Ideas to Decorate Your Front Porch for Fall

Ideas To Decorate Your Front Porch for Fall

Decorating my home according to the season or holiday is one of my favorite past times. Nothing puts me in the holiday spirit like adding some good decor to my home. We gathered some easy and affordable ideas to decorate your front porch for fall.

Create Some Cute Pumpkin Planters

(photo from: @wyosparkle on TikTok)

The Supplies you will need: 

• Pumpkin candy baskets (3 to create 1 planter)

• 1 can of Spray paint 

• Twine

• Hot glue gun

• Flowers of choice

Because of COVID-19 your kids might not be able to use their Halloween candy baskets so let’s put them to use. If you don’t have any from previous Halloweens I found this pack of 10 on Amazon. Grab some spray paint. I went with a white matte spray paint for my pumpkin planter.  Remove all the handles from the baskets and begin spray painting. Once they are done drying, stack them on top of each other and hot glue the bottoms to the top of the basket - you may want to add some rocks or dirt for weight. Wrap the twine a couple of times around the spaces you hot glued together. And for the final touch add some fall colored florals inside the top basket. To complete the look add an assortment of pumpkins to your porch, a cute fall wreath, and corn husk stalks by the door. 

We partnered with RedFin and other experts on their latest blog post to bring you 15 Ideas to Decorate your Front Porch .

Work Outwards

Fill the space around the door and work outward from there to the steps as you’re decorating the front porch. This gives it an eye-catching illusion of looking like you decorated more than you did. Start with a bright autumn wreath or garland on the door and add some taller accents around the door frame, like a fall sign or colorful garland. Add beautiful fall flowers in a pot at the base and then add lanterns or pumpkins of different sizes, colors, and shapes trailing down the steps. You can add Halloween decorations and simply take out those spooky pieces on November 1st.

Add Some Plaid

I don’t know about you, but when I think of fall I think of my favorite long sleeve cozy plaid shirts of vests. Not only do I love adding plaid to my wardrobe I also love adding it to my home. Whether it is plaid pillows, throw blankets, or rugs you can instantly get ready for fall with the help of a plaid pattern. Get some plaid pumpkins or doormat and add it to your front porch decor.

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!

How To Host A 2020 Election Day Party

How to Host Election Day Party

Elections are exciting, they should be celebrated, people everywhere will be watching as the numbers roll in all night, regardless of who you are voting for it is America’s Ultimate Political Super Bowl. We wanted to help you throw some great “political parties” that can be hosted to get in the Red, White, and Blue mood and celebrate this years Election.

The 2020 Election

The 2020 United States presidential election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2020. It will be the 59th quadrennial presidential election. 

★ Political Debates & Election Night Watch Parties

The chance to decorate your place for an Election Night party only comes along every four years. So, why not decorate with some red, white, and blue? You can serve food on patriotic plates — you might even still have some from your Fourth of July barbecue. 

The Decor

No matter what party you associate with or who you are voting for you can’t go wrong with red, white, and blue decor for your watch party. We found this USA inspired party decor set that is perfect for any watch party. Grab some American colored balloons to throw some extra color to your party. So get into the spirit and order your patriotic invitations and party supplies today! The more red, white, and blue - the better. Make sure you capture the memories. We love Photo Props to get in the political spirit.

Outdoor Watch Party

Depending on where you are located and the social distancing regulations in your state. If you plan to have an in-person event have everyone wear their masks. To make sure your guests can keep 6 feet apart have an outdoor watch party. Set up a TV in your backyard and some games like corn hole, washers, or horseshoes. We found this red and blue corn hole board to get your guests entertained during your watch party. Have a backdrop with some fun photo props for your guests to take pictures for Instagram to show their support.

Zoom Watch Party

Have a virtual watch party with friends and family this election year. Set up a Zoom event, invite all your friends and family, and have a live chat about the debates or election. You can add a Zoom background to show your support for your party of choice. For entertainment have your party guests dress up as their Presidential Candidate, make a rule that everyone has to talk like the candidate they dressed up as. The first person that messes up has to do a dare. Get your Free Election Zoom Backgrounds here.

Presidential Debate BINGO

BINGO is a classic game that is fun for everyone. Create a BINGO card or find one online that you can print out and enjoy some good laughs. If you want to kick things up a notch and have some extra fun with your friends create a drinking BINGO game. You can check out UNRAVEL.com 2016’s Presidential debate drinking card to get some ideas on what you can add to your 2020 Presidential debate drinking card.

Something for the kids?

A home-from-school home run that teaches kids to think big things while mastering the hardest to learn addition and multiplication facts, U.S. state geography, and the mechanics of the Electoral College.

Drink - THE PATRIOTIC MOSCOW MULE

There will be drinking. Some will be celebrating, others will be grappling with the next four years. Just celebrate responsibly please. With all the news around election interference, we thought nothing would be more fitting than a good ol’ Moscow Mule.

This Election Mule is a classic Moscow Mule recipe with a twist, add fresh berries and a super special garnish.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 ounces vodka

• 4 ounces ginger beer

• 1/2 ounce lime juice

• 6-8 fresh berries Sprig of mint, lime wedge, and fresh berries to garnish - (optional)

• INSTRUCTIONS In a Moscow mule mug or Collins glass, add the berries and lime juice. Lightly mash with a spoon or a muddler. Top with ice. Then pour in the vodka and ginger beer. Stir to combine. Serve with a sprig of mint, lime wedge, or fresh berries.

Dessert - S'mores Bar!

Nothing like a nice fire in cooling temperatures. A flag in one hand and a S’more in the other. If you have a fire pit in your backyard set up a S’mores bar for your party guest to enjoy once the sun goes down. Set out a variety of chocolates for your guest to choose from. This kit makes it easy so you don’t forget the marshmallows and graham crackers. You can also swap out the traditional graham crackers for the cinnamon ones to add a unique flavor. 

Shindigz has a ton of great election decor if you want to go all put! Check these plates our here.

Your Secret Weapon for dealing with the next day.

