Sometimes inspiration comes when you least expect it. When you’re not thinking about your next party, or cruising Pinterest. But instead when you are doing something active. During our vacation last week, that meant riding bikes. I wasn’t sure my legs (not to mention my tush) would hold out, but now I’m thinking about buying a bike for home.

Here’s what our bike ride made me think about partying.

Go colorful or go home

Some of the homes in Seaside, where we were, are calming, soft beach colors. Whites and blues and sands. Some go a little bold and venture into soft corals or seafoam greens. But my favorites are the go-bold-because-it’s-only-paint homes. The sunflower yellow house with bright orange shutters that you look at and think “Big Bird.” The bright yellow house with royal blue shutters and red door, because “why not?” The bright pink — and I mean, that is one chill husband — bright pink house. LOVE them.

I’m guessing your child likes bright colors, too. So while I love a muted party palette, and variety is the spice of life, try a party that is bold, bold, bold. Just because it’s fun.

It doesn’t have to be big

My favorite house in Seaside is this little pink jewel box. It must be the tiniest house in there. Just beautifully self-contained and focused only on the essentials. Your party doesn’t have to be big. And it doesn’t have to be the most elaborate one out there. Invite a few close friends and focus on the essentials: cake and activities. Let your party be a little jewel box.

Name your party

The cottages in Seaside all have names. Everything from Green Gables (which actually is more teal than green) to Precious. I think there is a certain magic to naming your party while you’re planning it. The name helps set your tone, your look, and helps you focus. So it’s not just a tea party, it’s a Vintage Pink & Yellow Tea Party. It’s not just a sleepover, it’s a Night Owl Sleepover.

It’s OK to weave and wobble, you’ll get your balance

Much like me on my bike, when you start your party planning you may weave all over the place, trying to find your balance. That’s OK. Use that weaving period to explore. Search Etsy with the broadest search terms. Do the same on your favorite blogs and Pinterest. You’ll start to get a feel for your party style, and then be able to narrow things down. You’ll find your party name. And you’ll get your balance.

Look up and enjoy the ride

I got this message from a mom while I was on vacation: “I’m so embarrassed, but my daughter’s 1st birthday is in two days and NOTHING IS DONE! I wanted a Mickey/Minnie Mouse themed party, but I have a mixed (boys and girls) group of kids and nothing I see is incorporating the boys into the party. Not to mention, location, location, location… I have very little that caters to my 1-yr old daughter in the area to even use their services. Please help!!”

This is what I told her: “Don’t be embarrassed! You have a one-year-old: it’s overwhelming. I haven’t done a Mickey or Minnie party, but my friend Heather at Chickabug has done several round ups of Mickey and Minnie party ideas. Check here and here. Good luck! Don’t try to take on too much — just keep your colors consistent, add some polka dots and mouse ears. Remember to have fun!”

I can’t plan this mom’s party in two days; the best I can do is encourage her to take a deep breath and enjoy her daughter turning one and whatever party she can throw together. I hope I’ll hear back from her.

Look up and enjoy the ride. It’s a party. Let it be fun — both the process of planning and the party. Don’t run yourself ragged. Don’t be so focused on the Craft. That. Must. Be. Completed. that you are short with your family or let everything else slide. Stop. Enjoy your own party. Be present in the moment. Watch your kids having fun — that is the point. Not that it looks like something on a party blog.

Ride with your kids

We ride with Don in the front, the girls in the middle, and me bringing up the rear. The ride is fun because of the girls. I’m sure we would never have tried the bikes without them. Because I’m biking behind them, I get to see Baby A looking all over, sometimes so much that she veers off our path. I get to see Baby B, trying to ride one-handed. Plan your party with your kids. They have amazing ideas. Some that you won’t be able to implement (like when Baby A wanted to paint someone green at our Wizard of Oz Party), but that’s OK. Test your ideas out on them. “Would this be fun?” They’ll tell you — the honest little buggers. After all, it’s their party. The pride they’ll feel in helping you plan will make you smile.