Hello ladies..
need gift ideas... a little info.. hubby is not into sports.... so no gift ideas pertaining to that... he does not drink or party with his friends. he likes to spend time with his family and is pretty easy-going.. I am at a lost of what to buy.. appreciate all ideas..thanks in advance.
My husband made me promise not to throw a party. There was an airshow in town the week before his birthday. He is a big WWII buff. So I got him a ride in a B-17. He loved it!
Don't know how soon it's coming up, but my husband's 50th was a slam dunk (but I had time to plan and save; I even got a part time job just to get it done). I think you just need to put some thought in and think of things that say "him" (not necessarily material stuff). I took a few things to heart when planning: his birthday is Dec 22 but he hates the cold and hates his day being so close to Christmas (he always felt forgotten growing up), and waaaaay back when we were dating he'd mentioned he wished he had a summer birthday. So I planned a surprise birthday party for him on June 22 instead, 6 months early. I emailed all his friends/family that are overseas or out of state and explained what I was doing, and that on a big day like this, I'd like him to know he was thought about by his loved ones who couldn't be there, so I requested that they send birthday messages to my email or "real" mail. I printed everyone's responses in different colored fonts and put them in a small ready-made scrapbook from Michaels (only cost $8-10) and included photos and a joke, a story, stuff people sent in for it. We talked about taking a cruise, and one thing we'd love to do is scuba dive. So I came up with an island themed birthday party with scuba lessons as the gift.
I reserved the great room, kitchen/bar, and patio of the community clubhouse, overlooking the swimming pool complex (6 pools, waterslides, a waterfall). Got a bunch of fake leis at a party store and draped them on all the chairs, had UB40's greatest hits and our favorite Bob Marley CD for music, my Jamaican friends catered the party with curried goat, jerk chicken, Jamaican rice and peas, fried plantains, 2 punches, and I did the appetizers, a fruit tray, and hot dogs for the guests who had kids that may not try the food on the menu. We had a great cake made like a sandcastle. We had a nice party with a great mix of people (church friends, the pastors, neighbors, old friends, and a few coworkers). I gave him the birthday book to show that his family/friends that couldn't make it sent messages which really touched him, it was a great surprise. Then I gave him his gift: a box that had goggles and in the goggles was the gift certificate for scuba lessons for the two of us together, paid for. He thought that was cool, and then I privately showed him his secret gift: a bank statement that had every dime I'd earned in a year of part time work, plus everything I siphoned off of our grocery bill by using coupons and such without the money ever being missed, and the brochure from the travel agent for a cruise with the prices and everything organized (but not purchased, because we needed to talk together about taking the vacation days, and where exactly he'd prefer to go...I just wanted him to see that it could be done). He flipped out. It was the best birthday ever.
why don't you take him away for the weekend???
how about taking him over to Napa to a Spa? The Sonoma Inn is awesome, you could spend the night and get couples massages and other treatments. Then either order in a nice romantic dinner or go out.
Something sexy for YOU to wear and surprise him in. Show him that you think 50 is young and attractive!
Bed and breakfast weekend...there is a lot in SF I am sure.
Theater type basket. Tickets to various things....Movies, broadway, musical, museums with pop corn and candy and his fav. drink.
Hot air balloon ride
Something I am getting for my husband this year, who also happens to be turning 50 is a 'dog tag type' pendant on a silver chain (that is long enough that he can tuck it under his shirt if he so chooses) with an inscription that says: You're still the one!
Camera, video camera.
Hi Mama-
I think you should take him out...celebrate just the two of you. It should be a lovely evening of romance, eating at his favorite place (even if it's pizza), and doing something he loves. Get a motel, even if you stay in town. Somewhere with a Roman sized bath tub so the two of you can just be together.
As for an actual, wrapped gift, you can get him his favorite cologne...or if he isn't opposed to jewelry, get him one of those bracelets that can be engraved. I got one for my husband that says mo chuisle mo chroi (can't remember how to spell it now)..since he is big into his Irish heritage, it means the blood of my heart, or more sincerely, my beloved (as eternal love kind of thing). He loved it.
My hubby is into music, not sports, so I have booked tickets to a show that he would love to see. You are in San Fran, the perfect jumping off point for great shows--see if there is one he likes and get tickets.
Last thing...what does he love? Books, the beach, exercise..when is he most relaxed and enjoying himself, what is he doing? Expand on that one thing....have a BBQ with friends, light hearted, with sodas, teas, different flavored waters....50's style, old fashioned...easy going and yet enjoyable.
Hope that helps!
Happy Birthday Planning!
-E. M
When my husband turned 50 1.5 yrs ago, I gave him a very nice watch.
My husband (who will be 50 next year) is a similarly home bound, easy going guy. He loves music so he always appreciates itunes cards to download music and he also likes magazines so I have gotten him subscriptions to magazines before.
If he likes to spend time with his family would it be possible for you to rent a house somewhere for a week? You and your hubby could spend a couple of quiet days alone and then the rest of your family (kids, grandkids if you have any or anybody else that he really likes to spend time with) can join you for the last few days. as much as I love "things" as I get older I've come to realize that things just take up space and I much prefer to spend time with people I love because I'll have the memories forever but things eventually get broken or just disappear and once they are gone what do I have then?
*Type 50 things you love about him and why you're glad he's your hubby.
*Casual watch but ONLY if he doesn't have one.
*Massage gift certificate (if he's into getting them).
*Dinner at his favorite place with just you. (Get babysitter for the kids.)
*New wallet
*Tickets to any event you think he'd might enjoy (smthg other than sports).
*New fave CD
*$50 gift certificate to his fave place to shop or Amazon.com so he can buy something for himself that he doesn't even know he may want or need yet.
*Book by his fave author.
*Weekend trip getaway w/you.
If he enjoys being with the family...surprise him with tickets to a musical, theater...car show etc.
A family portrait to celebrate this wonderful milestone!
