I was Hacked by association!

Hey Friends!

I am not sure if any of you got a message from Google yesterday regarding my blog being blocked but if so I do apologize.  It said my blog was unsecure and possibly infected with a malware virus because I had linked to Shabby Blogs.  Here's the low down just in case you want to know.

I used them for my background and for a few quotes on my sidebar.  I googled all I could yesterday to see what was going on and how to fix it.  I found several other bloggers who had also been infected.  It appears someone must have hacked Shabby Blogs and therefore anyone using their codes was also infected.  I feel so bad for them!  I read if I got rid of everything from them I would be okay.  I did this and still had the block.  So then I read everything I could about how to get rid of the block.  I read about going to Webmaster tools, then diagnostics, then malware and checking for any virus's.  It showed my blog was clean according to that but for some reason the block was still there for me.

At this point I decided to run my own virus scan on my computer.  I have McAfee so it was time for a complete scan.  It takes several hours so you can plan on not using your computer for awhile.  It detected 2 virus's and deleted them.  They were listed as trojans, whatever that is.  After this test was completed I checked my blog again.  The block was still there!  Mercy!

I had one friend comment on my post yesterday (God Bless you Rondell!) and I emailed her to ask her if  she was seeing the block.  This morning I read her email and she had not seen a block and had even gone back to check again.  Well, this morning it, the warning block, was still there! 

Yall, I was about to give up when I decided to go back one more time through my layouts and see was there anything still on my blog from Shabby Blogs.  Low and behold there was!  Apparently, I had missed deleting a cute little quote on my sidebar that I had got from them.  It's not so cute anymore!  After deleting it and thoroughly checking out the rest of my blog I was able to view my blog without the warning.

So rest assured I do believe my blog to be secure again and you can come visit anytime.  Please excuse the funny background look but I decided to grab one from blogger for now.  I may customize things more later but am leaving it be for a bit.  I am feeling very wary about linking up to anyone now.  Mercy!

Have a beautiful day!

Decorating Doldrums..what to do? Advice Please!

Hey Ladies! I can't believe it's almost 11:30am and I am still sitting here in my PJ's blogging on my day off.  Have you been here before?  I am sure some of you have.  LOL!

Anyway, Instead of participating in some of my usual tablescaping parties I wanted to pick your brains a bit if you will today.  I just don't have enough creativity today to pull anything together on my own, not even a simple tablescape.   Sometimes things in life just get in the way and sap your energy you know!

So what's up?  Well for starters work,work,work.  I love working and I love my job it's just that sometimes changes are hard, especially when it's unsettled as to how things will turn out.   These changes made me wake up at 1:30am last night and unable to sleep until 5:30am.  Luckily, I didn't have to work today and was able to return to bed and snooze a bit more.

Funny how God seems to show up even when you aren't expecting him too.  I know that he will, just usually not when he does.  I always seem to expect something more obvious, as if I were the only person out there. More often then not though, it seems he usually appears very subtly to me at times.  I have been praying about things for several days now but still feel very anxious.  I logged on to facebook this morning after my second awakening and saw two of my friends, male and female who do not know each other who both had status updates quoting Phillipians 4:6.  How timely is that?

Philippians 4:6

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

It seems this was also the devotion on Our Daily Bread website this morning. I am sure they may have both seen this and decided to share it.  I am glad they did!  I do visit this site often but not often enough.   Here's a link to Our Daily Bread if you've never been.  Check it out and be inspired daily from our Greatest Creator through his scriptures.

Anywho, with all that goes on with work and worry (that I need to get rid of) and my daily home life it seems my creativity is not flowing as abundantly this year as it has in the past.  I am sure some of you who have followed me have noticed.  It's OK, I see it too!  After creating all day at work pulling things together I get home and am exhausted on fresh ideas.  That is until I open up blogger and see all of your pretty crafts and decor.

  Just this morning I found a new blogger from Pinterest.  Have you seen the decor over at Dimples and Tangles.  I mean, OMG!  I love her style.  Check her out if you haven't already!  After seeing so much creativity out there this morning I decided to ask for a little help on a few decorating doldrums that I am stuck on.

Area No.1

Here is my den.  I am so over the two pictures above the couch and really want something new but just don't have a clue as to what to put there.  I do not want to move any of the furniture here so please don't go there.  I would love to paint the cabinet but it's the Mr.s and you know men and their wood tones.  So that's not happening either.  I am rather fond of my bamboo mirror and think it goes well with the tropical look of the lamp and pillow.  So now, that's your guidelines.

This is a close up of the area you need to make your suggestion about.  I had wanted to change the color of my den but have been pulling back on that one.  The color I like just doesn't go well with the rest of my decor and I really don't have time for a new paint job right now.  So please keep that in mind too.

