At this point (summer 2020), I think it's safe to say that nearly everyone will experience a "quarantine birthday" this year. The question is, how will you choose to celebrate yours? 

For Vega, I wanted to give her that special first birthday to look back on for years to come. After a first birthday party like her older sister had (check out our party, here), it was important for me to give Vega that same warm, loving backyard party experience.

But how does that go down in quarantine mode?

First Step: Cut that guest list down to.... five... five very close friends who we've been having trusted play dates with over the past few weeks. A "quaran-team" as some may put it. The truth is, with such a small guest list, you're no longer playing host, so you can spend more time celebrating your little love!

Step Two: Don't skimp on that styled dessert table. Even though the guest count may be down, an amp'd up dessert table can really be the excitement and celebration behind the special day. For us in LA, it's a no-brainer to call Amy's Cakes and Sweet Treats, a small, female-owned in-home bakeshop that pumps out the most decadent party treats in LA. 

Hosting Tip: Having extra party desserts hang around the house for days is also a great way to keep the celebration going, long after the party ends. In our house, we celebrate "birthday week" or "birthday month" to prolong the celebration, anyway... ;)

Step Three: A little music and entertainment goes a long way.

Jam with Jamie came to play kid-friendly tunes and read stories to the kiddos. They set up their blanket ten feet away from us and kindly asked that I provided my own musical instruments for all the kids, so that nothing was shared between parties. It felt comfortable and safe!

I treated this party like an exaggerated play date-- no frills, just fun!

I decorated the yard with a select few of Sunday and Vega's favorite toys, including their Wiwiurka Double Rocker Balance Board, which can function as a climbing arch, as seen above, or can be flipped over and serve as a rocking see-saw for kids to crawl, sit, stand, and swing on!

I also layered the grass with scattered outdoor rugs, blankets, and chairs that I found on Wayfair. Wayfair has proven time and time again to be my go-to destination for all of my home essentials!

I believe these past four months have tested our ability to rise up and grab onto life in every way we can. I'm thankful we were able to celebrate our shining star despite the circumstances of the pandemic. We will never get her first birthday back, and I won't look back and regret that we celebrated the best way we could.

Vega Vann, you are mesmerizing! Sweet, intuitive, cuddly and loyal-- you are the greatest gift to our family and we celebrate you today and every single day.

Photographs were taken on a warm, beautiful sunny day on June 30, 2020 in Los Angeles by Alyson Aliano. Photopgraher wore a mask and captured the moments from a safe distance.