To enter please visit our main competition page and follow the instructions. We also accept entries on our Facebook page. Only entries  including a product name and SKU code will be considered as valid.

Good luck and spread the word, tell fiends and family and they will also have the chance to win!

Dandelion For Baby are striving to provide everything “eco-ssential” for your baby. The company brings together quality materials with modern designs to give your baby safe and natural products to touch and enjoy. From organic, developmental toys to tableware made out of corn, parents will certainly feel at ease knowing that they are able to choose completely safe high quality toys for their babies to play and interact with.

Dandelion for Baby is a company with a solid environmental and working ethos. They seek to create a more eco-friendly workplace and reduce their carbon footprint in every possible way they can. They use recycled paper products, provide reusable containers to their staff, and take steps to lower their energy usage. Dandelion for Baby is a member of the Organic Trade Association, a well-known leader in protecting and advocating organic standards, as well as the Natural Products Association, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the industry of natural products. The company is also proud to contribute a percentage of their profits to Carbonfund.org, Feeding America and 1% to the Planet.

At Angels Avenue, we are really proud to stock the wonderful product line of Dandelion For Baby. Some of the products we carry include their award-winning natural tableware and teething toys made out of a unique corn (PLA) formula, bamboo plush toys, organic dolls, and organic developmental toys. Our team aims to supply the best organic and natural products for mums and babies, and this is the reason we have included Dandelion For Baby in our growing range of products. We would be delighted to hear your comments on this fantastic new eco-friendly range of baby toys and accessories.

What makes breast milk so ideal is the fact that it is easy to digest, and it has basically the right amount of water, fat, sugar and protein that babies need to grow and develop. Antibodies are handed down from mother to child during breastfeeding. Colostrum, the milk produced in the first few days after birth, is particularly rich in immunoglobulins, which help prevent prevalent childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea and pneumonia.

There are so many advantages to breastfeeding. You will get to enjoy a special bond with your baby, knowing that you’re giving him the best possible nutrition. You also save money since you don’t have to buy infant formula. There are so many health benefits for you and your child. In some studies, it has been found that mothers who breastfeed lower their risk of developing health problems such as type 2 diabetes, and ovarian and breast cancer. Also, women who breastfeed are able to return to their pre-pregnancy weight a lot faster and enjoy lower cases of obesity.

Breastfeeding leads to a lifetime of excellent health. According to the WHO, there is evidence that people who were breastfed perform better in intelligence tests, have lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and lower rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes. It is also interesting to know that women who were breastfed as babies, tend to have a naturally positive attitude to breastfeeding and would choose it as their preferred feeding method for their newborn babies.

Though any amount of breastfeeding has a valuable effect, the longer you breastfeed, the longer the protection lasts and thus, the bigger the benefits. Breastfeeding your child after one year and beyond is beneficial to both you and your child. One of the best ways to help toddlers develop emotionally is the closeness and availability of the mother through breastfeeding. Also, similar to babies, toddlers receive a lot of health benefits from breastfeeding, as your milk continues to provide vitamins and immunity boosters, and guard your children from illnesses and allergies.

Think about this. Infant formula is made from cow’s or goat’s milk, and it doesn’t come close to the quality of human milk. Though manufacturers continually try to replicate human milk, they simply cannot come near to it. Breast milk is species specific and has a crucial role in promoting brain growth and strengthening the immune system. Formula has no such effect and should not be promoted as equal to breastfeeding. Breast has always been and still is best.

At one year of age, your baby’s immune system is not yet as fully developed as that of an adult. Formula doesn’t contain any live antibodies, which is why it is associated with a higher risk of infection. Breast milk, however, does contain these antibodies, and as long as you continue to breastfeed, you can continue to give your child the protection she needs. Nursing a child past infancy would also give them extra time to cuddle, settle down and relax, which is quite beneficial for a busy toddler. From tantrums to teething pains to lulling a child off to sleep, breastfeeding is the ultimate comfort aid that will calm a child miraculously when all else fails.

Truly, a mother should continue to breastfeed her baby for as long as they both need and wish to. It gives them a lot of rewards and helps them enjoy a deeper, more special bond together.

