This is my LIFE

Long time not blog!  I really have missed blogging, but school took all my focus and energy.  I'll be honest there were days where I just laid in bed and watch Hulu or Netflix on my iPad, but I needed those days.  I have been crafting but very little. I typically share my cards on instragram @gingerhollner follow me if you would like to see them.

I have had an exciting few months or more.  I have been stressed of course, but it is all good.  I can finally say that my time at the College of Saint Rose is done! I am graduating this coming Saturday with my Masters in Special Education.  I'm so proud of myself! There was days where I didn't think it was possible.  I gave up, I cried, I wanted to pull my hair out, but I pushed through with my amazing support system.  I really can't thank those who stood by me enough! I know it has been a struggle for all of us.  I look at all the challenges that have been put before me. Things that, most would have just thrown in the towel and I surpassed them and kept going.  I am going to achieve the goal that I have had since Kindergarten! What do I do next?!  I mean there are the typical goals that women have for themselves: get married, have a family, get a job, but what do I do with myself next.  I'm going to have a life! I'm going to go on dates! I'm going to craft and not feel guilty!  I'm going to write (more then anything I want to find my voice again)!  I'm going to have dinner with friends and family!  I'm so excited, but so scared at the same time!  The next chapter of my life is about to begin.  I think I know what my next goal is, but only time and God can give me the go ahead on it.  First I'm going to enjoy my summer with my favorite little lady and my family! And of course going riding with Todd!  This is my year! This is my LIFE!

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My messy workspace

Last night I worked on the cover of my december daily album and this is the insane mess I ended with.  

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Updating again!

I feel like all I do is quick updates.  Well like always I have been super busy with school work.  I'm hoping things will slow down a little in the next few weeks now that student teaching is officially over.  This past week I have been working on the project that goes along with student teaching and trying to wrap it up, so I can clean my craft room and then play in it.  My goal is to finish up today, so tomorrow I can go in there to get some cards done for the Red Knights.

As for other stuff.  Everything is going well.  I am maintaining the weight loss which I am surprised by because I thought that once I started student teaching I would stress eat like I always do. I didn't thankfully and when I did I did it within reason.  I am loving myself a little more than when I weighed 20 pounds more.  I didn't realize how much the weight was affecting my body.  On rainy day my knees would be in so much pain.   Now the pain is bearable or not there at all which is amazing.  I will be posting my teacher outfits from student teaching and talking about how annoying it is to have no clothes and no money lol.  I got creative and I think I looked pretty good everyday.  Well I better go finish up so I can play, which hopefully means I will be posting cards soon!

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Life is crazy! I would love to know when it is not.  I have began the semester, which includes students teaching and two literacy classes (online thankfully).  With that I barely have time to breathe, but the past few weeks have been eventfully.  A friend passed away earlier this month, another found out he is terminally ill, one nephew was born and we found out there is another one on the way.  So it has been both an exciting and sad time here, but most of all a busy time.  So needless to say creating beautiful things is way, way, way on the back burner.  Hopefully after the next few weeks are over I can breathe again.  I'm not complaining.  I'm loving every minute of it! I would rather be busy then sitting here board.  Like I was when I took time off of school and check out on life.  I can tell you at the end of the day I come home put on my sweats and happily lay with my fur babies on the couch.  Today I'm preparing for another busy week of student teaching, preparing lessons, and doing homework for my literacy classes.  Seven months till graduation!!!  

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20 pounds lighter

It's amazing the difference in these photos.  I posted this on Facebook this week.  I looked at them side by side and all I could say was WOW! The one on the left was in February we went to Florida.  I found the shirt down there while thrifting and I thought it looked good (it didn't look terrible) and I put the same shirt on this week. I am proud to say I have lost 20 pounds.  Everyone says I look great, but I looked great before.  I feel so much better and notice that things with my health are much better with the weight loss.  My knees are as bad during damp rainy day among other things.  I think I might lose about 5 pounds.  I'm not going to be extremely hard core about it.  I went from a size 12 jeans to a size 8 I haven't been able to wear a size 8 since my last time dietin in 2007.  The biggest downfall is that I need new clothes a lot of my dress clothes just weren't going to work.  Thank God I was able to find quite few pairs of pants through thrifting.  I just need to find some tops which shouldn't be too bad going to the clothes mentor and being smart at places like Target and Old Navy in the next week or so.  I wouldn't normally stress but I start student teaching soon and I want to look my best! Thanks to everyone for their support.  Pin It Now!

Angie girls

I'm in love with these stamps! I love their sass and the themes they come in.  I have quite a little collection going (I have the teacher, photography, cat lover, "Wonder Woman" a sassy wine drinker, two tea/coffee drinkers and one of the witches).  So I stamped a bunch and colored them all and have put together a couple cards so far.  I think I did a couple more but I can't find the photos on my phone so I have to retake them.  I love how I can make a pretty simple card and add them on and they look fabulous. If you love them as much as me you can go to unitystampco.com to purchase them. 

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Car themed cards

So the craft show I'm doing is a car show too.  So I decided to do some car themed cards to include.  The first one I used a tim Holtz stamp and I stamped it in 3 colors (whisper grey, slate gray and black) overlapping slightly as I went.  Then I had this awesome sentiment in my stash I think it's from Hampton art.  I thought I made an amazing little birthday card.  The other two are completely close to my heart product (I'm trying to use up my stash of retired product).  I think they came out awesome.  The cars were colored using our new alcohol ink markers (which I only bought two if because the last ones didn't do so well). These ones are awesome so far.  Only time will tell.  

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