TOPAZ HORIZON

Mr. Baldemor is a painter, sculptor, book illustrator, and printmaker. He's a writer, too. Basically, he's someone I would want to be when I grow up! He started painting at 8 years old and became a folk artist. He told us at the exhibit and launch at Ronac Art Center that he's always loved flowers because he was surrounded by them in childhood. “Flowers, for me, are universal, a symbol of peace, love, and have unspoken language of diplomacy,” Mr. Baldemor told MEGA magazine.

So for beabu, Mr. Baldemor selected three of his paintings for the MBaldemor x beabi Floral Symphony Collection. This is beabi’s way to bring Baldemor’s art to a wider audience and to make art wearable and functional. It's also a lovely way to add beauty to our endless chores and errands, right, mamas? 

The Mbaldemor x beabi Floral Symphony Collection consists of three designs: Flowers Are A Joy Forever, Flowers Speak From The Heart, and Amazing Grace. The MBaldemor x beabi Floral Symphony Collection is only available at all beabi stores nationwide and online at www.beabi.com.ph until stocks last.

Or you can get your own bag from ME! Yes, I would like to share my Mbaldemor x beabi tote bag with a Loyal Reader! All you have to do is leave a comment below telling me your favorite memory of flowers. It could be the first rose you ever got, your wedding bouquet, the crushed flowers your little one gives you from your garden—anything! I just want to know.

Make sure to also tell me your Facebook name with your answer so I know how to contact you in case you win. Comments will be published when I pick the winner. I'll announce who won next Monday! 

The winner is Shirley Mae Tabora for telling us her love story with a touch of the divine.

But a modern working mom’s time with her child is incredibly limited. As such, moms must set time every day to bond with her child—and take every chance to turn regular activities into quality time for herself and her kid.

There are various fun and educational activities moms can do with their kids every day. The kids will not only enjoy these activities but will also develop valuable skills and habits needed for life.

A child’s imagination and creativity know no bounds, that’s why it’s important to do activities that will help develop their artistic skills. Doing arts and crafts projects with your child will expose them to a world full of visual imagery, which can be a new channel of communication between parent and child.

Gardening

Growing a garden is a surprisingly relaxing way to teach kids about the importance of nature and the environment. It also teaches them to be responsible, as plants are placed under their care.

Playing Sports

Kids need to have fun and be active, and sports enables them to experience both. Physical activities such as running and playing badminton will give kids the energy and strength they need as they grow. Playing sports with your kids will also teach them how to play fairly and win a game with a ‘teammate.’ 

Cooking

If there’s one thing kids love doing, it’s eating. Since they already love to munch on their food, teaching them how to cook will make them appreciate what goes into their meal. This activity can make kids realize their dreams of becoming a chef—or help establish healthier eating habits at least.

Bath Time

One of the most relaxing and intimate bonding moments between a mom and her child is bath time. Bath time with the kids can be used as another means of communication between mother and child, creating conversations that both of them will fondly treasure. 

An activity as simple as bathing your toddler can create a lasting bond between a mom and her child. Cetaphil Baby further strengthens this bond thanks to their line of products that gently touches your toddler’s skin. 

Bath time with the kids isn’t only a great bonding activity, as it’s also one way of showing your kids the importance of taking care of their body, keeping their skin clean and from acquiring unwanted skin diseases. The Cetaphil Baby products are made up of ingredients that keep your child’s skin moisturized while also soothing sensitive skin, making it an ideal bath time essential for kids.

Cetaphil is a skincare brand that has been recommended by dermatologists for over 70 years and is today used by millions with delicate skin from all over the world. Recently, the brand carried its gentle cleansing ways over to baby products with the launch of the Cetaphil Baby line. For information, visit www.cetaphil.com.ph 

*To be featured on Press Release Tuesdays, send it to frances@topazhorizon.com.

Because I’m a mommy, I checked out the toy section of The Metro Department Store and of course I had to see the deals at The Metro Supermarket. Because I’m a wife whose husband has been looking for a new TV for our bedroom and maybe a new air-con, I just had to check the appliance section.

Actually, ang dami ko talagang nakita sa Metro Store. For example, T-shirts for the kids, towels, mga bedsheet sets, Christmas decor, bags, shoes. And soooo many gift ideas for the holidays! Yung mga fruits and veggies were really nice and fresh. Bibili na nga sana ako kasi andun na ako, right, but because they told me that the stuff I want are discounted up to 70% off, well, talagang hihintayin ko ang Nov. 30 to shop, mamas!

