Next to the Bed
Tonight I was sitting in the rocking chair in my bedroom, rocking Beanie and giving him his bottle before bed. I looked over to the table that sits next to the rocking chair and smiled at the stack of baby books sitting there. Then I glanced across the room to my bedside table and saw a stack of much heavier books piled there. Finally, I peeked across the bed to Chris’ bedside table and giggled at the fact that he had no books piled up anywhere.
You can tell a lot about a person by what sits on their bedside table. So, lets take a look at ours!
This is Beanie’s. Like I said, it sits in my bedroom next to the rocking chair. We sit there every night for Beanie’s last bottle before bed. We read a book, say our prayers, talk about our days, and when Bean’s eyes start to get droopy, I carry him to his crib so he can fall asleep in there.
On Bean’s bedside table are all the necessities for bedtime.
There’s a burp cloth cause the little dude makes a complete mess when he eats. There’s a binky that I give him when he’s finished his bottle and is dozing off. There’s his little blue teddy bear that we played with tonight. And his bottle from today. My hair claw is there because I took my hair down as we rocked, which Bean likes cause he can twirl his hair in it. And then pull. Hard. Cause that’s a super fun game. There’s my autumn candle from Yankee Candle. And, of course, there are his books.
His favorite books right now are The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Goodnight Gorilla, Little Bee, and my book, Your Baby’s First Year.
Then we move on to my bedside table.
I’m just gonna warn you. I didn’t do anything to the table before I took the picture. This means I didn’t clean or dust. And I have a pretty detailed camera, so you may see some dog hair and dust bunnies…. Just look away, friends. Just look away.
I collect earrings and ponytail holders more than anything else on my bedside table. Its cause right before I go to bed I take out my earrings and I take down my hair. So, those always pile up first.
Also on my bedside table is my favorite wedding picture. Its of Chris and I just after we were married. We’re running out of the church. We both look so happy. And I think that’s always the best wedding picture for any couple – the one coming back down the aisle. Starting out their life together.
Of course, I tripped on the edge of my dress about ten seconds after this picture was taken and almost ate it right there in front of 300-plus people. I’m classy like that.
And then there are the books.
First is my all-time favorite book this year, Ahab’s Wife. Have you read it? Oh, you should. Its the story of…well…Captain Ahab’s wife. And its beautiful and breathtaking and moving and… I could go on. But I won’t. Next is One Thousand White Women. My Grandma told me about this book. Its the story of the wild west and how the U.S. government provided women to the Indians in an effort to “blend” the races. The books is the story of those women. Its really powerful. I read it a while ago and I just haven’t had the heart to put it back on my bookshelf yet. Next is The Help, which I just finished a couple weeks ago. Read it and be glad we live in the age that we do. And that big honkin’ book is Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishing. Its a catalog of literary agents and publishing companies. You know. In case I decide to get my book on one day.
So, that’s my bedside table.
Here is Chris’:
Notice: No books.
But he does have my senior picture from high school. I have tried to change that damn picture for YEARS. But its the one he always has next to his bed. He says that’s the way he thinks of me and he likes that picture. What a weirdo.
But this makes up for the weird picture thing:
Its the gift I gave Chris on our wedding day. Its an antique compass. The outside says, “To my husband on our wedding day.”
And the inside says, “So that you can always find your way home to me.” Go ahead. Say it together. “Awwwwwww….” I know. Its a good gift, right? You can copy me if you want. I won’t tell anyone.
And then right next to this uber-romantic compass, is this bowl of uber-boring boy stuff.
He has intensive, nasty hand cream because his hands crack like glass when I sing. Its awful. Wanna know a secret? Sometimes when they are cracking particularly bad, I make Chris sleep in gloves. He complains and I’m pretty sure he takes them off after I fall asleep. He also has these really thick yucky eye drops for his googly eye. Did you know Chris doesn’t have vision in one of his eyes? Yeah, freak accident when he was a little boy. Maybe he’ll tell you about it over on the Man Cave…oh, wait. HE DOESN’T POST ANYTHING THERE EVER!!
And then there are the pennies. Why do men always accumulate pennies on their nightstands? I’ll never understand that.
