Amanda Rose Zampelli | the blog

my '30 IN 30' list

I turned 30 years old on November 9th, and I decided to make a birthday list of thirty things I'm goaling to do in my 30th year: my 30 IN 30. I've seen lists like this around the internet (here and here and here) and even made a couple myself in the past. I felt inspired to try it again this year because I believe it's necessary to write down good things to try and look forward to.

Some things on the list are reminders to do those little happy things I can completely control: like #25: wear something sequins or #16: dress the cats in costume. Some things are new and exciting experiences that are going to be happening this year: #7: become an auntie (twice !!) and #15: CHA! Winter Show! 

Some have definite beginning and end dates, and some are ongoing goals that need consistent practice. All have been on my mind. All are things I believe my future self will thank me for. All are adventures in some way, and I feel ready to embark. ♥ ♥ ♥

my take-aways from Alt Summit

I was not actually in Salt Lake City for Alt Summit these past few days. I was at my desk. With headphones on. Listening to conferences and talks online. Technology rocks. ♥

This was able to happen by signing up for Alt For Everyone. The informative classes, a world-class keynote, a social meet-up — and even a goodie bag was delivered straight to my door. Pretty cool. 

Equally as cool is the shift in my attitude toward this blog that resulted from it. To explain in more detail, I highlighted below some of the things that were said in the conferences that resonated with me most. The first thing said that hit me like a ton of bricks was:

I'm a blogger. This December I'll have been blogging for five years. My new job blogging for me & my BIG ideas is my paying, day-to-day, like, actual job. I'm a blogger, and I love it. What I never realized before Monique Malcolm of AntiSparkle said it was "If you're a blogger, you're in business." I'm in business?  What does that even mean to be in business?  Hmmm...I guess if you're in business with something it means you take it seriously, work hard on it, care about what message it sends, have goals for it...gasp!!...HOLY CRAP! I'M IN BUSINESS! That's how my shift in attitude happened.

This is such a true statement said by Chris Gardner of Man Made! If I'm in a business, which I am because I'm a blogger and "If you're a blogger, you're in business" than I have to work on being a trustworthy business/brand. My main goal as a blogger is to create good (good = high quality, authentic, heart felt, useful) content, and create it consistently. Then, once I've nailed down my working formula for this, I need to remember to:

Now that I've estabilished this high quality, authentic, heart felt, useful content on a consistent basis, WHY ON EARTH WOULD I DEVIATE FROM IT?! This gem of an idea came from TheAlisonShow, and I'm going to run with it. I feel that I deviate way too frequently. All in all, though, I want to cut myself some slack and remember that:

Yes, I have this new attitude about this space and that only means better things to come, but in blogging, just as in business, you're experimenting until you find the formula that works. What I've come to realize from listening to speakers like Kelly Beall of DesignCrush at Alt is that they are successful because (1) they put in the time, (2) tried a variety of things, and (3) uncovered their working formula -- in that order! I've been diligently at (1) and (2), and now I feel closer to my working formula than ever. :)

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So, thanks, Alt Summit!  Thanks for making it for everyone.

...and thanks to sweet Stephanie Fleming for encouraging me to sign up.

july goals.

Happy second day of my favorite month of the year, everyone.  I'm looking forward to a slow 30 days in my element, in the season of warmth and sun where I belong.  With that in mind, here is how I'm focusing my one little word this month:  

Firstly, I'm going to revisit No Joke July.  I called last year's July that and channeled it into daily eating right and outdoor exercise.  I think because I consider July to be my favorite and my strongest month, with usually the most free time, NOW'S the time to get things done, NO JOKE. NOW'S the time to focus on healthy eating and making meals and getting out every morning and going for a jog/bike ride/etc, NO JOKE. No Joke July. Here't goes.

My second goal this month is made up of three words: try/decide/adventure. A new job needs to come about.  The possibility of a move, and a new state, and a whole new independent lifestyle...I don't want to be deterred by fear. I don't want to not try or not decide to break my same old stagnant routine because I'm afraid of the unknown.  Take the risk and go on the adventure is what I want to remember this month.  

No Joke. Let's July! C'mon, baby, light my fire!

june goals.

Happy third day of June, everyone.  We are at the start of my three favorite months: June, July, and August, so I'm looking forward to feeling more like myself, in my element, in the season of warmth and sun where I belong.  With that in mind, here is how I'm focusing my one little word this month:  

...two things only:

Firstly, I'm going to start a morning positivity journal.  I want to start each morning with a positive thought, intention, statement, quote...something...and refer back to it during the day.  You see, with anxiety (that I've been battling the past few months) comes these negative and mean stories we tell ourselves. The goal of this journal is to take five minutes every morning and write a positive message to myself. I want this positive message to be the story I tell myself over and over that day, like a mantra, in an effort to replace some of the negative stories my mind seems to default to. You can expect future updates on how this practice is going.

