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See our new Hot Birthday Picks page for the best of new trends and ideas in birthday gifts and gifts for other occasions.
Decorating
and Themes
Giant
props are always fun. For some reason, when things are ten times
bigger than they should be, people laugh.
For
summer fun, fasten beachballs together in groups of three or more
(use wire or tape or whatever), and hang wherever.
Want
to know how to embarrass someone? No, we don't mean like that.
How about a "This Is Your Life" party? Aside from all
the obvious stuff you can do for this, blow up lots of their baby
pictures to hang all over.
Try
a one-color theme. Have the guests show up in the birthday recipient's
favorite (or least favorite) color. Decorate with balloons, streamers
and paper in that color. Serve food and drinks that match the
color scheme.
Does
your friend watch way too much TV? How about a Couch Potato party?
Guests can show up wearing their pajamas or dressed like slobs
(for some, this will be the same outfit). Have televisions scattered
throughout the house (borrow some). Serve junk food all night
(put in your own comment). Give guests pillowcases or TV Guides
to take home.
Have
a limit-the-present-price party. Set a strict, low limit on what
each guest may spend on a gift ($2.98 is a good number). This
is great, inexpensive fun for everyone involved.
Is
your friend unavailable on Sunday afternoons? Or do they know
the ERA of pitchers on teams that are a thousand miles away? They
must be a sports fan. So, make the invitation to the party look
like an admission ticket, have everyone dress like a jock or a
fan, and serve concession food. By the way, it's "buy me
some peanuts and Cracker Jack" not Jacks. Sorry.
We couldn't control ourselves.
Something
we've have lots of fun with is making a topic-specific trivia
game. Go to a place like AbsoluteTrivia.com
"The Totally Trivia Search Engine". Search for information
on your topic of choice (depending on the birthday-er's interests).
Write down the questions and answers, then play on and off throughout
the evening (works best if one or two people control all the asking).
If someone guesses correctly, they keep the card. At the end of
the night, whoever has the most cards gets a small (or large)
prize.
Virtual
Surprise Birthday Party
Take the recipient out for lunch or dinner, then get someone
to sneak back into their place and decorate. Scatter empty pizza
boxes and soda or beer cans around to make it look like a wild
party had taken place. Call a bunch of friends/relatives - use
your phone, not theirs :) - and ask them to leave phone messages
or send email thanking the recipient for a wonderful party (and
congratulating them on their birthday). You can even leave opened
gifts lying around. It'll be fun to see how long it takes your
recipient to figure out what's going on when you bring them home.
This is a great way to surprise someone special without embarrassing
them too much.
Feel
Like a Kid Again
For a 40-50-60 plus birthday, think young. What did your
friend love when they were a kid? Toy cars, cowboys, Barbies?
Ask the guests to dress in theme, decorate as if for a child's
party (including the cake). Play games where guests try and guess
things about your friend's childhood. Oh, and the gifts? Toys,
of course!
Invitations
Write
them on cheap, cork beer coasters.
Create
tiny gift-wrapped packages. Write the info on the outside, or
on a slip of paper inside (you know they'll open it no matter
what).
Here's
an old one that still works. Blow up a balloon. Write the invitation
on it. Deflate the balloon. Mail it. (Ooops! We should have told
you not to tie the end in a knot. Pays to read ahead, doesn't
it?)
Is
the party at the beach? How about an invitation shaped like a
life preserver? Now you can invite the Baywatch gang properly.
Is
this one of the "big" birthdays? If you'll be doing
a lot of walking down memory lane, think about an invitation that
looks like a photo album. Just one piece of paper, folded in half.
Use your imagination.
Make
a Temporary Cooler
- Wash
out empty half-gallon or gallon plastic milk containers. Fill
them about 3/4 full of water, close tightly and freeze.
- Line
bottom of a brown paper grocery bag with several layers of newspaper,
folded up (at least 1" thick).
- Place
two half-gallon or one gallon container of the frozen water
on top of the newspaper in the bag.
- Put
more folded newspaper around all four sides of the bag.Arrange
cold canned drinks and chilled containers full of food in the
bag.
- Fold
over the top of the bag and close it tightly with a stapler.
- Take
the bag to your party. If outdoors, place the bag in a shady
spot. It should keep the contents chilly all day.
- When
the party's over, recycle the components, of course!
Name
tags
Have
them write one interesting thing on their tag (besides their interesting
name). Like "I'm a Merchandiser from Magnolia." Or "I've
been to the Tri-Cities three times."
The
name tag can be in the shape of something to go with a theme.
Like footballs for the sports fan. Toilets for the plumber. Etc.
Drinks
The
Birthday Party
Blend at medium speed 1-1/2 oz. banana liqueur, half a fresh banana,
and 3 scoops vanilla ice cream. Pour into large wine glass or
brandy snifter. Top with sliced banana.
Birthday
Cooler
Pour into mixing glass 1-1/2 oz. gin and 2 oz. Pernod or Ricard.
Stir. Strain into rocks glass filled with cracked ice.
Helpful
Party Links
Kool Karaoke Turn your PC into your own recording studio with Kool Karaoke Studio. Perfect for your next party. Provides hours of hilarious fun for all ages!
Party, Retro & Motion Lighting at discount prices!
Check out their awesome retro, motion and party lighting. They will illuminate your space and amaze your friends.
On-This-Day Find out all the good (and bad) things that happened
the day the party guy (or gal) was born, then bring it up at an
inappropriate time during the party.
Anagram
Genius Server Rearranging the letters of 'Madonna Louise Ciccone'
gives 'Occasional nude income'?! Find out for FREE what is hidden
within YOUR name (or your birthday celebrant's)! Make a list of
people coming to the party and their anagrams. We love this stuff!
Best Recipes from the world's greatest home cooks.
USAOPOLY
Specialized Monopoly games. How about Astronomy Monopoly, where
you buy, sell and trade comets, planets, star clusters, and even
galaxies? Other Monopoly versions available include Chicago, Las
Vegas, golf, NHL, Star Trek and Scooby Doo!
 Games and puzzles. Fast-loading, easy-to-navigate
site with a "jaw-dropping selection" (we're still sore).
Book
Recommendations
Games
for Parties
52
Fun Party Activities for Grown-Ups
Great
Party Games for Grown-Ups
50
Of the Finest Adult Party Games
Games
People Play: The Biggest and Best Book on Party Games and Activities
Outrageous
Party Games
Great
Games for Great Parties: How to Throw a Perfect Party
Ideas, Themes, Planning, Food & Drink for Parties
Party!
Food: Essential Guide to Menus, Drinks and Planning
Great
Parties: The Best of Martha Stewart Living: Recipes, Menus and
Ideas for Perfect Gatherings
Party
Fare: Irresistible Nibbles for Every Occasion
Modern
Parties
The
Barefoot Contessa Cookbook: Secrets from the East Hampton Specialty
Food Store for Simple Food and Party Platters You Can Make at
Home
Absolutely
Unforgettable Parties: Great Ideas for Party People
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