For those birthday boys or girls who are a bit sensitive about their age, a sentimental birthday celebration with family and close friends is the way to go. Often times, this type of party lends itself perfectly to a 'Memory Lane' theme where you feature poster boards or a slide show with photos of the birthday boy or girl throughout their lives (from birth through the present). A great idea is to send guests a blank 'scrapbook' page where they can add their own thoughts or photos of their dear friend or relative. They just bring it with them to the party and all of them are gathered together to create a one-of-a-kind memory book.

If your birthday boy or girl has a great sense of humor, an over the hill themed party is entirely appropriate. Use over the hill themed invitations, decoration and tableware available at many local party supply stores or online at companies. When you send out the invitations, be sure to tell guests that gag gifts are entirely appropriate. You'll be amazed at the funny ideas that people come up with from canes to laxatives to adult sized diapers. The gift opening portion of the party is a hoot.

Another over the hill theme is a mock funeral. If you choose this theme, be absolutely certain that the person is in good health and that they haven't experienced a death in the family recently. Obviously, this theme is a bit touchy, but can be hilarious for the correct person. We recommend this type of theme for 40th and maybe 50th birthdays. The invitations should say something about 'In Memory of so & so's Youth' on the front and then inside say that you are having a 'Mock Funeral Service because so & so has fatally slipped over the hill'. Depending on how far you want to take the theme, you can ask guests to dress in funeral appropriate attire such as black. Ask a few of the birthday celebratee's close friends or family to write funny mock eulogies. Either in your home or at the party establishment, drape a table in black fabric and set-up chairs in a row in front of the table to make it look like a wake (we've heard of people asking the person to lie down on the table during the eulogy reading). As guests arrive, hand out funeral programs full of funny little sayings and memories about the person and have background organ music playing. Serve refreshments and a tombstone shaped cake after the ceremony.

For 50th birthday, a Hawaii 5-0 party is a fun theme because so many party stores sell luau themed supplies which make this type of party an easy one to plan and throw. Just ask guests to dress in Hawaiian or tropical themed attire. Be sure to have the guest of honor wear a grass skirt and lei. Decorate with blow up palm trees and colorful lanterns. Serve drinks in coconut or pineapple glasses and have tropical themed food such as pineapple-chicken kabobs, fresh fruit and blue Hawaiian drinks. And don't forget a game of Limbo.

Celebrate The Decade parties are also great ideas for 50th and 60th birthdays. For instance if it is a 50th birthday party, have a fabulous fifties (1950's) themed party and for a 60th birthday, have a psychedelic sixties party. Ask guests to dress in decade appropriate clothing (e.g. tie dye, leg warmers, leisure suits, etc). Decorate with movie posters, vintage home appliances and colors associated with the particular decade. You could even play games like Hula Hoop. The most important aspect of a decade party is the music. You should have mix CD's with songs just from that decade playing. You could even consider having a Karaoke machine with songs from a particular period.

Got a friend or family member turning 30, 40, 50 or 60? Don't let these milestones pass by without gently teasing the old birthday boy or girl with one of these great birthday gift ideas. Be forewarned that these gift ideas are designed to poke fun so make sure that the recipient has a great sense of humor.

Over The Hill Shirts can be purchased either online or at a local mall. Of course, they wouldn't be complete without a silly saying like "At my age, happy hour is a nap" , "I'm great in bed....I can sleep for days", "In Dog Years...I'm Dead", or "I'm not aging...I'm increasing in value".

Over The Hill Gift Baskets featuring many silly items can be found at many online shops who ship directly to the old birthday boy or girl. These gag gift baskets include things like laxatives, anti-aging soap, chocolate dentures, prune juice, a megaphone to improve hearing, hemorrhoid cream, over the hill mugs and over the hill foods like bran flakes and black jelly bean pills. Many places use bed pans and coffins as the basket container. If you are really ambitious, you could put one of these baskets together yourself.

Over The Hill Birthday Hats make great gifts especially for over the hill birthday parties. The birthday boy or girl can where the cap throughout the party. Hats come in many varieties from baseball caps that say "Old Fart" to birthday hats with candles and an "Old & Grumpy" saying to birthday tiaras with the age like "40" displayed on the front.

