list no. 41 : a festival packing list

On Thursday I fly to Austin for the second weekend of ACL. I haven't looked at reviews or photos, I'm trying to save everything for my own experience, which I know will be memorable.

As a fairly frequent traveler, I've become obsessed over the past couple of years with streamlined packing, and especially, packing to carry-on, which I will be doing for Austin.

I went to Coachella a couple years ago and have some experience with the necessities that a girl like me will need to carry. And then there's the practical knowledge gleaned from having spent three days, at least eight hours each of those days, at an outdoor festival.* 

1. Two packs of Clorox/Lysol wipes. They kill 99% of most germs and festivals mean porta-potties. Enough said.
2. Baby wipes. Most porta potties don't have TP a couple hours into the day, and if you have to sit, (shudder), baby wipes are a lot thicker than any TP on the market. 
3. Sunscreen, (Austin is hot), sunnies, (also bright), and hair ties, (obvi), because I'm thinking I'll rock the pony/low-bun with big sunglasses look.
4. Minimal makeup: mascara, concealer, powder and and a couple of these lippy lip pencils that I'm completely obsessed with. 
5. I've also got this great powder sunscreen for the face that I'll bring as well. 
6. Three pair of leggings, one for each day of the festival. As much as I love jeans, they're heavy and hot and they take a lot of precious suitcase space.
7. 1 pair of sneakers. I am doing the unfashionable and plan to wear my gym sneakers. Even if they're sorta cool looking ASICS, they are still sneakers, but I'm going for comfortable  this time. 
8. I went for cool at Coachella and after the first day my feet felt like someone had attached wooden blocks to the bottom of them.
9. I can stand for 10 hours in my sneaks without looking for someone to hobble me.
10. The tops/shirts/tees are going to be some sort of layered conglomeration. Something sleeveless during the day when the sun is blazing, and a few things to add onto my person as the day cools down. 
11. Including but not limited to: a long sleeve tee, a hoodie, a light cotton jacket, or perhaps, (and most likely), a denim shirt.**
12. I need to bring a hat even though I don't look great in them. I do alright with a baseball cap, but I don't want to bring my favorite camo cap in case I lose it.
13. As professor big head circumference, a good hat is hard to come by. I'm on the lookout this weekend for a plain, black baseball cap, otherwise I might sacrifice my face.***
14. Cell phone service becomes shady when there are a gazillion people all trying to share their festival moments. I'm not draining a battery to let you know my every move like I did at Coachella. This year I'm going retro with M's pocket-sized P+S.
15. Still debating the whole rain boots/umbrella thing, and will continue to obsessively track the weather until I fly away Thursday.
16. And I've got the address for the closest Target in Austin should the weather turn. I will not miss Depeche Mode or The Cure. 

*Also known as 'what clothing was great and what didn't work at all.' 

**I love a good denim shirt and have a slight obsession with them. M thinks I shouldn't buy another one.

***There are fashion sacrifices