Plan A Virtual Party with LYFETYMES Party

How To Celebrate Virtually In 2020

Planning a Virtual Party and not sure where to start? You can plan any Birthday Party, Baby Shower, Graduation Party, Holiday Party, and more, with LYFETYMES - the fastest-growing party planning platform and app.

At-Home and Virtual Parties can still be festive and engaging. It does not just have to be a Face-time call, you can make it as memorable as you want and it is important to celebrate those milestones and recognize they have been accomplished. You can plan for free at LYFETYMES or if you don’t have the time or non-technical, head to the LYFETYMES Vendors Marketplace to find a party stylist or wholesale goods to help plan and style your entire party at an affordable price.

There are still many ways to still celebrate with your friends and family and put on the best celebration possible in 2020 you can give them while at home during quarantine and engaging in social distancing. Whether it is a Virtual Party, At-Home Party, Drive-by Party, or Hybrid of them all, we have gathered some innovative ways to celebrate the moments that matter most.

Virtual At-Home Party

Virtual Major Moments- Great for Proposals, Gender Reveal, Sip and See’s, and College Admissions

These are intimate feel-good moments that people are going to love to be a part of even virtually. We will celebrate more of them than ever because we want to connect even more with friends and family, as these are the precious memories that will bring smiles.

Most commonly, you will physically be with less than 10 people, most likely people that live in your home only, and having friends and family join virtually. You can still decorate, open presents, have party activities, etc. You may want to move things traditionally at the end of a party to the front- So start with singing Happy Birthday, Blowing Out Candles, opening gifts, that way if people cant stay they at least get the big highlight!

Add some front yard signs to add to the moment!

There are many sign companies where you can hire (and support small businesses) to come decorate your yard with personalized signs overnight so it is ready to go in the morning! You will be surprised by the smiles, great selfies, and honking you get from well-wishers driving by!

Hosting a Successful Virtual Party

At Home & Virtual Parties can be fun, but if you want it to be as successful as possible, then it does require some planning and effort. Here is a quick rundown of how to get it done!

• Start Planning Your Party at LYFETYMES -It is a free one-stop-shop for parties.

• No more Paper Invites-Create your Free Party Website to text/email to guests to RSVP to your party, you can personalize with a picture or a video and share your LYFETYMES Party Website on FB or via text.

• Add a virtual party link/URL to your LYFTEYMES from any of the services you use like Zoom or Goggle Hangouts, so all they have to do click it and party with you!

• Add a slideshow link! These are great to include on your website for guests to enjoy!

• Add an easy registry link for guests to send gifts to your door! Including a registry is a great way to receive cash or gifts directly.

• Determine where in the house, backyard, or space you will use for the party, a fun backdrop can be great for gift opening, a central focus of the room for photos.

• Determine Theme and Decor and order to your door ahead of time there are a ton of delivery solutions, like yard signs, food, cake, and balloons that can be dropped outside your door. You can add all your ideas to your LYFETYMES party!

• Make an agenda, especially for your video call - make sure you have put some thought into the call- the last thing you want is a boring virtual party! You can create an agenda and digital checklist in LYFETYMES to keep you on track for songs and games!

The At Home & Virtual Quarantine Survival Guide

How To Celebrate In 2020

by Liz Grisham and Katie Cunningham

Celebrations both large and small have been canceled or postponed that was planned for the Spring and Summer, which are the most popular Seasons for major milestone life events such as Weddings, Showers and Graduations. Not only has this interrupted these important life events friends and family had looked forward to, but the entire event infrastructure we use to help us with these Celebrations mostly made up of small businesses, have been severely impacted.

Many of us have considered canceling a Birthday Party, Baby Shower, Graduation Party, etc that are coming up in the next few weeks or months due to Social Distancing related to COVID-19. This may seem like a realistic approach to celebrating “when this is over” leaving some very disappointed kiddos, graduates, and moms to be, but the Leading Physiological Experts say this does more damage than good.

Take Your Party Medicine

It’s important to revisit why we celebrate milestones in the first place and the positive emotional effects brought forth by continuing it. It is not just important for our children, but there are major benefits that we as adults can benefit from celebrating.

According to social psychology researcher Fred Bryant and others, when we stop to savor the good stuff, we buffer ourselves against the bad and build resilience—and even mini-celebrations can plump up the positive emotions which make it easier to manage the daily challenges that cause major stress. Which is so important for all of us right now.

When we have something to look forward to or look ahead to something worth celebrating, we feel more optimistic, according to research led by Hadassah Littman-Ovadia.

Dr. Allen Schwartz states:  In my opinion, as a therapist, mental health worker, and human being, these (Celebrations) things are not only not childish, but are extremely important. These celebrations are markers of achievements in our lives and the celebrations to recognize or remember these events help to reinforce to each of us our significance as unique individuals. Perhaps the most important celebration of all is the birthday because it demarcates our arrival on this earth.

