Jen Lilley is an American actress best known for her roles in soap operas like Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, and The Young and the Restless. She has also appeared in several Hallmark Channel movies. Lilley places great importance on spending quality time with her family and friends. She often shares photos and videos from her celebrations and get-togethers on social media. Here is an overview of some of Jen Lilley’s most memorable celebrations with her loved ones.
What are some of Jen Lilley’s favorite ways to celebrate with family?
Jen Lilley loves spending time with her husband and two young sons. She enjoys low-key family celebrations at home like baking cookies, decorating for holidays and having dance parties in the living room.
Lilley also documents trips to amusement parks and family vacations. For birthdays, she often hosts parties with extended family. Lilley emphasizes teaching her children the importance of service. She has brought them along to volunteer at children’s hospitals and homeless shelters. Family is a top priority for the actress.
Memorable Birthday Celebrations
Over the years, Lilley has shared many photos from her sons’ birthday parties on social media. For her oldest son’s 4th dinosaur-themed birthday in 2020, she decorated their home with inflatable dinosaurs, a ball pit, and arts and crafts activities.
Lilley baked a volcano cake and dinosaur cookies. For both her sons’ first birthdays, she kept celebrations intimate with just immediate family. The actress went all out for her own 35th birthday earlier this year with a brunch party filled with balloons, flower arrangements, and a tiered cake.
Christmas Traditions
Christmas is a favorite holiday for Lilley. She enjoys picking out matching Christmas pajamas for her family and decorating her home with an excessive amount of lights, garlands, and Christmas trees. Baking cookies is a tradition Lilley started with her grandmother that she still carries on.
The actress emphasized teaching her sons the meaning of Christmas and donating gifts to children in need. Some of Lilley’s favorite Christmas memories include snow tubing and building snowmen after rare Los Angeles snowstorms.
How does Jen Lilley like to celebrate with friends?
Lilley maintains close friendships with her costars and friends she’s known for years. She makes time for get-togethers, girls’ trips and double dates. Lilley also uses gatherings at home as a chance to bond with friends.
Dinner Parties
The actress enjoys hosting dinner parties and putting together seasonal tasting menus. For a fall dinner party last year, Lilley gathered gourds, decorated the table with candles and served dishes featuring pumpkin. In the summer, she likes making fresh cocktails and appetizers then dining outdoors. Lilley always incorporates games or activities into her dinner parties.
Holiday Celebrations
Lilley documents many holiday parties with friends on social media. She goes all out decorating with shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day and ghosts and pumpkins for Halloween. For Christmas, the actress holds an annual ornament exchange party. One Fourth of July, she held an Americana-themed backyard bash with picnic games. Coordinating themed outfits and costumes is one of Lilley’s favorite parts of holiday parties.
Group Getaways
One way Lilley bonds with friends is by organizing group trips and getaways. Recently, she embarked on a mountain cabin trip and Napa Valley wine tasting tour with close girlfriends. For her bachelorette party, Lilley gathered college friends and spent a weekend in Las Vegas. She emphasizes making time away from work and family responsibilities to maintain and strengthen friendships.
What are some of Jen Lilley’s favorite holiday traditions?
Lilley embraces traditions for major holidays that she can share with her family. She enjoys doing seasonal activities, baking sweets, watching classic movies and giving back.
Thanksgiving
For Thanksgiving, Lilley starts preparations early – brining the turkey, making pies and side dishes from family recipes. She dresses her sons in plaid shirts for a festive photoshoot. Lilley serves Thanksgiving dinner to those in need and watches the Macy’s parade and football games.
Christmas
As mentioned, Lilley goes all out decorating her home for Christmas. She has dozens of themed trees, lights up the exterior and does a hot cocoa Christmas Eve. The actress emphasizes spending meaningful time with family opening gifts Christmas morning.
Easter
Lilley hosts an annual Easter egg hunt and brunch at her home. She enjoys dying eggs, filling baskets and having an egg decorating contest. Photos with the Easter Bunny are a must. For dinner, she cooks glazed ham, potatoes and green bean casserole.
