I have everything packed for my trip except my noise canceling headphones (ordering new ones, hope they feel better than my old ones). Total weight comes in at 14.3 pounds! I have over three pounds to spare
I'll reduce weight on the trip home by tossing a pair of shoes (one pair will be old work shoes, of which I have several in identical brand/model--I'm going to put in new insoles before the trip that can also go into my spare shoes). I'll also toss all toiletries, two pairs of socks, and a pair of jeans (they are too big, but fit ok with a belt, so I've debated keeping or donating them for a while now). This is before resulting to loading up my pockets and piling on layers to reduce the weight in my carry on and personal item.
So, with three pounds to spare already, plus the weight I can drop by unloading stuff I don't need to take home, I should be able to take fit plenty of souvenirs into my carry on! Nothing I plan to purchase is that heavy. However, if somehow I do find an incredible deal on something heavier that I can't resist, I'll bring enough home to make checking a bag worthwhile. Then I'll just check my carry on bag, and carry on a fabric grocery bag as my carry on.
What I'm packing:
Toiletries: (I reduced weight of shampoo and conditioner by leaving filling old hotel containers with shampoo and conditioner, leaving the container open so water can evaporate and the liquid can condense, then adding more, evaporating, repeat for a couple months... I now have about 5 hotel-sized bottle's worth of shampoo and conditioner in one bottle each, and they aren't even full). I took my deodorant out of the plastic container and it's now in a ziplock bag. A bar of hotel soap. Small bottle of moisturizer, two hotel-bottles of lotion, sample bottle of toothpaste, folding toothbrush, sample size floss, comb with handle snapped off, sample bottle of eye drops, really small tube of chapstick, and I think a small squeeze bottle of hand sanitizer.
Clothes:
2 thin t-shirts for layering
2 long sleeve t-shirts for layering
1 thin hoodie
2 cashmere sweaters
1 down vest for layering
1 rain jacket (fairly lightweight, but warm in the wind and rain)
1 pair jeans
1 pair pants
6 pairs of socks (two will definitely be thrown away)
5 pairs underwear (two will be thrown away)
2 bras
PJ top and bottom (the top can be worn as a layer, and the bottoms are solid yoga type pants that could be worn in public if needed)
2 pairs shoes
1 pair aqua shoes (for the shower on the ferry)
1 Silk scarf
Extras:
Tablet (for book reading/movie watching while traveling mostly)
Cell phone
Neck support thing (have never take one on flights, but last flight I went on it would have been really nice to have some sort of neck support)
Yarn and needles (I like to keep my hands busy, so I'll knit a pair of socks on the flight)
Two gnomes (little figurines my mom bought for my son and me before our first overseas vacation)
Fabric bag for shopping/using as carry on if I check my regular bag
Purse
Travel towel
Travel blanket
Tissues
Thin wallet
Portable power source
Charging cords
USB outlet adapter and country adapter
Mini repair kit
Laundry detergent sheets
Clothesline with mini clothes pins
Earplugs
Meds (prescription and stuff like advil and sudafed)
Spork
Headphones
Pen
Ottovent
Passport
Sunglasses
Travel purse
Phew! I think that's it...
For souvenirs-- I'll get magnets for sure (something I get with every trip), squished pennies if I see machines, yarn, and hand-carved wood utensils if I see any. They also have some leather and pewter bracelets that might be nice. And candy/snacks for the kid. Probably a tin of Surströmming as well, because he likes trying stuff like that. If it looks like I'm going to go over on weight, I'm going to just load up my bag with candy and snacks (and yarn!) and bring it home as checked luggage.