Area No.2

My coffee table.  I know it's kinda odd in pictures but the size of it really is great with the way I have the furniture arranged in our large den.  We have lot's of furniture in this one room and I think a larger coffee table would be too much.  I like open spaces!  I do need more decor on this coffee table though and it's always been a struggle for me.  I go between not nearly enough to too much so often.  I like having a candle here that I can occasionally burn and have done some great vignettes in the past with those.  So what is the struggle then?

I want to create a vignette using a jar candle, more specifically this jar candle and this tray.  I don't like the color of the tray but do like the size.  Then I am struggling with what I want to use around it.  Help!  I would love all ideas for this one!

Just yesterday I received the latest issue of the new Ballard Designs catalog.  Everything in here is my preferred style just not my budget.  So there's your second guideline for suggestions.  Quite demanding aren't I?  LOL!

Before you go I'd love to show you a little sursee I picked up for myself yesterday on my lunch hour.  Yes, I still spend my lunch hour shopping other stores.  Crazy I know!

Look at this adorable swimsuit!  I really don't need another swim suit but I just couldn't resist this one when I saw it at Marshall's.  I love swimsuits with skirts and so does my blogger bottom.  I have several skirted two piece suits, but not a lot that have the matching bikini style tops.  Those are very hard to find.  I get so hot on the boat in a suit that covers my belly so when I find one of these I like, I grab it up right away.

I love the busy floral print and the sweet little ruffles on this one!  It's made by Kenneth Cole.  I own a few from him already that I really like.  They hold up really well too!

I must confess though, I think what sold me on this suit the most was the leopard trim.  How fabulous is that?  I think it's just adorable!  Now if I can only make the time to get in the sun wearing it.

Well if you've stopped by and read all this.  Thank you!  I've figured out part of the reason my blog most likely is not so popular is because I talk/type too much.  I think most bloggers just want to see pictures and move on.  But hey, it's who I am and I am okay with where I am in blogland. 

 Oh, I almost forgot.  I changed the name of my blog roll on my side bar again.  I am simply calling it "More Blogs", genius huh? I was calling it blogs that follow me so I could help promote those who follow me and to get to know them better.  I still plan to do that but have recently realized it is also a great way to keep up with other bloggers who are not on google friend connect.  I don't know why I didn't think of this before but I just didn't.  Duh!  I usually use my blogger feed to read blogs first but think I will try using my blog roll on my own page more now.  I am all about keeping things simple lately.

So there you have it.  Any suggestions on anything you've read here today would be greatly appreciated and well accepted.  Hope I hear from someone!

Thanks a bunch!

As always, 

have a great day too!

The Front Yard

Since things have greened up pretty well around here I thought you might like to see a few images from around the yard again.  I've so little time for maintenance that things are looking kinda wild this year.  I like to think of it as kinda cottagey though.  Heh he!  You know, cottage garden style. I'll start in the front yard this time.

You have to enter my home from these steps that are right off of the driveway.  The creeping fig is growing well this year on the wall.

Still haven't put that sprinkler system in yet.  It's going to happen but just not ready quite yet.  We need a plan since the Mr. wants to do it himself. 

This bedding area by the walkway is filled with vinca vine.

The other side is begging to show lot's of new growth too.

The Iris are looking good but still not much blooming going on this year.

Well, there's a peek at the front of the house.  I took photos from the backyard but really need to scoot.  Maybe next week I'll share those with you too.

Thanks for stopping by and joining me for

Outdoor Wednesday.

Have a great day everyone!

Pictures disappearing from my Posts

Has anyone else noticed pictures disappearing from older posts?  I am so upset!  How did this happen?  More importantly does anyone know what I can do to fix this so it doesn't happen again?

I have an entire post that is missing it's pictures.
Here's the link;
http://thedecorativedreamer.blogspot.com/2012/01/time-to-rise-and-shine.html

I would appreciate any advice any of you may have.
Thank you!

I fixed the video!

Sorry!!!  I think I fixed my video for those of you who tried to look at it!  Ughh!  I didn't know I had a lock on it.  I've unlocked it now so please come back for a peek!

Thanks so much!

Good Morning Beautiful!

How was your night?  Mine was wonderful, and it's an even better morning!  The sun and warmer temps have returned last night and it's a beautiful morning for a tablescape.  

I decided to try something a little different this morning.  Instead of my usual posts, I decided to create a movie tablescape for you.  I've never made a movie before and found it to be rather easy but cannot figure out how to add the music.  Wait, let me go back, I can see where to add the music.  I just can't figure out how to get the song I want (which is one my playlist) added to my movie.  Duh!

As usual though, I've run out of time this morning again.  I hope you enjoy the video and if you don't have your sound off are enjoying the music from my blog right along with it!

