I switched to a new handbag last year (my old faithful died) and I made the leap to simplicity. Now, I carry: wallet, phone, keys, packet of tissues, Purell, lip balm, pen, small notepad, bottle of water.

Have a fabulous trip to Bali (I trust you'll report back with lots of helpful details) :) It's always nicer to travel light. Once upon a time, we moved to Canada carrying only one suitcase each (we returned to Australia carrying significantly more though...). Travel mercies for you and yours.

we are moving our lives from Lisbon (Portugal) to Hamburg (Germany) by the end of September and before the packing started we asked ourselves that same question "what we couldn't live behind - the answer was (surprisingly) short and simple - our photo albums (the ones we make every single year since we've been together). Regarding all the remaining things...we believe that home is wherever we are together so nothing more is essential.

have a memorable trip to Bali.

Sílvia

This is so true! We've moved 4 times in 12 months moving in and out of rentals, friends and family members' houses while our house gets renovated. It's amazing what you actually need. Fewer possessions has meant for less stress, more imagination and creativity for our children and a cleaner mind. As we get ready to finally move into our new house, my husband and I are tempted to only unpack half of our things and shed the rest. Have a memorable and magical family holiday x

The airport staff always seem amazed that we travel as a family of four with just one suitcase - makes me giggle when they ask how we do it. Actually, it´s mostly a matter of finding several combinations for everyones clothes. I sucked at that when I was younger and packed every pair of socks and what not I had - but after years of travelling I can finally say I got the hang of it. I love to travel light (gives me room for things I find when we´re away as well)! :-)

http://tinajoathome.com/

We are hopeless!!well actually my Mr isn't he packs light, but I am getting better. Last holiday to Sydney I only took the boots I was wearing- but let's face it's wasn't going to be going to any night club openings...

I have always been a 'light packer' whereas Sam is a 'everything but the kitchen sink' kinda gal. We are planning a move from our sunny Queensland home to Melbourne and then a big relocation overseas in a little over a year, and I've already begun looking around and assessing what we will take and what can stay (read: given away). Simplifying and lightening the load is the only way my mind could handle it.

Wishing you and yours a magical holiday - can't wait for the stories!
Sar xx

We too are off on our first oversea's holiday from NZ to Hawaii, and yes as you said very lucky to be entering a warmer climate and able to pack light. A few tee's and shorts for Mr 4 and dresses for miss 7months and maybe one set of warm clothes each. Is super hard tho not to take everything but the kitchen sink when you are travelling with littlies!! My handbag on the otherhand is so heavy its ridic!

http://twolittleknightlights.blogspot.co.nz/

I started even just with my purse only recently!! I threw out cards I never use and receipts that were in there. I had bobby pins and buttons and all sorts of things stuffed into such a small item. Next will be my handbag... But I'm like you, and always think 'better to be prepared!' :-) have a wonderful overseas adventure Jodi, I cannot wait to hear all about it. X

my daughter just moved to ballina....anywhere near you?

ha! I just cleaned out my bag this morning...I pulled out a couple of hats, a drinking glass, a few empty food containers, a scarf and some socks. I looked at the apple and decided to leave it there. It is amazing how much weight we carry around every day. I love the colour of those saltwaters, think I might have to get daisy a pair, if she ever starts walking!

When we went to Thailand earlier this year we did all carry on. It was so freeing and made the travel so much less stressful. We had a couple of loads of washing done for us and had more than enough clothes for the weeks we were away.

Enjoy your break. We're off for some tropical sun soon too!

rachel xo

Just last week I posted about the mammoth task of packing for any holiday with kids, long or short! I've recently emptied out my handbag and now when I pick it up, it feels so light, I feel a bit anxious that I am missing something important. Now that both kids are accident free (I say that and I'll jinx myself!) I don't even need to pack spare undies. I just wish I'd packed sunscreen over the weekend.

Today I am going to pick up my handbag from the leather repair shop because I had so much stuffed into it the shoulder strap gave way! Lesson learned. Happy travels xx

I just bought a new handbag - I wanted one that would fit only what I NEED (a slippery term for me). But I have some pretty big problems with my neck and back, yet I travel a long commute to my job (2.5 hours door to door each way, including 2 x 30 minute walks) so filling a handbag with unnecessary stuff is wrong... so I need to fit a kindle, phone, wallet, epipen, antihistemes & migraine meds (those two in a safe zip compartment), lipstick, hand sanitiser, pad and pen, tampons, sunscreen. I carry my water bottle in my hand, because if I have a bag that also fits my water bottle, then it would fit another novel, a bigger pad, etc etc etc.

I just take the same same suitcase when i go away - if I go for a weekends, or three months, one suitcase. I think the worst thing about travelling is having too many things to look after.

Moving half way around the world is the best way to figure out what you really need in your life! It turns out...not much!
I brought two suitcases when I moved to Australia and that was it!
Of course I have been steadily acquiring since then...it is definitely time to pare back once again!

I am about to move from Sydney to Singapore. Whilst I am completely daunted by the idea, I am also welcoming the idea of 'lightening my load', clearing my head and ridding myself and family of the things that are cluttering my life. Enjoy your trip away! I love love love Bali x

just 3 weeks ago my husband and two boys moved to germany for a year. we brought 4 suitcases, and man was it tough. we brought mostly clothes, a selection of shoes, our cloth nappies, and a few toys for the boys. it was difficult to pack so light, as we can't really replace things now that we're here as our income is pretty nonexistent right now. we have purchased a few essentials for our home, as it was largely unfurnished, but i'm mostly missing those touches that make an apartment feel less sterile—cloth napkins, pillows, rugs, wall hangings—so i bought 3 little plants, and am trying to revel in the simplicity.

all you really need is a good old pair of salt waters, isn't it?

I'm a Mary Poppins / Heavy Packer too. But I'm getting slightly better at it. We now make sure we vacate in accommodation that has a laundry or easy access to one. That way we can pack light and wash and re-wear during our stay. Makes the load more manageable with little ones around.
Claire x
http://claireeverafter.com/

I can relate to having the Mary Poppins diaper bag! But what is so sad, I can never find what I need, or if I do, its twenty minutes after the fact. When we moved overseas three years ago, the most essential things we brought were special items like the couch blanket we snuggle with, children's book collection (so necessary when moving to a new country with a new language), favorite toys and computer stuff (so you can Skype and connect with your old world). And as I type, there is a chocolate croissant smashed to smithereens in my Mary Poppins bag. PS, Poet's holiday wear looks so sweet stacked there. =)

Boy, oh, boy, oh, BOY. Have I learned about simplicity. Currently all our possessions are in PODs in storage while my family of 5 shares ~320SF as we relocate cross country. It's been surprisingly better than you'd expect, but there are those times... ;)
http://muffeeeeeeee.blogspot.com/

My husband and I lived three years in a 30 square meter apartment. It made me realize how little we actually need in our everyday life. This was before our daughter was born. Nor sure we could have that little space now ;-)

I absolutely love this practicing simplicity series of yours! It really, really speaks to me. Thank you so much for sharing.

My beloved sister totes two small girls between Hong Kong, London and Australia with the kind of lightness of luggage and simplicity and panache I can only dream about. They move frequently with work, and aren't weighed down by stuff, but it's the gracefully-approached long haul flights on her own with the girls and a colouring book that impresses me the most.

We just moved from the US to the Philippines and I half hoped our belongings would be lost. We spent the first month here with minimal goods from home and it felt nice! We travel a lot and I challenge myself to fit everything for both my daughter and myself into one carry-on duffle bag, it's hard because diapers take up so much room but so far I've made it work!