Simply Stefanie Stuff

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Memory and Reunion Quilt Ideas

Some inspirational ideas I’ve collected. Might be able to implement this idea during a family reunion, holiday or wedding? More links: Free Embroidery Videos Fabric Bookmarks About Me Quilt Block Library Free Quilt Coloring Book Quilt Measurements Key Fob Pattern PS: I recently noticed that some of my links were out of date or no longer working. If you notice that one of my links are problematic please let me know. I would like all of my information to be relevant and up to date. Thank you for reading my blog today.

Stress Tracker

A feelings tracker is a great start—but if you want to actually understand stress, you need to track the cause + reaction + pattern, not just the mood. Here’s a simple way 👇 🔹 Add a “Stressor Code” System Instead of writing long notes every day, give common stressors a quick code. Example key (customize for your life/classroom): S = School/work T = Time pressure / rushed P = People (friends, family, conflict) H = Health / tired N = Noise/environment C = Change / unexpected A = Anxiety thoughts 👉 On each day circle, write: Color (feeling) + code(s) Example: 😊 + T, S 🔹 Use Color + Intensity Together You already have circles—make them work harder. Light color = mild feeling Dark color = intense feeling Add a dot or star inside = “big stress day” 🔹 Add a Tiny Daily Reflection Line Under your chart, add one quick line: “Biggest stressor today was: ______” Keep it short. The goal is patterns, not journaling essays. 🔹 Weekly Pattern Check (...

🌿 How Creative Practices Support Self‑Leadership

🌿 How Creative Practices Support Self‑Leadership Why making art helps you trust yourself, hear yourself, and lead yourself forward Self‑leadership is the quiet art of guiding your own life with clarity, intention, and compassion. It’s the ability to listen inward, make aligned choices, and move through the world in a way that honors your values. But self‑leadership doesn’t always come from thinking harder. Often, it comes from creating . Creative practices — even the simplest marks, shapes, or collages — open a pathway to inner wisdom that’s intuitive, embodied, and deeply honest. In coaching, these practices become gentle tools that help clients see themselves more clearly and step into their own authority. Here’s how creativity supports self‑leadership: 🌱 Creativity Helps You Hear Your Inner Voice When you make art, you shift out of analysis and into intuition. Your hand moves before your mind edits. Your choices become more instinctive, less filtered. This helps you: notice ...

Hungarian Goulash (Just Like Oma Hilde Made It)

Hungarian Goulash A cozy, slow‑simmered classic from my childhood kitchen. Growing up, Hungarian Goulash was a weekly staple in our home. The rich gravy, the tender beef, the paprika warmth—every bite tasted like comfort. My Oma Hilde made a German-style Gulasch that was very similar to the Hungarian version, and to this day I swear her gravy was so good you could drink it. Hungarian Goulash traditionally includes potatoes, while the German version is usually served with egg noodles or spaetzle. No matter how you serve it, this dish fills the whole house with the most delicious aroma. Making Goulash just like Oma Hilde Ingredients Serves: 6–8 Prep Time: About 3 hours ¼ cup shortening 2 lbs. chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes ½ onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced ¼ cup ketchup 3 tsp Worcestershire sauce 2 tsp brown sugar 2 tsp salt 2 tsp paprika 2 tsp dried mustard Dash of cayenne pepper 1½ cups water 2 tsp flour ¼ cup water (for thickening) optional: A little b...

Aquarium Week 2

🐠 Added some fish mates to the tank today Total fish is 30 ✨ Clean‑Up Crew These guys help keep the tank tidy. Plecostomus x 1 Ghost Shrimp x 12 🌈 Bright & Colorful Swimmers A mix of guppies and GloFish that add so much movement and color. Guppy x 4 Fancy Guppy Female Orange tail x 3 Cobra Endler’s Guppy x 4 Red Line Endlee Guppy x 1 Buenos Aires Tetras x 4 🦈 The Big Personalities Blue Parrot Cichlid x 1

Art Life Coaching

🌿 Coaching‑Specific Applications of Art Therapy: Creative Tools for Insight and Growth How art can support clarity, intention, and self‑leadership — without becoming therapy In recent years, more and more people have discovered the power of creativity as a pathway to personal growth. Art therapy has helped bring this awareness into the mainstream — and while coaching is not therapy, many of the creative tools used in therapeutic settings can inspire meaningful, non‑clinical practices in coaching. As an art‑life coach, I use art as a mirror , not a medical tool. The goal isn’t to diagnose, interpret, or process trauma. Instead, creativity becomes a gentle way to slow down, listen inward, and make meaning in the present moment. Below are some of the most supportive, coaching‑specific applications of art therapy — practices that honor the depth of creative exploration while staying firmly within the coaching realm. 🌱 1. Intention‑Setting Through Creative Marks Before we begin a se...