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5 Amazing Ways You Can Celebrate Halloween Safely in 2020 (Copy)

5 Amazing Ways You Can Celebrate Halloween Safely in 2020

Celebrating Halloween in 2020

One of the most anticipated fall favorites, Halloween is right around the corner! This usually kicks off the entire Holiday season for the rest of the year! Who doesn't love dressing the kids up and taking them trick or treating then sneaking into their Halloween baskets later to steal some candy? We all have adapted this year through COVID-19 celebrating Holidays and Milestones that have come and gone, from Easter to Graduations. Halloween this year will be no different. Every parent will ask themselves “What should we do on Halloween”?

• Do I take them trick or treating?

• Will people even give out Candy?

• Do I even want their Candy?

• What if I’m actually wearing a Halloween mask?

• Should I just dump a 10 Pound Bag of Hershey Bars in the middle of the living room and let this thing play out like the Hunger Games? 

Hmmm. That's tempting...

The good news is you have plenty of time to make Halloween fun and memorable. If you are looking for some safer ways to celebrate Halloween this year, here are some fun ideas to get your Monster Mash on safely.

Haunted Halloween Hunt (0-5)

Think Easter but for Halloween celebrations. Get parents of younger children and turn your house or backyard into a Fun-O-Ween. This is for parents who want to dress their children up but are not exactly comfortable sending their littles up to the door of people in quarantined houses for candy. They are probably not too upset or even notice not going door to door but you still want to celebrate that tradition and make some fun memories.

Make it a big day! You can get these amazing Halloween Eggs to hide small treats in as well as or if you're planning the hunt for when the sun goes down get some glow in the dark eggs! Before the hunt, do a fun activity like have them decorate their pumpkins or candy hunt bags. Use markers, glitter, and stickers to keep it a low-stress mess.  Dress your little ones up in their costumes. Take your family pictures for Instagram and let them hunt for treasures hidden in the backyard.  

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Host a Spooky Halloween Scavenger Hunt 

This is great for the 6+ group, but scavenger hunts are fun for everyone. Here are our top tips to pull off the ultimate Halloween scavenger hunt. 

What You Will Need

The most important thing to pulling off a Halloween scavenger hunt is to have everything planned and ready ahead of time. The last thing you want to do is be scrambling for things to hide. Think of clues, prizes, and hiding places. Include a couple of your neighbors in on the fun.

The Clues

First things first, let's start with the clues. Coming up with clues is my favorite part of a scavenger hunt. The clues are what make the hunt thrilling. You can get creative and come up with your own clues or Pickle Bums has some fun ones you can download and print for free. Be mindful that your clues have to coordinate with your hiding spot, so make sure you know where you will be hiding clues and prizes.

The Prizes

It’s not a treasure hunt if there’s no treasure! The prizes can vary depending on the ages of the hunters. If you decided to go with small Halloween themed prizes that were easy to hide with each clue and also fun to find. If your kids won’t be going trick or treating this year you can grab some sweets for them to find, but if you want to avoid giving them sugar check out these fun Halloween toys.  I found these neat treasure chest boxes for the larger prizes that you can reuse. 

Good Hiding Spots

Whether you are planning a scavenger hunt for the whole neighborhood or a quick indoor “skeleton race”  around the house it’s important to plan a good hiding spot. This is where creativity comes in. 

To help plan this ultimate Halloween hunt in the simplest way possible using the LYFETYMES app. Created an event like the “Spooky Halloween Hunt” and sent it out to your neighbors that wanted to participate. Neighbors will RSVP to the scavenger hunt and leave comments saying where they were hiding the prizes and add a picture of what prize they were going to be hiding. This is really helpful for creating clues. 

Halloween Trunk Party! 

We’ve all seen the drive-by parade celebrations, so why not have a drive-by trunk-or-treat? This is a great idea to keep kids from gathering around your front door. To set up, park your car in your driveway and add some fun Halloween decor like some spiders and webs to your car or go nuts by decorating your porch, or turn your front yard in Mini Haunted House or set up some balloon displays in the front yard. Set up a lawn chair and enjoy all the costumes that come by and can say hi and wave from a socially safe place. You can also get your neighbors in on the fun and coordinate a neighborhood Drive-by trick or treat and a specific time. 

NEIGHBORHOOD “Spooky Hollow” Drive-Thru

This works great with a community type Neighborhood. You “drive Thru” a Halloween experience. Each family that wants to participate contributes a certain amount - for easy calculation $10 a kid. A few neighborhood rock stars take the reigns. 

They select up a pickup station at the designated park or location and the parents drive, bike, walk kids to the location. They will decorate ‘drive-thru experience (could be a rented tent, front yard decorated), organize and pack the “ghoul bags”, play some music, keep things safe and organized.

Neighborhood Driveway Halloween Table Contest

This is a great option to ditch the communal candy bowels and get the family in on some competitive action to show some Halloween spirit! Every house participating sets up a decorated themed table where trick or treaters can have some socially distanced fun, pick up a candy bag while keeping the contact to a minimum. Designate a neighborhood judging team that gives out an annual traveling trophy to the family with the best table!

If you're looking for some more ideas to celebrate a safe and fun Halloween check out this blog post on 10 Fun Social Distancing Ideas. 

10 Fun Social Distancing Halloween Ideas

10 Fun Social Distancing Halloween Ideas

I love Halloween for many different reasons. Growing up, my favorite part about it was collecting all the candy and goodies throughout the night and getting to sort through them when I got home. Now that I am older, it’s being able to dress up the little ones in the cutest costumes and seeing all the creative, spooky Halloween home decor. I think we can all agree that 2020 has been a spooky year. With a global pandemic going around and a lot of families still social distancing we have rounded up a few creative ways you and your family can celebrate a safe but fun Halloween. 

