celebrating the little things (part 1: tips & ideas)

I'm a firm believer in celebrating everything. Even the seemingly little or typical or mundane.

A great grade on a test, a first good hit in baseball, learning to tie shoes by oneself, last day of preschool, or simply 'cuz it's Wednesday.

Because God is good and He's given us another day with these amazing little guys...and I want mine to look back and think, "my mom was fun, and boy did she make me feel special."

Want some ideas on how to celebrate your family?

More than anything, color and thoughtfulness are the biggest things you need.

You don't need to spend a lot of money or a ton of time. Please remember that.

The above photo was from Imani's last day of preschool.

I simply grabbed some leftover napkins and paper plates I'd gotten on clearance at Target awhile back. I found some yellow leis from the dollar store and loaded them all up on top of brightly colored wrapping paper, with a quickly scribbled note, brownies and strawberries, and sparkling pink lemonade.

It honestly took me all of 5 minutes to set up as I was running out the door to grab the kids at preschool.

It was an impromptu party, honoring her.

And she was thrilled.

 

Breakfast Parties are big around our house.

It's a fun way to start a morning, whether it's a birthday, holiday, or simply because one of the kids has a big test and we want to make sure they have a good breakfast and send them off to school happy and excited for the day.

I can't believe how many years it took me to figure out wrapping paper is such a perfect and inexpensive way to bring color to a table.

As I mentioned in Imani's imprompu End of Preschool Party, it's an easy favorite {and I've learned to stock up so I'm always ready!}.

This black and white polka dot is from the dollar area at Target. And I don't care if it gets juice or syrup or anything spilled on it...unlike some of my fabric table runners that I have to get dry cleaned.

Think outside the box. The colorful pouf centerpiece running down the center of the table was used previously hung from the ceiling for Ezekiel's Breakfast Birthday party {see below}.

Grab random or favorite things from around the house.

Like a vintage inspired trophy from the living room, or sports items from the garage.

Or Superhero masks from the dress up box.

This Breakfast Party was on the first day of school.

I put yellow #2 pencils in blue mason jars all along the table and used letters throughout, as well.

Finding large gold letter stickers at an office supply store {near the garage sale signs}, I simply affixed them to the inexpensive paper napkins and used them as place cards, of sorts.

The kids scurried around the table looking for their letter, laughing when they realized amongst our six kids, we have two A's and two E's.

I also printed out a little encouraging note for each of them, along with a Bible verse {find the free printable in this post}.

How often do you use your china?

I mean, lets be honest. We registered for them when we got married...but do we USE them?

What about our silver chargers or champagne flutes, or our silver?

Get it out. Get things a little fancy...a little out of the ordinary, the everyday.

In the above 1st Day of School Party, I used our everyday white plates, placing the chargers my sweet cousin gave us for our wedding beneath {sometimes I even use paper plates with our chargers}.

What about pouring your orange juice from the ugly 'ol container, into a glass pitcher and using those champagne flutes you only break out on New Years Eve?

Or instead of juice, try flavoring your water...

Simply slice up strawberries, lemon, apple, whatever you have in your fridge...and let them infuse your chilled water for a fun fruity flavor. So healthy, yummy, and a bit fancy!

{use your china!}

{get out your silver!}

In my opinion, it's the little extras that make something memorable.

Think of your family members and their favorite things. Their favorite colors. The silly things that make them laugh. Do that. Use those.

What about making a fun lunch sack? I actually made this little bag using scrap ribbon and tags and stickers {again, from the dollar area at Target} when giving food to a friend after she'd had a baby.

But I do this for the kids sometimes, too. Maybe just a bit less girlie for my boys.

Quick, easy. Sure to make them smile.

The kids often like to choose what I wear to dinner or really, to wherever.

Sometimes I look a little glitzed out for an evening in, but they feel validated and their opinions matter. Even with something as silly as helping mommy feel pretty.

What about letting them chose their own game pieces when doing Game Night?

Sometimes they build their own with legos, sometimes they'll make something out of paper, or search around for a favorite small toy.

A perfect way to distract them and have them feel like they're helping prepare for a fun party-ish evening while I'm cooking dinner.

We've got several Star Wars fans in our house {though they've yet to see the movie}, so when I found these pancake molds on clearance at William Sonoma, I knew they'd be a hit {soooo....maybe I also have Christmas ones and Easter ones and...}!

You don't need a reason to make something a little more fun than normal. We all like getting out from under the mundane and having a little fun, something a little bit special. So easy. And yet, they'll remember it.

They'll remember you as the mom who made Star Wars pancakes. And really, who doesn't want to be that mom?!

Color and shape and pattern are so fun when decorating for something big or small.

Coordinating is one thing, but...

It doesn't have to be matchey-matchey. In fact, it's SO much better when it's not!

Keep your eye out for things on clearance. Grab paper straws or napkins or something fun and silly when you're out and about. Put it away in a bin until you need it. I'm not saying get all hoarder-ish {though I won't admit to you how many party bins I have}, but it's so easy when you have things on hand.

A little celebration requires no stress when you can just run down to the basement real quick, or into the garage...and blow up a couple balloons.

Or hang a few streamers across the ceiling. Or simply pull out some cute paper plates.

Instant party.

Go from room to room, finding things that make you happy. Or that makes the person you're honoring smile.

Rather than hanging lanterns with the string it comes with, use pretty ribbon. Here, I just used a bunch of mismatched pink scraps I had in my ribbon box.

 I hang them with thumbtacks. Easy to put up and down and though I may have a few holes in my ceiling...honestly, who looks up to see them?!

 Imani wanted a pink Breakfast Party a few years ago.

So even her pancakes and milk were a pinkish hue, much to her delight.

 Can you believe you the honor of having these little guys underfoot?

Today, I've had a rougher day than normal. I'm exhausted and so are the kids {we're all just a touch grumpy}.

So what did we do? Little Laith decided we needed a party.

A Circle Lunch party.

He's a bit upset that the plate & napkin are different shapes, but was excited to have found polka dot napkins to coordinate with the food he'd chosen.

My sweet five year old...boy after my own heart.

Celebrate everything. Even a grumpy Monday.

Because you and me? We're the same...we both want them to look back and think, "my mom was fun, and boy did she make me feel special."

|| Swing back by on Wednesday for some of our favorite yummy recipes for our parties!

Whether it's an Impromptu Party, Breakfast Party, or an actual Birthday Party! ||