Have a beautiful day everyone!

Be sure and visit the following for more tablescaping ideas and blogs.

Let's Dish

Tablescape Thursday

I do NOT like to be so COLD!

I do not like to be so COLD!

I do not like to feel so old!

I do not like my bones to shiver and shake...

Or to be so stiff when I awake.

I do not like a sky so GREY!

I do not like a dreary day!

I do not like the SUN to hide...

Or to be too cold to go outside.

I do not like these cooler temps!

I do not like it, not even one glimpse!

I do not like this morning FROST...

Or to worry about the plants I've lost.

I want to see and feel the sweet SUNSHINE!

I want to see it's glow on this skin of mine!

I want to go outside and play!

And the warmth of summer to come and STAY!!!

I'm so very over this little cool snap!

That makes me want to take a nap.

I love my life here in the south, and truth be told...

Because I do not like to be so COLD!

I just couldn't contain myself any longer friends and felt the need for a little rhyme and rant.  I am sharing this little poem of mine today at

 Outdoor Wednesday.

  Thank you Dr. Suess for teaching me well on how to compose a lighthearted gripe.  You are my hero!!!

I hope the sun is shining brightly for all of you today!  Thanks for stopping by!

We bought rocks!

For those of you who are more refined and accustomed to purchasing landscaping rocks this may seem like no big deal.  But for us, (and any of you like me) actually BUYING rocks, especially more white ones is just so dang funny!

I'm sorry, I guess you would understand a little more wouldn't you if you knew that the name of the next town over from ours is literally called "White Rock" and for good reason.  The area I live in has red clay and rock.  My front yard and backyard bedding areas are lined with rocks that I collected from around our yard over the years.  They often pop right up out of the ground.  Seriously!  In fact one of the biggest concerns we had about building our pool last summer was that we would hit rock.  Luckily, we are on a slope and had to build up as well as dig down so that did not become an issue for us.

We are still working on the back of our house after last years pool construction.  While there is still so much to do yet, and so little time, it's finally starting to come together.  

This is the area here that I spent the afternoon spreading rocks over.  

This is the first thing you pass by when entering our pool area from the side.  

It's also the area where the pump to the pool resides.  We have been working on ways to camouflage the pump by the steps.  It's not the prettiest thing to look at you know, but very conveniently located and necessary to have where it is to provide the best operations of pool maintenance.

After shuffling around a few of my pots and my old fountain I think it's starting to look pretty good.  Please ignore the half stained steps.  I am still poking along on the deck and railing staining.

Part of my progress has been slowed by poor weather on my only days off.  I can't believe the cooler temps we are having right now.  Just look at my poor flowers, that's from the cooler temps!

I am so glad my sweet little fountain is hanging in there.  It will eventually have to be replaced as it is starting to show some signs of wear but for now it fits the space just fine.  Not to mention I have so many other things I want to purchase for landscaping yet and a new fountain is not high on the list.

Originally I wanted to buy river rocks but after finding out they were $1.00 more per bag and contained less per bag we decided to just go with the marble rocks.  It will only be a matter of time before the clay adds more color to them and they will soon look like river rocks.  I even got quite a giggle out of seeing the brand name on this bag.  Who knew Vigoro sold rocks too?  LOL!

We've got a few bags left but the Mr. wants to take up my stepping stones by the pump so they will be used as soon as he redoes that.

Look at my poor Knockout rose, or Encore rose for those of you who do not know they are one and the same.  

Between this crazy weather and it being so top heavy it's started to droop like crazy.

I still have so many little odds and ends to finish up outside here it's unreal.  I am so used to getting things done.  Learning to be patient is hard.  These are some flowers that I purchased before Easter that still have yet to make it into pots.  I bought a good bit and many of them did already but these were the last and needed new pots.  I've finally got the pots last week but again with the rain and time I haven't been able to get them planted.  Maybe this week.

I didn't want to show you this area yet because I'm still tweaking it, but since I've been hinting as this for weeks I thought I'd show you my progress so far.  As you can see the lattice is up and stained by the bedding area.  I want to paint my potting bench off white so it doesn't blend in with the deck so much but cannot catch a break on good timing with that project either.  Oh well!

But here's my old swing!  I was able to finally get a fresh coat of paint on it.  It took four cans!  I had to go back to buy two more as I thought it would only take two.  Ooops! I still need to find some seat cushions that are the right size and am just using these I bough last year temporarily.  Hey, don't laugh, it works...for now.  Okay, you can laugh.  LOL!

Well, before I go I thought I'd show you the master of camouflage.  Just look at this lizard!  Have you ever seen one turn almost completely black.  I mean, he was one disappearing lizard!