So, there you have it. My family and their bedside tables. We’re an interesting group, right? Books and eye drops and earrings.
Oh, my.
So, what’s on your bedside table?
30 Comments
Laura
ahhheemmmm!!! hear ye, hear ye!
i have two bedside tables. i tell people it’s a feng shui thing, but it’s really not. they’re a total mess, like every other part of my place. but here’s a general outline:
on each table, i have a lamp with a scarf covering it (mood lighting? i don’t know.) on the right table i have an alarm clock and a jewelry box. boooooring.
the LEFT side, however, is more deliciously cluttered. i have two framed pictures: one is my favorite picture of my boyfriend and me, taken at his senior prom. the other is of Bob Dylan (cue awkward silence). i also have a bowl of homemade potpourri (it has dried lavender, cherry blossom petals and roses!), a notepad that is headlined “this is fucking urgent.”, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” by Stieg Larsson, and a series of letters from my BFF, who goes to college far away from me.
i LOVE Beanie’s book selection! the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Good Night Gorilla and Peter Rabbit (and all Beatrix Potter books, for that matter) were some of my favorites when i was little 🙂
Amanda
I would never take a picture of my or my husband’s night stand. WHOA are they a mess! (just like us?)
Mine had books on it this morning, but they were due back to the library today, so they’re gone. There’s my HUGE water jug, HUGE baby TV monitor and HUGE vitamin bottle. And other pill bottles. Getting old sucks.
Hubby’s has several mugs scattered about, because he has taken to drinking tea just before bed and leaves them there for me to eventually bring down days (weeks?) later. The alarm clock and TV remote controls are over there too.
Nothing glamorous here!
Casey
Yeah, ours is pretty similar to yours, except for Hubby and I share a bedside table. We each have a book, and our cell phones are usually plugged in there. And hair ties. Lots of hair ties.
Sonya
Let’s see…where to begin. The most predominant thing on my nightstand is a fabulous lamp that my mother bought me years ago. The black, white and red lampshade not longer matches my bedroom decor but I don’t have the heart to stick it in the closet. Next to that is my alarm clock/IPOD music player. I LOVE this thing. It produces the best sound quality (and is one of the more expensive things I own). Lying next to my alarm is, what else, my ear plugs. My couldn’t live without ’em, stole ’em from a Nascar race, bright orange ear plugs. They are the only reason why I can still happily co-exist with roommates. And finally, something to make me look like the MBA student I am, “First Break All the Rules….What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently.”
Niki
I have about 10 or so books on my nightstand (including of course the one I’m reading now – Dragonfly in Amber), a large seashell sitting on top of a basket of seashells, a large starfish, a lamp (sitting on two books) and an alarm clock/radio/CD player.
I have Ahab’s Wife, but have yet to read it. Someone suggested it at a forum or somewhere and so I went out and bought it several months ago. I literally have over 100 books waiting to be read. I’ll get to Ahab’s Wife someday.
Jordan
I read 1000 white women last year, thought it was a pretty interesting book!
I’m also glad to see that we’re not the only people that accumulate glasses of water on our nightstands- sometimes I can fill half the top rack of the dishwasher just with the cups i bring down from upstairs. (I mostly blame my husband)
Chris ‘guy stuff’ bowl reminds me of my husband’s ‘pile’. Every day when he gets ready for bed he empties his pockets and leaves it in a pile on his nightstand, or on his desk, or wherever it falls. It includes wallet, chapstick, keys, etc.
Emily
It would be nice if Chris did another post. What happened to the once a week thing? 🙁
Amen to the pennies. When I was younger I would always go through my dad’s mountains of coins. Sadly, there were very few quarters…
Sarah H.
Let’s see on my night stand there is ….a lamp, an alarm clock, my book of 365 1 min. devotionals, a small monthly planner and a pen, and two books I’m reading verrrrrrry slowy–Heat Wave by Richard Castle (It’s kind of a joke book from the TV show Castle) and The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. On my husband’s—a lamp, his bible and a couple political books I can’t remember the name of–but one that we’re kind of reading together is “What Americans Really Want…Really: The Truth About Our Hopes, Dreams, and Fears.” It’s very good, I recommend it 🙂
Kelly H
I am putting those books on my list! Thanks!
