How to: Mini moment celebrations
There's a lot to be said for celebrating life’s big moments, such as birthdays, anniversaries or house-warmings, and hosting a big party or buying piles of presents. However, there’s also a lot to be said for finding the joy in life’s smaller moments, the ‘non-occasions’, now more than ever. Here are some tips and ideas for how to find and celebrate the magic in the everyday.
Celebration bottle bubbles. Was £3.95, now £1
Mark silly anniversaries
Forget milestone birthdays and wedding anniversaries. Maybe it’s been 10 years since you first met your best friend, or since you and your other half set up a joint account together. A greetings card is a fun and thoughtful way to remember those moments that are seemingly insignificant, but actually marked an important turning point in your life.
Bunch of Flowers greeting card, £2.95
It can also be fun to start a new family tradition. Why not mark the fresh start that the first of every month represents with a homemade cake in the shape of a number one?
Love Birds set of cake tins. Was £24.95, now £9.95
Have an at-home holiday
We're all feeling the effects of the cost of living crisis, so you might not be having a family holiday away this year,. The good news is that you can still recreate the magic of a weekend away at home. Leave all screens and devices indoors and set up some camping in the back garden. Have a picnic, play some outdoor games, and set up a scavenger hunt. No back garden? No problem - simply create your pop-up hotel in the living room.
Give the kids their own ‘room’ on your at-home holiday with a Wild Wonders teepee, £50 (was £99.95). Can be used indoors or outdoors.
Write down your achievements
It’s important to celebrate everyday successes. Make a note of any achievements, however big or small in a success journal. Maybe you hit your daily step goal, solved a tricky sudoku or simply had a really good hair day (lord knows those are hard to come by). Look back on these when you’re feeling low or demotivated, and be inspired to continue to achieve something small each day.
Ladybird A6 notebook, ideal for starting a success journal, £1.95
If the thought of a success journal doesn’t appeal to you, why not create a happiness jar? Write down little notes of everything that brought you joy and fill up the jar throughout the year. Remember, this isn’t about the big things. Savour the memory of a delicious dinner, the feeling of fresh sheets, or a compliment from a friend.
Treat yourself to a spa evening
In these times simply making it to the end of the week with your sanity (mostly) intact is something to celebrate. The good news is that you don't need to go out to a spa to ease away the stress of the day. Simply bring the serenity of the salon to your home with our tips for an affordable spa evening at home.
Take a deep breath and shut out the world with a pretty Astrid Flower eye mask. Was £9.95, now £2.95
Dinner and drinks out can get pricey! It can be just as fun, if not more, to get some friends together online for a virtual night in. Even if the weekdays and weekends are all blurring into one, we think a Saturday evening is always worth celebrating.
Ideas for a girls’ night in include:
- Do some beauty treatments; face masks, hair masks, manicures and pedicures
- Do some crafting while you catch up
- Have a virtual movie night
- Take a virtual class together, like wine-tasting or cooking
Praise the kids
It’s not an easy time for children right now as they are adapting to life post-lockdowns and Covid restrictions. Be sure to praise them for things beyond just grades and homework. Maybe they helped you tidy up, or looked after their sibling when they fell. Or maybe they just had a particularly wonderful smile today. It's all behaviour you want to encourage and see more of. There are plenty of simple ways to reward their efforts, from making their favourite meal, to letting them stay up a bit later than usual.
Stickers are a fun way to offer a quick reward for kids’ efforts and achievements. Top Banana sticker sheets, £2.95
Pets like praise, too!
Did your four-legged pal finally master the full ‘sit, down, roll over’ routine? Did you make it to the end of their daily walk without them harassing a squirrel? Treat them with some homemade nibbles, just because. Even if they’re not fully sure why they’re being spoilt, you’ll enjoy seeing an extra-waggly tail.
Make Your Own doggy treats, £8.95
Cats can enjoy homemade treats too with our Nine Lives treat kit!
Make Your Own cat treats, £8.95
Bid a cheerful farewell to winter
Spring is on the horizon, which makes it a perfect time to savour all that makes winter so special while you can. Top of our list is a cosy hot drink on a chilly day. Making a hot chocolate station is a fantastic activity to keep the kids entertained and away from their screens on a wintry afternoon.
Stuck for ideas?
In the mood to celebrate something but struggling for inspiration? Nearly every day is some sort of national awareness or celebratory day. From common days like World Book Day or International Women's Day to the lesser known Eat Ice-Cream for Breakfast Day or National Skipping Day, get ready to join in the fun!