Lalabee Bathworks have put a lot of research into creating products that are made from 100% certified organic and natural ingredients. The percentage of organic content in their skincare line is higher than most other organic brands. They have an excellent score for zero toxins in the Cosmetic Database and are compliant with all the requirements in the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. Their products are paraben-free and they only use preservatives that are natural and food grade. They have also avoided the use of irritating ingredients or scents, making them a great choice for sensitive skin and delicate noses. The company also does its part in helping the environment by using recyclable packaging and biodegradable ingredients and also donating a percentage of their profit to Heifer International Honeybees. 

Lalabee Bathworks offer a complete skincare range for babies, expecting and new mums to include essentials such as baby butter, bottom balm, belly oil and nipple cream.  At Angels Avenue we will be stocking their best selling products Lalabee Organic Double Lavender Body Balm, Lalabee Organic Bottom Balm, Lalabee Organic Baby Butter, Lalabee Organic Nipple Cream, Lalabee Organic Herbal Sitz Bath and Lalabee Organic Belly Oil.

Sarah Johnson, the owner of Lalabee Bathworks, believes that “we are what we eat and put on our skin”. She launched the company after having difficulty finding cosmetics for her newborn daughter that are both affordable and made with high organic contents . She wanted only the safest and highest quality organic and natural products for her and her baby and decided to start her own line with fantastic results.

The Canadian press and many online blogs have published excellent reviews about Lalabee’s organic skin care range. Kathryn, a Canadian mother of two boys who reviews products for kids at mommykatandkids.com, only has good things to say about Lalabee. She tried the Lalabee Organic Bottom Balm on her son Benjamin, who had terrible nappy rash. “The rash had faded by the next nappy change and was gone within a few days!” She also loves the Lalabee Organic Double Lavender Body Balm with its soothing smell and a creamy feel to it.

Mothers are getting increasingly conscious of what they put on their babies and their own skin. As recent studies have shown that mainstream cosmetics contain chemicals that are potentially hazardous to long term health, more and more people are making the decision to go natural.

Organic products are free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides and genetically modified ingredients, and they don’t contain harmful additives such as petroleum by-products and artificial chemicals. They are completely healthy and natural, and are also environmentally friendly. They are also the better choice for those with sensitive skin and people who are prone to allergies, eczema and other skin conditions. To view the full Lalabee range visit our online shop.

You could win this competition easily.  Just search within your heart and soul for the most touching, original and romantic message you want to send on Valentine’s Day and if we are really moved by it, we could deliver it for you. The winner will have the chance to have a personalised message and a scented candle delivered on Valentine’s Day to a person they nominate. We will also add one of our gorgeous scented soya candles, beautifully presented in a luxury gift wrap.

Please leave your entry as a comment to this blog post and then return to the main page to complete your details. Only entries left both on the main competition page and on this blog page will be considered as valid.

We are waiting for all those unwritten love letters, romantic poems and Valentine’s verses that you ever wanted to send but you never did. We would love to do it for you!

The history of celebrating St Valentine’s Day dates back to the times of the Roman Empire. One legend contends that its patron saint was a priest performing secret marriage ceremonies against the new Emperor’s law, for which he was imprisoned and sentenced to death. On the day he was to die, he wrote a note to a girl he was in love with and signed it ‘From your Valentine’, an expression commonly used today . Some believe that indeed Valentine’s day is celebrated on 14th February to commemorate Saint Valentine’s death, other theories claim that Valentine’s Day was an attempt to ‘Christianise’ the traditional Roman spring festivals. What started as ancient rituals to welcome spring has transformed through the centuries to become the most romantic day of the year for all lovers. The tradition of Valentine’s Day became more widespread with Christianity and it is now recognised and celebrated worldwide. Every year on this day billions of ‘valentines’ are sent all over the world and it is common for friends and lovers to exchange love notes, tokens of affection and small gifts.

Did you know? One of the oldest known Valentine’s cards dates back to 1415 and is now preserved in the British Museum. It was sent by Charles, the Duke of Orleans, to his wife during his imprisonment in the Tower of London.

Five Romantic Ideas for Valentine’s Day

• Bake a Special Sweet Treat

Prepare his favourite dessert to surprise him or if you are not feeling that adventurous just take a simple recipe and use your imagination to turn it into a delicious Valentine’s treat. Heart-shaped cookies and cakes decorated with red ribbon and rose petals will look really impressive. Even if your culinary skills are not that amazing, he would be still pleasantly surprised and would appreciate your attempt.

