Celebrating during Quarantine

Birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, baby showers, baby arrivals, weddings. Life is full of celebrations this time of year and, unfortunately, they are looking a lot different in midst of Covid-19. My heart goes out to all the people having to reschedule big events like postponing graduation parties or weddings or limiting the people who get to visit a newborn.

We haven’t had any big life events, but Kevin and I are celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary next week. I am both excited to have something to look forward to and sad we won’t be visiting one of our favorite spots to celebrate. There, of course, are bigger problems in the world and I refuse to dwell on not having a night out for our anniversary. We are healthy, we are safe, and we are still going to celebrate.

While our celebration will look different than years past, there are still some things we will do to hold tight to tradition and make it special. We will write in each other’s Memory Books. We will pop a bottle of champagne to share. We will exchange small gifts to commemorate the day. We are going to try really hard to have dinner, just the two of us. It might look different, but I am determined it will still be fun and we will still be celebrating the love we pledged (in our backyard) to one another 13 years ago.

Celebrations might look different during this season, but we can still be thoughtful and honor the real reason behind the celebrating. Here are some fun ways to celebrate a special event while in Quarantine:

Make a special meal.

This year we are doing something different and getting a delivery meal service to make a meal just the two of us. We are using Hello Fresh. I have also heard great things about Sunbasket. One reason I like the idea of making a meal is we can do it together. It is half entertainment, half nourishment. Think about something you’ve never made or only make for special occasions: donuts, beef bourguignon, a homemade cake, steaks and asparagus on the grill with hollandaise sauce. Get all the ingredients and make it a fun part of the celebration.

Another way to celebrate is picking up take out from a local spot and setting up a candle lit dinner at the dining room table or getting cozy and casual on the couch with some yummy food you didn’t have to make.

If you want to celebrate with someone outside your immediate family, sending a meal service or getting them take out also serves the purpose of celebrating them, even if you can’t be in their physical presence.

Feasting is something I believe whole heartedly in and can be done right at home.

Shower love.

If someone you love is celebrating something special, why not invite friends and family to send cards or record a short video for them. Mail is a love language these days whether it comes in the mailbox or via text. If you’re creative, compile videos sent into a movie. I promise it will be something they always cherish.

Start a Celebration Journal.

Kevin and I have been using Celebration journals for around 7 years now. Everyone in our family has a Celebration Journal we write in on special occasions. All you need is a blank journal and you immediately save yourself money and time. No more scouring the stores or Amazon for the perfect card or forgetting the special day and being unprepared.

If you don’t feel like you’re qualified to write something in a Celebration Journal, google it and you can borrow from many who do this sort of thing for a living. A formula I have found helpful when writing in Kevin’s or the kids’ Celebration Journals: Quote/Scripture+Memory+Sentiment is always, always rewarded with a kiss or a hug. I also love Top 10 lists for birthdays, anniversaries, or New Year’s. A Celebration Journal is one way to both simplify and celebrate occasions in a special way.

Send a local gift.

Coffee, candles, a book from a local book store, fresh farm eggs, flowers, a charcuterie board. If you want to celebrate someone, branch out from the usual Amazon search and send them a bag of local coffee or flowers from the downtown flower shop. Some favorites: Archetype Coffee Subscription, Wax Buffalo Candles, Old Tree Farm, The Grey Plume, Zaltes Ice Cream. Support local while also celebrating loved ones.

Decorate anyways.

Get the fresh flowers. Put up the streamers. Pick up the balloons. Get dressed up. Make the celebration feel like a celebration with all the fun trimmings. My goal is to put on real clothes, make-up, and maybe even blow dry my hair for our 13th anniversary. The little things are the big things when it comes to celebrating in quarantine.

Celebrating at home is still celebrating. How have you celebrated during Quarantine?