What is your favorite birthday tradition?

Whether a birthday tradition includes a morning surprise, a homemade surprise themed cake, balloons or an exciting trip - what holds true about all of our favorite ways to celebrate is making sure our people feel special. On someone's special day, whether our kids, hubbies or our own, knowing that the people

around you love seeing you shine and feel loved makes the day. As Ashley explained, "What I really love is spending time with my kids and soaking in their excitement! The way they light up about cake, the homemade cards they put together, and even the flowers they pick from the garden. Agh, those gestures mean more to me than anything else." Read on to see the little things we do to celebrate our people and how we make their day feel a little more special.

Kim, Home Connoisseur from @Reverie.and.Root & Founder of Spilling Goodness

One of our favorite birthday traditions started as a late night idea on the eve of my daughter's birthday. I had the thought to decorate her door or grab helium balloons, but in the midst of all the things, I didn't have anything prepared. So, I dug through a "party bin" that collected supplies from parties gone by and found balloons and crepe paper. We blew up balloons, taped them to the crepe paper and taped them on to the outside of their door frame. So, when she ran through her door the next morning, it was as if she was running through a car wash of balloons. The giggles that ensued were amazing. She ran back and forth - loving every second and my "miss" turned into my favorite tradition. It's simple, it's easy and it starts their special day off with a smile. And, now everyone loves to pitch in to help prepare this "surprise" for their sibling's special day.

Our other favorite birthday traditions simply include dinner, cake and a few questions. The birthday person gets to pick dinner - whether French Dip, Jersey Mike's or a nacho bar - the menu is your oyster. We eat together, we sing together and we always ask the same question - what was your favorite thing about the past year and what are you looking forward to next year? We always learn a little bit about our birthday person and I love hearing what's on their mind. Lastly, I love to reflect on the years of getting to be called "Mom" to each kiddo. As they celebrate a milestone - so do I (quietly, in my journal) - whether that means I've been a mom for 14 years or my youngest is double digits, taking a second to soak in all that I've learned from them each passing year always fills me with gratitude.

Jen, Bespoke Travel Designer from @GlobalonDemandTravel

I am a firm believer in memories over things. Celebrating with a trip or special event has been way more meaningful for all of us. For one of my son’s birthdays, we flew Qsuites to Dubai (they were sure to make his birthday on the plane extra special). For my daughter, we did a family trip to Hawaii, and it was the kind of relaxing, memory-filled adventure that we all needed.

Another year, we surprised my Halloween-obsessed son with a birthday trip to Disneyland during their Halloween party. Between the costumes, spooky rides, and all the themed treats, it was basically his dream come true. These kinds of birthdays have become such a great way to connect as a family—and the memories last way longer than any toy ever could.

Rebecca, Woman's Leadership Coach from @PleasantlyAggressive

Sometimes we don't feel like being the center of attention, and at other times we do. Some birthdays are significant (golden birthdays, 16th, 40th), while others are a little more ordinary. My goal is to ensure they know that their birthday is THEIR DAY! I'll entertain most requests for special treats, dinner, celebrations, parties, etc. They often ask to skip school, but that request is always denied. lol

When I think about celebrating my birthday or my kids' birthday, it doesn't usually feel grandiose. But that’s not a bad thing! It reminds me that we celebrate one another often. We take many opportunities throughout the year to celebrate both the big and small moments that are important to each of us. It doesn't dilute the birthday experience, but it does mean we all feel loved and appreciated throughout the year.

Ashley, Millennial Mom Nutrition Coach from @AshleyBreaksTheCycle

When it comes to birthdays, I don’t have one big tradition I look forward to every year. For me, it’s less about the gifts or parties and more about the little things that make the day feel special. What I really love is spending time with my kids and soaking in their excitement! The way they light up about cake, the homemade cards they put together, and even the flowers they pick from the garden. Agh, those gestures mean more to me than anything else. My husband will make me feel special just by saying "we do whatever you want today!" That may be as simple as working out together, grabbing smoothies and heading to the grocery store. Luxuries we usually can't afford from being so busy all the time!

At this stage of life, my birthday isn’t really about me anymore. It’s about being present with my family and letting their love make the day feel meaningful. And honestly, that’s all I need!!

Ali, Book Aficionado from @The BookClubCart

Birthday’s are my favorite to celebrate! We get one day a year we can truly say this is all about me, so why not! Our family has the tradition of making our cakes together as a family and surprising the birthday person with the theme we picked that year.

The cakes have such a special meaning to me and my family. I love looking back on pictures and seeing what we made as a family and how it reflects their interests of that year.

The night before I love to decorate the kitchen table with all things special to the individual. The smiles I see from each kid in the morning brings me so much joy. Also I love seeing the kids get excited with one another when they get to be apart of the decorating.

One thing I hope to start this year (thanks to something I saw on Instagram) is recording a video from the POV of the birthday person. Their view of everyone singing to them on their special day!

Emilee, Book Aficionado from @The BookClubCart

On the morning of my kids' birthdays, when they come downstairs, I have the dining room decorated. This includes balloons and the same birthday banner we have used for years. I actually love the balloon part because it is always so telling as to what they are currently into. My 2 sons have had a variety of sports balloons, Mario, Minecraft, and video games and my daughter has had princesses, mermaids, and unicorns. I love that it is such a representation of who they are and they get so excited to see what we have picked out for them.

The dining table includes their gifts from us along with any birthday cards that have come in the mail from family. We usually have birthday donuts as a special morning treat. My kids birthdays are during the school year, so we will also try and bring treats to

their practices after school to share with their friends.

Although my husband and I don't usually do much for our birthdays, we both turned 40 this past year and we decided to really go all out celebrating. My husband wanted a more intimate party so we invited our close friends (and families) and we had food catered and brought in a bounce house. It was really special and perfect for my husband.

I went a bit bigger and had a large celebration at our country club. I had reservations of doing something so big, but I am SO happy I did. It was hands-down one of my favorite nights ever. Everyone danced all night, the DJ was incredible, the food and drinks were perfect, and the Britney Spears impersonator (yup you read that right) was the prefect hype for the party!

With my husbands and sons birthdays right around the corner, we will be hosting my parents this year to celebrate. And my son’s birthday request? To go fishing. Sometime simple celebrations are the most impactful.

Pin this post for later: What is your favorite birthday tradition?