Amanda Rose Zampelli | the blog

the outfits I wore to CHA & thoughts

Here are three outfits I wore this past wekeend at CHA. I wish the I had worn the first outfit on the second day because my Nana's lucky red pants (see middle photo) ended up in all the videos I filmed for mambi. That's no big deal, but I'll know for next time to wear my 'best CHA-OUTfit' on day two. I also wish I had gone with a completely different look on the third day, and put my hair back in a sleek bun, but what's done is done.

Not wearing heels was a great idea - as we were on our feet all day. My low brown boots looked Cali-winter cute with my day one and three dresses. My fanny pack was both a lifesaver and a nuisance. It held a lot of things (namely my two cell phones to keep on top of all the social media work I needed to do) which was good - because it was with me at all times and provided good access, but was annoying because by day's end my lower back was killing me from it.

I suppose Batman felt the same way wearing his utility belt, and it's all in a superhero's day's work. ;)  

six headless outfit shots in the sun

It's been a loong time since I posted something I wore on this blog.  The last style file I have on record was from February, but something about summer and tanned skin inspires me to 'get happy' again in clothes, so I have...and today I have six instagrammed 'outfits of the day' that I wore over the past two weeks.

Above you can see me in a bunch of errand-running attire, my outfit for a Friday pool party (in a Guess bathing suit I've had since high school), a mini floral sundress for a Thursday night carnival, and my Sister's Day outfit.

On Instagram, someone asked "Why do you always cut your face?" ...and my response to him was winged victory of samothrace. ♥ I hope you have a marvelous Monday and 'get happy' in your outfit today!

Love Potion no. 9

Well, hey, first STYLE FILE of twentyfourteen!  The last time I posted one of these was back in August!

In today's STYLE FILE, I'm wearing the H&M birthday sweater I bought back in November.  I call it the birthday sweater because November 9th is my birthday, and right smack in the middle of birthday week last year, I saw this sweater hanging on H&M's rack. I even watercolored it here from excitement.

This is as good as it's been lately, guys.  The snow and cold and more snow and nastiness that is winter in New York has not been kind to my style.  There is no looking good when the weather is as cold as it's been.  It just becomes layers upon layers of whatever is clean and thick and insultating. On the particular day of this style file, it was one of those rare temperate winter days, and we were headed to a shopping mall.

Lot's been on my mind lately, guys, and I'm truly hoping to the moon and back it all works out and I can over-share all about it.  Until then, let's get ready for more snow. ♥

what I wore // Happy Hour Friday

I love Summer times a billion...and getting to pull off Nana's high-waisted, silk-lined red work pant for a breezey summer Happy Hour out with the girls, makes me love it even more.

Some shots from the night:

Never a dull moment when you go out with Danielle and Rita (you remember them from the Jay-Z & JT concert?).

Danielle's friend, also named Danielle, was with us too.  They became known as 'Danielle squared'. My given nickname by the end of the night was Yoda. We met Pauly D from the Jersey Shore.  Okay, no we didn't, but that kid looked a lot like him, didn't he?  I drank mojitos and Angry Orchard Hard Cider -- which was a mistake -- because I was pretty wrecked the next day.

Anyway, what I wore Friday night were my Nana's red pants, and like her rompers, and her purple pants I rummaged that day from her old apartment, it's one of my favorite pieces to (hopefully) fit me and come with me on outfit adventures the rest of my life. :)

Love you, Nan.  You were a pip, and I miss you terribly!

Happy, fashiony Monday, ya'll!

what I wore // Jay-Z & JT concert

If you haven't yet read it, click over to my post on the pictures and happenings from the actual concert 'cause HOT. DIGGITY. It was amazing.

Now let's talk about the outfit:
Lots of exciting things going on with this look, but first I have to mention the motivation for it. Right before I was set to start getting dressed yesterday my sister said to me, "Ya excited?!?!" (I was.) "You have to look ghetto, you have to look the part."  We had a little chuckle together and she followed up with, "wear your hoops."

So I indeed wore my hoop earrings, and THiS was as "ghetto" as I could pull together.  I'm not even sure what that means except that the peasant skirt I originally wanted to wear wouldn't have applied.

So yes, some exciting things with this look:
    (1) my first peplum top
    (2) it is royal blue - which seems to be 'my color' this summer
    (3) my platform blowfish shoes we rocked 'cause I don't give a f*** anymore if I'm the tallest     bitch around
    (4) hair was au natural (something I haven't done in a while)
    and
    (5) it was the first thing I put on and (miracle!) felt good in it  

I even did a #fashiondiaries with it:

...and something else to note: right after this pic was taken, Tomas texted me.  It was the first contact I've had from him since May 9th, his birthday (I haven't heard his voice or seen him since March 1st).  We texted back and forth on the commute to Yankee Stadium, and I was just a big ball of emotions.  I still am.  While I was at the concert, he came to my house, talked briefly to my sister, and picked up his bike and boogie board. Uh-huh.

