Happy National Craft Month

I mentioned on Monday that I am really trying to use my craft room before Baby B arrives. On Saturday I did just that and made a spring wreath for our front door. I think it makes our house look more inviting and it reminds me that Easter is coming soon.
My Dad really liked it and wants to "order" one from me. I feel like this is the beginning stages of an Etsy shop! I had so much fun making it and it was pretty inexpensive. Maybe a few more doors around Texas will be showcasing my spring wreaths. If you're interested let me know!

I have a big goal for this month, which is to stock up on cards for various occasions. I know when I have the baby I will have little time to make cards for friends and family. I plan to have them all made so all I have to do is remember to send them. Right now it sounds like a lot of fun, but I have yet to make a single one. I will definitely show you my creations and I hope to complete my goal my the end of national craft month.

Ten on Tuesday

Today’s questions were brought to you by: sinner following Jesus

1. How did your parents decide on your name?
When my dad was in elementary school he knew a sweet little girl named Christine who was really nice to him. My parents also wanted to have strong names for their kids.

2. Do your initials (First, Middle, Last) spell out anything fun/funny?
Nope. Maiden: CCG Married: CCB

3. Did you take your middle name from childhood or did you take your maiden name as your middle name? (If unmarried, what do you plan to do?)
I kept my middle name. Truthfully I liked my middle name too much to get rid of it.

4. Are you or will you name your children thematically (ie. same first letter, all of same origin…)
Probably not. Eric and I are still having a tough time coming up with names we both like, so limiting the list to fit a theme...not for the Brinkmans.
I do however enjoy trying to remember all the Duggar's names. Joshua, Janna, John David, Jill, Jinger, Josiah, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Johanna, Jason... that's all I got. (I am a fan of the Duggars!)

5. Did you decide on baby names as a little girl? Did you stick to them or change your mind?
When I was younger I thought Kelly was the coolest name ever, thanks to Save By the Bell. I really believed that if your name was Kelly you were destined to be beautiful, popular, and be the prom queen. I have since changed my mind and will not be naming any of my girls Kelly.

6. Does your family have any names that have been passed down through generations? Robert and Christopher

7. Do you look at the meaning of the name or just the name itself?
I look at both because I think its pretty neat to know the meaning of your name. Looking through names for our baby I have been googling a lot to find the meanings just in case I might be selecting a name that means fig, goose egg or something evil.

8. Do you name pets with human names (Sally, Henry) or with pet names (Fluffy, Mr. Bo Bo)?
Sadly Eric and I are both allergic to cats and dogs. There was a time where I was really serious about getting a maltise and I wanted to name him/her Brinkley. There are two reasons I love the name, 1) It's part of our last name and 2) That's the name of Tom Hanks' dog in You've Got Mail, one of my favorites!

9. Are there any names that you have an affinity or dislike for based on a childhood experience/someone you once knew?
I do have a name that I really dislike...Christina/Cristina/Kristina...you get the point.
Reasons:
1. So many people mistakenly call me Christina and because I am a people pleaser I never correct them.
2. Every girl I knew during my childhood whose name was Christina was really mean to me.
3. When my mom would get upset with me she would call me Christina...I have no idea why.

10. What are some of your favorite names? Why?
I have a few but I will keep them under wraps until we announce we are having a boy or girl. You'll have to wait 6 more weeks.

Crafting Inspiration

Eric and I finally let the facebook world know about Baby B. We are elated and are excited to meet our sweet baby in September.

September is 6 months away and even though it might seem like it is a long way away I know/ I have heard that it will fly by. Because of that, Eric and I are trying to cherish every moment we have together before the Brinkmans become a family of 3. One thing I am definitely taking advantage of before Baby B gets here is my lovely craft room, which will turn into the nursery. But before diapers, onesies and burp clothes invade the room I have a few months to craft my heart out.

I'll be honest I am not the neatest crafter but even though there might be a mess on the floor I know exactly where everything is. But this mess was just bad!

After a few weeks of avoiding my room due to the mess, I finally organized and cleaned up.


I am so happy I took the time to work on the room because it has given me a new desire to make several projects before I will have to move my desk and replace it with a crib. I will be posting some of my projects to keep you up to date and hey maybe one of these days I'll be brave enough to start an Etsy shop...maybe.