Drive-By Trick-Or-Treat

We’ve all seen the drive-by parade celebrations, so why not have a drive-by trunk-or-treat? This is a great idea to keep kids from gathering around your front door. To set up, park your car in your driveway or set up a table at the end of your driveway. Add some fun Halloween decor like some spiders and webs to your table with the candy bowl. Set up a lawn chair and enjoy all the costumes that come by. You can also get your neighbors in on the fun and coordinate a neighborhood Drive-by trick or treat.

Host A Zoom Halloween Party

Just because you may not be able to physically attend a Halloween party this year, doesn’t mean you still can’t celebrate. Throw a Halloween Zoom party with friends and family. Let everyone know costumes are mandatory. Put on your Halloween playlist, catch up, and enjoy. For some extra fun, have a costume contest and encourage your guests to model their Halloween costumes for a prize. 

Hand Out Candy From Your Window

If you have a front porch, this will be great for you. Set out a small table with a bowl of candy and place it on your front porch. If you have a window nearby, set it right in front of the window so you can keep an eye on the candy bowl, and also greet the kiddos from a distance. 

Halloween Movie Night

If you and your family are looking to spend some quality spooky time together, but you would rather stay in, put on your costumes and watch a spooky movie. From Hocus Pocus to a super scary Haunting in Connecticut there’s surely a movie out there for everyone. Mix some candy corn into your popcorn and start your movie marathon. 

Create a Spooky Basket

A spooky basket is a gift basket filled with all the goodies your kids or significant other loves. Include their favorite candy, some activity books, pumpkin carving tools, some fuzzy socks, and more. Gifting a spooky basket is a good time to spoil your loved ones with some items they enjoy or have been wishing for (I hope I get a puppy in mine this year). You can also send a spooky basket to your neighbors to share some candy with them and send some love. 

Bake Spooky Treats

If your kids won’t be trick-or-treating this year, you can still give them something sweet to look forward to. Get creative and bake some spooky cookies. Have the kids join in on the fun and let them decorate the ghost cookies with some icing and sprinkles. 

Carve Pumpkins

One of my personal favorite things to do for Halloween is carving pumpkins. I like to do it a few days before, so I can display my jack-o'-lantern on my porch for everyone to see on Halloween night, but in this case, you can save it for the day of. Pick your pumpkin the day before Halloween and choose your carving design. Whether you want to go for the classic jack-o’-lantern face or something else, pumpkin carving is the perfect activity to do with friends or kids. 

Bingo Drive

Play Halloween BINGO with your family. Print out some BINGO cards or create your own and go for a drive to see how many items you can spot. Crazy Little Projects has free offers cute and fun printable BINGO game cards. Take your cards with you on the drive or wait until you return back to your home and cross off what you see on your drive. You can award prizes by how many items were spotted or who completes the card first. 

Create a Spooky Playlist

I never miss an opportunity to throw a dance party at my house. This is also a great way to let the kids burn off some sugar. Create a Halloween playlist, or check out the one we created for you on Spotify, put on your costumes and monster mash the night away. 

Spooky Hour

This one is for the grown-ups. Put your bartending skills to the test and create a Halloween cocktail or just keep it simple and find one online. Funny Money Mom had some great cocktail recipes (my personal favorite is the Poison Apple). Enjoy your at-home happy hour once the kids crash from their sugar rush. You can include some friends and family in your spooky hour by organizing a Zoom call and sending them your cocktail recipe ahead of time. 

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I hope this list was helpful and you find some fun ways to have a safe and spooky Halloween. 

21st Painting With A Twist Inspired Birthday Party

21st Painting With A Twist Inspired Birthday Party

Turning twenty-one is a milestone that almost everyone looks forward to. So, it’s sort of a big deal when it comes to planning the perfect 21st Birthday Celebration.

We loved this 21st Birthday Sip- and - Paint party submitted by @MamiiCreations.

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This is what she had to say about the inspiration for the party: The party was for my little cousin's 21st birthday. Her mother had originally planned a trip to Canada but due to Covid-19 we decided to have a Sip- and Paint party at home for the birthday girl and 10 of her close friends. We went with Rose Gold for the main color because it’s a cute new trend. We used the deck as a section that was set up for drinks and we wanted it to have more of a rustic look while still incorporating the rose gold color. We also included a yellow wreath to add a pop of color.  A lot of the items used to decorate were things that we already owned. We also shopped on Amazon, Party City for the helium-filled balloons and even family dollar for a few odds and ends. The paint pallets were purchased on Amazon. We went with the Paint- and- Sip theme because the birthday girl majored in art and her mother used to do wine tastings. Her aunt (my cousin) also helped a lot in setting up and bringing the vision to life. Everything came together beautifully. We used props from older parties for the photo booth and an old pallet as a photo frame. 

LYFETYMES is the #1 party planning website! Check us out for all your party planning needs! We provide you with all the party planning tools for FREE!

An Open Letter To Families On Mother's Day

Celebrating Mother’s Day in 2020

Dear Families-

I am providing a clear PSA for your safety amongst COVID-19 knowing we all think it’s about three days earlier of what actually day it is: Mother’s Day is 5/10/20.

We often scramble to find gifts of appreciation for mom, leading to the usual planned Brunch, Spa Day, or Big Family gathering. Unfortunately, most of those options are off the table at a time where we are reminded why moms are the glue that holds it all together for us. The bright side is this; most only care about the thought you put into how much you appreciate her as a mom

Let’s face, it unless you are essential and working out of the home; you should have plenty of time to make this day special. Go on one of your “Important Video Conference Calls” that we are pretty sure you are just having a boss bitch fest with your work buddies or playing video games with kids your kid’s age, who by the way are in the next room playing the same game.

I'm generalizing, but let’s go with it.

Mom, on the other hand, had some new assignments given to them this year, Most moms are now working from home. They went from “working mom” on the go, to work at the home, which for some reason you just work more, in addition, they are now a substitute teacher and tutor, daycare worker; a fight negotiator, and prison warden; an all-day personal chef, trying to transform anything you have in your fridge or cabinet into some kind of edible meal like a contestant in Chopped, rationing food -because all you people do is eat; family disinfector, maid and battling non-stop laundry mountain; psychologist and “feelings” therapist. All the while dealing with her own confused feelings of why she’s not fantasizing of George Clooney or Bard Pitt, but of Gov. Andrew Cuomo or Dr.Anthony Fauci. All of this and trying not to become a day drinker.

