Any super fun/crazy 40th bday ideas?!

Cost you more like 50 cents.

This was posted before, but in case you missed it, is this exciting enough for you too?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLXK3yBsvoE

We pretty much always just have a theme party for Eric's birthday.  For his 40th, we did a toga thing.  We asked everyone to come wearing a toga, and if they didn't want to do that, then they had to bring a bottle of booze.  That was a pretty fun party.

But we've also had a super hero costume party, which was a blast.  Some people got really creative with their homemade costumes for homemade heros.

Last year, I managed to pull off a surprise party (it's easier than you think).  That party had a pirates theme and we had a huge turn-out.  I went all out and got every pirate-y decoration I could find.  I even had a treasure chese pinata filled with chocolate gold coins, and he beat it open with a toy saber.

I don't know how social you guys are, but I'd rather spend my birthday surrounded by friends and family than pretty much any other way.  And it's nice to have so many people gathered in honor of one person. 

I will now get myself in trouble: Women have a tendency to give men what they think they would want if they were men for their birthday. Why not just ask him what he wants and actually give it to him. 

For my birthdays I ask for the following: A cuddle from teh kids when I wake up, to be left the hell alone for the majority of the day and homemade cake at night.  I don;t need cards, presents or anything else.  To date: I have yet to get that present as my family thinks what I really want are lots of activities, parties, etc.  Then again I am an antisocial misanthrope.

I've sent this E-card to my wife a couple of times prior to my birthday/anniversary:

 (NSFW?)

 http://www.someecards.com/upload/most_popular/dont_forget_that_blow_jobs.html

One of our local triathletes puts together a "birthday swim" (one lap for each year followed by dinner and drinks at a local establishment.  This year was 44 laps. )  We've got a second birthday swim this Saturday for a guy who is turning 60, so that would be 3000 yards or roughly an hour. 

Another local athlete is doing a "birthday run" this Saturday along the same lines.  Only he's doing one mile for each year (40).  I don't think I'm joining him for a 40 mile run, but maybe the last half and dinner. 

Sit down and write out a list of things that you love and appreciate about him. Break the list down into different categories that make up his life, such as physical, intellectual, professional, ect.

Edit the list down to seven things.  Then you will have seven gifts to give him. (the total number is arbitrary, seven just seems like a good one)

For each category of appreciation:
Write a note expressing your admiration of him in this part of his life (be specific, men can't read minds, especially a woman's),
Choose a gift that is a token of your appreciation of this aspect of him. Doesn't have to be expensive or even store bought.
Maybe include a photo from time you've spent together that shows this aspect of him, or maybe a song on a CD that speaks to this part of him.
Package and present each gift in a fun way. Men like to solve puzzles, so maybe give him clues as to where the gift is hidden, ect.

Then give him one gift each day, starting a week before his birthday.

On the final day, sum up in your final gift all that he means to you as well as your hopes and dreams for the future.  Then celebrate with traditional dinner and cake with all the candles.

• meat
• alcohol
• sex
• cake

definitely. And in that order.

Amen brother.

My wife just threw me a surprise party for 40th.  It was done several weeks in advance, so I didn't have clue...

If you do something 'moderate' for the actual day, it could throw him off the sent enough to pull it off....

Exactly!

I suppose I should start planning my 40th already too.  My birthday falls on Jan 1, so we always party on Dec 31.  And that's a hard date to reserve at the last minute, since many people already have plans.

Of course, 39 hit me pretty hard, and it's a bit too tender yet to start looking at 40 seriously.

For my wife's 40th, I surprised her with a Girls' Night Out with her 4 best friends. I hired a limo for the evening, stocked it with champagne and truffles, and reserved seats at the local comedy club. The rest of the evening was up to them.

I realize you're on a budget, but the whole thing was really not that expensive ~ $400.

I turn 40 next month and have waffled back and forth on what I want.....I like the swim/run/bike 40-whatever idea and will hopefully do something like that with my tri friends.  I also like the 'leave me alone to sleep' idea, as I have 2 small kids.  I had a huge party for my 30th and sort of wanted that again, although 10 years later my core group of friends is kind of all over the place....so instead my husband and best friend are throwing a moderate-sized party at a club one night with a dj spinning 80s and 90s classics after some drinks and food.  My husband then surprised me with tix to see Oprah next month, so we are spending 4 days in Chicago (freezing) and enjoying every housewife's dream of seeing Oprah in person, and hopefully actually meeting her!    I am blessed. 

If your husband boyfriend (maybe marry him?) is like me, it may be hard to come to grips with the chronological age.  I am really struggling with it more than I thought I would.  I swear I am only 25, really!  I do like the idea of the week of small gifts and sentimental notes.  Tell my husband that one, too.  Good luck and let us know what you decide!