Mum's 60th... help please!!!

Mrs_Ryan

hi everyone :j

I came here for some help for mum and dad's 40th wedding anniversary recently and got some really good ideas so thought I would ask for some help here.

Its not mum's 60th until October but what I wanted to do will need quite a bit of planning so thought I would do some tentative scouting.

My mum is an absolute star and she is always there when I need her, despite being very severely disabled and always in a lot of pain. So I like to try and spoil her when I can, and especially on her special birthday. I wanted to do a hamper filled with 60 things for her, but my OH says this is ridiculous. :rolleyes: (His dad is 60 in July and he is just giving him a cheque for £200, he fails to understand why I cant just do the same) But Im just ignoring him. I live at the opposite end of the country to my mum and have booked some time off so I can go home, so whatever I do needs to be able to be carried on a coach or train.

Problem is, I bought a load of stuff for her for Xmas so Im struggling a bit. I have found my first present for her - she trained as a nurse in the 1960's and I have found a book told from the perspective of a young girl (as she was - she was only 19 when she married my dad) training as a nurse in the 60's which I know she would like, I am also going to get OH to take a pic of me in my nurse's uniform and put it in a nice frame for her, so that's 2 presents down - 58 to go! Can anyone help? I should add here that she doesnt drink and cannot drink alcohol anyway because of her medication, and she doesnt have a bath because she cannot get in and out of it. But she likes coffee and tea, and is partial to sweet things.

Help would be much appreciated!!

Mrs R xx

sandy2_2

How about one of those copy newspapers for her birth date, saw somewhere about free naming a star, a trip to the hairdresser with manicure, pedicure or beauty treatment, new glasses, nice piece of jewellery, dream catcher, something indulgent like a big bar of choccie, sixty chocolates, dvd/video of a favorite film or local history, big 60th birthday badge, something to do with becoming a pensioner.......

mary43

If she likes coffee, tea and chocolate you could gather a few pieces related to that theme..........really nice coffee or tea, special mug, chocolate scented candles (if she likes that sort of thing)

I saw somewhere that you can get a coffee and tea plant but not sure how long they take to grow.
Good luck. 60 items is a lot but you'll get there I'm sure.

Oh, just thought, how about googling and finding something to do with her birth sign. I did that for my son a couple of years back but can't remember the site.
I know it gave not just the personality, but the birthstone and a tree as well.

I've done the free name a star -did it for baby grandson at christmas - if you go and look at the Freebie Board on here and put name a star in the search box it'll come up.

Juliav_2

Hi

Your mum sounds like a lovely lady and very giving. It is really lovely you want to do something so special for her.

I did something similar for my sisters 30th. I found 30 gifts (which was a really hard thing) and she absolutely loved it. However, I would say it took a long time to unwrap and unless you are willing to spend a lot of money, you end up getting gimicky stuff that just gets put aside after a while.

My suggestion would be to do a few nice gifts like:-

-A photo shoot for you all

- A plain book to pass around family and friends to get them to comment/put their best wishes, memories of good times into so your mum can unwrapped and spend time reading.

- nice choccies, perhaps make some fudge or choccie yourself.

- homemade flavoured vodka or baileys equivalent

- vouchers to get her hair done

- voucher promising to take her for a day out later in the year.

- hamper full of goodies

- an exploding box full of photos
http://glitteradventure.blogspot.com/2006/11/exploding-box-class.html

- use travelodge offer and pay for her and partner to stay overnight somewhere nice

Just a few ideas? Hope it helps.

crazyolday

For my neices birthday I created a 'life book' We have very little money so I bought a photo album and stuck photos in of her life with a little peice about each photo. First day at school, swimming certificate pics etc. She loved it and it went right round the party for all to see.
You may have to enlist the help of friends and family but its great fun!:j

non_believer_2

How about a digital photo frame? To stick with the '60' theme you could upload 60 different photos to it for them or maybe do a 'through the year's theme. If you have any old non-digital photos I think they come out ok if you can scan them into your computer to get a digital image. You can buy digital photo frames for fairly reasonable prices online and most have a slideshow function so it will scroll through all of the photos.

Mrs_Ryan

Thanks everyone!! Those ideas are great, will definitely look into them. I bought her some very posh shower stuff in Harrods when I was in London earlier this week so I have three now, but I especially like the digital photo frame idea (she likes stuff like that and brother bought her a digital camera for Xmas so it would be really useful to her) and will sort out a voucher for her to have her hair done as she has it cut and coloured, which can be expensive.
Am also going to get some vouchers for her and my dad to go for a meal. The birthsign thing is also an excellent idea - she likes stuff like that.
Thanks everyone... keep the ideas ocming!!

maman

I'm sure her favourite would be spending time with family. Most people your mum's age aren't short of 'things' and it's experiences or treats they enjoy most. I know your mum's disabled but what about a weekend away or a nice day out with a meal. Are you an only child or could you share the cost with any other family?

thevicster

Have you had a look at www.teapigs.co.uk ? They do a variety of weird and wonderful teas (popcorn, chocolate, chilli etc) and sell sample tins with 3 teabags in each for £1.19 (think the postage os £1.95 for orders under £15) - might be ok for a couple of little gifts?

mum2one

I dont know which area ur mum is from, but as its a special ocassion for both of them, what about a day trip on the Orient Express, I did the xmas lunch in Dec, it was absolutely out of the world, I took my friend as were both going to b 40 in 2011, early bday present and a thank you 4 everything she had done.
It was £180 pp, once your on the train, u dont get off, Im disabled on crutches, I explained that when I booked so I was at the end of the carriage near the bathroom! (that was very posh!!), I got 1/3rd knocked off as I redemmed 3,000 nectar points.

LOUBOB

I am having the same trauma!!!! I did think about uploading old photos to celebrate important times of family etc, then using pixmania or something similiar and getting the pictures in a hard backed book. about £20 though, but very nice.
also got CD from amazon I think top of the pops from 1949....I too was going to do a hamper but Im afraid 60 items is ambitious!!!for me.....good luck I will share any ideas as I have a different thread going as its her ruby anniversary too!!!