Happy F*cking Mother’s Day you one-woman band. There is a reason all you do is add an “o” to her and it spells HERO. Not HIMO.

Not a slight to the dads out there. It’s not your fault, we have enabled you- never knowing the ramifications or completely lacking the physic abilities to predict a global pandemic. We thought we were just making it…easier. You have no idea how to help, by design or not, like a grown child who has moved back with their parents and or at best, a very green intern who has been forced upon us, It was fun to watch you try for about two minutes but we are now over it- the mom, the kids, the dog, the cat,.. everyone. So now that you have has a small look into what motherhood looks like and how we try to hold the family “sh*t” together, let us help you say “Thank You” and win on Mother's Day 2020.

Why is Mother’s Day such a big deal to Mom’s? It’s a Mom's Christmas. It’s a Mom’s Super bowl. It’s the one day to just get a “Thank You” for making us appear like a happy and well adjusted healthy family in public, and not letting us not look like the total sociopaths, that we would look like left to our own druthers, We also go onto self-protection mode by having the lowest of expectations on that day from our loving family.

If you don’t have a ton of cash don’t worry, you can do things that don’t take a ton of money, Mother’s Day is more emotional if anything.

The easiest road to happiness is to simply ask her what she wants-but beware of traps -Moms who don’t want to risk getting another smelly soap, lotion, or candle from Walmart, will flat out tell you what they want (I am that Mom). Most moms will say “Oh nothing honey, don’t worry about it., just another day for me” or the selfless moms will say “Every day is Mother’s Day for me, just as long I have you all of you to love, that’s more than enough for me” or exhausted who are scared they would need to clean everything up “With everything going on we can just do something later on to celebrate Mothers Day”.

Let me translate what that means:

“Oh nothing, don’t worry about it.” -really means- “If you do next to nothing or try to blame COVID-19 as a free pass because you were planning on telling me about a fake trip like flying me to Paris, but can’t leave the US, I will become your worst nightmare.”

“Every day is Mother’s Day for me, just as long I have you all of you to love, that’s more than enough for me”. -really means- “ You life-sucking sob’s - I have sacrificed my youth, mind, body, career, and sanity for you all, the least you could do it pull ONE thing together for someone other than yourself for ONE day a year.”

“With everything going on we can just do something later on to celebrate Mother’s Day.”.-really means- “I have zero faith you can run a bath on your own without the Coast Guard watching over you.”

Harsh? yes. True? Yep. Here are some ideas to treat mom like the Queen she is, just be practical but be thoughtful, above all else. Our panel of moms dreamed up the perfect Mother’s Day.

BUT one ask: Buy local, buy from a small business in your area, extra points buy from a Local Female mom-run a small business. Remember, this state of our lives is not forever and we really need to support our small businesses. So consider purchasing gift cards for products or services for a future date from your local small business owner's mom loves to visit.

Mother's Day Celebration Ideas

COVID-19 Mother’s Day Do’s and Dont’s. Let’ s start with the process of elimination, the don’ts:

Don’ts (only becomes a “do” if she ASKS for it):

Don’t buy Lingerie-it is not a gift, at this point its a job, please do not disguise a gift for you as a gift for her. It would be like buying golf clubs for us.

Don’t buy mom an online cooking class- trust me we are practiced by this point.

Don’t find your inner Gordon Ramsey and plan something that will require mom to clean up- If you cook and destroy the kitchen, clean up your mess.

Don’t take the kids all day and think to raise your voice, letting them cry it out all day or introducing a new line of consequence they have never heard of is helping. If she has to storm in the room and de-escalate a child’s breakdown, you have failed. Do what mom does.

Just Pretend the Queen of England has arrived and your job is to serve her-ALL DAY

DO: hit it early, hit it hard and hit it fast: take her coffee and breakfast, We all love it when the family busts through the door and shouts “Happy Mother’s Day” with gifts and cards in hand, even better with coffee and breakfast. So get in the spirit and make a big deal about it. This is a great idea for our Front Line mommas that are getting up early and going to work. Kids at home should get their butts up and come in with the card, gift, hug, kiss-ready. Have your children-no matter what age- make and write a card, it will mean the world to a mom, let’s shoot for more than a picture or one sentence with “Love, the ingrates”- you need to become a Hallmark Supervisor, oversee this one and make sure they do it right.

DO ALL the Cooking and Cleaning up- no matter if you are ordering food in or cooking-do something that will give her a break and not require her to clean up your “gift.”

DO Clean the house- (yes, this includes the toilets) and attacking and putting a dent in Laundy Mountain.

DO have one Family Sit Down Lunch, Dinner, or socially distanced Picnic.

DO Kid Duty- all day, as mom does it.

DO Mimosas With Moms!  A Virtual Happy Hour! Set up a Virtual Party with her closest family and friends as a surprise to catch up and spend quality time together.

DO have Mom Netflix, Hula, and Bravo - she has earned it- kick it up a notch, turn the bathroom into a spa, start a warm bath or shower, play music, lite a candle, add some flowers, layout a spa mask, a new robe, new slippers- while she is pampering- Make her a “relaxing room”, could be a bedroom- layout some comfy pajamas, remake her bed, fluff her pillows, charge her phone, iPad, or laptop, put her favorite snacks and drink out, give her a bell for the day if she needs anything.

Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day

Honestly- giving gifts from the heart, taking the family duties all day and letting mom chill, is the best gift, anything gift on top of it is gravy. With that said, here are our top favorites:

Get her a gift card to go get spoiled when things open up. Our roots are showing and pretty sure we are going to need a color correction from our botched box job, our nails are a mess thanks to scrubbing and bleaching. Give mom something to look forward to, like putting herself back together and destressing like getting her hair done or to the spa for a Mani and Pedi spa: both safe bets (and much appreciated!).

