As non Spanish parents, it's actually really hard to choose a name for a baby who is probably going to be living for at least a large part of their lives in Spain. If you choose a British or Anglo name you run the risk of your child sounding like a foreigner and their name not being pronounced in the way intended ( think George ... Jorge or 'Horhay' ) .... and yet we don't always know as many Spanish names as we might think we do, so our choice becomes limited. As Bella's daddy is French we had the added problem of a name that would work in all three languages and be prononced the same in all 3 languages .... plus for those of us with foreign surnames, it's important to find a name that sits well with it's foreign counterpart ....
When we chat to our customers at fairs and playgroups they often seem to be struggling with the 'name in Spain' dilemma ... so here are a few suggestions to help you out!
According to recent news reports, the following are some of the most popular UK girls and boys names of 2008 ...
Girls - Emma, Sophia ( also popular in Spain ) Madison, Isabella ( another one popular here ) Olivia, Ava, Addison and Lily ...
Boys - Aiden, Jayden, Ethan, Jacob, Caden, Jackson, Noah and Jack ....
As for the Spanish, well according to the most recent records we could find, the most popular names here are ...
Girls - Lucia, Maria, Paula, Marta, Alba, Claudia, Sara, Ana, Sofia, Elena ....
Boys - Alejandro, Daniel, Pablo, David, Adrian, Alvaro, Marcos, Hugo ( apparently v. fashionable now) Raul ....
And a few more unusual ones ....
Celestina, Noelia, Ramona, Teodora, Delfina
Gustavo, Gabriel, Hernando, Leandro, Octavio, Vidal
We'd love to hear your suggestions for Spanish / English baby names ... just post them here ...
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
ARTICLE - Top Five Pregnancy and Baby Buys ....
Having a baby in Spain can be quite daunting, in fact having a baby in any country where the language is not your own can be quite a scary proposition. I have many friends in the UK who found the whole process of pregnancy and birth confusing enough in their own country, so I take my hat off to all us girls who have been through a pregnancy and birth here in Spain. That's not to say that the information on offer is not good, nor the health care often excellent and the hospitals are certainly moving forward in terms of offering more progressive birthing techniques and options. But still doing everything in a second or unknown language in a country where customs are different to those you've grown up around is more difficult.
Knowing what to buy and not buy is also difficult and so Indybel have come up with our 'must have' baby and pregnancy wish list ... We're not talking cots and prams as of course we all need these things, but have concerntrated on the smaller and more unusual buys ...
Pregnancy and Baby Must Have's in Spain
1. The Cuddledry Towel.
Okay I didn't have one of these with my baby and now I wish I had know about them. The cuddledry is not only bigger, softer and more durable than your normal baby towel, but you can wear it too. This means that you have both hands free to bath your baby and can then snuggly wrap your baby up and lay your baby down without them getting cold .... fantastic !
2. Raspberry Leaf Tea
We heard a lot about raspberry leaf tea when thinking about stocking it and the midwife we work with down here is a big fan of it's ability to really help and move along a labour. Niether Lesley nor I drank the tea with our first babies and both had long and difficult labours. With her second baby Lesley drank the tea and had a four hour labour! We recently bumped into one of our tea customers who has just had her first baby, not only was the baby early but she also had an incrediably quick and easy labour ... enough said!
3. Natalia Baby Bottom Cream
There are a lot of baby bottom creams on the market but it's worth investing in a really good one as babies skin is so delicate, it's important to find something really gentle. The Natalia cream is all these things, not only that but Lesley has found that since using it on Olivia, not only has Olivia never suffered from so much as a little red patch, one jar ( using it generously ) lasted a good four months. So good value all round!
4. Seraphine Maternity Jeans
You can get away with a lot when it comes to maternity clothing, buying big cheap T Shirts, and large sized lycra for example! But it's a good idea to have one great staple item which will take you from 0 - 9 months and then back again! The Seraphine Jeans are this item! The fab bootleg cut and low waist means they are one of the most attractive looking ( if not the most! ) maternity jeans on the market. They are also made with a very comfy ultra soft denim designed to stretch with you and the waist is also ultra comfy. Lesley tried them on in the heat of August at 8 months pregnant and was amazed how light and comfy they felt, so if you want to invest in one item ... invest in these!
