Self Care Sunday (on Monday)

I've loved the Mason-Dixon knitting blog for years, but since they revamped it a year or so ago, it's become so much more than a knitting blog.  The addition of Max Daniels's articles has really resonated with me, and this post from last week is one I want to print and put on my refrigerator.  Do read it if you haven't already seen it.  

I also read A Cup of Jo, which seems surprisingly relevant to me.  She's a blogger in her thirties, who writes about life in NYC as a mom of two young boys, but again, it's so much more.  Friends who know me would be shocked to hear that I actually enjoy many of her style and fashion tips, as I have never been into any of that.  But, life is all about change, isn't it, and there's nothing wrong with mixing it up now and then.  The short sleeve turtle neck I wore in my last post's selfie is a direct result of reading something on her blog, and it contributed to me feeling really good about myself Friday.  This illustration by Mari Andrew is another reason you should check her blog out.

 

Knitting is another self-care strategy for me, and if you need any encouragement to get knitting, take a look at the price of these mittens!  I can't imagine how much they would charge for these hand mitts.  I only have a thumb to finish on my right hand mitt, and I'll be ready to begin my left hand one.  Sadly, I think these will be too small for my rather large hands, so someone will be receiving a beautiful surprise.    

   

To give my eyes a rest, I cast on for a cowl using aran weight Jill Draper Middlefield yarn I bought at last year's open studio sale, and some Weekend Wool from Green Mountain Spinnery, purchase date unknown.  I'm using a Bristol Ivy pattern, the Underscore Cowl, that is in the latest Making issue, and I love it.  

 

   

Speaking of self care, Saturday was my mammogram party day, words rarely heard in the same sentence.  My friend, Lori, included me a few years ago in one of her friend's group yearly events.  This friend coordinates the appointments for the group's yearly mammogram, but she turns it into a party, complete with doughnuts and lunch out afterwards.  She buys enough doughnuts to give to everyone we come in contact with: the technician and receptionist, as well as every other woman in the waiting room waiting for her exam.   It's a great way to hold everyone accountable (no more putting it off for a month or six), and to have fun while doing it.  I highly recommend you give it a try.

 

 

And oddly enough, despite my fabulous Friday, and the good things I did over the weekend with friends, I find myself feeling very blue today.  It was a teacher workday, yet I felt so aimless and restless that nothing was accomplished.  I have the beginnings of another cold/allergy thing, I made some poor food choices over the past few days, I'm worried about money, and I haven't gotten to bed early enough for about a week, so that is part of the explanation.  But I know that another part is the fact that tomorrow is the anniversary date of my second marriage, which I'm sure has contributed to my sadness.  Isn't it weird that you can know you're in a much better place and yet still be weighted down by sadness? Anyway, I wanted to include this last paragraph in the interest of keeping it as real as I can.  I know I'll be fine soon enough.  Take care, friends.