It’s a party and only your household is invited! It does not mean, though, that it has to be a dull one.
The situation brought about by the Covid-19 crisis has sadly affected everyone and everything—celebrations included. In order to keep the deadly virus (which by the way, has so far taken away almost 300,000 lives globally) from spreading further, all sorts of gatherings and parties, including those for Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, weddings, anniversaries, and even birthdays have all been canceled or altered in more ways than one.
Here at Good Side News, we believe that every day is a reason to celebrate and be thankful for. We also believe that special reasons for a merriment should always be seized, even while on quarantine! Believe us when we say there are things you can do to make it more special. And all you need is a little bit of patience, effort, and some creativity.
1. Plan the activities. Chances are you’re in quarantine with your family so you probably already know what kind of games or other fun activities they are into. From charades, dancing, to board games or karaoke, you guys literally have the time to do it all. Take time to sit down and check what are the ones you can do given your resources and the celebration’s mood. Also, if you can, incentivize. Nothing quite gets people in the mood to compete than prizes. Once you’ve planned it out, give the rest of your guests a heads up that there will be cool stuff to expect.
2. Deck out the party venue. There are ways to decorate a space without having to spend tons of money. First off, think of a theme or overall look. Then plan the layout of the space depending on the activities you planned. Also make sure there’s a dedicated venue where you and your family can enjoy your food together. If you live in a low to mid rise condominium with a nice rooftop, perhaps you can ask your building admin if you can borrow it for a couple of hours for your celebration.
Here’s a neat tip: If it’s just you and your partner, a simple set-up with fairy lights, plants, and music while the sun sets is a very easy way to sweep him or her off their feet.
3. Make your meal more exciting. You can either grill on the spot and get people involved or make the food thematic. You can even plan the service of the food in such a way that each course is served one after the other, with you (humorously) explaining each. You can even ask everyone to cook together with some music in the background. If you guys are coffee lovers, why not practice making really good coffee together? That way, you’re hitting two birds with one stone. Make this one meal together with people you care about interactive so that it does not just fill your tummies but also your souls.
4. Invite other people…virtually. Yes, you can still celebrate with people even when you’re all in your respective homes. And here’s an easy way to do it: choose the platform you’re using for this. Most use Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Google Hangouts! All these provide impeccable video quality and audio and you can more or less see everyone with a grid view. Then get everyone to agree on a date and time. If possible, have food sent to your guests’ houses so that you’re all having the same thing and there’s a stronger sense of togetherness.
5. Send out a surprise gift. Want to get someone a special something for their birthday or important milestone in their life, but scared to go out there and expose yourself to Covid-19? Online shopping is still pretty much operational. Take advantage of that and order something for the celebrant. Make sure he or she receives it on the day of the celebration just to put that extra touch of thoughtfulness.
