The Search for the Best 50th Birthday Gifts Is Over

A milestone birthday can be tough to shop for. If you're trying to come up with a 50th birthday gift idea for someone special, you might wonder if they even want a reminder of time's passing. Ree Drummond could understand that because she certainly didn't. She wanted to pretend her birthday wasn't happening when she turned 50 last January!

Thankfully, Ladd didn't listen and threw her a surprise party at the Merc. It wasn't exactly a small affair—Ree's sister, Betsy, flew to Pawhuska from Seattle, and her childhood friends came in from San Diego, Dallas, Kansas City, and Atlanta. They celebrated with lots of food from The Mercantile, including cream puffs, lobster bites, arancini, and—of course—a floral cake. The best gift? A bejeweled cowboy hat (!) from Ree's friend Jenn.

A big surprise bash probably isn't in the cards this year, but that doesn't mean you can't go big on presents! From jewelry to books to flowers, here are 25 unique, thoughtful gifts that are worthy of the Big 5-0. Ree loves perfume, bubble baths, and pretty candles, but if all else fails just shop like she shops for Ladd. "Food and wine is the universal love language, so that’s an easy thing to fall back on," she says.