Breakfast in bed is a wonderful way of telling someone that he or she is special. Certainly breakfast in bed is appropriate on Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day or his or her birthday but it’s also a way to make any day special.

Don’t forget birthdays and anniversaries. And complete surprises are always nice. Consider it often. Get the kids involved and make Mother’s Day or Father’s Day a family day—the kids will have as much fun as mom or dad.

Breakfast in bed doesn’t have to be elaborate; it’s the thought that counts the most. But these tips will add a touch to make the day more memorable and make the event go a little smoother.

• If it’s your wife’s birthday and you’re a complete klutz in the kitchen, don’t despair. Call one of her favorite restaurants and choose her favorite from the menu. Sneak out and get it and lovingly present it just as if you had slaved away in the kitchen.
• If it’s Mother’s Day and fixing breakfast with the kids seems like something out of a Stephen King movie, you need to buckle up your courage—and make a trip to McDonalds. Serve Mom in bed and spread a blanket on the floor for a kiddie picnic.
• Avoid the crumbs. If you don’t have a proper tray, improvise and spread a tablecloth over the bed as a crumb catcher.
• Layer on the extra touches. Use the best china and silverware. Present the meal with a linen napkin. Put a chocolate, a cookie, or a small bowl of candies on the tray.
• Add a special love note, poem, or scripture. If the kids are involved, have them make special “I love you cards” all colored and reflecting their own creativity.
• Try adding a special gift even if it’s not his or her birthday—maybe toiletries or something relating to an interest or hobby.
• Add a single rose or flower to the tray.
• Bring the newspaper or include his or her favorite magazine. If you have a TV in the bedroom, tape the program that your spouse never seems to have time to watch and play it during breakfast or better yet, while you are doing the cleanup.
• Cater to her or his special interests and appetites. If he is a fisherman, stop by the tackle shop and pick up a fishing fly or gadget. (Yep, those guys in the fly shop will help you make the selection.) For her, if she collects elephants, stop by the gift shop and pick up a small ceramic elephant to adorn the tray.
• Save time in the morning by using a mix or premixing whatever you can the night before. Most muffin batters can be mixed the night before and stored in the refrigerator.
• Don’t forget the cleanup. A dirty kitchen spoils the effect of a thoughtful meal in bed.

What to Serve: 12 Easy Ideas

Here are a dozen quick and easy ideas to make the breakfast in bed occasion a little easier.

1. Pancakes are always easy—especially with a mix. You can make them special with a topping or by adding something as a filling. Cranberries, nuts, applesauce, or chocolate chips are popular considerations.
2. French toast is always easy. Add a little extra cinnamon or nutmeg and maybe some vanilla extract or orange flavoring.
3. Scrambled eggs can be quick and easy. Make it special with bacon bits and cheddar, or sausage, or sautéed vegetables. Nearly anything that you can do to an omelet, you can do to scrambled eggs.
4. Strawberries and cream make for an elegant but easy breakfast dish.
5. You can make a bowl of old-fashioned oatmeal in the microwave. Add dried cherries, pineapple, or nuts to make the cereal special.
6. Pick a granola that he or she likes and serve it as a cereal.
7. Cut fresh fruit and present it in an attractive bowl or on a platter.
8. Pick up hot bagels and different flavors of cream cheese.
9. Make muffins from a mix.
10. Try broiling a grapefruit half topped with a sprinkling of brown sugar.
11. Consider a fruit smoothie. Use your blender and his or her favorite fruit–fresh or frozen–along with a scoop of ice cream and a little extract.
12. When all else fails, pick up a coffee cake or a pastry from the bakery. Better yet, use a mix and make it yourself.