Plan A Virtual Party with LYFETYMES Party
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.
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!
Best 1st Birthday Baby Shark Theme Party
Best 1st Birthday Baby Shark Theme Party
This beautiful 1st baby shark birthday party was submitted by Carter 7 Grand Events. This is what she said was her inspiration to create and style this party. “As a party planner/decorator; we are often asked to repeat a popular theme more than once; and BABY SHARK being as popular as it is; we have completed several setups; however, this was our first large setup and our first setup for the theme outdoors.
It was a very HOT TEXAS DAY, but we managed to pull through. Our client was very excited to celebrate Romir's first birthday party and even motivated and gave us so much eagerness to set up such a memorable event. We took a little bit of everything we had previously set up before and added a little twist to it.
Having the event outdoors under a tent; gave us a little more imagination to work with; from the balloons hanging from the center of the tent; to the props being placed in front of the water wave custom table cloth that was made by our business owner Carla Smith. The entire setup was FUN - FUN -FUN. We never draw out a detailed setup map; we just bring what we need and then we allow our creative juices to flow and we create a GRAND-ness.
Carter 7 Grand Events is our business name; which has a very meaningful meaning behind it; which is part of the reason we love setting up children's events. Carter is the name of the owner of our business’s first son; who passed away during birth; it was her only child; but was the 7th child of her deceased husband, who passed away suddenly 2 years after their son passed away from a blood clot.
When hired to do children's events; it is always an exciting and fun time for us and most of our inspiration comes from our sweet and precious angels who watch over us from above.
We would like to invite you all to our business page on Facebook @Carter 7 Grand Events and on Instagram Carter 7 Grand Events
We would like to give a special thanks to She's Making Sweets for the amazing cake, custom candy apples and cupcakes; and also La Casa de Carton for our amazing marquee numbers that we love so much.
Romir's Baby Shark 1st birthday was definitely one of our favorite setups since dealing with this pandemic. Due to the pandemic of course business for us is not what it once was and parties are not how they use to be. Through the hand sanitizer on each table, and no candles being blown out on the main birthday cake, and food being served in to-go containers; we were still able to bring some sunshine with our decorations; even during the pandemic storm. We pray for the safety and well being of everyone and this too shall pass; we hope very soon.
We’ve included lots of pictures for you to enjoy every child’s dream party!
Vendor Credits:
Party Stylist & Event Planner: by Carter 7 Grand Events
Cake: She's Making Sweets
Party decor: La Casa de Carton
LYFETYMES is the #1 party planning website. Check us out for all your party planning needs!
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6th Birthday Cactus- Themed Party Ideas!
LEA LOVES CACTI. SHE LOVES THE ROUND ONES. I WANTED TO FOCUS ON A FEMININE CACTUS EVENT THAT MAINTAINED A MODERN FEEL. I LOVE THE PAIRING OF TERRA COTTA WITH ALMOST ANYTHING BUT ESPECIALLY WITH SAGE AND PINK. THE BEAUTIFUL PLATES CAME FROM THE LITTLE ARTIST AND WERE THE INSPIRATION FOR THE WHOLE LOOK OF THE LUNCH. THERE'S NOTHING THAT MAKES ME HAPPIER THEN A PRETTY TABLESCAPE SO I FOCUSED ON DETAILS.
6th Birthday Cactus-Themed Party Ideas!
Submitted By The Amazing Party Victoria Petrovsky @queen_victoriap
It’s been a pretty wild time we’ve all going through these past few months. Emotions are running high and if you’re like me it’s been kind of hard to wrap my head around it all. My niece who is only six understands some of what is going on but not exactly everything, so when we told her she might not be able to have a birthday party this year she was okay with it. Although, that didn’t exactly sit well with me because this little girl has been pulled out of school and had her entire world turned upside down. I felt like I had to find a way to celebrate her.
Lea loves cacti. She especially loves the round ones. I wanted to focus on a feminine cactus event that maintained a modern feel. I don’t know about you, but Cacti themed parties are one of my favorite themes. I am showing you how you can throw your own Fan-Cactus Birthday party!
