stories & blossoms – Jellybeans in the City

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, we should be on the lookout for the perfect gift to express our love and bring delight to our moms on their special day.

While Mother’s Day has been celebrated since the early twentieth century to honor mothers and how they influence society through their love and sacrifices for the family, there have been many age-old traditions giving tribute to motherhood. For instance, ancient Greeks and Romans held festivals in honor of mother-goddesses such as Rhea and Cybele while early Christians celebrated “Mothering Sunday” by returning to their mother church, spending time at home and presenting their moms with flowers and tokens of appreciation.

Over the years, Mother’s Day, or iterations of this holiday, are celebrated by various countries according to their local customs. In Thailand, for instance, it is celebrated during the birthday of Queen Sirikit, with ceremonies and parades to mark the occasion.

Mother’s Day is notably the busiest time for restaurants as families give their moms a break from kitchen duties and treat her to delicious meals throughout the day that she didn’t have to prepare herself.

Some would even treat their mothers to a rejuvenating time at the spa, a welcome respite from their usual deluge of duties and chores.

However, with stricter quarantine protocols in place due to the pandemic, bringing Mom out to dine in style or to have a “me time” at the spa may not be the best choice.

Why not treat Mom to a relaxing day off at home on Mother’s Day?

With Stories & Blossoms’ Mom’s Day Off Floral Care Basket (Php3,500), the most important woman in your life will be able to enjoy a beautiful arrangement of preserved flowers, customizable according to her favorite colors and blooms, in an attractively rustic 14-inch basket. Nestled among the blooms is a carefully curated package of locally made yet luxurious self-care items she can enjoy at home.

To help chase away tensions and lull her to a state of ease, artisanal scent-maker Favori contributes a carbon-neutral and eco-friendly Soy Aroma Candle, a calming Lavender Massage Oil and a soothing Sleep and Relaxation Salve.

Mabula PH, on the other hand, provides lovingly handcrafted, all-natural and organic multi-bars from the farmers of Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur such as a set of five mini multi-purpose bars in papaya, turmeric, calamansi, turmeric and cucumber variants which can be used as facial cleansers, body soap or shampoo, as well as a conditioner bar to revitalize her locks.

Your mom might be stuck at home during Mother’s Day but you can make it a deluxe pamparing experience for her with this special floral care basket.

With this thoughtful and heart-warming gift, you can bring Mom a patch of sunny sky and summer blooms without having to leave home.

Other sets your mom would love from Stories & Blossoms include:

Stories in a Bag (Php1,300 to Php1,500). A tasteful curation of assorted preserved flowers in a transparent box with a gold chain handle, and comes with a 100-gram bar of Belgian chocolate. Treat her to an overload of sweetness with this arrangement.

Farmhouse Stories (Php1,800). Hydrangeas represent gratitude, grace and beauty. Gift your mom with a lavish hydrangea arrangement in a pretty farmhouse box to usher in bright and cheery feelings even during these uncertain times.

Take your pick from the many arrangements available at storiesandblossoms.com. Order your preferred sets now so that Mom can receive her pleasant surprise for Mother’s Day.

To know more about its newest arrangement creations and offers, like and follow Stories & Blossoms on Facebook or Instagram or call +63 967 5099050.

Disclosure: A product sample was provided to facilitate this feature article. Photos of Stories in a Bag and Farmhouse Stories used with permission from Stories & Blossoms.

Have you ever heard the phrase “say it with flowers?”

This saying is attributed to Boston adman Major Patrick O’Keefe who came up with the slogan during a discussion with former President of the Society of American Florists. While brainstorming on possible slogans for the organization, Penn was said to have remarked “There is nothing you can’t say with flowers – when you send flowers, it says everything,” to which O’Keefe exclaimed “That’s it!”

For ages, meaning have been attributed to flowers. From the Ottoman Empire’s obsession with tulips to the Victorian era’s interest in floriography, up to the present day’s penchant for using blossoms in home decor, flowers have been used to send messages to their recipients.

Imagine what you can say with preserved flowers instead. If you haven’t yet considered preserved flowers to beautify your home or to give as gifts, here are ways they trump fresh-cut flowers.

1. They last longer.

The thing with flowers is they tend not to last that long. While fresh-cut flowers can generally last for a week or two, preserved flowers can stay around for up to three years. You won’t have to worry about your home accent or present wilting away too soon.

2. They cost less.

Fresh cut flower arrangements for delivery usually start at Php700 but preserved flower arrangements can cost as low as half this amount.

3. They require little maintenance.

Since the preserved flowers are dried, they do not require water to maintain them. Given our climate, you would just need to keep them from dust and moisture so you can enjoy them for a long time.

4. They don’t trigger pollen-based allergies.

If you’ve always loved the beauty of floral arrangements but get a case of the sniffles every time you’re near them, preserved flowers is the solution to your problem. Preserved flowers no longer have pollen so those who suffer from allergies to this substance can enjoy them safely.

More and more, it seems that preserved flowers are well-suited to today’s minimalist trends in gift-giving and home decor.

Online flower shop Stories & Blossoms captures not just the needs of times but also the stories behind every emotion, celebration and milestone that call for its tasteful preserved flower arrangements.

Through the artful combinations of colors, textures and sizes of different blooms, it helps evoke feelings, memories and thoughts.

Take this Stories & Blossoms creation – called “Little Black Dress” – a 26-inch tall arrangement that incorporates the Pantone colors of 2021 – Illuminating Yellow and Ultimate Grey – as well as my favorite color, Black. This imbued a combined sense of brightness, serenity and hope to my home. It also became an eye-catching and elegant centerpiece for my dining table.

You too can capture and tell your tales with preserved flowers. Just shop online at Stories & Blossoms’ website. Arrangements are priced starting at Php299. To know more about its newest arrangement creations and offers, like and follow Stories & Blossoms on Facebook or call +63 967 5099050.

Disclosure: A product sample was provided to facilitate this feature article.