How To Celebrate A Birthday In Lockdown
Just because we are in lockdown, doesn’t mean celebrations are in lockdown, so let’s party!
My birthday was last week and honestly, I had kind of a rough day. It’s a weird feeling to be restricted from proper celebrations with friends, family and bottomless brunches and to be honest, it made me feel a little like I was on an emotional rollercoaster the entire day.
Birthdays for me are as much fun as they are stressful and anxiety filled. I get nervous that I can’t be the one planning and organising (am I the only one or are you like this, too?) and that my celebration for the day is almost completely (besides being in a good mood, of course) in someone else’s hands. Luckily, Josh knows that I like to be spoiled (who doesn’t?) and made the celebrations carry on for two days rather than just one.
I’m sharing some of the lovely things that Josh did for me, tips on celebrating at home that I’ve done, and how I will be spoiling my friends in the upcoming weeks — or months — for their special days.
Some links included in this post may be affiliate links where I could receive a commission if you purchase, that being said, these are all items I 100% standby and have either purchased or know of myself.
Get a good night’s sleep (beforehand)
It’s so important to get the atmosphere right, and that includes getting a good night’s rest beforehand so make sure whoever is celebrating gets a good night’s rest and doesn’t wake up on the wrong side of the bed on their birthday. Yasmin gifted me a one-sided silk pillowcase and honestly, all the birthday anxiety (it’s a thing) literally slid down the luxurious pillowcase. They are so soft, and ever since I got it, I have slept like a dream… plus silk pillowcase for £18… yes it’s real. It’s because one side is cotton so it doesn’t slip. Check them out here. I’m thinking about treating Josh to a matching one as he’s been saying he hasn’t been sleeping well lately (hopefully he doesn’t read this bit!).
Start off the day right
To start off my birthday, Josh surprised me with some gorgeous satin pyjamas as I fell in love with my baby yellow ones I bought for myself. This was actually the most ideal and practical gift as they look and feel luxurious but are only £30 for a set. PLUS because we are just staying home, you COULD just wear this birthday PJ outfit the whole day! Although I do recommend changing for the evening as it makes it feel a bit more exciting.
Get your hands on these, or gift these quick as the sizes are selling out fast. I love long sleeves with shorts, I don’t know why, just like having my arms covered when I sleep, but there are so many other satin PJ combos, and some pink flared PJ bottoms are calling my name, too.
I’m wearing the yellow ones in the photo at the beginning of this post and also have the satin mink ones, too. SO COMFY. SO CUTE.
Make yourself a fancy tea or coffee
I am pretty much obsessed with having some sort of fancy coffee (daltons didn’t tickle my fancy, we did try, just too sugary for me) so make sure you are served your morning cuppa in your favourite cuppa. Don’t skimp and use your fanciest coffee. My favourite right now is Perky Blenders with oat milk, so made sure to have my barista (Josh) make me his finest. Sometimes he tries to give me his monogrammed or name cups, and I’m like no! Because I have ones for each of us, so especially on your birthday, be sure to be served (note be served, not serve yourself… unless you live alone then make it and then serve yourself in a fancy way like on a cute tray with a biscuit) in your favourite mug, with your favourite coffee.
Perky Blenders are offering 10% off of their entire website if you use code GEMTAKES10.
Besides work, allow yourself to just completely relax
In the afternoon, I decided to take a walk outside with Josh for our lunch break, and then spent a half hour toward the end of the day (pre-getting ready for dinner, cheeky extra half hour) and did a mini spa sesh for myself to just take a break from my phone, from Josh and any housework hanging over me and 100% chill. I’m totally obsessed with Origins as a brand, and have sworn by their charcoal face mask since my best friend from university, Sara, told me it helped her with her acne and now I’ve been CONVERTED!
Lookfantastic has the Origins charcoal face mask and some AMAZING floral one time use sheet masks that are more for being cute and relaxing than extracting the gunk out like the charcoal one so I got to work, and added sliced cucumbers over my eyes and just laid on my bed until it was time to wash the charcoal mask off. You can add relaxing music and turn the lights off, too, but because I was so relaxed, I knew if I did that, I’d fall right to sleep and wake up the next morning. I also love the brand Yes To and they make these Yes To cucumber eye masks for under £5 so it’s a total steal and are made with 96% natural ingredients.
