Our challenge this past week was to spend time in the grocery store scanning items to learn point values associated with various foods. It was an eye-opening experience! We were tasked with finding snacks with point values = 3 points or less that we would actually eat. No more cheese/peanut butter crackers for me!

Here’s my snack attack list:

Raw veggies: Grape tomatoes, baby carrots, sugar snap peas, cucumber slices

Fruit: Berries, sliced apple, banana

Dairy/frozen: Light string cheese (2 points), fat-free cottage cheese and plain nonfat greek yogurt*
Yasso chocolate bar (3 points)

Prepackaged snacks:

Fruit cups packed in water or own juice (0-2 points)
100 calorie packs of nuts (3 points)
Pretzels (1 oz twists or 8 honey wheat braids) (3 points)
Simply Nature Sea Salt Organic popcorn (Aldi) (1 point per cup)
Elevation Snack Advance Peanut Butter Fudge Crisp (Aldi) (1 bar = 3 points)
Cheerios – 1 cup (3 points)

*Add 1 tsp confectioner’s sugar to 1 cup of greek yogurt to counter the tartness. (1 pt)

One of my favorite hacks when my sweet tooth comes calling is to eat a Yasso chocolate bar OR make a parfait from plain nonfat greek yogurt, 1 tbsp Hershey’s syrup and raspberries. Either treat is a mere 3 points.

I carry bottled water, assorted cheerios and a 100 calorie pack of nuts with me when out running errands. If the weather is cool, I’ll take a snack bar (chocolate melts in the heat). This keeps my hunger pangs at bay. I love popcorn, but it gets stuck in my teeth, so I only eat it at home.

Do you have any favorite low calorie snacks to share?

Spring break is this week, so I offered a bonus CraftLAB session on Wednesday afternoon. Both girls were on time and their parents were very thankful for a fun activity the girls could look forward to over Easter break. Yes, we made stuffed bunnies – a favorite quick project I drafted in 2017 for a kid’s class at Stitch N Quilt.

The girls selected fabric, trims and eyes for their glam bunnies. I had them make their pompom tails while I cut out the pattern. This is actually a good project for students to learn how to cut out a pattern. If we’d had more time, I would’ve had them do it. The girls are much more independent now with their sewing. All I have to do is monitor and reteach/redirect when necessary. Like me, stuffing is definitely not their favorite part of the process! About an hour later, the girls left with their bunnies.

Here’s feedback I received from their parents:

“Thank you Teresa! The bunnies came out so cute, and C had so much fun with you.”

“Awesome. Thanks for all you are pouring in her and C.”

May you have a peaceful and blessed Easter or Passover.

Inflation and the economy are impacting quilty travel and shows.

Local events seem to be doing quite well. Our local quilt shows and expos this spring have been PACKED. Crafters, sewists and quilters are eager to get back out there again. QuiltCon was very well attended. I heard several vendors sold out of products after the first day. I ran into local folks who’d planned to spend the night at the Westin but changed their minds after getting the hotel rates. They’d rather spend their money shopping than on a hotel room. Can’t say I blame them.

Regional events that require travel seem to be struggling.

AQS is still advertising availability for classes in Paducah later this month. Not this year for me.

Nova Montgomery still has availability in her April Featherweight class in Paducah. This class ALWAYS sells out.

Mancuso Show Management keeps sending me emails about classes still available for Quilfest in Greenville. Nope.

Sew Daily is hosting a sewing retreat in Colorado that’s apparently not sold out. They keep sending me emails with discount codes to sign up. Maybe if I could snag a $59 fare on Southwest.

Sew Magical Expo is starting to advertise for the Nashville event in late June. It’s being held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel (where hotel rates for those dates are currently showing as $289/night plus taxes and resort fees). Very intrigued by this event. It’s about 4 hours away and I could easily stay at a different, less expensive hotel and commute in daily like a local. We’ll see what the classes look like and who’s vending.

Stitchin’ Heaven sends me daily emails for about cruises still available. Nope. Not into cruising.

The John C. Campbell Folk School keeps sending me emails and mailers to come back for a class. Drop the prices and maybe I will.

Just my opinion:

When a Hilton Garden Inn/Hampton Inn/Home2Suites hotel room is $250-$300/night with all taxes/fees included, I tend to think twice about going to that event. I really wanted to attend Mountain Quiltfest again this year. I have enough rewards to cover 2 nights of hotel, so I chose classes/events to maximize my limited time there. Yes, I could get a hotel for under $100, but based on what I saw online, I’m not staying there.

A fellow quilter who attended a Campbell Folk School class with me in 2017 remarked how much she’d love to return, but the prices have increased so much, it no longer makes sense for her to go. I agree 100%.

I will most definitely splurge when the situation calls for it. I’m attending the Georgia Sweet Peaches Quilt Retreat in mid-July at Brasstown Valley Spa and Resort. I thought about driving up the day before, but why spend the money on a hotel room when I can get a spa treatment instead? I’ll gladly make time for a facial before returning home, even if the facial is scheduled after the retreat ends. It’s only a 90 minute drive from my house.

I already know of two trips I plan to take in 2024, once of which is to QuiltCon in Raleigh, NC. As I’ve done at previous events, I’ll stay out in the suburbs and commute in every day. Two half-days is usually enough for me, but I’ll want to be there for the keynote address, so I’m planning on at least 4 days/3 nights, including travel.

There are other quilty trips out West I’m sure I’ll want to take, but until travel costs get more reasonable, I’m going to have to think twice before signing up.

What are you seeing for quilting/sewing events in your area?