To ask for ideas for dd's 18th in a couple of week?

[keiratwiceknightly]

Potential lockdowns and general Covid bleakness coupled with the impending death of her gran (my mil) have made her feel pretty rubbish and not v celebratory. She has asked for money from most to our towards a car, and we have said we will take her into the Birmingham jewellery quarter to choose a ring from us, plus lunch out etc.

I'm looking for some things to perk the day itself up though. I'll get some balloons/banners etc but I'm short of small present ideas (bits to open on the day) and just anything that'll make a pretty downbeat day just a bit more special.

I always think perfume is a good gift if you know what she likes as it's generally not something I would buy myself regularly as it's a bit expensive.

Gucci belt?

Depending on how much time you have and how much you want to spend, 18 small (cheap/free) individually wrapped presents could make her feel very special and thought of, especially when going through such a hard time with Covid and granny so unwell.

Some very tacky ideas below but you'll know what she likes. Also look on amazon or Google 18th birthday gift ideas - a lot of things you can replicate yourself.

Giant novelty Birthday badge
Retro sweets
'Key to the door' 18th novelty key
Legal age for drinking glass (can get cheap tankards or champagne glasses in pound shop or some lovely proper glasses laser engraved with name/date/etc.)
18 Rocks (literally 18 stones)
'First legal drink' (alcopop or similar) even just for the novelty factor if not for drinking
Teddy embroidered with her name and DOB
Day you were born in a nice frame
Scrapbook/box of memories from childhood
Nice family photo
IOU book / homemade vouchers for future experiences
Cinema tickets/vouchers
18 is sweet - mixed bag of sweets
Hangover/PMS kit (painkillers, chocolate, tea bags)
Birthday kit (candles, badge, sash, etc. )
'Have a drink on us!' - squash/pop drink
Driving lessons voucher(s)
CD of favourite single
DVD she'd enjoy

Having 18 presents to open is a huge wow factor even if the gifts are really cheesy/cheap & cheerful :-)

AndBabyMakes3

great idea....thx!

DD's friend's parents did a lovely thing for their dd in the middle of lockdown - she had a virtual 18th on Instagram with all her friends posting a few minutes of partying at their own place on her page and sending her messages. They were given slots through the evening so it went on all evening for her.

Birmingham do escape rooms? We've been and loved them. Maybe take her mind off things for a few hours. I hope she has a lovely day.

Hire a hot tub for your garden?

Did she have a favourite game/book/tv programme/film when she was little?
Something that's still referenced.
My friend did a Guess Who game for her sisters 21st with the pictures subbed in of their family/friends. Obviously it made sense because they played it a lot as children.
But something she loved personalised to her could be good.

Ask family members to send in videos wishing her a happy birthday.
Could you do a 'this is your life' type thing?

Agree with a memories/ nostalgic type gift. Something that marks the end of her childhood by looking back on it.

Does she like quizzes? You could put together one with rounds related to memories of her for example:

TV theme tune round (her favourites from childhood)
Who said this ask everyone for a quote about her and see if she can work out who said what
What happened next - clips of her when she was little but stop them before something happens or she says something funny
True or false round
One minute round- different categories and see how many she could name of something in a minute E.g. how many holiday destinations can you name/ how many clubs have you attended/how many friends can you name

Or you could just make a standard quiz with one round all about her and play with her friends/family on zoom.

For my DHs birthday during lockdown I put together a video of clips of all his friends. We themed it so they were taking a sip.of beer then passing the glass to the left, the next person would receive the beer, say something then pass it along. Could you do something similar? Something she could keep

At The Quarter Workshop (within the Jewellery Quarter) you can book a session to make your own beautiful item, ring, pendant etc. which might be good fun.
As PP said, the escape rooms off St Paul's Square are a good shout- particularly the Peaky Blinder room.