We leave tomorrow. And I’ve packed this much:

I don’t know if you can tell from here, but that’s all pants. I’ve only packed pants. This is not because I don’t own shirts and dresses and the other things I’m going to need – those things are all strewn about the rest of the room. No, I’ve only packed pants simply because I felt compelled to pack by category. (Organized enough to pack by type of garment, but so disorganized that I didn’t start packing until two days out… for a 14-day trip!)

My only saving grace is knowing Colby’s not much better off…

From Colby: “London packing…where to begin? We’ve had a really warm summer and I’ve been basically living in shorts, flip-flops and short sleeve shirts…yep, even at the office (we SmartPakers are pretty casual). Both the duration of our trip and the wild London weather present a challenge. Given the rain they’ve been seeing across the pond, I might be well-served to bring my wetsuit, mask, and flippers!

Being a chronic over-packer, my spare bedroom looks like ground zero of a preppy explosion of sorts. I am obsessed with being prepared for every wardrobe scenario. And, if there is a Vineyard Vines polo shirt support group, they’ve just found a new member. Here’s hoping that I manage to reduce it all down into two sub-51 pound bags and avoid British Airways baggage jail. Not looking good right now. I see the overweight baggage ‘tag of shame’ in my near future…”

There’s a “tag of shame”?! That’s so embarrassing I’m tempted to rethink my over-packing strategy. Although it’s looking like one suitcase might end up being all shoes, so any hope of weighing in under 51lbs is long gone now.

But there’s always a bright side, and right now, the bright side is really, really bright. Earlier today our friends at USEF sent us a fabulous picture from the roof of the house we’ll be staying in:

That water? That would be the water complex on the XC course. And that stadium? Well, that’s the stadium, but I’m sure you figured that one out on your own.

Anyways, I’ve gotta run. The boss’s dog is snoring at my feet – oh yeah, in addition to packing, I’m also house-sitting, because I’m insane. But she’s actually really easy to take care of, and she quite literally could not be sweeter:

Hmmm… that bed looks comfy, and I could really use a nap and a good old fashioned lab snuggle 🙂 Catch you guys tomorrow!

Stay up to date on the latest London happenings by following @SmartPakerSarah and @SmartPakerColby on Twitter!

About Sarah Paull

Sarah Paull is a lifelong rider and SmartPak’s Brand Manager. You may know her better as the life-size foam finger from the London Olympics, the host of USEF Network’s Live from London coverage, or “that girl from the Stuff Riders Say videos.” Prior to joining SmartPak in 2008, Sarah worked as a Veterinary Technician at B.W. Furlong & Associates in Oldwick, NJ, and obtained her degree in Equine Science from Centenary College. Sarah is the proud mom of Cody, a semi-retired, 23-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, and she’s currently looking for an eventing partner to help her get rid of all the extra time, money and energy she doesn’t actually have :-) If you're interested in her often-horsey, always-odd musings, follow @SmartPakerSarah on Twitter.