Breakfast in Bed

Thinking back to some of my fondest childhood memories, so many involved the excitement of having guests over (especially Grandma!) and surprising them with breakfast in bed. We'd all huddle around, usually on the weekends, and watch old TV shows and movies together. Just doing it for someone was such a treat in itself. Of course there's Mother's Day, Christmas and times when we're feeling under the weather or trying to recover from something. All can use a little special treatment which made me think about the how-to's of putting together a classic breakfast tray.



On mine, Red Velvet Belgium waffles... for the recipe click here.



These PlateTopper's work so perfectly to keep everything warm or from spilling over as you bring it up.

Setting a classic breakfast tray...

A lot will have to do with what's being served (eggs and bacon would probably have toast and jam in place of the orange and some salt and pepper too) but here's a pretty classic set up that's easy to handle: (clockwise from the top) A piece of fruit, sugar or tea or coffee, tea pot, glass of fresh juice, cup and saucer, knife, main meal dish, PlateTopper on top to keep it all warm, napkin and fork. Adding a place mat underneath really does help things from slipping around as the tray gets jostled and a book or newspaper is really nice as well.

Image: mam for Gave That

The Mad Plaider

A new weekend flea / farmer's market companion the pumpkin color and Mad Plaider print makes for one spot on tote bag from Scout. Even better the bottom is surprisingly stiff making it sit great on the back of my bike's book rack. Major treat!

Bag: c/o Scout by Bungalow

Image: mam for Gave That

One Mother to Another

These sweet recycled paper birds (see them on the Christmas trees here) and garlands are by Children Inspire Design's One Mother to Another project. Founder Rebecca Peragine created a partnership with PEACE to create handmade gifts by women supporting their families and communities in Mexico, Chile and Haiti. These would be perfect as reusable gift wrap embellishments or left as keepsakes on each guests plate at a baby shower. See the entire collection here.

PEACE Recycled Bird Ornaments c/o Children Inspire Design

Image: mam for Gave That | Children Inspire Design

Rose Hip's

Picked these for paper cuts...

Poking around the garden yesterday I found a few bright red rose hips once again. Before these went into tea blending but this time it seemed a better idea to soak them in Jojoba oil for use throughout the winter. Especially on all those paper cuts coming my way soon. Rose hips are filled with vitamin C and do wounder to heel the skin. For a quick DIY version the hips are slightly crushed and gently heated in the oil then bottled up and left to sit a week or two in a cool, dark place. Then it's popped in the refrigerator.




Image: mam for Gave That

Weaving Magazine Pages

Did a little shopping with some of my favorite ladies and came across these cool mirrors, stacking baskets and boxes created out of recycled magazine pages. Something similar can be found here. Hope so much you're having a lovely weekend too and see you next week!

Image: mam for Gave That

The PlateTopper

These are so good it's hard to even know where to start! A few days ago Michael Tseng contacted me about a project design he's been working on for the past 6 years... the PlateTopper. Recently launching on the site Kickstarter one look said these could solve so many common problems (ditched food en route to the pot luck was the first thought) and makes for one of the most welcome hostess gifts I've come across in some time.

While these look similar to classic plate covers what makes PlateTopper's so universal and different is the large ring around the base. Pushing the lid down created a firm suction on almost any surface I tried it on and helped prevent things from either cooling off too quickly or spilling over. Look for these to pop up a lot here as they're put through their paces!

PlateTopper c/o Michael Tseng (Thank you so very much!)


Image: mam for Gave That

Cool Skin Essentials

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.

-George Eliot

You tell it George. If only my skin was as wedded to autumn as my soul. Unfortunately that's never been the case. For years finding the perfect antidote to allow all the fun this season has to offer has been pretty hit or miss. Especially when ones skin is sensitive to fragrances on top of being dry. Add to that, things being discontinued, and it's easy to feel a bit lost. This year has been a little different because there seems to be more of an actual transitioning instead of a painful fight. This in itself is my idea of a major gift worth sharing.

