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— Maxwell Maltz

Image: mam for Gave That

Lacy Ears

Resistance was futile when I saw Julie Newmar wearing kitty versions of the Maison Miche lacy ears recently at the comic convention, talk about purrfection.



The most obvious way to go about doing this yourself would probably be with actual lace and black pipe cleaners but since these are gift toppers, these were created on a transparency, cut out and a sharpie used to create the outline. Then they were simply glued to the top of the gift box. Once unwrapped, I'm popping these on a headband and keeping it going.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
Transparencies and a printer
A lacy design image
A pair of scissors
A black sharpie marker or black paint
Some double sided tape or glue dots

HOW TO DO IT:
Print your black lacy design on your transparency. Allow to dry and then draw on the black outline. Using small scissors jaggedly cut out each ear. Leave room at the bottom of the transparency to fold it backwards. Use a glue dot or tape to attach it to the top of your gift or a headband.

For all of my other gift wrap looks and DIY projects all in one place see the blogs gift wrap inspiration area here.

Image: mam for Gave That

In My Makeup Bag

After a great deal of trial and error it feels as if I've finally put together a decent weekender / overnight / beach bag which I plan on posting soon. Being able to jump on an invitation to just Go! is something that I personally treasure and always being at the ready led to some really helpful finds. First, here is a glimpse into my makeup bag which is thoroughly geared for the heat and sun. Traveling or not, these are all things that I've been using on a daily basis, only in portable sizes.

FACE: Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream with SPF 42, Lotus Bio-Mineral SPF 30 hi-def finishing powder, Arbonne no sun bronzing powder (the perfect terracotta rosy color that I use as blush, eyeshadow, with balm on the lips... something similar is Guerlain's Terracotta bronzing powder in 05), NYX Eyeshadow Base in skin tone 03 (which I actually use as a concealer), Jane Iredale blotting papers, Garnier Moisture Rescue gel creme (feels so cool on hot, dry skin) CLENSE: Lancome Bi-Facil eye makeup remover, Shu Uemura skin purifier oil cleanser, rose water toner. LIPS: Mission Skincare SPF 15 lip balm (have been using this everyday, a new minty favorite), MAC Dazzleglass. SCENT: D. L. & Co. Timeless Pocket watch solid perfume in Yuzu Flower. HAIR: Macadamia healing oil treatment.

Makeup bag: Hold Me
Dress: vintage


For those who live in and love hot climates, do you have any beauty staples? Would love to hear them!

Image: mam for Gave That

DIY Tea Bags

— DIY Gift Idea —

In a previous post Spa in a Box there were little DIY bath teas included. These are very simple to create using either a pretty organza reusable pouch or of all things coffee filters. Cutting each coffee filter into a circle and crimping (with a stapleless stapler) or sewing them together with pretty thread, each is then filled with a muesli of things from around the home and garden.

This same coffee filter method also works for making your own tea bags filled with loose tea blends for sipping and soothing green tea beauty blends to use over ones eyes.

These particular ones here have a blend of rose petals, dried hibiscus flowers, oatmeal and green tea. Other favorites to stuff inside are chamomile, rice, dried milk powder, chunks of dried aloe vera and dried orange peel. Dropped into hot running bath water they're decadently aromatic and really soothing. Especially the oat meal and aloe vera for recent sunburns from marathon flea marketing.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• Paper coffee filters

• Scissors

• A stapleless stapler (mine is vintage for a modern version see this one by Kokuyo Harinacs) or a spool of thread and a needle

• Herbs, dried fruit peels & or flowers

• Decorative scissors (optional)

HOW TO (see the video):
Using your scissors (here I've used decorative ones) cut the bottom circle from each coffee filter. You will need 2 for each finished bath tea sachet. Place both coffee filter circles together and either sew or crimp half way around. Fill the pocket inside with your choice of aromatics &/or teas. Sew or crimp the opening closed. The edge can be further decorated with decorative scissors as pictured above. Stack and wrap with a pretty ribbon or place in a wide mouthed glass jar decorated with dried flowers. A sweet favor!


More tea gift ideas...

Prim bath salts & DIY tea cup candles.

