I don't do anything special on birthdays,milestone or otherwise. I think the 50th was the year I got my tattoo. Is there something you've always wanted to try but just never took the plunge? Could be something active like rafting or wall climbing or something more sedate like visiting a local attraction that you've always meant to but never did. Is there a nice hotel nearby that you and a friend or two could escape to for the night? Share a nice suite,dine out,see some local entertainment,get a massage etc. A 24 hour "girls night out" sort of thing. Oh and be sure to join the Red Hat Society. Your birthdays will never be boring after that.

Male - female? Dollar amount? Having turned 50 several/several years ago, I can say that the gag gifts received are not really memorable and just got passed along or tossed. For something meaningful - write out 50 reasons why you like them as a friend or 50 memories you have of things you've done with them, or 50 things you'ld like to do with them in the future....kind of a bucket list ( ie restaurants to go to , shopping, movie, etc.). As far as buyable gift ideas, perhaps a book that falls into their area of interest- look at Amazons 2013 best books of the year for ideas. Or a coffee table book with photography, such as Humans of New York or again look at Amazon's 2013 best books of the year. Or, get a state specific photography book....search for Colorado coffee table book or California coffee table book, etc. Bake them a pie or get a collection of coffees or teas. A bottle of wine. 50 bottles of different kinds of beer. If a female, a pretty necklace, scarf or handbag. I've given gifts from Amazing clubs.com before where they send a gift each month. You can pick and choose for the number of months or type of product depending on the persons interest. Perhaps that's more than you want to spend, but it's always been well received by the people I've given it to. It's like a gift that keeps on giving. If I remember you can print off a gift card or maybe I just made up something telling them what to expect.

I'll second, third? Lisa and Sov. Six years old is too young to teach a charity lesson at birthday time IMO. Their birthdays are about silly fun with their friends. Lisa's statement in regards to gifts (optional but please be sure to bring yourself blah blah) is as far as I would go. As the mother of a small child who has too much, I use these experiences to teach the gift of giving. The joy of finding a special toy (and a matchbox might be all that is for some but it's still special to a six year old) is a lesson I don't get to give very often so I really take advantage of it (our son is 4 and not yet in school). At 8 or 9 plus it's a fun idea to discuss giving a party for charity, but only as an idea for the child...you know when they're ready for this or if they ever are :) I bitterly remember the birthday where my father taught me about charity. I opened all the gifts and then they were given to the "less fortunate" (I had no idea who those people were because we didn't learn that lesson). It was really more about control (now that I look back on it) verses a lesson in charity, but to a small child...do they really know the difference? I think we often forget the "joy of giving" and focus on the receiving too much :) So I get where you're coming from, but for a child of six...it's a party :) Let them enjoy it as a six year old should. Goody bags aren't a tradition in our area of the country. But I think the cookie and balloon sounds great. Great for table decor and enjoyable for the kids to take home. Or you could go with a matchbox given the theme of the party (those cheap ones). I don't mind cheap crap...it makes DS smile. The fact that he does not know the difference between a one dollar car and a twenty dollar one actually pleases me. And I don't mind the matchbox's anyhoo...at least they're metal :) My DS is afraid of birthday cake (or was until this year when he's braved the frosting) so I guess we're not overly birthday focused, but he has enjoyed the parties he's gone to as long as we avoid the cake. I don't remember getting any party bags...wait maybe one, but perhaps that is just our circle of friends. I don't think a lecture on how to throw a party is necessary :) Family, friends, it does not matter. Kids should have special birthdays be it with their school friends or family or both. Special does not have to mean much. We had our favorite couple over with their two kids for DS's 4th. Then we repeated a simple dinner with grandma the next week (we were moving to her state). He enjoyed both parties immensely and both were quite simple. DS would love to attend by the way....do you allow 4 year olds? I promise to limit the plastic LOL

I am terrible at these types of decisions. I tend to favor bold sculptural looks in silver over dainty pieces in gold, so the new ring is a win for me. As for the price, all I can say is designer jewelers holds its value remarkably well. Take two identical rings. One with a Tiffany stamp and an identical one without (a plain creation, not a specific Tiffany look, say a prong set diamond ring,) and the Tiffany one will fare much better in resale, even if the gemstone is inferior. Does that calculation matter? IDK I like the ring, and its symbolism very much- I am a sucker for symbolism.