One all time hit has always been good old rose water which has made numerous appearances here on the blog because it really is soothing and works. Along with the toner, a tiny bottle of pure Bulgarian rose essential oil or an infusion of rose hips in Jojoba is a Godsend. Especially on cuticles and dabbed on cheeks. Another favorite rose item is Boot's Rose Vanishing Day Cream which actually gets slathered on at night.

More recently I've been testing a few new products and have decided to add them to the permanent collection because they're really lovely and specifically made for sensitive skin. A good sunblock is always a must but finding one that does not cause a reaction is really hard, this one by Dr. Lewinn (Kinerase) called Wrinkle Repair Daily Cream SPF 30 is fantastic. I probably wouldn't use it in the summer but right now it's perfect and makes my skin very dewy and plumped up. Another day cream that gets pulled out at night is Burt's Bees Sensitive daily moisturizer. It absorbs pretty quick (not as quickly as the vanishing cream) but still feels substantial enough to do some decent repair. Also in the evening it feels good to rub on a cream cleanser and the Sensitive line one with cotton from Burt's Bees is the closest I've found to old time cold cream without the mineral oils or petroleum. It does a really nice job of melting off makeup too.



MOR's soaps, an all time favorite that smells as good as it feels... which is really creamy and soft.



Another staple, Clarisonic's pink Mia gets off all the dead skin and leaves a smooth canvas for creams and serums to sink in deep. It get's brought out about once a week.


This Shea cream by L'Occitane replaces my used up Dr. Hunters Rosewater & Glycerine, something about hand creams in paint tubes makes them actually get reached for. While Dr. Hunters' was perfect for summer this is an absolute cold weather version, thick and rich with the strong scent of flower gardens and fresh bouquets. As a side note L'Occitane also creates hand creams and other solidarity versions to benefit NGO ORBIS International. An org fighting blindness in Africa where the Shea comes from. For the body Burt's Bees Radiance body lotion is still holding its own.

Burt's Bees Sensitive line and Dr. Lewinn by Kinerase c/o BzzAgent
Hand cream c/o L'Occitane en Provence


Image: mam for Gave That

The Man Bag

Some of the most beautiful bags, especially totes, are created for men. This one I guess isn't but it looks as if it could have been which caused a few clicks. It was here in a couple of days. ShopBop is unparalleled for instant gratification.

Bag: Rebecca Minkoff exclusive for ShopBop
Top: Urban Behavior
Jeans: Earnest Sewn
Shoes: Sperry Top-Sider

Image: Magda for Gave That

New Delhi Bangles

Instant heirlooms straight from New Delhi. The inside metal work holding the stones in place is almost as beautiful and intricate as the outside. Love it!

Bracelets: Exclusively In


Image: mam for Gave That

DIY Prim Sewing Kit

- DIY Gift Idea -
This little DIY sewing kit gift was inspired by the Mason Jar one Anthropologie is carrying here. It was really, really a snap to put together!

What You Will Need:
{The quick way would be a classic travel sewing kit and a pin cushion 2 & 1/2 inches wide + a pint sized mason jar. Mine was created from vintage items from around the house.}

- Pint sized glass Mason jars with screw on lids (center removed)
- Round pin cushion 2 & 1/2 inches wide which commonly slips on your wrist. Or one can be handmade to fit.
- Spools of thread.
- A needle threader.
- Measuring tape.
- Little case for safety and straight pins.
- Needles.
- Small scissors.
- Buttons.
- Ribbon or twine embellishment around the neck.



How To: (Watch the video above)

Everything goes inside and a tag attached. On mine the straight pins were left stuck in the pin cushion on top but if tiny hands are about they're better off housed inside.


For more DIY gift wrap looks be sure to see my gift wrap inspiration area of the blog right here.

Image: mam for Gave That

Autumn Gift Wrapping

For how to create each of the Autumn inspired packages above, using burlap, silk and vintage napkins see this little video below.