5. Kari Me Sling
This great award winning sling can be used in a variety of ways and actually works well into the toddler years. It is also designed to help you bond with and breastfeed your baby. Slings are becoming more and more popular amongst new mums, but particularly amongst those who are also rushing around after chaotic toddlers !
To find out more about buying for your pregnancy or baby in Spain, please visit http://www.indybel.com/
Knowing what to buy and not buy is also difficult and so Indybel have come up with our 'must have' baby and pregnancy wish list ... We're not talking cots and prams as of course we all need these things, but have concerntrated on the smaller and more unusual buys ...
Pregnancy and Baby Must Have's in Spain
1. The Cuddledry Towel.
Okay I didn't have one of these with my baby and now I wish I had know about them. The cuddledry is not only bigger, softer and more durable than your normal baby towel, but you can wear it too. This means that you have both hands free to bath your baby and can then snuggly wrap your baby up and lay your baby down without them getting cold .... fantastic !
2. Raspberry Leaf Tea
We heard a lot about raspberry leaf tea when thinking about stocking it and the midwife we work with down here is a big fan of it's ability to really help and move along a labour. Niether Lesley nor I drank the tea with our first babies and both had long and difficult labours. With her second baby Lesley drank the tea and had a four hour labour! We recently bumped into one of our tea customers who has just had her first baby, not only was the baby early but she also had an incrediably quick and easy labour ... enough said!
3. Natalia Baby Bottom Cream
There are a lot of baby bottom creams on the market but it's worth investing in a really good one as babies skin is so delicate, it's important to find something really gentle. The Natalia cream is all these things, not only that but Lesley has found that since using it on Olivia, not only has Olivia never suffered from so much as a little red patch, one jar ( using it generously ) lasted a good four months. So good value all round!
4. Seraphine Maternity Jeans
You can get away with a lot when it comes to maternity clothing, buying big cheap T Shirts, and large sized lycra for example! But it's a good idea to have one great staple item which will take you from 0 - 9 months and then back again! The Seraphine Jeans are this item! The fab bootleg cut and low waist means they are one of the most attractive looking ( if not the most! ) maternity jeans on the market. They are also made with a very comfy ultra soft denim designed to stretch with you and the waist is also ultra comfy. Lesley tried them on in the heat of August at 8 months pregnant and was amazed how light and comfy they felt, so if you want to invest in one item ... invest in these!
5. Kari Me Sling
This great award winning sling can be used in a variety of ways and actually works well into the toddler years. It is also designed to help you bond with and breastfeed your baby. Slings are becoming more and more popular amongst new mums, but particularly amongst those who are also rushing around after chaotic toddlers !
To find out more about buying for your pregnancy or baby in Spain, please visit http://www.indybel.com/
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Baby Massage in Marbella
A while ago we had the pleasure to meet James and Amanda from InsideOut Health Magazine in Marbella. http://www.iohmagazine.com/ Their magazine is a great mix of news, advice and features regarding health, fitness, nutrition, children's health, sports and lifestyle in Spain. As with all the best magazines IOH is free and can be picked up at many sports centers, bars, shops and activity centers on the coast. Not only do they run the magazine but James and Amanda recently added little Poppy to their family ( congratulations! ) and now Amanda is running baby massage courses in Marbella.
When Bella was 3 months old, she and I did a course of baby massage together and it was great fun. It was lovely to learn how to massage her little body properly ( without worrying I might be doing something wrong! ) and at that young age it was nice to get a postive response from your baby. Once I'd mastered the massage it became part of our post bath routine for several months ( until she was old enough to crawl away! ) and was a really nice bonding time for both of us, so I'd def recommend it!!
Here are the details of Amanda's classes ...
Just wanted to let you know that I'm planning to teach a Baby Massage course on Tuesday 24th and Thursday 26th February if anyone is interested.
Classes will be 1.5 - 2 hours on each of the days and held from 10.30am - 12.30pm approx. It will be in Aloha, Nueva Andalucia.
Cost is 60€ for the 2 day course.
After completing the course, you will be able to perform a full body massage for your gorgeous baby, which will provide huge health benefits and enhance bonding for the entire family.
