By The Sea Birthday Party Done Green! 

For the invites: Send a trained themed email invite to all of your guests. Go to http://www.evite.com/app/invitations/create/event.do?isNew=false&template=Summer_Flips&eventType=Kids_Birthday&productPos=4%3A8. 

For the decorations: Think greens and blues for this ocean themed party. If you want to decorate, think about using things that your child can continue to love and play with after the party. Maybe look around for things that you already have like sea shells from your summer trip. Or buy things that have staying power, like a reuseable table cloth, birthday banners that you can use over and over, etc. There are several online resources that sell environmentally friendly party goods, too. Here are just a few:

www.greenpartygoods.com

http://littlestarcreativeparties.com/ 

For the Activities:

*Put a sand box in the backyard and fill it with cleaned out yogurt containers, old kitchen utensils, etc. and bring the beach to your backyard.

*To add to the fun, hide some shells in the sand. Each child has exactly one minute each to find as shells as they can. The child that finds the most shells within the time frame wins a prize.

*Consider some water fun. A Slip and Slide is always fun. If you have a pool, consider letting the kids swim. For smaller children, buy a portable baby pool.

*For some craft ideas, go to:

http://www.highlightskids.com/Express/Crafts/Decorations/C0700_seaSuncatchers.asp

http://familyfun.go.com/games/indoor-outdoor-games/game/famfgam_seadarts/famfgam_seadarts.html 
 
 

For the cake: Use a cake pan and you save a lot of waste. These shells look really cute laid out on a plate with brown sugar (which looks like sand). You can simply serve each shell on a 100% recycled paper towel and avoid the use of disposable plates and forks.  

For the favors: Little wooden boats go along with the sea side theme. Another option is a reusable tote that can be taken to the beach.  

Have fun celebrating!