It is always the small, meaningful little presents that make me happiest. That goes for giving as well as receiving. Thoughtful little treats are not about impressing someone; they are not about showing how much you are willing to spend on them… they are worth so much more than that and tend to come at the perfect time. I am sure it is also lovely to get expensive gifts from people you love, but the meaningful little attentions are always the ones that make me think I am lucky to have the friends I have. A little teapot when I was thinking of putting up a new kitchen shelf, nice bowls, a silver fork and spoon, a pack of sweets, cute homemade Christmas decorations, drawings from the children, a new notebook, my favourite shower gel from France, some pretty fabric, a piece of cake in a nice tin with the recipe attached to it… these have all been given to me recently, some of them to cheer me up after a rubbish day, others for no reason.
One of the best presents I have ever been given was for my birthday two or three years ago. It was cake mix. Not only was it layered in a pretty way in a jar, but it was also “instant cake” to which I only had to add eggs and oil, for a day I fancied cake but did not have the time (or the will) to make one from scratch. It looked so lovely I displayed it in my kitchen for a few weeks and it ended up being a well-deserved treat at the end of a long working day. Even though the cake was not the best in the world, I really enjoyed it. I just loved the idea and have been thinking of making something similar ever since. One day, one day…
A few weeks ago, I decided to put together one such meaningful little present for a friend and for my children’s teachers, and as I stumbled upon cupcake cases in a shop, I remembered seeing on Pinterest a fun way to arrange them. I thought it would go well with a cupcake recipe and a jar of vanilla sugar. So I bought some Hummingbird bakery recipe cards, replaced vanilla essence with vanilla sugar on their recipe cards, layered the cupcake cases in jars saved by my lovely father-in-law, used jam jars for the vanilla sugar and my little presents were ready!
How do you spread a little happiness around you?
That is such a lovely gift idea. And I think you’re right, these thoughtful gifts at just the right times can make you so very happy. Thanks for joining in with #SpreadALittleHappiness
Thanks for organising it! What a fab idea! I have really enjoyed writing this post and reading about everyone’s happy thoughts and anecdotes. Mel
Love this idea – I’m a big baker myself so have all the cupcake cases all over the place! Love the idea of thoughtful gifts too. Someone once gave me a small bar of Dairy Milk just because she thought I needed cheering up – and I’ve never forgotten it! It’s true that it’s the thought that counts 🙂
Thanks, Steph! It is funny how you remember these little attentions, isn’t it? Mel
Gorgeous post and have seen those pretty layered cake mixes, would love one myself! Lovely post x
Thanks Vicky. As soon as I manage to make cake that would look nice as “dry layers”, I will share it! x Mel
A lovely present!
Thanks!
What a pretty present!
Thanks Erica!
My most special present is a box my son made that had a poem saying that his love was inside. Your present sounds great too.
How sweet! Our children just give the best presents! Mel
What a lovely gift.
Thanks Julie. x Mel
Simply beautiful xx
Thanks!
Beautiful idea! I’ve seen it on Pinterest… and never done it 😉
You asked how do we like to spread a little happiness around… I love tying a little bag of cupcakes to our neighbours door whenever we’ve baked a batch …I think they know it’s us!! Haha… you never know! But it doesn’t matter because it’s not the point 😉
Absolutely brilliant! I love the fact it is anonymous. It makes the whole thing mysterious and heart-warming… definitely a great way of spreading happiness! x Mel
What a lovely idea, and such a nice change from giving a box of chocolates. xx
Thanks Karen. Just like you would store a couple of boxes of chocolates just in case, you can have a couple of those little babies ready to brighten someone’s day! x Mel
What a creative and lovely gift. So very thoughtful to whom ever made it for you. I love it. Can’t beat instant cake. Although I would have had a hard time it just sitting there. I am too greedy. hahaa Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me. I love your posts each week. So lovely. #sharewithme
I did want to make it straight away to be fair, but it was so pretty I also wanted to keep it! x Mel
Pretty pics, I love things like this. I so often want to make gifts for people so would love to make more time for it this year
It does take time, but it is so nice when you get something someone has put a lot of thought into. Mel
Would want to receive one of those! Great idea =) #sharewithme
Thanks Merlinda!
Ooh now I love that as a way of keeping / giving cup cake cases….!
Thanks lovely. The friends I gave them to really loved their little present (I think).