Amanda Rose Zampelli | the blog

This is the lifestyle / craft / everyday blog of Amanda Rose Zampelli - designer, crafter, smiler, and internet friend.

snippets / november 2014

Snippets nov

  • Rita, D, and me at Danielle's Baby Shower (baby girl due Christmas !!!)
  • Elisa, Nat, and me at mt faux birthday party
  • mom's new kitten, Jack Black
  • my Dallas TX 30th birthday entourage 
  • my very first shiny heads-up penny from Nana found on the floor of a Whattaburger at 2am on my 30th birthday
  • my Hard 8 birthday BBQ lunch after church
  • up and down every aisle at Costco during holiday time
  • Anna visited; we didn't stop; us on the rickety boblsed ride at Six Flags Over Texas
  • planning / crafting / stamping / wondering / thinking / marking / hoping

-------------------------------------------------------------------

a bit about snippets:

Blogger Manda Townsend posts snippets of her life every now and then, and after seeing her ode to snippets post, I commented that I would join her this year in 'snippetting'. :)  

What I find I usually include are those images that get lost in the shuffle -- ones that I would probably never include in a post or instagram, but are attached to a fun memory or a highlight of the month.

I plan to post snippets of my month on the last day of every month. 
(see snippets of Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct of this year) 

Sunday, November 30, 2014 at 09:00 AM in friends, HOLIDAYS | Birthdays, seasons | FALL, snippets | Permalink | Comments (0)

my '30 IN 30' list

01 30 in 30

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. ♥ ♥ ♥

Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 07:55 AM in 30 IN 30 list, GOALS, HOLIDAYS | Birthdays | Permalink | Comments (2)

my Project Life COMEBACK // the intro

my Project Life COMEBACK - the intro pages | Amanda Rose Zampelli

A month ago I mentioned that I'm not into the idea of Project Life catch up, but I'm THRILLED over the idea of a Project Life COMEBACK!  In that post, I said that with my 30th birthday on November 9th, my Project Life comeback would commence.

Well, here are the first few pages in the 6x8 album: the 29 years leading up to where I am today...

my Project Life COMEBACK - the intro pages | Amanda Rose Zampelli

I used the number stickers from this me & my BIG ideas sticker pack to mark the years. The clear stickers are from a new 'birthday' themed me & my BIG ideas clear stickers pack. 

my Project Life COMEBACK - the intro pages | Amanda Rose Zampelli

The black & white striped paper is from this 12 x 12 mambiSHEETS paper pack. (Also used here.)

my Project Life COMEBACK - the intro pages | Amanda Rose Zampelli

To overlay the numbers and stickers, I trimmed a few clear transparency films down to size, and adhered the stickers to that rather than the actual pocket pages or photos:

04 intro

This way you could see the photos by themselves, unembellished, while still knowing what year of my life the photo portrays.

05 intro

I used a simple paper clip to keep the embellished film overlays attached to the pocket page. That way - when the pages are turned, they turn together.

07 intro

I like how these first few pages came out. I had something like this in mind after being inspired four years ago from Mayra doing the same kind of thing leading up to her 28th birthday in this blog post. Isn't it amazing how sometimes inspiration lies dormant until the right project comes along for it inspire?

06 intro

Thanks for viewing! Stay tuned for future pages of this album documenting my journey through 30.

To see past pages of my Project Life albums, go here. || All about Project Life itself, go here. ♥

Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at 10:06 AM in HOLIDAYS | Birthdays, me & my BIG ideas, project life, Project Life 2015 | Permalink | Comments (1)

30 Years of Friendship album / Part III

01 cover

Hi, readers and peepers from the We R blog and beyond! 

Thanks for stopping by and happy Friday! Today I'm coming at you with the final Part III of my '30 Years of Friendship' album bunch of posts. See Part I and Part II.  Today's post is the final product!

One of my oldest pals Danielle (see her in this post from last year's birthday trip to Atlantic City) turned 30 yesterday, and I plan to gift her this gold mini IG album filled with pictures of our years as friends tonight at her birthday dinner.

02 spine03 outside of album

Keeping with the 'gold' theme, a lot of the labels and embelishments are gold.  I kept the journalling to a minimum because I didn't want to over-tell any of our stories.  Instead, I want people to ask her about the pictures and have real-time onversation occur. Yay!

Now, without further ado, Danielle & my '30 Years of Friendship'...

