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Incoming Life Update… a super long post that’s been months in the making. Grab some coffee, tea, or wine, and get cozy! PLEASE KEEP ALL COMMENTS POSITIVE. I have always been open and honest, and we’ve not been okay… but I know we will be.
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As many of you know, I lost my dream job in May 2023, and despite what many might think, I did not leave by my own choice, nor did I receive any compensation. We moved our entire lives to Florida, started careers, bought a home, and built a life in the Sunshine State, and we are not planning to move anytime soon. Many people have asked if we will move closer to other organizations, and that’s not possible, at least not quickly. Plus – despite reaching out to some, even remotely, no opportunities have come along in that area.
Over the last year, I have been dealing with mysterious health issues that started during my first half marathon attempt in February 2023 when I lost my vision and almost passed out on the course, plus new autoimmune symptoms and depression from so many stressful events- TK, the pandemic, compassion fatigue, the house fire, family health issues, watching another career fall apart, and most recently the loss of my 15 year constant best friend -Alice.
I know some people believe I left on my own to deal with mental health issues- but the problems started before, during, and after I was let go. Then, to top it all off, I was given no time to say goodbye to my cats, the supporters, or my fellow friends, and I felt like an outcast. I couldn’t be used as a physical workhorse, so I was no longer needed and was disregarded- it felt cruel and caused me to shut down for a while. This was just one more nail in the coffin of my atrocious career path…
My last four professional careers ended similarly. I gave my heart and soul and made things extremely profitable, only for the companies and organizations to abruptly sell out, and I found myself out of a job. Fool me once… but I’ve been fooled four times.
After many long discussions and heart-to-heart talks, my amazing and selfless husband gives me the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to reset, take my time, set goals, get healthy, and no pressure to move forward until I’m ready. I want to build something myself and be my boss, in charge of my time, energy, and destiny. But small businesses take time to make.
So, what exactly am I trying to build? I have always enjoyed sharing things I love with the world- whether it’s animals, travel, Disney, places to go, or things to eat and drink with a heavy focus on photography, writing, and creating videos – So I want to keep doing that! I’m excited to start sharing some of our favorite items we purchase!
Right now, my focus is on researching, learning, and developing new skills for digital content creation and affiliate marketing for both of our brands – follow each social channel below:
Sunshine and Sand Dollars
The Cats of Mira Manor
How can you help us for free?
– Follow each social channel
– Subscribe to the blog
– Share our posts
– Leave comments
– Like our posts
– Reading and sharing blog posts
– Watching videos and reels all the way through- we are often included in their bonus program where we earn money based on views
– Clicking on links in our posts
– Tell a friend!
Other ways to help:
Shopping through our affiliate links-
What are affiliate links?
“An affiliate link is a special web link that allows someone to earn a commission for promoting a product or service. When someone clicks on a link and buys something, the person who shared the link earns a percentage of the sale. It’s a way for people to earn passive income by recommending products they like”.
We are currently working with Amazon and Etsy and have been accepted into their affiliate programs. So this is where we are asking you a favor when you shop–
The way it works – we may get a commission if you click on any of the links we share or post on our shop page and then buy anything within 24 hours. You don’t have to buy the exact item we share with you; you have to click the link to get to the site, then shop and purchase whatever you were already planning on buying within 24 hours. Please remember us whenever you order, especially for your holiday shopping. Just come to our page, click a link, and then shop!
Here’s our shop and I’ll be adding more items regularly- SHOP NOW
If you bookmark this page or save the link and always shop through our links
it could help benefit us greatly.
My Etsy Affiliate shop page will be coming soon, along with Booking.com links for all the places we love to stay, especially at Disney, but it’s all still a work in progress as I learn more about the industry.
Please don’t think every link I post is selling something, though- I promise you won’t notice anything different from what you’ve been following the last few years- only now, all things I’m doing are to benefit the growth of our small business hopefully and to support Mira Manor!
You will occasionally see #sponsored or #ad on social posts, but only because that’s the industry requirement- I promise you are not losing content – it’s all the same and still free. It’s the same with my default disclaimer on our blog posts, even on posts that don’t have affiliate links. We have to comply!
Giving Stars and Gifts-
What are Stars?
Facebook Stars is a feature that allows us to monetize our video and audio content. Viewers can buy Stars and send them to us on LIVES or posts that interest you. For every Star we receive, Facebook will pay us USD 0.01.
What are Gifts?
Instagram gifts is a feature that allows us to earn money from our audience. Followers and non-followers can show their appreciation for creators by sending virtual gifts on reels. Viewers can purchase stars and use them to send you gifts on Instagram.
Support the Mira Manor cats-
Several people have asked how they can help our cats so I created a Cat Amazon Wishlist – This is a collection of fun items you can purchase for our cats and help us create new content to share. Boy cats are destructive lol!
