Don't forget our February Special offers run out this weekend!!!
At the moment there are huge savings on the gorgeous Seraphine Maternity Nightdress and dressing gown and all our lovely Natalia pregnancy products as well as the excellent Diaper Dude for dad ...
Offers end this WEEKEND!
To take advantage of these great offers NOW visit http://www.indybel.com/
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Thank you for all your lovely comments ...
Since we launched Indybel last August, many pregnant ladies and mums in Spain have sent us lovely messages congratulating us on the site ... it's so nice to receive your feedback and to know we are hopefully filling a gap and helping other mums to find the pregnancy and baby products they want and need in Spain. We've also received suggestions of products which mums would like us to stock for them here in Spain and we always take these suggestions seriously and research into the possibility of stocking the items, so please do keep sending your suggestions, thoughts and ideas ....
Here are some of the lovely messages we've received, thanks again for sending them and keep writing to us!
Hi there
After browsing your brilliant website I felt the urge to email and congratulate you and wish you the best of luck with your venture. The website is really well done. Easy to read, products look great and the spa/photo/pampering etc is just a fantastic touch. I really hope you do well. God knows it's hard enough to succeed in life without babies and husbands to look after in the process of setting up and running a business!
M
Just been looking at your fantastic website and wanted to be one of the first to congratulate you on your amazing new business venture.
J
Dear “Indybel” team,Congratulations on offering a range of products otherwise difficult to source here in Spain.
S
Hello, Firstly, would like to congratulate you on your site, it is brilliant and so wonderful to see all the wonderful things that were never available in spain before.
N
Hi Lesley
Thanks for the email. I certainly want to purchase the nappies. I think they are a great idea and are certainly the best i have seen on the market.
G
Love the website
J
Hi Samantha,
...Your products look fantastic and definitely fill a gap in the market.
R
Hola samantha
Congratulations on your new online store, its great and as ever much needed here.
L
Your website looks so good. I'm sure you`ll do well, there are too few good fuss free online shopping websites.
P
I think you have a great concept there. Well done.
E
Your site is gorgeous ....it was really a surprise and a pleasure to visit.
S
Here are some of the lovely messages we've received, thanks again for sending them and keep writing to us!
Hi there
After browsing your brilliant website I felt the urge to email and congratulate you and wish you the best of luck with your venture. The website is really well done. Easy to read, products look great and the spa/photo/pampering etc is just a fantastic touch. I really hope you do well. God knows it's hard enough to succeed in life without babies and husbands to look after in the process of setting up and running a business!
M
Just been looking at your fantastic website and wanted to be one of the first to congratulate you on your amazing new business venture.
J
Dear “Indybel” team,Congratulations on offering a range of products otherwise difficult to source here in Spain.
S
Hello, Firstly, would like to congratulate you on your site, it is brilliant and so wonderful to see all the wonderful things that were never available in spain before.
N
Hi Lesley
Thanks for the email. I certainly want to purchase the nappies. I think they are a great idea and are certainly the best i have seen on the market.
G
Love the website
J
Hi Samantha,
...Your products look fantastic and definitely fill a gap in the market.
R
Hola samantha
Congratulations on your new online store, its great and as ever much needed here.
L
Your website looks so good. I'm sure you`ll do well, there are too few good fuss free online shopping websites.
P
I think you have a great concept there. Well done.
E
Your site is gorgeous ....it was really a surprise and a pleasure to visit.
S
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Toddler fun on the Costa del Sol
On Saturday we took Bella to Tivoli World with some friends and had a really fab afternoon. Funnily enough I've never thought of going to Tivoli in the 'winter' and yet it's still open ( selected times, see the website before setting off! ) and despite the fact that you have to have a coat there are several benefits to going in the summer. For one thing there were no queues so our over eager toddlers were able to go on rides again and again and again, and as soon as they spotted them without feeling the need to throw tantrums due to having to wait! The lack of crowds also mean't the little one's could run free and we could still keep an eye on them and not worry about them being knocked over by bigger children .... the restaurants were also nice and quiet and the staff very friendly and eager to help .... it's not the cheapest afternoon out, but the amount of rides available for the little one's mean't that it was good value and they had a really great time .... we went in the summer when Bella was one and she was a little young for some of the rides, at 27 months she was suddenly able to do a lot more, so from about age 2 onwards is just about right ....
