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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Fashion, Shay's Closet ·

What I Packed!


It’s Tuesday morning, and I’m so excited to be on board Norwegian Cruise Line’s brand new ship!!

On Wednesday afternoon, I got back to my house after Boston and didn’t even unpack.  I just pulled out what needed to be washed, added just a few more things, left my makeup, jewelry, hair stuff in the bag and got repacked for another trip.  On Friday morning, Andrew and I left bright and early for a fun little (kind of unexpected) getaway which has been so much fun!!  When NCL reached out and asked me if I wanted to spend a few nights on board their brand new ship, I was hesitant as two trips that closes together are kind of strategically tough, but since this opportunity seemed once in a lifetime and one I’ve never had before, Andrew and I decided to do it.  We left a few days early to enjoy New York before boarding, but I can’t wait to share with you all the details once I’m home and have gathered my thoughts.  In the meantime, I have had several emails, IG comments and FB messages about what I’ve been packing for these trips, so I thought I’d share.

Here we go (in no particular order as this is such a random list!)…

Thanks to you ladies, I never leave home without my Kindle Paperwhite!  I used to carry so many books with me when I traveled, but now, just one light little Kindle.  I love this because it’s small, it’s light, it holds so many books (mine has like 24 on it right now!), and it always has the perfect amount of “light”.  On an airplane?  No need to flip on the overhead light. In a hotel room?  No need to keep Andrew up as it has a light, and I don’t have to use a lamp.  Outside when it’s bright?  Perfect light!  I love that I don’t have to always search for the right lighting to read my books…it’s always there!
I lovvvvvvvve this jewelry bag right here.  There is a place for everything and everything has a place.  I add my bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces, and then fold it up and place it in my bag.  This keeps things so organized and my jewelry (especially necklaces!) from becoming tangled and damaged.
For my trip to Boston, I brought along these two pairs of shoes…
…my short wedge Sorels (I also brought along that pretty sweater too!) and…
…my black wedge sneakers (I brought the red sweater with me to NY!).  Both shoes are SO COMFORTABLE!! We walked so much on that first trip and I never even had a blister.  I loved them both so much that they’re back with me on this trip along with…
…my taller Sorels too!  All three pairs of shoes come in multiple colors.  I love these boots and actually wore them on…
…Halloween too!  You can’t see them back there, but I wore them and loved them!  Both my Patagonia mid-length jacket and my hat came on these two trips as well…
 …I really love this jacket.  It’s very light and yet warm.  I hate it when my jacket gets super bulky, but this one is thinner while still keeping the cold out.  I loved the mid-length so that when I sit down (like on park benches, etc) my bum doesn’t get cold.  It comes in many colors!  The cute hat also comes in several colors too!
I snapped this pic on our way to the airport because I thought my outfit was the COMFIEST!!  I paired this really soft tunic with my faux-leather leggings and was oh so comfy on the plane.  Both made it back into my suitcase for trip #2.
Jeni was my roommate for the first trip (we draw names to see who gets which roommate), and we both wore our matching pjs 🙂 .
For Boston, I packed my gold sequin tank, velvet jeans and sandals.
For this trip, I re-packed that exact outfit and then also included…
I can’t leave home without my Revlon Dryer Brush!  I love this because it’s all I need to bring.  I can either go to bed with my hair wet and then wake up and use this to smooth out/style my hair or I can use the hotel/cruise ship dryer to get 90% of my hair dry and then finish off with this.  I just think this dryer makes my hair much more smooth, plus, it’s so easy to use and easy to throw in the suitcase!
Now, of course, I packed every.single.thing in…
…my beloved packing cubes.  Friends, this is probably THE BEST THING I’VE EVER BOUGHT ON AMAZON.  EVER.  I have gushed about these cubes many times, but this…
…blows my mind every single time.
So, that’s what I’ve been packing!  What’s the number one thing you always pack/can’t do without/makes your life easier when you travel?  I would love, love, love to know!!!
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Comments

  3. Becky says

    I can’t wait to see your review of the Encore. We are booked for next month on that ship. We are so excited!

  4. Ahna @ Hammers N Hugs says

    Have so much fun!! On a side note, I would love to see a post on luggage. Like luggage reviews, your experience with different brands, kids luggage etc. I am in the process of replacing the whole family’s luggage – suitcases, carry ons, overnight bags, toiletry bags etc – and would love some feedback and recommendations from everyone really! Enjoy your trip!!!

  6. Nicole virgilio says

    Hi Shay!! Love those packing cubes…thanks to your suggestion!! ?. Do you mind sharing what size you got in the faux leggings? I wasn’t sure if they run smaller. Thank you!