All of this keeps us from having to require paid subscriptions and we can continue to create and share our content for free.
So what are our future goals?
While I’m still fine-tuning a clear vision for the future my goals right now are simple:
-I want to be self-employed – I’m done helping the rich get richer
– Philanthropy and volunteering once our hearts heal and we are financially stable to do so
– Control my own destiny and finances
– Travel and share the world with those who are unable to do it themselves
– Possible online store in the future – I would love to sell my photography and other items I create
– Start going LIVE again – I miss talking to all of you
– Somehow make the world a better place through my creative skills and creative outlets
I am currently working with the following programs and hope to add more in the future:
- Amazon Associates
- Etsy creator co
- Amazon influencer program
- Booking.com
- Viator/Trip Advisor
I look forward to learning new skills while flexing my creative abilities in new and old areas. I’m ready to start a new chapter with your continued support. We can’t thank every one of you enough for always being there for us, and because of you, we can keep dreaming and build a stronger future. We have a great support system of family and friends who never wavered, and we hope to make them and ourselves proud! PLEASE KEEP ALL COMMENTS POSITIVE.
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”
– Walt Disney
p.s. All of the custom Minnie Ears and Disney shirts you see in our photos were either purchased on Amazon, Etsy, Hot Topic, Target, or at the official Disney stores! Find our affiliate links on our SHOP!
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Employers will always say “it’s just business, nothing personal” but when you are set aside and disregarded in that way, it certainly is personal! Especially when it’s done by people you considered as friends. Don’t feel bad about it happening, that’s truly how business works and when you have a true heart it’s unfortunately so easy for it to happen more than once. I do hope your health issues are improving and depression is no joke. It’s good you have taken the time to process and regroup, please take care of yourself! You are a very talented and creative person and I have no doubt you will find you path to success. I will follow everything of yours that I don’t already and when I can, take a look at Amazon and use any links I am able to. Sending you, Mark, and the boys hugs, good vibes and all the very best!
Thank you very much for this – we appreciate it!
I didn’t buy the “company line” because I knew you would never turn your back on the cats and leave them for any reason. I work in the defense industry (which is a corrupt and despicable industry run by corrupt and despicable people). I went through burn-out 6 years ago, after 17 years of my selfless dedication to a corporation, only to be taken advantage of by people I made the mistake of trusting. I walked away in disgust from a six-figure job with no other job and no future plans at all. In the blink of an eye the career path I worked so hard to achieve and had envisioned was gone. I had the financial ability to stay away for over 2 years to decompress and spend time for the first time in my life to travel the country and begin to regain my health and sanity. Time is an irreplaceable opportunity so take advantage of it while you can. It was during that time when I wasn’t working and in a bad place mentally that I found BCR and fell in love with the cats. Just remember that in any turmoil in life, there are silver linings and better opportunities that await us all. You may not see it immediately, but eventually you will. I met you twice, during the 2019 and 2022 Wildcat Walkabouts, and always watched your lives. Your genuine love for the cats always shined through.
Thank you so much for your supportive and kind words – we really appreciate it and I needed to hear it!
2024 is going to be great. Thank you so much for letting us know what happened at BCR. I’ve been watching you probably from your 2nd live, maybe 2017. You were so nervous, sweet and filled with love. Your connection with Tiger Lily, Smalls, and so many other cats was truly amazing. I’ve often think about Kathryn, Dillion and Kitten Karma, no word, just no longer there. Carol stated she was given people a years salary, I guess that wasn’t the case with you, shame on her. I know, I’m suppose to keep this positive, but it’s not easy.
That being said, I am a crafter on Esty, I take recycled bottles and turn them into windchimes. I would love to have you connect to my Esty (Cling Gaoth Wind Chimes) shop, so when I make a sale, you get a portion. to help you move forward with your business. I’m not sure how that works, I’ll contact them to see if it’s doable. Being a small business owner is not easy, as you are probably learning, it takes a lot of hard work.
Please visit my FB page, I would love to send you a chime just as a thank you for all you did for each of us over the years. Through you, we learned, we grew and we loved. Thank you
Sue
Oh my goodness YES – I would love to connect – I’m going to go look it up now!! Thank you for your support – we really are thankful!
Right after you were no longer at BCR I stopped following them on social media or supporting them because it seemed shady as hell. I miss seeing the cats. You provided so much stress relief for me with your lives, but after they decided to move all the cats from their “forever home” and then you left shortly after I couldn’t watch anymore without anger for both you & the cats.
I wish you all the happiness and success! 2024 is gonna be great!
I agree with everything you say, Maggie. I feel exactly the same and I so miss watching the lives and seeing the cats. 🙁 Also, I’m extremely disturbed by how Carol/Jamie acted. How could they do this to Brittany? Letting her go was bad enough, but not even letting her say good bye?? That seems deliberately cruel. What on earth was/is going on?