I love the pairing of Terra-Cotta with almost anything, but especially with sage and pink. These beautiful Himalayan shot glasses were purchased from Himalayan Secrets.
The beautiful plates came from The Little Market and were the inspiration for the whole look of the lunch.
There’s nothing that makes me happier than a pretty tablescape so I made sure to focus on the details.
Since we were outside, we set up the umbrella for some shade. I decided to decorate the umbrella with this cute balloon garland from Nifty Balloons.
Cactus shot glasses, pink Himalayan salt shot glasses, sage drinking glasses, and terra cotta bowls. The floral arrangements from Pavan Floral were absolutely stunning and fit the vision perfectly. I couldn’t have dreamt it up any better.
Sharp balloons provided the amazing balloon cactus that was used as the backdrop for the dessert table. This cute sign made by @Creativeamme on Instagram was also a great touch to one of my favorite tables at the party.
The food ordered from Heirloom was delicious and paired great with the theme.
I also added a charcuterie board filled with greens and some pretty pink flowers to add to the party aesthetic.
The lovely desserts were made by Janice Wong, and let me tell you Janice never disappoints with her desserts. You can find her @janice.w0ng on Instagram.
She made the cutest cactus macaroons in terra-cotta pots
and a delicious rose gold drip cake with the cacti on top. She did such a fantastic job that I didn’t want to mess it up, but I couldn't resist and ended up having two slices.
At the end of the day, my niece was smiling and was so happy. She felt celebrated and that’s all I wanted. I hope this inspires you to have a little backyard cactus themed birthday celebration. We all need a little love and celebration.
Vendor Credits:
Flowers: www.pavanfloral.com / Insta: @pavanfloral
Rentals: www.3littlebirdseventplanning.com / Insta: @3littlebirdseventplanning
Balloons: www.niftyballoons.com /Insta: @sharpballoons.com
Sign: Insta: @creativeamme
Music: Insta: @djwillgill / www.djwillgill.com
Dessert: Insta: @janice.w0ng
Cactus Shot glasses: https://www.burkedecor.com
Himalayan Shot glasses: https://himalayansecrets.com
Dinner Plates: https://www.thelittlemarket.com
Food: www.heirloomla.com / Insta: @heirloomla
AMAZON DEALS & STEALS TO GO WITH THIS PARTY!
10 Awesome Social Distancing Kid Birthday Party Ideas
When life gives you a global pandemic, you turn your creative caps on. Although we've been stuck at home, the world around us is still moving. Our kids are missing their proms, graduations, and friends from school. Children's birthdays are being canceled. It might not be traditional, but it can still be special.
We all want to make our kids happy and lighten their spirits even in these difficult times. Here are ten ideas to celebrate your Child's Birthday while practicing social distancing.
10 Kid Birthday Party Ideas For Social Distancing
When life gives you a global pandemic, you turn your creative caps on. Although we've been stuck at home, the world around us is still moving. Our kids are missing their proms, graduations, and friends from school. Children's birthdays are being canceled. It might not be traditional, but it can still be special.
We all want to make our kids happy and lighten their spirits even in these difficult times. Here are ten ideas to celebrate your Child's Birthday while practicing social distancing.
Have a Virtual Party!
Virtual parties have been a big talk worldwide recently due to the CoronaVirus. With plenty of streaming platforms to use from, having a Virtual Party can be accessible to anyone anywhere. Platforms like Zoom, Google Hangouts, FaceTime, Skype, and more all have unique features for you and your guests to play with. It's essential to do your research before choosing a platform to make sure the platform you select is manageable for all your party guests. You can also check out Lyfetymes Blog to learn how to throw the Ultimate Virtual Party.
2. Virtual Princess/ Character Visit!
You planned a Frozen party or Superhero birthday party for months only for it to be canceled. There's an even better solution. Your kid deserves to have that theme party, and you can turn it up a notch by having a real-life character of choice join in on the fun. So let it go and let Elsa sing and dance at your child's virtual birthday party
3. Birthday TikTok Challenge
I'm sure by now you have all heard of TikTok. Most kids have been spending most of their time at home practicing their TikTok dance moves. Have the birthday kid pick a song on TikTok for everyone to dance to. Have your friends and family send in their dance version to the song. The fun challenge will get everyone excited and moving. You can even create a unique hashtag for the birthday dance. Seeing all your child's friends and family dancing will put a smile on their face.
