Have you guys missed me?  Sorry for my extended absence – but there has been a lot going on in my world!  :)  I know I owe an update on the Lil Man and then I will be getting back into the routine of regular blogging! 

The lil guy is doing fantastic and is 8 weeks old today!  He is growing like a weed and learning new things everyday!  We have a great time playing and giggling!  I can’t believe how much I love him. 

I made a quick little slideshow of the first 8 weeks of his life to share – I get a little misty each time I watch it!  I hope you enjoy it! 

Free picture slideshow personalized with Smilebox

I will be back later this week with some more posts and updates on the things I have been up to!  Looking forward to getting back into the blogging world and seeing what all you have been up to as well!!

Hey guys!  Sorry for being away for so long but my Lil Man decided to show up a little earlier than anticipated!  Isn’t he precious!?!?

I was due on July 5th but I started having contractions on the evening of the 26th.  Then the lil guy decided to hold out until the morning of the 29th before he made his final appearance!  Yep – 58 hours total and I did most of it unmedicated.  I gave out at 56 hours since we had to push a little Pitocin to get me from 9 to 10.  (I stalled out at 9 for a couple of hours.)  It was an experience I don’t think I would change how I did it – but it sure took a toll on my energy levels for a couple of days. 

When the Lil Man did arrive he was truly LITTLE!  He was only 5 lbs 11 oz and 19.5 inches long!  But he is really strong and is doing great!  Below is his 4th of July photo! 

So between not sleeping through contractions and then not sleeping through the night with this little guy – I have not had a whole lot of presence of mind to blog!  But that is ok because he is just perfect!

I wanted to share these pics with you guys since I know so many of you have been anticipating his arrival.  I am going to be taking a short break from regular posting but I have some GREAT guest posters that have offered to pitch in and share some of their ideas with you guys!   So stay tuned for those starting soon! 

Whew …. I am beat.  I know you guys haven’t seen a lot of me recently. 

Photo by Chris Metcalf

I just hit the 3rd trimester a couple of weeks ago and I am definitely starting to feel drained a lot quicker.  Along with that, I am still covering two jobs at work – which has me pulling 10-11 hour days.  Though I finally have my replacement starting tomorrow – so hopefully once we get through some of the training that will get a little off my plate.  Not to mention that I am still working to get this place all together for when the little man gets here. 

So I wanted to just let you guys know that I am sorry I haven’t been able to respond to everyone’s comments or stop back by all the blogs I love.  I am missing getting to see all the fun stuff you guys have been working on.  And I am sad that I feel like I have been missing out on seeing what is going on in your lives.  Sigh! 

Anyways – hang in there with me.  I am hoping to have things settle down at work here soon and hopefully that will give me a little more time to hang out with you guys soon! 

*** Giveaway is now closed!  Thanks for entering*** 

It’s a boy!!  Ack!  We are so excited!  Everything looked totally normal and we are right on track for the due date!  

Some commonly asked questions -

-  Yes – we do have a name picked out.  However, I think I am going to keep that off the blog for privacy reasons.  I am sure you guys understand!  Instead I am going to have to come up with a super cute nickname for the lil man here.  And I think that will be harder than picking out his real name!  

- Yes – I am starting to narrow down my ideas for the nursery and I think I will probably start revealing those to you guys as they come together!  I am still in love with that bright aqua color!  Stay tuned!

Now to celebrate our new little baby boy – Haley the owner of Cutie Bootie Boutique is offering my readers a chance at one of the adorable outfits on her site!  Seriously – how cute are these?


Cutie Bootie Boutique does custom onesies with ties and suspenders for lil boys and ones with ruffled bottoms for little girls.  She will also make matching sibling outfits too.  Along with all that, the shop carries cute shoes and matching bows.   I would have totally gotten that chandi onesie below if we were having a girl! 


Again – I just cannot get over how CUTE these outfits are!  Haley’s boutique totally lives up to its name!


I also got to pick out one for our new little guy!  I had to go with this adorable argyle onesie!  Just too cute and classic!!  

In celebration of my new little man, Cutie Bootie Boutique is offering one lucky reader a chance to select their own custom outfit (up to a $25.00 value)!

What do you have to do to win?  Head over to the Cutie Bootie Boutique and pick out which adorable outfit is your favorite and come back and leave a comment telling me which one!  You can also get bonus entries for

• Popping over to the Cutie Bootie Facebook Page and liking it
• Tweet this contest
• Blog this contest
• Or share this contest on Facebook

That is 5 ways to win!!  All you have to do is make sure you leave me a comment for each way you have entered to win!  The giveaway will stay open until next Friday (2-18) at 8 pm CST.  I will announce the winner on Sunday morning! 

