood I’ll be in?? The only time I really moved in my life (two years ago to Italy, previously it was just 5 houses down the road from the house where I was born), it was the prince coming to pick me up with a sensible roomy Ford. So much so that I was able to take everything I prepared, even the winter clothes that I’d packed separately – if there was space, and there was still space for an office chair on which I sit right now. Yay for bordering countries, and cars. Wishing you a smooth move.
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I am so jealous. Bordering countries and cars make a world of difference. I would love that! And moving to Italy… who doesn’t love that?!
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When I think about moving, I get nightmares involving boxes. Nice post. 🙂
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I agree. Moving isn’t fun, boxes or not!
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