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​I remember trying to plan my child’s first birthday party like it was yesterday. Agonizing over the theme, décor, location, guest list. Second only to the stress of planning my wedding, I wanted everything to be perfect. Okay, so the stress being second only to my wedding is a stretch, but really, what mom can’t relate to wanting to get their child’s birthday party just right?! Countless hours on Pinterest. Coordinating with a bakery out of state, since we decided to hold my little one’s party in two parts (one for family back home in New England, and a second for friends here in New York), ordering supplies on Amazon, thinking up party games.... It was a lot of work, to say the least.

​Because we decided to celebrate at my husband’s family’s cottage on Peaks Island in Maine, we wanted to keep the theme nautical or coastal in nature. Since one of my husband’s favorite pastimes is fishing, and he does a lot of fishing on Peaks, we finally settled on a theme related to that:

​It wound up being an adorable theme, and we found lots of ready-made décor options on Amazon. Since we’ve been through it all already, I’ve decided to help you cut your stress for planning a similar party, and put together an all in one guide. Everything you need to host an amazing Big One themed birthday, all in one spot. I’ve even developed a free kit containing tons of printable material to get you started!

​All the things I wish I had when I was planning, and didn’t. My loss is your gain!

While we celebrated this birthday as "The Big One" (since it was, of course, my child's big first birthday!), you can use many of these ideas for any beach, nautical, or fishing themed party. 

Plus, many of the activities below are great for any day fun!

1. Menu Ideas 
2. Cake Ideas
3. Activity Ideas 
4. Decorations Ideas 
5. Thank You/Goodie Bag Ideas
6. The First Birthday Outfit
7. Taking this Theme Beyond the Party: Other resources and links to fun, educational thematic content
8. Information for Accessing Downloadable Kit

​We did a traditional summer barbecue at both parties, while offering some more theme appropriate fare as well.  For instance, we served Goldfish as a snack food. 
 
Check out this sample menu card with other theme related menu items!

You can find instructions for how to make sand cups here. While we offered gold fish as a themed snack, I've seen all a number of different creative ideas for fishing theme snacks, including pretzel rods with twine wrapped around the top to look like fishing line, lifesaver candy with twine tied around to look like life preservers, and more. 

Above: 'Sand' cup dessert.

Image shows a clear container filled with crushed cookie and cake that has the texture of sand. It is topped with teal blue frosting and red fish candy.

Also be sure to download the printables kit to get your own blank menu card, or get access to the one above!

We did both an allergy safe smash cake for our child and purchased a bakery cake for our guests. We asked the bakers to decorate the cake with colored frosting, piping, and sea life; we added bobbers and a center piece to the top to finish the look. 

Above: Three images show two different cakes from our first birthday party. Two images show a smash cake, which is blue and has wave like texture. It is topped with a single red and white bobber and a sign that has a fish and says "The Big One". A second sheet cake also has a sign with fish that says "The Big One", has a blue top with bobbers, and white sides with fish shapes affixed to it.

Be sure to keep an eye on my blog, too; I’m currently working on a piece with tons of ideas for allergy friendly cake options, and will place a link here when it is completed. 
 
Be sure to check out the following cake topper options on Amazon to recreate the looks above! Just click on the images to navigate to the product pages.

One of the best things about the following activities is that they are great not only for parties, but any occasion. Most of these activities continue to be in our rotation of favorite things to do!

FISHING GAME

​You can use the materials and instructions in the printables kit for a DIY option, or purchase one of the recommended products below. We purchased a kit and used our kiddie pool, which was amazing because my child’s birthday was held on a hot summer day. 

ABOVE: Our fishing set (this was taken well after the party, and we colored the water for extra fun, but when we used the set at the party we had it set up in our wading pool). Image shows a clear rectangular container with green water and 6 colorful fish toys. A single blue fishing rod also sits in the water.

Using the printables kit (this is best for slightly older children, while the kit you can purchase is a bit better for younger kids): Create fishing poles by taking kabob sticks and tying twine to one end. Then attach a paperclip at the end of the twine. Print the fish, laminate, and attach a self adhesive magnet to the back. This game is not only great for parties, but for a DIY home activity on rainy or cold days.