When Bella was 3 months old, she and I did a course of baby massage together and it was great fun. It was lovely to learn how to massage her little body properly ( without worrying I might be doing something wrong! ) and at that young age it was nice to get a postive response from your baby. Once I'd mastered the massage it became part of our post bath routine for several months ( until she was old enough to crawl away! ) and was a really nice bonding time for both of us, so I'd def recommend it!!
Here are the details of Amanda's classes ...
Just wanted to let you know that I'm planning to teach a Baby Massage course on Tuesday 24th and Thursday 26th February if anyone is interested.
Classes will be 1.5 - 2 hours on each of the days and held from 10.30am - 12.30pm approx. It will be in Aloha, Nueva Andalucia.
Cost is 60€ for the 2 day course.
After completing the course, you will be able to perform a full body massage for your gorgeous baby, which will provide huge health benefits and enhance bonding for the entire family.
To find out more about Amanda's baby massage classes contact amanda@iohmagazine.com or call 952 799 612
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Lansinoh
Due to popular request from our customers we are now pleased to announce that we sell Lansinoh cream.
Lansinoh is the world's purest lanolin and has been specifically developed for the treatment of sore and cracked nipples alongside help with positioning and attachment.
How Does It Work?
Lansinoh works by the process of moist wound healing. Studies reveal moist wound healing offers a soothing environment for sore nipples and as no scab is formed healing is accelerated.
Lansinoh lanolin can be used also to soothe: chapped lips, nappy rash, dry skin on elbows, heels and knees, itchy stretch marks, minor cuts, burns and skin abrasions. Useful for all the family
A must have item for pregnancy and birth, buy Lansinoh cream in Spain now at indybel.com
Lansinoh is the world's purest lanolin and has been specifically developed for the treatment of sore and cracked nipples alongside help with positioning and attachment.
How Does It Work?
Lansinoh works by the process of moist wound healing. Studies reveal moist wound healing offers a soothing environment for sore nipples and as no scab is formed healing is accelerated.
Lansinoh lanolin can be used also to soothe: chapped lips, nappy rash, dry skin on elbows, heels and knees, itchy stretch marks, minor cuts, burns and skin abrasions. Useful for all the family
A must have item for pregnancy and birth, buy Lansinoh cream in Spain now at indybel.com
ARTICLE - Me Time!
At www.indybel.com we offer a range of spa pampering days for pregnant ladies and tired and stressed out mums! In the interest of our customers we thought it only fair to test out the treatments ourselves ... here's what happened when I went for day of 'me time'!
Mummy Pampering at the Thermae Spa, Villa Padierna in Marbella
So, here I was at the Spa ready for a day of ‘me time not mummy time’ pampering treatments and how did I feel? Well pretty exhausted actually. Having endured a week of sleepless nights while my 18 month old dealt with the onset of some rather nasty teeth, I’d offloaded her onto the grandparents and quite frankly the only thing I felt like doing was crawling back under the covers. This wasn’t helped by the fact that the bags under my eyes were pretty close in size to the bags of towels and toiletries I had bought with me, and when you arrive in such elegant and beautiful surroundings as the Villa Padierna you want to look, quite frankly, equally as elegant and beautiful!
Still the calm, beauty and effortless luxury of the spa had an immediate effect on my mood and tiredness and within minutes of arriving I began to feel much more relaxed and for the first time in at least a week, human again! According to their literature, the Thermae Spa promises it’s ‘exotic, opulent and dramatic surroundings will take you away from the stresses of daily life and lead you to a place of relaxation and calm’ … just what every tired and stressed mum needs!
On arrival we were ushered into the changing room where we found gowns, slippers and disposable knickers (this reminded me of labour!) waiting for us. As we emerged from the changing room we were greeted by the therapists who were to be in charge of our treatments and taken to our separate treatment rooms. As you’d expect from a Spa of this calibre the treatment rooms were a haven of peace and tranquillity, emitting amazing soothing smells and most importantly lovely and warm!
I started off with a body exfoliation. This involved having ESPA salts rubbed into my body. As soon as the treatment started I instantly relaxed. The spa policy is that the therapists are not encouraged to chat to you unless you insist upon it, so there was none of that tiring need to make pointless chit chat and I was able to lie back and really relax. After about 5 minutes I was thinking, hmmm I could really get used to this, this is really nice.