• Buy Roses for your loved one

This tip is especially for men. Buying a dozen of roses for your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day may be a gesture she would expect, finding an unexpected way to present them will certainly take her by surprise. Hide them in an unusual place and leave clues for her to find or ask a stranger to give the bouquet, while you are watching from a distance. Have a plan in place and it is guaranteed you will see twinkles of laughter and love in her eyes.

• Enjoy a Candlelit Dinner

As a alternative to going out to a posh restaurant and spending big bucks, why not prepare and serve a special candlelit dinner in your own home. It is after all the place where you can show intimacy and affection unwitnessed by others and no dress codes would apply. Set the table, dim the lights and create a romantic atmosphere with candles and serve a sumptuous meal, sweet bites and drinks. Take time to choose music, which will set the mood, especially songs, which remind you of precious moments together. Enjoy some sweet talk and flirting, perhaps dance together in the candle light and later cuddle up and watch a romantic movie. You will be amazed how much you will enjoy your candlelit dinner at home, you may decide to have it as a regular date.

• Indulge with a Candlelit Bath

If you decide that this Valentine food will not be your priority, then set your bath as the main scene. Choose some yummy smelling products that will be sure to energise your body and awaken your senses, and make sure you take the time to use them all. Take a long soak in an aromatic bath together, followed by a body polish, which will give you a chance for a playful tickle and a giggle, and finish with a sensual body massage with a luscious oil blend. Allow enough time to spend on each other and use all your senses to fully experience the ritual. Spend some time just hugging, caressing and listening to each other’s breathing for a deeper connection you may have not had the chance to experience before.

• Write a Love Letter

In today’s world of text messages, emails, twits and Facebook, a simple handwritten love letter could be the biggest surprise you will ever give. Just close your eyes for a moment, let your memories take you back to the moments you most treasure and pour your heart out. Tell her about your feelings when you saw her for the first time, the rush of blood to your head when you first touched and kissed and the sheer crazy happiness when you woke up together for the first time. Just say how much your sweetheart means to you and what your life is like when you are together, these simple words will never be forgotten. Hide the letter somewhere your lover will find soon and wait for your effort to be lovingly rewarded.

Our Top Five Romantic Gifts for Valentine’s Day

We are celebrating Valentine’s Day by offering you 10% off of our top Valentine’s offers. Our specially selected gifts all come beautifully presented in luxurious gift boxes or wrapping with the option to include a personalised message.

1. This Valentine’s day lock the door and spend as long as you want with Couple’s Romantic Weekend Gift Box. Perfect for a romantic getaway or a stay-at-home celebration.

2. Treat the woman you love to a candlelit bath with A Candlelit Bath Gift Box and hope you get invited. She will be so pleased with her gift that you probably will.

3. Wrap your loved one in luxury with the Silky Bamboo Towel Set. Plush, absorbent and silky, these towels are guaranteed to become a bath time necessity.

4. Fill the air with the scent of well- being with the Pure Joy Scented Soy Candle. The delightful bouquet of essential oils, the hand finished designer jar and the eco-friendly properties of soya wax make this candle a thoughtful valentine’s gift.

5. Tell the mummy of your children she is ‘oh so yummy’. The Yummy Mummy Pampering Gift Box is a special Valentine’s treat for a special mum.

This month’s featured brand is Gifted by Nature, a stunning luxury range of eco-chic pampering gift boxes and products. Choose from their uniquely titled gift boxes, silky bamboo towels and natural scented candles. We are featuring some of their most indulgent gifts for Men, Women, Babies and Home, which will satisfy your ethical impulses without sacrificing style, design and quality. Gifted by Nature proves Eco-Chic is possible so you can give as good as you can possibly get!

To celebrate the newly extended range this December we are giving away £50 worth of Gifted by Nature products. All you need to do is fill in the form to enter the competition. Good luck to all participants!