  

I am joining

 Metamorphosis Monday

 today to share my latest.  Hop on over there and check a few other changes out there in blogland if you have the time.

Have a great day everyone!

In Honor of Earth Day

Hey Ladies!  I made it!  I made it! I made it!  Yay!  Not only did I make it on time to Kathleen's Earth Day Tablescape challenge, but I literally "made" a few things too specifically for this challenge.  Woo hoo...hoo!  

Sorry about all that, but I just love when a plan comes together!  When I first heard of the tablescape challenge being Earth day my mind started racing.  I was thinking of all the possibilities that one could do but I could not get away from a few elements that I already owned that I wanted to use.  I just needed a new way to present them.  So for me...it was game on!  I love a challenge that spurs creativity! 

This post is going to be very photo heavy so I will try to keep the chit chat to a minimum.  Haha! Yall know how hard that is for me!  When I first thought of what I was going to use I wanted to do this scape outside on the patio by the pool.  Unfortunately, the rains came last night and today and there are threats of thunderstorms so I decided to play it safe and keep it inside.  Keeping it inside may have been a blessing in disguise though, as it challenged me yet again to change up a few things.  Regardless, I am loving this tablescape and I really hope you will enjoy it too!

It's so simple, but loaded with things that really do represent Earth day.

This is one of the first ELEMENTS I thought of that I wanted to use.

I had intended to use these three server dishes outside on the umbrella table so that they would surround the pole.  This four piece set which includes another serving piece that goes in the middle is a very old CERAMIC set that I purchased at a RESALE store last year.

I thought it would be adorable to use with ROCKS and added the tea lights for ambiance.  Since I had not intended to use the middle piece of this set, I now needed to come up with a centerpiece.

Insert my latest GARDEN purchase.  It just so happens, I had made a trip before Easter to a local GREENHOUSE to buy some plants.  There sat my CHERRY TOMATOES still waiting to be planted.  I plan to grown them in a pot on the deck but have yet to get a new big pot for them.

I love cherry tomatoes, don't you?

So, I decided to stick the whole carton down into one of my old pots, add a little moss and waalahh, instant centerpiece...and they smell so good too!

This is an old Terracotta pot that I've had for quite some time.  As you can see, I painted it myself.  It was one of a set of two that I made.

I love how over the years the paint has started to chip away and think it gives it even more character now.

The next ELEMENT I knew I would use would be these dishes.  

I'm sure you remember because I've recently used them but decided to show you the back so you could see they are made of TERRA COTTA.  Did you know the latin words for terra cotta are BAKED EARTH?

 Another ELEMENT I knew I wanted to use was my salad plates that are made out of RECYCLED plastic.  Pretty cool huh?

Then, I knew I had to use my BAMBOO flatware.  Atleast, I'm thinking it's real bamboo.  Haha!

My pretty blue iridescent glasses made it to the table for a few good reasons.  One, that are a glorious blue that represents water and are made of glass..glass being made from SAND.

But one of the other reasons I love is that I bought them from a yardsale, and that represents RECYCLING and RESTORING right?

Speaking or Recycling, how do you like the napkins I made?  How's that related to RECYCLING you ask?  Well, every time you use a cloth napkin that you wash instead of paper you throw away, you are RECYCLING!  I'll show you how I made these in just a minute. 

I made my place markers out of pop sickle sticks to represent garden markers that anyone could make.  I have this huge box of popsickle sticks that I bought when the kids were little and it was fun to find another use for them.  All I did was angle two sticks vertically, add a little hot glue and then place the three sticks horizontally across.  So simple!

Can you imagine my surprise when I found this fabric?  I know!!!  When I was thinking of all the ELEMENTS I would use for my EARTH day tablescape I was drawing a blank on the napkins.  After looking around for something that I liked I decided I would just have to sew up some of my own.  I had been thinking of something green maybe with a grass print or something.  Never, did I expect to find this!

I purchased one yard.

Cut them into 18 squares.

Then steam ironed the edges over once and....

...then twice to get a finished edge, rotating the folds clockwise each time.

Then I sewed a straight stitch along the inside edge pivoting around each corner.  It was very simple and something you can do too.  You could probably even do this technique with some of that no sew stuff too that you use with an iron.  Easy peasy!

Making your own napkins allows you the freedom to find napkins that are just perfect for any special occasion, even one like celebrating EARTH DAY.

I hope you enjoyed my table.  I sure had fun putting this one together.    Sorry so wordy, but I'm sure you knew I just had to give you all the details.  Didn't I tell you I love a challenge?

Thank you also for visiting me today!  

If you have the time, be sure and visit the following linky parties.

For more tablescaping decor be sure and click here at

Let's Dish

and 

Tablescape Thursday.

Have a great day!