5 little chicken breasts and presto!

Yesterday I had to use up some chicken that I had defrosted in my fridge...so I began searching for recipes with pantry items that I have such as tomatoes...and I wanted it in my crockpot so that I could go about my day and know that tonight when we walk through the door at 9pm I had something good to fill our hungry bellies.  I took 3 of the chicken breasts and cut them into small pieces I added 1 can of corn, 1 can of kidney beans, 2 cans of diced tomatoes (14 oz each) and a 14 oz can of tomato sauce.  I also added an onion and some of our favorite spices turned it on high for about an hour...then moved it to low.  It is smelling wonderful...I guess kind of like a chicken taco soup.  I took the other two chicken breasts, boiled them and shredded them into a chicken salad for lunch.  Pretty economical eating yesterday.  Two full meals about $10 for the pack of chicken and the rest were pantry items.  But both were hearty and filling!

Tutu making!

After much research and buying yards and yards of tulle (who knew there were so many kinds) I sat down last night and completed one in an evening. It looks so good and it just so happened that one if the girls wearing the tutu was there for me to have as a model. Needless to say I am so happy with the results and feel accomplished
in my task. I have to do one more just like this and then some tiny ones about five I think but they will not take time at all.

Hurricane in Ohio?

For the first time ever...our schools here in Ohio are closed due to Hurricane Sandy.  I happened to get the news last night and I passed it along to my daughter's dance class...we have had nearly a year of mild weather which is also a first that I can remember at least.  The girls were jumping around excitedly...they made me excited!  Then I was very politely reminded how lucky I am that I don't have to go to school.  I love being around kids...they say the cutest things don't they?

We faired well last night.  We lost some branches and we heard lots of rumbles around the house but it looks like we made it through just fine.

This week, I am researching how to make tutu's.  I have found several ideas.  The dance studio is doing a local Christmas Parade this year and we have two girls wearing pointe shoes during the parade...should be really cute...so red and white tutu's will be my job this evening.  I have to say I love it.  Brit and I love to get our creative wheels spinning.  We have become best friends with all things that bling.  If it shines and sparkles we know about it.

Our dance year is coming along nicely...costumes and music for the recital are underway.  The performance team is improving every week.  It has been such a joy watching these girls grow and shine.  We truly have a special group of girls.

Well, I should be off...I am trying to work through my laundry pile as other things have taken my time these past couple of weeks.

Have a great day!

New Day, New Blog

Same old me.  Starting over is never easy but that being said I am excited to make my mark here on Simple and Sweet.  I'm a little out of my comfort zone here but I'm sure in no time at all I will find my new rhythm.  What are some of the things that I find simple and sweet?


Children's laughter
Time spent alone with my love
Girl time with my daughter
Family time!
Picking up my soft cuddly dog
Flowers, lots of them

Just off the top of my head...

Blog Book

I'm going to keep this post rather short...life is crazy, busy and full of everyday blessings. I found something the other day and would like to share it with my blog world friends. So many memories have I shared here on my blog. I found that I can actually use a very handy website to import the highlights in a book. Blurb.com works right along with blogger...it will upload your blog and you can create a book. I played with it a little bit last night. It was really neat to see all of this in book form and if I haven't mentioned it before, I love books...my thoughts and memories in a book? Priceless!

I'm not a scrapbooker...as much as I would enjoy it I just find it a daunting task to go back through so many years...I think how neat it would be to sum up every year with a book of memories recorded from my blog...so check it out. Blurb.com

Wishing you a beautiful day!
Joyce Marie

Random Thoughts!

It's Wednesday and things are pretty quiet.  Our weather is mild and warm here still...especially today.  At 74 degrees I am loving still being able to wear warm weather clothing.  I dread putting my sandals away and yet I know within days that most probably will happen.

I am praying fervently for our country as we are really little more than a month away from our election.  The big debate is tonight.  I am going to watch it...I would rather be watching something else because I know it is going to be painful.  I am praying for God's mercy on our nation and I hope that those who stayed home last election will go and make a stand and vote.  Did you know only about 50% of Christians vote?  These past four years have been long and I fear for our freedom...for our financial stability.  I have seen it in my brother's life.  He has struggled these past four years and it has left a mark on him, it has aged him.  I know there are others like him out there.  We need such a revival in this country.  I am praying that God will put the right man in and if he so chooses for us to have another four years of of the same that we will have a revival in this land.  I can think of no other reason to have to endure what we have all been enduring...but these are my thoughts and I am praying that I, myself will not go into a nose dive with the results...but I am prepared to just have faith and trust that God doesn't do anything without it coming out good in the end.

I took a walk down memory lane today and visited some of my most favorite homeschool sites.  I am looking for one book in particular.  I remember it vaguely.  I remember the person vaguely but for the life of me I can't remember her name.  It made me sad looking at all of those wonderful books...some that we we visited and some that we didn't have a chance to.  Wish I could go back and start from the beginning. What wonderful memories I have.

Getting ready for another busy night here at dance.  Soon pretty little ballerina's will be marching toward our doorstep anxiously awaiting their class.  I am blessed.  I am truly blessed!

Be Blessed!
Joyce Marie