One of my friends is currently serving a mission in California, and it was his birthday a couple weeks ago! I kept mulling over what to send him and two weeks after his birthday, I figured it out! So, if you have someone far away and you don't really know what to send, here's an idea. :) Party in your envelope!
Get an envelope and fill the bottom of it with confetti. Who doesn't like confetti? Especially on their birthday.
Put your happy birthday note in there.
Put multiple deflated balloons. A party always needs a few balloons.
And last, put some sort of noise maker. I found some small kazoos that fit just right.
Fill any empty space with more confetti and tape the letter shut. Tape the crap out of it, because you don't want that confetti popping out before it arrives!
There's a party in an envelope! I packed him all the necessities except for cake (Who needs the calories, anyway?;) so he can celebrate just once more.