Tips for Being a Good Friend on Birthdays

Birthdays are a special day no matter what the age! Take the time to make your friend's birthday the best it can be by planning ahead and thinking about the details. It's the little things they will remember!

Be sure to include lots of black in your decorating scheme. Black for birthday decorating is always classy.

Recognize that each year is special. I prefer spelling out the age with food. Little Fluff does also. He feels that it is important to celebrate the moments of our lives with sweet little morsels of food.

Confetti is an important piece of the equation (it's on the table, just trust me). Make sure to put confetti everywhere, especially in shoes, pockets, and in beds. That's a big birthday girl pleaser. Also presents are a birthday girl pleaser.

Little surprises are extra fun! I like to leave little messages in unexpected places.


Individualize your birthday treats. I chose a theme this year, and little man with the walker was a star player. Note the way he is placed on the Steel Cut Oats. I had never heard of these. I think it's an old people delicacy.

Other tips to consider:

1. Dry erase markers work on mirrors! Leave little notes. This also work for non-occasion messages. Like, "have a great day!" and "don't forget to make me a cake!"

2. Fresh baked things on the morning of that special person's birthday are wonderful! I had a roommate freshman year who got up earlier in the morning than should be allowed in order to have sticky buns ready for me before I left for school. Mmm.

3. Experiences stick in your memory longer than possessions. Gifts with meaning behind them are great! Even better are gifts of experiences. For instance, you could get them concert tickets, a dinner out with you, passes to a theme park, or plane tickets. I most enjoy the last listed item. I actually received a plane ticket from my wonderful freshman roommates because they wanted me to be able to go home for Thanksgiving to see my family. But that's another post.

4. Treasure hunts can be fun. If you are planning fun for a friend who is tolerant of a little cheesiness, you can do a little mission impossible themed birthday hunt. We did this my freshman year, with clues leading her all over campus, leading her back to our apartement where there were friends and a cake waiting to surprise her. It was good times. My favorite was the mission impossible tape we recorded to kick things off, and the man in suit and sunglasses who delivered it. Ah, the good old BYU days. We knew how to party.