It's the Little Things: Celebrations

It truly is the Little Things in life that can make moments and life experiences special and memorable. Whether it's using special dishes, instituting a family tradition that touches the heart, or doing something out of the ordinary just because, Kelle Hampton shares in her post, Celebrate: Hallmark how she makes the most out of the littlest things. I was inspired when I ran into this wonderful representation of what celebrations are really about and how we can make life special for whatever reason that comes to mind.

Our birthday celebrations is our house come with a visual collage to showcase what matters to that special birthday person. It's often the little things that matter to that person that show up the most, whether it's something they say or something they love that might otherwise go unnoticed. The Birthday Wall is the perfect visual to present such an important aspect to an individual and why they are so special to you.

Happy Birthday To You! (My Childhood Memory)

A birthday is that one special day of the year that is dedicated to the child born to celebrate their uniqueness, their growth, and their place in their family and the world. 


I always looked forward to the celebration of my special day, especially since it coincided with the country's celebration of freedom, Independence Day, giving my day an extra "kick" with the evening's display and powerful booms of "those rocket's red glare, and those bombs bursting in air." 


In my younger years I would so desire to see those colors that I would cover my ears to tolerate the overly loud noise, even when I could feel the re-verb in my chest. 


Mom always made me to feel as if those colorful displays were just for me--to celebrate my special day. She would also enhance the occasion with the thematic colors of red, white, and blue, whether on my homemade birthday cake with blueberries and strawberries for the visual of the American Flag or with the ribbons and bows on my gifts. 


On my 12th birthday, the setting for my celebration was my all-time favorite summer hang-out, Terrace Lake (now defunct), where I could swim, swing and play on the monkey bars and eat BBQ chicken and potato salad. 


I won't forget the gift, that large rectangle shaped box, that became my treasured possession, filled with supplies and books on how to draw animals and other things: My First Art Kit. I loved to draw; so that gift from Mom just validated me as a budding artist and it thrilled me just thinking about using the pencils and other contents to create and express myself. 


I believe one of the best ways to make a birthday memorable is for a child to be shown how special and unique they are, showcasing their interests and talents and what makes their personality sparkle.


When it comes to my own two daughters, I have had a fab time celebrating their birthdays through a colorful, visual display of their personality and interests through image, text and color, collage style on the wall. It never disappoints to see how much such a display validates and boosts their self-esteem. 


And that's what birthdays are really for. And what is a birthday but a fabulous memory-in-the-making that will last a lifetime. 


I wrote today's post as part of the Wow-Women on Writing's "Everybody's Talking about Favorite Childhood Memories" mass-blogging event celebrating the release of Finding Emma by Steena Holmes (http://www.steenaholmes.com/). Steena is a woman who believes that 'in the end, all things succumb...to the passions of your heart'. Steena's life revolves around her family, friends and fiction. Add some chocolate into the mix and she's living the good life. She took those passions and made them a dream come true by pouring her heart into each of her stories.  


Finding Emma  has quickly become a bestseller. Proceeds from each book will be donated to The Missing Children Society of Canada - an organization dedicated to reuniting families. Visit http://www.mcsc.ca/ for more information. 


If you comment on today's post on this blog or any of the others participating the "Everybody's Talking About Favorite Childhood Memories" day, you'll be entered to win a signed copy of Finding Emma!


To read Steena's about childhood memories and view a list of other blog participating in the "Everybody's Talking About Favorite Childhood Memories" day, please visit The Muffin (http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/).

The Early Bird Gets the Worm!

I love it when I come across an interesting theme for a party; when your child likes worms, well then you just have a worm theme, right? That's exactly what Sherry Petersik did for her daughter. She shares some fabulous party products and showcases all of the worm-theme ideas she has brainstormed in her post, Do the Worm. Between colorful photos, fun text, and a cute video, this post is a real winner.

We can always win with a great theme that our kids love; whether worms, insects, flowers, or frogs, it can really showcase the quirky, fun side to our kid's personalities. Check out the first chapter in my e-book, A Thoughtful Thread: Choosing a Theme, for more theme ideas for your child's Birthday Wall.

Play Ball!!

One of the most fun parts in planning a birthday party is the theme. And when your son loves sports, there are many ways you can go. Kate, at Hostess with the Mostess, held a sports theme related party for her one year old son's birthday and found a popular sport idea for the main theme, plus other fun sport related stuff.

Theme really does help to unify the overall picture with a birthday celebration. I donate a chapter in my e-book toward choosing a theme for your child's birthday wall,  Chapter One, A Thoughtful Thread: Choosing a Theme. I have had much fun with incorporating themes into my daughter's birthday walls which I share in detail.

So, what does your child absolutely love right now? Perhaps a theme is just waiting to be born!

A Spring Celebration!

I love the colors and smells of spring; what a great time for a birthday party! (Of course, your child has to have a birthday in the spring for that to work out. ;)) If you're looking for some great theme party tips for spring, Nancy Flanders provides several, from whimsical to just plain fun.

When you create a birthday wall for your child, it's often a fabulous opportunity to visually show your child's favorite things in collage style. I give several ideas for how you can incorporate their favorites into a well laid out theme for your wall in Chapter One A Thoughtful Thread: Choosing a Theme.

A fun, colorful theme can really help pull such a visual together, enhancing your child's loves in full-color!

Let Them Choose: Options

I love a creative simplicity, which Jamie, at Steady Mom, shares about celebrating birthdays. She recommends keeping it simple, stress free, and manageable. Plus she gives her kids a choice between family parties and friend parties. Sometimes all that matters with a birthday is time spent with those who love you most.

I give several tips throughout The Birthday Wall e-book on keeping it simple and sticking with what matters most to your child. That's really the whole purpose behind creating one: focusing on what your child cares about and what makes them special.

And when you focus on the things they choose every day in your birthday wall creation, it truly shows how well you know them and how much you care about what they love and why.

Fun for Everyone?

When I ran into the article, Birthdays: Simple Can Be Fun too, by Chad Lucas, I found myself laughing hysterically! Chad really knows how to bring out the issues birthday celebrations can bring on with understanding humor that shows what true parent he is. I think my favorite part is the game he plays with the kids. The details will humor you, I"m sure.

One of the great dimensions of a Birthday Wall is bringing out your child's humorous side, whether it be something they say or a favorite TV show they like that's really funny. Check out Chapter Two, A Custom Fit: Your Child's Unique Portrait, for some fun ideas that you can include to bring out the fun/funny side of what you love about your child.