Amanda Rose Zampelli | the blog

october : currently

• snuggling with a few of my faves: my boyfriend, my cat, and my sister
• watching the new season of The Walking Dead
• appreciating how he's the Glenn to my Maggie
• holding hands on Austin Street with John
• falling in love with Sundays <3 <3 <3
• laughing at Grams telling the story about her two kitchen fires around our dining table
• rolling eggrolls in cornstarch with Grams
• helping mom with all these house guests coming over to visit Grams
• feeling excited for the upcoming wedding this weekend
• creating a logo for my boyfriend, John's, new training program
• dreading the cold winter months ahead
• wondering why my iPhone quickly runs out of battery life ever since I upgrade the iOS
• driving my dad's smelly car around
• coming up with our Halloween costumes !!!
• needing an invitation to somewhere on Halloween so we can wear them
• planning for the second Ladies Craft Night
• dancing Bachata with John for reals (!!!) at his Aunt's surprise 50th Birthday party
• thinking of my pink Christmas Tree & Christmas this year
• revamping my blog behind the scenes 
• eyeing Big Magic - the new book by Elizabeth Gilbert
• thanking God for the blessings that have come my way these past few months
• celebrating John and my 6 months together today

september : currently

• trying to catch up on Project Life, Happy Planner™ spreads, blog posts, etc.
• sticking gold & white mambiSTICKS all over the inside cover of my third (!!!) 6x8 album
• drinking Cafe Bustello coffee from my pink 'crazy cat lady mug'
• posting about his & hers coffee on Instagram
• pushing myself at the gym...even on Saturdays!
• sitting next to John on the train to NYC to see The Tonight Show w/ Jimmy Fallon
• missing Jimmy because we showed up too late
• hunting for a couple of dresses for a Baptism and a wedding coming up
• obsessing over this video, this couple, this dress, this dancing, and THIS SONG (!!!)
• distancing myself from a toxic friendship
• staring at my workspace shelving with more ideas running through my head than time to execute them
• preparing for my first LADIES CRAFT NIGHT
• dancing Bachata on Sundays with John <3 <3 <3
• wanting to dance Bachata everyday (not kidding)
• loading my sister's things into my mom's car b/c drama drama drama
• commuting back and forth to my mom's with my two kitty boops
• seeing a mouse run under my dishwasher (!!!)
• thinking about a Halloween costume
• thanking God for the blessings that have come my way these past few months
• looking forward to October's bunch of parties

august : currently

• loving that my new apartment is starting to feel like 'home' 
• sticking a 'HOME SWET HOME' jumbo me & my big ideas sticker on my bathroom mirror
• reading 'The Alchemist'
• writing about a year ago when I left for Texas (!!!)
• pushing myself at the gym...even on Saturdays!
• building an IKEA shelving unit with my mom
• buying the (JLo) shoes b/c life is short & sister had a $15 off coupon
• needing to finish just two more of my DIY dining chairs
• goaling to revamp the blog & REALLY 'comeback' to the routine of it all
• feeling overwhelmed by all the craft projects I need to catch up on (EEK!)
• questioning a friendship
• protecting my peace ...like Jaime says
• Skyping with John while he's away in El Salvador
• DVRing Fear The Walking Dead so John can watch it when he gets back
• thinking about Fall is going to be like with him
• jogging with Mustangs
• decorating with pineapples 
• thanking God for the blessings that have come my way these past few months
• looking forward to September's Amy Schumer show and Bachata classes (!!!)

june : currently

• walking around barefoot in my new apartment for the first time
• dreaming up where furniture will go
• playing around with Paint Paper Studio app created by my friend, Olya Schmidt
• meeting his parents and family (!!!)
• wanting to learn how to dance Bachata
• visiting the me & my BIG ideas office in California for the third time
• hopping on the hotel treadmill at 5:30 in the morning (who does that?!) 
• listening to Romeo Santos's "Propuesta Indecente" on loop 
• attending my friend Natalie's Baby Shower
• eating cherries
• strolling the mall by myself on a Friday night and having THE MOST FUN
• buying high-waisted cotton shorts from H&M and...
• choosing a paint color
• cooking a meatloaf dinner for him
• bringing leftovers for him & his buddy the next day
• thinking about his birthday next month
• trying to catch up on craft projects
• planning to return to this blog/website/online identity of mine with focus and vigor
• thanking God for the blessings that have come my way these past few months
• crying watching this A Fault in Our Stars scene,  like OMG
• saying "I 'heart' you"
• meaning it

may : currently

• loving that its Spring and the dreadful snow is gone for the next few months
• looking up and seeing full, blooming trees
• jogging almost everyday to feel good in my new Old Navy two piece bathing suit
• dating a FABulous new guy, like whoa
• planning to attend The National Stationery Show in NYC this weekend with said guy
• introducing him to the important people in my life
• making a secret list of things he does that I adore ...Shhh!
• eating a large, hearty IHOP breakfast with dad and sister
• drinking thick banana almond milk smoothies with a spoon
• listening to OMI's "Cheerleader" on loop
• meeting my new nephew, Preston Dominic
• designing monthly prompts, planner covers, and decorative elements
• trimming my dead ends
• buying high-waisted white jeans from F21 and...
• ...hoping I have the courage to wear them at some point this summer
• spotting me & my BIG ideas Happy Planner™ in Michael's stores!
• cooking pizza in our kitchen
• starting a new book: Playing Big by Tara Mohr
• promising with our pinkies
• wishing my Aunt Laura good luck on her hip surgery
• hanging with my cousin, Michael, while she's in rehab
• closing on my first place at the end of the month