One week na lang! Happening for only one day from 7 AM to 12 midnight, the Metro Crazy Sale is promising slashed prices to an all-time low. Up to 70% talaga! Yung iba, buy 1-take 1 ang gimmick. I can’t wait for Nov. 30! 

Now, here’s good news for Metro Rewards Club Cardholders: You will also receive 3x more points per purchase during the Metro Crazy Sale. There are also extra freebies for you when you every minimum purchase of Php 1,500 or Php 2,500 for MRC Cardholders and Php 5,000 for Metro Business Club Cardholders when you buy your groceries at The Metro Supermarket. 

When I went home after making my promo video, I told my Grab driver about the Crazy Sale. He got excited talaga. He said that Metro malls are always so sulit and favorite ng misis niya. I actually also like buying clothes and toys there. Shoes ng boys ko also! Mas maganda ang stock nila. Maganda ang curation so I always find something that’s quality, affordable, and hindi available sa ibang department stores. Promise! Favorite kong Metro Store is the one at Feliz Ayala Mall. But you can go to your nearest Metro Store nationwide if you want to be at the biggest shopping event of the year! 

For more information on Metro Pre-Christmas Sale, visit their website at www.metroretail.com.ph. You can also like and follow their Facebook page at <facebook.com/TheMetroStores>, and Instagram <@themetrostores.ph>

*This post is brought to you by The Metro Stores.

My friend Rowena Lei of Animetric told me about SeaKing Wild Alaskan Keta Salmon. She said it's real wild salmon. Yung tipong tumatalon upriver kind of salmon. This fish isn't farmed at all. Why does that matter? Wild salmon has better good fats so it’s healthier. It's that simple.

So imagine my extreme happiness when SeaKing Wild Alaskan Keta Salmon sent me enough salmon to stuff my freezer full! The first thing I cooked was the salmon chunks. I just lightly salted them then fried them. I like it simple like that so I can judge the freshness, taste, and quality of my meat, fish, and vegetables. When I'm convinced na fresh at masarap talaga siya, that's when I trust the product enough to play with it.  

SeaKing Wild Alaskan Keta Salmon was firm, smelled like the sea, and tasted clean and fresh. Really delicious! I love it! So my next dish was a Pinoy classic and one of my absolute favorites: sinigang! Here's my recipe for sinigang na salmon.

Ingredients:
Welch's 100% Grape Juice
Simple syrup, to taste

Procedure:
1. Pour grape juice into a shallow container with a flat base.
2. Mix in simple syrup to desired sweetness. Welch's 100% Grape Juice is already naturally sweet so if you're avoiding sugar, don't add the syrup anymore. But do note that frozen stuff will taste not as sweet so you might want to add a bit of sugary stuff.
3. Put in the freezer.
4. After an hour, take it out and fluff it up with a fork. Put it back in the freezer. Note: If you fork the sorbet, you get grainy crystals. If you have an ice cream maker, the sorbet will be smoother.

Serve this in a nice glass with grape slices and you've got a tangy-sweet refreshing treat!


Sorbet is great for vegetarians and vegans, or for anyone avoiding dairy but would still like a sweet frozen treat. It's so simple, with just fruit or fruit juice as the ingredients. You just blitz the fruit/s with juice or water and syrup, then put in the freezer. Simple and healthy!


I like using Welch's 100% Grape Juice because it's made of whole Concord grapes—skin, flesh, seeds. The farmers just ground it up really fine and put it in the bottle! So the blitzing's been done for me already. All I need to do is sweeten it a bit for the kids then freeze it.

The 100% grape juice made from the entire Concord grape also contributes greatly to heart health. It promotes strong blood vessels for improved blood circulation.

Thanks also to Welch's for my birthday gift of grape juice and cranberry juice! I'm starting my 43rd year with my heart healthy!

View this post on Instagram

My first birthday gift is here! A basket of good things for my heart and my health - @welchs_ph 100% Grape Juice! Thanks so much to my Welch's family for all the goodies, the juices, and the Fruit Snacks! I definitely #ShareWhatsGood with my husband and our boys because of you! 💜💜💜 #momlife #momfinds #momblogger #FrancesFinds #FrancesApproved #150yrsofgoodness #welchs150

A post shared by Frances Amper Sales (@topazhorizonblog) on Nov 2, 2019 at 9:51am PDT

*This post is brought to you by Welch's 100% Grape Juice. For more information and heart-healthy tips, visit www.welchs.com, like Welch's PH on Facbook, and follow @welchs_ph on Instagram.