In college, I was envious of my peers who had a single spot that they studied best. While they were tucked away in some nook in their house, I wasted hours thinking about where to go and then wasted more hours getting there. Many times I would even get to my destination of choice, sit down, and say to myself, “This place just does not feel right.” I would then proceed to gather up my belongings that barely touched the table and head off to my next “ideal” choice. Truth be told, when it comes to reading, I am innately antsy. I realized a long time ago that fresh environments quickly run dry. After a long search, I have come to peace with several milieus which I still get excited about and that have helped me to overcome my Starbucks and Panera PTSD (although I still love a good caramel macchiato and bowl of chicken and wild rice soup every now and then). The following are 7 fantastic places to cozy up, book in hand.
1. Find the most comfortable spot in your house and then graze it with a breath of fresh air. What one person deems comfortable is different from another person and is not always the sofa or biggest, comfiest chair. Find that place in your house you love the most. Then improve it! Put on your comfiest pajama pants every time you open a book. Buy a plant and place it nearby… or grow one! Create new art for your wall. Rearrange the furniture! It is funny to think that many households in America have an entire room placed around a TV, yet hardly ever is there a cute little niche to read! Find the space and create something you look at every time and say “Yes! This is where I want to be.”
2. Hideaway in a tent. Sounds bizarre, right? But think about it. In a world of too much technology and people seemingly everywhere, sometimes it is hard to map out personal space. Tents may not seem like one of the most comfortable places to sit compared to a bed or a couch, but it is peaceful and the space is yours. Best of all, it can be done inside or outside so weather is not a factor! Don’t have a tent? Make your own!
3. Seek out your local coffee shop. You know the feeling of not noticing something until it is pointed out to you followed by that sudden “Duh” moment? Local coffee shops are like hidden treasure. If you live in the city, you may not have had that experience when finding quaint little dives that make a killer espresso, but the suburbs can prove to be a challenge. If you are reading this blog post locally, I recommend Norma’s Coffee Corner in Palatine, IL. It is a cozy little coffee shop that will forever be near and dear to my heart since sparking my chai latte addiction many, many years ago before chai was even trendy (Read: 1999).
Additionally, be sure to scope out other local places that may not seem as conventional. You may be pleasantly surprised at what you find. For example, there is a place that just opened down the street from Norma’s called Signature Sweets (Virtual tour here: https://www.360revo.com/signaturesweets/). Although a popcorn shop does not initially come to mind as a place to settle down, this is a wonderful place to indulge in a good book and some delectable gourmet popcorn (they are also known for their amazing paninis which are served with a side of, you guessed it, popcorn!).
For those of you in areas outside of the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, there are many websites to track down your new favorite niche such as www.findingcoffee.com . Also, keep your eyes peeled! Now that you know you are looking for small local cafes, you would be surprised how quickly your brain will rewire to notice them!
4. Experience the triple Bs. Or rather, Bath, Book, and Bag of Chocolates. This is the triad of ultimate at-home relaxation. I picked up this genius idea from a class book I read in 5th grade. Honestly, I could not tell you the title of that book to save my life, but the important part of the read definitely stuck with me! The concept of the 3 Bs is so simple yet so luxurious. You can make it simple with just a book and a package of your favorite kind of M&Ms (there are so many to choose from now!) or you can class it up with candles, bubbles, classical music, and flowers. Splurge! The triple Bs are whatever you want them to be and oh, so simple to do!
5. Replace road rage with “reading.” There are two ways I like to “read” in the car and neither of them actually require me to lay my eyes on a page. The first method is having a passenger read to me. My boyfriend and I do this all the time. Our most recent travel book was The Hunger Games. He would either read the pages out loud to me or read a few pages and then paraphrase. Every bit was just as good as if I were reading it myself. Not only is this something we can do together, but it is something we both enjoy.
My other en route reading passion blossomed from this hobby… audiobooks! In case you do not already know, audiobooks are a wonderful invention. Amazing, actually. Now, instead of hearing the same song on the radio for the 100th time that month (or sometimes what feels like that day), I listen to an audiobook. Currently, I have The Nanny Diaries in my CD player. It is very relaxing to listen to a book while driving, and it also makes me feel like I have accomplished something extra that day. In the morning, I am actually excited for my drive to work. I wake up wondering what will happen next in my current book, and I am sad when the book is done! My only regret is not discovering them sooner.
Here are all the books I finished just driving to and from work in the past 2 months:
6. Pack a picnic for one. Peanut butter and jelly with fresh blueberries in the middle? Check. Carrots and broccoli with poppyseed dressing? Check. CapriSun juice box? Check. Goldfish (because they are so delicious)? Check. Current book of choice? Check. You are ready for your own wonderful personal picnic! This is another idea that you can tailor to your liking! It is a great way to sit down, relax, and just enjoy being alive by treating yourself to nature, good food, and a good book. Best of all, it is portable. You can have your own picnic at a park, beach, pool, or even in your own backyard.
7. Partner up. Make that picnic for two! Reading does not have to be something you do alone as I have already showed with my in-car adventures. Pick a reading day to have with your friend. You can lounge around with the same book or different books. This is especially good for a rainy day (extra points for thunderstorms). If you aren’t in the mood to start a novel, grab a copy of one of the Curious George or the Bernstein Bears books or whatever book makes your heart get all warm and mushy. Then add a freshly baked cookie or a hot cup of coffee to your copy of The Rainbow Fish and you have yourself a perfectly lovely afternoon!
To get direct links to the ideas pictured above, visit up on Pinterest at: www.pinterest.com/nicolest2345
Nicole Steineke
Head Blogger
Marathon Books
