This week is one of my favorites of the year: my husband’s birthday week! I take great pleasure in celebrating the people I love most — my spouse being number one. Luckily I married someone who’s a good sport and can take a little spoiling.
Due to the coronavirus, plenty are postponing celebrations in hope for better days to come. But with no end to the restrictions in sight, I think it’s better to take time to celebrate. Plus, in the midst of the despair in our world today, a little celebration could do us all some good.
Here are some inexpensive ways to make birthdays (or any special occasion!) festive during quarantine:
Cheese It Up: Remember those themed birthday parties you used to have as a kid … who says adults can’t have those, too? Decide on a fun theme for your celebration — like fiesta, beach, nautical, or travel — and plan food and activities to match it. The cheesier the better! We all need a smile during this time.
Tip: A great way to set the tone (and make your home look festive) is with decorations. Etsy has a lot of inexpensive decor you can purchase, or make some yourself using YouTube video tutorials.
Crank Up the Tunes: A great playlist can make any day a celebration. If you have a theme for your party, be sure to incorporate that as well.
Tip: My husband recently started a music exchange with a few of our friends, and it’s really livened up our quarantine. Each week, someone creates a playlist of ten songs. It’s allowed us to explore new music and get to know our friends even better.
Call In the Troops: People are what really make a party fun, so find ways you can bring your friends and family together while staying safe. A few ideas: a drive-by birthday parade (where people drive by your home to say happy birthday from their cars); a Zoom happy hour (where people can drop in online); or a socially-distanced birthday picnic (where everyone brings their own food).
Tip: One fun way to spice up the day is to use Cameo to have one of your favorite stars send a personal message. While some of these can get pretty pricey, there are some lesser known stars that are fairly inexpensive.
Play Some Party Games: This is a great opportunity to pull out a board game for some face-to-face fun. Take time to review the rules and set it up before the party so you can play stress-free.
Tip: Want to get more players involved? There are plenty of websites (like Jackbox) and even online board games that make it easy to play online with friends.
Take It Outside: Explore the parks and trails near your house, or take a mini road trip to explore some of the hidden gems in your state. Pack some snacks and or a picnic to make your journey extra fun.
Tip: Many well-known parks and landmarks have been getting extra attention since being outside is one of the few things people can do safely during quarantine. Take the time to research how busy the park and paths have been using a site like All Trails. If you can, go on a non-weekend day or get there extra early on a weekend day. Or, take the path less traveled and research some less well-known options near you.
Enjoy Dinner In: Who says you have to go out to eat well? Spend the afternoon creating a fancy dinner of your own, or order takeout from your favorite ‘special occasion’ restaurant. You can even dress up to add to the experience.
Tip: To make it feel fancy, pay attention to the details. Prep your table like you’re having guests over. Put on some music, light some candles, pull out a nicer china place setting if you have it. This is a great time to shop local for a special dessert, bakery fresh bread, and/or a beautiful bouquet to really set the mood.
Make It Yourself: If you’re someone who generally shies away from making a gift, now may be your moment to get creative. The great news is you don’t have to do it alone — there are plenty of YouTube tutorials to help you make just about anything. Not very crafty? Create a video message or write down some of your favorite memories.
Tip: As with any gift, but particularly when you are making something, be sure to consider the recipient’s love language. Remember, this gift doesn’t have to be a “thing” — it could be a massage, handling some of the yard work, uninterrupted time together, or whatever you know will bring them great joy.
Experience It Together: Just because you’re stuck at home doesn’t mean you can’t try something new together or even virtually travel to a place you’ve always wanted to go. Try out Airbnb experiences, where you can take classes in cooking, mixology, history, culture, dance, and more! Join a concert or comedy club live stream event.
Tip: Believe it or not, you can even do virtual wine tastings. Connect with a vineyard you’ve always wanted to visit or organize it yourself.
Take Your Time: With vacations being cancelled, many people have also cancelled their time off from work. If you can, make the celebration extra special by taking a day or two away, even if you don’t leave the house. This extra time will make everything feel more relaxing.
Tip: If you haven’t already, check into your employer’s vacation policy to see how much you can roll over to the next year. Make a plan to at least take off the time you might lose if you don’t take it by the end of 2020.
What creative ways have you found to celebrate during quarantine?