Choosing the Perfect 50th Anniversary Gift

Archive for the ‘Gifts’ Category

Choosing the Perfect 50th Anniversary Gift

Monday, September 18th, 2006

Several months ago, I opened up my mailbox and sighed. Holding in my hand was an invitation to my best friend’s parents’ 50th wedding anniversary party. I have known my best friend and her family for almost 30 years, so I am very close to all of them. There is no way I would miss such an important occasion, but yet, the idea of shopping for a 50th anniversary gift didn’t thrill me. I’m not a fan of shopping for presents like that. This is a very special milestone for them, I knew that I couldn’t just get them a generic present. I gave my RSVP with absolutely not a clue what would be appropriate 50th anniversary gift for such a wonderful couple.

I hit the mall in search of something unique. Other than the usual picture frames and candles, I came up with nothing. I mean, what do you get as a 50th anniversary gift for a couple who practically has everything? I didn’t want to buy them a gift that you can buy for anyone at anytime. I wanted something meaningful and special. That was easier said than done.

Finally, after some advice from co-workers, I came across a website that just thrilled me. The site www.seniorstore.com had a huge selection of ideas that cater to 50th anniversary gifts or any occasion presents for seniors. There were some really unique presents that I put some serious thought into. There were beautiful poems, books from the year of their marriage, photo albums, and even a gift basket with a collection of items from the year of their marriage. To me, a personalized basket was such a wonderful idea. It had some wonderful memorabilia in it and for only $100, it was the perfect 50th anniversary gift! I was very proud for having found it.

The party was very emotional and tons of fun. They got some wonderful gifts, but I was absolutely thrilled when their eyes lit up upon opening my gift basket. I knew that that the gifts inside the basket would bring help them bring back some past memories and possibly create some new ones as well. My best friend told me that she’d had a really hard time trying to come up with a special 50th anniversary gift for them, and was envious of the present I’d purchased. I told her about having found the site and some of the other ideas that I’d gotten from looking over their offerings. All you need is some creativity and not only can you find the perfect 50th anniversary gift, but you can create some presents that will be appreciated for any occasion. My parents have a few more years before their milestone, and I bet I know where I’ll be purchasing their 50th anniversary gift as well.

Posted in Gifts, Others, Party, Personal, Special Events, Wedding Anniversary | No Comments »

Original Wedding Anniversary Presents

Friday, August 18th, 2006

Wedding anniversaries are a time to let your partner know that they are special. It’s a chance to show your romantic side. They only come around once a year and heaven forbid that you forget one!

Some people like to be traditional and follow the set rules for anniversary presents, from paper for the first anniversary to diamonds for the sixtieth. It’s a long time to wait for diamonds. It would be an achievement to follow the anniversary presents list every single year. You may want to use your own imagination and knowledge of your partner, perhaps honoring the crystal, silver, pearl, ruby, gold, and diamonds for the landmark years.

The anniversary doesn’t have to be celebrated by anything tangible. Anniversary presents could include a special outing or experience. Perhaps you could organize a trip in a hot air balloon or a hang gliding lesson. You could put together your own romantic day, with a champagne picnic in a row boat on the river. That will probably be treasured more than expensive earrings or cuff links.

If you don’t want to organize something yourself, you can buy anniversary presents in the form of experience days, where the whole day is set up and you just enjoy. There’s everything from swimming with sharks (divorce is less dangerous), to a day in a health spa. If it’s difficult to decide on something you both like, you could take it in turns to choose.

There are some presents that can’t be gift wrapped but make a wonderful statement. Anniversary presents just need a bit of lateral thinking. A tree can be planted in your partner’s name, maybe in a place that means a lot to both of you. You could go beyond earth and name a star for your beloved. That star will carry that name forever and there will be a certificate of registration, so no one can take the name away. When you promised them the moon and the stars, you sort of did it! While you’re at it, you could have a favorite song played on the radio.

If you do want something that your partner can open and you can see the delight in their eyes when they unwrap their anniversary presents, you could buy a piece of original art. Make sure it’s to their taste and not just yours. A painting, a sculpture, or an antique that your partner has mentioned or hinted at! Why not compose your own poem. Romantic anniversary presents don’t come more personal than that. If your talents don’t lie in that direction, buy a book of love poems to be on the safe side. You can always rely on Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Posted in Family, Gifts, Living Together, Marriage, Personal, Special Events, Wedding Anniversary | No Comments »

Outrageous Bachelorette Gifts Ideas

Friday, July 7th, 2006

If you have ever been to a bachelorette party, you know what goes on! This should be the time when you have absolutely the best fun before the big day arrives. Sure the wedding shower, rehearsal dinner, and all that shopping is fun too, but nothing competes with the bachelorette party and all those crazy bizarre bachelorette gifts. Everything from wild lingerie to sex toys is totally acceptable; if you don’t bring something a little outrageous you will be viewed as frigid and cast away from the party in disgrace! I’m just kidding of course, but this is a time for the bride to be to relish in all those outrageous bachelorette gifts that she can use in her transition as a married woman!