As mentioned above a Mom Basket filled with items like a Robe, pair of Slippers, Spa Mask, New pair of PJs makes a wonderful gift.

Make or Buy something personalized, framed picture of the family, jewelry with something engraved, anything that can is a keepsake.

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10 Awesome Social Distancing Kid Birthday Party Ideas

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. 

1. 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

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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.

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How To Host A Virtual Baby Shower

Connecting Family and Friends to celebrate your baby shower.

We’ve collected all of the best ideas to help you plan your online Virtual Baby Shower!

When we think of baby showers, we typically imagine a group of a dozen or so close relatives and friends all gathered together celebrating the approaching bundle of joy! Although celebrations around the world can be postponed- some things can’t be- like the birth of a baby! Due to Covid-19, your in-person baby shower plans have probably changed or even canceled, but let’s face it, one of the best parts of the baby shower is getting some gifts that you are in dire need of day 1 of the baby’s arrival. We are coming up with solutions for mom’s to be so you can still celebrate the upcoming arrival.

Introducing the virtual baby shower. That’s right: virtual. All online, no matter the distance. The concept of virtual baby showers is not new, we have been including our loved ones who can’t be there for some time now by virtually. having them on video chat here and there. The difference is now it is just not Aunt Becky in Georgia, it is pretty much everyone that will need to attend online. So it takes a bit more organization and effort so it’s enjoyable for everyone.

What is a Virtual Baby Shower?

Virtual or online baby showers are generally the same concept and usually will happen before the baby arrives The difference is you will only have one or two people attending in person with you vs. 10 or 20, and more than likely, they are living in the house. Once the baby is born, it is a great time to have Virtual Sip and See, which we will cover in a later post.

We should acknowledge mom-to-be’s feelings now- a virtual shower isn’t going to totally replace the one you have been dreaming and planning since you found out you were expecting. This situation isn’t normal, so if you are feeling a bit down or disappointed—it is ok, that’s normal. It will be different, but that does not mean you can’t celebrate, register, have a theme, open gifts, play games, and everything else you dreamed of!

If you are thinking of taking your baby shower virtual, here’s our expert guidance on how to pull off an amazing and unique virtual baby shower.

Who Hosts a Virtual Baby Shower?

The nice thing about Virtual Showers is the rules are thrown out on hosting. Here are FOUR options

1) The expecting parents to host their own shower. Start planning your shower for free at LYFETYMES, -everything you need in one place to plan any party or shower.

2. You can also have a close friend or family member help you host.

3. But even if your Co-host or Co-Hosts live far away, it’s still totally possible to coordinate via LYFETYMES, since the party is entirely virtual anyway and you can be added as Guest Of Honor.

4. Check out our LYFETYMES Vendor Marketplace to find party services such as event planning, balloon stylist, photography, catering, and more.

Steps to Hosting a Successful Virtual Baby Shower



Virtual Showers 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, 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!

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• 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! Digital invitations are super popular and totally boring. At LYFETYMES, you can create your Shower Website in a few clicks, add links to your registry and personalize with any picture or short video. Guests can RSVP and get all the party details from your site and just simply click on the virtual party link when it is Shower time! We also have Digital Thank you’s you can email once the shower wraps.

• 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. Zoom just launched backgrounds you can add to virtual call which is fun or you don’t want to worry about decorating.

• 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. Tableware isn’t really necessary. Streamers and balloons? Definitely be camera-ready. Check out the best Balloon Bar we have found yet here.

• Make an agenda, especially for your video call - make sure you have put some thought into the shower flow- the last thing you want is a boring virtual party with no structure!

• Cue The Music! Get in the mood with our favorite Baby Shower Songs here!

• Drinks! Check out the Parents 20 Fun Baby Shower Cocktails and Mocktails Recipes.

The Tech- Video Chat Services

There are lots of solutions out there to choose from, we recommend going with a free video service like Zoom, Skype, Facebook messenger rooms, or Google Hangouts. As long as you and your guests have an internet connection and a phone or computer with a webcam, then they can join. These are the top four easiest video solutions we have found:

• Zoom: Zoom is free for everyone to use, allows up to 100 connected devices (500 for an extra charge), and doesn’t require you to download an app, though there is an app option. All you need is an internet connection and a web browser (you can use a computer, tablet, or smartphone). The host sets up a virtual room with a unique ID and password, then sends out the information to guests. Guests don’t need an account to gain access to the party. Keep in mind: The free version of Zoom allows up to 40 minutes of meeting time per room; additional time is available for purchase, but you can also close out the room and start a new one, with that said, if some of your guests are not technical, this could prove to be trying exercise. Additionally, Zoom has come under fire lately for privacy concerns, but they claim they’re taking measures to increase security.

• Facebook Messenger Rooms- Facebook is launching this feature to compete with Zoom. Messenger Rooms make it easy to spend quality time with friends, loved ones, and people who share your interests. Create a room right from Messenger or Facebook, and invite anyone to join your video call, even if they don’t have a Facebook account. Rooms will soon hold up to 50 people with no time limit. Facebook plans to add ways to create Rooms from Instagram Direct, WhatsApp, and Portal as well. Features will include 14 camera filters and changeable backgrounds. 

• Google Hangouts: This service only works if you have a Google/Gmail account, which is free and fairly easy to sign up for. Google Hangout video calls allow a maximum of 10 devices, but up to 250 participants if the call is audio/phone only. They just launched the tile view comparable to Zoom and planning on adding noise-canceling features.

• Skype:  One of the most well known and been around a while. Skype is free to use on any computer, tablet, or mobile device, and it doesn’t require you to download the app if you’re using a computer web browser. The key differences: it allows up to 50 devices, and there’s no password protection.

