40th Birthday ideas needed.

[kelleigh1]

Here's the background.

My sister is going to be 40 next week.

My brother-in-law is in the military and was just shipped off yesterday for the next 4-5 months, so he's not going to be there for her 40th birthday.

I live in MA and she is in IL, so visiting/bringing gift is out of the question. (And I'm visiting at the end of May anyway.) Delivery is necessary.

I am looking for a really great gift idea that I can have delivered for her birthday that won't break the bank. My husband is out of work and she would kill me if I spent too much anyway. So I'm looking at something for under $50.

I wanted Edible Arrangements, but they don't really have anything in my budget.

I also looked at stuff that would remind her of home (Massachusetts), but didn't find anything that had the right "WOW factor".

So, I'm open to suggestions.

 

[koolaidmoms]

How about special things that remind you of when you were kids? Were there any candies - those edible necklaces or bracelets, sixlets, lick-a-sticks or pixie sticks; small toys or games - cards, yoyos, crayons, movies, dominoes that you used to play or watch together? We did a 40th birthday party that was all the foods from childhood for a friend and they loved it. I would package it all up in a box with confetti, and tons of bright colored paper.

Sometimes if you call a local florist in your sister's town they can do a fruit basket or flower arrangement far cheaper than any national chain because you are cutting out the middle man.

I hope these ideas help some and your sister has a great birthday.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

How about creating a book of memories? Stories from when you were little, copies of pictures from them? Maybe the end of the book could have picture of her and her DH.

For each of my sisters 40th birthdays, 6 months before I start one and put what I want in it first and then mail it to another relative who does their part and sends it to another relative and so on until it alot of us have signed it and added something, then the last person mails it to the birthday girl.

I also enclosed a list of who needed to get it and their addresses so when you got it, you could cross out your name and send it to someone who hasn't seen it yet along with the date it needs to go to the birthday girl.

I think my favorite was when my Uncle got it last and also put in a package of depends when he sent it to the birthday girl. We set up a video stream on that birthday so I got to see the look on her face when she opened that gift and it was priceless!

You probably don't have time for something quite that elaborate but you could put something fun and small with it.

 

[tripletots]

When I turned 40 my husband had all the kids and himself each write 40 special, silly, fun, magical moments on separate pieces of paper that were then folded in thirds. I have a lot of sheets of paper, but each and every one have a wonderful memory on it. They each used their own manila envelope. It's the best birthday present ever! Most of the one's from my kids started out with Remember when.......

This is an extremely inexpensive gift, but I'm sure it's one she would treasure forever. You could even do it on pretty paper or include a photo with the memory if you have one. My kids and DH just did it on plain white paper with no photos (but the younger ones did drawings).