Image: mam for Gave That | VIDEO: Magda & mam for Gave That

Sea Glass

A menagerie of DIY sea shell topped glass bottles.

Adding colored sea glass or semi precious stones to gift bottles of bath oils, floral waters and diffusers.


A vintage lucite gift box adorned with sea shells.


This is a little collection of sea shell topped glass bottles that have some fun plans in the very near future... until then for more gift wrap looks please see my gift wrap design inspiration area here

Image: mam for Gave That

Map Quest

Inspiration for this comes from an Alviero Martini bag that haunts me to this day... why oh why did I ever give you up!? Youth! To create the above wax seal in a super easy way see my previous post here and for more gift wrap looks please see my gift wrap design inspiration area here.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and for those who are, happy travels to you!

Image: mam for Gave That

Spa in a Box

The First Edition

(clockwise) NARS bath salts, Bach Rescue Remedy, Dr. Hunters Rosewater & Glycerine hand cream, DayNa Decker candle which has the ability to cancel all noise outside the bath, Burt's Bees Radiance body lotion with Royal Jelly.

The Second Edition

(clockwise) Red Flower soap, Archipelago travel candle, DIY Rose Water tonic, DIY bath salts, DIY Bath Sachet with a blend of dried hibiscus, oatmeal and green tea inside.

Pour Homme

(clockwise) Shaving Cream brush from One Kings Lane , Provence Sante Verlaine after shave, anything Molton Brown! here - coco de mer which is a creamy soapy scent, Mission Foot Rehab cream, Nippon Kodo Bamboo ka-fuh incense.

For how I wrapped my above spa box please see my previous post here with materials used and steps (it's easy!). You can also find more favorite's in my Beauty & Scents area of the blog.

Image: mam for Gave That

Tea Ceremonies

One thing about tea ceremonies that becomes very apparent is how much they are about giving. How much they are directed at ones guests and about almost stopping time in order to enjoy the company of one another to the full. Recently food and tea historian Judith Krall-Russo invited everyone to experience traditional tea ceremonies of Japan and Taiwan, known as chanoyu and gong fu cha.

What she expressed so beautifully was that all the smelling of each teas aroma, cooing over it, multiple cups and sipping, really forces a gathering of friends to be fully in the moment. In the Japanese ceremony chanoyu this is the philosophy of Ichigo Ichi-e which means for this time only and one chance in a lifetime. Each gathering is unique and may never happen again with the same people so make it count!

Little Japanese sweets (rice cookies) which are served prior to the matcha (tea).

An absolutely tiny Taiwanese travel gong fu cha set and the very floral Alishan Oolong tea leaves that were served.

Some matcha I was inspired to make at home.

Memo to myself... find one or two of those travel gong fu cha sets ASAP. Thank you Ms. Krall-Russo for such a lovely, inspiring evening!

Image: mam for Gave That

pureDKNY & Simple

Have you ever had certain things haunt you? Perfume always seems haunting in general but here is one of mine for the longest time. It was last Christmas that I had a chance to have a bottle of this yet there was very little about it at the time so I choose something else. The "it" being pureDKNY. A few weeks later I was kicking myself because the concept is an incredible initiative and something I would love to see become more popular.

pureDKNY is one of the few new perfumes to use environmentally sustainable ingredients that are natural as opposed to synthetic. The other side of the story is that it supports women owned vanilla cooperative farms and processing in Uganda Africa through CARE.

It's now my high heat summer staple. Everyday hovers around 95 degrees and this adds something incredibly light and squeaky clean, in a Chloé floral sort of way, to the air around you. On your skin it hugs close and smells of soft musk, the earthy vanilla, Sandalwood and definitely lotus flowers. Happy days!

Image: mam for Gave That

A Star is Born

Rustic hemp twine, DIY silver glittery stars and recycled newspaper used as gift wrap.

For more gift wrap looks please see my gift wrap design inspiration area here.

Image: mam for Gave That

Something Different

These are a few centerpieces from over the weekend that were brought to a few garden parties... a waterlily floated in a shallow dish of water and a sea shell filled with succulents and sea glass (hearkening back to this one from last year).

Wishing everyone an amazing weekend!

Image: mam for Gave That