My bedside table – tissues, water glass, lotion (Aveda hand lotion – mmmmm), blistex and a pile ‘o books (currently Altas Shrugged, The Lost Symbol and one of the Clan of the Cavebear books that I am reading again). Books are also stacked on the shelf on the bottom of the table.
My husband’s – Huge alarm clock that he has had since about 1983 (he refused to get rid of it). His Han Solo figurine. Really. Books and a battery charger for the kids flashlights, lanterns, leapsters and every other battery sucking toy we own.
Michelle
The Very Hungry Caterpillar was a favorite in my house when my kids were babies 🙂 Right now their favorite is Goodnight Moon. If you don’t have it, get it 🙂
Sarah
It’s not so much what’s on my bedside table – lamp, cell phone, alarm clock, glass of water, book, and when I’m sleeping my wedding ring – that’s interesting. It’s the drawers that hold all of the secrets!
Tressa
My thought was EXACTLY the same thing. Good thing we are talking about what’s on TOP of our nightstands not whats in the drawer!!! 😉
Adrienne S.
My thoughts too:) I was trying to figure out a polite way to bring up the naughty stuff!
Morgan
heh 🙂
Jes the Bes
That could have been mine and Mitchell’s night stands. The hair ties and earrings is exactly like mine, even with the crazy red hair all over EVERYTHING.
Meredith
My boyfriend and I (who live in sin) don’t actually have nightstands at the moment, we make use of the floor. But, same idea. Jeff has normal male things; wallet, keys, lotion, cell phone (charging)and books, including “Guns, Germs and Steel”, “Creativity: Flow and Psychology of Discovery and Invention” and he also just finished John McCain’s book, “Faith of my Fathers”.
I also have A TON of hair ties and books. I always have at least one Harry Potter book on my nightstand (I’ve read them all though), and I just finished re-reading “The Amber Spyglass” and “The Subtle Knife” by Philip Pullman. Soon I hope to have “When Everything Changed” by Gail Collins. It’s a history of the women’s movement from 1960 until present. As a woman just starting my career in engineering, I think it will be an inspiring and insightful read.
btw, I LOVE your blog. LOVE IT. I don’t have kids nor am I married but I started reading your blog when I was an undergrad and haven’t stopped. You’re reaching people who probably aren’t even in your target audience. Thanks so much for your great entries.
Joanie
Oh my…no pictures of mine because it’s a mess! Some of the things it has though are:
A zen fountain
John Frieda Frizz-Ease Overnight Repair Cremeserum
Taste of Home’s Best Loved Cookies and Bars magazine
A glass of something to drink
A broken necklace that I keep intending to take to get repaired
The Bible. (Really, I do)
Tressa
I LOVE your blog for so many reasons!! One is I never know what I’m going to read each day. How do you come up with all your ideas to post?
My nightstand has alarm clock, lamp, cell phone charger and Bible. Sometimes a clip from my hair, if I don’t take it out while taking out my contacts. Thats when I take out my earrings. I have a little bowl my son made in pottery class that holds all my earrings.
Husbands has kleenex, water bottle, breathing machine (he sleeps with this mask on) cell phone charger, three bottle of lotion and chap stick.
Have a great weekend! 🙂
Cheryl
Where did you get the compass keepsake box from? Most engravable boxes that I’ve seen only have a plate for engraving on the front. That is adorable and I may need to steal your idea sometime.
EmilyC
Funny, I’ve never really thought about the clutter on my nightstands but they look almost just like yours, the jewelry piled up, cell phone charger and hair clips…except I have different books. I have the Bible, Short Stories by Ernest Hemingway and Power for Living by TD Jakes. I do have room for one more book when you decide to publish one! 🙂
Kelly H.
On my night stand I have rose bud salve (it’s the best stuff around for your lips), a picture of my hubby and I from when we first started dating, a lamp, an alarm clock, a pair of earrings, and my glasses. On my hubby’s there is a lamp, blistex, a picture of us from when we were dating, an alarm clock, and yes, a huge pile of pennies. I think the pennies are a man thing because my dad and poppy have always had a pile on their night stands as well.
