Packing for a Feis can be a daunting task. Dance bags, dress bags, suitcases and backpacks! Not to mention the Zuca bag and the cooler full of wine. I mean snacks. Do I? Maybe.
""Shit! We didn't organize someone to take care of the dogs!" - me at midnight the day before we leave. Every. Time.
I have three kids. Only the youngest is an Irish Dancer, however, nine times out of ten the entire family makes the haul up the highway to out of town competitions. A small get away from the everyday mundane. Packing for us starts on the Thursday night and then continues frantically into Friday morning. All of the kids must choose and put out their outfits for the weekend in neat little piles on the couch for final inspection. I will go through it and inevitably send back pretty much everything shouting "Of all the clothes in your closet this is what you chose? That has a hole in it... does this even fit? Can we not look like the raggamuffin family please for the love of GOD!"
So what should I pack?
I start with the dance/dress bag first and then move on to the rest. Lets get real, if you show up to the Feis with nothing to wear the next day and no toothbrush its a heck of a lot less stressful and expensive than if you left behind shoes or a wiglet! I take everything out of the dance bag to take a quick inventory. There is almost always a trip to the store at this point. (And the garbage... You don't need that old banana that your kid said they ate after you lovingly packed it for the last workshop.)
Dress Bag: Our dress bag is from Malley Sports and hold 2 dresses. We pack our solo and team dress together. SUPER convienient. In the front pouch you will find 2 pairs of kick pants.
Shoes: This is a good time to give the shoes a quick polish.
Shoe polish: I probably didn't do the greatest job and they will need a touch up.
Electrical tape: One roll of black and one roll of white. (At the very least) and a scissors.
Elastics: for Hardshoes.
Make-Up: My daughter is u11 so we don't have much. Mascara, blush, lip gloss and some bronzer so her face matches more closely to her legs. You know what I'm talking about.
Tan: We use Jergens self tanner. (Oh snap. Totally forgot - call your dancer and get the first coat on.)
Poodle Socks: x 3 even though I always end up buying a new pair.
Team Wear: We have a jacket, leggings and a T-Shirt. Always fun to represent your school at the Feis. We also pack the $65 hoodie from Oireacthas. That shit was expensive and we wear it every chance we get.
Wiglet: Incuding the whole salon it takes to put it in. Bobbie Pins, elastics, hairspray, tail comb and brush for back combing. Do forget you're cute accessories for the finishing touches.
Outfits for your kids: Pants, t-shirts, a hoodie or jacket, socks, underwear, bathing suit, pyjamas and war bag. Then they will end up only wearing the bathing suit and one outfit all weekend.
Outfits for yourself: I usually go with some skinny jeans, cute tops and fun boots. Then about an hour later I go and change into the flats or converse I packed... because what the hell was I thinking.
Outfits for your significant other: hahahahah Just kidding. They can pack their own crap. You are too busy packing for everyone else!
Cooler: I do try to pack a few snacks. There can be long waits in-between dances and results. Feis food is expensive and 90% of the time - not great. We do pack a few bevies for ourselves. Cold beer keeps the snacks cool on the way there.
I think that's everything. Don't stress too much. There is always fabulous vendors with everything you need if you forget something.
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