Amanda Rose Zampelli | the blog

one little word 2015 : PROOF // february

In 2015, I shall be participating in Ali Edwards One Little Word™ exercise by actively looking for PROOF that good things are going to happen. PROOF is my one little word, and I've already blogged about why and the making of this 8x8 board book, and my January page.

This is the post on how I recorded the PROOF I found in February. The first thing I did was stick clear white mambiSTICKS alphas on top of a trimmed to size transparency page -- something I plan to do for each page in this book.

When you turn back the 'feb' titled transparency, there three punched papers folded over and included in February's PROOF. The first is a page from Show Your Work! about stock & flow.

The second folded paper consists of two pages photocopied from eat.pray.love. that I read and was exactly going through. It was like PROOF that I was not alone, and that I will survive.

The third folded over paper included in February's round up of PROOF was a letter I typed to Tomas. 

After those papers, I recorded the PROOF I found in February on hot pink post-its marked with hot pink date stamp. You saw at the end of January's post that I started doing that on February's page, and I guess it just stuck (no pun intended).

I have no real plan moving forward except to overlay each month's PROOF page with a transparency sheet labeled with the first three letters of that month. Below are March to June, all prepped and ready.

For more on my one little word go HERE. // See the cover to this minibook HERE. // Browse past minibooks HERE.

one little word 2015 : PROOF // january

In 2015, I shall be participating in Ali Edward's One Little Word™ exercise by actively looking for PROOF. PROOF is my one little word, and I've already blogged about why and the 8x8 board book I plan to use to document my year of finding PROOF. 

I started the book by clipping a me & my BIG ideas print that matches the silver foil sticker I used at the beginning of my PL album to the inside cover, and by washi-taping a note paper of my reasons why I chose PROOF. Then, because each page in the book represents a month, I created a January title page by sticking some mambi alpha stickers on a clear transparency. (Transparencies have been my thing so far this year.)

For January, I decided to create a paper strip list of good things and answered prayers that January proved to me. Also on the list were times the word "prove" or "proof" appeared in conversation.

For each item on the list, I created a 1.5 inch box in Photoshop to include a hot pink date stamp. I got this particular Heidi Swapp date stamp in Michael's.   

I had just enough jots to fill my page, and it was an interesting challenge for me to document sans images. To ready February's page, I've been jotting down on hot pink post-its the ways PROOF has been revealing itself in my life this month.

I don't know if I'll make the same paper strip list for February, or maybe just leave the post-its, or what. Maybe I'll incorporate photos somehow, maybe magazine cuttings? All I know is I want to find PROOF and I want to record it and I want to get a page a month in this mini done.  

Are you participating in one little word this year?
If so, what is your word?
How are you planning to document it?

See the cover to this minibook HERE. // Browse through all my past minibooks HERE.

2014: the year with my olw 'work' ( please read all the way to the bottom)

Twelve months ago, I wrote about how 'WORK' was the word I chose as my one little word for 2014.  I chose it because at the end of 2013 I was no longer a teacher and finished with design school, and I needed to find work. I knew this was going to be the major focus of the year, and by the end of 2014 I wanted a job I enjoyed doing and to be on a career path that was IT. 

Fast forward to today and I am happy to report I have achieved my goal. :) This past year, I got paid to design + create product + craft + blog and it's been so. much. fun. It's had its fair share of challenges, but when the career is right, the challenges only fuel your passion. I love what I get to call my work, and am I still awe-struck that I actually made it happen. For those of you who've been reading my blog and have followed all my steps in this career change journey of mine, then you have some idea of the struggle to get to this place. But I made it, and I hope to be here forever designing + creating product + crafting + blogging.

Here are some images of the happy work I got paid to do this year:

My 10 year old self would be so proud, and my 30 year old self knows it's just beginning. Three years ago I was neck-deep in teacher work that didn't fulfil me, and in less than two weeks I'll be neck-deep in CHA Tradeshow goodness! It's so fantastic, I might pee.

One little word 'work': MISSION COMPLETED, dear friend. ♥ xoxo, Amanda

 UPDATE:  So here I am, back writing at the bottom of this post a day after pushing publish because I need to recant a bit. Everything you've read above is true, but the smug way I wrote it was wrong. I read it back to myself in horror as I made it sound like I chose the word 'work' in January and then magically I found work I enjoyed by the end of the year. No, no, and NO. Keep reading...