4. Host a Virtual Movie Night
Invite your child's family and friends for a Movie Night In and include the link to Kast. Kast allows you to video share through your screen. Have your child pick out the movie they want to watch with their friends. Once your invitees download Kast, you can watch the film and have a live chat during it. Netflix also currently added an option to watch movies together and chat from your couches. It will be a virtual slumber party!
5. Drive-By Celebration
Set a time and date for your party guests to line up their cars and drive-by. You can set up a table for gifts and goody bags for your guests to take on their way! Decorate your driveway with balloons, garland, or sidewalk chalk for your guests and your little one to enjoy. To add some extra excitement for the birthday kid, purchase some confetti poppers for them to pop as guests drive by.
6. Decorate the Front Yard
Kids love surprises. Decorating your whole yard will make your kid's birthday! With these excellent birthday signs, surprise the birthday kid as they walk outside in the morning. You might also get some honks and cheers from neighbors passing by. Make your kid like you're throwing a big celebration even though you can't.
7. All Aboard the Party Express- Drive-By
If you don't live in a close neighborhood or don't want to bring the party to your location, you can try this alternative! Let your neighbors, family, and child's friends know that there's a birthday celebration coming up. Ask anyone who wants to join in on the party to put up signs, balloons, or anything else in their yards, driveways, or windows on the day of the birthday party.
Decorate your car with balloons and party decorations and take your children for a drive around the neighborhood to see all the birthday surprises. If you want to set a time, let everyone know so they can stand outside to cheer and sing for the birthday kid as you drive by.
8. Virtual Game Night
Don't let your kids' special day go without any fun games. Many Livestream platforms allow you to share your screen so the kids can play online. If your kids are at writing age, you can download the Mural app and use it as a whiteboard for Hangman and Pictionary. You can also play games like Guess that Song. Or even have the kiddos bust out some dance moves.
9. Birthday Scavenger Hunt
Everyone loves a good scavenger hunt, especially when there are gifts involved. Start your little one's special day with a fun scavenger hunt game around the house. You can create your clues or find some Birthday Scavenger Hunt printables/ ideas at Playtivities.com. Have the clues lead them to special surprises throughout the house.
10. Celebrate at Home- Mail it in
Have an at-home celebration for your child like you usually would, minus all the party guests. Decorate the house with balloons and garlands for your child to wake up to. Give your address to your friends, family, or close neighbors and ask them to mail postcards, birthday cards, letters, or whatever they would like for the birthday kid to open. My favorite kind of gifts are the ones that had much thought put into them, so these will be heartwarming gifts. Plus, your child will feel extra special, seeing what their loved ones took the time to do.
What will be your first Virtual Celebration?
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, check out our LYFETYMES Vendor Marketplace to find party services such as event planners, photographers, bakers, catering, balloon stylists and more.
Virtual Happy Hour Cocktail Guide
You're invited to a Virtual Happy Hour!
With the kids being home during this Pandemic, we could all use a break now and then. Take a sip, sit back, and catch up with some of your best friends through Livestream. We have put together some delicious and simple Vocktail -Virtual Cocktail- recipes for a fun night to unwind while practicing social distancing.
The Happy Hour Guide
by Carmen Lopez
You're invited to a Virtual Happy Hour!
With the kids being home during this Pandemic, we could all use a break now and then. Take a sip, sit back, and catch up with some of your best friends through Livestream. We have put together some delicious and simple Vocktail -Virtual Cocktail- recipes for a fun night to unwind while practicing social distancing.
Step One:
Choose your platform. The best part of a virtual party is the guests. Picking a platform that works best for everyone is crucial. With the growing technology, there are plenty of options like Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, and Google Hangouts. Though they all are used for the same thing, each platform has its unique features, so make sure to do your research before going with one.
Step Two:
Now, this is the fun part! Choose your Quarantine Cocktail of choice.