05title060707.507.750808.508.751010.51112.751313.513.7514151616.516.751818.5192021222323.524262727.5

28293031323334353636.53737.53838.53939.504 thickness of album

These cuties are so petite and perfect for gifting. I placed it in a pink box, wrapped it in gold wrapping paper, surrounded it with pink tissue paper, and placed it in a gold bag. I plan to video my friend Danielle opening this at dinner tonight, and maybe you can spy it later on my instagram.

You can find me elsewhere on twitter | pinterest | or bloglovin'. ♥ Have a happy!

Friday, June 20, 2014 at 05:00 AM in friends, HOLIDAYS | Birthdays, We R Memory Keepers | Permalink | Comments (0)

birthday shrimp

Birthday shrimp

Yesterday, two cute cats turned 4 years old (35 in human years).  Their mama boiled them 2 shrimps each.

#mychildrenhavefur ♥ Have a happy day!

Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 02:19 PM in around here, HOLIDAYS | Birthdays | Permalink | Comments (2)

After-Birthday Cinch Book

02 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

Hi, readers and peepers from the We R blog and beyond!

Thanks for stopping by. I'm Amanda Rose Zampelli, and I was recently hired by We R Memory Keepers as a product designer and as a bonus: I get to blog a bit for them too!

Today I'm sharing what I'm calling an 'After-Birthday Cinch Book'.  It's the mini book account of my mom's 56th birthday dinner that we had just this past Monday at our house.  She knew my sister and I were going to make dinner, but she didn' know we had invited her sisters and best friends, and it was going to be a 'thing'.

I like the idea of gifting the celebrant an after-birthday present like this, especially when the event you document for them was a surprise.  My documentation of it was informal as well, so that made for some low-key, real sweet at-home birthday shots.  Take a peek:

04 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

The outside and inside of the front and back cover were decorated with paper from Amy Tangerine's Plus One line.  For the inside of the covers, I used that black and white number paper, and highlighted the '56' which happened to be conveniently next to each other. 

07 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

My documentation of the 'story' was done by just printing one or two photos on a page, digitally jotting what was happening in the image(s), and finished off the page page with stamp or two.

08 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

Notice the pink 'pinch' binding rings I used for this cinch book, as opposed to the white coil binding rings I used for last week's cinch book.  

09 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

I love a table full of people, so the above 'after' photo is my jam. Add food to the mix (see below), and I'm in heaven. So good.

10 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

I've been designing lots of product with We R Memory Keepers gearing up for future release. Stamps are one of the products in the works, and are probably my favorite way to embellish a photo. 

11 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

Hopefully with this project and future Friday projects I post on this blog, you'll get a feel for my style and can anticipate some of my products that'll hit the market. ;)

12 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

13 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

14 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

The tags below covered up a botched stamp application. ;)

15 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

The neon pink ink is Hero Arts, by the way.

16 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

...and have you noticed the black dashes and X's throughout the book?

16.5 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

I made those with the We R Sew Stamper tool. 

17 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

It's so much fun! Self-inking, and easy to apply. Like the TAB Punch, I have to get my hands on more of these!

18 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

Does the '5' and '6' look familiar?  It's the same ones I used for the cover of the book.  I was inspired by this pin on Pinterest, and above is what I came up with.

19 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

More We R SewStamper touches and other happy stamps. :) 

20 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

...and after birthday tiramisu, my cousin Lauren, and I tried this amazing water marble nail art trick (best results below).

21 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

Then, late night (too late for a Monday) karaoke was sung:

22 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

...and some scratch offs before everyone left.

23 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

The next day convo made up the last page of my mom's After-56th Birthday Cinch Book:

24 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser\

Thanks for allowing me to share!  I've been in a mini-book making mood lately.  The Cinch arriving on my doorstep had something to do with it I think. Did you see last week's watercolored Day in the Life mini book? Yeah, mini book city.

Next Friday, I'm taking my mini book mood and combining it with my love for pocket-scrapbooking. Stay tuned for that!

03 After-birthday Cinch book_teaser

In the meantime, you can catch me here on this blog daily, find me on instagram | twitter | pinterest | bloglovin', or pop in every Friday to see my crafts and fun things in collaboration with my new work family at We R Memory Keepers. ♥ Have a happy weekend!

Friday, April 11, 2014 at 05:00 AM in family, HOLIDAYS | Birthdays, house | HOME | heart, We R Memory Keepers | Permalink | Comments (0)

Happy Birthday, Grams.

Grams80th
Today is my grandmother's 81st birthday.

Last year, with it being her 80th (!!!) she flew in for a long weekend and on Saturday, the 26th, we had a big family birthday party.  

