"Over the Hill" Birthday Party Favors

Do you have someone you know that is fast approaching 40, 50, or even 60? It is inevitable; we all will go through the senior phase in our life if the man upstairs allows us to live that long. Some of us will go through with grace; some may break a hip trying to prevent it from happening at all. For those who are not yet at the threshold of "seniorville," it is a rite of passage for us younger folks to be able to have a little fun at their expense.

My parents are now in their 50's, and with that age came a few pranks, courtesy of their 34-year old daughter (yes, I know, I am getting up there too.) Here are some ideas to make their next milestone birthday one to remember. Most party favors ideas are free and/or low cost. I thought of most of these gags myself to make my parent's birthdays a little more "age appropriate" (pun intended).

Depend coupons- This is a gag that the all the guests at the party can get in on. About eight weeks from the party date, go to the Depend undergarment website. Either you can ask your guests to log on themselves, or you can do this for them. Have them request a free $2.00 off coupon. Once they receive it, have them place it in the birthday card or the gift they brought to the party. As the recipient opens each card, he or she will be "pleasantly surprised" by the kind gesture and thoughtfulness of their continence. The website to obtain the coupon is http://www.depend.com/offers/coupon.asp.

AARP novelties- If you are in the dark a bit about what the AARP is, AARP, otherwise known as American Association of Retired Persons is an organization that help people over the age of 49 find health care, life insurance, and resources to live better in those golden years. My Fiancé works for The Hartford insurance agency that AARP endorses, so I see these gadgets laying around everywhere! The Hartford offers a free gadget for every quote performed. These gadgets can range from pedometers to calculators and clocks. The embossed gadgets have the AARP logo on them, which is why they would make a great gag party favor. This gag works like the Depend coupons. It is best to call for your quote at least six weeks before the party. One important note-The Hartford will only allow one gadget per quote, so this stunt requires a little teamwork. Have the guest list call the AARP for a free no-obligation quote, and have The Hartford send them a gift after the quote. Once it arrives, have the guests bring the item to the party, or collect them before the party, and place them around the table at each seat. For something a little more fun, after the party has started, play a trivia game or two about the guest of honor, and let the guests win them. A little hint- If you play the trivia game, make sure that there is a variety of different gadgets to choose from. To get your free quote and gadget call 1-888-808-5254.

Just for women: The menopause fan- Every over the hill woman wants to know she is still "hot." If the guest of honor is a female, I am sure she will appreciate the next party favors on the list of over the hill novelties. You can purchase these little hand held fans in any one dollar store, or pharmacy. They usually cost between one and two dollars, and require one AA battery, which is usually included.

Just for men: If you have a warped humorous side, several websites offer "finger" nose and ear hair trimmers. Prices range from $5.00-$6.00. The male guest of honor will be so thrilled that he now has a way to control the only existing hair that grows on his body.

In closing, these over the hill party favors can be a humorous touch to your friend or family's party. Remember to keep your guest of honor's personality in mind when choosing party favors. Most everyone likes a little gag every now and then, too much can be overwhelming.

With a little creativity on your end, you can add that unique touch that can make the day special.