Mango Rita
This Margarita concoction is one of my personal favorites. Super easy to make, and the mango adds the perfect touch. You will need:
Ice
A fresh mango- diced
Mango juice (I use Jumex- Mango Nectar)
Lime juice
Tequila of choice (I used Silver Tequila)
Jalapeno slices – OPTIONAL (if you want to add some spice)
Chili powder and salt for rim
To start, grab a shaker, add the mango slices and jalapenos (optional), add lime juice, and muddle together.
Add ice
Pour in ½- 2 oz. of tequila
Add 3- 4 oz. of mango juice
Add ½ of lime, juiced
Shake it all up
In a plate mix together chili powder and salt for rim
Dress rim on the glass, add some more ice and pour in your mixture.
If you don't want to add the muddled mango and jalapeno(optional) slices, make sure to strain when pouring. You can add diced mango to glass as well as sliced jalapeno slices if desired. If you're a mango lover, this is the perfect drink for you.
White Claw Sangria
By now I'm sure everyone has heard of White Claws. If not, they are flavored Seltzers and millennials drink of choice. It turns out you can make any drink with a White Claw in place of club soda. This Cocktail is excellent for a Virtual Brunch with the usual Brunch squad.
What you'll need:
One bottle of dry white wine (I chose Pinot Grigio)
Apple Cider
A Raspberry White Claw
Raspberries, to taste (you can select a variety of fruits)
Orange Liqueur (Triple Sec, Cointreau)
How to make it:
Combine apple cider, raspberries, Rasberry White Claw, orange liqueur, and a bottle of wine.
You can also add apple slices and a cinnamon stick to garnish.
You can cover it up and refrigerate for 4 hours up to two days to mix to let all the ingredients infuse together.
Serve chilled.
The next three cocktail recipes are courtesy of @JessieJamesDecker on Instagram. Watch her IGTV to see how easy these recipes are to make.
The Quarantini
To create the Quarantini, you will need:
Ice
Your favorite glass
The sparkling water of choice- (The original recipe used La Croix Berry flavored.)
Pedialyte of choice- (the original method used grape flavor.)
One sugar packet (or sugar substitute)
One lemon
Red wine of choice
Now that you have all the ingredients, lets put it together.
Fill glass with ice and red wine.
Add flavored sparkling water.
Top off with Pedialyte
Finish with sugar (or sugar substitute)
Lemon to taste
Mix all together and ta-da!
The Quaranita
To create this Margarita with a twist, you will need:
· Two oranges
· Lime juice
· Salt for the rim
· Tequila of choice (I used Silver tequila)
· Ice
· Two squirts of agave nectar
Now, lets put the mix together. For this Margarita recipe, you will need a shaker.
Fill shaker with ice
Squeeze one orange into shaker
Add four shots of tequila
Add five tablespoons of lime juice
Mix in the Agave (you can always add more to taste)
Shake it all up
With a slice of your second orange rub it around the rim and salt rim
Add a bit more ice to the glass
Pour in the mixture from the shaker and add orange slices to glass for garnish
Beware this drink packs a punch, but tasty. You can always substitute ingredients to your liking.
The Quarantea
What's better than a nice mason jar full of iced sweet Tea on a hot day? Not much, but this twisted tea cocktail is a close second. You will need:
Simple syrup (if Tea is unsweet)
Vodka -of choice
Rum- of choice
Lemon juice
Ice
Iced Tea- of choice- (black iced Tea was used for original recipe)
Lemon slices or mint leaves for garnish
Get your ingredients together, grab your mason jars, and let's get to mixing.
Fill a cup with ice
Add an ounce of Vodka
Add a splash of Rum
Add a splash of Simple Syrup (if Tea is unsweet)
Add a splash of lemon juice
Top it off with Iced Tea
Add your lemon slices and Enjoy!
This Quarantea might be not only your Virtual Cocktail favorite but also your drink of choice for the summer.
Step Three:
Get dressed up to set the party mood. Put on a pair of new clothes that you have bought online during the quarantine. A Virtual Cocktail Party is the perfect excuse to serve some looks online.
Step Four:
Enjoy yourself! You deserve this moment to yourself. Share some laughs and cheers your friends with your Vocktails. If your group is feelings some fun games, check out (Virtual Party Games Blog.) For some fun ideas.