My word WORK worked me, honies! (...and that's putting it lightly.) I worked my booty off in January updating my portfolio, reconstructing my resume, e-mailing bunches of places I wanted to work, etc. Looking for work and starting your career over are two things that are NOT FUN. In February, I found work with We R that was exactly what I'd hoped for: designing scrapbooking product and working from home doing it! Hooray! Story over? Nope. I worked so hard, drudging through new territory and working through the greatest bought of creative block I've ever encountered. The learning curve and the pressure I put on myself to learn it quickly burned me. Somehow, I worked through the creative block, and banged out two paper collections for We R. Hooray! Story over? Nope. After 4 months and 2 completed paper collections with We R, American Crafts bought the company, and my job as product designer was terminated. I was back to square one, looking for work again. That was June 18th.

My grandpa died June 20th. There was my olw again, and my family and I worked through his wake and funeral. I continued to look for a new job, sending out my resume, now with updated "oh by the way, I designed two paper collections" added to it. My dad was rushed to the ER on July 14th. My sister was rushed to the ER on August 2nd. My family worked through those, too. This was our summer. This was my year with work.

Not to mention having to work through a major knock-me-to-my-knees bought of anxiety early in the spring, something that I'll probably always have to work at overcoming, and of course, my move to Texas, to work on Tomas and I, and independence, and the nagging feeling that I'm responsible for the happiness of everyone around me. This year with work was no joke. The job I talked about earlier of getting paid to design + create product + craft + blog? THANK GOD FOR IT! I landed it in August, officially started September 1st, and as I said above, it's been really terrific.

I worked for that work, and worked through obstacles to do that work well, and it was not as easy a path or year as I originally made it out to seem.  I suppose I wanted you all to keep that in mind when you reflect on your word from the past year, or your word for the upcoming year.  Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom. xoxo, Amanda

get outside & breathe.

Taking one day at a time. Soaking up as much of the sun as possible. Lots of breathing. Repeat, repeat repeat lately. It's all been good: the sun, the weather, the almost-there summer...

My walk/jogs that have been mostly walks the past few weeks were upgraded to mostly jogging - with bits of running (body's now ready for it. Hooray!).

My cats are my heart and my children. I love them, and they so love me back. (Speaking of, did you see this?! Crazy!)

Plus, an awesomely beautiful Mother's Day spent gifting and planting and getting outside and finding a bunch of $4 sundresses...priceless for the soul.

Hoping a lot of your May's been made up of those two! ♥ 

The above stamps came in a digitial kit along with fun others from here.

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!

my one little word + my project life / feb

Here is how I incorporated the February prompts from Ali's one little word workshop into my Project Life album.

As most of you know, my word this year is WORK. To write down my monthly reflections on the word, I slid the month cards into the front and back of two SimpleStories 6x8 page protectors. 

Since they only have two hole punches, I staggered them.  I plan to journal my reflections for each month as I did with January - by typing up a paragraph using typewriter Dora.  Then, I'll rip the edges course, and stick it to the card.

The 'I THINK I LIKE WHO I AM BECOMING CARD' seemed fitting around the end of June...we should all be well into our word by then, no?

After my monthly reflection cards, I created a front and back page for what Ali calls the 'action' cards.  I plan to have 10 definitive actions pertaining to my word, but to start with, I've listed 5.

Along with the actions, I included pockets dedicated to quotes, song lyrics, and maybe a photo or two...things that I could look back on throughout the year and use to keep motiviated.  The circular icons are stamps from past Studio Calico kits.

You can read my action cards 1 to 5 below:

They are things that sprung up after a whole january with my word in mind.  As more actions spring up, I'll jot them from 6 to 10 on the back side of this page:

More room for quotes and lyrics, too.

So much pink, right? :) I love it! ♥ See how I merged my olw + PL back in january here. 

my fist-pumping anthem for 2014

First off: HAPPY FEBRUARY! We've made it through a whole month of a new year already!  Although - relatively speaking - a whole lot of nothing has happened so far, I feel the potential for something great building.  In my world, and after the past two years, that building potential means everything to me.

Anyway - back to the matters of this post: since declaring 'work' as my one little word at the start of 2014, a lot of people have suggested Britney Spears' song 'Work Bitch' as a kind of fist-pumping anthem. I loved that suggestion, and below is a little fun something I threw together (with changed lyrics, of course - I love to do that to songs) to keep me focused on my word and my goals in the coming months.

