Stuff It

How do you cram 10 months worth of clothing, books, materials, shoes, hair dryer, curling iron, makeup, art supplies, pictures, winter coat, boots and other miscellaneous items into two suitcases? Picture me piling it all in, closing the lid, straddling the top of it and attempting to zip it. I will be lucky if the sucker doesn't explode enroute to the airport. Yikes!