Smile

So, lately, I've been a worrier, as evidenced by my last post here. I worry about what's going to happen to the middle class in the U.S. I worry about how we're going to pay for college for Colden so that he has more options open to him and can figure out what he *really* loves to do. I seem to worry all the time, sometimes to the point where I make myself feel physically sick.

The other morning when I was browsing on Etsy, I came across this amazing handmade ceramic cabochon by Marianne Kasparian of MAKUstudio, and I just fell in love. Madly, deeply, truly in love:

Like I *need* any more cabochons, but there was just something about this one that made me realize I needed it. So I bought it, and it arrived in my mail this morning.

When I opened the box, I just felt this overwhelming urge to laugh. It was something else, sitting there and holding this piece in my hands and just feeling the warmth coming from it.

Of course, it was one of those moments that made me want to drop everything that I have on my to-do list and just sit and bead around it. But the deadlines, they are a-callin'.

It's just such a wonderful piece. The colors are amazing and subtle, and it's much lighter than I thought it would be. This is going to make a truly fantastic beaded necklace, and something that I intend to wear to remind myself to lighten up once in a while and to let myself smile!