Gift Opening at a Virtual Baby Shower



So with any Virtual Celebration, we suggest you flip around the traditional agenda! People love to see their gifts opened and you want to keep the shower engaging and not everyone can stay on for over an hour so start your first activity with drinks and gifts! You open the gifts sent to you (because you provided the information on your LYFETYMES Guest Website) on camera for everyone to see. Or you can have guests hold onto their gifts during the shower and open them for you on camera so you can see (then they can send them to you later). Or you can do a combination of both! We are seeing delays in shipping due to Covid-19, so the earlier you plan and get the word out, the better!

Virtual Baby Shower Games

You can still have a ton of fun playing Baby Shower Games with your guests- but keep it simple!

• The Price Is Right: Have guests take a moment to fill out a card with their best guesses for the price of each item as they join. Toward the end of the shower go through the list and the person with the closest price of each item scored one point. The guest with the most points won bragging rights! Get copies of the game card that you can download and print for free HERE from https://realhousemoms.com/ Tip: Look up prices ahead of time!

• Baby Bingo- Everyone loves bingo—and when it’s baby-themed, it’s even better. Use these printable bingo cards to get the party going when the mom-to-be opens presents. Instructions: Have Guests print out bingo cards ahead of time. Each gift that the mom-to-be opens at the shower becomes a clue for bingo. You can download a free set of 24 Bingo Cards to print HERE.

If you are wanting to be more adventurous, check out our How To Throw A Drive-By Baby Shower article here!

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What are you Celebrating?Birthday Baby ShowerBridal ShowerHolidayEngagementDinner PartyBaptismAnniversaryGraduationRetirementWe Celebrate Everything!

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7 Must-Try Virtual Party Games

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.

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How To Host An Incredible Graduation Party Quarantine Style

How to Host a Graduation Party Quarantine Style

by April Sharer and Katie Cunningham

So you set a goal, put in years of work to accomplish it, and now a global pandemic has canceled your moment of recognition? COME ON! You deserve this moment to shine and to celebrate that goal you crushed. You did NOT put in YEARS of all-nighters, stress, and studying to accept your diploma via email and call it good-- you deserve a celebration grad! 

Was the Tassel Worth the Hassle?

Unfortunately, this major milestone that so many friends and family look forward to will not happen in the traditional way of years before. Our graduates will not walk across the stage, almost a parent’s visual representation of our children transforming from a child to an adult. The big graduation parties that people travel to will be postponed, or worse canceled

And all that money those seniors dream about envelopes stuffed with cash, like the opening Wedding Scene in the Godfather, are slipping away. Those funds are used for college and to jump-start their adult journey. We are not going to lie to you, it is disappointing for everyone. Thankfully there are still many ways to celebrate our graduates, and even though we may plan a big party later, it’s important to celebrate the moment, the accomplishment, and recognize the graduate!

Let’s walk through some creative ways to Celebrate!

Now introducing the graduating class of 2020! (Quarantine Style)

Make it a Virtual Graduation Party

Virtual parties are all the craze right now. This moment should be shared. It does require some planning and effort to make it great and differentiate between just another Video call. 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 or a cash link to get cash gifts! Including a registry is a great way to receive cash or gifts directly and can be included on your website.

• Determine where in the house, backyard, or space you will use for the graduation party, a fun backdrop can be great for gift opening, a central focus of the room for photos. We love balloon decor that spells it out!

• Determine Theme and Decor and order to your door ahead of time. There are easy party sets offered here for small parties that ship right to your door, make a few graduation themed treats and stock up on the confetti.

• Wear The Cap and Gown, if you have them, if not improvise the walk, diploma, cap, and gown. Go outside and toss that cap while your squad showers you with confetti! 

• Front yard and Porch Decor, like yard sign decor, or balloon garlands that can be shipped to your door. Most good neighbors will honk for the Graduate if you are telling your neighborhood you are celebrating a graduate via yard sign.

• 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! Incorporate game activities, have folks dress up in theme costumes, and keep the party moving. You may want to start with cake and gifts.

• Make a video memoir for the grad sharing photos and videos from birth- present. Ask your guests to each submit their memories or well-wishes for the grad and incorporate those in the video. This is sure to make the grad feel special and probably on one of the parents’ to-do list for a while! in your virtual party, you can share your screen with the other guests to enjoy!

• Don’t make it crazy long. Zoom’s free accounts host parties for up to 40 minutes.

Drive-By or Drive Thru Graduation Party

Drive-By Parties are gaining momentum as a way to get out of the house and social distance safely. It is a great way to feel like you have participated and gone to a party- see each other say hi from a safe distance and show some love!

• 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 your home as the venue, the time it begins, and title it is a “DRIVE-BY GRADUATION PARTY” so everyone knows. You can even add a comment on your website to further explain if needed.

• Add registry links in your party for guests to know where to buy gifts your graduate needs so they can drop off and/or a cash link to get cash gifts! Including a registry is a great way to receive cash or gifts directly and can be included on your website, not everyone is going to be able to participate based on location so it’s a great way for them to send gifts they know you need or will love.

• Create a “drop-off zone” Determine where guests can safely drop off gifts and decorate the space with balloons so they know where to drop. we have seen a ton of ideas from decorating the trunk of a car, back of a pickup, decked out tables to recycling bins!

• Create the appropriate socially distancing space where you will be located, waving from your spot- may be on the porch or lawn chairs from the front yard or window

• Don’t forget the Front yard and Porch Decor, yard signs, Garage door signs, decor or balloon garlands-all these can be shipped to your door.

• Dress up for your well wishers-Wear The Cap and Gown, if you have them, if not just put on pants, please.

• After everyone goes, grab your loot and go inside and celebrate more! Open gifts, have food, decorate inside, record the grad opening gifts to keep for you or share. Shop small themed party sets and awesome balloon garlands offered for small parties right here.

Graduation Party Parade

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Similar to a Drive-By Party, this is a bit different. Here are a few differentiators to consider:

• The point of the parade is all the participants meet and start following each other at an agreed location (usually not the grads home) and time, so it looks like an actual parade!

• Guests pretty much will stay inside a vehicle at all times and may jump out to give a gift quickly and jump back in, so it is helpful to have a close “drop-zone”.to the parade-goers.