  8. Cat says

    Chargers for electronics were always annoying to me (the ultimate last minute thing to pack) so I purchased duplicates to store in a pouch in my suitcase — especially as I’ve upgraded different Apple products at different times, I now need 3 different chargers for my (old, use it for downloaded movies) iPad, work phone, and personal phone. Amazon Basics sells compatible versions… no need to pay Apple prices!

  9. Carly says

    Just wondering re the revlon dryer brush I have really thick wavy hair and normally god straighten would you recommend for alternative when I don’t have time to straighten (3 kids here need faster solution ?)

  10. Sara says

    What an exciting whirlwind! Is the cruise ship going anywhere or is it just docked for you to enjoy?

  11. Elspeth says

    Major props to you for the back to back trips!!! I also how you kept a lot of things the same and were able to reuse a lot of the same things you already packed. Whenever I travel, I always pack an extra outfit in case I need a quick change or travel plans get pushed back or delayed. Enjoy your vacay!!!
    http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com

  12. Rachel Kazmier says

    Thanks to you I bought two sets of the packing cubes! One for me and one for my kiddo. Mark refuses to use them and makes fun of me u til he sees how organized I am. I’m about to pull them out this weekend to pack for Sydney, Australia! We are headed there for Thanksgiving week!!!!

  13. Colleen T says

    Is your beanie the orange clay or the red tango color? They seem so similar. Hope you have the best time on your cruise.

  14. Jennimc says

    Okay, I’m curious, what is that fleecy pullover with the pretty colors and pattern that you show in your packed cubes??

  15. Jennimc says

    Also…how would you say the fit is on that tunic sweater? I usually buy my sweaters a little big so they’re comfy, but tunics can be tricky and I don’t want it to look sloppy. Let me know what you think! 🙂

  16. Jaime says

    Hey shay do you think I could make your FRUITY PEBBLES cake in a sheet cake pan instead of a bunt pan? How long would I cook it?

  17. Heather S says

    Girl you should, no you NEED to get yourself a Canada Goose jacket! Living in the NE, I have several Patagonia’s, and they are GREAT. But the CG…TOP NOTCH, pretty close to perfection! Perfect for all fall and winter weather conditions. They also fold up tiny into their own little wristlet pouch or backpack for the bulky ones. I now own two and they are all I reach for when traveling.

  18. Emily H. says

    Love these outfits!! Now I have to pick your brain. For the sequin pants and red velvet outfit, what jacket/layering piece would you wear? Thanks, girl! Safe travels!

  19. Carrie says

    Girl! I love the booties, but I need details on the shiny/sparkly tennis shoes you have on in one of the group pics in Boston! Can you link to those??

  20. Nadine says

    What about the golden goose sneakers you were wearing in Boston? Did you pack those or buy them there?

  21. Lauren says

    I see you haven’t been wearing you Apple Watch? Is it because you just don’t like the upgrade? Also do you like the coat you have better than the north faces? I have only had a north face love it but am needed a new one so wanted to see what your thoughts were?

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I haven’t been traveling with it because I think it will die before the day is over. I’m going to try some of the workarounds people suggested when I get home and hopefully, that will extend the battery life.

  25. Anna J says

    I ALWAYS pack a swimming suit wherever we go. You never know when an opportunity to take a dip or relax in a hot tub will happen.

  26. Gina says

    Hi Shay! You look so put together in all the pics!! I noticed you are not wearing your Apple watch. Do you mind sharing the dress watch you are wearing with your tunic/leggings? Thanks!

    • Beth Blank says

      I use my library app on my Kindle all the time! Easy peasy! Can’t beat free books.

      Funny story…my dad uses his Kindle to read a book a day(!) Once he got a notification that he had read too many books. The nerve! He was baffled how the library of all places could think a person read TOO much. The sweet librarians at our local branch got him fixed up and he was good to go!

    • Lee Ann says

      Not on a paper white. But on a kindle fire you can. You can put the library app on your phone and still read the books on your kindle or your kindle app on your phone.

    • Carly Hewett says

      IT IS!!! Download the Overdrive app to your phone and borrow library books through there (you have to have a library card to set it up) and then you just click the read on Kindle button. It shows up like magic on your Kindle! After you get it all set up, it’s so darn easy to use, and you can keep several books on hold if they’re not currently available.

  28. Aimee says

    I’m excited to hear about your cruise. For the first time, we just cruised with Royal Caribbean, Anthem of The Seas, to the Bahamas. Oh My, it was Amazing, and so much better than I ever expected. I think we have decided Cruising is the way for our family vacations. We could bot have loved the experience more.