And if you just can’t wait until then to have your own little slice of cuteness – Cutie Bootie Boutique is also offering a 20% discount to Frugal with a Flourish readers!  Just enter “BABYBOY” at checkout to receive your discount! 

Good luck!

I did go to Blissdom this past week – it is hard to pass up an chance to meet and hang out with bloggers right in your backyard.  Blissdom is a blog conference that is headquartered in Nashville TN so naturally it is a little easier for me to go!  I had a great time and got to finally meet a lot of great people in person.  (This is going to be a picture intensive post and a lot of Blissdom talk so just keep going if you aren’t interested!)

For me … it is always a little nerve racking to walk into a room by myself and try to recognize and meet up with people.  But everyone is always so nice and easy to get to know!  At the kick off party Wednesday night I got to hang out with these lovely ladies. (Charity @ Sit Relax and Read, Cyndi @ Walking in His Grace, Kellie @ This Blessed Nest, Amy @ Positively Splendid, Jen @ Tatertots and Jello, Beckie @ Infarrantly Creative, and me – yes that is the bump for those of you looking for bump pics!)   

Photo by Angry Julie – from the Official Blissdom Flickr Stream

Can I just say that every single one of these ladies is a complete sweetheart!  Beckie is hysterical, Jen is just adorable, and Kellie makes the most beautiful bags!  And Amy lives right here in Nashville with me!  I think we be getting together soon!

In between all the sessions and the breakouts and the sponsored food breaks – we all also managed to get some time together.  Of course, I had to see my buddy Kate @ The Centsational Girl.

She always has a kiss on the cheek for me – it is our Blissdom tradition!  I love her – she is a complete doll and an absolute ham!

More lovely ladies here – Beth @ The Stories of A to Z, The Nester, Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality, and Myra @ My Blessed Life.  We had a great Mexican Dinner together – there were about six tables full of home bloggers.

We spent a lot of time by the fireplaces in the Magnolia Lobby – here is a shot of me and Allison @ House of Hepworths.

Loving this shot of some of my favorite bloggers – Myra, Richella @ Imparting Grace, Sarah @ Thrifty Decor Chick, Traci @ Beneath my Heart, and Rhoda!

And of course I loved meeting Lori @ Be Different. Act Normal – you might know her as @milliemux on twitter!

It was so great to spend some time with Sarah too!  She is such an inspiration and the biggest sweetheart! 

There is so much talent on this couch I can hardly stand it!  I am sure you know most of these fantastic bloggers!  It was amazing to get to spend even the briefest time with them!  There were so many other wonderful women that I got to meet and hang out with I can’t even begin to name them all.  Our little tribe of bloggers is packed with some of the most creative and wonderful ladies!  I am inspired by all of you!

Blissdom was in a word – a blast!  That isn’t to say that I didn’t come home overwhelmed and unsure of where to start with all the ideas I have.  I wanted to try to summarize some of what I learned but honestly my head is still swimming with info.   For now – I will just share the pictures and enjoy the memories!

P.S. Melissa from The Inspired Room has a link up going if you want to link up your Blissdom recap post!  I did!

So – originally – when we got all our furniture from our house in VA after it sold – we had to rearrange the current “room usage” in our house.  We had planned to take down the twin daybed in our office and put our extra sofa in that room.  But it wouldn’t fit.  So we ended up having to flip our guest bed room and office.  

So the room is pretty basic.  Just a queen size bed and a dresser with a mirror.  And I had plans to spruce it up, accessorize and make it pretty.  But then those plans just went out the window…

My cat Faith can probably sum it up best. 

Yep – we are expecting!  And very excited!  I am 15 weeks along and due on July 5th.  If it appears that I am slower on responding to emails and writing posts, it has been because I am exhausted!  Plus I just got a promotion at work so I am juggling more at the office too!  But let me get that caught up and I will be back with you guys on my regular basis. 

So now … that guest room and the office will have to be consolidated.  And a nursery will have to be created!  I am super excited to start working on that.  We should find out what it is in the first two weeks of February – and I am ready to start planning and sharing with you guys soon! 

Seems crazy that a year has just flown by.  I think that this full year of blogging has really taught me a lot about myself. 

That I can stick with something for more than a couple months.

That I can finish those projects on my to do list. 

That I am only limited by the boundaries of what I attempt to do. 

That creativity isn’t just something from me but it is something that a whole community of people help to inspire and cultivate. 

I can only say that there is no way I would have made it a year without some of my most faithful followers and all the linky love that we so graciously share here in blogland.  So without further ado – I would like to thank both my top commentators and my top referring sites.

Top Commenters

I love these ladies more than my luggage!  (Bonus points if you know the movie that is from!)  Take a moment to stop by and see if there could be some new friends for you here too!

