Hey there! Are you having a happy National Random Acts of Kindness week?
I wanted to share a neat “random-acts-of-kindess-related” birthday party idea here today.
Remember that dear friend I mentioned in yesterday’s post? Well, her name is Kelly, and she’s not only good at finding touching YouTube videos, she’s great at putting together precious parties (and sweet scrapbooks!) too.
She lives in the ca-uuuuutest cottage-style house in central Georgia.
Her daughter, Hayley, turned 16 last summer, and after reading this post, she was inspired to do something a little out of the ordinary for Hayley’s sweet 16 party.
Together, Kelly and Hayley scoured websites, blogs, shops, books and magazines for party-theme inspiration. While searching the internet one day, they stumbled onto a blog post about a woman who had just turned 38. She and her friends celebrated the day by doing 38 random acts of kindness. That was just the kind of inspiration they were looking for, and Hayley’s “16 Random Acts of Kindness Party” was born! They made invitations and decorations, but they kept the theme a secret until the day of the party. The only thing they told Hayley’s guests in advance was that some of the events would be outside, so they should dress comfortably.
The party was held on August 7th, 2010. When all her friends had arrived, Hayley played this video for everyone and then filled them in on the theme of the day.
The girls were divided into three (excited) groups. The “get-away cars” were already packed with all the supplies they’d need to carry out the acts of kindess Kelly and Hayley dreamed up together.
After an incredibly memorable and fun-filled afternoon, the girls all met back up at the house- where they were greeted by tables full of food and drink, and cupcakes decorated with words of inspiration.
After lunch, Hayley shared the “5” video with the everyone. The girls were all juniors in high school, and since the next five years would be years of significant change for them, she thought it would be fun to share it with them. She also presented them all with their own copy of the “5” book.
While the girls ate and checked out their books, Hayley’s Dad put together a slideshow of all the photos the girls had taken throughout the day. They played it on a TV hooked-up to a laptop in the screened-in porch they were all gathered in.
Isn’t that fun?
The last sentence in the album Kelly made for me says, “…and hopefully, we can all keep dropping pebbles of inspiration into the water so that the ripple effects go on and on…“
Love that!
PS- HUGE thanks to everyone who has liked the Six Seeds Facebook page for us! We’re still about 560 likes away from our (hopeful!) goal (6022 is the magic number!), so if you’re reading about this for the first time today, and you’re feeling “likey”- we’d sure appreciate your click over at their page! XO (Thank you, thank you, thank you!) XO
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Oh my goodness-I loved that 5 video!
I’m a teacher, and I’m always trying to think of ways to inspire my students with all that they are capable of doing. I’ve used the “Shift Happens” one before, which is a similar style, but I’m already getting all sorts of ideas about how I can use this one a on the first day of high school for about about a hundred and twenty ninth graders come September.
Not at all a party idea, but something that will make an impact, I feel certain.
Thanks so much for sharing!
What an AWESOME idea! Does Kelly have a blog? I’d love to see a little more of her darling home!
Many Blessings,
Melissa
Thank you Melissa! Glad you liked the idea. I hope it is acceptable “blog etiquette” to jump in here on Layla’s post. I don’t have a blog yet, but hope to have one up and going late this summer.
kelly
Layla,
What a wonderful way to celebrate the day you came into the world! We should all live a life filled with random acts of kindness.
Your Friend,
Deborah
I felt “likey!”
Thank you Lorri! 🙂
What a phenomenal idea! I love it. I am a teacher and we have made Random Acts of Kindness a year-long project. I love this as a party idea, though! This offers a fun opportunity for kids to learn how to do some good in the community. Excellent!
This is SUCH a cool idea. When I was in high school, my mom used to always send us on scavenger hunts. We would drive around and have to collect random items (a wrapper from taco bell, a chipped plate, a bottle of hotel shampoo, etc.)…my friends and I used to LOVE these scavenger hunts, and this is such a cool spin on that idea!