april : currently

• hugging my squishy 3-month old niece, Valentina, two days in a row
• attending her Christening & taking all the pictures
• singing "On Top of Spaghetti" to make her giggle
• owning my new auntie status that fits like a well worn glove
• awaiting the birth of my nephew, Preston, any day now
• pretending I'm in Hawaii with tropical flowers in my hair
• feeling de ja vu while typing about Hawaii & flowers
• listening to 1D's "Fool's Gold" on loop
• smiling to myself thinking of the 4-day trip to Florida that was #partyatGrams2015
• admiring my tan lines
• spraying on self-tanning spray to stay brown & glowing
• hitting the pillow HARD after early Saturday morning sessions at the gym
• crushing on the cute trainer
• losing inches off my waistline
• purchasing new sneakers for $30 & motivational gym shirts from Old Navy
• struggling with the knot in my left shoulder that won't go away
• eating to live, not living to eat
• grooving back into my planner game nicely
• jumping for joy that The Happy Planners™ are HERE !!!
• finishing up Yes Please by Amy Poehler
• loving Janette's wedding vows
• waving bye-bye to Easter, but still...
• ...making Easter pierogis
• controlling the portions we eat of them, only two or three at a time
• opening the windows
• dreaming about my first place & moving in at the start of summer

march : currently

 

• driving in the passenger seat of dad's car into NYC
• scolding my dad for unnecessarily scream-talking while I'm sitting right next to him
• spotting GRATITUDE in big ol' billboard letters and really feeling it
• speaking on a Grad panel at my beloved design school
• getting stronger, not as broken
• smiling at the weather warming, the mounds of snow melting, and the sight of concrete
• walking to our jog/run trail for the first time this year
• cleaning my plate at Elisa's Baby Shower...nom nom nom...
• chatting with the ladies at Table 11 and hearing about an old wives tale I'll NEVER forget
• accepting an exciting new designing opportunity
• overloading my work schedule with TONS of happy crafty tasks
• wondering how I'm going to get them^ all done....gah!
• knowing in less than three weeks sis & I are off to Florida to visit Grams
• kissing my niece Valentina's cheeks
• killing it at the gym
• planning my miles for #amileadayinMarch
• keeping to myself amongst friends lately, not ready to talk about me & him & our end
• losing an apartment I really wanted
• visiting more Open Houses
• finding a new apartment (thee apartment) for me (possibly...maybe....we'll see...#20 on this list)
• crossing my fingers that I get it

february : currently

missing him like crazy

reminding myself to be brave with fancy tats™

sleeping a lot 

walking over snow + ice that's over two weeks old & won't melt

getting pierced in the face by air that feels like -10 degrees

becoming a bit of hermit

visiting the gym a few days a week

wearing warm comfy socks around the house

watching Tyrese get bit in The Walking Dead's latest episode

entering the HGTV Dream Home Sweepstakes

eating homemade chicken gyros

driving mom to and from work 

building my new website piece by piece

reading Show Your Work! for the first time

rereading eat. pray. love. for the fourth (?) time

planning a Valentine's Day morning with my sister

sobbing uncontrollably

wondering if I made a terrible mistake

having a hard time with the hurt

trying to believe that good things are going to happen, but having such a hard time with the hurt

crying as I type this

succeeding at comforting my sister

failing at comforting myself

january : currently

following suit with one of my favorite bloggers

marvelling at the palm trees

walking in the rain

attending CHA 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center

taking awkward family photos

filming videos about new mambi product that's debuting at the show

stalking my Love Notes paper collection on display in the We R Memory Keepers booth

meeting Amy Tan and her son Jack

straightening my hair

wearing mustard tights

driving a Nissan Versa rental car

struggling with coding (what feels a billion) archives

eager to talk about my one little word for 2015

planning to finish the last few pages of my December Daily this weekend

missing the cats (even though I'm having lots of fun in Cali)

eating at The Cheesecake Factory

entering the HGTV Dream Home Sweepstakes

feeling proud of all I've accomplished in the past three years

thinking how the first 11 days of 2015 has already blown 2014 out of the water

december : currently

following suit with one of my favorite bloggers 

gifting the other half of this "BEST BITCHES" bracelet to my friend, Jamina.

marvelling at how spectacular The Christmas Spectacular was. OMG.

loving everything in the light of the Christmas Tree.

planning a blog redesign.

reading Brain Lock and finding it most helpful.

shopping for CHA.

documenting my December.

enjoying the new episodes of The Little Couple.

cooking pork tenderloin with sauerkraut for my cousin Lauren's dinner party.

ordering the shrimp parmigiana.

listening to Colbie Caillat's album Gypsy Heart.

wanting to get back down to my magic weight number.

moving that heavy rope up and down as fast as I can at the gym.

walking 3+ miles from my sister's apartment to mom's house in the starry night sky.

receiving a letter and Christmas card from Bianca, my past student, that melted my heart.

drinking Starbucks caramel kcup coffee in Christmas mugs.

holding and rocking little Luke Erikson to sleep in our living room.

watching the boops interact with their new little kitten-brother, Jack Black.

lighting my first menorah.

dreaming of a white craft space.

thinking about how hard of a year 2014 was for me, but how much growth, good change, and kind helpful new souls I've met.

feeling grateful for 2014 and hopeful for 2015.