We have gotten a lot of use out of our fishing kit (long after the party was over). It is still one of my toddler's favorite backyard water play activities!

​DECORATE YOUR OWN FISH CRAFT

​You can use the materials and instructions in my printables kit for a DIY option, or purchase one of the recommended products below. For my child’s party, we purchased wooden fish and had the children paint them (some fo the adults joined in, too), but you can use glue, glitter, pom-poms, or any fun and festive craft materials. If you are having an adults-only party (for instance, if you are the first one in your family or friends group to have a child), you can get even more creative with a hot glue gun and smaller materials, too.  

This is another activity that is great for any occasion.

Here are some great products to help you with this activity. Or, access the printables kit using the form at the bottom of this article.

​BUBBLES

What toddler doesn’t love bubbles? We purchased an amazing bubble blower from Amazon and still get great use out of it. Or, use a storage bin with warm water and make bubbles using Dawn blue dish soap for an easy and more cost-efficient sensory play option. If you use the Dawn dish soap option, you can also use the bubble sensory bucket as a fishing spot.

​PIN THE TAIL ON THE FISH

Just use the materials in the downloadable kit for an easy and fun variation of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, perfectly modified for this adorable first birthday theme. You can access the printables kit using the form at the bottom of this article. Laminating the fish tails is a great way to make them more durable, too!

Above (Left): Image shows blue fish for "Pin the Tail on the Fish" activity. This printable has been formatted for poster size, so you can print a large version, perfect for the game! Above (Right): Image shows blue tails for pin the tail on the fish.

Memory Keepsake

This activity is best for the adults and older children at the party. Use the memory cards in the printables kit and have guests fill out favorite memories from your child's first year or wishes for their future. Children who don't want to (or can't yet) write can also draw pictures. You can insert these cards into a photo album or a similar storage system to enjoy for years to come. Or, have guests use the bobber tags to write memories and well wishes, and then paste them on the Memories Poster or arrange in a picture frame as a collage.

MAKE YOUR OWN "SAND CUP" DESSERT

​What kid doesn’t love a dirt cup? Simply use yellow/vanilla cake (instead of chocolate), chocolate chip or sugar cookies (instead of Oreos), blue cool whip/frosting/vanilla pudding, Swedish fish, and O shaped gummy candy or life-savers. You can even top them with little cocktail umbrellas! More detailed instructions for this activity can be found here.

​ Why go to the store when you can shop online? Here are some products perfect for this activity.

Click on images below to view product pages, or click here to view product descriptions and links included in the activity.

​You can’t have a decent party without decorations, right? Check out the following photos of my little one’s party, as well as product recommendations to help recreate the look. 

CLICK ON THE NAME OF THE DECORATION (IN BLUE) OR THE PRODUCT IMAGE TO ACCESS THE PRODUCT PAGE.

PHOTO BANNER

This photo banner received tons of compliments from our guests. It is still available on Amazon, or you can use my printables to create your own photo wall or banner.

​FISHING BOBBERS

Before my husband confiscated them for his fishing kit (kidding, kidding... I gladly turned them over for a second life serving their designated purpose!) we used these bobbers for cake toppers and decorations on food platters. You can see them in a number of the pictures throughout this post. Or, use my printable bobber tags and toothpicks for a DIY approach (laminating them can make them more durable, too).

The Big One Banner

We used this banner as interior decor, and then for a backdrop for the smash cake photo shoot. You can find the same banner by clicking the image below for the Amazon product page, or check out the Big One poster printable in my download kit!

1st Birthday Nautical Theme Party Supplies and Dangling Decor

This party supply kit includes decorations, goodie bags, napkins, plates, cups, and a table cloth, while the dangling decor matches the set perfectly. We ordered two, and supplemented with red, blue, and white paper goods. 

You can also access DIY decorations in my printables kit. See the form at the bottom of the page to sign up.

Before your guests leave, make sure to thank them!

We gave out goodie bags (available in the nautical themed first birthday kit here) containing candy, as well as letting our guests bring home their own fish (see below for the product we purchased).
 
