Christmas time in Paris and London is sure to be beautiful. This year instead of building a house, I’m tagging along with my mom and her friend Joanna for a whirlwind trip across the pond.

It’s only October. We’re 50 days away from takeoff and I’ve immersed myself is all things travel!

The biggest question I’ve been asking myself is what luggage to take that will accomplish what I need without making me look like some ding-dong that needs her entire wardrobe for what really amounts to about a 6 day trip. It’s the weather + shopping that’s causing this conundrum. December in London has highs of around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Paris is slightly warmer but not much. So do I pack bulky sweaters? Will it really be THAT cold? Probably not, although I should expect it to be a little damp, so an umbrella isn’t out of the question.

As for shopping, I can anticipate a few things. I know I would like a teapot and maybe a couple of pretty teacups and saucers. Those will require space for packing materials and/or boxes. I also know I would like to bring home some wine from France. I found some wine diapers to keep them from making a huge mess if they somehow break, and also some bottle specific packing I can use. All of this stuff I’m hoping to bring home (let’s not forget the Christmas ornaments and shot glasses either) will require space and could be heavy. Wine bottles are required to go into checked luggage, but the tea service isn’t. And what about gifts? What if I find a perfect piece of art? Do I ship that? (Probably)