Alex's 1st Birthday Party

Our little beach bebe turned one last week and we celebrated with a beach burger and ice-cream sundae party at home.

As we were hosting his party mid-week I wanted to keep the catering super simple, and I don't think there is anything easier than a burger and salad bar! Plus, serving an ice-cream cake meant that the cake could be taken care of a couple of days before the party, which is always good for mid-week entertaining.

Decorations

I used four fantastic Australian businesses for the party decorations.

On our last family holiday in Noosa I found a gorgeous little gift shop just off Hastings Street called Gifts of Character that stocked the most divine beach decor. The owner told me the majority of their products were made by local mummas, so I stocked up on some cute pieces for Alex's bedroom and decided then that I would use all these pieces for his party too.

I purchased some adorable mini deck chairs, navy pom poms, lollipops, striped favour boxes and straws from The Little Big Company.

I also bought blue pastel balloons, blue candy striped plates and some cute blue ombré ice-cream spoons from Ruby Rabbit Party.

The cake topper was a last-minute addition from Zilvi. I decided the cake also needed a splash of blue and Nicole at Zilvi was amazing, managing to get the cake topper to me in a matter of days.

Entertainment

Alex and the other beach bebes were kept entertained with beachballs and buckets and spades set up on beach towels in the middle of the party, and the birthday boy had a ball with his baby friends.

The older kids were kept entertained with the burger bar and ice-cream sundae station and loved being able to make their own dinner - and, in some instances, dinner for their parents too.

Party favours

We turned the blue striped boxes into 'beach treasure boxes' and the littlies each took home a box filled with chocolate seashells, blue and red M&Ms, marshmallows and lifesavers.

Food + drinks

To tie into the beach theme, as guests arrived I served some platters of fresh seafood, alongside beach buckets of juices for the kids, and Coronas and nautically-themed Chandon Summer for the big kids.

The burger bar featured grilled chicken and beef burgers and a range of salads and condiments.

Dessert was Alex's Beach Bebe Ice-Cream Cake and ice-cream sundae bar, featuring hot fudge and caramel sauces, fresh raspberries and blueberries, M&Ms, crushed Peppermint Crisp, peanuts and Crunchies. I also served some sailboat shaped chocolate brownies and marshmallow pops, which the kids could dip into the hot fudge sauce and blue sprinkles.

All the food and drinks were very easy to make and worked well with the theme. Most importantly, Alex loved his dinner and even clapped after he had the first taste of his ice-cream cake.

It was such a fun night celebrating our sweet baby boy.

Emily

xx

Ps. You can find the recipes for the Beach Bebe Ice-Cream Cake and hot fudge and caramel sauces that we served at Alex's party on the recipes page.