]]> http://blog.angelsavenue.co.uk/win-50-of-luxury-products/feed/ 0 http://blog.angelsavenue.co.uk/win-a-luxury-baby-bamboo-towel-in-our-october-competition/ http://blog.angelsavenue.co.uk/win-a-luxury-baby-bamboo-towel-in-our-october-competition/#comments Thu, 07 Oct 2010 23:31:04 +0000 Angels Avenue http://blog.angelsavenue.co.uk/?p=92 This October we are giving away one luxury baby towel in our monthly competition. All you need to do is fill in the form to enter the competition. Good luck to all participants!

Bamboo is a luxuriously silky fibre, and over 300% more absorbent than cotton! Its natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties make it an excellent choice for hygienic towelling products, and also mean it can be washed at lower temperatures. Our plush Bamboo Baby Towel is just what you want to envelop and comfort a wet baby in. It is divinely soft and luxuriously thick and cosy using the highest quality 550gsm silky bamboo.

The Prize: One Baby Bamboo Hooded Towel

Closing Date: 31.10 2010 Winner Draw: 05.11.2010

To enter: Enter your full name and email address. Answer the following question in the ‘Details’ section below: ‘Our best selling Yummy Mummy Pampering Gift Box comes in two different styles. What are they?’

This Christmas we are offering all three products in a great gift package for babies and toddlers – Sophie the Giraffe – The Bestselling Toys. It includes an original Sophie the Giraffe, a Chan Pie Gnon in yellow and a Sophie the Giraffe bath toy (colour may vary). This wonderful package is offered to our customers at the special price of £ 26.95. (RRP £29.95)

The world-famous Sophie the Giraffe comes in a special gift box this season, which includes a gift card inside. Sophie has been a favourite teething toy for babies for more than 40 years. Sophie the Giraffe is soft and flexible, making her easy for babies to grasp and squeeze. In fact she makes sweet funny noise when squeezed. Most importantly this toy is made of natural rubber materials and is completely non-toxic and safe for babies.

The Chan Pie Gnons are the latest adorable mushroom-shaped natural teething toys made by Vulli. Just like Sophie they are also made from pure natural rubber extracted from the Havea tree and are completely non-toxic and safe. They are slender, soft and flexible, making them easy for babies to grasp and squeeze. They also make a sweet squeak when squeezed. Babies love to chew on their bumpy heads which helps soothe sore teething gums.

Sophie the Giraffe Bath Toy is great for lots of bath time fun and splashing! This time Sophie the Giraffe is a floating, squirting toy for baby to play with in the bath. She squirts water when squeezed. The toy is made from phthalate-free vinyl.

For more great gift ideas visit our Christmas Gifts section.

Products like baby lotion, baby shampoo, baby oil, and soaps usually contain “fragrance” among the ingredients. But so do body care products for adults, and even lotions and creams for pregnant women carrying developing babies. Even though fragrance is listed, the potentially harmful cocktail of ingredients that make up fragrance does not have to be disclosed to consumers. These artificial fragrances most often include phthalates; chemicals that make fragrances stay on the skin longer. The problem is, phthalates have also been linked to a number of health issues in animal studies. There is no clear evidence that phthalates cause reproductive or developmental issues in humans, but as more studies are done, and more hidden ingredients are exposed, more concerns arise.

“Phthalates are often hidden on ingredient lists,” explains Earth Mama Angel Baby founder Melinda Olson. “Artificial fragrances, which often contain phthalates, are exactly the type of ingredient that we would never consider using. We publish on our web site and on every label a complete list of every ingredient. I believe that our mamas should be able to buy our products and feel safe using them on their biggest miracles – their angel babies.”

“Our first concern is, and always has been, that all of our products be pure and safe, with worry-free ingredients. That’s why you’ll never find any artificial ingredients in any Earth Mama Angel Baby products, ever. We’ve had concerns about phthalates for years – we also worry about sodium laurel sulphates and parabens, among other common personal care product ingredients, so we just don’t use them in our products. We seek out the best organic and natural ingredients, and find ways to keep everything simple, pure and effective. We don’t cut corners, so we don’t need to use cost-saving foaming agents, fillers, artificial preservatives, dyes or fragrances. We believe the mamas who trust Earth Mama Angel Baby want only the best for their families, and we are here to provide it.”

Please visit our blog for more information about phthalates, what they are, and how to protect yourself and your angel babies.

To buy Earth Mama Angel Baby products visit our shop.