Ever since I became a full-time stay-at-home-mom, I realized three things about TIME.  First, I realized how much valuable TIME really is for the family. Second, I also realized how time management plays an important role in making sure that as a mom I am able to give more of myself to my children – the very reason why I left my corporate job last year.  Third, I realized time flies by so faster at home compared to sitting on a desk in an office ticking one corporate task after the other.
TIME also spells love in the family.  I became busier at home than I’ve ever been the office.  I thought I was already tired and stressed in the corporate setting managing and executing one nationwide project after the other, but it’s different at home.  It’s like I have so much to do and yet I have very limited time.  I do almost all the house chores from the time I wake up, until they fall asleep.  One of the chores I do more than three times a day at times is washing dishes, kasi naman hello sebo!  I don’t want to use a greasy plate or a half-cleaned pot or pan for cooking.  Believe me it takes a lot of TIME away from my husband and my kids.  Although, yes the home is organized and clean, but my husband and my kids feel less loved – because all I do is clean.  Nagtatampo na sila to be honest, and I feel guilty about it.
This 2019, I need to come up with a sure solution, especially the dishwashing part which takes too much time away from them. I need to make up for loss time of bonding with my husband and play with my kids and have Zero-Worries when it comes to managing our home and my precious time with my family.

Let me share with you some hacks that I do in dishwashing that will not only save time but money too (a practical mom knows well that she should get the best value-for-money on products she uses at home, isa na ditto ang JOY!):

1. One (1) drop of JOY goes a long way.  Make sure you also use quality sponge to partner with Joy.  Agitate or piga-pigain ang basang sponge para bumula.  Then you could start washing many dishes with just a small amount of JOY.
2. Separate pots and pans from dishes.  Pots and pans are greasier, so wash them after the dishes.  Don’t mix them with plates in the sink as well.  Put a drop of JOY and hot water for a few minutes before washing them.  Makikita mong nahihiwalay nang mas mabilis ang sebo.
3. Delegate or ask help.  Do you have a teenager like me?  Or a young child who’s old enough to handle dishes?  Teach them how to wash dishes properly using a dependable product such as JOY to save time, energy, and make you less physically exhausted or drained.  You hit three birds with one stone.  One, they learn life skills.  Two, you’re less tired.  Three, you save time and spend it with what matters more.

Mango Tree BGC, its flagship restaurant, reopens with a fresh and significant design with an all-new menu.  It's indeed a lot different from the old look.  Personally, it's better, fresher, and with a more relaxed look which will attract more diners catering to a wider market including families, business men and women, and working people around the BGC area.  It's expanded its reach not only to those looking for authentic Thai dishes but even those who just want to find a place they could feel cozy and relaxed while devouring delicious food and enjoying conversations with their companions.
Diners will now enter through the casual elegance of the solarium and immediately see the stylish bar, which connects to a high-ceiling restaurant with plants and greenery offering a sense of escape and tropical tranquility. It also features a stunning show kitchen, a special wine room, and semi-private booth seats ideal for restaurant views.
The new Mango Tree is a 200-seat, casual, fine dining restaurant with a 20-seat solarium and 40-seat
loft area that has been enclosed for private functions.
(Tangmoo Goong Haeng), a refreshing palate cleanser of fresh watermelon and shrimp floss mixed with a tad of sugar.
STEAMED
Steamed Chilean Black Mussels in Tom Yum - Mussels may not always be my favorite, but it's my go-to seafood when I get tired of eating pork, beef, or chicken.  This dish is a must-try and definitely something with an adventurous taste would be happy about.
GRILLED
Grilled U.S. Pork Belly (Kor Moo Yang) - marinated grilled US pork collar served with Isan jim jaew sauce.  I love pork belly and I enjoyed this dish with my generous serving of rice!  Winner combination!  My sons loved it as well!
FRIED/STIR-FRIED
Stir-fried Crab in Curry Sauce (Phad Phong Ka Ree), a simple yet delicious crabmeat dish with egg and yellow curry sauce.  Who doesn't love curry?  I don't know any, if you don't, then you must be missing a lot on food enjoyment!  This dish is spicy but flavorful!  If you're a carb lover like me, you could pair this with your ever dependable rice or noodles too.
RICE & NOODLES
Stir-fried Rice Noodles with Crab Meat - If you want to go for Mango Tree's main dishes, make sure you make this part of your order.  The combination of fresh seafood, salt, spice, rice noodles and veggies - would give anyone a burst of legit Thai flavorful experience in your mouth.
VEGETABLES
Stir-fried Lady Finger "Okra" (Okra Fai Daeng) which is topped with garlic, bird's eye chili and yellow bean paste.  I am happy my vegetable-eating Wes loved this Mango Tree recipe.  He loves eating okra and usually it's with a soup-based dish.  He has never tried it cooked this way, but boy he loved it!  He even asked for second serving!  If a child likes a not so favorite vegetable, then I tell you it must be really good!
DESSERT

