Angel Babies

I recently met with a friend of mine who has just had her 3rd child. Up to this point she had never carried a child to full term and sadly lost her second child due to this reason. She has a lovely daughter and now a beautiful Son. Like most new Mothers she really was over joyed and is loving every moment with her New Little edition. Unlike most New Mothers she told me how pleased she was to get bigger with each month of pregnancy  and despite looking totally fabulous relayed to me how she does not care about her weight,
"If I need to by bigger clothes, then so be it!"

I understand that like my friend there are many Mothers who feel this way, especially after the loss of a baby.... I just wish most Mothers-to-be were not so fixated on loosing baby weight, but instead enjoy the whole experience and realise who lucky they actually are.

This blog post is dedicated to 'S' and all those little angles that never got a chance in this life.....
My heart goes out to their Parent's and families.

I have found this beautiful website especially dedicated to 'Baby Memorial Special Gifts'

http://www.alexandrasangelgifts.co.uk

http://www.giftsforangels.co.uk

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you all.... Gifts for Angels had a great year in 2014 and thanks to the charity ball raised over £6000. for Brain Tumour Research. I hope it continues into 2015. We are looking at changing our website  just a little revamp to freshen things up, and we are hoping to introduce Personalised Precious Plaques.
It hasn't been easy trying to juggle work, kids and a new job and This blog has suffered as a result, so I promise to try and keep it more regular. With all these changes happening, the one constant in my life is always my Grief, and it continues to form a clarity and perspective of life in general. So I will continue in 2015 as I have done for the last 8 years - being thank full for what I do have in my life, Sad for what I have lost and Hopeful of what the future may hold.
I wish you all a Very Happy 2015 filled with fun, laughter & good health.
Michelle x

http://www.giftsforangels.co.

What Helps With Your Grief?

Christmas time suits me very well. Its the busiest time of year for most people, and I have found that since Lola died I have to constantly keep busy. At first I didn't notice it, but I was always planning the next thing, and if there didn't happen to be a Birthday or main event happening in the very near future I would immediately plan something like a dinner party or a big Sunday Lunch for the family. I guess I did it subconsciously at first and I did use to feel guilt as it seemed I was always rushing onto the next thing and not stopping for a moment to appreciate every day.... which of course is also important and probably the angle My Husband John takes from his grief. He is very much make every day count because you never know what the future will hold. He is right of course, but too much time gives my mind far too much free range. I think I will always be this way, organising the next new thing, which brings me on to my new job as Deputy Editor of Village Living Magazine. This is a local magazine run by my lovely friend Katie also a Mum at my Children's school. She has asked me to come on board because of my fashion and sales background and I am thoroughly enjoying every minute of it. So between Gifts for Angels, Village Living Magazine and the School Christmas Fayre, not to mention my own family Christmas I am happily tied up for the next month!
Does keeping busy help with your grief ? I would love to hear your thoughts.

http://www.giftsforangels.co.uk

http://www.villagelivingmagazine.co.uk

Gifts for Angels at Christmas Time new Products www.giftsforangels.co.uk

This Christmas I am so pleased to offer some lovely pieces to keep all our loved ones close in our hearts.

The personalised Christmas Baubles are back, which were so popular last year. I have my beautiful Glass bauble which sits pride of place on my christmas tree every year. In addition to these I now have a Sliver finished 'Tree Angel' and a real 'Slate Heart tree decoration' both of which can be personalised. The beautiful Stained glass Gifts, are perfect for any tree and can be made in any colour of your choice.

The Gold and Silver Grave Side Vases are back too.

I understand how hard Christmas time can be and I'm sure that will be the title of my next blog......

 http://www.giftsforangels.co.uk

The Story of The Brighton Charity Ball in loving memory of Lola Rice www.giftsforangels.co.uk

The Brighton Charity Ball was an absolute roaring success. I am so proud to have been part of this amazing evening and I am so grateful to my fabulous friends Josie and Andy Kelly from
'Funky Lush Events and weddings' for helping me organize the whole thing. Without their professionalism and attention to detail along with many a spread sheet, it really would have been much more of a struggle, instead from the moment we sat down to organize it to the evening itself was just Fun and laughter!
My wonderful friends EJ and Christophe, directors of Profile Model Management Ltd sponsored the evening along with my Brother in law director of McCroreys Removals, I am so grateful to them.

