I like to have many, many options when it comes to clothing (& traveling) which puts me in the category of the over-packer.

For my upcoming trip (t-minus 1.5 days) two weeks in Europe -- I made a promise to Chris, I will only take a carry-on and a travel tote. No pesky baggage fees. No dreading of the lost baggage situation. No dealing with Europe airlines & their strict/limited baggage rule. No hassles period.

Despite the relevant reasoning, if you're anything like me...you can relate to this silly dilemma, right? 

As you can imagine, how does an over-packer pack for her first Europe trip for two weeks with ONLY a 22" x 14" x 9" (56 x 35 x 23 cm) carry-on?

You betcha I went to the trusty internet & Google for help & tips.

There is a plethora of blogs & videos on how to pack efficiently & etc.

The most important thing I learned is tightly roll everything. 

I mean, everything. Rolling takes up less space than folding and minimizes wrinkling.

And packing cubes or space bags definitely help out a lot.

From the first pile up top, laying out what I think I want to wear for the trip (I'm a little ambitious, can't you tell?)...after hours of trying on & pairing different outfits I managed to eliminated about half of the clothing. It is still a lot of clothes, I know! And I did my best.
Believe it or not, to my surprise they all fit into my carry-on!!!