Tivoli World is just off the Arroyo de la Miel turn off on the N340 ....
Entrance is 6€ for adults and children over a certain height
The Tivoli bracelet which allows access to unlimited rides is 12€ ( def worth it for kids )
As adults we bought single 1€ tickets and went on rides with Bella where necessary
On a Sunday entrance is only 1€ and there's a market too!
Other great afternoon's out for toddlers on the Costa del Sol include:
Kidz Kingdom in Estepona - great soft play, really nice under 3's area, well managed, nice food!
Paloma Park in Benalmadena - lovely park with chickens and rabbits running around ... several play areas, ponds and a lake, a cactus garden, other animal areas and cafes
Fuengirola play park by the new town hall - nice park with swings for the little one's, a couple of slides and see saws set around a nice cafe
Miramar Shopping Center in Fuengirola - great outside play area on the roof with soft play, trampolines, go Karts, crazy golf and a little train! Covered in the winter although still technically outside! Lots of amusements inside too .... just take a pocket full of 1 euro coins!
Fuengirola Zoo - Lovely well maintained zoo with glass enclosures, shows and a very big gorilla! Quite pricey.
Sealife in Benalmadena - Again, not too easy on the pocket, but a nice way to spend an afternoon. Lots of different types of sea animal in walk through acquarium style surroundings!
New Park in Fuengirola - not sure what this one is called, but it's opposite the Miramar Center on the other side of the N340 ... there is now a great park for little ones with a huge boat full of slides, on about 3 different levels and surrounded by clever fake sea soft flooring ... a great play to let your toddler use up their excess energy although the higher levels are probably not recommended for under 3's ....
Casa Loca, La Cala - Soft play center with a few other toys for younger one's and a big trampoline ... nice cafe!
Tivoli World is just off the Arroyo de la Miel turn off on the N340 ....
Entrance is 6€ for adults and children over a certain height
The Tivoli bracelet which allows access to unlimited rides is 12€ ( def worth it for kids )
As adults we bought single 1€ tickets and went on rides with Bella where necessary
On a Sunday entrance is only 1€ and there's a market too!
Other great afternoon's out for toddlers on the Costa del Sol include:
Kidz Kingdom in Estepona - great soft play, really nice under 3's area, well managed, nice food!
Paloma Park in Benalmadena - lovely park with chickens and rabbits running around ... several play areas, ponds and a lake, a cactus garden, other animal areas and cafes
Fuengirola play park by the new town hall - nice park with swings for the little one's, a couple of slides and see saws set around a nice cafe
Miramar Shopping Center in Fuengirola - great outside play area on the roof with soft play, trampolines, go Karts, crazy golf and a little train! Covered in the winter although still technically outside! Lots of amusements inside too .... just take a pocket full of 1 euro coins!
Fuengirola Zoo - Lovely well maintained zoo with glass enclosures, shows and a very big gorilla! Quite pricey.
Sealife in Benalmadena - Again, not too easy on the pocket, but a nice way to spend an afternoon. Lots of different types of sea animal in walk through acquarium style surroundings!
New Park in Fuengirola - not sure what this one is called, but it's opposite the Miramar Center on the other side of the N340 ... there is now a great park for little ones with a huge boat full of slides, on about 3 different levels and surrounded by clever fake sea soft flooring ... a great play to let your toddler use up their excess energy although the higher levels are probably not recommended for under 3's ....
Casa Loca, La Cala - Soft play center with a few other toys for younger one's and a big trampoline ... nice cafe!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Looking for that perfect gift to celebrate a pregnancy or new baby in Spain? We've got just the thing ...
