How to have a Quarantine Birthday!
From the desk of: Phoebe Allen
First off, I would like to say there were only happy tears in the making of this blog post!
My birthday is April 2nd, pretty much exactly week three of quarantine. I am the type of person who loves celebrating anything. I love other people’s birthdays and really any type of happy occasion. Good thing I am a professional event planner! I do love my birthday and I like to think I am chill about it, but I know my mother would argue otherwise…
I truly wasn’t upset about having my birthday in quarantine, I just had to change my mindset about it. I was planning on having a party at my apartment and was super excited because I love a good house party. You get to put on a good outfit but stay in socks and cozy shoes. Now that we were not allowed to leave our house, I obviously could not have this house party anymore.
I changed my mindset to just be excited that I had freedom during the day to do what I want, instead of being in meetings all day. Side note: I truly cannot wait to have so many in person meetings when this is over! During this time, I have tried to keep myself busy, if I don’t, my mind wanders and that is no bueno. So when it came to my birthday, I knew I wanted a busy day.
My day went as follows:
Woke up around 9AM – I used to wake up at 6AM every day and workout before work, but there is really no need to wake up that early anymore! So, I started my day at 9AM and I went to Harvard Stadium to run the stairs. I have lived in Boston my whole life and had only gone to the stairs two weeks ago for the first time, so for my birthday I wanted my morning workout to be something special and figured this would be nice. If anyone has done the Harvard steps before you know this is NO JOKE. I am the type of person that loves a good work out, so this was a great start to my day.
Next up on my list was going to the market because I wanted to make myself some sort of dessert! I had a cake in mind, but when I called my mom to get a frosting recipe, she let me know she was already making me a cake :)
The time is about 1PM now and during the whole day so far my phone was flooding with texts and calls. I was feeling the love so deeply.
I come home after the market to presents, cake, more calls and texts and the love just kept building.
At one point I hear the doorbell ring and it was a Milk Bar Box – if you have not heard of Milk Bar, please stop reading and click HERE for their website. You will drool just looking at it. I have always always always wanted a Milk Bar cake and before I even opened the box I started to cry happy tears. I was feeling so much love and I was so happy to have this cake.
Drool worthy cake above…
I know this sounds crazy that I was crying over a cake but my family and friends were just so thoughtful the whole day. So much so, that even when I was opening the cake the doorbell rang again! And it was my coworker dropping off a box that said “do not open until 4:30pm” when we have our daily video chat to go over the day.
So I spent the hours of 1-4PM opening presents, eating cake, and reading cards and just basking in the love.
430PM I had a video chat with my coworkers, and they all dressed up for me! I opened the box that was left on my doorstep and it was cupcakes with candles that I lit, and they sang me happy birthday.
Me, all my coworkers and their disco outfits, and my family!
5PM Two of my friends rang my doorbell and stood on my stoop to sing me happy birthday!
530PM was my family zoom call, even with my grandparents and it was just so cute. We even took a family tequila shot!
7PM My mom, dad, sister and dog came over and stood outside (under umbrellas) to sing me happy birthday with a homemade cake. And then we walked around the corner to hear my whole neighborhood singing. I would like to think they were singing for me, but at 7PM every night in my neighborhood they sing out the windows, and tonight they even sang happy birthday.
All in all, it was one of the best days ever. Why you ask? For the reasons below.
I had very low expectations to begin with, which is hard for me considering how much I love birthdays.
I truly felt all the love. Every time someone called or texted me, I sat there for a second and appreciated it.
I ate all my cake – truly had one bite of each cake… and then some more.
I kept busy and planned out my day – I did not want to be bored.
I let myself have an alcoholic beverage! I am not a big drinker and had not had a drink since New Year’s Eve, but I thought why not, and it was worth it.
I did things that made ME happy - working out, eating what I want, connecting with family/friends.
Appreciating the positivity around me.
Remembering that LOVE IS NOT CANCELED!
It was truly such a magical day