What’s the strangest item you’ve ever taken on holiday with you? Whatever it is, I bet I can totally out-strange you.
Before I go away, I often pack some favourite colourful shelfie objects to take with me, namely:
✅ Vintage Penguin books
✅ Vintage cotton reels
✅ Multicoloured ocean/marine plastic
I mean, perish the thought that I’d be without a rainbow collection or other to sort or shelfie with while I’m away. That would be like the adult equivalent of forgetting to take a beloved, moth-eared teddy with you.
Since discovering the mood-elevating powers of doing shelfies, I always make sure I have a few bits from my shelfie ‘capsule wardrobe’ with me when I go away.
Usually it’s a small but perfectly formed (and easily transportable) spectrum of Penguin books and a gaggle of colourful vintage cotton reels. I might even fling in a coral or two, depending on where I’m going.
With these few items, I know I can improvise wherever I go, adding in local finds (where did you say that flea market is?) and flowers to complete the look. One thing I rarely take with me is my marine plastic, largely because I know I’ll be scouring the coast for more when I’m there. I’ll miss it, though: I get endless pleasure from arranging it in potentially never-ending combinations.
As such, I’m always ahead of the holiday shelfie game.
Do I often forget shampoo? Yes. Do I always remember toothbrushes? No. Do I care? I think not. I have colour aplenty and all is well.
Martha, The Colour File x