Today I'm going a little crazy with all the information thrown my way last night, but above, for a few shining moments & a handful of photographs, I felt like I had it all together posing in my peplum.

Happy Saturday!

what I wore // the first day off work & overwhelming chores

Yesterday was the official first day of summer vacation for us teachers working in the ever-so-interesting NYC Department of Education.  I wore the outfit above to run morning errands, meet up with the girls for lunch, and participate in backyard instagram video shenanigans. (see here & here)

...and while I cleaned up nice, and faced the NYC humidity bravely in my Target skirt, my morning before these pics freaked me out a bit. Yesterday, waking up all alone in a house neglected from major organization & cleaning for the past four months, the reality of how much time is going to be spent on household chores this summer off boggles my mind. 

I'm off work, but I'm going to be put to work, people.  I'm more than happy to do it because Lord knows it needs to get done.  I just hope I can balance it all with summer silliness and cute outfits and fun adventures.  

I most probably can, but...

...it all feels a tad bit overwhelming when all the contents of your emptied-out classroom is piled to the roof of your car and trunk...when the dust bunnies under your bed are the size of small dogs...when your craftroom looks like a tornado of paper scraps blew through it...and one of your kitties has had explosive diarreha the past few days.

Whatever.

School's out!  I'm off!

It'll all get done.

Summer, you're my favorite!  You're offically here!

I still can't believe it.

Happy Friday!

the "first day of school" dress worn on one of the last days

I bought this dress in the summer of 2011, thinking it was the most perfect "first day of school dress."  Of course, on the first day of school in my first year of teaching my own classroom, it was raining and pouring out, and I couldn't wear it.

That consequently made it the most perfect "second day of school" dress that year, but I didn't mind.  I was still so excited to wear it back then, so naive and young, even.

Fast forward almost two years, and I'm officially not returning to teach next year.  Wearing this dress yesterday was a little sad...I remember when I thought I was on my way to what I was supposed to be...and this dress was the cherry on top.

Since it rained that first day last year, most of my days as a teacher felt like rainy, stormy weather.  

But lately -- I've realized it needs to rain.  It needs to rain so the flowers can grow.

...and I feel like that's what I've done: grow.

Making peace with leaving more
with every passing day.

Gaining more perspective,
and grateful for it.

Only 7 work days left.

what I wore // chambray drawstring Target easy slip-on dress

I found this sweet basic dress at Target last week,
and I went back this week to buy the exact same one just to have two,
but all the "L"s were gone.

Damn.

;)

T.G.I.F.
Rain, Rain, go away.

Catch ya later!

what I wore // School Spirit Day

Yesterday, I was in full T.G.I.F. mode, and I'm so happy I'm coming to you the Saturday after, and last week is OVER. Phew! Made it.

DIY FLOWER post

We teachers & student of P.S. 129 were instructed to wear the school colors: navy & white, or the school t-shirt.  I had planned to just throw the t-shirt on over jeans, but serendipitously, this outfit happened instead.  

I was quite comfy & cozy, and complimented by coworkers. I wore just the right garb for a Friday that included a morning walk around the track for our class's walking club, and the last basketball game of the school year.  Our team was down in the last quarter until something came over me to get the crowd of kiddies goin'!  I got up and shouted "LET'S GO WILDCATS!" only for it to be repeated by the sea of 5th graders.  I started up 'the wave' which brought smiles to both my principals and assistant principal's faces. :)  

...and guess what?  We won.
(My class and I were pretty convinced it was our cheering.)

Have a spirited Saturday, readers & peepers!

black&blue MAXi skirt , black&blue sentimental HEART

01 Sentimental Heart

You know when you bang yourself hard you think, "Well THAT'S gonna bruise", and then a day or two goes by, you forget about it, but when you accidentally hit the same spot again the pain is like WHOA?!?!  That's kind of been my week.  

The incident in Boston on Monday, having to put my students through testing, missing the boy (real bad, as mentioned in this post), weird boughts of sudden awake-ness at 1 and 2 in morning...

...it has all effected me and my sentimental heart.

To combat it a bit, Thursday night I cleaned my room, cleaned the craftroom, took the garbage out, gave myself a gold mani/pedi, took the flat iron to my messy mane, and goaled to wear my new black&blue maxi skirt the next day.  

It was a well played strategy, as the skirt lifted my spirits all day long...was like a silent buddy.

It ended up beng an okay teacher-Friday.  I went on an early dinner date with dad.  We visited the new Dollar Tree that opened up after that.  Later on, I changed my denim shirt to a black long-sleeve one, and met Elisa and Natalie for a girls' night of crazy teacher shenanigans at K.Pacho.

♥ The day fleshed out to be the perfect medicine to treat my overly sentimental heart. ♥

Have a happy...