P.S. — Raman Noodle Cat Bed from Amazon is on its way to you! Enjoy~ 🙂
Ohhhhh my goodness! Thank you so much that’s so exciting for the boys!!
Dearest Brittany,
I had tears in my eyes as I read your post. Tears of sadness, empathy and massive upset at the way BCR and others have treated you. Being betrayed by those you trusted and gave so much to is devastating. Your daily BCR lives were my door into the magical world of the cats, Jinxy, The Queen, the Guatemala Boys, and so many others. I looked forward every day to what joyful experiences you would share, so when you dropped away so suddenly I feared something incredibly unkind had happened. I’m glad you are taking time to allow full healing of your heart, mind and soul. Your post also gave me tears of hope and happiness as you have outlined such a clear and exciting vision for your future and I just know it will manifest! You have such a talent with words and photography as well as being an astute observer and appreciator of life AND did I forget — an outstanding human! I am a professional marketer so if you ever could use some pro bono marketing work, please reach out. I look for organizations and people to offer free services to as part of my own personal “doing good works” commitment in life. (My email is mette.adams@yahoo.com). I wish you and Mark the very best in your next chapter — it will be glorious!! <3
-Mette
Wow thank you for this – I really appreciate it- I remember speaking in a zoom about your background and I just may take you up on that! I’ve been trying not to overwhelm myself and just taking it one day at a time but maybe we can chat soon! Thank you again ❤️
Brittany, first and foremost you are smart, compassionate, creative and so much more. Thank you for confirming something that at least some of us knew. You would not have left the cats voluntarily, even if we didn’t know the reason. I miss seeing your lives and look forward to seeing them again. I will do what I can to help you, Mark and the boys. Take care of you.
Hi Brittany, I will click on Amazon links, I buy from them often. Good luck in all you do! I really miss your lives & hearing your perky voice! You are real & always have been. Thank you for posting this…I knew there was more to the story.. Take care girl! See you on social!
Brittney, thanks for the update. Wasn’t sure of the reasons for you leaving BCR, but didn’t want to pry. I miss your lives each morning. I’m sure the cats miss your voice. I joined BCR about the time Flinster was rescued. Your bond with him was/is amazing. I’m sure you miss the cats. You gave the organization a softness with your love and compassion. Going forward you will bring those same feelings to everthing you do. You will conquer whatever you seek. Only positive outcomes from here on out.
We enjoy watching all your adventures and are super impressed by everything you do.🥰❤️
Blessings to you, Mark, and the fur kids. I believe in my heart that you will emerge strong and triumphant in the end. I’m so sorry for what happened to you in May. I hope you’ll be able to fit in a trip to see your cats once the moves are done. They’ll be in a good place and so will you.
Brittany: Thank you for sharing your story with us. I always admired your transparency and so enjoyed your “lives”.. I will definitely keep you in mind when doing my on-line shopping..You are definitely in my thoughts and I am so rooting for you! Bless you for all you did for those beautiful kitties.. I’m sorry that you didn’t get to say goodbye to your babies..Good luck with your future endeavors and I hope all you wish for comes to fruition. 😊❤️🐾
Thanks for sharing lots of things that have been your life’s experience this year, Brittany. I’m sorry you’ve had a range of health issues and I wish for you- healing in all aspects. Best wishes in all you are developing and embarking on. I’ll do what I can to help.
So sorry the things that have caused you to have health issues. I always your lives an photos meeting you through the cats. Always giving us the cat perspective. I have total enjoyed following you and your hubby travels and your personal kitties. Brittany, you are a ray of sunshine yourself! Continue being you and they will follow ❤️💓🌞
Brittany you are worth your weight in gold. Such a beautiful soul. I gave up on BCR because it was you and your interactions that I looked forward. I was heartbroken when you were let go. I will definitely continue to follow the Mira Manor.
Brittany am so sorry this happened to you and Mark. I see tshirts I am willing to buy. Hope you both are doing well as well as your kitties. Miss hearing your voice.
Bravo!!! Nicely put. I’ll be helping anyway I can.
(Trying to only post positive but it is so so hard to do. They did you wrong and for that they lost my support).
Love you!! Hope you go live soon too!! Miss your voice.
Oh gosh..ummm..Wow! I knew you just wouldn’t up and leave! You adored those cats and loved working there..From what know I did gain wasn’t good,I’m so so sorry to what has happened to you and others!
I know how much u miss the cats and that’s why I sent you something, that I thought you might enjoy! I hope it didn’t set u back any! Yes,and Yes! U and Mark got my full cooperation in whatever u decide to do!
I’m here for ya! Annmarie
I support you 100%. You helped me fall in love with the same cats you did. I would love to see you do lives again and your travel blogs are amazing. Everything you post is so positive and I am proud to share it. I’m excited to see where you take this!