Ingies n' Things

Once upon a time during my teenage years my mother had a HappyThings party.

HappyThings was a company that sold fun stuff for your house using the same multi-level direct marketing format as our favorite plastic storage container company. I don’t know if  HappyThings still exists – at least not in that form.

It does still exist, however, in my little world – much the same way it exists for many others. The term “happy things” stuck with me and now Happy Things are things that make me smile – really smile, over and over again.

I have a new Happy Thing in my life and I thought I’d share it with you.

This . . .

 makes me very, very happy.

I picked up the jewelry tree at our local giant buy everything in huge quantities store earlier this month. It has been sitting fully loaded on my dresser for several days now and when I walk into my room I’m still surprised that it is there. I still pause and I still smile.

It makes me happy on a number of levels. First, it is pretty and colorful and sparkly and shiny and looks like little rays of sunshine. Sunshine in Alaska is precious this time of year.

Second, and perhaps most importantly, I can actually see my baubles. (And I do love my baubles.) This means they may all get worn sometime this year . . .  no more groping around to find whatever is sitting on top of the pile of who knows what inside my dresser drawer.

This is huge for me.

Really.

You see, I am one of those people for whom “out of sight, out of mind” describes my entire mode of functioning. It’s true . . . once when R & G were toddlers and tucked in for afternoon nap I decided I needed to run to the store to grab something for dinner. I had my purse in hand and was headed out the door when it suddenly occurred to me that I had two children who really weren’t quite old enough to be left unattended.

I’m kidding.

Or maybe not.

Third, picking out my, ahem,  jewels for the day . . . (Hmmmm, how shall we accessorize the shredded garage sale jeans and paint stained t-shirt today?) . . . use to be one of the highlights of my day . . . (Little things, people! Little things!) . . . and with this it is becoming a highlight again.

And honestly, how can one not be happy gazing at a giant wad of pretty beads?

Here’s to my happy little jewelry tree.

I hope you have a Happy Thing in your life today.

Cheers,
Dianne