My second focus this month, and it's something May allowed me to start doing, is to foster my relationships. I looked up the word 'foster' in the dictionary (although I already had an idea) and it means "to promote the growth or development of; further; encourage; to care for or cherish."  That is exactly what I want to start doing again with the people I love.  I know I say this weirdo bought of anxiety I've been going through hit me in March, but actually, this funk probably started somewhere around my 29th birthday back in November.  I hadn't made much of an effort to call friends.  I was a bit of a hermit, focusing on getting through design school and finding a job; the winter majorly sucked and cause everyone to be a bit depressed, frustrated, trapped inside, and just plain cold. Now I'm ready to start reconnecting again, and get out of my house and my head, and eat and laugh with people I know and love. What's that Mark Twain quote? "The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer someone else up."  Yeah. I'm all about it.

may goals.

I set out at the beginning of this year with the one little word work in mind.  I for sure wanted to find work, and that I did. A great job. Pretty perfect for me, and just what I wanted. I immersed myself in my new job and wanted to do my best, and I did, and still am. 

Then...out of nowhere...anxiety hit me. I talked a little bit about it here and here. It started in March, but became a funk of epic proportions in April. Last month is a bit of a blur, but I have been feeling better.  I still feel like I'm in a hole, but I'm slowly and surely climbing out of it.

The objective of my two goals this month is to eliminate the pressure I put on myself.  I have been told I'm an intense person, which is so funny, because it's the exact opposite of what I value: happy, jolly, laugh-at-yourself, don't take life too seriously, etc.  But I am. I tend to get intense and even catastrophic in my mind at times. I've been told I'm a perfectionist and only see things in black|white, which is also so funny, because I value the exact opposite of those things, too.  But alas, I am human and an overly-ambitious one at that.  I simply place too much pressure on myself to do, be, and...sadly...'WORK' towards...whatever. 

This month, I'm channelling my one little word 'work' into the notion of just being in the moment -breathing, resting, relaxing - and taking the pressure off myself to constantly be working on or towards something. 

Maybe I should try meditating again. That was a whole year ago. Wow. So was this. ♥ Happy NSD! Enjoy!

april goals.

New month, new goals.  Here are some things I'm focusing on this month...

Firstly, I wanted to type the words -- give myself a break -- and see those words, and register those words.  I mean this goal many ways. One of the ways I'd like to give myself a break is creatively.  My wonderful new job that I've had for a month calls for me to be creative all day long, so after my 'work' day, I don't necessarily want to do anything creative...and that's okay. It used to be what I longed for after a hard day's work spent teaching, but adjusting to my new schedule, and being creative already, maybe I don't want to finish 30 Days of Lists or this month's one little word prompt or a week of Project Life slips by. NOTE TO SELF: it's okay. ... I would also like to give myself a mental break, someway somehow. I've been worrying a lot lately...over-thinking, mentally stressing...and when that happens, I know I need to do on a daily basis what gets me out of my head a bit. I got my haircut this past weekend and the head massage that came with the wash worked wonders. I think a weekly trip to the masseuse might be me-meeting-this-goal. ;)

Secondly, I want to move purposefully.  I goal to participate in some intentional, purposeful physical activity once a day, everyday this month, for at least 30 minutes.  My two defaults tend to be a neighborhood walk or bike ride. But with this month's (hopefully) warmer weather, I aim to get back to my beloved trail jogs, and switch it up with some other spontaneous purposeful movement. Maybe another Zumba class with Danielle.  Perhaps I could dust off my roller blades? I really really miss the salsa class Tomas and I used to go to once a week. Maybe I could look that up...

Thirdly this month, I aim to (finally & for real) eat consciously. This obviously means 'eat right', 'eat clean', 'eat healthy', 'lose weight', etc. but I struggled with all those descriptions (see goal 1. and my over-thinking). In wording this goal to achieve optimal success, I chose 'eat consciously' because I'm not going to force myself out of eating that pistachio Flying Saucer from Carvel.  I'm just not.  However, I am going to be aware of what else I eat the entire day leading up to that Flying Saucer.  I'm going to eat consciously by writing down when I eat to make sure there's a minimum of three hours before I'm eating again. If I chose the right foods, I should feel sustained.  Conscious eating.  Mindful eating. If I eat ____, I'll feel ____.  Am I eating this because I'm hungry, or because I'm bored/anxious/happy? Hopefully, in conjunction with move purposefully, 'lose weight' will naturally happen. Hopefully.

