Cupcake, Cupcake, Who Got the Cupcake?

I bought two balls of pure merino and two balls of plush to make my cupcake (my color combo is brown merino with pink plush to represent the frosting). Seemed like I was motoring along fine, and gave one of each to my mother with the pattern so she can make a second hat (hoping of course that she will make 2 red pompoms since I don't know how....). But I'm running out of plush for my hat. Will I never learn?

Be My Valentine

This may end up in the overly ambitious category but I'm trying to make hats for my two nieces and two nephews in time for Valentine's Day.

They are all skiers. The first hat is reversible, made with two different colors of mohair. It's double thick so this should keep my niece warm.

I've got a cupcake hat in progress for the other niece, a balacava for one nephew (although my mother says they're not legal because they're used in hold ups) and I think I'll make another reversible hat for the other nephew.
Meanwhile, I'm trying to finish the "Stella" shrug on the same schedule for my aunt's birthday which is on the 13th. It's done but I'd like to crochet around the arm openings and I'm trying to add beads to the cuffs.

As I said, overly ambitious.

New Year, New Day, New Project

I've kept all my resolutions so far, except the one about not buying new yarn. I saw some Mission Falls 1824 wool at my local yarn shop and got started on a Log Cabin blanket for a baby. It's so pretty, if I do say so myself.

Then I read the terrible news that Mission Falls is going out of business.

I found someone on Ravelry with some 1824 available and bought it. She graciously packed it up and shipped it to me and it arrived from across the country in two days. My check to her however still has not arrived. Very very embarrassing.

I sent a new check yesterday and am having the PO track this one.

But the worst news is that I just found out my local yarn shop, The Skein Attraction, is closing. I'm bereft. It took me a long time to find a nice shop with quality yarn and friendly and knowledgeable staff. I've grown to depend on their counsel and support through my projects and I have also truly enjoyed the friends I made there.

Is this bad kharma for breaking the resolution, or just bad luck? When will the madness stop?