As if I needed another reason to love my local library. Beyond the fact that, you know, you can check out 50 books in one fell swoop — which is craziness to me! — they have a gratitude wall with, like, Post-Its and pencils, and you write what you’re grateful for and pop it on the wall. Of course, being the list-loving makeup enthusiast that I am, I had to add my own special flava and give a shout-out to concealer, hello!
Because among all of the things I’m grateful for — the usual: family, health, a roof over my head, a churlish tabby cat — concealer has been saving my life lately.
I’ve been tossing and turning at night. It’s true! Part of the reason, though, and this is my own fault, is that I’ve been staying up late to read.
Not because I checked out 50 books at once, no, but I did check out Cocoa Beach, the latest book by Beatriz Williams (she’s a historical fiction writer who’s written several books I’ve enjoyed, including A Hundred Summers, The Secret Life of Violet Grant and Along the Infinite Sea). Of course, as usual, I started reading it way past my bedtime and couldn’t put it down.
I’m eternally grateful for books. And for lists. And I’m grateful for things like the Gratitude Wall at the library. 🙂
What are you grateful for today?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF!!!!
Kuz says
October 27th, 2017 at 8:08 amI’m reading Cocoa Beach right now too, Karen! So good!
Karen says
October 27th, 2017 at 9:09 amHi Kuz,
I just started it a couple nights ago and am totally enjoying it. I’m going to binge read it this weekend. That’s my plan and I’m sticking to it! Have you read her other books? They’re really good, too.
lizzie says
October 27th, 2017 at 10:09 amGirl I love this post. Also loved your post “This is real life.” Hell I love your blog and have been following it for many years. When your hair was short and red. I remember when my kids were Conor’s age we would spend nearly every other day at the library get a boat load of books and go to the park and have a picnic and just read books on the grass. I just love the smell of books and I love losing my troubles into a good book. I’ve been obsessed with audio books lately. I found out that with audible I can enjoy a book while I’m doing laundry, driving, eating, running, walking, etc…. I’m gobbling them up like Halloween candy. I saw that you watched “The Girl With All The Gifts” you should read the book it was better than the movie and I liked the movie. I’m grateful for my kids, my cat and my dog. That was an easy thing to answer because I was super duper close to that Napa fire. I was so close to losing everything and when all was said and done and the fires stopped spreading the smoke cleared and the sky was blue for a change I realized if I had lost it all…my house my things… and gasp my make up collection it wouldn’t matter as long as I had those things. Gonna have to check out Coco Beach.
Karen says
October 27th, 2017 at 11:18 amHi Lizzie,
Thank you for commenting today and for reading the blog for all this time because, holy crap, that short red hair was eons ago! LOL!
You’re the second person I’ve talked to in the last few days who had a very close brush with the fires (I saw a friend for dinner on Tuesday whose house was two miles away from the big one in Sonoma). It’s been a scary month, hasn’t it? And an eye opener, too. All the small things seem like extra big things now. Hearing Tabs purr next to me in the early hours of the morning, feeling my baby’s arms around my neck… I’m glad you were able to keep your place.
Thanks for the heads up on The Girl With All The Gifts book. I had NO idea that it was originally a book! After I finish Cocoa Beach, I’ll try to track it down at the library. By the way, Beatriz Williams, the author, has several of her books on audio. I listened to one a few months ago (Along the Infinite Sea, which was the third part of a trilogy) and enjoyed it.
What are you and the kids and the pup doing this weekend? We might go to a pumpkin patch tomorrow if El Hub isn’t too tired. He’s been traveling for work and so it’s just been me and Connor all week!
Holly says
October 27th, 2017 at 11:24 amHi Karen–Wow. Did I need to be reminded about gratitude today. I’m dealing with car issues which kicks up my anxiety which makes it hard to focus & think positively & even eat. And yet…I have a home & clothes & my Kindle full of books & family who stand with me & help with car stuff & transportation. I have coffee & some groceries; I have good health overall; it’s a gorgeous sunny fall day; I can hear birds all around me. Thank you for sharing with us today & I hope you get more sleep soon, though I totally understand the reading too late at night compulsion! ❤
Suzanne C says
October 27th, 2017 at 12:24 pmI’ve read and enjoyed several Beatriz Williams books: I actually started reading her’s when I won a free copy of ‘A Certain Age’ on Goodreads. (That one sort of goes along with ‘Cocoa Beach’.) The last one I read (The Wicked City) was kind of disappointing, though. I have ‘A Hundred Summers’ waiting on my Kindle, so I’m hoping it’s an improvement.
Brooke says
October 29th, 2017 at 9:58 amYou know, I’d love to do this in my house and have my kids put one thing on there a day. I feel like people lose sight over what to actually BE thankful for. Even if we did it now up until Thanksgiving.
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