The evening started with guests arriving along our own private corridor accompanied by Show Girls and being photographers as they walked towards the drinks reception.
"We felt like super stars by the time we got our first drink!", was a comment from one of our guests. The Great Gatsby sound tracked played as local magician 'Tony Charles' wowed people with his truly amazing skills. A Phot Booth which was generously donated to us for the evening by 'Photo chambers' donated every £1 spent on personalised photographers to our total  and as you can imagine went down a treat with our guests, the photos just got funnier as the evening went on!

Guest were called to be seated for dinner just before 8pm and this was the bit I was waiting for, our guests faces as they walked into our Ornate Ball room, with tables dressed to perfection with Black Ostrich feathers pouring out over a tall lit glass vase. Black and gold name cards circled every table,

and on each guest's chair was their very own goody bag, which contained bespoke Cream, Sented Candles, Magazines, Toni & Guy Products, Dermalogica products, a token Brighton Rock and much, much more. 

The slightly terrifying bit was next, My Speech... After a quick glass of Red I was on a roll (sorry everyone!) 

After dinner we were entertained by Singer, Matthew Vankan who sung a variety of popular swing songs. This gave some ladies and gentleman a chance to dance together which was lovely. We then had a Soul Funk band from Brighton know as 'Brighton Soul Revue' They were fantastic and managed to get everyone up and on the Dance floor. Just before 11pm we announced the raffle, our prizes were all donated and they were pretty spectacular - they included A Ski Holiday for 2 with choice of resorts, a Mulberry Handbag worth £1200. , XBox 360 + games , £200 M&S vouchers and so much more... People were so generous. Then DJ - Marc James played us long into the night, while our silent Auction continued this included a 'Preen' Dress worth £1400. Thank you to Preen who are designers to the Stars! Original prints of Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss and Cara Delvigne all courtesy of Centrefold magazine... Thank you so much Mr Andrew Hobbs.

The dancing continued into the wee small hours of the evening, and the photo booth pictures just got funnier!

We had a representative there from 'Brain Tumour Research' , who spent a short period of time letting our Guests know exactly where their money was gong to go... And I am very pleased to announce that so far the eveing has raised a massive 

£6000.

We still have a just giving page, so please even is its £1. Please donate to Brain Tumour Research, I feel very strongly that Research is the only way to stop this dreadful disease.

To everyone that came to The Brighton Charity Ball 2014 - thank you all so much, the last time so many of my friends were together as a group was at Lola's funeral, so it means the world to me that you all came. To all that couldn't make it, thank you for all your donations and don't worry, we will be doing it again... Currently looking for sponsors please....

http://www.giftsforangels.co.uk

My Very Big Thanks to:

Brighton Soul Revue  http://www.facebook.com/brightonsoulrevue

Ramin from la Cucina Pizzeria - Brighton  www.lacucinabrighton.co.uk  phone 0333 253 7866

