Hard to believe it’s been almost 100 days of tracking on Weight Watchers.

My progress has been painfully slow.

This month, I gained and lost the same 2 pounds multiple times. Can you relate? I finished the month up 1/4 pound over where I was at the end of May.

June was a frustrating month. I was off my normal schedule most weeks and just plain wanted to eat. After 3 weeks of gain, lose, gain, I allowed myself to eat what I wanted. One caveat: I had to track whatever I ate (and boy, was some of the tracking UGLY). Guess what? I’d lost 1.4 pounds when I stepped on the scale this morning!

What’s my takeaway from June? A learning opportunity for what maintenance will look like when I finally hit goal weight? A test to show myself that I can stick with it even when I hit the dreaded weight loss plateau? Who knows? I’m just glad June is now in the rear view mirror.

Bring on July. I’m ready!

If you LOVE a fabric, but have no specific project in mind, how much do you typically buy to add to your stash?

Fat Quarter? Half Yard? One Yard? Yardage? Entire Bolt?

I love scrappy quilts, so having a large variety of fabrics to pull from is important to me.

Most fabrics: 1/3 yard cut from the bolt

Binding fabric: (stripe, check, diagonal design): 1 yard

Background fabrics (white on white, cream) – 3+ yards

Fabric has gotten even more expensive lately and my LQS have announced prices increases coming July 1st. I visited a new-to-me quilt shop in North Georgia today. Fat Quarters were $4.00-$4.25. Let that sink in….the equivalent of paying $16.00 per yard of fabric. Fat Quarters in a quilt shop are some of the most expensive fabric you can buy. One-third yard of fabric is going to cost about the same as the Fat Quarter and you get a lot more for your money. Sure, you have to wait in line to have it cut, but that’s okay.

If I find a white-on-white print that I absolutely love and the shop offers a finish the bolt discount – I have been known to buy whatever’s left on the bolt because I know the fabric will get used.

This past week seemed like the week before a holiday break – it took FOREVER to finally get to Friday. Can you relate?

Relaxation and some time outside were on the agenda for the week, but Mother Nature had other plans. Doom, gloom, rain, rain and more rain! Very few opportunities to get outside with the dog, lunch/day trip plans put on hold due to the weather and a husband underfoot with little to do because his own volunteer activities were curtailed due to weather put me in a not-so-merry mood. Every little thing became a source of irritation and I couldn’t seem to shake it off.

I am SEW thankful for my Friday sew day squad. About half of the crew were on retreat with their guild in Dahlonega. The rest of us navigated heavy thunderstorms to meet up for a productive day of sewing and visiting. It was sorely needed. My mood was much improved when packing up and the sun peeked through the clouds as I headed home.

Never underestimate the power of sunshine, friends and a little stitching to make things better.