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, check out the LYFETYMES Vendor Marketplace to find party services to help you plan, style, and more for your next event.
7 Must-Try Virtual Party Games
So you've settled on hosting a virtual celebration but have no idea what to do during the live stream? What about a few party games to keep things fun! Check out these five completely VIRTUAL party games with little to no prep work!
7 Must-Try Virtual Party Games
By April Sharer and Carmen Lopez
So you've settled on hosting a virtual celebration but have no idea what to do during the live stream? What about a few party games to keep things fun! Check out these five completely VIRTUAL party games with little to no prep work!
1. Two Truths and a Lie
Two Truths and a Lie is the perfect ice breaker for a virtual party! It can be played with any number of people. As the host, ask guests to prepare two truthful statements about themselves and one lie. Each person in the group gets a turn. When it Is your turn, tell the group two things about yourself that are true and one untrue thing (your lie). Be sure not to say both of your truths first and then the lie because that makes it easier to guess. Mix the order up each time it is your turn. Everyone in the group has an opportunity to try to guess which statement was the lie. Once everyone in the group has guessed, the person will reveal what was true and what was false. The person that answered correctly can go next. This game can go around as many times as you would like or so that everyone gets a chance to go once. You might learn some surprising things about your party guests!
2. Charades
Most everyone knows the rules to this game, so little explaining will be necessary! For those that are unsure how to play, virtually Charades requires the player to mime or imitate a specific action or subject that the rest of the team has to figure out. Direct your guest to a word generator for their word. Taking turns, each guest acts out the word from the generator as all other guests shout out their guesses. This tried, and true party game will be a favorite at your virtual celebration!
3. Minute to Win It Challenges
Minute to Win It started as a game show where contestants had to complete a task using household items in less than a minute to move on. It is now becoming a simple but fun party game. As the host, come up with a list of challenges that can be completed with everyday household objects. It might be a good idea to send out a supply list for each guest before the party to help guests prepare. Also, to ensure that everyone can be included in the challenges. Frugal Fun 4 Boys is another great resource.
Man Vs. Clock
In this version, one player will be trying to beat the clock for each challenge you created. They will have to complete that challenge within a minute. It's best for you to keep track of the time on your end. For this game, I recommend choosing a different person for each challenge. You could also divide your guests into teams.
MINUTE TO WIN IT FOR TEAMS
Split guests into teams. For every game, choose one player from each team to go head to head. For example, one person from each team will be given the list of supplies and game instructions. When you say go, the first players to compete will start the challenge. The first team to complete the challenge receives a point. The guest or team that accomplishes the most challenges wins! These games are fun, inexpensive, and typically hilarious!
4. Thumper
This game will keep you on your toes and get your brain working! Each guest chooses a silly face or hand gesture as their "symbol." The host can choose to be the leader and start the game or pick a guest to lead. Make sure every guest shares their Symbol with the party. The leader then performs their Symbol, immediately followed by the Symbol of another player. This player then performs their own gesture, followed by another player’s gesture. Symbols continue to be passed from guest to guest until someone responds too slowly or misses their cue. To take this up a notch when someone makes a mistake, everyone must drink, and that person then becomes the leader for the next round.
5. Most Likely To
This casual game is fun to play with a group of longtime friends. Take turns creating "Most likely to ________" statements and ask guests to cast their votes using the chat function on the video call. The person with the most votes can take a drink or do a dare. There are no winners or losers in this game, but should definitely be shared laughs! You can have guests download the Most Likely To app on the App Store, or come up with your own. Beware the app is 18+.
6. Spin A Tale
This game promotes creativity and will have guests thinking on their feet. To start the game, make up the first line of a story. Then choose a guest to add a line to your sentence. Members take turns adding to the story until the whole plot develops! Let the story go along on its own route, that is what makes the game fun; you never know what each guest is going to add and where the story will end up.
Here are some ways you can start your tale…
· Today I woke up at 8 a.m. and saw….