I love this. I am bookmarking it so I can try to do a similar party idea one day. My kids are still really little…but there’s no reason I couldn’t do a party like this for my grown-up girlfriends! I love the idea.
LOVE it! The best kind of idea! Will tuck it in my memory for the right ocassion!
How cool is *that* Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Layla. What a meaningful way to celebrate such a special day.
I absolutely LOVE the service scavenger hunt idea!!!! I was wondering if Kelly would be willing to share a list the details of each act of service for three groups. I’d love to recreate it with my teenager and his friends. What a great way to bring out the best in youth and inspire them to greatness!
Hi Joy!
I just sent Kelly your email address, so I’m sure she’ll be in touch!
🙂
After reading your post about RAOK week, I was inspired to do a giveaway, (I’m an artist) that in order to enter, people have to comment on a RAOK that has happened to them or that they have done. Thank YOU for all of YOUR positivity and kindness! You really are inspiring others to spread “Random Acts of Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty”!!
I love this!!!
Any girl would be so happy to experience that…
Love making scrapbooks too:)
What a lovely idea to share ♥
Wow. What a great, great idea. The world needs more kindness…
Layla, Love your blog and I LOVE that you are highlighting RAOK week! We just had a RAOK celebration day, in memory of our daughter, Whitney. I just finished recapping all the acts of kindness that our friends and family did in Whitney’s honor… I was so inspired by the creativity of those who participated! We had almost 200 people doing a RAOK on what would have been Whitney’s 1st Birthday. It was a great way to remember her short life and pass on the Loving Kindness we’ve experienced after her loss. Here’s the link if you’re interested: http://www.whitneyjill.com/raok-day.html
That is so COOL. Go, mom! (I love that last quote, too. Beautiful!)
xoxo,
Jami
What a wonderful idea and one she will surely look back on as one of the birthdays ever.
This is so inspirational. My daughter Camille is turning 16 in July and she wanted a house party sweet 16 but I sincerely hope she will get on board with this party theme because I think she would get so much more out of a Random Acts of Kindness Party instead.
Can you get the list of the 16 random things from you friend to put on your blog? What an inspirational idea….I’d love for our youth group to do this…look what your friend started:)
Sure thing Caren!
I just sent Kelly your email address.
🙂
Thanks Layla! Can’t wait to hear from her:)
Layla and Kelly,
Thank you so much for the random act of kindness inspriation! Layla let us know when Kelly gets her blog up and running! Kelly I would also like to request your RAOK list if you are willing to share. I think it would be the perfect party for my sisiters birthday! Keep up the great job both of you! I did a very small RAOK last thursday (RAOK day/week). I put Lifesaver candies in all of the teachers mailboxes at school. I love your bigger ideas though!
Hi Dawn!
I will definitely let you know when Kelly’s blog is live!
She’s SUPER talented and her house is ADORABLE!
🙂
Layla,
TLC is on my “to do” list every morning. What a fantastic way to start the day with beautiful creative ideas.
Like you I share an affinity for old homes so I particularly enjoy your segment of Guest My Nest. I have a not so old cottage in CA and am trying to lovingly add charm to it.
Loved Kelly’s idea for her daughters birthday party. Could you please pass my email onto her so I also can get some more ideas from her list. Have used the resources from http://www.randomactsofkindness.org in my classroom but her list seems especially geared toward my childrens ages.
Thanks for all your sweet inspiration,
Sheila
Beautiful.
I’d also love to see the list. My 13 year old wants to do this when she turns 14. Great idea!
Love, love the idea! Such a great way to give back! One suggestion though – her address is on the scrapbook invite..might want to block that for safety reasons?
Love love love it!!!! Thinking my teenage son and his group of great kids would love to do this!! Thank you for sharing!
After seeing this on your site, my daughter has decided to do the same on her Sweet 16 Birthday this Saturday!!!!!!! Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi There,
I just came across this post and would love to see the details of the acts of kindness. I wanted to do this for my birthday with my daughters…I’ll be 40 so I need lots of suggestions!!
Thanks,
Kathy