We’re working from home (if we’re lucky), we’re not seeing friends and our travel plans have been cancelled for the foreseeable future. We’ve had to pivot our routines and adjust to this (temporary) new normal. One thing we keep thinking and hearing about is birthday celebrations during this time. We know, what a bummer! When this is all over, there will definitely be a time and NEED to celebrate with loved ones. And while you may not be able to take that big trip or have that huge party you’ve been planning, there are definitely some things you can do to still make your birthday celebration special during self-isolation. Whether it’s for the kiddos, your spouse or yourself, here some fun and unique ideas on how to make a quarantine birthday one to remember:
@leadariamint
1.) Host a Virtual PartyÂ
Okay, you probably saw this one coming, but we had to include it on the list. FaceTime, Zoom and Google Hangouts have been SUCH a game changer during self-isolation. Create a fun e-vite and send it out to all your friends. Maybe do a virtual theme, and ask everyone to change their background (easy to do on Zoom!) to a fun tropical destination. Send everyone the ingredient list for your favorite cocktail, maybe a spicy margarita to keep with the tropical theme! When the time comes, and you all sign on, it might surprise you how much fun this can actually be. And, if you haven’t tried Houseparty yet, it’s SO addictive and will add some hilarious game activities to the party.
2.) Have a Birthday Parade
This trend started with teachers driving by student’s houses to say hello (SOB!) and is another fantastic idea to celebrate a birthday and still see each other from a far. Organize a group drive past the birthday house where everyone can honk, wave and hold up a “Happy Birthday sign.” Another fun extension of this idea is to leave out some sidewalk chalk with a sign and let neighborhood family and friends leave you a colorful birthday message on their daily walks.
3.) Hire your favorite character for a special birthday message
To make the day extra special for kids, you can actually hire their favorite characters like Elsa, Cinderella or Aladdin to wish them a happy birthday. One company doing this is  Prestige Princess. You can sign up for a video message or even a video party, which includes story time, Q&A and even a singalong.
4.) Baking Party + Cake Decorating
Round up the whole family, put on some cute birthday aprons and work together on some epic birthday treats! We recommend doing something big and colorful, like a 3-4 tier cake in your/their favorite colors. We love this recipe from What’s Gaby Cooking. But since you have the whole day, why stop there? Make some fun dessert “appetizers” like tarts or cookies. You could even try a hand at candy making! This is a fun and delicious way to spend the day together.
Focus the entire day on pampering. Create a spa-like environment by tidying up, diffusing some essential oils or lighting a few yummy candles and put on your fuzziest robe. Master an at-home mani pedi (we love this DIY kit by Olive and June). Do a face mask and a hair mask. Put lemon and cucumbers in your water. Do a guided meditation. And then open that nice bottle of red you’ve been saving. Whatever makes you feel indulgent and comforted – do it all on this self care inspired day.
6.) Paint Party for Kids / Paint and Sip for Adults
This is the PERFECT time to express yourself creatively. There’s a lot of emotions going around, and art is an amazing outlet. Buy some canvases and acrylic paint, throw down some tarps and paint together around a common theme. You can do finger painting, paint to music or even try your hand at a guided YouTube tutorial. To make this an adult version, just add wine đ
7.) Make your home a decoration wonderland – with a theme!
If you’ve always wanted to go crazy with decorations but just didn’t have the time – now you do! Delivery services are your friend, and Amazon has some awesome party kits to totally transform your house. You can go classic birthday with balloons, confetti and streamers OR you could pick a theme like 90’s, outer-space, glow in the dark, etc. which can make it feel like a little getaway, all within your own home. Not only should you dress up the house, but pick out fun outfits to match your theme and make a whole day of it.
Put down the electronics for awhile and dust off your old board games. Everyone gets to pick a favorite, whether itâs Yahtzee, Clue, Monopoly or good old fashioned poker. If youâre in a big household, divide up into teams and color code â Team Parents wears blue, kids wear red, etc. Start a tournament bracket and order little prizes for winners.
9.) Plan an elaborate scavenger hunt
Instead of sitting around to open presents, might we suggest something a little more exciting? Create an elaborate scavenger hunt to find birthday presents. Maybe the first clue comes in the mailbox, which leads you to the garden, then the attic, then the junk drawer…you get the picture! The more steps the better – and make the clues challenging! This will add an extra level of fun and intrigue to the day.
10.) Cook a beautiful dinner at home
If it’s just the two of you, or if you’re alone, now is the time to try your hand at a new recipe that you may have been afraid to tackle. Maybe it’s got a lot of steps, takes a long time, or requires a skill you haven’t quite mastered. Give it a try and enjoy the whole process! Make a Quarantini, put on some good music and take your time. Light some candles, put out your nicest dishes and cloth napkins and really make a night of it. You deserve some romance on your birthday, and this is a great way to do it.