As her present, Mom, sis and I customized the song "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Frankie Valli and The 4 Seasons to fit Grams and all we love about her.  I sang the song to her as her birthday present, and below is the video.

Pardon the not so good audio.  My mom made a DVD of the party for my grandma and I had to video the video in order to get in on here today. At least there are subtiltes. Oh, and pardon my singing voice...yeesh! Haa haa!

Grams, you will forever be an inspiration of love, strength, and more love!...and even though you won't ever see it on this blog space because you don't really know how to work computers, it must be said:

Happiest birthday, Grams. Love you, miss you, and enjoy! ♥

Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 06:48 AM in HOLIDAYS | Birthdays | Permalink | Comments (0)

an IN HOUSE birthday for my sister's 25th

Nessas 25th Bday 01 | Amanda Rose blog

Birthdays are great.  When a friend has a birthday, and you get to go out and party, that's awesome.  But what I think are even more fun are "in house" birthdays -- birthdays that belong to people who live with you -- in your house.  They're different than ordinary birthdays because from sun up to sun down, you are in the world of that person's birthday, with the goal (if you love them) to make every single birthday moment special.

Yesterday was my sisters's "in house" birthday.  First thing I did was to send the 'new Hallmark card' a.k.a some personal birthday message written atop the most adorable baby picture of said in house birthday celebrant.  Then I posted the 'new Hallmark card' on all social media platforms.

Nessas 25th Bday 02 | Amanda Rose blog

Next, I woke up much earlier than her and wrapped her presents.  I drove mom to work, and before returning home, picked sister up her favorite Starbucks treat and wrote a birthday message on the cup.

I then got to work on some birthday cupcakes, filling the house with warm bakery smell -- the greatest smell to wake up to.

Nessas 25th Bday 04 | Amanda Rose blog

While I baked, the cats hung out with me (as per usual).  Snow & birds outside made for some entertaining cat t.v.

Nessas 25th Bday 03 | Amanda Rose blog

Finally, the birthday girl awakened to her presented few presents.

Nessas 25th Bday 05 | Amanda Rose blog copy

Easy chatting, gift wrap ripping, sips of coffee...gasps of sweet surprise...these are what good birthdays are made of.

Nessas 25th Bday 06 | Amanda Rose blog

My mom got her an engraved plaque for her desk that read her name and title as a registered dietician.  I got her an exercise outfit, some translucent pink essie polish and an eos chapstick egg.  Did you know e.o.s. stands for evolution of smooth?  We had ourselves a laugh over that.

Nessas 25th Bday 07 | Amanda Rose blog

She was excited about her legit workout gear so she tried it on and fake-jogged around the living room.

Nessas 25th Bday 08 | Amanda Rose blog

Once half of that venti cinnamon dolce latte was consumed, it was time to face the grave outside.

Nessas 25th Bday 09 | Amanda Rose blog

We got a good foot of snow Tuesday-into-yesterday.  Public schools were still open, but they shouldn't have been.  It was sister's and my job to finish clearing the sidewalk and driveway and clear the cars.

Nessas 25th Bday 10 | Amanda Rose blog

Nessas 25th Bday 11 | Amanda Rose blog

We returned to our nice warm inside and casually ate some lunch while we defrosted.  I thought up an on-the-go ketchup container invention mid-lunch and shared it with my sister.  We laughed and pretended to act out how the infomercial for it would go.  It is moments like these that fill my soul.

Nessas 25th Bday 12 | Amanda Rose blog

More house-cleaning. Dad came by to hang out for the rest of the day.  Mom had to get picked up from work.  Very boring. Very routine.  We all just sat home with each other for a while.  Talked about Nessa's presents; about my job search; then closer to dinner time, I took everyone's order and went with dad to pick up my sister's requested birthday burritos.

Nessas 25th Bday 13 | Amanda Rose blog

The best part about my sister requesting a burrito on her birthday is that I get to have one too!  
Chipotle is love.

We finished the night with hot tea and the birthday cupcakes.  Mom lit three candles scrounged from the junk drawer for Ness to wish on.  We then watched the movie Prisonsers with Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhal (not bad) and it kept our attention until night time.

Nessas 25th Bday 14 | Amanda Rose blog

Ah, in house birthdays.  Especially when it's my sister's, I just like to keep it tension and argument free (ya never know with our parents under the same roof) and made up of special touches.  For the most part, I think it was a success.

Days like yesterday make me think of how I want to celebrate the in house birthdays of my future family.  I love this lady's family tradition of breakfast in bed on the celebrant's birthday.  I also love the idea of DIYing crowns or something fun like that.  Birthdays are gravy.