Traditions and celebrations surrounding birthdays are important for other, deeper reasons, too, and are a “special – and necessary – part of childhood,” says Heather Ulrich, Ph.D., child, and family psychologist in Asheville.

“Children come to depend on these events for consistency and continuity in their lives and birthdays, in particular, provide unique benefits for children cognitively, socially and for parent-child relationships,” says Ulrich, who is also an assistant professor of psychology at UNC Asheville and the parent of two girls, ages 4 and 7.

“Celebrating a child’s birthday allows parents to demonstrate the joy and love they have due to the addition of that child to our world (and the family),” says Ulrich. “Sharing special experiences and creating memories enhances the bond and security between parent and child, and increased secure attachment has lasting effects on a child's self-esteem, development, behavior, and emotions.”

Celebrating a child's birthday every year helps them to understand “the growing up process of aging each year and assists them in understanding what each age means and its developmental significance,” says Ulrich. “It’s not the party or elaborate celebration that matters; it’s the focus on the individual child for that day and a focus on their new age and development.”

Neuroscience on https://www.psychologytoday.com/ explains what impacts by having positive celebrations can have on emotions:

• Celebration Conversations elevate the level of such “feel good” chemicals like oxytocin and the endorphins—neuropeptides produced in the central nervous system. Their release into our system gives us a sense of well-being.

  • Serotonin that is boosted by cheering and pleasant conversations is widely known for increasing motivation and can even transform stress into success. 

  • When you celebrate, endorphins are released inside your body and you feel incredible. When you accomplish something and don't take the time to celebrate, you are robbing yourself of an important feeling that reinforces your success.

  • Conversely, if you fail to celebrate, you are training your brain that what you are doing isn't all that exciting and important. Simply put, the lack of celebration will lead to a feeling of emptiness lower our self-esteem over time.

So What in the Confetti do we do?

There are still many ways to still celebrate with your friends and family and put on the best celebration possible in 2020 you can give them while at home during quarantine and engaging in social distancing. Whether it is a Virtual Party, At-Home Party, Drive-by Party, or Hybrid of them all, we have gathered some innovative ways to celebrate the moments that matter most.

Virtual At-Home Party: Great for Birthdays and Baby Showers

Most commonly, you will physically be with less than 10 people, most likely people that live in your home only, and having friends and family join virtually. You can still decorate, open presents, have party activities, etc. You may want to move things traditionally at the end of a party to the front- So start with singing Happy Birthday, Blowing Out Candles, opening gifts, that way if people cant stay they at least get the big highlight!

Do a Drive-By: Great for Birthday Celebrations

Even though we’re social distancing, that doesn't mean you can't get into your car! Deck out your car with balloons and signs then drive by your friends or family’s house. Tell them to look outside and start singing "Happy Birthday" when they come out to look! The extra thought, time and attention decorating your car will make anyone smile.

Trunk Party! Great for Graduation and Baby Showers

The way this works is you have a specified time and date at your house, you turn your vehicle around or put up a table and friends get out of their car (one at a time) and drop off the gift and set it in the trunk or leave on the table. We have many vendors that offer services that set up some amazing banners and balloon displays in the front yard. You can say hi and wave from a socially safe place.

Virtual Major Moments- Great for Proposals, Gender Reveal, Sip and See’s, and College Admissions

These are intimate feel-good moments that people are going to love to attend. We will celebrate more of them than ever because we want to connect even more with friends and family, as these are the precious memories that will bring smiles. These can last around 15-30 minutes, decorate a cute backdrop and have confetti bomb ready!

Hosting a Successful Virtual Party

At Home & Virtual Parties can be fun, but if you want it to be as successful as possible, then it does require some planning and effort. Here is a quick rundown of how to get it done!

• Start Planning Your Party at LYFETYMES -It is a free one-stop-shop for all thing parties.

• No more Paper Invites-Create your Free Party Website to text/email to guests to RSVP to your party, you can add a virtual party link, so all they have to do click and party with you!

• Add an easy registry link for guests to send gifts to your door! Including a registry is a great way to receive cash or gifts directly.

• Determine where in the house, backyard, or space you will use for the party, a fun backdrop can be great for gift opening, a central focus of the room for photos.

• Determine Theme and Decor and order to your door ahead of time there are a ton of delivery solutions, like yard signs, food, cake, and balloons that can be dropped outside your door. We are obsessing over Hero parties where they dress as our Front line Hero’s reinforcing how critical these roles are in our community.

• Make a mental agenda, especially for your video call - make sure you have put some thought into the call- the last thing you want is a boring virtual party!

What will be your first Virtual Celebration?

So At-Home and Virtual Parties can still be festive and engaging. It does not just have to be a Face-time call, you can make it as memorable as you want and it is important to celebrate those milestones and recognize they have been accomplished. You can plan for free at LYFETYMES or if you don’t have the time or non-technical, head to the LYFETYMES Vendors Marketplace to find a party stylist or wholesale goods to help plan and style your entire party at an affordable price.

