"10 Birthday Ideas for You and Your Friends."

Hi, Babe! 

Happy (early) Birthday!! 

Looking for inspo for your next birthday or planning a surprise party for one of your closest friends?

Look no further. Here is a collection of 10 birthday ideas with suggestions for activities, outfit ideas, dining options, and essentials for you and your friends' next birthday bash. 

1. The theme I chose for my recent birthday: 'A 'tini bit older'.

Activities: Dinner at your favourite late-night restaurant followed by an evening walk along the inner harbour or within the downtown core post-dins.

Essentials: Flash pictures and a candle-lit dining room.

Food/drinks: Martinis (of course), fresh oysters, and house-prepared pasta.

Outfits: Black, leather accents, satin dresses, and cute block heels.

2.  For the traveller and/or Mama Mia enthusiast:

Activities: Host a Mama Mia watching party with backyard karaoke and dancing.

Essentials: Homemade party decor and friendship bracelet station. 

Food/drinks: Late lunch or dinner on the patio of a Greek restaurant, Prosecco, a variety of sparkling fruit juices, birthday cake or dessert featuring lemon, and dishes highlighting a variety of Mediterranean flavours.

Outfits: White linen dresses or shirts, accents of blue as a nod to those found in Grecian architecture, jeans, and overalls. 

3.  For the artist:

Activities: Sign up for a group pottery class, and host a crafting afternoon to paint wine glasses or canvas tote bags. Bonus: Keep the party going by attending a paint-and-sip night. 

Essentials: Paint that will come out in the wash, and line your apartment's floor with newspaper to avoid jeopardizing getting your damage deposit back.

Food/drinks: Breakfast at the best neighbourhood café with work from local artists lining the walls.

Outfits: Funky outfits inspired by an era (such as the 70s), bright colours and fun textures, and don't forget those pieces of clothing you love but hide in the back of your closet (like that béret you bought one summer in Paris that you swore you'd wear again). 

4.  For the garden-lover:

Activities: A walk through a farmers market or plant nursery, paint terracotta flower pots, then plant seeds in them once dry as the ultimate garden-girl party favour.

Essentials: Fresh-cut flowers, cute gardening tools for your friends to use, and a variety of colourful flower seeds.

Food/drinks: Brunch in the backyard or a picnic in a local public garden, mimosas with different fruit juices, local artisan baked goods, and any ripe produce you've grown in your garden.

Outfits: Pastel-coloured tops inspired by garden party attire, jeans with cute rain boots, overalls, and sunhats. 

5.  For the daredevil: 

Activities: An adrenaline-pumping activity such as rock climbing, zip lining, go-kart racing, or dipping in for a cold plunge. 

Essentials: A Go Pro or water-resistant device to snap pics in the craziest of places. Add in ridiculous matching headbands to coordinate with your crew.

Food/drinks: A Thermos or two of hot chocolate to enjoy after your cold plunge, a snack tray of different snacks and treats from around the world to try new and exciting flavours, or even a 'Hot One's'-inspired chicken wing board with chicken wings in different spice levels (if you dare!)

Outfits: Your favourite and most comfortable athleisure, cute sports team ball caps, and beltbags.

6.  For the resident historian:

Activities: Sign up for a walking tour around your city or a nearby city that you find fascinating, thrift and/or antique shop.

Essentials: Your favourite thrifted fashion find, heirloom accessories, and a Polaroid camera to give captured moments a retro feel.

Food/drinks: Dinner is at a historical hotel or museum, or host a quintessentially British afternoon tea as a blast from the past.

Outfits: Old money-inspired outfits, loafers or ballet flats, cable knit sweaters, or scour your parents' closet for fab vintage finds.  

7.  For the friend who always gets passed the aux cord:

Activities: Make a reservation for a private karaoke room or brave karaoke night at the pub with the locals and a limo ride between dining and the club to get in the mood to dance.

Essentials: A curated playlist for the drive downtown of everyone's favourite songs and your sparkliest lipgloss for when it's your time to shine on the mic.

Food/drinks: Dinner at a restaurant that plays live music or has an in-house DJ. Grab drinks and appies at a speakeasy or Tiki Bar before making your musical debut.

Outfits: Guests can wear an outfit inspired by their favourite musical artist or do a coordinated outfit with the whole crew to emulate your favourite musical group. 

8.  For the movie lover:

Activities: Watch movies (duh) and play a movie trivia game using Kahoot with prizes for winners. 

Essentials: Create a cozy viewing room with loads of blankets, pillows, and undereye patches to make tired eyes feel refreshed again after a late night of fun.

Food/drinks: Popcorn station with various spices and flavourings. Don't forget to add an ice cream sundae station with different flavours, and a variety of toppings.

Outfits: Your favourite cute pj set, matching eyemasks, and cozy slippers.

9.  For the nature girly:

Activities: Group hike or walk, visit a petting zoo or nature preserve to see animals in action, or make charms to attach to your reusable water bottles.

Essentials: Sunscreen, bandaids, and a portable phone charger to make sure that you can take pics along the way.

Food/drinks: Picnic lunch at the beach or mountain top, have a fire with a make-your-own-s'mores station featuring different kinds of cookies, chocolate, and marshmallows.

Outfits: Break out your coziest Patagonia sweater and Blundtstones, but remember to wear layers to keep you comfortable during any outdoor activity.

10.  For the friend who's always whipping something up:

Activities: Attend a culinary class (either sweet or savoury-focused). If your friends are more of the competitive type, host a cookie or cupcake decorating competition with a baking-themed grand prize for the winner.

Essentials: A bar cart with loads of ingredients to make fabulous cocktails and mocktails. A meaningful gift for your friends is to write out a personalized recipe card for each guest with a recipe that reminds you of them that they can take home and enjoy. 

Food/drinks: Host friends over with appies and cocktails, a charcuterie board with a little something for everyone on it, or make a reso for an immersive dining experience (such as teppanyaki and hibachi grilling).

Outfits: Keep it comfortable and simple- such as a cute tee with jeans. Bonus: If attending a cooking class, make sure that you avoid long sleeves and only wear machine-washable clothing. 

I hope you have a fab birthday. Cheers to you! 

Love, 

Sar