Help me make a long distance fuss!
October 8, 2024 7:29 AM
My best friend turns 50 in January. She likes a bit of fuss made for her birthday. How do I do this from faraway?
My bestie lives and works in DC; I am in Ontario. She's got a big birthday coming up and likes a bit of fuss (fun fuss!) made for her special day. What can I do to surprise her with a little bit of fun fuss?
She loves: cats, robots, pottery as a hobby, home baking, high quality bourbons and ryes, reality TV (mostly Housewives and Great British Baking Show), and a good steak. (Possibly relevant: she is a bisexual woman.)
She is likely not going away as she would like for her 50th as she works for the US government and will have to be around for the incoming administration. Also, if Harris is elected like she hopes, she really wants to remain in the city for the inauguration. Hope me, AskMe! Help me make a fun fuss for one of my favouritest people in the world!
My bestie lives and works in DC; I am in Ontario. She's got a big birthday coming up and likes a bit of fuss (fun fuss!) made for her special day. What can I do to surprise her with a little bit of fun fuss?
She loves: cats, robots, pottery as a hobby, home baking, high quality bourbons and ryes, reality TV (mostly Housewives and Great British Baking Show), and a good steak. (Possibly relevant: she is a bisexual woman.)
She is likely not going away as she would like for her 50th as she works for the US government and will have to be around for the incoming administration. Also, if Harris is elected like she hopes, she really wants to remain in the city for the inauguration. Hope me, AskMe! Help me make a fun fuss for one of my favouritest people in the world!
Send her 50 postcards that are all part of a larger whole.
Two ideas:
Line up 50 index cards in a 10x5 rectangle and draw a big picture on the blank side for friend to fit back together like a puzzle.
Tell a story and put a sentence on each post card. (Please number them if you do this.)
Mail them a little at a time over a few weeks so they arrive often enough for the mail carrier to get in on the fun, too.
posted by phunniemee at 9:12 AM on October 8
Two ideas:
Line up 50 index cards in a 10x5 rectangle and draw a big picture on the blank side for friend to fit back together like a puzzle.
Tell a story and put a sentence on each post card. (Please number them if you do this.)
Mail them a little at a time over a few weeks so they arrive often enough for the mail carrier to get in on the fun, too.
posted by phunniemee at 9:12 AM on October 8
If she's into pottery as a hobby, maybe she would appreciate receiving some really special Canadian pots? I am also a Canadian living in the US and have gotten into making pots and also collecting special mugs and small sculpture. A few potters whose work I really like:
Jessica Bartram (Ottawa)
her shop
her tumblr
Marissa Y Alexander (Hamilton, ON)
her shop
her instagram
Cybèle Pilon (Montréal)
her shop
Throwing in a friend who is a painter, sculptor, and fiber artist
Belinda Harrow (Regina)
her work at Slate Gallery
I turned 50 this year and wanted only to go to the lake and be with my family, but I buy myself cool pots when I really want a treat so maybe she will also love that? I have a Loon Lady sculpture from Jessica Bartram that is so so satisfying to live with. Collecting art is a great practice.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 10:11 AM on October 8
Jessica Bartram (Ottawa)
her shop
her tumblr
Marissa Y Alexander (Hamilton, ON)
her shop
her instagram
Cybèle Pilon (Montréal)
her shop
Throwing in a friend who is a painter, sculptor, and fiber artist
Belinda Harrow (Regina)
her work at Slate Gallery
I turned 50 this year and wanted only to go to the lake and be with my family, but I buy myself cool pots when I really want a treat so maybe she will also love that? I have a Loon Lady sculpture from Jessica Bartram that is so so satisfying to live with. Collecting art is a great practice.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 10:11 AM on October 8
Hire a mariachi band to play in her front yard. Had a friend do this (during COVID). It was hilarious and highly memorable.
posted by sonofsnark at 12:30 PM on October 8
posted by sonofsnark at 12:30 PM on October 8
Is she a good sport? If so, go on the social media platform where you have the most "friends" and ask them to participate by sending her a text on her day.
If she likes silliness, give your friends a prompt to begin their texts. For my dad's 70th birthday I had friends and family text and ask "Do you still have those chickens for sale? Any wiggle room on the price?" For the first few texts he thought someone wrote their number wrong on an ad, but after texting back and forth with several of them he started to have fun and write things like "I sold the chickens, but I've got a goat if you're interested..."
My brother turned 50 recently and didn't seem to be in the mood for silliness so I just had friends and family text him and say "Happy 50th!" Even people he has never met (he lives in Colorado and I live in Portland).
It's fun and free and reminds other loved ones of the special day.
posted by tacodave at 1:45 PM on October 8
If she likes silliness, give your friends a prompt to begin their texts. For my dad's 70th birthday I had friends and family text and ask "Do you still have those chickens for sale? Any wiggle room on the price?" For the first few texts he thought someone wrote their number wrong on an ad, but after texting back and forth with several of them he started to have fun and write things like "I sold the chickens, but I've got a goat if you're interested..."
My brother turned 50 recently and didn't seem to be in the mood for silliness so I just had friends and family text him and say "Happy 50th!" Even people he has never met (he lives in Colorado and I live in Portland).
It's fun and free and reminds other loved ones of the special day.
posted by tacodave at 1:45 PM on October 8
I want flamingoes on my lawn soooo bad none of my friends are that whimsical
posted by St. Peepsburg at 4:23 PM on October 8
posted by St. Peepsburg at 4:23 PM on October 8
Get 50 cards/ postcards/ things to mail. 50 (+mailing time) days ahead, start mailing things, daily, 2 on Saturday. I'd vary simple, fancy, silly, etc. Also send an actual for the day itself.
posted by theora55 at 7:15 PM on October 8
posted by theora55 at 7:15 PM on October 8
« Older Can I tell Android not to learn phone numbers? | How to dump Amazon for digital books? Newer »
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by ColdIcedT at 8:55 AM on October 8