· Sofia woke up on the couch this morning and tried to remember how she got there…
· I was supposed to have a virtual meeting today, but…
· When I looked outside my window, I saw…
· Today during quarantine, I started discovered my hidden talent…
7. Online Games
I'm sure you've heard of JackboxTV offering plenty of games to play online. However, besides Drawful2, most of the games have to be purchased to play them. Playingcards.io offers free card games that can be played virtually with your guests. They have also added an online version of Cards Against Humanity.
Feeling overwhelmed with party planning? Check out our LYFETYMES Vendor Marketplace to take the stress away. Find vendors that offer party planning, decor, catering, photography services, and more.
The At Home & Virtual Quarantine Survival Guide
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.
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.
Party Planning Has Gone Digital in 2020 with LYFETYMES
LYFETYMES is a free digital party planner with tools and checklists for party planning. We help solve the all those pain points with planning a celebration, party or any occasion. LYFETYMES is an all in one place to plan any occasion. It’s perfect for Birthday parties, Graduation parties, Bridal showers, Baby Showers, Gender Reveal Parties, Engagement Parties, Holiday parties like Thanksgiving, New Years, Easter, July 4th, Anniversary Celebrations, Superbowl parties or ANY occasion, LYFETYMES is the #1 party planning site.
LYFETYMES Digital Party Planning
We created LYFETYMES for busy parents, one place where they could manage and plan important moments and celebrations like Birthday Parties, Baby Showers, Graduations, Holidays, etc. As moms ourselves, we spend hours and days planning, we get it. We want to be able to save moms all over the world hours and days of stressful planning.
Another reason was to create a place to share tutorials, DIY Ideas, and support women and build a community of sharing. And we wanted it to be free.
Planning Has Never Been Easier
To us, planning a party is more than décor, that's why we created a Platform and Marketplace that is one-stop and will help you plan from ideation to memories. When you join our party, you will have free access to planning tools where you will be able to start planning in 30 seconds. Anyone that is the family or friend designated “Party Planner” knows there are many verticals to plan for.
Party Planning for The Future
Party Planning for birthdays, baby showers and Holidays. Plan any party for free. All in one party planner. Free event planning for any party. Easy party planning tools and checklists.
Create Personalized Party Websites to text email your guests who can RSVP and get party details. LYFETYMES just launched where you can send a video, not just a picture, and we think it will really knock your guest's socks off!
Celebration Dashboard-Easily to read dashboards to keep track of valuable information and updates, including countdown clocks.
Invitation Station- Build easy email, mailing and texting lists, import previous guest lists or from your contacts, send invites, and track RSVPs. Save the Dates & Thank You notes.
Inspiration Boards-Upload and share your favorite pictures to capture or inspire your vision for decor, cakes, themes, etc.
Vendor & Venues- Your "Party Motherboard" of all the things you may need for a party all in one place!
Registry & Gift Board- Create wishlist’s or add registry URL's that can be shared with guests or begin a new registry with your favorite store.
Planning & Tools- Interactive checklists, add and track to-do's, assign tasks, and due dates. Assign your celebration a budget and track spending.
Food, Drink & Dessert Center- It's the center of every celebration! You can order catering, book a restaurant, order food delivery or DIY grocery lists – it's all in one place!
Decoration Center- Browse decorations based on the occasion, purchase from top suppliers, or get inspiration for your celebration!
Hostess With The Mostess
Are you hosting for someone? Maybe a graduation party or baby or bridal shower? With LYFETYMES, you can send your Guest Of Honor a link to help personalize the celebration with a limited view (so you don't give all the details away!). That way, they can help with invites or provide registry information or theme favorites.
We know that not every day is a party, but it's still important to remember someone's birthday, anniversary, or any special day. To keep all those dates organized, we created LYFEMINDERS: You pick the day, and we will send you a reminder so you can send your love.
You can even plan multiple celebrations at the same time and access past parties to reuse tools and information like previous invite lists to make LYFE easier!
To Infinity and Beyond!
As we grow LYFETYMES, we will continue to share party ideas via our blog. So you can bring a party together quickly with the latest insights around themes when it comes to décor, food, games and activities, and everything party. Hopefully, make some friends, collaborate, and have some laughs along the way!