Erin @ Like Grandmas – Erin is such a sweetie and does the most amazing things with chicken wire!  She is a Buckeye fan (just like me!) and I always love hearing from her!  She is just getting into blogging but I think you wouldn’t be able to find a more genuine person in blogland!

Rachel @ Rachel Cotterill – Rachel is a long distance friend who writes her blog from over across the pond in England.  She is a writer and goes on some of the most amazing vacations.  I love seeing pics from her travels in Europe! 

Karen @ Strictly Simple Style – Karen has fantastic taste and if you are into décor and style blogs, you will love her!  I was honored to get to guest post for her earlier in the year.  She comes up with the most amazing ideas and isn’t afraid to blog her opinion on style trends! 

Susan @ Living the Astorian Dream – Susan cracks me up!  Another writer she lives in Astoria, NY and is a fellow cat person!  I can almost always count on her to either post an interesting story about her life in NY or a cat picture!  Both of which I always enjoy.  (Today’s post is about manual car windows and bananas on pizza – trust me it is a good one!)

Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life – If you don’t know Marty – you are missing out.  She is a doll!  Writing from the desert in AZ, Marty hosts a weekly vignette and table top party that has given me fantastic ideas to get over my vignette-a-phobia!  If you ever need an idea for a table top – Marty is your go-to-girl!

Rene @ Cottage and Vine – Rene inspires me so much!  I love her sense of style and the projects she chooses to tackle!  You guys have to check out her no budget family room transformation project – so inspirational for those of us on a budget.  

Erin @ Domestic Adventures – Erin is a new mommy!!  Her son was born just a couple days ago and is a cutie!  I first stumbled onto Erin’s blog when checking out the fantastic cornices they did for their nursery.  Which by the way – if you are checking out nurseries – you have to check out Erin’s!  Gorg!

Top Referring Sites

Some of these sites have featured projects or posts that I have done but the majority of them are the hostesses of some amazing parties out there.  I want to thank each and everyone of them that takes the time to host a regular party – that takes a lot of time and effort and I for one appreciate the support and the platform they have given me to be able to share my ideas and projects with a larger audience.

1.  The Inspired Room

2.  Thrifty Decor Chick

3.  Between Naps on the Porch

4.  Today’s Creative Blog

5.  Living with Lindsay

6.  Southern Hospitality

7.  Hooked on Houses

8.  A Soft Place to Land

9.  Craft Gossip

10. Domestically Speaking

What’s Next for 2011?

So now that we are officially into 2011 what can you expect from me?  Well – lets see.  I have a project planned to finally get rid of our ugly vertical blinds in the living room.  I know I am finally going to finish a bedskirt for my guest bedroom.  I have some window treatment plans for our bedroom.  And I think I have at least one other really good surprise for you guys that I should be able to let you know more about here before the end of the month!  Excited?  I hope so!  I am!

I will be home for Christmas … to THREE different homes.  For those of you that are new to the blog – we do our version of the movie Four Christmases every year.  Remember this movie?

Photo via Firstshowing.net

Well our version is ever so slightly less neurotic as we don’t attempt to do all 4 in one day.  We do have four sets of parents that we attempt to see every year for Christmas.  We spread out that joy (and driving) over the month of December.  So we have already done my dad in Ohio, now we just have the rest of our WV families to see.  And we will see all of them over a one week period that starts this weekend and leads into Christmas Day itself.  Over the course of 10 days we will sleep in 3 cities and exchange gifts at least 3 times and spend (rough estimate) about 19 hours in the car driving. 

Obviously – we are insane. 

Four Christmases is great in some respects – you get to see everyone, you get 4 sets of presents, and you have a good excuse on why you need a week off work in December.  It is also crazy in other respects.  We drive everywhere, you have to buy 4 sets of presents, and you get back to work the week after needing another vacation!  

So I am spending the rest of this week – prepping for our mad journey through the hills and hollers of WV.  All presents must be wrapped, laundry done, cards out, and bags packed.  And then next week – I will either be surrounded by family and Christmas cheer, sleeping or driving.  I want to apologize in advance that I will probably continue to be behind on email, responding to comments and that posts may or may not happen.

I also want to go ahead and make sure that I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, or an enjoyable Festivus (what ever you decide to celebrate!) and I can’t wait to share with you guys more fun and exciting ideas and things in 2011.  

Wow!  It has been one year since I started this little blog!  That fact alone blows my mind - time moves so fast.

I have to admit I never thought that I would be a blogger.  I just had an urge to get out there and share.  I didn't really ever think anyone would listen.  It is crazy to think that in the year I have been blogging, I have had almost 75,000 people come to see what I had to say.  Again - it just blows my mind!   