Thai Style Mochi - glutinous rice balls with grated coconut and palm sugar. Always always leave room for desserts and that's what we all did.  Hence, I appreciated how delicious these little mochis are!  Seriously, every dish I tried gave a different gastronomic experience including this simple-outside-but-the-bomb-inside Thai mochis!  I finished around four piece of it!  Addicting!  Glad I left a lot of room for it!
Other exciting dishes you may order are:

Thai Tapioca Dumplings (Sakoo Sai Moo), a street favorite made with steamed tapioca balls seasoned with ground pork and ground peanuts; the Isan Grilled Chicken, deep fried chicken marinated with special Thai herbs served with Isan jim jaew sauce; Tri-colored Mango Sticky Rice, a popular choice with is attractively tri-colored with coconut sauce and fresh, ripe mangoes; and the Tub Tim Grob, irresistible coconut ice cream with red ruby chestnuts.

Mango Tree is open 7 days a week, with superb service that is relaxed and friendly. Its team is comprised of competitive individuals whose backgrounds consist of years of experience in the food, restaurant, and catering industries. Events and catering will be a major part of the business and with an already established clientele, it is expected to even grow further.  Visit Mango Tree and sample its all-new menu selection now.

Mango Tree is located at 7th Ave. Bonifacio High Street Central, Bonifacio Global City. For information and reservations, call (02) 217-2367.  Follow them on social media for updates and more info too: Instagram and Facebook.

Recently, I celebrated my first year anniversary as a Stay-At-Home-Mom!  WOW!  I know, it's been a year since I turned my back on corporate world!  Sometimes I ask myself, has it really been a year?  Seems like yesterday and memories of my last day in the office are still fresh!  Well, yes, it's been a year and time flew by so quickly that I didn't notice a year indeed had passed.
I know you may ask, do I miss working?  Do I miss the adrenaline rush when I manage and launch nationwide projects?  Do I miss dressing up and fixing myself up to go to the business district of the metro?  Do I miss my co-workers?  Do I miss being busy and having a routine?  To be honest, NO I don't miss any of those (except for very few friends I made during my working years).  If there's one I truly miss, it's having a regular salary with attractive benefits which I receive twice a month.

Do I regret my decision and miss having a regular and stable job?  No.  I never regret leaving corporate at all.  Some of the people I know who tried to be a SAHM and weren't successful or dreaded staying at home told me, "Louise, in a few months, maybe weeks pa lang, you're going to miss working, your corporate life.  Baka malosyang ka sige!"

I could choose to be offended with that statement or just let it pass and prove that being a SAHM do not mean I will let go of myself and get lost in the pile of dirty dishes or mountains of clothes to wash.  I fully understand where they are coming from.  Why they thought I would feel the way they felt and had to urgently come back to the workforce.  That is their story to tell, not mine.  I could easily tell you too that a SAHM life is not for everyone.  But that would be too selfish because I would make it appear that being SAHM is exclusive.

Instead, I want to share how I prepared to become a SAHM.  This chosen path is my obedience to God's design for the family - become a submissive wife to my husband, take care of my children and manage the household.  You can't just wake up one day and decide I just want to stay at home instead, just because your work sucks or your boss is a slave driver or your colleagues are too gossipy or judgy.  If you plan to leave your jobs to be a SAHM someday, you really have to prepare yourselves spiritually, mentally-psychologically-emotionally, physically, and even financially.

SPIRITUAL
Every family life's major decision should not only be discussed with your husband but also be prayed about intently, whole-heartedly, and with obedience.  Praying about this decision helped me and my husband decide that it was finally time for me to leave behind my life as a corporate life. We prayed for it for a year.  There were many triggers and situations that led to my resignation.  We've lost a number of yayas, I was exclusively breastfeeding, my second son's behavior wasn't doing great.  God made all these things happen to help us decide about my resignation.  When God's message became very clear to us, obedience was in order.  That's why when I passed my resignation letter, I knew I was ready and my decision was rock-solid.

MENTAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL-EMOTIONAL
Being a stay-at-home-mom is not as easy as others see it.  I never knew how MORE exhausting and draining it is to be a SAHM.  Now, I breathe it, attest to it, and tell everyone that work at home is non-stop.  At the same time, home environment with loads of work ahead, and without a helper, is totally different from the office.  From a clean office desk I come to daily to a house which is  most of the time a mess when husband and kids leave me and my toddler for work or school.  I made adjustments and adapted to the new normal.  I mentally condition myself that there will be no more regular meetings to attend to nor team huddles to discuss my ideas or report my accomplishments to, no colleagues I could ask to come with me for coffee.  It's hard.  I am all by myself, no adult around to converse with but my husband when he comes home from work.  All the work and exhaustion absorb all the energy and positive vibes in me.  I go crazy at times and I have no one to express the bottled up frustrations, weariness, worries, loneliness, and even occasional self-pity.

When I reach this point, I seek help from my husband by taking a day-off, it's usually Saturdays.  I get support from other SAHM friends, I ask prayers from my friends from church community.  And because I am a blogger and a digital persona, I also connect with my mom blogger friends online.  Self-care is definitely a MUST - it's one way of coping with all these negative feelings towards yourself.  I cry it all out privately and lastly, I pray.  Prayers really work all the time.

Staying at home could affect a mom's mental health, there's even a condition now called Stay-At-Home-Mom Depression - it's real.  What are causes of this depression?  Lack of recognition and appreciation, over fatigue, and having no income could trigger this.  Want to stay at home?  You have to prepare for this big leap of faith.  But know that there's a greater God who will send you His angels to keep you sane, keep you safe, keep you motivated, keep you hopeful, and keep you energized so you could give your best to the best persons in your life.

PHYSICAL
There are so much to do in the house when I became a stay at home mom.  When the last yaya left, we intentionally didn't get a replacement anymore.  I did everything from laundry to dishes to mopping, carrying the garbage, cooking, and taking care of the kids and my husband.  Being a SAHM is a tough job which most people take for granted, ignore or even belittle.  With everything that's happening at home, a SAHM needs to make sure she's in tip-top health to endure the daily draining tasks.  I also have to possess high levels of immunity because if I get sick, nobody else will care for my kids.  My physical exhaustion resulted to three things, one, I lost weight; two, I felt stronger each day; lastly, I learned to delegate tasks to my husband and kids.  The new normal sat pretty well with me and my boys because even if we didn't have a helper, they are happy to see me at home and personally do things for them which usually other people do.

Speaking of physical aspect, prettifying myself wasn't a priority anymore.  I rarely go to the salon to have my nails done nor the spa for a regular massage.  Sa bahay pa lang kulang talaga ang oras and when you have a clingy and still exclusively breastfeeding toddler, you can't be separated that long.  When I have time on Saturdays, my day off, I do self-care.  Now I understand where the notion that SAHMs become losyang.  I make sure though even if I don't get to date myself that often, I don't let myself go.  I bathe everyday and smell good, I make an effort to dress up when going out and apply make-up (#kilayislife) too.  Staying at home taught me to be more selfless and part of this is letting go some of my personal agendas in the beauty department, because I'd rather spend time (and money) with my husband and kids.  I've also become less of the physical world, because my new world now revolves around my family.  Staying at home taught me simplicity and contentment.

FINANCIAL
This may be a sensitive topic for some but I want to point out that this is one of the major consideration should you plan to stay-at-home.  From two income generators, my husband is now the sole provider, the breadwinner.  I couldn't thank him enough for all his hard work, for providing for us, for stepping up in his role as a husband and father.  It wasn't easy at first.  Imagine, our family was living comfortably.  All our family's needs and wants were given - when I was still working.  But you see, it isn't always about money.  The kids need me more than what we could materially give them. They are the reasons why I resigned, our growing boys.

All kids naman should they have a choice, they'd really want their moms to be at home instead of working.  Let's focus on a a regular family unit, one that has a father a mother and child or children.  It's a different ball game for single moms or when incomes of both parents still can't seem to make ends meet.

