The Cookbook Cupboard and a Paper Pumpkin Garland

This old cupboard is a fun spot for kitchen related vintage items along with my cookbooks and cookie jars. My scroll-y chalkboard is a constant background on this piece as it causes whatever is in front to literally pop. Fall is always a favorite season to decorate this spot, which was inspired by my kitchen china cabinet top in our last house.

All About Home #168: October Wrap Up

Hello Friends and Welcome to the 

All About Home Link Party!

Glad you were able to grab a minute and make it to the party this evening!!

We finally made it out for a drive in the country Sunday to see some Fall leaf color and as I thought, the leaves were a bit lackluster. In town the color was much better but we are running early this year for peak, I guess because we had two hard freezes about 10 days ago. But it was nice to get out and roam the back roads in my hubby's Jeep. He has the "original" kind of Jeep where you feel like you're "off roading" even when you aren't. LOL!! (bumpy, but fun).

I've been decorating for Thanksgiving, because I REALLY love Thanksgiving, but I'm adding some Christmas decor along the way. Next week... On to the Holidays!!!!

All About Home #167: Fall and Halloween "Treats"

Hello Friends and Welcome to the 

All About Home Link Party!

Okay... how did it get to be the end of October? This has been a really crummy Fall here in the lower Midwest as far as weather goes. We've been in a terrible drought and only had a few short rains all of August, September, and now October. The leaves aren't showing a lot of color and most of them are just turning brown and falling off the trees in big clumps. We're supposed to be having a good rain event today so I'm hanging in there. Any pretty tree color where you are?

Are you guys going straight to Christmas decorating?... I'm not sure that I can. I find it hard to do Christmas so soon. So I'll be mixing some previous Christmas inspiration posts with real time late Fall/ Thanksgiving decor. Thanks so much for coming by and sharing the fun things you're up to. I look forward each week to see all your amazing Fall creativity! So glad you're here!

Elegant Glitter Snow Owls DIY

As the calendar goes, it's a little late in the season to be sharing Fall DIY projects, but I was ready to post my Late October Entry where I'm using my pretty little Glitter Snow Owls. So before I shared my current October Entry, I wanted to post again how my little Glitter Owls came to be. 

Little Black Cat

Happy Last Weekend of October, Friends! I've been meaning to do this for awhile and I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to introduce you to our newest member of the family. We've had her for a few months, but she had to have surgery (for a tumor on her leg) and then she was a little embarrassed about her looks because of it. So I'm just now getting around to introductions.

Fanciful and Fun Fall Fotos, er (Photos)

Hi Friends, one of my favorite ways to find a little fun vintage inspiration is to visit all the Fall Open Houses of our amazing shopping spots here in the area. I was going back through some of my photos from the last at least 7 years and found a few of my faves. No words, just pics of a few of the many fun outings I've had during Fall. You know you can double click on the photo to biggify. Hope you enjoy...

Hoo's in the October Entry?

I think you all know how much I love Fall and look forward to it all year. I wait all year for the crisp air, brilliant blue skies, and kaleidoscope of Fall foliage. So many of us have fond memories of "Trick or Treating" when we were kids. Even though we might not "celebrate" Halloween, we still enjoy the fun and nostalgia of vintage ephemera, Jack-O-Lanterns, costumes, and decorations from our young years.

Finally... the Fall Front Porch

I was beginning to wonder if I was EVER going to get things together enough out here on the front porch to actually get a few pics taken, and call it a "post". I had my mums out and planted by the first week of September, found some fun pumpkins at the farmer's market down the road, and even had my door basket decked out for Fall with some new brown plaid ribbon. And then the unthinkable happened...

Gathered #1

When I was involved in a weekly party, the thing I enjoyed most was getting to feature different people and their blogs. Sometimes I now feel like I'm out of the loop because I don't have access to meeting so many creative people and showcasing their talent. I'm sure you're like me and run across a great post or pic and you just want to share it with others, but it's awkward to work it into something of your own. There are so many unique and timely posts that speak to who you are and turn your head, but you just don't have a way to share with everyone. So I'm going to start a new (hopefully) weekly post where I can randomly share those topics, pics, and inspiration that I've picked up that week in the blogging world. Okay, here are a few I've gathered this week...