Fourth of July
Fourth of July is a summer highlight for Lilley. She decorates with red, white and blue details and hosts a backyard barbecue. The actress makes summery cocktails and appetizers and watches fireworks. She also visits veterans and helps organize charity events.
What are some fun ideas Jen Lilley has had for celebrations?
Throughout the years, Lilley has incorporated clever party themes, activities, foods and decor elements that make her celebrations unique. Here are some fun ideas she’s executed:
- Coordinating costumes – Lilley loves having themed dress codes like 80s workout attire or tropical luau looks.
- Signature cocktails – To match different parties, she creates drinks like green shamrock shakes or spooky Halloween punch.
- Outdoor movie nights – The actress projects movies onto a sheet hung outside and makes popcorn and snacks.
- Carnival games – For a festive bash, she set up outdoor games like ring toss, balloon darts and face painting.
- Camping nights – Lilley pitched tents in her backyard, made s’mores over a fire pit and played camp songs.
- Fondue parties – She has fondue pots for cheese, chocolate and oil fondue along with meats, fruits and breads for dipping.
- Spa nights – Lilley sets up manicure stations, face masks and foot massagers for a pampering party.
- Scavenger hunts – She creates fun clues leading guests around the party space searching for surprises.
- Karaoke – Lilley rents a karaoke machine so guests can sing duets or solo. She decorates a stage area with disco balls.
What are some memorable gifts Jen Lilley has given and received?
Lilley puts thought into finding personal, meaningful gifts for loved ones on birthdays and holidays. She also appreciates sentimental, handmade presents from family and friends. Here are some standouts:
Gifts Lilley Has Given
- A star named after her son to commemorate his first birthday
- Matching snow globes for her and a friend that play their special song
- A locket with pictures of her children inside for Mother’s Day
- Monogrammed robes, slippers and pajamas for her family at Christmas
- A blanket ladder handmade by Lilley decorated with photos for her mom
- Scrapbooks filled with memories for her sister’s 30th birthday
Gifts Lilley Has Received
- A paint-your-own pottery bowl made by her son for Mother’s Day
- A framed photoshoot of Lilley with her siblings given by her parents
- A bracelet from her grandmother with all grandchildren’s birthstones
- Custom stockings hand-embroidered with family members’ names for Christmas
- A journal filled with loving messages from friends for her birthday
What advice does Jen Lilley have for making celebrations meaningful?
Drawing from her many festive gatherings, Lilley has wisdom to share on creating meaningful memories and traditions:
- Make celebrations kid-friendly so children can participate and form lasting memories from a young age. Have arts and crafts, games and music they’ll enjoy.
- Don’t be afraid to make lighthearted, nostalgic traditions even as adults like matching pajamas or singing carols.
- Focus more on spending quality time together than on expensive gifts or décor. The memories made will last much longer.
- Give back and teach children early about helping others in need during the holidays. Volunteer or donate gifts to charities.
- Remember birthdays and anniversaries for loved ones with thoughtful cards and gifts. Make time to celebrate their special day.
- Commemorate major milestones like first birthdays, graduations and weddings. They only happen once!
- Unplug from technology and be fully present. These shared experiences are fleeting.
- Ask loved ones for treasured family recipes and traditions to maintain connections to the past.
- Take lots of photos and videos to look back on joyful memories. Print some to frame or make memory books.
The most meaningful celebrations focus on treasured people over extravagance. Jen Lilley sets an example by prioritizing time with family and friends. Her traditions, creative ideas and generosity of spirit help make each gathering special.
Conclusion
Jen Lilley clearly cherishes opportunities to celebrate milestones and holidays surrounded by loved ones. She emphasizes making memories with sons, extended family and close friends. Lilley embraces nostalgic traditions like baking favorite recipes and coordinating themed outfits. Yet she also comes up with unique party ideas and games.
Lilley generously gives back to those less fortunate during the holidays as well. She offers inspiration for staying present, unplugging from technology and not overcomplicating celebrations. Lilley focuses on togetherness and joy over extravagance. Her close-knit celebrations exemplify how special moments with family and friends can feel magical.
