Birthday Photo Funia

I wanted to do something big to wish my good friend Amy a happy 30^th birthday like rent a billboard and put her smiling face on it but then I realized how much that would cost so this photo will have to due instead! J Happy Birthday Amy! Bring on the champagne!
PS – If you have never used Photo Funia you should check it out! They have all sorts of fun effects!

Picnic Weather

The weather is picture perfect outside today and I would love to be enjoying one of these picnic blankets today! How comfy looking!Photo Courtesy:
White Lace Wedding

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

I love green and I love Ireland so needless to say today is one of my favorite days of the year!! Like many of you out there I am extremely proud of my Irish heritage and am thinking of my very proud Irish grandmother today! J Wishing all my readers many happy Irish blessings!

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
~Irish Blessing

Book Love

What a perfect play on words! Plus it is super useful!

Photos Courtesy:

Twelve South

Welcome Box

I am a huge fan of a welcome box for anyone who may be traveling to see you. That includes guests staying at your home, wedding guests and even “welcome to the club” boxes. It is a small gesture that I think goes so far! I love this fun “midnight snack” take on the traditional box. Add a bottle of wine and it is sure to be a hit!

Photos Courtesy:
The Ritzy Bee Blog

Tip of the Day

Ok, so I have to admit that I just despise the plastic clam packaging used on so many things we buy. 1) because it is not very green and 2) because I can NEVER get into it without saying several not nice words and/or cutting my self open! So I was super excited when someone passed along the tip to use a can opener to get past that pesky plastic packaging! I mean who doesn’t love a good household tip that makes life a little less stressful?

Photo Courtesy:
Unknown

Dishes with Guilt

I just got back from a huge lunch and this is totally how I feel!

Photo Courtesy:

Fish Eddy

Happenings at Unexpected Delights

Happy Monday to all my readers! I thought I would take a minute to share a couple of the exciting things I am working on here at Unexpected Delights.

1) First and foremost I am working on the site redesign for UD. I have learned so much during this process and am very excited for it to launch sometime this month!

2) UD is also currently consulting on the amazing events listed below. I cannot wait to bring you photos and details from each one! (btw -if you are interested in having UD consult on your upcoming event be sure to give us shout).

• A rustic chic wedding set in the beautiful Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains
• A “middle eastern meets Chicago glamour” themed wedding at the historic Lake House Inn in Pennsylvania
• An elegant Minnesota wedding on the banks of White Bear Lake
• A bachelorette party for one of the most fashionable girls I know
• A wedding shower inspired by the Bride and Grooms Hawaiian honeymoon
• Two kick butt 30^th birthday party formal dinners

3) We are also working on an amazing line of save the date cards with a vintage twist that will be available exclusively on UD’s new site

4) I am also busy with the development of a comprehensive event planning book with Kara at La Mia Tabella that will feature everything you need to know from what to buy at the grocery store to the perfect napkin fold! Snippets of the book will be featured the next few months on each of our sites so be sure to keep an eye out for this exciting collaboration!

5) Finally, I am in the beginning stages of a developing a formal consulting component of UD that will provided readers with custom designed inspiration boards for their upcoming events (this is taking a little longer than expected so I am thinking 2nd or 3rd quarter this year but I will keep you posted)

As you can tell we are very busy but in a good way. I am so excited and grateful to have all of you along for this ride!! THANK YOU for your continued support as I keep moving forward with this fun little “hobby” of mine!!

(oh and cause I cannot publish a post without including a link to my latest unexpected delights be sure to check out the 2010 Bloggie Awards. I have no doubt you will find a few sites to add to your daily reading list! Who knows maybe UD will be included on their list one day!)

Our Sunshine

This sign is SO not my style but it completely sums up the way J and I feel about Berkley. (oh and I might be drawn to it too because my mother used to sing me this song all the time when I was little kid).

Photo Courtesy:

Holly and Ivy Designs

Be A Better You

I am going to be taking off the rest of the year to spend some time reenergizing and gearing up for 2010. I am super excited about some big changes that will be happening with Unexpected Delights in the new year including new weekly features, a new design, guest posts, and many more exciting things! I hope that each of you have a wonderful holiday and try to keep in mind the following thought below. I know it is something I will be working on in 2010 in all aspects of my life. Cheers!

Photo Courtesy:
Unknown

A Little Fuzzy Treat

Because I am in need of a smile today and maybe you are too. :)

Photos Courtesy:
Sharon Montrose

Giving Thanks

I am going to be taking the rest of the week off to eat turkey and spend time with my family but before I go I just wanted to say that I am thankful for so many things this holiday including my family’s health, safety and unconditional love. I am also thankful for all my readers and loyal followers, your support means so much to me! I am wishing each one of you a happy Thanksgiving and am hoping that you keep the following card in mind tomorrow night! :)

Inside:

Even After Turkey

Happy Thanksgiving

Photo Courtesy:
Love in the Mail

Art That Makes You Think

I was totally geeked with I stumbled across several of Robert Deyber’s pieces at a friends house the other night. They are really well done and so creative you want to scream! He also has a book of all of his pieces that would make a great gift or conversation starter. I posted a few of my favorites below but only gave you the title to one of them….can you figure out the rest? (I gave you the answers at the bottom just in case you are already in Friday mode :)

Technical Fowl

Can you figure out the title to these four?

Images Courtesy:
Robert Deyber

Answers:

1. My Ass is On the Line

2. The Buck Stops Here

3. The Pecking Order

4. Stuffed Animals

The Best Seat in the House

My husband and I received this amazing Whit McLeod folding wine barrel chair as a house warming gift from a friend in California a few weeks ago and immediately fell in love! It could not have come at a more perfect time since we were having a party that night and did not have nearly enough seating for all the guests! It also served as a great conversation starter since the chair is made from a salvaged 70-gallon oak wine barrel and is numbered with the name of the winery. In fact, it turns out that all McLeod furniture is made from reclaimed wood that provides the benefits of old-growth timber without the environmental costs which means the tree hugger in me can feel even more free while sipping wine in this chic chair! Thanks KSB!

Photos Courtesy:
Whit McLeod

Cute Little Germs

So because I am kind of a closet science geek and also because I am getting over the flu/cold I had to share these adorable microbes over at Think Geek! What a cute get well gift for a friend (or in my case my favorite epidemiologist…love you Keri). I lespecially like how they show a picture of the actual microbe...how cleverly nerdy!

The Flu


White Blood Cell


Stomach Ache

Mono

Common Cold

Ulcer


They even have one for Swine Flu!!

Photos Courtesy:
Think Geek