Everything about the treatments is luxurious. When the time came to wash the salts off my body (far too soon for my liking!) the therapist made a little aisle out of towels for me to walk the three steps from the bed to the power shower. I was given more towels and new knickers and told to make the most of the lovely toiletries and my therapist would be back in ten minutes to continue.
When she returned it was time for my facial. This was pure heaven. I had towels tucked under my knees which were amazingly comfortable and settled back to surrender my tired and spotty face. I lost count but there were several creams massaged on to my face over the course of the next 30 minutes and each was wiped off with a lovely warm towel. In between I was given an eye and head massage, absolute bliss for any tired mum. I lay there in a state of exhaustion but thoroughly enjoying every single second and mentally calculating how much time we had left and how much money I had with me so that I could think about continuing these amazing treatments for the rest of the day! I should also say at this point that for the next few days my make up less face was glowing.
Following my wonderful facial I was led to the relaxation room to well … relax. The relaxation room is a vision of white, white beds, white walls, white curtains .. and fruit. Here’s a tip, don’t eat too much fruit, I did and regretted it later! As well as fruit there was a lovely refreshing lemon drink to help you re-hydrate.
My treatments were now finished and I have to say I was feeling 100 times better and more glamorous than when I arrived. The afternoon was now to be dedicated to the pool and spa experiences …. the saunas and steam rooms, each one a treat in itself and each a masterpiece in interior design. The brochure promises that these ‘purifying steam rooms redolent of India and Bali transport you to where another world awaits you’ so I was interested to see where I would end up! I wasn’t disappointed, throughout the spa no corner has been spared in terms of beauty, sophistication and design. Every area and room has its own special ambience and much thought has clearly been given to lighting and smell and colour, all designed to relax and enchant. The steam rooms were filled with such ingredients as lemon grass, curry, mint and eucalyptus and ranged in temperature. The pool had amazing hydro jets and for the really brave and adventurous there is even a cold pool. ( freezing cold )
Having explored every room we smothered our hair in expensive conditioner and headed back to the relaxation room where we were served tea ( herbal of course ) and chatted ( quietly ) about our wonderful and thoroughly relaxing day.
So, did I feel that the ‘stresses and pressures of daily life’ had temporarily vanished, leaving me in a place of ‘relaxation and calm serenity’ … absolutely! And would I recommend the spa to other tired and stressed mums … in a second! Oh and if you can convince the grandparents to keep your baby for the night and get your husband to take you out to dinner after your spa day then even better!
To book a Pre or Post Pregnancy Pampering Spa day for yourself, a friend or loved one CLICK HERE.
So, here I was at the Spa ready for a day of ‘me time not mummy time’ pampering treatments and how did I feel? Well pretty exhausted actually. Having endured a week of sleepless nights while my 18 month old dealt with the onset of some rather nasty teeth, I’d offloaded her onto the grandparents and quite frankly the only thing I felt like doing was crawling back under the covers. This wasn’t helped by the fact that the bags under my eyes were pretty close in size to the bags of towels and toiletries I had bought with me, and when you arrive in such elegant and beautiful surroundings as the Villa Padierna you want to look, quite frankly, equally as elegant and beautiful!
Still the calm, beauty and effortless luxury of the spa had an immediate effect on my mood and tiredness and within minutes of arriving I began to feel much more relaxed and for the first time in at least a week, human again! According to their literature, the Thermae Spa promises it’s ‘exotic, opulent and dramatic surroundings will take you away from the stresses of daily life and lead you to a place of relaxation and calm’ … just what every tired and stressed mum needs!
On arrival we were ushered into the changing room where we found gowns, slippers and disposable knickers (this reminded me of labour!) waiting for us. As we emerged from the changing room we were greeted by the therapists who were to be in charge of our treatments and taken to our separate treatment rooms. As you’d expect from a Spa of this calibre the treatment rooms were a haven of peace and tranquillity, emitting amazing soothing smells and most importantly lovely and warm!
I started off with a body exfoliation. This involved having ESPA salts rubbed into my body. As soon as the treatment started I instantly relaxed. The spa policy is that the therapists are not encouraged to chat to you unless you insist upon it, so there was none of that tiring need to make pointless chit chat and I was able to lie back and really relax. After about 5 minutes I was thinking, hmmm I could really get used to this, this is really nice.
