Moments of Musing

Family Planning for Women

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LetsTalkPlanB #CollectiveBias #ad


Note: This post is informational, not political.


As many of you know, my husband and I recently welcomed our second baby boy. As was the case with my first pregnancy, we discussed at great length having another baby, when we’d like to have the baby and how prepared we thought we were for a new addition to the family. Being able to plan my pregnancies helped ease my prenatal anxiety a lot. I became a mother when I was ready (or rather as ready as anyone can be).


Having that choice in the matter helped me feel a lot more in control at a time when I had little control over everything else i.e. physical and emotional changes. It was important to me to feel that way.


I know not everyone feels that way – being prepared/ ready — when they engage in sexual intercourse, though. That is why Plan B One-Step is an important optionfor women’s health and autonomy of their bodies and their personal choices, although Plan B should not be anyone’s first method of birth control. Plan B is an emergency contraceptive pill for those in rare situations when you may have had unprotected sex or failure of your regular birth control method.


Plan B is available at CVS.  For $10 off of your purchase, use this coupon: http://cbi.as/a1wa0. (You do not need to show ID to purchase it and there is no age restriction.)



It is important to note that Plan B is not an abortion pill. It will therefore not affect a beginning or existing pregnancy, and it will also not impact your fertility.


So what does Plan B do? When used as directed within 72 hours of unprotected sex or birth control failure, which is very important, it helps prevent pregnancy before it begins after unprotected sex or birth control failure. That is because it mainly delays ovulation. The sooner you take it, the more effective it is. The active ingredient (levonorgestrel) is actually contained in many common birth control pills. Plan B just has a higher, single dose of it.



There is also a misconception that it is primarily used among young women. In reality, half of the women who use Plan B are 18-24-years-old and the other half are 25 years and older.


Now that you know more about it, my hope is that you will not judge others who have the need to take it or feel ashamed to use it yourself. There is nothing shameful about doing what’s best for yourself and your health!


Maternity Leave Guest Series: That Time Momming Caught Up With Me

Filed Under: maternity leave guest series, motherhood //

As most of you know, I will be away from blogland a bit while I’m on maternity leave. Lucky for me – AND you!- I’ve partnered with some lovely bloggers to consistently bring you great content. 


This week, I am happy to share a post by Sierra of Beautifully Candid. She writes candidly about a time she decided to make changes in the ways she mothers. I’m sure many, if not all, of you can relate.

Enjoy!


That Time Momming Caught Up With Me 
by Sierra of Beautifully Candid

A question I get asked a lot is how I’m able to manage everything and hold everything together. And if I was being honest (which I think I always am on here), I don’t have it all together, probably not even close. Although, I really don’t know who actually has it all together. I think different things work for different people and for different families. 


I’m a working mom trying to juggle everything in a 24 hour period all while trying to cherish and enjoy precious moments with my two young sons. I think being a working mom is extremely difficult. I think being a stay at home mom is extremely difficult. I think being a mom in general is extremely difficult. 

Correction, it’s the hardest job in the world. 

I started a book, Grace Not Perfection, back in the spring but mom life happened and it sat on my nightstand and served as a coaster for my nightly glass of water for the weeks—maybe more like months—to come. It was nothing against the book, at all. I actually think I kept putting it off because I knew deep down there were changes I could be making but just couldn’t bring myself to follow through with it. 

Let’s rewind to a few weeks ago when momming finally got the best of me and I had a complete meltdown. I lashed out at my husband (who’s amazing by the way) having a fun moment hitting the t-ball in the back with my boys all while I slaved (not really) in the kitchen to prepare a home cooked meal. After my neighbors witnessed me acting like a crazy person, I made a promise to myself that night—backing off in the kitchen is ok and ruining a special moment between my husband and boys will not be happening again. 


After that crazy episode I picked up the book and began to read it again. I brought it down the shore with me that weekend and finished it on the beach. I tried to make up for my previous crazy outburst and gave some special time back to my husband with the boys who were off using a kiddie metal detector to try and find some burred treasure. When I got to chapter 11 one of the paragraphs really got me and I started to cry. Good thing I don’t wear mascara to the beach. Does anyone actually wear mascara to the beach?! And, I had my trusty sunnies to hide a lot. Anyway, it really spoke to me and I felt like if I could have formulated how I was feeling she was already in my head and wrote it all out. 

I knew right then and there that I might not be able to make all of the changes I hope for right away, but the ones that I can implement, I would. 

