Suggestions for surprise b'day party

[DuneAHH]

My son and daughter-in-law suggested a pinata. I can see a 80 year old woman swinging at and breaking a pinata. My daughter in law said my father could use his cane or let my mom use his cane to break it. I think she is a little old to handle that. But I get a very funny visual of her trying to break a pinata or of my father using his cane to swing at and break the pinata for her.

I hate pinatas. I had a "Kid Themed" 40th Birthday pool party for someone once and had thought a pinata would be a fun idea....NOT!!
We literally had to beat the everlivin' crap out of that thing with a baseball bat to finally get it to bust....and then...
IT and IT'S CRUDDY LITTLE STUFFING rocketed everywhere...allover the patio ... in the pool ... on top of the ceiling fans, in the light fixtures...for days: pinata guts everywhere ....

 

[DD]

I hate pinatas. I had a "Kid Themed" 40th Birthday pool party for someone once and had thought a pinata would be a fun idea....NOT!!
We literally had to beat the everlivin' crap out of that thing with a baseball bat to finally get it to bust....and then...
IT and IT'S CRUDDY LITTLE STUFFING rocketed everywhere...allover the patio ... in the pool ... on top of the ceiling fans, in the light fixtures...for days: pinata guts everywhere ....

 

[Mango]

I hate pinatas. I had a "Kid Themed" 40th Birthday pool party for someone once and had thought a pinata would be a fun idea....NOT!!
We literally had to beat the everlivin' crap out of that thing with a baseball bat to finally get it to bust....and then...
IT and IT'S CRUDDY LITTLE STUFFING rocketed everywhere...allover the patio ... in the pool ... on top of the ceiling fans, in the light fixtures...for days: pinata guts everywhere ....

So, it was a pain-in-the-yata huh?

 

[dbuck]

So, it was a pain-in-the-yata huh?

Gull, you're too funny.

 

[Lady D]

I give up on what to buy her. I have to get her a gift of some sort Saturday. My sister-in-law discussed the spa thing and she could get that facial for $75.00 and a manicure for around $20.00 but my mom's sister didn't think she would like that. She didn't think it sounded like a great idea at all. I thought it sounded like a good idea. My sister-in-law is taking her out to eat for lunch Saturday and taking her shopping while the girls stay with dad and she has asked me to go. Maybe I can just look around Saturday and try to find her something. It's this kind of stuff that drives me crazy. What two people think is a good idea another doesn't.

 

[DuneAHH]

So, it was a pain-in-the-yata huh?

YES!!

 

[DuneAHH]

I give up on what to buy her. I have to get her a gift of some sort Saturday. My sister-in-law discussed the spa thing and she could get that facial for $75.00 and a manicure for around $20.00 but my mom's sister didn't think she would like that. She didn't think it sounded like a great idea at all. I thought it sounded like a good idea. My sister-in-law is taking her out to eat for lunch Saturday and taking her shopping while the girls stay with dad and she has asked me to go. Maybe I can just look around Saturday and try to find her something. It's this kind of stuff that drives me crazy. What two people think is a good idea another doesn't.

Did your Aunt have a good reason for thinking your Mom wouldn't like the spa thing...like she's heard yr Mom SAY she doesn't like spa things?

So...if you can't find something perfect than just go with:
Nothing (except a nice card). As someone here said earlier...mostly folks just like having their loved ones around the very best.

 

[scooterbug44]

Did your Aunt have a good reason for thinking your Mom wouldn't like the spa thing...like she's heard yr Mom SAY she doesn't like spa things?

So...if you can't find something perfect than just go with:
Nothing (except a nice card). As someone here said earlier...mostly folks just like having their loved ones around the very best.

If they don't think she'd like the spa, could you talk to your mom's usual salon and see if THEY have any suggestions on ways to pamper her? Perhaps she would be more comfortable with her usual staff & environment? You could do a gift certificate for her at her regular place.

I find it hard to believe anyone wouldn't like pampering - could see it being a comfort issue w/ a massage, but not a facial, manicure etc.

What about a gift of a family photo session/nice frame? Or a reprint/nice frame of old photos of your parents?

 

[DuneAHH]

If they don't think she'd like the spa, could you talk to your mom's usual salon and see if THEY have any suggestions on ways to pamper her? Perhaps she would be more comfortable with her usual staff & environment? You could do a gift certificate for her at her regular place.

I find it hard to believe anyone wouldn't like pampering - could see it being a comfort issue w/ a massage, but not a facial, manicure etc.

What about a gift of a family photo session/nice frame? Or a reprint/nice frame of old photos of your parents?

Actually I do have a friend you hates facials...says they make her claustrophobic & irritate her skin. I can't imagine, since I think facials are one of the finest things in life!

 

[Lady D]

Did your Aunt have a good reason for thinking your Mom wouldn't like the spa thing...like she's heard yr Mom SAY she doesn't like spa things?

So...if you can't find something perfect than just go with:
Nothing (except a nice card). As someone here said earlier...mostly folks just like having their loved ones around the very best.

She had no reason for saying that. I'm sure that has never been discussed between my mom and aunt ever. She just thinks she would just want a plain simple birthday. Well she will still have that but this was supposed to be a gift thing from myself and my sister-in-law Pam. And one of us could take her. And Pam has had a CD put together of a bunch of old pictures of mom and her sisters, pictures of my brother and I when growing up, old pictures of mom's parents, pics of the grandkids, etc that will be shown throughout her party. It is for her to keep. So that covers that. I contributed about 30 pictures. I have seen some of the pictures of Mom and her sisters when younger, I love them. They are so cool.