Surprise trip for mum, Paris

Old Aug 20th, 2016, 05:01 AM
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Surprise trip for mum, Paris

Hi!

My brother and I decided to get our mum a trip to Paris for her 50th (for dad and her). We pay for plane tickets and transport to and from the airport and she will get money from family and friends as a present for a trip (stay and sightseeing there).
So on her birthday we have a big party (it's very casual and nice enviourment so we will tell her at the party). But we want to give her hints about it all day long until the evening where we will present her with the tickets. We will give them i a box with a french dictionary and phrase book, macarons and croisants. But do you have any other subtle hints for throughout the day?

+any other conventional stuff we should include in the gift box?
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Old Aug 20th, 2016, 07:20 AM
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I think the French dictionary might be a tip off, not to mention the other stuff. That's not really subtle, but you are really being very nice with all these ideas.

You could give her a CD, if she listens to them, with some kind of French music on it -- if she likes classical, something by Debussy, perhaps, would be the most obvious, although I really like the piano trios of Chausson, Saint Saens and Faure, and I love most everything by Ravel. There are some very good violin sonatas by Franck, Debussy and Ravel. This is a very good version:
http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/us/cat/4211542
Chopin was an immigrant so maybe not so obvious. For piano music, a CD where Pascal Roge would be good, he's done a lot of recordings of Poulenc and Satie's solo works that are quite good. For traditional French chanson, something by Barbara or Mouloudji, for more modern singers, I really like the CDs by Stacey Kent "Raconte-moi" and Karen Akers "Sous le Ciel de Paris", among others. Sous le Ciel de Paris has the title that may be the non-subtle.

How about some Eiffel Tower scissors, these are cute:
http://www.target.com/p/eiffel-tower...d/-/A-50414027

Lots of perfumes you could give her, but this is getting pretty expensive for good stuff. Yves St Laurent makes one named Paris, for example, or Rive Gauche. You can get the smallest eau de toilette for about $35.

Of course there are various body creams and lotions that you could get a small version that are French or makeup, like a lipstick or lipgloss by Chanel (which isn't cheap).

I like the idea of music or the scissors, they are cheapest.
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Old Aug 20th, 2016, 07:52 AM
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What a great present!

Why not some hints that she's going on a trip? Anything French is pretty much a give-away. Travel sizes of her favorite shampoo or lotion? A couple of paperbacks. Neck pillow for the plane? Starter pack of euro coins, although that will narrow it down considerably.

BTW, are passports up to date or is there time to get them?
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Old Aug 20th, 2016, 08:10 AM
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When my neice graduated from high school I took her to Paris and Lomdon. The way I told her was with a photo album I filled with pictures of iconic spots in both cities and cut out little pictures of her to insert in all the photos. I included some Paris metro tickets, some euros and pounds, and a few other items she would use on the trip.
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Old Aug 20th, 2016, 08:42 AM
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Belinda, that photo album with pictures inserted of your niece is a fabulous idea!
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Old Aug 20th, 2016, 09:23 AM
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A hunchback ?
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Old Aug 20th, 2016, 09:39 AM
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I loooooove all these ideas!
But yes the box with dictionary would come at the very end along with tickets
The music is such a great idea, especially if it's a piano version (maybe at breakfast) and it won't tip it off right away.Thank you!

Cathinjoetown, you're a gem! Maybe a bagguete and not very known french stuff? Euros are a no go, since its our currency. And we do not need passports either, traveling inside Europe is amazing

But were defiently stealing the album idea! Thanks!
Also the huntchback is a+ but did you have any ideas in what way to present that to not look weird (except of the cartoon xd)

++any advice on the stay there? Apartments, hotels?
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Old Aug 20th, 2016, 09:41 AM
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Alternative music option - old song (1939) but the twist of a modern pop performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmiI98EG1Fo
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Old Aug 20th, 2016, 09:48 AM
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L'Occitane hand cream
Chanel Number 5

Parisian themed compact http://www.fairyglen.com/ps52972.htm...Q#.V7iXWIj3arU

Serve Champagne and French cheeses at the party
Paris themed note cards
Diptyque candles
A book set in Paris (Cara Black series, A Moveable Feast by Hemingway, The Sweet Life in Paris, The Only Street in Paris, My Life in France, Paris to the Moone, The Paris Wife, John Baxter has several great books about Paris, like The Most Beautiful Walk in the World, etc...)

What a wonderful gift. I am sure she will be ecstatic!
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Old Aug 20th, 2016, 10:42 AM
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A little gargoyle, a copy of one on Notre Dame. Good substitute for the hunchback.
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Old Aug 20th, 2016, 10:52 AM
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One of those tiny music boxes that plays old French songs.
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