Jeff & Julie
On my wife’s side which includes the top of the dresser are her books on tape, she listens more than reads, a picture of me on the day I proposed to her, her jewelry boxes, a wooden figurine of Cinderella and attendant pumpkin, and her humidifier. Also an alarm clock, a lamp, water bottle, lotion, Kleenex, a photo album of our wedding pictures.
On mine there is the cordless phone and base, a lamp, our second and third alarm clocks (one tells the time out loud for those of us that have poor vision, usually a stack of books( they change almost daily, I read a lot), a picture of my best friend and me, my scriptures, and the most bizarre is my last Valentines gift from my wife: a pink fuzzy dancing sign that says ‘SEXY’ and plays “if you want my body…”
Lastly, to defend Chris, there is evidence of a book on his side when you showed pictures of your bedroom after your shopping spree at HomeGoods.
Amy
I have One Thousand White Women too. My little book group read it last year. LOVE IT!!! On my bed stand is a lamp, clock radio(set way toooo early) , reading glasses, nail polish from weeks ago, these books: Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential, Debbie Diller Small Groups(I am a teacher) and The Anatomy of the Spirit, given to me by one of my school parents. Oh and some Vicks (have been sick recently)
Love your blog Katie!!!
Jeska
My side table has (depending on the day) 1-3 half full glasses of water, an alarm clock, my chapstick, my lotion, my earrings and scrunchies, a glass pear shaped earring holder (that I don’t use haha, but it’s been there since I was 8) and at night, my cellphone.
I tend to leave half full glasses of water around the whole house actually, but they accumulate mostly on my nightstand. My husband always asks if I’m expecting aliens. (If you’ve seen “Signs” you’ll understand. If not, I can explain.)
His nightstand has his cell phone, a lamp and our Nintendo DS and that’s usually it. Occasionally, an empty glass.
Jeska
That’s supposed to say “8 )” I didn’t realize smileys worked on the blog :b
Jennifer
My husband is blind in one eye too – since he was about 2 years old. He’s just glad his eyes move together even tho he gets NO input from the one on the left. It does make him pretty anxious about driving… something about merging onto the freeway with no vision on the left side of your head… 😉
My nightstand is pretty normal… lamp, phone, alarm clock, pen and paper, a few books.
His “nightstand”? It’s a bookshelf taller than I am – he keeps PJs on the bottom shelf, and books on all the rest – all of which he is at some point of reading thru… and of course all the little junk from pockets – coins, recipts, wallet, watch. Also a lamp a candle and a random jade and silver statue we got for our wedding. and his cell phone charger. its a busy place!
Morgan
You know Ive actually played this game before because I think its very telling about someone’s personality.
I keep a lamp, misc jewelry and a large woven basket that holds all sorts of misc crap bc actually using my nightstand drawer just seems like too much work.
Nate's Mom
I love how baby monitors always seem to be on the moms’ side of the beds! 🙂
Cassandra
I have 2 nightstands and use both of them for myself 🙂
Left side – I dont sleep on the left side so there is not much: 2 learn French books, 1 Qantas inflight magazine, 1 piece of board I use to lean on to write, 1 photo of dad, 1 Japanese lamp, 1 Photo of my sister and I when little, 1 photo of my Sponser child and her Mom, about 4 random childhood ornaments.
Right side – Random empty photo frames, 1 photo of my dog and I, 1 card made by my BFF, A pathology request form i forgot to get filled, My passport, random jewelley, Hair bands, pens, paper, an empty water glass, a 1ltre bottle of water, Learn French phrasebook, bobby pins and hair clips.
Wow… I have a lot of junk. Haha
Nona
Wow this is a good idea, first of all ours need a good dusting. Next mine has 10 magazines, a bible, a lamp not a cute one but it works. Tissues, a pretty glass dish that has chapstick and nothing else. My cell phone, electric bed warmer thingy. My hubbies has a lamp (the nice one) a clock
a placemat for his gun for at night, he isn’t careful enough to go without the placemat. His bed warmer thingy, hand cream and a little flashlight.
Not to bad i think, I wish he read but he likes the history and Discovery channels instead!
I love this post I am going to clean my side today and maybe his too! 😉