Celebrating the special occasions in our lives is an important part of our well-being. Just because we’re all trying to keep some distance, doesn’t mean we have to ignore key milestones…birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, and more need to be celebrated, now more than ever. 

So, we thought it would be fun to share some of the more creative ideas, sites and celebrations we’ve discovered in our ongoing effort to #Stay Well.  

• Drive-By Parties 
  The great American Drive-By is quickly becoming one of the top ways to celebrate almost any occasion, perfect for those families and friends who are in the same city together. Deck out your car with balloons and signs, and crank up the tunes while driving by your friend’s house.  Some drive-by events even include curbside tables for gift and card drop-off. Curious? Check out this clip of a touching drive-by wedding shower for ideas.   
• Zoom Virtual Celebrations 
  From Passover and Easter celebrations to surprise birthday and anniversary parties, Zoom get-togethers have become all the craze…and for good reason. A video conference event provides a surprisingly gratifying connection to friends and loved ones. For any who haven’t experienced Zoom yet, you’ll find it easy to use and fun to learn. You can even sign-up and use it for free, check it out here. 
• Video Surprises 
  With smartphones, almost everyone has access to a good quality video camera. From sharing the latest family news with relatives to get-well messages sent to a friend, videos help bring us all closer together. Use a service like Tribute to create personalized video montages celebrating almost any kind of milestone or sentiment. Ask friends and family to record their thoughts and Tribute will put them together and mail the guest of honor a video card.   
• eCards for all Occasions 
  Looking for an alternative to homemade birthday and anniversary cards? No problem, check out some of the online options, like Paperless Post or Smilebox, for sending eCards and eInvitations.  Cards are the easiest way to show your love, and these sites make creating and sending a breeze.
• Netflix Parties 
  If you and your friends love movies, schedule a virtual watch party to celebrate your next big occasion. Download the Netflix Party extension in Chrome, and you and your family or friends will be able to watch the same Netflix movie at the exact same time.  The extension features synchronized video playback (so everyone’s screen will pause and resume at the same time), plus a chat room so you can share your thoughts on the film. And with Netflix, there’s always a movie for every taste and event. 

Social distancing does not mean we have to disconnect from friends and family. Coming together to celebrate life’s most important events is an important way to feel connected to those we love! Stay well.