Lookfantastic have 10% off the site when you use code 10BEAUTY.
Always send flowers
Whether it’s your own birthday or someone else’s, flowers are the dream. I received a box on my birthday morning and the best thing is running downstairs in your new PJs to be greeted with a box of gorgeous flowers to trim and pop in a vase. A little reminder throughout the special day, but also for the week after that you’re fantastic.
I’ve probably said before but Josh and I absolutely love Bloom & Wild. His aunt gets a bouquet from us every month and I just surprised my friend Hannah with a bouquet to cheer her up after having an absolutely unusually bad week. I absolutely swear by them, and they delivery on time, and the flowers are always in fabulous condition.
Treat the birthday gal or guy to some tasty food and drink
Ok so first things first, we cannot eat an entire cake between 1 or 2 people - unless it lasts over a couple of days. I’m being realistic. That being said, you can eat biscuits… especially cute ones. For lovely and potentially even personalised biscuits, I really LOVE Biscuiteers. The brand really stand out from any other as they create a really luxurious offering that you just cannot replicate. The designs are gorgeous, and some of the biscuits can even fit through your letterbox. It’s a lovely way to treat someone when you can’t be with them to celebrate.
Crosstown Donuts also offer a lovely donut box or combination box with lots of flavours and do next day delivery, so if it’s a last minute treat you're trying to find, this is a lifesaver. I’m going to be ordering some treats from them in the coming weeks for some donut lovers I know. who may have a reason to celebrate.
One of my lovely friends dropped off a coffee and walnut cake in the morning, and Josh surprised me with an order from my favourite ice cream parlour so I think definitely play on what you know you or your friend will love. If they like biscuits, get them biscuits. If they like cake, bring them cake. If they like ice cream, order them some ice cream. If they like donuts, order from Crosstown because they are gorgeous.
If you can be there to celebrate, maybe opt for something a little larger. Hampers and food baskets are ideal for a birthday breakfast, because it 1) involves opening something which feels like a gift in itself and 2) is filled with delicious food, drink and more!
I recently found out about Pique Food who offer birthday breakfast picnics!!! I’m way too excited about this, but I just think it’s such a lovely way to start a birthday-day. In each birthday picnic basket (for you to enjoy at home or in your garden, of course) is Prosecco, peach puree, mini pastries, home-made jam, bagels, pancakes, yogurt bowls, iced coffees and a little cake loaf with birthday candles. I’m pretty sure that is the IDEAL birthday breakfast.
Decorate your space
Josh decided to throw me a little birthday party in the evening, complete with champagne and some seriously good decor. The champagne was a treat I’d been saving since my old job gifted me the bottle… in 2017 (champagne ages well… most of the time!!) so crack open that bottle and pour a couple of glasses. The decor (as seen in the photo) was £12 on Amazon! What a steal. Josh almost didn’t want to tell me because it looks like he spent more than that. I have ordered “Happy Thanksgiving” balloon banners that have cost more than all the balloons and bunting! It even came with a giant balloon champagne and giant champagne glass - which were the best extra surprise. This really set the mood and made our space feel a bit more like a birthday party rather than a living room. I couldn’t find the exact same ones, Josh thinks they sold out so click here for rose gold and click here for blue and here for a different black and gold set.
Get creative
Although we may be limited in who we have at our at-home birthday parties, don’t limit your ideas. I’ve also loved the idea of creating a birthday menu for your meal, wearing party hats and sash all day while you FaceTime your family and friends, getting dinner delivered instead of making it (such a treat if you’re in the kitchen as much as I am), buying yourself new champagne flutes to drink out of, and wearing your best birthday outfit for your one-a-day exercise — there is so much you can do!
Most importantly, don’t stress about the day, because no matter what, you or whoever is celebrating will love whatever you do for them and if you’re on your own, appreciate yourself!
I hope you guys have a wonderful day and if this was helpful, please leave me a comment below, share on social media and tune in next week for another blog post!