No Power, No School. I am ok with that!

Yesterday will definitely will be going down in the record books for one of the craziest days of teaching. My school was part of the rolling blackouts in Austin. The power would go out for 45 minutes and turn back on for no more than 20 minutes. This happened all day long...
I had several candles lit and a flashlight to help me get through the periods of no light in my classroom. At one point in the late morning I noticed my room was chilly and looked at my thermostat, it was 58 degrees. No wonder my kiddos didn't want to take their coats off.
After this long and adventurous ordeal my school decided to close school today AND Friday.

Right now I am enjoying my day off and trying to make this day productive. I plan on cleaning the house, finishing laundry, and organizing my craft room. I have the urge to sew something so I hope to get my to do list done so I can sew and craft my heart out all day long tonight and tomorrow. In the midst of being creative I also plan on playing in some snow. 60% chance tonight and tomorrow! Wahoo!

I am so excited! Thank you Lord for this sweet blessing. Well I better get going on my long to do list. I hope to post some pictures of Eric and I playing in the snow and maybe a new garment I sewed.

Chapel, Bribing, and Baby Powder

Hey Blog world! I am still alive and kicking, just lazy when it comes to writing entries.
So... it's 9:05pm and I have 30 minutes before I hit the sack. Oh the joys of being a preschool teacher who has to be at work by 7am.

Tomorrow is a big day for my Ladybug class. We will be leading chapel for the elementary and preschool kids tomorrow. We have been practicing every week for about a month. They will be performing the Bible story, Jesus heals the 10 lepers. So far there will be only 8 lepers because we are missing two kiddos due to the flu. It has been a fun journey teaching and practicing this Bible story. Here are some of the obstacles/blessings from it all.

- None of the boys wanted to play Jesus, all of my girls begged me to let them play Jesus.
- Memorizing no more than 2 lines will take a 4 yr old a month to remember.
- Every practice involved a child refusing to be a leper and trying to sneak in with the other disciples.
- Bribing them with M&Ms works.
- They will begin to get tired of M&Ms and will ask for skittles, stickers, and cake.
- Children LOVE costumes!
- I finally had to research and think of a way to make the leper part fun and cool. Putting baby powder on their faces and arms sealed the deal.

It has been a long and sometimes a never ending process to get my 14 kids to remember their parts, sing and use hand movements simultaneously, and not fight with each other. But after today's last practice I think they are ready.
In the end I pray they have fun and remember this amazing story about how Jesus shows his love and mercy to 10 lepers.

song for the day

Ten on Tuesday

1. What is your favorite breakfast pastry?
A cheese bagel with cream cheese. They sell amazing cheese bagels in St. Louis and I will definitely be eating a few while I am up there for the holidays.

2. Were you ever in a Thanksgiving or Christmas play?
I was an angel in a few Christmas Eve services when I was younger. But deep down inside I wanted to play Mary. The sole reason was that I could wear a pretty, blue veil.

3. What is your favorite clothing accessory?
Scarves and a statement heel. I am a shoe kinda gal.

4. What is your favorite item of clothing?
I got two long-sleeved striped shirts for $2.99 at Old navy and I love them! I wish I bought two more in solid colors.

5. What is your favorite color and why?
Yellow because it is a joyful color.

6. What is your favorite type of Christmas cookie?
My mother-in-law has a platter of a variety of cookies every year for Christmas. It's incredible and I would love to do that one year. One of her cookies that I love are snowballs.

7. What is your favorite scent (food, perfume/lotion)
Juicy Couture perfume. Eric got it for me when we were dating as a gift on our first Valentine's day together.

8. What is your favorite household cleaner? Comet, it's cheap and cleans pretty much all surfaces.

9. When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up? And what did you actually grow up to be?
I always wanted to be a teacher. I loved playing school and I would force my siblings to be my students. When they refused I would use my stuffed animals. My parents had to buy me 2 chalk boards, I broke the first one trying to hang it on my wall by myself.
I am actually living my dream and loving it. I get to be a real teacher to 14 four year olds.

10. What is the last song or album you bought?
Taylor Swift; Speak Now. I am so happy Eric got it for me and it was only $3.99. Eric and finding deals...I love it!