I guess you got a glimpse into some of my long-term goals and dreams there, too, but you get the point. I think quotes and songs -- or anything that drives the notion behind your one little word home -- are important to flood your heart, mind, and soul with.  I recently read a great post on the importance of repetition and reaching goals (here) and that's the idea behind declaring this song my 'anthem'.

So, readers, off the top of your head: What song would declare the anthem for your 2014? ♥

my one little word + my project life

Yesterday I posted pics and info of my project life 2014 | week 1 |.  You view that post here.  Today's post is how I incorporated my one little word into | week 1 |.

The above page protector was this 6x8 one that I turned on its side.  I made my own attachers with scotch tape (you can find out more here) and covered the original holes with that lime yellow washi tape.

For the front, I made my word visible with some Amy Tangerine thickers and neon pink washi tape. The photo is one I took of myself right before bed with Britney's tagline next to it *WorkB**ch*! ;)

For the back, I included two quotes that tie in with my olw {work}, and with Ali Edwards' prompting - my reasons for choosing this word.

I feel like the past two years have been asking questions, and that this year will be the start of a wonderful answer. I love that notion.

Examining my word more closely above and below with Ali's worksheets.  Those were put in an 8.5x11 Project Life page protector that came in this pack. 

Filling out the above worksheet made me realized what I most fear and am most excited about this year are the same thing: working toward being really, truly independent.

For my above intentions involving my word, I'm going to come up with them monthly and write them in as they come.

...and that's how I plan to keep track of it this year.  How about you guys?

one little word for 2014.

My third word (I've been participating in Ali Edwards' one little word challenge since 2012) is WORK.

I chose this word for many reasons.  Most obviously because now that I'm no longer a teacher and finished with design school, I need to find work.

Another reason is because I'e always been ready to put in good, hard work but have yet to find where it's worth it for me.  I desire to work hard -- really hard even -- I just also deserve to love every minute of it.  I believe that whole-heartedly and at this point in my  life (turning 30 years old this year) I want to focus on achieving it more now than ever.

I also want to learn when it's okay NOT to work.  I'm super type-A and want everything "just so", but then I burn out and become idle (the complete opposite of productivity and the good, hard work I want to accomplish).

I believe you reap what you sow, and this year I sooooo want to reap.  Therefore, I'm ready and willing to sow.

I am participating in the actual one little word workshop by Ali Edwards this year, as opposed to the past two years when I just picked a word and incorporated it into my life.  

The perks of signing up for the workshop are what you see in this post: printables, prompts, and more focused thinking on your word.  You also get access to a private facebook group which I'm looking forward to contributing to.

I'm not going to create a separate album for my one little word recordings.  Instead, I'm going to incorporate them right into my Project Life 2014 album.  I made DIY attach me stickers like you might purchase from Basic Grey by simply fodling a piece of clear scotch tape over on itself, and hole-punching a hole.

I know my word might seem...begrudging...but on the contrary -- I'm seeing my word in such a postivite, prouctive light.  I've yet to really define what work I want to do in my life, what work will make me happy...and I think it's time to.

I hope you'll tune in.  Saturday I'll be posting about the intro page to Project Life 2014 album, and you'll see how the above insert was incorporated.  I'm also planning on discovering and talking more about what this word "WORK" means to me this month on this space.

Also, I'd love to know what's your word. Type it in the comments below.  ♥

Happy 2014, lovies.

Ya gotta love a fresh start.

olw for December // MAKE MERRY

 A magical last month with my one little word {MAKE}, I hope.  Compared to my melodrama talking about my last one little word, this month I'm going to MAKE MERRY.  I'm going to focus on the magic and cheer of Christmas, and allow myself to be tickled pink by the lights, the hot cocoa, the warm fuzzy slippers, the cats in Christmas clothes, anything and everything. (These lights I strung over the dresser in my bedroom are starting to do the trick.) ;)

These next 17 days are going to be tough work -- finishing up graphic design school, DIYing some business cards, putting together a digital portfolio, and creating a professional website.  I'm a little intimidated, but I don't want to forget to pay attention to holiday magic -- I think my December Daily will help with that.  

And then -- after the 20th (graduation day) I am going to fully bask in the do-nothingness of Christmas.  The 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, & 25th, I imagine, are going to be for baking cookies, singing Christmas karaoke, last minute shopping, and making merry. Hip hip hooray.

my one little word for 2013

Sept-November's intention

Summer's intention

June's intention

May's intention

April's intention

March's intention

February's intention

January's intention