A Life of Simple JoyReducing stress, increasing joy one post at a time!

I am working on a new book, well, more of a booklet on the simple joy of tea. I love hosting teas. Find them to be the very best way to entertain friends. Much easier than a full-blown meal and perceived as being more elegant and difficult. Tea may be elegant, even the way I do it, but it is by no means difficult when it is done The Extreme Diva way. I frustrate myself trying for perfection with my writing. I must turn my internal editor off and push ahead. The info in this book is too important and a precursor to my book on the simple joy of entertaining. We need to begin entertaining in our homes more.

I believe women are feeling isolated. Many of us have gone back to work or are working longer, harder hours. We are struggling to keep up with things around the house and with our families. We are coping with financial difficulties. All these things have overwhelmed us and caused us to shut ourselves away. Instead, we need to turn to one another for strength, support and guidance. Women do not function well alone. We are social creatures that need a strong social network to build a strong self esteem. Without that strong network, we lack the confidence necessary to tackle the issues facing us daily.

So, I must get busy. Not for my sake but for the sake of all those women out there needing my help. And I know you are out there!

TIME: A passage in the Bible tells us there is a time for everything. This includes the way you react to difficult times. When things get tough, some people freeze like a deer in headlights. Other people run around like crazy. So, some do nothing while others try to do ANYTHING! Whatever you are doing, if you have been doing it for an extended time and it is an extreme reaction, it may be time to change tactics. If you have become so depressed by your situation that all you are able to do is sit there taking no action, you need to MOVE! Now, this doesn’t mean rushing around like crazy. Instead, you need to clear your mind and consider your options. Believe it or not, you do have options. You have options even in the most severe situations. This is where your ingenuity comes into play. Calm yourself and think. If necessary, pretend it is someone else’s problem, then apply your imagination to solving the problem. Sometimes, it is necessary to remove yourself from the situation, take a step back to allow you to calmly and rationally develop a plan of action.

What if you are running around like crazy, trying everything, with nothing working out for you? Well, you need to do the exact same thing I said above. You must take a breath, calm your fears and THINK! Begin using logic rather than emotion. All the action you have been taking is just wearing you down. It is also wearing your family down. It may take shutting down for awhile to give you a new perspective on the situation. I often use this when I have become overwhelmed with my work. Granted, I don’t have small children so it makes is easier for me to lock myself away. However, you can find ways to take time away from it all. Even if you just go to bed early one night, it may be just the break you need to clear your mind and approach your problems anew. When thinks become too much, talk to your spouse and arrange a break. Explain why you need it. You should be able to work out a plan that gives you the break you need.
Time is a valuable tool for you during difficult times. Use it wisely and to your advantage.

I don’t have to tell you that times are tough. If you and your family aren’t experiencing difficulties personally, then you have seen the problems on the news and online. Odds are, though, you’re going through some lean times. This leaves you feeling uncertain, even anxious from time to time. This is when you need to call on F*A*I*T*H:

FAMILY: When things are difficult, you must lean on and rely on those closest to you. Be honest with your spouse and children. If money is tight, let them know. You need to get everyone on board if you want this to work. You don’t need to scare your kids, making them think the family finances are about to collapse. However, this is the perfect time to teach your kids about family finance and budgets. If they are old enough, get their input and ideas on ways to economize. Make it a family project. Teach kids how to clip coupons. Let them plan the menu and offer a treat to the one who comes up with the least expensive but nutritious meal. Take the kids along to the grocery store and let them do the shopping. Kids are great when it comes to finding the best bargains. Tell them what the budget is for the weekly grocery shopping, give them the list and let them know something special can be purchased with the money saved. It can be a special dessert or the money can be saved up for a special event for the entire family. This is only one way to teach your kids about budgeting and running a household. Combine your imagination with your kids’ enthusiasm and your family will not only get through the current crisis but also any other difficult times in the years ahead.

I began making this dish for my friends who are vegetarians.  However, many of my meat loving guests also enjoy my special chili.  It is made with 4 kinds of beans and plenty of spices to make it thick and flavorful.

Ingredients

• 1 large can chili beans
• 1 large can pinto beans
• 1 large can kidney beans
• 1 large can black beans
• 1 cup frozen chopped onions
• 1 cup frozen chopped green pepper
• 1 large can crushed tomatoes
• 1 small can of tomatoes with chilies
• 1 large can of tomato sauce
• 1 box vegetable broth
• garlic salt
• chili powder
• hot sauce
• salt and pepper

Pour chili beans into large crock pot.  Drain and rinse other beans. Add to crock pot.  Mix.  Add onions and green peppers.  Add tomatoes and tomato sauce.  Season to taste.  Top pot with broth, making chili stirrable but not “soupy.”  Simmer on low 4-6 hours adding broth as needed.

For me, apples are a big part of autumn. Growing up in St. Louis and then living in Southern Illinois, we would always go apple picking every autumn. As the weather turns cool and the leaves change colors, I begin to think about apples again and the Simple Joy they have brought me all my life.

This week, I present a series of podcasts on apples and offer you a variety of apple recipes. I hope you enjoy them.

Autumn Apples Part 2

Jean Ann (that’s me) discusses ways to save money stocking up on household basics during Back-to-School sales.

Simply Stocking Up