For starters, we have always been a home cooked meal kind of family. In general I enjoy cooking, but when you get home after 6pm everyday and everyone is hungry, it’s a race against the clock. I always heard everyone talking about these Traders Joe’s meals and how good they are, so that week we went and picked some up (shout out to the orange chicken). We decided even if we took two nights off and did a meal like that, it could make things easier. It definitely has, but I wouldn’t say it’s been life changing. We’ve tried out a cleaning service before, and while I love the smell of my house when you walk in, for the money, I don’t think it’s something we would continue with. If the boys were older and didn’t make so many messes I could see this being an amazing thing, but I can’t see spending the money to have it look messy by the next day. 

There are still a lot of things we are working on, like meal planing, taking Thursday nights to clean things up so it’s a fresh start to the weekend and we don’t have to worry come Friday, and treating the boys to a hot lunch every now and then instead of packing lunches every night have all helped. We won’t get started on laundry that continues to be my enemy and our mornings that are usually hectic because we are not a morning family, at all. 

But what I have learned is, that even in my moments of weakness, God’s grace is sufficient. That even when I fail to be an example, or let life get the best of me, there are still those moments that humble me and bring me back to reality. 

Momming isn’t easy. Keeping it all together isn’t easy. At some point it might get the best of me again. I need to continue to remind myself that while I might not be home with my kids all day, the moments we do have together are so precious. That it’s ok to ask for help or lean on friends and others moms to vent. That not looking at my day as a race against the clock but an opportunity to accomplish as much I can in that time frame makes my days more enjoyable. My boys may continue to push my buttons and cause me to question every idea of parenting I thought I had figured out, but just like I’m shown grace, I also need to show them grace. They need to be able to learn and to see us to grow as a family. 

So for the moms who may have cried those tears trying to wonder how you’re going to figure it all out, you aren’t alone. For the women who are overwhelmed with work and balancing life in general, I understand the feeling. For the women who aren’t sure about making a career move or starting something that scares you, you’ll never know until you try. For all of us, perfection doesn’t exist. Once we let go of the idea of perfection we allow the perfect lives for each of us to begin to fall into place. 

Back to School Sales = Nostalgia

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

High School Graduation Photo


I pretty much always enjoyed school. I enjoyed learning, looked forward to socializing and was setting my goals and planning my future from a pretty young age. I guess it’s therefore not surprising that I miss school a bit. To some, it might sound crazy. 


After all, I completed four years of undergrad followed by three years of law school so there was no shortage of learning for me. Still, I miss the hustle and bustle, challenge and sitting down to research and write and learn from brilliant professors and classmates. I especially miss college and all of the experiences that came with it. Seeing back to school sales certainly makes me nostalgic.

Due to my law school loans, I will not be going back to school anytime soon ever. As for my toddler, he does not start school for a few years but I am getting ready to get back to work from maternity leave so we’re sort of feeling the “back to school” vibes in our household.

It’s no secret that Amazon is our go-to for online shopping. With the Prime option, we’re able to get last minute things pretty quickly. I know a lot of you are reliant on Amazon, as well. 

So, skip the store, avoid the lines and head to Amazon for amazing savings on Kleenex, Scott, Cottonelle and Viva back to school essentials! Shop smart for back to school by saving up to $3 plus 15% on those brands. 



My 30th Birthday in Boston

Filed Under: 30th birthday, boston //

On Sunday, I welcomed a new decade of life (30!) in a new city (Boston) with my loves (husband and boys). It was a great start — despite hot temps and tantrums — to what I hope will be great years.

I didn’t have my phone out too much except to take some photos so here are a few snapshots:

Downtown Crossing

Boston Harbor
Soldiers and Sailors Monument- Boston Common 
Boston Common
Boston Common
Boston Public Garden
Boston Public Garden
Faneuil Hall

 The T (subway)
 Old South Meeting House

The Paul Revere House

Paul Revere Monument with Old North Church in background

A Letter to my 20’s

Filed Under: 20s //

It’s my birthday weekend, which means it’s the last few days of my 20’s. I’ve done a lot of reminiscing and just couldn’t turn 30 without writing a letter to the years that have molded me:


To My 20’s,


You gave me college, law school and my career. The opportunities to live in Chicago, Hawaii and Barcelona. To travel throughout Europe, the United States, China and Brazil. 

I was lucky enough to fall in love — three times. Once with my soul mate (our love story is my favorite) and twice with my amazing sons, Sebastian and Rafael. 

I faced my biggest challenges, failed but also succeeded, survived and thrived… and I have embraced sobriety. 

You built me. 

I have grown and learned, loved and lost. Because of that difficult loss I now cherish every single moment and remember to smile everyday. 

I’m taking every bit of these years and this decade with me.

You are the foundation of who I am, and I am excited to use that foundation to propel upward and onward into my 30’s. 

So, thank you. 

Thank you for your lessons, for your love and for your memories. 

Most of all, thank you for being the best years of my life — so far. 
xoxo, me