Posted by gkrien on July 20, 2000 at 18:28:01:

In Reply to: Surprise 40th for parents posted by Lori on July 19, 2000 at 01:19:54:

I'm hosting a 40th for my in-laws. I plan to put Mason jars with white sugar & stand white candles in them & tie a cranberry (for 40th) ribbon at the top, surrounded by greenery at the bottom. This may be quick enough & cheap enough you could buy everything there & give it away to guests afterwards. Since we are doing a BBQ I don't have to worry about the candles getting knocked over or blow out by a gust of wind. May put more than one on each table of different heights, haven't tried that yet.

For a real splash your could buy inexpensive glass bowls (sniffters, fish bowl or rose bowl - whatever works) and either use a floating candle (inexpensive at Wal-Mart) or a few colored rocks and a fish (also at Wal-Mart - maybe black mollies with white linens & silver table service). The fish would be a real conversation piece & am sure kids would be thrilled to take them home.

This would keep you from having to fly with lots of stuff, but you may not have any shopping time in which case I'd probably go with great tableware (cloth napkins, silver...) and order small floral arrangements. Another beautiful touch, but takes some time to get ready is white Christmas lights all over - in the trees, shrubs even under the umbrellas over your tables.

Sorry I was sooo long winded, but hope this gives you some ideas.

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