To prepare, make sure you have savings and had set up an emergency fund. This emergency fund should be 6 months worth of your salary or household expenses.  You could build this while you're still working.  Set aside 10 to 20% of your salary monthly to go to this fund which you could use for rainy days or when you decide to quit your job to give way to staying at home.

My husband and I listed down all our monthly household expenses, that includes bills, food and groceries, transportation and communication, and even leisure expenses.  You should be doing this religiously so you know if you're still within your means or going over your budget.  When we assessed that we can do a one-income generating route, given his monthly take home pay, our emergency fund and savings, my part-time jobs - we decided I stay at home.

I realized that I had been spending too much on unnecessary expenses while I was still working like daily coffee and doughnuts, lunch outs, and impulse shopping.  While staying at home, I only spent for basics like regular groceries and food.  I saved more staying at home because I didn't have to spend for daily parking fees, set weekly gas budget, salary of a yaya, lunch outs, and expensive coffee.

I guess what's important is we never let financial challenges create misunderstandings or rift between me and my husband.  It was a mutual decision and a choice we prayed for, if anything goes wrong, we shouldn't play the blaming game.  We're both accountable and we are partners in making this route work.  We also know in our hearts and have a strong conviction that God is our great provider and we wouldn't have survived a year with just one regular income.  God's grace and provision paved way for extra income for me through blogging, some opportunities (which surprisingly just sent my way) so I may save on some expenses, and of some business transactions that will enable us to help others and glorify Him more.  Trust in God's plan - that's what we do.

Staying at home, may or may not be for you.  It's a big decision to make. Being a stay-at-home mom shouldn't be frowned on.  One should never say when asked what her work is with "Sa bahay LANG ako" or with "Stay-at-home-mom LANG ako."  Be proud of being one.  It's harder than a regular office job.  I know so because I've been a working mom all my life until this major life decision.  Staying at home one is an obedience to God's design for every family, and with that alone, He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Because of this decision, I became more focused on my priorities, my husband stepped up in his role as our family's provider, and he's become more loving and sensitive to our needs.  I became more selfless, simpler, though yes more exhausted than ever, but more fulfilled than ever.  Lastly, I became more prayerful and thankful for the gift of my life and my family.

~ Are you a stay-at-home-mom?  How's being a stay-at-home-mom?  How did it change you?  How did you prepare for it?  Why did you decide to become one?  What are your challenges?~

I love Filipino dishes, it's my favorite since I was a child.  Yes, if you're one of those wondering what BENCH Cafe serves, it's all proudly Filipino food.  I cannot think of other local brands that carries Filipino pride like Bench.  I grew up knowing this Pinoy brand through Richard Gomez' TV Commercial back in the 80s. 

Recently, Bench innovated from clothing to a dining concept restaurant called Bench Cafe.  It celebrates its first anniversary at the Bench flagship store in BGC and at the same time launched its second branch in Greenbelt 3.  I was invited to its launch to celebrate their milestone as well as to enjoy a gastronomic experience!  Indeed it was a pleasure being there to taste most of what's in their menu.
First impression of the cafe, sophisticated yet inviting interiors but at the same time casual.  You know it's local but presentation is global.  Ambiance is pretty busy, fun, a place for great conversations among family and friends.  Overall, I like the concept of the restaurant.

Sophisticated yet welcoming interior

#LiveLifeWithFlavor Bench Cafe's overall thrust.  Follow this hashtag for more stories

Here's what I had:
My favorites are the following:

• Bagnet Kare-Kare with Bagoong Rice - It had just the perfect taste of peanut sauce which mixes well with the crisp veggies.  I love that the bagoong we usually pair with Kare-Kare is already cooked with the rice.  It's like a fusion of Filipino and Thai cusine.  I am quite biased to Kare-Kare being my favorite Filipino food since I was younger.
• Pancit Sisig - I've never tasted Sisig the way I tasted it in Bench Cafe.  Surprisingly, it tastes good on pancit!  The flavorful sisig blends well with the humble noodles which is a great alternative to the usual rice.
• Sugpo sa Talangka - I loved this dish!  I wanted more actually!  Please if you have high blood, don't unless you are a risk-taker.  But this dish is deadly delicious and tasty!  Imagine sugpo with talangka?  Ugh!  To die for!
• Turon - I've always loved banana fritters, and this one comes with langka in it.  It's a dessert so expect it to be sweet!  I love that the banana was cooked well with the melted brown sugar glazed perfectly over it.
• Ube Halo Halo - I like this better than its white counterpart.  I tasted and finished the white halo halo, but I like this better because it's different.  One can really taste real deal ube in it.