Table 1: Jen Lilley’s Favorite Holiday Traditions
| Holiday | Traditions |
|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | Brining turkey, baking pies, football, parades, serving dinner to those in need |
| Christmas | Excessive lights/decor, themed trees, matching pajamas, cookie baking, hot cocoa night, meaningful gift giving |
| Easter | Egg hunts/decorating/brunch, pictures with Easter Bunny, glazed ham dinner |
| Fourth of July | Red/white/blue decor, backyard BBQ, themed cocktails/appetizers, fireworks |
Table 2: Jen Lilley’s Most Memorable Celebrations
| Celebration | Details |
|---|---|
| Oldest Son’s 4th Birthday | Dinosaur theme, ball pit, arts & crafts, volcano cake |
| Sons’ 1st Birthdays | Intimate with just family, milestone photo shoots |
| 35th Birthday | Brunch party with flowers, balloons, tiered cake |
| Christmas | Annual ornament exchange party, cookie baking tradition |
| Bachelorette Party | Vegas trip with college friends |
| Easter | Annual egg hunts and special brunch |
| Halloween | Coordinating group costumes |
Table 3: Jen Lilley’s Fun Party Ideas
| Idea | Description |
|---|---|
| Themed Costumes | Matching 80s workout clothes or tropical luau looks |
| Signature Cocktails | Custom drinks to match holiday like green milkshakes for St. Patrick’s Day |
| Outdoor Movie Nights | Projector and popcorn |
| Carnival Games | Ring toss, facepainting, photobooths |
| Camping Nights | Backyard tent sleepovers with s’mores |
| Fondue Parties | Cheese/chocolate/oil pots with bread, fruit, meat for dipping |
| Scavenger Hunts | Clues leading to surprises hidden around party |
| Karaoke | Renting machine and decorating stage |
Frequently Asked Questions About Jen Lilley’s Celebrations
What is Jen Lilley best known for?
Jen Lilley is best known for her acting work on daytime soap operas. She played Theresa Donovan on Days of Our Lives and Maxie Jones on General Hospital. Lilley has also starred in over 15 Hallmark Channel original movies.
How many children does Jen Lilley have?
Jen Lilley has two sons with her husband Jason Wayne. Her first son was born in 2016 and her second in 2018. She keeps her children’s lives private but will occasionally share photos of them.
Where is Jen Lilley from?
Jen Lilley was born in Roanoke, Virginia in 1984. She was raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains area and attended University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Lilley later moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career.
What are Jen Lilley’s holiday traditions?
Jen Lilley embraces classic holiday traditions with her family like baking cookies, decorating Christmas trees, dyeing Easter eggs, and fireworks on Fourth of July. She enjoys hosting themed parties and gatherings with friends for St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween and Christmas.
How does Jen Lilley give back during the holidays?
Lilley emphasizes charitable work and giving back during the holiday season. She volunteers with her family at children’s hospitals and homeless shelters. Lilley also collects gift donations for toys for tots and other organizations.
What is Jen Lilley’s birthday?
Jen Lilley’s birthday is on August 4th. She was born in 1984 and turned 35 years old this past year. Lilley often celebrates her birthday with close friends at dinner parties or brunch gatherings.
Where did Jen Lilley get married?
Jen Lilley married Jason Wayne in 2013 at a rustic outdoor wedding in Big Sur, California. She described the redwood forest ceremony as magical and intimiate. Many photos from the event are on Lilley’s Instagram.
Does Jen Lilley prefer small or big celebrations?
Jen Lilley seems to enjoy intimate gatherings for immediate family as well as big parties with friends. For her sons’ early birthdays, she kept things small. But she also hosts large Christmas parties, backyard barbecues and group trips.
What are some of Jen Lilley’s favorite party foods?
Based on the recipes she shares online, some of Jen Lilley’s go-to party foods include charcuterie boards, chili, cornbread, pasta salads, dips, meatballs, cookies and cakes. She likes creating themed drinks as well.
Does Jen Lilley share her celebrations online?
Yes, Jen Lilley frequently shares glimpses of her parties, holidays and family traditions on social media sites like Instagram and Facebook. Fans can see how she decorates, coordinates outfits and the activities she plans.