For her part, my sister is far less inclined to frivolities. But, as her 50th birthday drew closer on the calendar, I simply couldn't stand to let it go unacknowledged without the kind of blowout ...

My sister is much more low-key than I am, and for her 50th birthday, I wanted to pamper her. I planned a trip for her and two of our mutual friends to Las Vegas, and we had an amazing time. We packed ...