You can also use the bobber tags from the printables kit and/or the printable thank you notes. Either use a hole puncher and ribbon to affix the tags to the bags, or handwrite thank you messages on the notes for your child to mail/give to your guests. 

What first birthday would be complete without a great birthday outfit? 

We ordered an adorable Big One onesie and a crown from Amazon. And, the choices turned out adorable, if I do say so myself!

Looking for a great gift for a 'Big One' birthday party? Or ideas for resources to help use some of the printable content for everyday purposes?

Be sure to check out the following content:

Fish and Ocean Themed Gifts, Books, and More!

I've compiled a list of perfect gifts for the little angler or beach lover in your life. I scoured Amazon for the best rated thematic products, so you don't have to! Some of these products we have in our home, some I've had in the classroom, and others simply got rave reviews. You can check them out here.

Fish/Summer Themed Printables

These resources are perfect for those looking to utilize the activities above for everyday fun. Learn more about these great printables here. 

ABOVE: Light blue background with white accents. 8 images of sample curriculum content, including color, shape, and sight word activities. Center has text stating "Get these pages and more!"

I enjoyed putting this post and my summer printables pack together so much that I decided to take it a step further and create thoughtfully designed literacy packs. As we are approach autumn, I will not only be releasing a literacy kit for summer, but adding a fall themed kit to the bundle!  See a sneak peek of some of the resources below:

Based on commonly utilized and research based phonics instruction strategies learned while I was a teacher, these resources will aid in teaching phonological awareness to pre-readers and early readers. A perfect supplement for preschool or PreK families preparing their little one for elementary school (or as an add on for those homeschooling this year thanks to the pandemic). The bundle includes alphabet words, instructions for phonological awareness strategies, a seasonal story, and supplemental activity cards for each season. They pair perfectly with seasonal subscriber printables (new fall content coming to the subscribers' library very soon)!

Stay tuned for an announcement on release (and an Instagram giveaway) soon!

What you get:

This kit comes with the following printable options:

• 4 different bobber tag/photo banner options.
• 1 "The Big One" Poster 
• 1 Memory Template Card for Guests to Fill Out
• 1 Memory Poster for Guests to Paste Bobber Tags with Memories On
• 1 Menu Card - Blank
• 1 Menu Card - Filled with Sample Menu 
• 3 Thank You Card Options
• 1 Pin the Tail on The Fish Set (1 poster, 2 pages of tails)
• 6 Pages of Photo Booth Props/Decorations
• 1 Page of Multisized Fish Tags
• 1 Decorate Your Own Fish Template
• 2 Pages of Fish for Decorations or Fishing Activity

​Disclaimer: The product featured in this post was a gift from PrintsField. All opinions are my own.

I’ll be honest, I’m not normally a sock fanatic. You know the type; the people with a pair of fun socks for each day of the week, each holiday, each special occasion, their favorite sports team or food or hobby….. There is a whole industry that caters to them! I’m not one of those folks.
 
But my fur babies? They are a different story. We have framed pictures of our pets. We take them on vacation. They have memory foam mattresses in our home. Long before I became the mommy to my little human, I was a proud fur baby mama to a growing menagerie of dogs, cats, and other little beasts. We’ve had hamsters we rescued from a home where they were being bullied by their cage mates, a gold fish we found in a broken bag outside a street carnival, and more. Before I decided to be an educator, I wanted to be a veterinarian. My family volunteers with animal rescues (mostly the amazing Friends with Four Paws… if you are looking for a new family member and live in the New York Tristate Area, be sure to check them out!). Needless to say, we love our pets.
 
So I was super excited to receive these adorable socks with my dog Basil’s face on them. Basil was the first fur baby I adopted as an adult. Sure, I had dogs growing up, and I became the mama to my husband’s dog when we started dating. But Basil was my first. While I love all my fur babies, she holds a special place in my heart. 