Nessas 25th Bday 15 | Amanda Rose blog

I'm glad my sister had a good 25th one. I hope this is her best year yet.

Happy birthday, sister, and what can I say?  Sometimes we bloggers have to document an event that's not even ours.  You'll thank me one day...one day when you're 25x3.  Ahhh!!!

Thursday, January 23, 2014 at 07:08 AM in family, HOLIDAYS | Birthdays | Permalink | Comments (4)

celebrating Danielle's 29th in Atlantic City

00 title04we've arrived07 TRop window shot05 klink shots09 beach10 beach11 flashing11 ready getting15 headed to dinner07 TRop lobby16 collage18 danielle & rebecca03 JAMINA SHOT02 GROUP SHOT19 mojitos20 collage wardrobe change22 shoeshot23 taxi to borgata24 borgata25 borgata collage28 up late29robet barone30 last 4 standing
Every predicted occurrence I wrote about in last week's post came true (except the fake tattoos -- I couldn't find where I put them) and I'm still smiling about it all.  I've only been to Atlantic City once or twice, and it was with Tomas, so I had no idea of the hunting grounds for singles A.C. actually is.

Haa haa!

So much fun was had, from almost getting arrested to this guy Terrance buying Jamina and I shots in an attempt to menage-a-tois with us (don't think so, pal) to my red tomato chafed thighs to dancing down an escalator into a random strange guy's arms to chillin' by a fountain at 5:30am with a Robert Barone look-alike and his pals to staying up the latest I've ever stayed up in my life.  

The last image above is of the final four standing -- at around 6:30am -- with the sunrise shining on our backs.  We had the option to go to our rooms and sleep in cozy queens size beds or go down to the beach.  

We chose beach. :P

00 sleeping on the beach

This picture is priceless.  We thought we'd be lying out in the warm sun, tanning and finally resting.  Instead, it was cloudy and cold, and those tractors were whizzing past us, feet from our heads.  Too funny, and the perfect way to wrap up the weekend...uh...24 hours. ;)

I'm so grateful for my tiny clique of ladies I see on a regular basis, because they so often save my life.

Thanks for viewing!

Signature03

Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 08:18 AM in friends, HOLIDAYS | Birthdays, seasons | SUMMER | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

"To hit the jackpot in the future, you might have to bet on where you are in the present."

00 poster

I'm headed to Atlantic City this morning.

Well more specifically...

...my sister and I are getting Dunkin' Donuts breakfast,
picking up my friend Jamina,
then following the GPS south 2 and a half hours to AC,
where we're meeting up with my friend Danielle and two of her friends
to celebrate her 29th BIRTHDAY!

I plan to chill by the pool,
put on fake tattoos,
take too many videos,
maybe gamble,
eat Cuban food,
order a mojito,
shake what my mama gave me,
and stay up late!

Last night I watched "Luck be an Old Lady" -- the Sex and the City episode where the girls go to Atlantic City.  That was such a good episode, and the title of this post -- what Carrie says right before betting her $1000 chip on '36' -- hit me.

I am the worst decision maker on the planet. I mean I make decisions, but lose sleep over each one for weeks.  I decided to not be with Tomas (sorta).  I decided to not teach next year.  I decided to go to design school starting in September.  MAJOR MAJOR life decisions that I don't know will work out for me or not, yet I made them.  ...and you have to.  Like Carrie said, "To hit the jackpot...THE JACKPOT, for Christ's Sake!...you have to bet on the hard decisions you have to make NOW -- the ones that leave you feeling unsure in the PRESENT.  
I totally related (as usual, Miss Carrie B.)

...and this morning, that's ALLLL the deep thinking I'm alotting for my brain.  

Now's the time to focus on FRIENDS, FOOD, and FUN!

Adios, New York!

...until tomorrow.

Signature03

Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 06:30 AM in HOLIDAYS | Birthdays, seasons | SUMMER | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

older posts »

  • a Mile a Day in March
  • PROJECT LIFE 2015
  • 30 in 30 LIST
  • OLW 2015: PROOF

Search

Recent Posts

  • recent pins & other stuff over at amandarosezampelli.com
  • that time I was Selena for Halloween
  • Project Life 2015 // intro page for album 3
  • PHOTOBOOTH @ Danielle & Jerry's Wedding
  • my first LADIES CRAFT NIGHT
  • recent pins // OCT 2015
  • october : currently
  • snippets / september 2015
  • i Periscoped!
  • two recent projects

  • LINKwithlove

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...