If you are going to be the hostess, you get to have fun first by checking out all the great party supplies available online. You can get help planning your party by checking out various websites like www.bachelorettesuperstore.com or www.bachelorette.com for all your party needs. Lots of different naughty themes to choose from, which are available separately or in party packs containing invitations, envelopes, paper plates, and napkins. These are all essential bachelorette party supplies and the naughtier the better. Don’t forget the naughty games like the classic pin the tail on the fireman, or party favors like Dicklets’ or other penis shaped items. If you are attending the shower, you can shop online for great bachelorette gifts like blow up dolls, novelty items, honeymooner survival kits, fundies, hand cuffs, sex toys, and just about anything else you can think of. Just make sure your gift is all in fun and good natured; it doesn’t have to be in good taste, just sexy and humorous.

Since alcohol is usually associated with bachelorette parties, a bar or lounge is not a bad place to have the party. If there is a private party room available, you have a variety of options. The most popular of course is to invite a male stripper to approach and seduce the unsuspecting bachelorette and embarrass her to death in front of her friends and family (who may be embarrassed too!). The bachelorette must endure this before she can proceed with opening the bachelorette gifts. There is an unwritten rule about bachelorette parties having to be naughty enough to keep the bachelorette and all the guests laughing the rest of the night with all those nasty dirty fun little bachelorette gifts!

Do not hold anything back. Have fund, be outrageous and go crazy! Bachelorette party is the time to get really wild.

Posted in Engagement, Family, For the Wedding, Gifts, Others, Party, Personal, Special Events | No Comments »

Save the Date Announcements for Special Events

Sunday, June 25th, 2006

Save the date announcements are a great vehicle for informing friends and family about a special occasion that you would like them to share with you. Many of your potential guests will find the information useful if they have it in advance. The save the date announcements help your future guests to make plans for your event. They also help you make plans for your special event as well.

Part of the difficulty in organizing a special event is deciding on a time and a place for the occasion. The save the date announcements can be prepared weeks or even months in advance. This will help you solidify your time and place and this will help your guests organize their time around your party.

Some guests really appreciate having a lot of notice in advance before attending a party or special event. Many of your guests may have to travel some distance to attend your ceremony. These attendants benefit from knowing the details about the occasion months ahead of time. They can purchase airline tickets at lower rates or make sufficient sleeping arrangements with relatives or friends. Both of these will save them money. You can include phone numbers of hotels and links to flight scheduling sites in your save the date announcements.

Now that you have your date, time and place for your occasion, you can concentrate on a theme for the event. Many of the people attending the party may be very impressed if you use the save the date announcements to introduce the theme. For example, you may want to throw a summer luau. You may find Hawaiian-themed cards to send to your guests.

The theme can be carried over right into the luau if you plan ahead. You can use the response cards from the announcements to make seating arrangements at the party. Save the response cards and place them on the table where each guest will be seated. The cards will help you keep track of the number of guests and they will help your organize seating arrangement.

Having a theme in mind before sending the save the date announcements will help you stay organized enough to float through the nerve-racking planning stages. You may also include a list of activities that you are planning right in your announcements. This helps your future guests decide what to wear and it gives them some insight to the general mood of your special day.

Posted in Engagement, Family, For the Wedding, Gifts, Marriage, Others, Party, Personal, Special Events, Wedding Anniversary | No Comments »

Do You Need a Birthday Party Checklist

Friday, June 23rd, 2006

Birthday parties are an exciting occasion for younger and older people alike, but trying to make the day special for a loved one can be stressful. By using a birthday party checklist, you can dramatically cut down on last minute decisions, mistakes, and forgetting important parts of the party.

You can purchase birthday party checklists already made to help you throw a perfect party, or you can make a birthday party checklist yourself. It may sound overwhelming to make the checklist yourself due to fear of forgetting something. But if you begin making the list early and add on things as you remember them it will be much less stressful.

The first thing to think about is the guest list. Who should be invited, and how can you contact them to invite them? Jot down the names of everyone who you feel would want to attend and then choose a method of contacting them. This can be done via telephone, email or traditional invitations you drop in the mail.

Once these details are put into place, you can move on to the actual birthday party planning. The first thing that should be on a birthday party checklist is the food menu you plan to offer for the party.

Will you be barbequing and if so what kind of meat will you cook? Or maybe it’s a simple party where food is not a necessity in which case you will just need to work out the details involving the cake, ice cream, and drinks.

Next on the birthday checklist should be decorations. Balloons, streamers, banners, and signs all need to be thought about, including their color theme. If you know the favorite color of the guest of honor, consider incorporating that into the decorations.

Another thing to add to the birthday party checklist might be what kind of games will be played at the party. Children and adults all like games, so it doesn’t hurt to plan some for any kind of birthday event, no matter the age.

If you plan to have entertainment, put it on the birthday party checklist too. You will want to make sure you have space set up for the entertainer, you have the entertainer booked, and you follow up to confirm the entertainer will show up. Clowns or face paintings are a great form of entertainment, as well as magicians and musicians.

By using the suggestions previously mentioned and coming up with some of your own ideas, you can create a birthday party checklist that when followed, will offer an amazing birthday party experience for anyone, friend or family.

The author of this great article is an event planner. From birthday party for tens of people to major companies’s events involving over a thousand guests.

Posted in Children, Family, Gifts, Living Together, Marriage, Others, Party | No Comments »

Archive for the ‘Gifts’ Category