Create.

Happy 500th blog post. Here's to the next 500!

Image via here.

Missoni for Target

So, I have a bit of a soft spot for Missoni...While I was studying abroad in London, I actually got to attend a Missoni Fashion Show at the V & A Museum. Pictured above is my program and some pics I snapped at the event. It was fabulous!!

I think it's pretty great that Target partners with major designers like Missoni to bring chic & affordable goods to the masses. The clothing was ultra picked over (after only a few short hours on the shelves), but I was stoked about the homewares I scored!

TWO MONTHS OLD...

It's so hard to believe that my baby is already 2 months old today! It feels like just yesterday that I was standing in our kitchen telling Wayde about my positive pregnancy test...

We are so in love with our Ruby Jayne! She is a very attentive little girl. She loves being talked to and has been cooing in response. She also enjoys sucking her thumb. We hope it doesn't become a problem, but for now it's too adorable to watch! Actually, I'm kind of relieved that she's learning to pacify herself.

I return to work in 3 weeks and am not quite sure how she's going to handle it (or myself for that matter)!! I love that I've been able to spend as much time as home with her as I have...I wish it could be longer!

My Creative Dilemma

So...it's been awhile since I've kept this blog updated with new posts. A lot has happened since last Fall! Giving birth to our baby girl, Ruby, has completely changed our world (for the better).

I wasn't quite prepared for how much the pregnancy and weeks following the delivery were going to wipe me out. There was so much I was hoping to get done during my 12 week maternity leave! So far, it's been a lot of time spent cuddling on the couch, which I wouldn't change for anything.

It was important to me that I document this time in our life, but how? As a creative person, I felt a lot of pressure to produce something unique & meaningful. What resulted was a handful of photos displaying my week-to-week progress and a slew of shoddy pics captured on my iPod.

I was stumped.

I have to do better than this.

Good news is that it's not too late!


This time around, I'm not going to get hung up on blog hits. I might not post as regularly as I did a year ago. This might not be the kind of blog you'd be interested in reading anymore.

But I will be producing more original content focusing on the life & times of this crafty, working mama & blogger. I'm still ironing out some of the details I'd like to feature, but you are invited to see what happens in this next chapter of soZealous!! Thanks to all who have supported me on the journey thus far xx

Our Little Vintage Girl

As far as baby clothes go, there sure is a lot of fun things for little girls! Especially when it comes to vintage options.

Our dear friend Maren got this little number for Ruby, which we like to refer to as her "Charlie Brown dress".

Proud Mama.
Proud Papa.
Check out the sweet little "Mary Jane" socks!

Here are some more vintage dresses that Ruby received as a gift from her Great-Aunt Karrol.

We'll be sure to post more vintage baby outfit posts as our little girl grows into her collection!

IT'S A GIRL!!

Ruby Jayne Stover, born July 2nd 2011, 7 lbs. 5 oz., 19.5 in.

My heart is so full.

Parlours in the City

Fresh off the heels of their network television debut ("I Dream of Chicago" feat. in Fox's The Chicago Code finale), Parlours set out for the Windy City on a whirlwind mini-tour.

In addition to a club show, house show, and two radio interviews, the band performed at the Threadless Store in part of their Warehouse Sessions series.

Here's a little onesie that Papa Wayde picked up for Baby Stover at Threadless. It's called, "Fake Pandas Have More Fun" & it's super cute!

We're only days away now from Baby's arrival and we couldn't be more excited!!

A Peek Inside Baby Stover's room...

The room is still a work in progress, but with our due date less than two weeks away(!), we're pleased enough with what we've accomplished that baby is welcome to come any day.

It's unknown whether Baby Stover is a boy or a girl, but I was ok with settling for blue & green for the theme colors. Maybe I'll switch out the blue for some lavender if it's a she!

Everything hanging from the walls and the ceiling was made by this little Mama-to-be. Pom poms were $1 each (tutorials can be easily found on the web) and painted frames are straight from the soZealous inventory.

This area has improved tremendously since the photo was taken. I opted to use an industrial storage shelf as a changing table - something I can use again in the future.

I'm still on the lookout for some white or clear filing/ milk crates to complete it, which has actually been harder to find than you'd think.

This banner was simple to make, but took a few hours to complete. Materials cost about $10 for bias tape and 3 - 1/2 yards of fabric.

There was a lot of space to fill on this wall and I think the banner really does the job!

SOOOOOO looking forward to showing Baby Stover his or her room!!

A Benefit Concert

It's been a little quiet on my blog, but I wanted to mention this event to bless a wonderful couple (and their baby boy on the way).

In an effort to alleviate some of the burdens of medical expenses, a benefit concert will be thrown in their honor on Wednesday, April 27th at 7:30pm.

Featuring performances from CANBY, RYAN STIER (of The River Monks), WOLFGANG, SEEDLINGS, & ZACHARY HARPER.

$8 admission / 21+ / All proceeds will go to the Kretzu family.

P.S. There will be cupcakes!!

The One I Love

Every Valentine's Day, the Hubby & I have a tradition where we go out for breakfast and exchange records. Here he is with his gift, Brothers by The Black Keys.

Wayde got me The Dead Weather's latest, Sea of Cowards. I can't believe this was our 5th Valentine's Day together!

In an effort to keep the love theme going, I cut our pizza into the shape of a heart for dinner. Such a wonderful day xx

Last Year At Marienbad

So far, I've spent the majority of this new year laying on a couch with the stomach bug:( On the bright side, this has allowed me to catch up on my film list!

Last Year at Marienbad was one that I screened. Though I found the plot to be somewhat incomprehensible, the visuals were absolutely stunning.


Costumes by Chanel, of course.






If you have seen this film, I'd love to hear your interpretation of it!

Happy New Year!!

Hello, friends!! It's been a little quite on the blog here for awhile, but after a much needed social media vacation, I'm back and will be posting again more frequently throughout the new year.

You may notice that new blog content might begin to veer off from previous posts, but there have been a lot of changes in my life and I hope to document some of that here. Not to worry though--you can still count on the regular aesthetically pleasing posts!! Stay tuned xx