my bags are packed, I'm ready to go

The Dream

In my head packing is a very glamourous thing. My collection of dream cardigans are perfectly folded and placed on top of my origami-esque dark denim blue jeans. I breeze through my deep closet and easily select my favorite timeless blouse hanging on a dark mahogany wooden hanger. The event is concluded with the pianissimo rumble of a unstrained and fully operational zipper.

Outside of my head, packing is primarily sorting through a kindergartener-sized mound of wrinkled clothes. Channeling Zeus atop Mt. Olympus my mom intervenes from the couch on behalf of every garment I plan to ditch.  Thanks to her charity and my weak will, I am now travelling with ...FOUR FULL SUITCASES!!!! OIY! (however one is a carry-on, so it's just 3 1/2, right?) But at least the clothes are light. My other essential items are not so feathery.

My Quirk

I don't care for shoes, or jewels. I am not overall invested in stuff.  I do enjoy candles and have a pretty rocking lava lamp. And I love my photo albums. But those can remain on display in my hibernating southern California bedroom. My books, however, must come! As well as three different kinds of magnets.

Legoland Memento Magnets!!

Hebrew Alphabet Magnets!!

Target $1 Impulse Buy Magnet!!

After a very selective draft I whittled the competition down to twenty or thirty must-haves (probably closer to thirty). While choosing my "Fantasy Literature Team" it dawned on me that there must be something personally linked and essential to the books we love best.  As if just by looking at the books any one person would fill a suitcase with, I could know more about them than a facebook feed or instagram post could reveal.

In a similiar vein, idealbookshelf.com creates custom pieces of art featuring your favorite stories. You can even take a peek at a few famous face's "shelves". While I did enjoy internet snooping through James Franco's favorite titles, I  would prefer organizing bookshelves around the world, that's a job  right?

these bad boys will also be fleeing the state with me

The first real conversation my best friend Melanie and I  had revolved around our mutual love for M*A*S*H* and Scarlett O'Hara. The sacredness of Tara and Hawkeye's wily misdemeanours belonged to an essentialness of both of us. The stories we love are templates for the  living we do, the battles we wage and the friends we love.

But alas, there is a more important subject matter when considering packing...

The Question

Q:What is the perfect packing outfit when one is moving from California to North Dakota?

A: A refined ensemble that reflects your deep appreciation for your home, a reminder of another faovrite location and the an exciting accent piece in spirit of your new home. 


When undertaking a merciless task such as pack style is essential.

Voila! 

California Tank, Stanley, Idaho Yoga Pants & the world's most beautiful Uggs