Best Back to School Party Ideas

Back to School Party Ideas

Can you possibly imagine that summer is ending and it’s almost the beginning of the school year? It seems every year that the start date creeps a little closer and closer and the summers get shorter and shorter. Most parents are going through some range of emotions: A child starting kindergarten for the first time; entering a middle school; a first-year high school student or a senior preparing for adulthood. No matter where you are in the circle of life, it's normal for parents to feel anxious with any changes coming to their child's routine or environment.

So the good news is we are all going through this emotional roller coaster together. And yes, it’s a roller coaster: the other side of the coin is the guilty exhilaration we parents feel with back to school; doing cartwheels of freedom; full time accredited child supervision; grocery bill going in half by not having to feed "human food inhalers."

But the more significant point should be, it's a milestone, and it's worth celebrating. It is essential our children feel loved, excited, and confident going back into school and we are a part of that ecosystem.

To help navigate these waters for parents AND your kids, we wanted to share some of our favorite Back to School/end of Summer Party ideas to celebrate another year passing and another milestone beginning, So before you go, Saber that Champagne bottle, we put together a list of fun ideas to wrap this summer up! Also, head over to LYFETYMES Pinterest page for over 60,000 Party Ideas and Themes.

Slumber Parties and Camping Under the Stars

Sleepovers are a great way to bring kids back together and help them keep reacquainted after a long summer. They help keep friendships intact to ease those "first day of school" nerves. Host a Spa Party for girls to give some well-needed pampering before going back to school. We have great DIY inexpensive ideas and hacks from cucumber slices, facials, DIY Mani and Pedis, and more. https://blog.lyfetymes.com/home/slumber-party

Host a Camping or Glamping party, timing is great before we head into fall and then winter and nothing bonds friends more than stories by a campfire, making smores and gazing at the stars. Check out our favorites here https://www.pinterest.com/lyfetymes/camping-birthday-party/ Highly recommend pitching a tent and asking the kids to bring a sleeping bag and pillow. Even if you have it inside, there is nothing better than building an indoor fort!

New Adventure Class Party

If you have a youngster that still has a teacher and same class most of the day, you usually know who the teacher and kids in the class are prior to school beginning. Those are the children who most of your kids will be with most of their time. Arrange a "Back to School" party or "Meet & Greet" at the local park for a picnic with the kids. Think of it as a large organized play date. Have each parent bring a treat that wants to participate. Trust me, and these parents can really help you in a jam and its since classmates usually change every year, nice for your little one to know some familiar faces Day 1 of school.

Too Cool for School

This is fun for pre-teen/ teen kids who can be awkward and goofy and probably the most nervous about school. This age is also the age where you as a parent may not realize that adorable angel that said "I love you" every second, may morph into Satan's little helper at times no matter what you do. So while you are trying to help "kid network" like you would a LinkedIn even, you can also go on recon for who is going to be around them. Get their guard down by organizing an activity like Skating- 80's neon theme- bonus they won't be on their phones on skate due to fear of dropping their precious ring, I mean phone. Get neon inspired ideas at https://www.pinterest.com/lyfetymes/80s-party-ideas/

"Backpack Bash"

This can be done with friends, family, or classmates. All the kids bring backpacks, and each parent is responsible for bringing one supply from those god-awful supply lists kiosk at a Walmart that looks like it's been ransacked as if it had free money in it. Have the kids hand them out the supplies or trade t with each other. Makes a great scavenger hunt or treasure hunt activity by providing each child the list and clues or a map. It does take a bit to organize, but if you use www.lyfetymes.com – it will be painless to pull your party and school items together. Remember its all about the experience and building confidence and social skills and having fun doing it.

Coachella Party, Festival or Fair

The end of summer can be a great time to hold a festival, fair, or carnival. A great reason to bring a community together, and have a fundraiser for a great cause.

So many DIY inspirations and parents are eager to help. It can set a fun, positive tone for your group and school and become an annual event.

You can split it up in age-friendly groups k-5 Farmers Market Fair, Grade 5-8 Carnival and High School age Coachella. Fun activities ring toss, face-painting, and crafts. As well, you can help keep families cool in hot weather by renting a blow-up water slide and offering items such as shaved ice and water toys. Check out amazing Coachella ideas at https://www.pinterest.com/lyfetymes/coachella-theme-party/

Planning a Back to School Party?

Planning a party can be stressful and time-consuming, and that's why we created LYFETYMES. LYFETYMES is Your All-In-One FREE Digital Party Planner. We will help you plan your perfect Back to School party stress-free so you can soak up every moment. Start Party Planning in 30 seconds: Create a Party Website, manage guests & track RSVPs, add a registry, shop for decor, make food and items lists, add Co-Hosts to help, and more! You will never know how you did it before LYFETYMES. Follow us for the latest party ideas and trends at here.