Problems Finishing

I seem to be stuck in a rut of not quite finishing things.  I think it might be an indication that I don't really like blocking (and that I need to learn how to shop for buttons).

Similar to the aforementioned cashmere scarf, I have an all but finished cowl that's been in sight of the finish line for months just because it needs to be blocked (and I need to buy buttons for it).

Bittersweet Cowl in 100% Baby Camel

Then there's my Cranberry Tweed sweater. To be fair, the steady progress on said sweater was immediately halted when I couldn't finish it in time for my Alaskan cruise, but now it's been stuck in a time-out for months because I'm to the point where I can't finish certain pieces until I get the right buttons for it and block the latest pieces and seam things to determine collar size, etc.  It's sad to see it so close and yet I keep avoiding working on it because it seems so daunting to pick it up again.

Then last week I finally started my Brea Bag -- a project that I've had in mind for ages and one of the first patterns that I added to my Ravelry favorites list. 
I made steady progress on it all week until it hit the point where the gusset should be the proper size to fit along the outside edge of the front and back pieces and... wait for it... I haven't managed to block those pieces yet.  So I knit the gusset until it seemed close and then stopped because I couldn't determine the right length just yet.  I keep trying to remind myself that it might be fun to use it as my purse for Stitches Midwest, so hopefully I'll get back to it soon.

Unblocked Brea Bag front

So what do I do to make blocking seem less daunting?  Maybe I should clean the laundry room so that I don't avoid going in there to soak things.  But I don't love having to haul items up to a guest room to spend time pinning them out on a bed, either.  Maybe I should invest in the interlocking foam mats that are so popular for blocking and an actual set of blocking pins.  I'm really not a fan of coming up with strange excuses to make me spend money on things I don't really need, but I do wonder if it would help me get on with the blocking process more quickly if I could just do it on a table.  Sometimes the right tools really do make a difference -- I just can't tell if this is one of those times yet.  I didn't seem to have this problem with simple things like hats that could just be blocked over a bowl and didn't require pinning. 

So, anyone have an in with some blocking fairies that are looking for work?