I was never a Girl Scout or Cub Scout, but I live by the motto of "always be prepared". My dedication to that statement is proven on a daily basis. For a simple 9 hour shift at work, I regularly show up with a purse, a laptop bag, a change of clothes and first aid kit (In all fairness, that last one is completely practical. I'm clumsy.) All of the clothing, notebooks, phone chargers, hair products, makeup and rolodexes are necessary; in tv news you never know when you'll be dispatched across the state for breaking news and be stuck there for three days. Need a hair tie, blister ointment or number for the U.S. ambassador to Portugal? I'm your reporter.

My dedication to bringing everything and the kitchen sink with me will come to a screeching halt in about a week. I'm flying home the week before Christmas and I refuse to check my luggage. I've just been burned by the airline industry too many times...ending up in far flung locales with only the clothes on my back for days on end. Couple that fact with quick layovers in sprawling airports and my faith in arriving in California with my bags is greatly diminished.

Given my tendency to overpack, this presents a huge challenge. How do I fit enough clothing for a week into one carry-on suitcase and my trusty laptop bag? I've solved one problem and shipped Christmas presents for my family already. (Whether or not a thorough inspection of those unwrapped packages has been conducted by my sneaky family is another story.)

If anyone has any ideas of how to "make it work", I'd appreciate the input.