T10T: Things That Get Me in a Cozy Reading Mood (featuring cute kitties & tasty GIFs)

November 5, 2019

TTT-Big2

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly blog meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week’s theme is 10 books that give off autumn vibes! Unfortunately, I was having a hard time getting into this week’s topic and decided to leave it to those who are better at compiling “vibe” books than I am. ? But autumn makes me think of coziness, and I like having the chance to talk about non-bookish things, too, so here are a few things that get me in a cozy reading mood!

1. a hot cup of tea

Who doesn’t love getting cozy with a hot cuppa? I’m fond of lots of different types, but my 3 favorites are:
– black tea with milk & sugar
– black tea with spearmint
– a chamomile/green tea blend with mint

(I’m also equally fond of coffee!)

2. sitting out on my porch with a blanket

Nothing beats reading out on the porch on a cold, breezy autumn day with a blanket. I could sit and watch the leaves fall for hours.

3. cuddling a pet

Naturally, I wouldn’t be any sort of cat-adoring book dragon if I didn’t include a vital step to cozy reading: cuddling a pet, or more likely for me, a soft, sleepy kitty (purr purr purr). As evidence, I present Cilantro, the newest addition to our family. We adopted him a few months back and he’s a bit of a menace at times, but he never says no to a good cuddle with his hooman (me. I’m his hooman ♥).

Also, how phenomenal is this photo my spouse got of the little furball?

4. grey, overcast days with the windows open

If there’s one type of weather that I think is the most perfect for reading, it’s a cold, gloomy, grey, overcast day in late fall. I love opening the windows, especially if it’s drizzling and I can listen to that. Let me sprawl out on the bed with a good book, and I’m set.

5. soft instrumental music

For the life of me, I can’t listen to music with lyrics while I read (even if they’re in a language I don’t understand!), but I love putting on something soft and instrumental. One of my favorite challenges is finding the perfect instrumental soundtrack to fit my current read. When I read An Enchantment of Ravens a couple of autumns ago, for some reason I really remember listening to Antoine Dufour’s rendition of Imogen Heap’s ‘Hide and Seek’ and feeling like it was perfectly fitting for a soft, whimsical fantasy tale like that. ♥

6. a warm sweater

And when I say sweater, know that I really mean cardigan, because ya girl can live in a good, comfy cardigan, especially if it has pockets — even better if it has a hood! I just want to find somewhere to live where I can bundle up in cardigans 365 days a year and never be uncomfortable. There’s something ridiculously cozy about them.

(Just doing my best to live a life that would make Mr. Rogers proud.)

7. soft lighting

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not some night-seeing superhero who can read by the light of a single match or something, but you gotta love some soft mood lighting, right?

8. a crackling fire

In case you hadn’t noticed, my ideal reading setting is basically just a cold as hell day in an under-heated house. ?‍♀️ But seriously! Crackling fires are one of the best soundtracks for any given book, regardless of genre. I don’t make the rules.

9. a sweet treat

To be fair, I almost didn’t include this one because I’m not big on eating while reading physical books — I’m way too worried about getting food on the pages! That said, audiobooks and ebooks exist (and I utilize them just as often as print copies), and I love a good, rich treat of something sweet and tasty while reading. Mm, I’m getting hungry…

10. family snuggles

And, of course, the best of all: snuggling my sweet family. If you haven’t noticed, my spouse and our little bear are my life (I can’t ever seem to shut up about them!). While the kiddo is 3 and isn’t actually in the mood for cuddles too often these days, sometimes I can convince him to take a nap on me and then I read on my kindle app and, well, that counts, doesn’t it? ???

 

What makes YOU feel cozy?

— destiny ♥

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More about Destiny @ Howling Libraries

Just a children's librarian/horror aficionado/geek girl trying to juggle motherhood, grad school, blogging, gaming, and everyday life.