Over the past few months we've noticed at Indybel that our gift vouchers are becoming really popular, and it's not difficult to see why ....
It's actually quite a dilemma to know what to buy to celebrate a pregnancy or new baby in Spain. The obvious awnser is clothes, but if you don't know the sex of the baby then that makes choosing something more difficult and more often than not you just don't know what the new mum needs. She'll probably have all the essentials, especially if it's baby number 2 or 3 ....so what to buy? Buying to celebrate a pregnancy is even harder. These days many of us are excited when a loved one, friend or workmate announces a pregnancy and want to give a little gift ... again it's difficult to know what to buy ... it's too early to buy for a baby who won't be making an appearance for 6 months or so and it's difficult to find something in the shops for a mum to be ...
At Indybel we anticipate these problems and have a range of gorgeous gifts for mum to be and new baby. For mum to be we'd recommend something practical and gorgeous like our Seraphine maternity leggings, something useful and reassuring like the Miriam Stoppard Pregnancy and Birth book or something totally soothing like our gorgeous Natalia pregnancy care gift boxes. If mum to be is a close friend or loved one you may want to splash out on a Dream Genii pregnancy pillow or even a prenatal spa day! If mum to be is a work mate and a few of your are clubbing together we'd suggest the Babybjorn Balance Sitter Chair or BabyDan Trona High Chair as really great group gifts.
For a new mum and baby the Cuddledry towel is probably the most popular gift we sell, followed closely by the Natalia new parent gift box, Bambino Merino sleeping bag, small sized Inch Blue booties and the Mirium Stoppard Complete Baby Care Book.
But as we said at the beginning, more and more, gift vouchers are becoming the popular choice and it's easy to see why. They are easy to send, functional and let mum or mum to be choose something she really needs.
It's actually quite a dilemma to know what to buy to celebrate a pregnancy or new baby in Spain. The obvious awnser is clothes, but if you don't know the sex of the baby then that makes choosing something more difficult and more often than not you just don't know what the new mum needs. She'll probably have all the essentials, especially if it's baby number 2 or 3 ....so what to buy? Buying to celebrate a pregnancy is even harder. These days many of us are excited when a loved one, friend or workmate announces a pregnancy and want to give a little gift ... again it's difficult to know what to buy ... it's too early to buy for a baby who won't be making an appearance for 6 months or so and it's difficult to find something in the shops for a mum to be ...
At Indybel we anticipate these problems and have a range of gorgeous gifts for mum to be and new baby. For mum to be we'd recommend something practical and gorgeous like our Seraphine maternity leggings, something useful and reassuring like the Miriam Stoppard Pregnancy and Birth book or something totally soothing like our gorgeous Natalia pregnancy care gift boxes. If mum to be is a close friend or loved one you may want to splash out on a Dream Genii pregnancy pillow or even a prenatal spa day! If mum to be is a work mate and a few of your are clubbing together we'd suggest the Babybjorn Balance Sitter Chair or BabyDan Trona High Chair as really great group gifts.
For a new mum and baby the Cuddledry towel is probably the most popular gift we sell, followed closely by the Natalia new parent gift box, Bambino Merino sleeping bag, small sized Inch Blue booties and the Mirium Stoppard Complete Baby Care Book.
But as we said at the beginning, more and more, gift vouchers are becoming the popular choice and it's easy to see why. They are easy to send, functional and let mum or mum to be choose something she really needs.
I remember when Bella was born that I received endless bouquets of flowers ... all very nice but I'd have loved the chance to be able to pick a few pressies that I really needed ... curtosy of someone else's credit card of course!! Then there were the baby clothes of which we received a huge amount, some of them very expensive and very beautiful and I was very grateful for all of them. However in Spain the seasons change so quickly and babies grow at their own rate and I'm sad to say there are some gorgeous clothes in plastic bags in my house that Bella never wore, simply because the season's changed before she had a chance to grow into them.