"What A Year It Was" Books make great gifts. These books include articles about events, photos, magazine ads and general trivia about the year when the birthday celebrant was born. If you'd like to give a more serious gift that will be treasured, this is a great option.

Fabulous Little Gag Gifts can be found at your local Wal-mart or Rite Aid. Some examples are an extra large pair of granny panties, a pill bottle filled with black jelly beans that say 'Energizer Pills', a little magnifying glass that has a personalized hang tag reading 'Vision Enhancer', ugly slippers that say 'Old Man Slippers' that he has to wear at the party, etc.

Over The Hill Birthday Cookie Bouquets are fun because they are a sweet and funny gag gift all wrapped up into one. Usually featuring containers such as a gift coffin or funny sayings like 'Here Lies Your Youth', these cookie gifts even make great party centerpieces and the cookies can even be given to guests as birthday party favors.

Finally, shop at websites such as Get Silly for small gag gifts. From over the hill toilet paper to fart gag gifts to party supplies, this is a one stop birthday gag gift shop.

30-40-50-60 Poem from Image-e-Nation

Just because you're (30) (40) (50),
Don't despair, oh no
Overnight you won't discover
You've lost your get up and go.
Nor will you become all wrinkled,
Nor ache from head to toe.
So even though you're ripening
Don't regard it as a blow,
You won't suddenly look decrepit ....

...Cos that happened long ago!!

TURNING FIFTY by Sue Taylor from Funny Junk

Today I turned fifty. I feel really good.
My body's still working quite well thanks. (Touch wood!)
My hair's not too grey, my wrinkles are few,
I can still touch my toes with my knuckles. (Can you?)
I'm quite full of vigour, just getting ripe.
(But they now print the phone book in much smaller type.)
My hearing's still good. What's that you say?
Speak clearly, don't mumble, your voice wafts away.
Inside this old body I'm still young, but then
If life starts at forty, I'm really just ten.

Fine Chardonnay! also from Funny Junk

It's hard to believe I'm 39.
But am I aging like fine wine?

They say 39 is the new 25
Could someone please tell my thighs.

My make-up free days are a thing of the past.
I just hope my concealer lasts.

What are these grey hairs atop my head.
Tell me Miss Clairol, should I go red?

These lines on my face are beginning to furrow
Soon they'll be deep enough for a rabbit's burrow

But joking and silliness aside
This has been a wonderful ride

So 40 I'm ready, bring what you may
I've decided, I'm a fine Chardonnay!

Life begins at 40 by Lella Dal Ferro at Special Birthday Poems

As you grow each year,
To the sky without fear.
Sound judgment and roots,
Sweeter than fruits.

With seasons you change,
Isn't that strange?
Standing tall and strong,
You know you belong.

Many climb for support,
You're a great sport.
At forty, a young tree,
We must all agree.

Over The Hill by Martin Dejnicki from Special Birthday Poems

You're over the hill,
So take a pill.
Aches and pains,
Always complains.

Supermarket clothes,
Everyone knows.
Children's taxi service,
Won't make you nervous.

Youth of old age,
Demand the best wage.
Relax and chill,
You're over the hill.

The Big Five-Oh by Martin Dejnicki from Special Birthday Poems

So you are finally fifty;
Happy birthday on the big Five-Oh.
I guess you could fill a great big book
With everything you know.

A whole half century of living
Is nothing to sneeze about,
So if you're a little patched and worn,
Don't you dare frown or pout.

Ignore things that make you feel old;
It's really great to be fifty.
You're smart, attractive and good company,
And I still think you're nifty!

Over The Hill At Forty by Joanna Fuchs from Poem Source

So it's your fortieth birthday;
Four decades have gone and passed.
They say when you get older,
Time goes twice as fast.

I wouldn't know, of course,
Since I am still quite young,
But for you, the music is over;
Your last song has been sung.

You're just over the hill at forty;
You went down without a fight.
Time rushes on, and soon
That "hill" will be out of sight!

Happy Birthday Anyway!