Everything about the treatments is luxurious. When the time came to wash the salts off my body (far too soon for my liking!) the therapist made a little aisle out of towels for me to walk the three steps from the bed to the power shower. I was given more towels and new knickers and told to make the most of the lovely toiletries and my therapist would be back in ten minutes to continue.
When she returned it was time for my facial. This was pure heaven. I had towels tucked under my knees which were amazingly comfortable and settled back to surrender my tired and spotty face. I lost count but there were several creams massaged on to my face over the course of the next 30 minutes and each was wiped off with a lovely warm towel. In between I was given an eye and head massage, absolute bliss for any tired mum. I lay there in a state of exhaustion but thoroughly enjoying every single second and mentally calculating how much time we had left and how much money I had with me so that I could think about continuing these amazing treatments for the rest of the day! I should also say at this point that for the next few days my make up less face was glowing.
Following my wonderful facial I was led to the relaxation room to well … relax. The relaxation room is a vision of white, white beds, white walls, white curtains .. and fruit. Here’s a tip, don’t eat too much fruit, I did and regretted it later! As well as fruit there was a lovely refreshing lemon drink to help you re-hydrate.
My treatments were now finished and I have to say I was feeling 100 times better and more glamorous than when I arrived. The afternoon was now to be dedicated to the pool and spa experiences …. the saunas and steam rooms, each one a treat in itself and each a masterpiece in interior design. The brochure promises that these ‘purifying steam rooms redolent of India and Bali transport you to where another world awaits you’ so I was interested to see where I would end up! I wasn’t disappointed, throughout the spa no corner has been spared in terms of beauty, sophistication and design. Every area and room has its own special ambience and much thought has clearly been given to lighting and smell and colour, all designed to relax and enchant. The steam rooms were filled with such ingredients as lemon grass, curry, mint and eucalyptus and ranged in temperature. The pool had amazing hydro jets and for the really brave and adventurous there is even a cold pool. ( freezing cold )
Having explored every room we smothered our hair in expensive conditioner and headed back to the relaxation room where we were served tea ( herbal of course ) and chatted ( quietly ) about our wonderful and thoroughly relaxing day.
So, did I feel that the ‘stresses and pressures of daily life’ had temporarily vanished, leaving me in a place of ‘relaxation and calm serenity’ … absolutely! And would I recommend the spa to other tired and stressed mums … in a second! Oh and if you can convince the grandparents to keep your baby for the night and get your husband to take you out to dinner after your spa day then even better!
To book a Pre or Post Pregnancy Pampering Spa day for yourself, a friend or loved one CLICK HERE.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Love is in the air at Indybel
We're big softies at heart, so we've dedicated our February homepage and special offers to the month of lurveeeee ... and St Valentine.
In celebration of the great man himself we've taken 15% off many of our lovely pampering products so dad can spoil mum and vice versa ... so for example all our gorgeous Natalia gift boxes, lovely Seraphine maternity nighties and the Diaper Dude for dad are all on offer this month!
Check out all these great offers and more at http://www.indybel.com/
If that's not enough we've taken a massive 20% off the Babydan playden, meaning you can save nearly 40€ if you buy now!!
Happy Valentines from all at Indybel !
Indybel Out and About
We're hoping to get out and about a lot more with our products this year. We'll keep you posted on when and where you can find us ....
Last week we had a great time at the Aloha Gardens playgroup in Marbella. For anyone who missed us we'll be there again this Friday 13th February from 10.30 - 12.30pm .... we'll have a small range of all our bestsellers including both pregnancy and baby products ...
Hope to see you there!
X
By the way if anyone would like more info about this great playgroup just drop us a mail at info@indybel.com and we'll give you the details.
Last week we had a great time at the Aloha Gardens playgroup in Marbella. For anyone who missed us we'll be there again this Friday 13th February from 10.30 - 12.30pm .... we'll have a small range of all our bestsellers including both pregnancy and baby products ...
Hope to see you there!
X
By the way if anyone would like more info about this great playgroup just drop us a mail at info@indybel.com and we'll give you the details.
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