I went down to Miami to speak, but if I am being honest, the real story was the outfits. Not in an overthought way, more in a future me will be grateful way.
I have learned that when a trip has multiple versions of you built into it – work, dinners, kids, heat, humidity, and spontaneity – the only way to actually enjoy it is to remove as many decisions as possible ahead of time.
So I planned everything. (shop my complete packing guide HERE)
Every look had a purpose. Daytime. Nighttime. In between. I built outfits around pieces I wanted to actually wear, my new sunglasses that somehow pull everything together, spring bags that feel lighter and refreshing and shoes that can carry you from a panel to dinner without needing a full reset.
There is something very calming a-bout knowing exactly what you are wearing without having to see it all laid out in your suitcase. I put together full looks ahead of time, paired them with shoes, and took photos of each outfit so I would not have to think about it later. Everything was packed separately, but the decisions were already made.
It sounds simple, but it saves space and more importantly your brain. You are not overpacking just in case pieces that never get worn. You are not standing there at 6pm wondering if something works together. It is already handled. You just get dressed and go.
We stayed at the JW Marriott where the conference was, which made everything easier. The real clincher though was the water park, which made bringing the kids feel like the right decision instead of a logistical one.
And because I brought them which felt important this time I also packed a version of myself that had nothing to do with work. Sweatsuits, easy shorts and cover ups. Things I could throw on in between everything and just be present and not afraid to get wet or slimed on.
We spent an afternoon at the water park which was total chaos in the best way. Hair did not surrender because I refused to let it and yes I brought a flatiron just in case. Then back to the room, quick reset, and into something more pulled together for dinner. (full look here)
We ate at Motek which always hits that balance of easy but still intentional. One afternoon we spent time with friends at the Four Seasons and ended up at Lido where everything slows down a bit. No one rushing, the light changing, you forget what time it is.
And then Toku for omakase, tucked inside one of those very Miami malls where everything feels slightly surreal. It was one of those moments where I realized mid meal that the entire menu was seafood and somehow thought it would be reasonable to ask for a vegetable roll. It was not, but it was funny.
The real takeaway from the trip was not just what I wore, it was how much easier everything felt because I was not making decisions in real time. Planning ahead is not about being rigid, it is about creating space. Space to say yes, to stay longer somewhere, to spend more time with your kids, to not feel like you are constantly catching up to yourself.
I used to pack for the version of the trip I imagined. Now I pack for the version that actually happens and save the small amount of leftover RAM in my brain for a few potentially uninterrupted, full thoughts.
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