Beach Party Theme  We had a beach party for our daughter's 1st birthday. We chose San Onofre State Beach because you can drive right up to the sand to unload all your gear.  If you arrive early enough there are thatched roof huts (palapas) on the sand for shade and they have a picnic table underneath.  This is a great spot to open the gifts! Photo opportunities from all angles under the hut.   The invitations had a big yellow sun with happy face and blue background that looks like the ocean. I printed them with a dark blue font.  They read: "Makaela is having a beach party, Because she's turning 1, With surf & sand & cake & toys, We're sure to have some fun!"  For "Time:" I put: Play all day! (Party 11-3) to allow for different kids' nap times.  I used blue & yellow for the party colors as well to be continuous. We wrapped the support posts for the palapas with bright yellow and blue streamers which fluttered in the wind on the beach. I went to the fabric store and found bright yellow hibiscus-print fabric to use as a tablecloth.  I purchased yellow & blue plastic trays shaped like palm trees to serve snacks for kids, and used plates, plasticware & napkins in the same colors.  I found brightly colored beach balls at Pic N Save for about .25 cents each & had them rolling around all over.   The favors included:  large sand pails in primary colors with sand shovels; these were decorated with stickers spelling out each child's name; inside were: bubbles, sunglasses, small sand toys, sipper cups filled with cheerios, beach-theme stickers for children to decorate their own pails with, and Frisbee toys that can be soaked in water and then thrown at your target.    We had the cake made to look like a beach, with half blue icing (water), and half sand-colored icing for the beach. It was decorated with a mini paper umbrella, beach chair & beach ball.  We served the following food: teriyaki shish-ke-babs w/ chicken, pineapple chunks, green pepper; a large chopped fruit salad, and a pasta salad w/ rotini, feta, sun dried tomatoes, celery, red onion, etc.  We also bbq'd burgers & dogs.  We took pictures of the parents walking down the beach with their children holding hands to give to them as momentos. My daughter wore a little blue hibiscus-print sundress, and I had a blue bathing suit & hibiscus sarong so we matched in the photos.  The children ran & played in the sand all day, and the adults surfed, ate, & relaxed in the sun.  Everyone had a really nice time.