I can't wait to go back to also try other dishes they recommended such as Sisig Lettuce Cups with Calamansi Foam, the Crispy Lumpia Cones with Tinapa Mousse and Salsa, the Tsoknut Ice Cream Sandwich, and lastly another favorite of mine, Flan B (leche flan with macapuno).

The successful Bench Cafe culinary venture is a partnership between FOODEE Global Concepts and Suyen Corporation.   Bench cafe is located at the second floor of the Bench flagship store at 9th Ave. cor. Lane O BHS, BGC, and second floor of Greenbelt 3 Ayala Center.  For more information and updates, follow Bench Cafe on Facebook and Instagram @benchcafeph.  #LiveLifeWithFlavor

Last January 20, our family was invited to Zed's first birthday party and dedication at Kidzoona Robinsons Galleria.  Only I with Wes and Damien were able to go because Dandre had a basketball game (yes, on a Sunday!) and my husband had to repair his e-scooter.  Daming paliwanag, but the most important thing is, I didn't miss it.  I cannot!  I was made Zed's godmother or ninang by my good friend Omni of #TheClingyFam.

With Omni and my inaanak Baby Zed

Wow, to be invited to be a ninang by someone means a lot to me.  Being a godparent goes beyond material gifts or aginaldo every Christmas season.  I take the role seriously and the gesture of inviting me to be a ninang meant I was given an important role to help them guide Zed to grow up God-fearing, kind, compassionate, good, and a happy child.  Thanks Omni for making me Zed's ninang.

Mars Jaya, Janice, Vanessa, and Gracie

Spotted a very pretty and kind-hearted mom, Nish!

So bakit ba ako kinuhang Ninang?  Not everyone knows about my offline friendship with Omni. After all, not everything is shared online naman.  We used to be colleagues (PLDT - Smart) and were both part of The Asian Parenting PH Tapfluencer.  We first met last year in an event.  We chatted a little bit about what we do online, I blog, they vlog - and shared tips with each other.  The next thing we knew, we met for coffee one afternoon and we cried buckets when we talked about life and how God's grace and love brought us together.  Didn't know that this online/event meeting would blossom into a beautiful friendship that made me worthy to be their son's godparent.  It was an honor to be Zed's ninang.  Thank you Omni and Bryce.  So tama na iyakan, happy part na!

My kumpares and kumares!

It was indeed a #GrandFamilyPlayDate for all invitees who came and celebrated with their family.  Kidzoona was closed for their event. And when you say Kidzoona, no parent of toddlers couldn't keep their attention to the program in front, yeah, referring to myself all right!).  All I remember was it was an awesome Thomas And Friends themed party.

Wes at 8 years old is still very playful and loves indoor playgrounds such as Kidzoona.  Damien is my Mr. Explorer.

Wes who found a buddy during #TheGrandPlayDate

An active toddler made more active during the party!

Happy 1st Birthday and Dedication Day dear Zed!  We love you!

#TheGrandPlayDate

Such an adorable Thomas And Friends birthday cake

While I was still with the children's characters licensing agency, I handled the Thomas And Friends brand.  My eldest was still 2 years old then.  I already grew in love with the brand and for a time collected their toys.  So to see Thomas And Friends themed party from McDonald's was like a trip to memory lane.

The #GrandFamilyPlayDate of Zed's 1st year party and dedication became the launchpad of McDonald's newest party theme, Thomas And Friends.  The other character themed party are Barbie and Hotwheels.  All these brands are handled by Richwell.
Here's what a Thomas And Friends party theme in McDonald's would look and feel like:
For food, you could choose from their party food packages which go as low as Php125/pax and for add ons as low as Php29.

For more information and booking your Thomas And Friends party, visit McCelebrations website: https://www.mccelebrations.com.ph/.

Thank you so much Omni & Bryce of #TheClingyFamily for inviting our family and making me Zed's ninang.  This definitely would make our bond as sisters in Christ stronger.  I pray that I'll be worthy to be Zed's guide as he learns the ways of this temporary world.

Mommies, subscribe to Omni & Bryce's YouTube channel HERE where they share their journey as a family showing you their positive, practical, and inspirational lives as a family.  Watch them fulfill their dreams one at a time, fun unboxing and review of toys, events, brands, and many more.