I was quite impressed to hear PrintsField manufactures in the United States. I’m all about supporting businesses that create American jobs! Ordering was quick and painless as their website is very user friendly. I picked the ‘'Personalized Dog Socks’, in pink, and while I ordered them with one face, you can select between 1 and 3. After ordering, I promptly received an email with a status update. In fact, I received order updates regularly until the order was delivered. Eight days after I placed my order, I had my socks in hand (and it is also worth noting I ordered on a Sunday).
 
When I took them out of the packaging they looked huge; I am normally a shoe size 7.5-8, so I ordered a medium. Fear not; they fit just fine! The socks bunch some at the ankles, which gives a cute, retro look. The fabric was a bit shinier than anticipated when looking at them close-up, but I also am super picky with fabrics. If you are wearing them, no one is going to be able to tell they have a bit of a sheen, and the images printed on them are totally Instagram worthy!

​Overall, I was very impressed with PrintsField’s overall operation, and love the socks. I should also note, they make a wide variety of products other than socks; they create custom mugs, laptop cases, notebooks, and more. I’d absolutely recommend their products to any animal lovers, or people looking for a fun novelty gift for another occasion (Father’s Day, which just passed, comes to mind!). I look forward to showing these socks off the next time I volunteer with the animal rescue I work with!!! 

Final verdict? These socks are a yes. Be sure to check PrintsField out!!!

What comes to mind when you hear the term "allergy attack"? Sneezing? A stuffy nose? Itchy eyes? Maybe you know someone with food allergies and think of hives. Perhaps you even understand that food allergies are life threatening. But what about nonfood products?

In my latest piece for Westchester County Mom's Blog, I discuss my child's anaphylactic reaction and how managing food allergies means more than just watching what you eat.

Read The Night Lip Gloss Could Have Taken My Child's Life here.

Or, read my other posts about living as a food allergy family and find resources to help your family on The Mindfully Scientific Mama Food Allergy portal.

The following is an advertisement from Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. Learn more about my participation in this program here. Commissions earned help support this blog and allow me to publish new, valuable content. My participation in this program costs you nothing.

Is your family managing food allergies? What is something you would want people to know about living with these conditions? 
Be sure to respond below!

Food allergies are terrifying, and trying to protect your child when they suffer from food allergies brings a whole new level of anxiety to the parenting experience. What if my child picks up an allergen at the playground (you’d be shocked how many people leave tree nuts all over the place!)? Can we safely go out to eat as a family? What if one of my child’s classmates brings in food containing one of my child’s allergens (the school is a nut free campus, but is not sesame free, my child’s other allergen)? What if the school uses an unsafe product during an activity? What if one of my child’s friends is wearing body lotion that contains sesame oil? The "what ifs" can feel suffocating.
​
Until now. Read more about why Social Distancing Helped Ease My Anxiety as a Food Allergy Parent in my latest blog post for The Inclusive Eating Project.

Or, view all my work on food allergies here.

In an effort to support and #amplifymelanatedvoices, Spokin has published a list of Black owned companies that support those with food allergies. I couldn't be happier to share their article with you, and encourage you to check each of these companies out yourself. I've already had the privilege to connect with some of them on social media. 

I will keep this post short; ultimately, I just want to direct you all to this great resource. But please, feel free to share your own recommendations or reviews about these companies with other readers in the comments!

I don't do things like this often. I try to keep my posts to my areas of expertise. But my silence feels a heck of a lot like complicity given what is happening around me. I really don't know what to say, but I'm going to try. 
​
As unacceptable as it is, the color of my skin confers me some level of privilege in the American system. I recognize this, and it is my duty to not shy away from the uncomfortable truth. And uncomfortable it is.

So, to the Black community, your lives, your safety, and your ability to rely equally on the systems that benefit me matter to me. I don't know what else to say. So instead, I am quietly watching. Listening. Learning. Trying to understand, because I don't and can't know what it is like to walk in your shoes. And trying to apply that knowledge to raise my white child to know and do better. 

Yesterday I muted my social media and listened in recognition of #BlackOutTuesday. I've since committed to continuing to keep my social media presence limited, as well as working to amplify melanated voices when I do post. I am going to remain teachable. I'm going to keep listening. I'm going to keep trying to do better. 

My colleagues at Westchester County Moms Blog and I have also put together a statement of support. You can read that here.