LYFETYMES Your Celebration Platform and Marketplace
We are committed to eliminating the pain points in planning celebrations and the stress that comes with it. We want to enable you to spend more time with your family and friends enjoying the moment and less time sweating over the details.
Here at LYFETYMES, we want to hear from you as far as the information you want to learn about. With the holidays fast approaching we will have a ton to share with each other, and we can’t wait to start Celebrating all of the milestones in LYFE with you.
Please feel free to reach out to us directly at katie@lyfetymes.com if you have feedback, ideas, or just want to connect. We have BIG things coming for the rest of the year and can't wait to share them.
Keep Partying,
Katie Founder & CEO LYFETYMES
Best Tips for a Magical Unicorn Party
Has your child requested a unicorn party for their birthday, or do they just want to hang out with friends this and have some fun? Unicorn parties are the ultimate magical party for kids and we have the best ideas to planning an epic unicorn party!
Create a Unicorn Party that is Magical
Do you still believe in Unicorns? It’s been a couple of years and this trend is always at the top of the lists. There have been millions of pictures, decor ideas, purple and pink food combinations shared with edible gold glitter. I mean we really (I’m looking at you moms) have beat this horse to….never-mind.
It’s not going away anytime soon so slap on a horn and let's talk dreamy decor, gorgeous cakes, and magical moods - it’s what all unicorn parties are made of. We've rounded up some of our favorite ideas for throwing an awesome mythical unicorn party kids will love and will make you look like you have magical powers.
Your Free Digital Party Planner
LYFETYMES PARTY
Planning Your Unicorn Party
LYFETYMES is Your FREE Digital Party Planner. We will help you plan your perfect unicorn party stress-free so you can enjoy the party and soak up every moment. Start Stress-Free Planning in 30 seconds: Create a Party Website, manage guests & track RSVPs, add a registry, shop for decor, and more! You will never know how you did it before LYFETYMES. Follow us for the latest party ideas and trends at https://www.pinterest.com/lyfetymes/
Pick a Unicorn Theme
Didn’t know this was a thing? Yes, it is. Good news is you can't mess it up; it could be pastel and magical, purple and mystical, or rainbow color scheme. Usually, if you consult the H.C.I.C. (head child in charge), then they will let you know their preference. After all, you are their party stylist. Check out LYFETYMES Unicorn Pinterest boards at https://www.pinterest.com/lyfetymes/unicorn-birthday-party/ to get inspiration
Unicorn Treats and Eats
The gift of Unicorn Parties is that as long as you put edible sparkle, glitter or sprinkles on it, it looks like Unicorn Food! Easy to make Unicorn Dip, Unicorn Bark, Unicorn Fudge, Unicorn Pretzel Horns, Unicorn Sundaes, and Unicorn Party Snack Mix. Click on any the images to get the recipes!
Unicorn Drink Ideas
You can also get in the Unicorn Mood with some amazing drinks. Click on the image below to get easy DIY recipes.
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Healthier Unicorn Party Food Options
OK, we get it, you cant just pour sugar on everything. Click below to stay on theme and not become the most hated parent in the group!
Unicorn Party Decoration Ideas and Unicorn Party Favors
The best part of a Unicorn Party is Decor! Here are the top picks for the Ultimate Unicorn Party! We have researched Amazon and looked at the customer reviews and selected the best rated products.
Unicorn Party Activities
With every great Unicorn party are the Unicorn Games and Activities. And let’s face it, you and the other parents will appreciate anything that will drive down the sugar rush and tucker those kids out. A great DIY idea that is cost effective, great take home gift and party favor is Unicorn glitter play dough. Click on the image above to get the steps from a bubblylife.com
Other activity ideas that make our horns glow?
Make it Super Special for the “Star of The Show”
There is nothing better than owning your role as the H.U.I.C. (Head Unicorn In Charge) by adding some special items to really make her stand out. Below are the favorites and a hot Unicorn toy idea for 2019/2020!
Most Important tip for a successful Unicorn Party?
Enjoy the moment and take in the experience. If you would like to share your party ideas, pictures and memories, contact us at LYFETYMES here to be featured on the #1 Party Planning Site!
