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Things That Belong Beside a Dark Book
Reading, for me, requires certain things. I can read almost anywhere, but when I’m home, I have a routine. Something warm to drink. A pen nearby for whatever inspires me. Something that reminds me of all the wonderful things that happen once the skyline starts to darken. And a comfortable blanket to either hide beneath or settle into.
These aren’t things chosen to build an aesthetic around a particular book. They’re simply things I own, use, and keep beside my own reading spaces.
Something Warm: Cinnamon Hazelnut Coffee
Cinnamon hazelnut is one of my preferred flavors, especially once fall and spooky season arrive. I’m not a pumpkin spice person. Pumpkin anything doesn’t happen in this crypt. Give me something warm, a little nutty, and suited to a long reading session instead.
This can be found on Amazon.
Something for the Margins: Vintage Quill Ballpoint Pen
A quill is the ultimate writing utensil. Making it a ballpoint is simply practical: no inkwell required and considerably less risk of an accidental ink spill across the page. I keep a pen nearby when I read because occasionally a line or thought deserves to escape the book and end up somewhere else.
This piece can be found through Amazon.
Something for the Shadows: Taxidermy Bat Skeleton Specimen in Resin
It’s a bat. Everyone should love bats.
My little sky-puppy skeleton is exactly the kind of slightly unconventional décor I like having around. Even stripped down to the bones, there’s something beautiful underneath.
This piece can be found through Amazon.
Something to Hide Under: Deep Purple Throw
The deep purple adds a rich pop of color to my living room without overwhelming the space. More importantly, it’s soft, warm, and easy to carry from one reading spot to another. It also gets recruited for movie nights, so unlike some of my more seasonal comforts, this one stays out year-round.
This piece can be found through Amazon.
I don’t share many personal things here, but these are some of the little things that make my home feel more like me. A few routines, familiar comforts, and some slightly unconventional décor. None of it is necessary to read a good book, of course. But when I’m home and settling in for the night, these are some of the things I reach for again and again.
After all, every good haunting needs a house that feels lived in first.
Explore the stories that inspired these finds.
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The Letter
A seasonal note from Growls & Grimm
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If you want more of this energy between posts, come find me in the shadows.
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