• It’s a high energy event, expect a ton of honking! It is great fun for guests to decorate vehicles with signs, balloons, and decor- get engaged and have a “Best Decorated Car Float” winner

• This is a great idea for teachers and parents who want to celebrate several students with one parade party by visiting multiple grad’s homes.

How will you celebrate your Grad this year?

So Graduation Parties can still be memorable and engaging. Whether you have a small at-home gathering, drive-by parade, or a virtual celebration, throwing a graduation party is no small task. DIY lovers can use our amazing free party planning tools on LYFETYMES or allow  our LYFETYMES Vendor Marketplace for help planning, styling, and more services.

Host an Awesome Drive-By Baby Shower

Plan A Drive-By Baby Shower Ideas

by Liz Grisham and Carmen Lopez

Honk If You're Having A Baby!

Having a Baby Shower is part of the excitement when becoming new parents. With the Corona virus and Stay-At-Home order in place around the world, many of these special celebrations are being canceled. Unfortunately, pregnancies cannot be rescheduled. These are milestones that need to be celebrated because we will never get them back. 

From drive-by celebrations to virtual ones, people around the world are getting creative on ways to continue the celebrations. Drive-By Baby Showers won't replace traditional ones, but they will make the expecting parents feel loved. Read on to discover how to plan the ultimate Drive-By Baby Shower Parade. 

How or Where to Set Up?

Depending on the neighborhood and if you have a driveway available, set a time and date for friends and family to line up their cars and drive by your house. If you are living in an apartment complex, schedule a meet up at an empty parking lot where you can wave at your guests from afar. It could be a church lot or school parking lot. Decorate your driveway or car trunk with balloons and garland. Grab a chair, kick back and be ready to feel the love as friends and family greet you with honks and cheers. 

Layout some fun printable games like baby bingo and baby word scramble, and your guests can fill them out or take home to play together virtually through a Livestream. You can find some fun baby shower printables at The Spruce. 

We can't forget the gifts, so make sure to set up a spot for guests to drop off gifts.

Expectant mothers are not only anticipating the arrival of their little ones, but they are panicking about being prepared for their little love. The stores are bare, and necessities have become hard to find at times. Help the mom-to-be stock up on essentials such as diapers, wipes, sanitizer, and food, so everyone is staying safe at home

Shower Me With Love Baby Shower Parade

How many can say they've had a parade for their baby shower? Not many!

Getting all loved ones involved by having them decorate their cars for a drive-by parade is an exciting way to celebrate in these crazy times. Your loved ones will be even more excited to drop off their gifts when they get to see the visuals you have been spending hours planning on Pinterest. Get everyone even more involved by holding a fun prize for the winner of the best-decorated car, and it will make their drive-by appearance feel even more special! Gift cards make for good prizes and will be easy to mail out to the winners. They are also a great way to support your local businesses at this time. 

How To Plan A Drive-By Baby Shower or Parade

Here is a quick rundown of how to get it done!

• Start Planning Your Party at LYFETYMES -It’s a FREE Party Planning and Free Guest Websites for all thing parties.

• No more Paper Invites or boring e-invitations-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 a Picture or Video to capture guests’ attention!

• Title Your Party “Drive-By Baby Shower” Make the location of your party your house and explain in the comments section of your Website guests should drive by the location.

• Add an easy registry link for guests to buy gifts to drop off at your door! Including a registry is a great way to get what you want and need.

• Have a “Drop Station” and decorate it so they know. Fun to add yard signs, balloons, decorate a porch, add garage door banners, or decorate your front door.

• Set up your social distance spot, where you can wave, say hello, and thank them

• Get Your Guests involved- have a contest of best-decorated car, sign or custom.

• Video yourself opening gifts or host a Virtual Gift Opening Happy Hour so guests can enjoy seeing you open gifts.

Hosting a Drive-By Baby Shower probably wasn't what you pictured your celebrations were going to be like, but it's a great way to overcome the circumstances. Nothing will make you feel more showered with love then your friends and family making time and coming out of their shelters to celebrate your growing family.

Need Help Planning a Drive-By Shower or Parade, visit our LYFETYMES Vendor Marketplace or plan for free at LYFETYMES.com

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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.

How to Throw An At-Home Easter Shell-ebration

Throw an Easy At-Home Easter Party In 2020

by Lata Singh and Liz Grisham

You don’t need to bend over backward to throw a great Easter Party!

Here at LYFETYMES, we will be sharing some easy DIY Easter Planning options and services that can help you plan the party, decor, food, activities, Easter Baskets and create a Virtual Party for friends and family to join.

It’s not the size of the Celebration, it’s who you Celebrate with- Get your “Peeps” together!

Although 2020 has put many celebrations on hold or TBD. At LYFETYMES, we are committed to helping friends and family connect and celebrate. Having the ability to maintain those traditions we cherish with the family is important so we are all learning to adapt to how we celebrate because some milestones and Holidays can’t or won’t be rescheduled.

Stay Close, Even When You're Apart

Great news, is you can still throw a great At-Home party or celebration even if it is smaller than a usual gathering. We've made it super easy to create and share Virtual Parties on LYFETYMES, The All-In-One Party Planner, with free Celebration Websites that you can SMS, email, and share on Facebook. Stay connected and get the word out about your Virtual Party on Zoom, or live events on Facebook Live and YouTube Live.

Stay Close, Even When You're Apart

A virtual Easter party is a perfect opportunity to invite family and friends to celebrate, share well wishes and most importantly connect with one another.

Whether you are having a small At-Home Easter Celebration, a virtual party or both, Easter is the perfect excuse to have a party.

Delicious brunch food, Easter-filled baskets, lavish flowers, bright colors, fun crafts and games, and dare we say, undecided weather. As any good planner or mom knows, throwing a celebration to remember isn't as simple as waving your magic wand.

