PACKING PROBLEMS

				So I was jaunting off to a weekend in the BIG EASY with my lady friends to celebrate my BF from college’s upcoming nuptials. And I was giddy just thinking about my fashion options... I could be Sexy Bourbon Street...
			Swanky Southern Gal, or a Mint Julep drinking Minx! The possibilities were endless... until Southwest sucked the joy right out of me by informing me due to the way my connecting plane tickets were purchased I could only bring a carry on. (GASP!!!) “A carry on?” I fly Southwest because I can lug TWO suitcases for free.
Panicked I tore through my closet... what dresses could match what shoes? (Don’t forget ladies I got that hot little yellow number with my hubby shopping last weekend and she had to come with!) After hours of preparation (yes I have an issue) I was ready to pack when, “ding” my Crackberry buzzed... It was an email from my girlfriend Carolyn, “Ladies remember Bourbon Street can get messy so please bring comfortable and preferably closed toed shoes when packing.”
I thought, “OH NO! Closed toed and comfortable?! This changes everything!”
	Perplexed I headed back to my closet and started re-shuffling everything. My neighbor and good friend Tess came over to eyeball my dilemma. I asked her what she thought of my choices. Chipper she said, “they are fantastic!” I was beaming with pride then she finished the sentence with, “You pack like JLO... costume changes day to evening.” OUCH! That hurt... but she had a point, I was going to have to downsize.
So I started rethinking... instead of 6 outfits, how could I make three outfits into six? Well one of my dresses had a cute jacket. That cute jacket could look great with a jean skirt and a different necklace... I continued down the list until everything fit into one neat carry on bag. So the process got me thinking... how could I apply this to my crunched wallet?
		Excited I ran to my closet and created a new section. This section would be the: Multi Purpose Section. It would help me find new outfits in old clothes but it would also help me when I have the urge to shop to look for things that could enhance what I already possessed... This goes beyond accessories ladies... I guarantee your closet is a treasure, and the moral of this story is, when we are FORCED to improvise we do it. We have no choice. And in an economy such as this, we are all forced to IMPROVISE so have fun with it. See it as a challenge. Spend this weekend digging through your closet and finding new ways to pair old looks. Create a small section where very versatile pieces can live... That way when you are “tired” of looking at the same old black dress or gray pant suite, you can find a way to teach an old dog a new trick! KK