Show Girls from     http://wwwmanicsp.co.uk

DJ    http://marcjames.net

Centre Pieces from www.dazzlingdecor.co.uk    Phone: 01273 612111

Blue dawg Photography

http://www.funkylushevents.co.uk

http://www.inverclyderemovals.co.uk

Themed Funerals www.giftsforangels.co.uk

Funerals seem so far away, and not usually given much thought while we are all still young and fit. There are many "funeral payment plans" available to the over 50s. So I thought I would do some research and see how easily information is available for the unexpected deaths, that unfortunately do occur. It seems that there are many websites that will give you all the basic information you need, from how to register a death, to costings and local funeral directors. I will add these websites at the end of this post. Very few actually give you a choice of Funerals! What I mean is, as time goes on us British are getting more able to discuss death and dying and I have notice there are alternative funerals available. Recently a beautiful boy passed away in Lancing he too had a Brain Tumour which he bravely fought for 2 years... Jack is his name, and I do not personally know the family but they lived opposite friends of mine that I used to visit regularly over the last 2 years. On occasion I noticed his Mum, bringing him in and out of the house, sometimes he was wheel chair bound where  I'm sure the chemotherapy had hit him hard. I was desperately saddened to hear of his passing, but my spirits were lifted a little in seeing his "Star Wars" themed send of. His coffin was escorted by Storm Troopers and it was wonderful to see his life celebrated in this way.
So I wanted to see how accessible these themed funerals were, and as much as they are not well advertised it seems most good funeral directors will be able to source all sorts of things from Crazy Biker Hearst to Bright Pink Ones and beautifully painted coffins .
The only legal requirement in the UK for funerals is that the death must be certified and registered, and the body must be disposed off either buried or cremation or another means.
So as much as the bereaved person may not be coherent at the time of funeral planning , I would urge all those closest to them to really do your research and give them all the options available.
I , like most people were totally unaware of such funerals, even floral arrangements were unknown to me and I can assure you that had I known such things were available so many things would have been different for my Lola.
http://www.giftsforangels.co.uk

Jack's funeral was arranged by Ian Hart Funeral Service Ltd , phone: 01903 206 299
They cover most of Sussex.


Themed Funerals

A Husband and wife team with over 23yrs experience in the business. They offer a wide variety of funerals
"One Size fits all does not work" said MD Christopher.

Their knowledge, understanding and dedication is very apparent.

" We see it as a Vocation, not a job" he told me.
They are soon to launch a new website called, 'Bluebell Funerals' so look out for this but in the mean time you can contact them at

www.themedfunerals.org.uk
Phone : 01760 336819


Nigel Dengate & Sons - Hove/ Brigton / Sussex But They do Travel Further

Having personally used them for my Father's funeral, I can highly recommend them. Another well managed Family business with a wealth of experience. Nothing is ever too much trouble. They went above and beyond for my family and they are now firm friends.

Contact : www.nigeldengateandson.co.uk
Phone: 01273 204410
Info@nigeldengateandson.co.uk

Other Useful Contacts.

Uk funeral guide and directory of funeral directors. www.uk-funerals.co.uk
The natural Death Centre . www.naturaldeath.org.uk.  Registered charity

This Blog Post is dedicated to Jack Bray, may you rest in peace Angel x

Stephen Sutton www.justgiving.com/Stephen-sutton-tct

The world lost a truly inspirational soul last week, "Stephen Sutton,http://www.giftsforangels.co.uk" who passed away peacefully in his sleep, his Mother let the world know from his Face Book Page. Her words were beautiful she said,

"My Heart is bursting with pride but breaking with pain for my courageous, selfless, inspirational son who passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of this morning, Wednesday 14th May".

To his Mother, I wanted to say..... I feel your pain that crippling unbearable pain. I know your shock that although your beautiful Son was sick for a long time, that shock is still so unbelievable.... He's been with you for so long and now.... Empty that empty lonely feeling that you have deep inside, no matter how many people hold you up, wipe your tears and speak soft words of encouragement ... It's still there empty and lost. I want to tell you it gets easier.... But I know that is not what you need to hear now, I want to tell you how amazing the world thought your Son was... But again that does not help! People from everywhere want to grieve Stephen's death, but You,nothing comes close to your grief and I don't  think grief is even a word you no to use yet, is just pain, fear, shock and utter sadness. I want so much for you to know that you are not alone, we will grieve our children for ever, we will have a broken heart, a piece that will always be missing...... I wish to you strength on your journey ahead, and peace in your heart in time. My thoughts and prayers, like so many others, are with you and your family and I want to thank you for the wonderful person you brought into this world he  has touched so many lives and will remain in our hearts always.

To donate in Stephen's name to the "Teenage Cancer Trust" please go to

www.justgiving.com/stephen-sutton-tct



http://www.justgiving.com/stephen-sutton-tct