Pulling off an Egg'stra special party requires thoughtful arrangement, some thoughtful food prep, creative decorations and yep, even some crafty party games and activities to keep everyone, including antsy toddlers, entertained! After all, there's so much more to a Hoppy Easter Party than the bunny hop. The Egg'stra Special has distinctive details, like amusing centerpieces, activities that go way beyond color me happy, thoughtful take-home gifts, and elevated table decor. 

Is your head Hippity Hoppity yet?

Deep breath—we've got you covered.

Whether you have a small gathering or a big virtual family affair, throwing an Easter party is no small task. You can DIY and plan with our amazing free party planning tools on LYFETYMES or head to the LYFETYMES Vendor Marketplace for help planning, and styling your event. For the family & friends that can’t attend in person, LYFETYMES makes it easier to plan your event from curating decor, customizing your party website, and getting all of your virtual party links set up, so you can easily live-stream the kids’ Easter egg hunt and share it later when the day comes!

EGGS-Cellent Easter Decor

Decorations and FUN are key to a viewing party and keeping viewers engaged so they’re not just witnessing the third meltdown over stolen cake. Gorgeous shimmer walls, garland, balloons, and fun activities like watching the kids put together their carrot balloon animals and partaking in the traditional Easter egg hunt will be sure to put a smile on the faces of all your family and friends viewing. One of our party experts’ favorites are the Hoppity Easter Balloon Garland below and can be purchased here.

We also love these small budget-friendly at-home party sets designed by local artists for up to 10 people. We have a number of easy At-Home Party Sets that can be sent directly to your front door.

At- Home Easter Activities

We wanted to share and show some of our favorite indoor and backyard activities for Easter that the kids are sure to enjoy and make great memories.

One of the most popular traditional family Easter activities is the Easter egg hunt.  These days, it's the perfect excuse to get outside and use a little creativity! Plot a hunt that’s small-but-spirited for the little ones and if you are having a virtual party, keep your viewers engaged by allowing them to participate as well.

Setting up a kids station to keep the little ones occupied while the adults have a bit of time to catch up, allows you to get some screen time for yourself. Stocking it with activities like Easter arts and crafts and egg painting will keep the little ones busy. Studies show that slime has been linked to stress relief, so why not set up a slime- friendly station where the kids can make their own Easter-inspired slime. Below are some great visual ideas of activities for a fun-filled Easter.

Now let’s get comfy and grab some wine! Whether you prefer the Innovative digital party planning tools on LYFETYMES or prefer to collaborate 1:1 with your Hostessy party expert, we are here every step of the way to help organize everything you need, making preparing for Easter stress-free!

How To Throw The Ultimate At-Home Mother's Day Bash

How To Celebrate Mother’s Day 2020

by Liz Grisham

New Ways To Celebrate Mom’s

2020 sure has a way of making us think outside the box! Here at LYFETYMES we have come up with some exciting, creative ways you can still celebrate Mother’s Day with all the #momboss’s out there.

So kick back, relax, and enjoy all those hilarious Cardi Corona videos while we take care of some innovative ideas to still celebrate mom if celebrating from home.

We often scramble to find gifts or appreciation for mom and usually can get her out to a planned Friends Brunch, Spa Day, or big family gathering celebrating several moms. Unfortunately, most of those options are off the table at the time where we are reminded why moms are the glue that holds it all together for us. But the bright side is this; mom only cares about the thought you put into how you celebrate her.

Mimosas With Moms!  A Virtual Happy Hour!

First, Let’s discuss the most important thing all hard working mama’s need right about now. The bubbly!

A mimosa bar is perfect for your Mother’s Day celebration and is perfectly acceptable before noon (some little light-hearted emoji face to enhance the haha?) Whether your taste buds become electrified at the drop of Prosecco or some vintage Dom Perignon be fully stocked with the bubbly without even leaving lockdown.

A DIY mimosa bar complete with all the makings for the perfect mimosa is perfect to get the celebration rolling. Be sure to stock up on plenty of chilled and bubbly sparkling wine, juices and fruits.

Now is the time to be adventurous with your taste buds since the options on the shelves are thin. Apart from the traditional OJ, pick up some other flavors such as Pomegranate, Pineapple and Mango juice to keep the options rolling. Mimosa’s are not complete if they’re not served with some delicious fresh fruit like raspberries and blackberries.

Mimosas are best served chilled, without ice so you’ll want to be sure your champagne is kept cold. Using a carafe and a beverage tub will do the trick along with some champagne flutes that will round up the essentials. Add a beautiful balloon garland and you have a celebration space for some great photos.

I would bet that the majority of us moms pretty much know the basics of making a great mimosa, so let me get down to how you can experience Mother’s day safely with your squad. 

Livestream The Party

Invite Mom’s close friends and family to a live stream party, so they can have a mimosa and catch up! The goal is to have this organized ahead of time and surprise mom! Nothing stops you from decorating a space as her backdrop with pictures, decor or “I love You Mom” signs to show off a bit. And please, take the kid’s in the other room and really give her some time and space to enjoy herself. You can purchase adult and kid’s size here. Be sure to adorn mom with an adorable crown for her virtual party!

A beautiful Mother’s Day Brunch

After wowing mom with such a thoughtful virtual party, it is a perfect time to move to a wonderful brunch. Good news, GrubHub, etc exists so you don’t have to go far to get her favorite meal. Decorate it easily with our beautiful party sets to transform your table setting.

Gifts

Remember, this state of our lives is not forever and we really need to support our small businesses. So consider purchasing gift cards for products or services for a future date from your local small business owner's mom loves to visit.

Head to LYFETYMES to begin planning the ultimate mother’s day event. LYFETYMES makes party planning easier from creating your customizable party website, keeping track of your RSVP’s, Creating and adding your gift registry or cash fund link for your guests to easily access, to sending out your invitation via SMS, and more.

For help planning and styling your Mother’s Day event check out the LYFETYMES Vendors Marketplace to find everything you need.

Times are uncertain but one thing we can always count on is our loved ones to come together when we need them the most. With decor to drool for, sharing memories, laughs, and love all come together seamlessly for an unforgettable Mother’s Day.