A Haute Halloween Encore

These photos are several years old, but provide so much fun Inspiration I wanted to share them with you again. The Blog Post was intitled "A Haute Halloween" and they were taken at a friend's amazing home here in Springfield, Robin Gilmore. She has since moved and opened a Tea Room and wonderful store in Springfield on Commercial Street. So enjoy once more, and if you live close to the Springfield Area, be sure and make this a destination spot for lunch and shopping.

Vintage October and a Give-Away Winner

Hey Everyone!

Hope you've had a wonderful week this beautiful October, and I imagine most of you have some fun plans this weekend. We're moving more things over to the new house (with the big move next week) but I wanted to take a minute and share some images from the last few years of some Fall and Halloween fun. This is my favorite time to decorate, but "Fall" was pretty minimal around my house this season. Since I didn't get to really "celebrate" my favorite month, I wanted to go back and see what was happening in years past. Here are some of my favorite images from this time of year. If you'd like to see more Fall Fun, then just type in Fall or Halloween on my blog search and you'll get tons more pics. You can click on any image for it to "biggify".

Congratulations to Jann from Have A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson in winning the pillow below from Elliott-Heath Designs! Thanks so much to everyone that entered!

OK, have a great weekend, 

we're having a warm up to about 80, 

so maybe we can get alot accomplished with the move. 

xoxo,

Be Inspired #163:

Hi Everyone and Welcome to

 Be Inspired!

The proverbial apple doesn't fall far from the tree in the case of my daughters, they both love vintage. In the case of my older daughter, who has a degree in computer illustration, she not only loves pillows, but has a fondness for black cats.

She doesn't know this yet, but this pillow may possibly disappear. 

I think this is a likeness of the Black Cat Fireworks image from years ago.

This was waiting for me when we arrived.

Her Dining Room table

Window sill in kitchen.

OK, on to the fun of last week's great links. 

Here are a few that I loved.

LOVE these wonderful Joss and Main Slipcovered Chairs

that Cindy from Dwellings recently purchased.

I featured this fabulous French Lantern

from Laura at Decor to Adore earlier this Spring.
They recently installed it, just gorgeous!!

Kimberly always has the wow factor when she decorates; indoors or out.

She shared her new home's Fall Urn at Serendipity Refined

Wonderful outdoor shoot of this vintage Fall Farmhouse Table

from Denise at Pink Postcard

Preserving  Leaves with wax paper

from Ann Marie at Musings of a Vintage Junkie

You'll love Lana's fabulous French Script Chair

at European Vintage.

Audrey from Timeless Treasures and her hubby created this amazing Dugout Wooden Trough. You'll want to see the start to finish of this great project.

So delicious...Pumpkin Funnel Cake

from Cara at Craft Dictator

Thanks everyone for coming by to share the inspiration!!

Hope you'll link up today for some great Fall Fun.

Today's Sponsor

Sweet Magnolias Farm

Have a fun day, and don't eat too much candy!!

xoxo,

PLEASE have a visible and individual link back 

to Common Ground within your post.

Thanks so much!!

Top Visited Links from Be Inspired

Time to check in to see who had the Top Visited Links last week at

Be Inspired.

 If you haven't had a chance to visit then run by and say hello.

Julia from Vintage With Laces
shared her wonderful studio decorated in Black and White for Halloween.
This Altered Cabinet Card is just one of her beautiful creations.

Take a peek at all the fun Orange Sweater Projects

by Nici from Posed Perfection

Debra at Frugal Little Bungalow shared her many baskets
and gave us a peek at her wonderful bungalow architecture and decor.

You'll love the wonderful paintings in this post

Thinking About Carmel by the Sea

from Tammy at My Flower Journal.

Thanks for the inspiration gals!

Hope you'll join in tomorrow morning for 

Be Inspired

11ish AM Central.

xoxo,

Today's Sponsor
Bel Monili

Here's a Note from Lucy, owner of Bel Monili:

Hi Everyone, Tomorrow is my end of the month sale AND it's my birthday! I'm running the sale Thursday, October 31 (my 33rd birthday! eek!) through Sunday. Use coupon code birthdaybel20 at www.belmonili.etsy.com through Sunday, November 3, 2013 to receive 20% off of your ENTIRE purchase of $10 or more. Since it's Bel Monili's birthday, purchases of $50 or more will receive a FREE 3 pack of pearl bobby pins as a gift, and purchases of $100 or more will receive a FREE quote bracelet of your choosing! This is the perfect time to get your holiday shopping kick-started at bel monili, where you always enjoy free domestic shipping. Happy Halloween!