April 2026: A Month of Creativity, Growth, and Good Things

April felt like a beautiful patchwork—stitched together with family traditions, classroom joy, creative expansion, and a few proud personal wins. As I look back, I’m grateful for how full this month truly was.

🌼 Family Traditions & Flavorful Wins

This month brought me right back to my roots—in the best, most delicious ways.

Maultaschen Magic We kept our family tradition going strong with another batch of homemade Maultaschen. It’s one of those recipes that feels like home every single time.
Hefezopf Happiness Ed and I teamed up to bake a gorgeous Hefezopf (braided sweet bread). It turned out so well that he brought some to share with his colleagues—always the true test of success.

🍎 Classroom Joy & Career Milestones

April was a big month for my work in education and creative wellness.

Teacher of the Week I was honored to be named Teacher of the Week on April 22nd. My students’ excitement made it even sweeter.
Sharing My Voice I presented at a CNA meeting this month—an energizing chance to connect with peers.
Piece by Peace Art Wellness I officially moved forward with my coaching expansion! New logo, new business cards, and a renewed sense of purpose. It feels good to see this dream taking shape.

🎨 Creative Pursuits & New Hobbies

Art and nature continue to be my grounding places.

Underwater Calm Our new 35‑gallon freshwater tank is thriving. Watching the Blue Tiger Parrot Cichlid and the guppies has become one of my favorite ways to unwind after long days.
Beta Group Prep I’m deep in preparation for my first virtual art‑wellness beta group launching in June. I’m excited to welcome 6–8 participants into this creative, restorative space.

🌟 Personal Brags (Because Celebrating Matters!)

Proud Mom Moment My son was named Valedictorian of his Nurse Aide program! I’m so proud of his dedication and heart.
Beagle Sunshine Days Daisy and Piper have been loving the warm Texas weather—and honestly, their joy is contagious.

💬 Your Turn

What was the highlight of your April? A new recipe? A creative spark? A small win that meant something big? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Fidget Blanket (Fummeldecke) Ideas

This will be my first time ever making a fidget blanket- I was so happy to have the opportunity today to gift my Oma a fidget blanket. I love her with all my heart, it just makes me so sad that not much can be done for her while struggling through dementia. She told me it was beautiful and she appeared to like it. I showed her each square and what she can do with it. The first thing she noticed was the wording; „Mit Liebe Gemacht“ which translates to „Made with love“. Oma Hildegard is German and I wanted to make sure she would recognize things and always remember that we love her. What is a Fidget Blanket? Fidget blankets are therapeutic small lap quilts to which different kinds of things are sewn or added on. These items offer sensory stimulation that can have a calming effect on patient who struggle with memory loss. The Fidget blankets help them stay busy avoiding boredom. It provides a means of performing repetitive behaviors that are often reassuring and calming. ...

Healthy Recipes

Cauliflower Chili Zucchini Sliders Zucchini Sliders Links: Chicken Wrap Chicken Parmesan More Recipes More Healthy Food (Free Recipes) Facebook Health Group for Women Tried & True Recipes

The Low Oxalate Diet

A low-oxalate diet is a diet that is low in oxalates. Oxalate is a chemical found mostly in plant foods. A low oxalate diet can help prevent future kidney stones. The most common type of kidney stone is calcium and oxalate. The following are low oxalate foods Meat: All fresh and frozen meats: beef, pork, chicken, turkey; fish and seafood such as flounder, salmon, tuna, shrimp, scallops; and eggs. (Avoid cured meats.) Dairy: Dairy products made with cow’s and goat’s milk, including buttermilk, skim milk, 1% and 2% milk, whole milk; butter; all cheeses, including cheddar, feta, farmer, goat, mozzarella, Parmesan; sour cream, whipping cream, half & half; yogurt, plain, or with low oxalate fruit. Fruits: Apples, avocados, cherries, cranberries, bananas, melons (cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon), seedless grapes (red and green), peaches, plums. Vegetables: Asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers; iceberg and Romaine lettuc...

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