     
Here's how Kay is committed to making a difference in the world:
 |
July 9th, 2009
“These are a few of my fav-o-rite things…”
First up… be sure to check yesterday’s Booklover of the Week post. I just updated it to show which one was Chelsea’s lie. If you guessed right, you’ll get one entry into the monthly contest for guessing PLUS an extra entry for guessing correctly. I’m in a great mood today, tidying up my office and getting ready to head to ALA this weekend. I get to meet some of the fabulous Great Scavenger Hunt Contest librarians (we’re meeting near the Egmont booth around 3:30 on Saturday – come join us!). I get to meet my wonderful editor and the entire Egmont team. I get to hang out with two of my favorite book bloggers (waving to Chelsea and Kristi!). And I get to go to the big splashy Egmont launch party at the Art Institute of Chicago on Saturday night with my awesome librarian friend Cathy. All in all, a stellar weekend. I swear I’m the luckiest girl in the world. And because I’m feeling so lucky, I thought it would be fun to say thanks (gratitude time!) for some of the things that make me smile. 1. Our screened-in porch. I LOVE it. Everywhere we’ve ever lived, we’ve always talked about adding on a screened-in porch to our house so we could spend more time outdoors. I’m one of those people who mosquitos adore, so once it gets past a certain time, I pretty much have to close myself inside. When we built our current house, I happy danced when I found out it was an option we could add to the floorplan. That is hands-down my favorite place to hang out when the weather warms up. 2. My Live-Laugh-Love ironwork wall hanging that hangs on the wall above my computer desk. Combine that with the small shelves on either side of it holding two of my favorite Willow Tree statues, and it makes me smile every time I sit down to work. 3. Chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven. I finally have a fairly healthy recipe for them so they’re not as guilt producing either. This is a double win. A close second to chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven is regular glazed donuts fresh out of the oven. Like the Krispy Kreme kind? Heaven on a napkin, I tell you. 4. My serenity room. Our guest room doesn’t get used very often. So a couple of years ago I decided that if we simply put away the bed in there and pulled my recliner in, it would make a wonderful getaway for reading and relaxing in the evening. A murphy bed is still on my wish list to make it even easier to convert back to a guest room for company, but I love the setup. Bookcases of wonderful books, another Live-Laugh-Love wall hanging (are you sensing a theme here?), some terrific feng shui accents like a beautiful potted plant, a tranquility print, and other special touches make this my favorite room inside our house. No technology allowed. So what are your favorite things? And am I the only one who loves the idea of a serenity room?
|
 I’m the author of YA fiction that I wish was based on my real life. My upcoming
   
 #1 – GOOD GRIEF by Lolly Winston #2 – THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins #3 – CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins #4 – THE NAUGHTY LIST by Suzanne Young #5 – THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT by Kate DiCamillo #6 – WINGS by Aprilynne Pike #7 – EIGHTH GRADE SUPERZERO by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich #8 – THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE by Kate DiCamillo #9 – HOW TO TRAIN A DRAGON by Cressida Cowell |
i love the idea of the serenity room!
Oh, it’s AWESOME, Erica. Whenever I’m stressed out, it always makes me feel relaxed. Everyone should have a serenity room, I say!
My living room is my serenity room. This is where my laptop hangs out on the fold out table. There’s a tv right there if I want to play the Xbox and the nice comfy couch to lounge around on and read a book.
Lots of good stuff there, Kristen. You had me at comfy couch and reading.
I have it finally too. We used to have our office in our home. It was once two bedroom s that we knocked out the wall and converted to a large office with beautiful hard wood floors and glass french doors.
As our company grew, we moved the office out of the house. I stood in the empty room a year ago and thought what am I going to do with all this space? I swear a little voice said, “here is the library you always wanted”.
I went out, bought books shelves galore, tall ones and small ones… and than gathered all (I mean all!) my books from around the house, the storage, the bedroom, the family room… and made a library with a big cushy recliner, end tables to hold my latest read or dinner when I am too engrossed in a book to move.
I can totally relate! One of these days I am going to have the words put on the wall above the doors before you enter…
A Journey Through Books…
That sounds like heaven, Sheila! The only thing I would change about my serenity room would be making it larger, so yours sounds perfect. I need one more bookshelf. Two would be better, of course. Though I wouldn’t say no to three more either.
I love any kind of rooms that are beautifully designed. My wallpapers are always of gorgeous interior designed rooms.
Your computer wallpapers are designer rooms, Diana? What a cool idea! My wallpaper is usually a beach scene of some type. Water is so soothing for me.
Well, I don’t really have a serenity ROOM but my mom is a huge gardening freak so she installed this really nice fountain in the backyard. Along with the fountain, her roses, and a really comfy chair that acts like a bench and swing, it’s definitely the perfect place to read.
Oh and, what’s my favourite thing in the world? Most definitely making people laugh. There is no better feeling in the world.
That sounds utterly amazing, Iryna! I love porch swings. Rocking chairs too. One of our previous houses had this great country front porch and we bought those Cracker Barrel rocking chairs for them. You know the ones you can sit in while you’re waiting for your table at Cracker Barrel? I loved those things.
And hey, you made me laugh in your very first comment on the blog so I think you’re doing your job well.
I would love to have a serenity room. And chocolate chip cookies rock!
You should totally have a serenity room, Amber. It’s so relaxing. And yes, chocolate chip cookies DO rock!
Love the idea Kay! And anything is serene with chocolate chip cookies around!
Thanks, Linds! With your crazy schedule, I’ll bet a serenity room would be a lovely addition to Chez Eland.
Especially if filled with chocolate chip cookies. Mmm…
I would never have guessed that was the lie.
All four of those things sound heavenly. I wish I had a screen in porch or serenity room. My bedroom doubles as a serenity room though, so I suppose it’s fine. Is it just me, or any mention of chocolate chip cookies really makes me crave some?
Oh yeah, Alex. Soothing bedrooms are a great serenity room option. Very good for sleeping. And yes, I can’t hear the words “chocolate chip cookie” without wanting one either!
I love the idea of a serenity room. Think I read about on in My Life in Pink and Green! I also love my Willow Tree angels. There’s just something about them. My favorite room right now is my front room – all my favorite colors, lots of books, oversized furniture, and like you, no tech allowed!
That’s SO funny – I just finished reading MY LIFE IN PINK AND GREEN this morning! Hers is actually called a Relaxation Room, but definitely has the same vibe. Except mine’s not in a pharmacy.
And go you on your oversized furniture, lots of books and zero technology. Serenity rooms unite!
I LOVE the sounds of a serenity room and I kinda want a porch too! All those summer nights…
I seriously heart our porch, Sophie. And we just installed these cool outdoor lights so we can see in the evening to play cards or whatever out there. Love!
I’ve thought of something like Serenity Room before but I wouldn’t put a bed in it, just some bean bags with blankets
Bean bags rock, Thao! The only time the bed goes in there is when we have company. Otherwise it’s just me, my favorite recliner, my awesome purple and red throw, and lots of books.
A healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe? You have to share that!
I wish I had a serenity room in my house. But I don’t. Actually I hate reading in my house in MN because there is no comfy place to read! But while I’m visiting my grandparents this summer in CA they have this big green chair and ottoman that I LOVE to read in, it’s so comfy.
Hmm… maybe I’ll blog the recipe then. You know… I may have a little series of blogs with all my favorite nummy recipes. Good idea, Kelsey! And Go Grandparents for having a comfy reading chair. That should be an essential furnishing in every home.