In case you missed the announcement on my Facebook page on Friday, we’re headed to Florida in one week! We surprised the kids with the trip (which has been in the works since the fall) with a rather anticlimactic April Fool’s Day set up. They figured out we weren’t joking right away, which I guess isn’t too surprising. Given the events of the past week, my heart wasn’t really into it and I couldn’t bring myself to drag the suspense (or lack thereof) on for too long.
So we are bound for Orlando and two fabulous days at Universal Studios. I’m not sure who’s more excited for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter…me or Buddy, who’s currently in the middle of the third book. From there, we head south, splitting our remaining week between Ft. Lauderdale and the Florida Keys.
Seriously, the idea of sitting on a tropical beach with a fruity cocktail in hand has been one of the only things to keep me sane in a week when we lost our dog, Dr. G. was traveling for work, and we got a freaking April snowstorm.
Now that the kids know about the trip, it’s time to get organized and start packing.
It’s funny — my most popular post to date on Keeping Mommy Sane is, by far, this post from 2014 about what to wear to Disney World. I guess I’m not the only one struggling with how to to be stylish and comfortable in 90 degree weather while you’re chasing kids around a giant amusement park!
So I thought it was time for an updated April school vacation Florida packing list. And I’m not talking practical stuff, like umbrellas and ziploc bags and sunscreen. It’s all about the clothes, people.
Even though it’s two years later, and we’re not spending our entire vacation at Disney World, it’s interesting that clothes I’m packing are pretty darn similar. Lots of versatile, mix-and-match pieces in mostly neutral colors (think navy, black, white), but with a few splashes of color (coral/pink, yellow) and prints (ikat, stripes, paisley) thrown in here and there. I’ve got some simple jewelry for the day, plus some statement pieces and a couple of dresses for some nice dinners out.
- necklace / 2. dress / 3. shorts / 4. backpack / 5. denim jacket (similar) / 6. sandals (similar) / 7. sport sandals (similar) / 8. necklace / 9. striped tee / 10. lace tee / 11. earrings / 12. shorts / 13. eyelet tank (similar) / 14. white jeans / 15. dress / 16. shorts (similar) / 17. shorts (similar) / 18. bag / 19. striped tee / 20. shorts / 21. tank
Nearly everything here was purchased at the local mall (Loft, Gap, Old Navy, Athleta), Target, Amazon, or outlet store (J.Crew Outlet, Gap Outlet, Banana Republic Outlet). I’ve had the Longchamps bag for ages, and I won the Stella & Dot arrow necklace, but the one splurge was the fabulous Tory Burch sandals, which I snagged at the Tory Burch Outlet and I’m declaring are my 40th birthday present to myself. I couldn’t resist.
Speaking of shoes, I’m definitely bringing the same Merrell sandals I wore to Disney (no. 7 above). They are the freaking best. Seriously. I’ve lost track now of the summer adventures these shoes have accompanied me on over the years. Unfortunately, my exact model is no longer available, but here’s a similar pair.
Another holdover from our last Florida trip is this straw Coach wristlet for nice dinners out when I don’t feel like lugging around the large Longchamps bag.
Unfortunately, like the Merrells, I’ve had this for nearly five years so it’s no longer available, but you might be able to find one on eBay or here are similar (and reasonably priced) versions from American Eagle and Amazon.
Other items going into my backpack are my running shoes and running gear (hoping to squeeze in a few small runs while we’re there), a denim jacket and my North Face waterproof shell, knowing we’ll likely encounter some rainy whether while we’re there, along with several swimsuits. I bought this tankini from Athleta that arrives tomorrow in a last ditch effort for a new swimsuit that I feel comfortable in; otherwise, I’ll just pack some of my old swimsuits, although I noticed they are starting to show their age.
What to wear on the plane is another thing that always throws me for a loop. I don’t want to look too schleppy (that’s a word, right?) since we have a few things to do once we arrive, but I also want to be comfortable.
I think I landed on these pieces from Athleta: the La Viva Capri in black (my new faves — so comfy!!!), a black tank, my Toms, and zip-up jacket (similar). We’ll have access to a washing machine while we’re in Ft. Lauderdale, so I may wash this outfit and wear it home, too!
I’m planning to spend this weekend packing and getting us organized before we take off. Honestly, after the sad events of last week, it’s nice to have something warm and happy and fun for all of us to look forward to.
I’ll be sharing lots of pics on my social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) if you want to follow along on our adventures!