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43 Comments

    1. Sabrina Fox

      November 5, 2019

      Your first statement definitely called me out. I’m not a tea drinker at all, definitely love my coffee!
      Also, Cilantro is absolutely adorable. What made you name him that?
      I love some drizzling rain when I read as well. All my friends think I’m insane because I prefer gloomy days over sunny ones.

      Reply

      1. Destiny @ Howling Libraries

        November 29, 2019

        Hahaha I love both! They’re both so good. 😀 And thank you! My spouse picked it… I’m not really sure why. ? But we all thought it was cute, so it stuck! And you’re not alone on preferring gloomy days, same here!

        Reply

    1. evelynreads1

      November 5, 2019

      Being cozy on a couch with some fire, a hot cup of tea, while it is raining outside is the best!

      (www.evelynreads.com)

      Reply

    1. dinipandareads

      November 5, 2019

      Love your take on this week’s prompt! Even though I live in the tropics, all of these really make me feel cozy too and reminds me of the good times I spent basking in the autumn air when I lived in the UK! Oh, nostalgia lol

      Reply

    1. Jess @ Jessticulates

      November 5, 2019

      Love this list, I feel very cosy already! I like listening to instrumental music, too, especially if I can theme it to the book I’m reading – I listened to the soundtrack of Troy while I read Circe and it was so much fun. 🙂

      Reply

    1. Musings of a (Book) Girl

      November 5, 2019

      Hi, hello, yes, I am now the president of the Cilantro fan club ? I relate to most of the things on your list but I’m Cilantro has definitely stolen the show (and my heart)

      Reply

    1. Aymee

      November 5, 2019

      Great choices this morning! And your kitty is soooo cute! I have three and some days, that’s four too many. Hahaha. But nothing beats a cup of something warm on a rainy day, with a cat in your lap and a book in your hand!

      Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!

      Reply

    1. Brooke Lorren

      November 5, 2019

      Fires are very cozy. Although I’m cold-blooded so I really like the room being nice and warm. I’ll turn on the heater in my room when I get home.

      Reply

      1. Destiny @ Howling Libraries

        November 28, 2019

        I’m usually the opposite and get hot too easily! My chronic anemia used to make me get cold easily and I have no idea why it doesn’t really have that effect on me anymore but sometimes I miss it because I hate being hot so much. I guess the grass is greener and all that, though. 😛

        Reply

    1. The Sassy Library Fox

      November 5, 2019

      If you want weather to wear cozy sweaters you better move to Austria. *lol* Sometimes I even have to wear them in summer! XD I wish I could sit on a porch and cuddle a cat while reading but I have neither of those two so I can only curl into a ball on my sofa. >_< And I can totally relate to the family snuggles! My kid is the same age as yours but fortunatley she still loves to cuddle with me! <3

      Reply

      1. Destiny @ Howling Libraries

        November 28, 2019

        OMG, yes please! Brb while I get my passport and move there ASAP ? Aww, I’m sorry you don’t have a porch or a kitty! 🙁 Hopefully someday! Those toddler cuddles are the best ???

        Reply

    1. tasya @ the literary huntress

      November 6, 2019

      #4 is the best! Rainy season is finally here- it was hot and then all of the sudden it was pouring and it’s been raining every afternoon to night ever since. It’s the best weather to just curl up, read, and ignore other responsibilities! 😀

      Reply

    1. Aj @ Read All The Things!

      November 6, 2019

      I love being outside, so I wish fall lasted longer here. It starts snowing in early October, so we go right from summer to winter. The cold weather does give me an excuse to stay inside and read, though!

      Reply

      1. Destiny @ Howling Libraries

        November 28, 2019

        Oh wow, that’s wild! Here, it’s like we always get a touch of fall in late October and then it goes back to summer for a while in November. Nobody knows why but it ALWAYS happens and it stinks haha. It was in the high 60s today!

        Reply

    1. LiteraryCounsellor

      November 8, 2019

      Love this list! I wonder if it’s possible to have the ultimate cozy moment with all of these happening at the same time? It would require a covered porch with a fireplace, but I think it’s doable.

      Reply

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