Of course buying for number 2 also has it's problems ... if the child is of the same sex then the parents have most of the clothes and toys they need, so perhaps it's really a chance to spoil them with some lovely luxury items!
We've noticed more and more that customers are opting to send our gift vouchers to their friends and loved one's in Spain in order to celebrate a pregnancy or new baby and feedback suggests the parents are loving choosing their gifts. The other great thing about our gift vouchers and in fact about all our gifts is that it doesn't matter where you in the World. Our gift voucher customers have come from as far afield as the USA, Eastern Europe and the UK. What do they have in common? They are all looking for a great present for a pregnant friend or new baby in Spain ... AND ... they want to purchase something that will be received instantly.
It's really easy to purchase and send gift vouchers on our site and you can even leave your own message which will be delivered by email to the recipient with their voucher .... so if you are looking for that special gift .... maybe you've just found it!
Of course buying for number 2 also has it's problems ... if the child is of the same sex then the parents have most of the clothes and toys they need, so perhaps it's really a chance to spoil them with some lovely luxury items!
We've noticed more and more that customers are opting to send our gift vouchers to their friends and loved one's in Spain in order to celebrate a pregnancy or new baby and feedback suggests the parents are loving choosing their gifts. The other great thing about our gift vouchers and in fact about all our gifts is that it doesn't matter where you in the World. Our gift voucher customers have come from as far afield as the USA, Eastern Europe and the UK. What do they have in common? They are all looking for a great present for a pregnant friend or new baby in Spain ... AND ... they want to purchase something that will be received instantly.
It's really easy to purchase and send gift vouchers on our site and you can even leave your own message which will be delivered by email to the recipient with their voucher .... so if you are looking for that special gift .... maybe you've just found it!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Registering your toddler for pre school in Spain
Bella will be three next year and in Spain you have register your child for pre school in their third year, so it was with a sudden panic that we realised we would have to get our skates on ... but where to start?
Well, it seemed the best place to start was a trip to our local town hall where we found out the following facts ... to register your child you must in ensure they have a residencia and are on the local inhabitents list. Because we had registered Bella's birth at the town hall she was on the list but we didn't have a residencia for her, so we need to get that done asap. We were then told that in our area it wasn't so much a choice of schools but that schools were allocated based on address. Once you knew the school your child will be going to you have to find out the registration date for that school. On the assigned date you then take all the forms to the school and put your child's name down, you then wait to find out if your child has got a place. Apparently you can put second and third choice schools down too....
It's worth mentioning all this here because as with everything in Spain the system is quite complex if you are entering it for the first time and also it varies from region to region and area to area. I know for example that friends in Marbella don't need a residencia for their school and that also they have a completely different registration date to the school in our area ...
So if you are in a similar situation to us it's worth checking out what you need to do at your local town hall. Most of the school registration dates seem to be in March or April so it's important to make sure you have all the forms and photographs finalised in advance!
Well, it seemed the best place to start was a trip to our local town hall where we found out the following facts ... to register your child you must in ensure they have a residencia and are on the local inhabitents list. Because we had registered Bella's birth at the town hall she was on the list but we didn't have a residencia for her, so we need to get that done asap. We were then told that in our area it wasn't so much a choice of schools but that schools were allocated based on address. Once you knew the school your child will be going to you have to find out the registration date for that school. On the assigned date you then take all the forms to the school and put your child's name down, you then wait to find out if your child has got a place. Apparently you can put second and third choice schools down too....
It's worth mentioning all this here because as with everything in Spain the system is quite complex if you are entering it for the first time and also it varies from region to region and area to area. I know for example that friends in Marbella don't need a residencia for their school and that also they have a completely different registration date to the school in our area ...
So if you are in a similar situation to us it's worth checking out what you need to do at your local town hall. Most of the school registration dates seem to be in March or April so it's important to make sure you have all the forms and photographs finalised in advance!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Choosing a name for your baby in Spain
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 ...
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 ...
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/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)