Watch Zed's 1st Brithday Party video here:

Ever since I became a stay at home mom, I cook a lot more.  It was also the time that I realized how important your cookwares are if you prepare and cook food for your loved ones.  To be honest, months into cooking more often, I wanted to throw everything I owned - the non-stick pans, and the old pans and pots.  I've always been looking for a cooking partner that will last for years and yet won't look old nor ugly, such as the Luminarc glass cookware my mom handed down to me, which my husband accidentally broke into pieces a few months ago.
WHAT?  Not only it had a sentimental value to me, it's the most durable piece of cookware I had.  So I went searching for Luminarc glass cookware (because believe me, the cookware my mom had lasted for years) and praise God, I received one last month!  Just in time for the holidays!

I road-tested it for weeks and I am happy to tell you that my chef-mom heart is beaming with joy and satisfaction for !  One, I am ecstatic that my broken Luminarc now has a replacement.  Two, because I know this is definitely something that would not leave me disappointment in the kitchen department for years to come.  Just like how a Luminarc didn't disappoint my mom.

Here are some of the reasons why I am raving about the Luminarc Vitro Blooming Casserole.

1. It's Versatile - The Luminarc Vitro Blooming may be used on top of any direct heat source.  Because of its unique high thermal resistance properties, it's suitable for use on the following:

• Gas stoves
• Electric stoves
• Induction stoves
• Oven
• Halogen
• Ceramic
• Microwave

2.  It's highly heat resistant.  it can withstand temperatures from -40C to 800C and tolerate fluctuations in temperature (up to 380C), which means it can be transferred directly from freezer to oven or direct flame for reheating, thus saving precious time and energy.  In fact this material was even used by N.A.S.A during the design of the external ties of the space shuttle.  Imagine the heat coming from a space ship!

3.  It's easy to clean and store.  Easy to clean and dishwasher safe, it fits modern lifestyles making it a perfect addition to small and large kitchens.  What I personally love about this is that because it's made of glass, left-over food or burnt foods could easily be removed.  I also didn't need to be extra concerned about scrubbing it fearing some layers or coats might be scraped off and make the pan/casserole less useful or less functional, unlike other cookware materials.

4.  It's Durable.  Luminarc Vitro is made of Vitro-ceramic material which guarantees exceptional thermal, mechanical and chemical reisistant.  Having tested or used in N.A.S.A. also says a lot about this casseroles durability.  Plus like what I've shared, my previous Luminarc cookware stood the test of time!

5. It's practical and convenient.  Instead of separate cookware to boil, stew, steam, fry, roast and grill, Luminarc Vitro does it all, which can go from the freezer to the fire and directly to the table. Ideal for those who do not want the hassle of  dishing food from cookware to serving ware, saving you time and less dishes to wash up later.  Us moms, we don't have the luxury of time and extra energy, so anything more convenient to do and use, we instantly fall in love with.  I am sure, like me you'll love the convenience of having the casserole too!

5.  I'ts environmentally safe.  It's 100% Hygienic / Non Porous.  Luminarc Vitro is produced with the latest technology and made from pure and natural materials with extremely fine pores, anti-bacterial, odor and stain free, making your food 100% safe and hygienic for consumption.

6.  New and Improved Design VITRO Blooming is inspired by French morning blooming rosebushes (water drop on flower) with a newly improved lid & bigger ears which allows you to hold it easily. With the lid that fits inside the rim, you will not have to face with problems of spilling when cooking. The improved rim design also prevents soup from spilling when pouring.

7.  Availability and Sizes.  The Luminarc Vitro Casseroles are available in selected SM, Robinsons, Metro Gaisano, Landmark, Gaisano Malls, Lazada, Shopee and other leading department stores nationwide.  It's also available in different sizes, from 1L, 1.5L, 2L, 3L, and 5L cassesroles.  Also available 1.5 saucepan.  There are also 2 designs or colors, Amber (the one I have) and White.  Both have the same durability and heat resistance.

I really love the Luminarc because of these qualities and I've been using it for weeks as you've seen in my IG stories. 

Some tips on handling or making the Vitro Blooming Casserole last for years:

1. It's still breakable because it's glass so to avoid unwanted breakage, use a potholder when cooking and handling the casserole and its cover.
2. Clean right away after use.
3. Store in a safe place away from small children.

For more information, visit http://www.luminarc.com or like them of Facebook.