For more DIY gift wrap looks see my gift wrap inspiration area of the blog here.

Image: mam for Gave That | Video" Magda & mam for Gave That

Secret Simple Perfume

Every year, as the seasons change and become cooler, there is a mad dash to find a deep, comforting fragrance to go along with it. Then, every year the little blend of jasmine and cardamom essential oils end up rediscovered in some forgotten corner and the search is over (well sort of). This made me think how overlooked pure essential oils can be and what a wise investment they have been over the years. In addition to being useful for loads of DIY gift projects they can be a simple signature fragrance.

Aromatherapy usually conjures up something very medicinal but there are a whole host of essential oils that make me push aside some pretty decent perfumes, especially when the oil is of superb quality (nothing beats the real thing!). Some of the blends out there are amazing as well (Jurlique, Tisserand, some Bath & Body Works) but it's surprising how complex a single note can be. So here are a few favorites:

Rose - The queen of the flowers. The finer the grade of essential oil the more incredible it can be and the range is vast. Some rose oils are full bodied and fruity almost in a wine sort of way and others are very light, high pitched and tea rose-ish.

Ylang Ylang - The most often quoted as an aphrodisiac this one seems to be either and instant love or hate. For me it's absolute love... it's warm, incredibly sweet but has an undercurrent of something nearing over ripening. Alone it's thoroughly unique and loud.

Almond - This not surprisingly smells absolutely delicious and is one of the more inexpensive essential oils out there. It smells of almond cookies and amaretto (the basis of Burberry Brit) but can also have a little pithy green to it too.

Vanilla - Another gourmand scent which is so good on its own. Unfortunately it can stain because it's very dark brown in color but the natural Lavanila perfume line smells identical without that being a problem.

Jasmine absolute - It lasts for ages because it's so potent but sweet, clean and mysterious plus it's said to aid in so many conditions including, of all things, disappointment. In the winter it's so comforting in candles and blended with cardamom into thick creams.

Labdanum and Benzoin - These are more of a gum compared to an essential oil and are very thick as honey and molasses and just as rich and decadent. They form the basis of many colognes but to me are absolutely unisex, especially alone in Aromatherapy form. Woody, sweet, leathery, melodic, they remind you of incense but not as blatant as frankincense and myrrh (more favorites but those are more lemony and lighter).

Next, how to create your own signature fragrance!

Image: mam for Gave That

Petite Picnic

A favorite vintage find being pressed into service. Hope everyone had a lovely holiday weekend!


Image: mam for Gave That

DIY Decanter Bottle Labels

- DIY Gift Idea -
Something gleaned from a steady diet of old films... silver trays topped with crystal decanter bottles always look so pretty, even when empty and especially on top of guest room dressers. After finding a few vintage decanter bottle tags months ago the search was on for how to make a few more. Then it dawned on me the embellishments used on these DIY floral oils would also work just dandy.

Really simple, all you need are some miniature picture frames (the scrapbooking section is plum for these), long enough chain (8 inches works great) and some golden parchment paper. These were printed out but one could only imagine how special calligraphy by hand would make these.


Image: mam for Gave That

Pumpkin Spice Coffee Break

Playing around with pumpkins and this seemed the perfect thing to serve everyone during a break... limited edition Pumpkin Spice coffee. It happens to also be one of the few fair trade coffees out there too so I was really pleased to give this a try today. The smell alone made it worth brewing but the almost creamy, pumpkin pie flavor was the real treat. Pure Autumn heaven swirling with milk and sugar in a cup!


Stocking up to dole out during Christmas? You bet!

Fair trade coffee: Green Mountain Coffee c/o Bzzagent
Cups & saucers: Jason Miller Seconds

Image: mam for Gave That

Aw, Shucks!

As always thank you so much J. for hooking everyone up with these guys. You're the best!

Boots: Hunter Lady N
Wine Bag: Vintage Britt coffee bag (oh, if only I could find dozens of these!)
Oyster knives: Pradel + Jean Dubost


Image: mam for Gave That