This week’s photo challenge, Repurpose, is inspiring me to share an object I’ve repurposed, and continue to use every day in my travels throughout the U.S. and Europe.
Traveling doesn’t afford the luxury of taking any object in your possession for granted. Each and every piece that you carry with you is evaluated on the basis of size and weight. And if either of those measurements outweighs its worth in any capacity, that object has got to go.
Until I began traveling full-time, I loved “stuff.” While I wasn’t anywhere near the hoarder level of holding on to stuff, indeed, I couldn’t throw away a postcard or a receipt if my life depended on it. My idea of a fun weekend activity was going to a home-decor store and picking up a throw-pillow, or two. Or maybe a doorstop. Or a fruit bowl.
Nowadays, that life couldn’t be more foreign to me. I don’t even own a pillow, let alone a closet. I work as an educational travel coordinator, and I live from hotel room to hotel room, and when I’m lucky, my parent’s spare bedroom. If I want it, I have to lug it. But therein lies the rub: I can’t give up my passion for fashion. So, despite the fact that I live on the road, I continue to have a lot of clothes, shoes and accessories.
My accessories were a mangled mess, tangled and mixed up to the point that I was only wearing three or four pairs of my own earrings. Yet, I continued to lug around the whole collection. What a waste of energy, and potential fashion opportunity.
The solution came not a moment too soon from my pioneering, Pinterest-loving, high school friend Giovanna. Over brunch one Saturday she said, “Peggy! Haven’t you seen my travel board? Pill organizers!”
And the rest, my friends, is history. My ears are no longer neglected when I’m traveling.
Love this Peggy! Excellent idea!
Ha, thanks! I guess I have Pinterest to really thank for it. 😉
What a marvelous idea! I may have to skip it, though, for fear of absentmindedly “taking” my earrings in the morning. 🙂
Ha! Good point!! ? Thanks so much for stopping by…
Hello Peggy….
I still think your life sounds wonderful. I’ll have to live vicariously through you and enjoy your adventures here!
I know what you are saying about not throwing anything away.
But this pill box idea is awesome. Thank you for the tip?
Until next post or adventure, which ever comes first,
A great post and thank you from Di ?
Di, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that you found me here. Thank you thank you!! Yes, you’re right. There are a lot of wonderful things about the lifestyle of a traveler. It has big ups and big downs. But that’s ok! I enjoy the ups, and being able to share them. :)) Thanks again…
I’m glad I found you too Peggy. I seem to have created a couple of accounts all with strange names and numbers! Yes, I’ll enjoy following all the details of life on the road with you my friend ??
Ha! Funny! It is so hard to keep track of accounts these days…we all have so many of them, don’t we? 🙂
I dread carrying jewellery with me when I travel because I just don’t know how to keep it organized. I think this is a brilliant idea! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Yes, sure! The thanks really goes to my wonderful friend, though. I would never have thought of this either! I love it because the pill boxes are so durable, and I can just toss them in the front zip of my suitcase for easy access and not even worry about it. Thanks so much for your comment, and for stopping by!
What an excellent idea for keeping your jewellery from getting tangled while you travel. Thanks for the tip.
Of course! Glad it is helpful! 🙂
OMGGG!! This is the same thing I did a year ago. Just to make sure my earrings are intact. 😀
http://www.maryclairepinticasi.wordpress.com
I actually use a small pink fishing tackle box, the spaces are a little bigger than a pill divider to fit my larger pairs of earrings and bracelets. I collect earrings from the places I visit so I love being able to bring them with me and remember those different places!
Great idea! I agree, the spaces aren’t very big and it was getting awkward for me too! I actually invested in a hanging traveling jewelry case with zip-up compartments, so I put my big earrings in those compartments, and then I also put my pill box with my smaller/delicate stuff in one of the big zip-up compartments. I feel like I’ve finally perfected the system! Glad you have too…thanks for the comment. 🙂
Pillbox jewelry storage!! I like that, thank you for the tips, I may use it for my next travel!
So glad it was a helpful tip!!
Great solution. Most thing can be repurposed when the need exists.
Totally! Just about getting creative. And that’s another big reason to support artists – they can think of creative repurposing solutions that many people can’t. 🙂
Seems to be an excellent and an innovative idea.
I hope it is helpful to you! 🙂
Indeed!
Tangled skinny necklaces is the worst >_< Usually I resort to if I don't wear it permanently on my neck, I don't travel with it.
That’s a good technique, Joyce! I tend to agree! :))
This is a great idea. I don’t travel with ear rings or such items, but pill boxes are great for any small objects one need while travelling.
Ha! I can imagine. ;b But yes, they are amazingly helpful! 🙂
This is a gem! Thanks for sharing Peggy!
Glad it is helpful! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Someone needs to make a fabric one so that it can collapse if you only have a backpack to live out of! Great post though, such a good idea.
Ah, I agree, except I like it hard because it protects my precious glass beads and things! It is surprisingly easy to poke into the smallest of places…:) Thanks so much for your comment, and for stopping by!
Wonderful idea!!!
Thank you!! :)) If you try it out, you’ll have to let me know how it goes. 🙂
😉
Reblogged this on kelleysdiy and commented:
I just love this idea from Peggy!
You’re the best, Kelley! Thank you! :)))
Love your blog!
Ditto! 🙂
I reblogged this! It is perfect for my blog!!! Thank you!
Oh thank you!! I’m so glad you liked it. Actually, I thought of it when I was reading your post! :))
Amazing idea!
Thank you! 🙂
I love the idea of using Mon-Sun pill containers for jewelry! How clever. I am definitely going to put this to use. I have one of the fold up bags, this is more economical 🙂
I actually use them inside a fold up bag, ah!! This way I can fit all of my different shaped jewelry. Accessorizing on the road isn’t is! 😉 So glad this was helpful to you. 🙂