I want to say THANK YOU to all of you who have come and supported me!  I have made so many great friends.  And I am inspired by you all every day.  There is a true creative powerhouse out here online.  I appreciate all the great ideas and tutorials I have found through your sites. 

I have to say that a year ago today I would have never guessed that I
- Would have gone to a blogging conference
- Would become a spray paint junky
- Would have built something out of wood from scratch
- Would be a upcycling yard sale queen
- Would have had more fun than in my wildest dreams doing all of it!

Thanks for being with me on my journey.  For cheering me on and for being my sounding board.  For listening to me ramble.  And for sharing with me everyday!

And to show my thanks and appreciation - I am offering a giveaway for my readers and followers.  Up for grabs is a $30 gift card to your choice of one of my favorite thrifty/crafty stores.

Hobby Lobby

Home Goods 

TJ Maxx 

Micheal's

Joann's Fabric

Target

Ikea

I know not everyone has one of these near them so I will let the winner choose which one they would want!  Or if you are overseas, recommend for me a good website that offers gift cards and I will get you a $30 USD value card there.  Here's hoping the currency rates work out in your favor!  :)

To enter - just leave a comment telling me how you follow Frugal with a Flourish, which store you would choose and what you want to get with it!  If you follow multiple ways (i.e. in a reader, on twitter and on FB) please leave multiple comments for each way you follow!  I will leave this open until next Friday (10/22) evening at 9 pm CST and will announce the winner on Saturday morning! 


From the bottom of my heart - I love you guys!

It's official!  We have finally sold our home!  (Happy dance!!)  It has never felt so good to say "We are no longer home owners!"

For those of you new to the blog, we have been living in what I have termed "the situation".  We both lost jobs, had to move a state away to keep jobs and have been balancing mortgage and rent for a year and a half!  But no more!!

We closed on the house yesterday!  I have been dying to tell you guys but due to the public nature of the internet - didn't want to say anything until I knew it was closed!  So this may explain one of my sudden absences for a week (those of you who follow in twitter may remember all my - "posting from Starbucks" tweets) and why I am having a massive yard sale. 

My yard sale starts in about 45 minutes so I have to run - but I wanted to share the good news with you guys! 

Whoohoo!!  (I am so excited I could burst!!)

A couple of weeks ago my best friend Kelly came up from Atlanta for the weekend and we spent some time running around the city of Nashville. I thought you guys might get a kick out of our little tour of the city and some of the highlights of things you can do while in Nashvegas for a day!

First, we headed downtown to the Nashville Farmers Market. It sits in the shadow of downtown and encompasses two big buildings.

The Farmer’s Market is a fantastic place to head on a Saturday. There are rows of veggies and fruits as far as the eye can see and it also has a little flea market attached.

We bought some veggies and spices and wandered around checking everything out.

Of course, we had to take a picture with the enormous pumpkin. I mean that is what you do when confronted with a pumpkin of this size!

They also have an adorable garden center attached to the market. I loved this windchime. Perfect for fall!

Once we finished our shopping there, we headed down to 2nd Avenue and Broadway. This is considered the “heart” of where the action is in Nashville. You can take a horse drawn carriage ride if you choose.

Or the Redneck Comedy Bus Tour. In Nashville – we have a little something for everyone.

We wandered up Broadway and hit up some of the local shops. And of course, we had to pop into Hatch Show Print.

Hatch Show is a Nashville institution and specializes in vintage letterpress posters. Here were a few that we saw and loved. Perfect for a kitchen.

I loved this one and thought it would be cute for us with the cats.

Kelly (a horse fanatic) got this one for just $2. Amazing deal.

We then kept heading down Broadway past several Honky Tonk bars looking for a good place to sit for a bit and listing to some live music. Any time in Nashville is a great time to hit up one of these little hole in the wall dives to hear some great music and get a few laughs.

We kept going until we got to Tootsie’s Orchard Lounge, one of the most famous bars on Broadway.  A shot of Tootsie hangs behind the bar.  Tootsie was originally a radio performer and recorded "My Little Red Wagon."  The bar was also used as a set in the movie "A Coal Miner's Daughter". Willie Nelson actually got his first songwriting job after performing here.

The walls in Tootsie's are papered with pictures of past and present country stars that have performed there.  These framed shots are all behind big sheets of Plexiglas. 

We got to enjoy some great music while we were there. These guys (Jake Maurer and Kari Nelson) were talented and hysterical. They played all kinds of great hits and were truly entertaining. We got to hear "Sweet Home Alabama", "Devil Went Down to Georgia", and my personal favorite "Country Roads"

After that we headed home back home. It was a great day in Nashville - I hope you guys enjoyed the tour! So let me ask - what three places would you take someone to in your home town to let them see what living there is like?