Assessment

    If you know me, you would know that I'm continually assessing things. If things are in the right place, done in the right manner. If I feel happy about something or sad. How different people, places, things make me feel/react. I am emotional, yet rational. I try my best to do things rationally, but in some cases, I throw caution to the wind, and do what my heart says.
    I have made many big decisions with my heart. Some haven't turned out as I planned, but I don't make the plans, God does. There have been several decisions floating around in my mind lately, some big, some small. Sidenote, I am also indecisive. ha. I want what is best for my family, yet I want what is best for me also. I will not choose my family over my happiness. I know I am one of those people that can't live without being happy. I have a feeling that's why I haven't had a 'steady' job for so long. I wanted to be a teacher. I could not/would not take a job that I knew I would hate just for the sake of making money. That may be selfish, but, so be it. I know that I need to be happy to live.
    This all is bringing me to the situation I am in. I'm having problems deciding what will make me happy. I don't know if teaching will make me happy. I don't know what other careers would make me happy either. I have been praying really hard about finding my place on this Earth. Growing up, I thought I would be this cutting edge zoologist, that traveled the world and found new species. Well, obviously that didn't happen... So where to go from here? I think I see my future as a stay-at-home mother, working on Bits of Brina during my 'down-time'. That's one thing that always makes me happy. Making/figuring out new items for Bits of Brina makes me very happy. Things are going well, I would love to make a few more sales before adding more items to the store, but I do have some interest in selling in-store, which is FABULOUS! I'm not sure that my picture of the future will come into fruition, but again, I don't make the plans, God does. I will give it all to him, and he will show me the way....until then, I shall assess my life, and hopefully happiness will be around the corner.

Picture of my newest Vase:

-Brina

I finally did it!

    As I mentioned in my last post, I finally started my own business. Right now I just have an Etsy site, but I really hope to expand. I have always thought of myself as crafty. On every school project that needed craft skills or imagination, I have always excelled. Of course I had some help from my parents, but I had the vision, and they helped me bring it to life. Now, I have the ability to do it myself, and I have to say joining Pinterest has help alot! It's a site that has lots of DIY projects, and I have become addicted. With the ton of free time I have (working only 6-9 hrs a week), I have been able to make several items that I was told I could possibly make money on. My cousin, Nathan, who has his own business really helped me out. He does screen printing, and has a blog that shows you how to do it yourself also. At some point in time, I would like to try glass etching, which he also does. It would be great to go into business with him. Here's his website: Nate Screenprints. You should check it out. He will screenprint whatever you want (that can be screenprinted, which is more than you would think!).
    So far, my Etsy shop consists of upcycled vases made from glass bottles, then wrapped in yarn. I have several colors and will also make-to-order. I  also started making felt flowers to put on the vases. A few days ago I thought I would sell dog toys that I make for Bandit, out of fleece. Dog toys are so expensive, so why not make my own?
    I am so excited that after only 1 day of opening my Etsy Shop, I had my first order! Obviously people are willing to believe in my vision also! I love taking everyday items and making them into something beautiful. I have so many more ideas, but when it's freezing outside, I can't get out there and spray paint the many items that I want to give new life. It truly is my passion! As soon as Spring hits, I will be out there everyday working my butt off.
So here it is! My Etsy Shop Bits of Brina.
    I would love for you to check it out! No, you don't have to buy anything, I won't be hurt. However, if you know of someone who might like something, let them know about be. If there is a color scheme that I don't have, that they would like, I will do my best to find that color. Honestly, I believe in everything I make, and I don't sell anything that I wouldn't pay for myself.
    OH! I almost forgot! When my Facebook Page for Bits of Brina Facebook Page gets 100 likes, I will be doing a Give-Away! When 100 people like my page, I will post it on FB, if you enter and win, you would get a FREE Large Vase (value $15)! Go there now and Like me!

    Here are a few pictures of what I have for sale:

Valentine's Day 12" Vase

9" Vase

12" Vase

Braided Dog Toy Ring

Stay warm in this crazy weather!

