A Wee Bit Distracted

With things having been a bit more frantic than usual the last couple of weeks, I have been attempting to find simple, happy distractions.  While out shopping for the rather mundane combination of soap and hair dye, these lovelies caught my eye!

I met the age requirement on the package (3+) and I believe that drawing on yourself (or someone else) is fun! They had to come home with me.
One of the other distractions was actually inspired by a friend who suggested a particular lip gloss that changes color with your chemistry  which of course I immediately wanted to try.  This of course led to wandering their site and remembering how well their products had worked in previous years, and you know, it's been ages since I replaced my makeup basics and wouldn't it be nice if I got the foundation that didn't immediately migrate to the wrinkles?

Definitely a good idea! The foundation and powder stay put without looking fake.  The mascara doesn't flake everywhere and make my eyes itchy.  It's been a pleasant surprise to buy face paint that has worked for me!  I bought the pink lip gloss, because the natural wasn't available locally (I plan on getting a tube soon).  The gloss isn't overly sticky, doesn't have that weird smell/taste so many glosses tend to, and (on me) turned a vibrant shade of rose pink that was surprisingly flattering.  When I had my daughter try it, the color was a deeper, more muted rose.  For some reason she was unsurprised that the gloss was "louder" on me.  Think she is trying to tell me something? :-D

Just one...to take the edge off

I had an argument with a sweater yesterday.  Okay, maybe not an actual argument, more like the realization that I dropped a stitch marker several inches previously and was now missing a quarter of the increases I was supposed to have made so the sweater will actually be wearable.  With a sigh of pain and frustration, the sweater was carefully put back into a project bag and set aside to be slowly and methodically ripped back at a later time.  I had walked upstairs to find my removable stitch markers (which I still can't find), only to have a flash of color flecked with sparkle catch my eye.
Which is why I now have my umpteenth shawl on the needles.

The pattern is Out of Gas by Zhora Designs.  It's been sitting and waiting for me, particularly since I found and purchased the perfect yarn for it at Nerd Girl Yarns
I will admit to having more than a couple skeins from her shop with various projects in mind.
There is something very satisfying about casting on a shawl.  They tend to start small, so you feel like you are making progress quickly. A simple design with a pretty edging lets you feel capable but not frustrated. The finished piece can be draped round neck and shoulders to artfully display beautiful yarn, lovely pattern and knitting skill. (At least I'm pretty sure that's the idea with a finished shawl, I've got six in progress within easy reach, we won't discuss how many are upstairs waiting to be picked up again.)  They are definitely one of my favorite types of projects.
I'll pick the sweater back up to fix it...in a day or two. :-D