80th Birthday Party Suggestions Needed (Vanity)

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[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

Fellow FReepers,

My wife and I are hoping to throw a nice (but intimate -- about 20 or so people) 80th Birthday Party for my wife's Filipino mother -- who turns 80 years old this coming Dec 18th. I've been involved with gatherings of people for "movie nights" and "potluck dinners" and all, but what to do for my mother-in-law's 80th really has me baffled....

My wife and I will be having it here at our Toronto townhouse (it will accomodate about 20 or so people).....

All we DO know for sure is that her mom would rather have people here at home -- instead of going out for dinner....

Any suggestions for what to have for dinner/appetizers/etc? Of course my wife and I will cook up some Filipino food entrees, but other than that is there anything else I could do? I'm especially hoping that some of you FReepers who have given an 80th Birthday Party for someone could help here....I'm only in my mid-40's and don't know too much what an older woman might like for her 80th....

My mother-in-law already knows about the party (it won't be a surprise), so that is no problem....yes, I hope to be singing some birthday songs to her too! :-)

Thanks in advance for your help!

FReegards,

ConservativeStLouisGuy (Tom)

[martin_fierro]

Everybody loves donuts. ("80", get it?) <|:)~

[VRWCmember]

How about

[doubled]

One thing we did for my MIL 80th was to give her 80 presents. Most of them weren't very valuable, but they were all wrapped and put in front of here. Things like socks, packets of flower seeds, a small bottle of aspirin, pens and pencils. There were a few actual thoughtful presents. We were getting so desperate after a while that we thought of wrapping the socks separately. We used newspaper or the comics for a lot of the wrapping paper. Some of the great grand kids made some presents and cards. We had a lot of fun watching her go through that many presents.

[irishtenor]

Some Glen Miller or Tommy Dorsey music, a dance floor (even if she can't dance she can watch others), maybe watch a Gene Kelly movie and have some popcorn. Also, write down some memories from all of the family members and present them as a gift in book form (with pictures and the like, find someone creative to help).

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Play the music she loved from her teens and twenties........ I'll bet she would like that!

[ETERNAL WARMING]

How lovely! I would suggest you make it Philipino nite! Make it as close to her childhood memories as you can! What were her favorite foods as a child, what did she especially love, etc. Sort of a memory land do. I think she'd appreciate that.

[HoHoeHeaux]

We did an 80th for my Dad last year. We had a Bar B Que with all the trimmings and invited all of his and my Mom's friends, even though she had died earlier in the year. We rented him a scooter, I can't remmeber what is was called, something invented for old folks, and had it in his back yard. He loved it. There were probably 60 people there. When you reach 80, you need a party. Good luck!

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

BBQ does sound good....thanks....I'll have to consider that (only thing is it is VERY COLD up here in Toronto in winter) :-)

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

Very good....bravo! Hehehehe....

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

I know my mother-in-law takes a LOT of (necessary) pills every day, but I hadn't seen those....hehehe....

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

Yours was a GREAT birthday idea! Thanks for sharing it with me....I probably should start looking for 80 items soon...again, thanks for you suggestion! - ConservativeStLouisGuy

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

My mother-in-law is Filipino (from the Philippines), which means she has little or no exposure to American culture/music (I agree with your selection of music/movies by the way)....a memory gift book is a good idea too! Thanks!

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

I'm not sure what Filipino music was popular back that long ago (guessing a web search might be in order)....

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

I believe she would....good idea too....I KNEW I could count on FReepers for great suggestions! :-)

[martin_fierro]

Or how about printing up a fancy document containing the historical things that happened on her birthday?

[ConservativeStLouisGuy]

Sounds like one of those three-wheeled jobbies....hmmmmm.....our backyard space is VERY LIMITED....we have to have it inside....besides....cool wearther prevails here in Toronto in Dec....

[irishtenor]

Those movies and musical selections are probably familiar to her. Try some on her before the party and see if she remembers them.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

OH, good point.....I was thinking of music popular in the States....perhaps there was some crossover?

[SunnyUsa]

Make sure you have 80 candles on the cake! (plus one for good luck)

It makes a great picture, very dramatic.... blowing out ALL those candles, it was one of our favorite pictures !


Also, poster boards with pictures from her youth, and life would be a wonderful personal touch....put them on easels, the guests love to look at things like that.