Do you have any specific goals for the month? ♥ How would you tackle my three above?

You can read this year's past goals and my reflections on them here.

march goals.

Alright, okay, I know: one-third of the month is over already, and I'm talking its goals? YES! March entered and with it came a new job, a week in Utah, and an array of new responsibilities.  I orginally had this and that project, and 30 Days of Lists at the focus of my one little word this month, but I started the month kind of funky, and the two goals above are what I need to channel my work toward.

Most of my days and hours and minutes this month are going to be put toward this new job, this wonderful new opportunity, plain and simple.  I can't get worked up on being perfect at it.  I will make mistakes, and I will have mini failures before I can get to mini successes (be it in design or concept execution or whatever). I am going to do my best everyday, try something everyday, and learn something everyday.

I've acknowledged that there will be a learning curve, and that time is needed to ride it out.  What I've also come to realize is that - for me - anytime I start something new - no matter how wonderful it is - there's also an anxiety curve I have to ride out.  I am no good with change, even if it's good change.  If I'm not yet adjusted, my brain overreacts and worry takes over.  I'm working on it, but I forsee March being riddled with it. I'm trying to insert some calm whenever I can.

I predict the warmer weather helping with calm.  I predict more sunlight + Vitamin D + outdoor time will, too. I sure as hell hope so. ♥ Have a great day!

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P.S. - Thank you to everyone who commented encouraging words on yesterday's post about my new gig @ We R Memory Keepers.  At the core of all the newness and responsibility and anxiety, there is immense excitement. I'm glad I can share this with you all.  Should be fun!

february goals.

Good Groundhog Day morning, everyone! (FIY: the little sucker saw his shadow. 6 more weeks of 'The Polar Vortex'.) Damn. Anywho...here is how I'm focusing my one little word this month:  

Firstly, I am going to find work.  That is #1 on my list because it is top priority.  January was spent getting things in place, even applying to numerous places, but games are over, and it's GO TIME. I need to find a job.  Like, c'mon.

Secondly, I wanted to remind myself to keep designing.  Design is want I want a job in.  Design is ultimately what I want to master, and the only way to mastering anything is through constant learning and practicing.  So even if nobody sees it...even if it's not any good...I want to keep designing and design something everyday.

Lastly, with it being February and all, I'm goaling to be my own Valentine.  Although it isn't first on the list (because good gracious, I need to find a job, like, c'mon) it is probably the nearest goal to my heart (no pun intended). I love the sentiment behind it, and I goal to show myself a little bit of love this month.  I'm looking forward to seeing how it all pans out.

January went really well, and February, let's just keep the momentum. ♥ Have a good Sunday!

new look

I took some time these past few days to make some changes to this ol' blog as per one of my January goals.  Most buttons should be working now (please let me know if they aren't), and should take you to some place relevant.  The most notable change is the navigation bar buttons including a page all about documenting life and a page all about my career change from education to graphic design.

The new design is also meant to mirror a very important project in the works: my online design portfolio (a.k.a. my website).  I still have a lot of work to put in, but that's what I've marked January for.  I'm goaling for the end of next week to be ready to apply for positions.  

I'm pumped and focused.

january goals.

Now that you know my one little word for 2014, here is how I'm focusing it this month.  

Firstly, I aim to work on establishing a routine.  Everybody - if they were off for the holidays and new year - are back at it today.  So I shall be too.  I graduated from Shillington a mere 13 days ago, but it feels like much more time has past.   I need to get back into a routine of waking up  and getting to work. My resume, website, and design portfolio all need to be tweaked, refreshed, updated, and finished before I can send them out to potential employers.  These are the days to. I must do it.

Secondly, I need to work on my virtual persona.  Namely -- what you see here, on this blog space.  I'm not naive to the power of Google, and the looking up of potential employees. They look me up...they'll end up being led to here, or my website in the works, and BOTH need fine-tuning.  This month is all for it.

Other secondary  January goals:

    - applying to HGTV's Dream Home Giveaway every single day
    - brushing the cats' teeth on a daily basis
    - getting in at least a half hour a day of some form of exercise
    - taking a day to visit my school and students
    - KEEPING IT SIMPLE ... with plans, with Project Life, with eating, with relationships

Lot's of changes to be expected.
Slow and steady.  One day at a time.