-Brina

Camera Dump

Well hello there 2012!
We met each other 2 weeks ago, but it's really flown by! The past 4-6 weeks have been crazy to say the least. I started my new job, which is going well, but I am still looking for a 2nd job to get more hours. We had some amazing spring-like weather, and also our first snowfall. I am also starting a new 'business' I guess you could say. I have decided to make my passion into a money making venture. (More to come on this later!) Who knows, I may do so well that I can be the stay-at-home mommy that I said I would never be!(No, I'm not preggo, but just looking ahead). Anyway, life is ever-changing, and I have decided to ditch my plans for my life and go with God's plans. I plan to no longer fight what is, but just let it be. This doesn't mean I just plan to sit and wait for God to do something grand, but to listen to what he is guiding me to do.
In this new year there are so many things I want to accomplish. EW and I are ready to take this year and make it the best year together yet. Things have been down for so long due to mostly finances (ie: I haven't had a job for almost a year, I had surgery, we have accumulated debt because I didn't have a job for so long and now have to pay up the @$$, and of course, my Gigantic amount of student loans that have NOT gotten me a job) Whew...that depressed me just typing all that. So we may be a little behind the curve in the whole getting our lives together thing, and we may have to spend the next 5 years in our little apartment, and our child(ren) may have to spend their first few years in that tiny apartment also, but I know it will all be ok. My parents, grandparents, ancestors did it, and so can we. Honestly, that's what gets me through my days. Instead of falling into a heaping mess of tears and snot when I find out we can't pay the bills this month, I recite Bible passages. "Be still and know that I AM God. God will not give you more than you can bear. God will not forsake thee." And the big one: "God will provide." And boy has he! I can't tell you how blessed we are! We have an amazing church that we are becoming members of, and they have been such a huge support for us. I am so very thankful God has put them in our lives.
I have so many great pictures from the past 2 weeks, that I thought I would do a 'camera dump' and just add a few on here.
For New Year's Eve, my friend Kristen from my year of teaching was able to come and visit! We were invited to EW's brother & sister-in-law's house for a little celebration. We love hanging out with them and their friends; they are all so very nice and we have tons of fun!

Kristen and I

 EW and I

Happy New Year (Chicago station)

 Some played a game where you tasted different beers

and had to say which was which. EW's turn.

Kevin and Meredith

(EW's brother and his girlfriend)

We got 6in. of snow Thursday.

It was Bandit's first big snow. She LOVED it!

 It's hard to get her inside.

She likes jumping in the deep snow.

And of course rooting around it in too!

 Hope everyone is staying warm and healthy!

-Brina

December in Pictures

Once again, I have been absent. The month of December has been a whirl-wind of events. The month started with Bandit's 1st Birthday party. Then I started my new job, and Christmas was here before I knew it! The week before Christmas also brought some unexpected news. My Grandma went to the doctor for what we thought was the flu. The same day she was taken to the hospital, and 3 days later she died of liver cancer. We are thankful she did not know what was happening (after a biopsy, she was heavily sedated, and never really came out of it) and passed in her sleep, Thursday the 22nd. As the family has said "she went home for Christmas." She is in Heaven with my Grandpa, and they are living in perfect peace. To say the least, this Holiday season has been unlike any other. It didn't even feel like Christmas, considering on Christmas Day I was driving home to be with family, but obviously there wasn't much cheer included with the trip. After this past month, I'm so over 2011. I'm ready for 2012, and I hope that there are good things in store for us this year. I pray that this coming year will be much happier!
With that recap of the past month, here is December in pictures:

Birthday Girl with her Tutu

 Family Photo

 Birthday Cake!

 Opening our Stocking

 Christmas with the Witkowskis'

 Benny loves the piggy

 My Brother went to the Bar to support the Bears like this...

 Our First Christmas with Bandit

Opening a gift from our friends Bella and Taylor (Yorkies) down the hall. 

 Christmas Jammies!

Obviously my favorite photo subject is Bandit. She's just so photogenic!

Hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year! See you in 2012!

-Brina