A Little Harmless Fun

With April Fool's Day (April 1st) just a little over a week away, I thought it might be time to share some great practical joke ideas with you so you have time to plan and prepare your own little "gotcha!" for April Fool's Day - or any other day that you want to have a little harmless fun.

I enjoy a good practical joke - both on the giving AND receiving end, but I think I may enjoy being the giver just a bit more... and I've pulled some winners! I don't limit my practical joking to one day a year either - when the mood strikes, I'm there ;) Luckily for my husband Al, he is just as much of a practical jokester as I am, so my pranks are usually well received - once he realizes what I'm up to!

For example, one time he had to go to Vegas for a training seminar for work. It had been some time since I had played any practical jokes on him, but I had been thinking about cutting my hair and going back to my natural dark blonde color around that time - and since Al prefers my hair long and light blonde, it gave me an idea. The day he was driving home from Vegas, as usual, he called me to let me know that he was leaving the hotel. I hadn't spoken to him since the afternoon before, and when I answered the phone, I put my plan into action. I made sure I sounded nervous and a bit distracted and of course, he asked what was wrong. I assured him that nothing was wrong but promptly changed the subject. He said he would call again when he hit a certain point in his drive - and I eagerly awaited the next phone call. A couple of hours later, he called as promised, and as we talked I brought up the change in hairstyles again - asking him how much he would hate it if I really did cut and color my hair. I knew how he would answer, and I was able to make my voice just shaky enough and excuse myself to blow my nose that he would believe I was very upset. I told him I needed to go, and to please call me from his last major stop for lunch before he hit Scottsdale. THAT phone call was the piece d' resistance. In my best sobbing performance I told him that not only had I gotten my hair cut short, but when they dyed it, it came out red instead of dark blonde... and I knew he would hate it. Being the sweetheart that he is, he of course reassured me that it couldn't be that bad and even if it was, it would grow out.

I have to interject here that I had gone out a couple days earlier and picked up an inexpensive very short auburn wig, which I now hurried to put on over my still very long and very blonde hair in anticipation of his arrival home. When he walked in the door about an hour and a half later, I was sitting at my desk in the office, my back to the door, wig in place and one of my favorite cowboy hats on. He came over to greet me and (thanks to thinking about some really sad subjects) as I turned around, tears flowed freely and I started mumbling about how awful my hair looked as he pulled off the hat. And from the look on his face, I could tell he was a bit surprised at my "new look". He tried to comfort me, but as planned, I ran into the bathroom, somewhat histrionic in my sobbing, and apologizing for making such a huge mistake. As he stood outside the bathroom door telling me that he'd love me no matter what, I was inside pulling off the wig and rearranging my real hair, babbling about what an idiot I was and how ugly I was... and promising to let my hair grow out again and go back to my light blonde. After an appropriate amount of time, I took a couple of deep sobs and agreed to come out of hiding. The look on Al's face as he stopped mid-sentence when I walked out of the bathroom was priceless. I said something to the effect of "was this quick enough to grow it out and dye it back?" and we both started laughing in that "gotcha" moment. We've played a number of practical jokes on each other over the years, but that is one that will always remain one of the best in our minds.

So... perhaps you'd like to play some practical jokes on a less grand scale. I'd be happy to share a few quick and simple ideas with you!

HONEY IN THE SOAP DISPENSER - only works if you usually use honey colored liquid soap! Simply replace the liquid soap with honey - it's a similar consistency, but definitely doesn't clean as well!

SALT AND PEPPER TRICK: Unscrew the lids of the salt and pepper shakers, and fill the lids with salt and pepper, respectively. Then, tear or cut circles out of paper napkins to fit exactly over the lids. Holding the paper in place, carefully invert each lid and screw it onto the wrong shaker. The victim will see salt in the bottom of the shaker, but only pepper will come out, and vice versa.

REMOTE CONTROL TOMFOOLERY: If you want to fool with someone’s television viewing, purchase a Universal Remote and from a nearby vantage point, perform various actions such as changing the channel or turning the television off as your victim watching it wonders what is going on.

WHILE YOU WERE OUT: Leave a phone message for the victim that says that a “Mr. Lyon” called (or Mr. Behr also works), and wants to be called back. Then list the phone number of the local zoo.

MINOR ACCIDENT: Put a note on your victim’s car that says “Sorry about the dent. Call me so we can swap insurance information.” Include a fake name and phone number. Be sure to hide nearby so you can watch them search in vain for the “dent.”

THE RUN AROUND: Set this prank up ahead of time by letting the kids know you’re planning on having some painting done in the house. Then, before they come home from school, put up two signs: on the front door – “Wet Paint – Use Back Door,” on the back door – “Wet Paint – Use Front Door.” Then see how many times they’ll run around the house trying to get in.

GAINED A FEW: Buy a pack of underwear that matches those that the victim usually wears, but make sure they are one or two sizes too small. Wash them a few times so they don’t look new. When the victim puts them on April 1st, they will think they’ve put on a few too many pounds.

PIECE OF CAKE: Take a round car-washing sponge, or a piece of craft foam, and decorate it with cake frosting, sprinkles, etc. Then try not to laugh when the victim struggles to cut themselves some cake.

SPECIAL DAY: If you are eating at a restaurant with someone, sneak off to the side and tell your server that it is the person’s birthday. Then watch the surprised look on their face when all the waiters and waitresses come over with a cake and begin singing to them. Even better if you tell the waiters that it’s the victim’s 50th birthday (or add 20 years to their age). (We've done this to Al's daughter - on one visit out here, she had numerous birthday celebrations even tho it was nowhere near her birthday - we also gave them a nickname for her that drives her crazy!)

Whatever you do and whomever you do it to, enjoy! They will too :D

Fully Functional April Fool Keyboard - White on Black pictured above available at andyabel on Etsy!