<p>Ok, here I go again asking for suggestions from experienced and creative parents on CC. </p>
<p>D2’s Birthday is next week. I am the Flat Rate Box Queen, and I know nothin says lovin like something from the oven. I have perfected my cookie packing skills - gotta love those Pringles cans.</p>
<p>D2 needs a TA DA!!! It’s her birthday, she’s been working her butt off. I would really like to do something special. IDEAS PLEASE???</p>
<p>Last month, as well as last year, I sent D2 a home baked and decorated cake as I have done for her every year she lived at home in a big way. I know it sounds nuts but it worked and she loved it. The way I did it was to leave the cake IN the pan and iced and decorated it in the pan, a rectangular one, as well as the candles, etc. Then, I found a rectangular carton/box the same exact size…sort of that standard size (there is even a Priority Mail one about that size at the Post Office) that a gift/shirt box may be put in. Over the iced and decorated cake, I put plastic wrap (with a layer of wax paper first to not stick) and then on top of that, one layer of bubble wrap taped across the top of the pan/cake. I slipped the entire thing into the box (a pretty exacting fit, so not much movement) and prayed it would work. Both times, it arrived in one piece and she was able to have friends for cake, etc. </p>
<p>Otherwise, she also got her birthday present (both times these were not surprise gifts and were already gotten ahead of time), but I also sent a package with some small “surprise” sort of gifts. Last year, I also got her tix to see Sweeney Todd on Bdway on her birthday with her roomie as a celebration sort of thing. This year, she had a rehearsal until very late at night on her birthday but I hear she went out afterwards with friends and then some came back for the cake party. I feel that she had a touch of home lovin’ with the cake part.</p>
<p>My freshman year, my parents had pizzas delivered to the dorm on my birthday. I turned 18 only a week after they’d dropped me off, so they stopped by the local pizza parlor on their way home and gave them $$$ to deliver pizzas to me on my birthday. Then they told my roommate to make sure I was in my room at the appointed time. Everyone was glad to do it, and that was some of the best pizza I ever had!</p>
<p>I feel guilty. WildChild’s birthday is tomorrow. I transferred some $$$ from my bank account to his, and sent him a warm hat (Russian aviator style) which will be a surprise (he had one like it which he lost last year).</p>
<p>Don’t feel guilty MWC. With my kids, the boys always appreciated money much more than any other gift (at least once they hit about age 16). My D. is the one who likes things to open. My son usually won’t even check his mailbox at school!</p>
<p>This is probably short notice but one of those photo calendars of family photos through time was a hit with my daughter. We chose favorite photos for each holiday like the year Daug. dressed like a hippie when she was 14 for Halloween ,etc., and baby photo for birthday.
Son’s birthday is in another week and am at a loss as to what to do for him. Will probably celebrate it when he comes home for Thanksgiving the next day.Ideas for girls don’t work particualrly well for boys.</p>
<p>Glad to see all the old timer c.c.'ers still here. Soozievt, did your daughter go to Alaska and how did it go? Contemplating a trip like that for hus. and myself after retirement.</p>
<p>If you mail your son or daughter food–send enough to share. His/her dormmates will love you for it.</p>