Graystitch Bibdannas & Giveaway!

One of my absolute FAVORITE things about baby apparel are "bibdannas". I've only really noticed them since having our son, otherwise Ruby would've been rocking them at Sterling's age. I tried making my own once and failed so, SO miserably.

Graystitch was initially created as a desperate solution to drool. Sewing enthusiast & momtrepreneur, Jaime Tessman, had purchased many different bibdannas online, never finding one that met all of her needs. Her journey to construct the perfect bibdanna evolved into an Etsy business which has since branched out to include bows, ties, diaper covers, bags, & bunting.

The bibdannas that Sterling is wearing are not only super cute, but have also proved to be quite durable. They've withstood the trials my son has put them through as well as surviving a trip through the wash. We love that both of these bibs can be worn reversible, too. So it's almost like getting a 2 for 1 deal, right?

I'm giving one lucky reader a chance to win this ADORABLE set of bibdannas (which could be considered unisex). Simply comment about the cutie you plan on having sport these! You'll even get an extra entry for Twitter or Instagram shout-outs by using the hashtag #soZealousforGraystitch.

Contest closes on Sunday, July 20th at Midnight. Winner will be announced here on Monday, July 21st.

Don't forget to visit Graystitch on Etsy! And use the promo code "BLOG10" to get 10% off at checkout.

Best of luck, friends!!

Nicole's SPECTACULAR Baby Shower

This past weekend, I had the honor of hosting a baby shower for my sister-in-law, Nicole. Our babies (& future cousins/ buddies) are due a month apart and like us, Nicole and her husband decided to opt for suprise in waiting to find out the gender.

Since I didn't have a pink or blue palatte to work with, I was inspired to keep it natural, neutral, and classy. Much like the Mama-to-be:)

 Our dessert selection included:
- Dark chocolate Neopolitan layer cake w/ Nutella, strawberry, & vanilla buttercream frosting
- Neopolitan spritz cookies with marshmallow buttercream frosting
- Rice Krispy treats made with sea salt and browned butter

All credit for the food & fanciful spread goes to this lady—Leslie Poyzer—one of the most talented homemakers I know. A self-taught baker & crafter, Leslie heads up wedding production & desserts for The Wedding Format in addition to being a regular contributor for Meredith publications like D.I.Y. Magazine.



Crackers served with Englishwhite Stilton cheese w/ peaches, Cotswold Double Gloucester w/ onions & chives, and Honey Gouda from Trader Joe's.

The Mama-to-be, Nicole!

No baby shower is complete without playing some corny shower games. I searched for some good ones and settled on Mad Libs, "What's in Mommy's Purse, Celeb Baby Names, Scattergories, & Wishes for Baby.

I'm pretty sure Nicole left Iowa feeling super blessed by all the goodies, gifts, & girlfriends in attendance. We are super excited to meet your little one!!

Bits & Pieces: Baby Girl's Room

 I've posted about Ruby's room before, but not since it's actually been "lived in". At the time, we didn't even know if we were having a boy or a girl (hence the blue & green). Though we haven't done much to redecorate since she was born (almost 11 months ago), these are the little glimpses that I see every day and hope to always remember.

Hope you enjoyed this little peek inside Ruby's room!

 Photos: 1. Sign on door, made by Mama. 2. Tissue paper balls, also made by Mama. 3. A patchwork pillow made by Aunt Amy, crocheted afghan that Great-Grandma made, and Ruby's well-loved Sophie the Giraffe . 4. Pretty little dresses; some new, some vintage. 5.Piggy bank from Eden, one of our most favorite shops in Des Moines. It's an old fashioned piggy bank, so the only way to take the money out is to break it!! I have yet to put an actual coin in it...6. Ruby's Jellycat, also purchased from Eden. 7. Tiny little shoes.

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!!