<p>Special but under $100. Thanks.</p>
<p>Do you have great pictures of the two of you? I’m seeing more and more bound books of pictures (done by places like Shutterfly).</p>
<p>I love that idea. Can they work with prints (not digital)?</p>
<p>I assume your friend is a woman, so jewelry is always good. Also, one of my favorite gifts for my 50th were beautiful martini glasses, which I use all the time.</p>
<p>You could scan the prints and send them to Shutterfly (or another vendor). I LOVE photo books! </p>
<p>Alternately, maybe you could get a piece of jewelry with your birthstone and hers? It would be subtle, but would remind her of your friendship!</p>
<p>A small photobook would only be around $30, so for your budget you might be able to do both!</p>
<p>You can include a poem or list of either 38 or 50 reasons that you value your bf’s friendship.</p>
<p>Oh my gosh, you ladies put me to shame with your creativity. I better start dragging out my photo albums tonight.</p>
<p>Found a couple of letters from her that I’ve been holding onto since high school and college. They still resonate with me so I’ll plan to include copies of them in this album. Thanks again. I feel excited about this. I just have to find a scanner to copy and upload the photos.</p>
<p>Is your friend in the same town or out of town?</p>
<p>Very far away.</p>
<p>I love the photo book idea. My best friend from high school and I are still really close. Her 50th birthday is coming up and is getting over a really ugly divorce. I want to do something special for her. Since we are both turning 50 this year I was also thinking of asking her if she wanted to go away for a few days for a girls trip.</p>
<p>That’s what my bf and I had planned but her DH is now out of work and she is supporting the household on 30% of what he was earning 
That’s why I’d really like to do something special without overextending my own budget.</p>
<p>Then this idea won’t help worrywart, but it may be an idea for others reading this thread: My parents live far away, but happened to be visiting on my mother’s birthday. Having no time to bake, I ordered a very yummy, beautifully decorated cake. My mother cried because she had never had a beautiful birthday cake before. </p>
<p>It’s more likely that my mom’s depression era generation would have never had a beautiful cake, but it may be the case for other moms as well - always doing for others, never having anything fabulous for themselves. Might also be a good idea for single empty nest friends…send over a great little cake or petit fours or something…</p>
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<p>Well then maybe the cake idea could work…research a good local bakery, pay by credit card, tell the husband about it and ask him to pick it up…</p>
<p>Do you do any crafts? I have recently taken up beading…I enjoy it…if there is a local store, you could take a class … knot her a pearl necklace…or make her earrings with special colors you know she would like…or a charm dangle bracelet…all easily done for under $100…and if you sew, you could sew her a jewelry pouch to go with it? </p>
<p>I received several nice pieces of jewelry for mine…a cameo, a couple of bracelets… there is a wonderful shop here in Maine that sells thin silver bracelets that are stamped with expressions/phrases… received one recently from girlfriends as retirement gift… it says “my religion is simple, my religion is kindness” Dali Lama … and there is another one I really covet, “when you pray, move your feet” an African proverb…and another one that says “a little rebellion now and then is a good thing” by Thomas Jefferson…
they run under $100 …if you google Nomi Jewelry Bangle Bracelets you will find them</p>
<p>Thanks, mp. Nice suggestions. Do you take jewelry orders for your work? I’ve often thought we should have some type of craigslist on CC to share our talents and job skills with one another.</p>
<p>Look for a 2-for-1 photo album deal. You’re going to want a copy of the book too!!</p>
<p>The photo book idea is great, also maybe a scrapbook if you are crafty. We did something like this for a college friend’s 50th, I had some pictures from college and made a scrapbook page (brought back some great memories), you hopefully have pictures from many of your years together. A 38 year friendship is indeed something to celebrate!</p>
<p>The other idea besides a photo book that would be very inexpensive is to go to a craft store (Michael’s, A.C. Moore), buy a wooden unfinished tray, a bottle of modge podge and silicone spray. You can put modge podge on the tray, put pictures on top of modge podge, cover with more modge podge and spray with spray when dry. I’ve done this before and it is very inexpensive and different. I think I will actually make one of these for my friend now that I’ve give all of you this great idea! You can include pictures of places (childhood or otherwise) that you’ve been to together, as well as copies of pictures - you can photocopy the pictures on a color copier. Total cost is around $20.</p>
<p>Was one of the saddest days of my life, I wish everybody would forget my B-day, that would be the best gift. Your friend might be different though.</p>