| When planning a birthday party, it is the most fun | | | | boss was roped into having a quick emergency |
| to think of the unexpected. So many times, when | | | | that "had" to be taken care of before the day |
| a birthday is approaching adults simply push the | | | | was over - this gave us time to get everyone |
| special day out of their mind. Often they will even | | | | picked up and delivered. Then, I called and delayed |
| stop talking about it, it becomes "just another | | | | him with a quick stop past the store for the wine |
| day." However, as much as they don't talk about, | | | | that I simply forgot to get. By the time he drove |
| they really don't want to be completely forgotten | | | | up he was stressed, it was dark outside and I had |
| either. So, rather than go through all the same old | | | | closed the blinds. When the door opened and he |
| motions of having a completely known about | | | | was greeted with 20 voices screaming surprise, I |
| party, consider having a surprise party. | | | | can honestly say he truly was surprised. |
| Sure, I realize that sometimes surprise parties can | | | | The evening went on to consist of a wonderful |
| seem really silly. But they don't always have to be | | | | night of wine and cheese tasting. It was |
| that way. First of all, it is very important to have | | | | sophisticated enough to be not overwhelming |
| a conspiracy approach to planning the perfect | | | | after a full day of work and being scared out of |
| surprise party. You simply shouldn't do it alone. For | | | | his skin by the loud welcome. In addition, it kept |
| one thing, thirty cars parked outside your house is | | | | the planning to a minimum as there wasn't a |
| a HUGE give away that something is up. Even if | | | | difficult menu or catering to plan. The same |
| the close friends park two blocks away, chances | | | | arrangements that got people to the party took |
| are your birthday person will recognize the car. | | | | them home so no one was driving after tasting |
| Your best bet is arranging for carpooling - which, | | | | the wines. It was truly a wonderful that anyone |
| as I pointed out - requires cooperation. My best | | | | could replicate. A similar party could be planned for |
| surprise party plan stemmed from "having just a | | | | the hard-to-please teen birthday person, by just |
| few close friends over for dinner." That way I | | | | replacing the wine and cheese tasting with a pizza |
| had two cars that could be parked outside the | | | | and karaoke party. The surprise factor would |
| house without any surprise being given away. The | | | | make it just as successful - guaranteed! |