Moments of Musing

A Gift that Lasts Beyond the Holidays

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This post is sponsored by Cord Blood Registry, CBR®. All opinions are my own.
One day, while sitting in my doctor’s office, my husband and I came across a Cord Blood Registry (CBR) pamphlet. Prior to then, we had not given the process of preserving our baby’s cord blood stem cells and cord tissue much thought.

We did some research and decided it was the right decision for us. In fact, the collection of the baby’s cord blood and cord tissue was the only thing we could definitively plan for happening at labor and delivery.1 Even, and hopefully, if we never have to use the cord blood or tissue, which contain powerful stem cells, we have peace of mind knowing it’s preserved. We figured it was a gift our family would cherish. And, we do.

Preserved newborn stem cells are a perfect match to your child, and may even be a match for siblings or parents, providing the ability to use the cells for potential future uses depending on the condition and other factors.  In addition, cord blood may be used as a treatment option in a stem cell transplant, including treatments for various cancers, and blood, immune, and metabolic disorders.2

We decided to use CBR after speaking with my doctor. We had trust in CBR because they were the oldest and leading newborn stem cell preservation company, and felt secure knowing that the laboratory and storage facility is located in the dry, sunny climate of Tucson, Arizona.
We thought the process was easy, too. There are 5 simple steps to get setup with CBR:
1. Enroll with CBR online at cordblood.com/enroll or call us at 1-888-240-1996
2. CBR ships you a collection kit
3. Bring your kit to the hospital on your big day.
4. Call the medical courier after your baby is born and the cord blood has been collected by your healthcare professional.
5. Relax. CBR handles the rest and will let you know when they receive the cord blood and cord tissue.

This would make a great gift for a loved one this holiday season. It’s a meaningful gift that lasts past the holidays. In fact, we are planning to preserve our future baby’s stem cells, as well!

1. National Cord Blood Program website. http://www.nationalcordbloodprogram.org/qa/what_is_treated.html. Accessed February 2, 2016. 
2. Butler MG, Menitove JE. Umbilical cord blood banking: an update. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2011;28:669-676. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21617932)

🎄GIVEAWAY 🎁

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With Christmas fast approaching, I wanted to gift one of you something as a thank you for following me + reading my blog! I’ve partnered with Sweet Pix Photoboards to give one lucky follower the chance to win 2 photo boards! Best part is they STICK- no need for hammers or nails on your wall!

🤗


To enter you must:
1. Like this photo on IG
2. Follow me @momentsofmusing on IG
3. Follow @sweetpixapp on IG
4. Tag 2 friends in the IG photo comments!


Good luck! 🎉 
This giveaway runs until Friday 12/22/17 at 11:59PM EST. It is not administered, sponsored or endorsed by Instagram. You must be over 13 years of age to enter.

Baking Season is Here

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Now that the holidays are here, so too are times for family cooking and baking. It’s a tradition I want to begin with my kids. In fact, I hope to host Christmas at our house this year. 

One excellent and delicious ingredient that makes an appearance in an. Family recipe of mine is Nestlé® La Lechera® condensed milk, which is available at Walmart for a low price of $1.47 per 14 ounce can. 

For Hispanic moms everywhere, Nestlé® La Lechera is her trusted partner in the kitchen.  Since 1910, La Lechera strives to aid moms in the kitchen with quality, consistency and creativity that she can use to bring her family together.  It is the perfect ingredient to help you pamper your loved ones with delicious desserts that fit your busy lifestyle. It’s tradition and quality – and anything you make with La Lechera, is guaranteed to create unforgettable family bonding moments.   

This recipe for Flan is courtesy of my aunt Lucy, one of the best cooks I know. As soon as she told me it, I started craving the flan. It is mouth-watering delicous, and super simple to make. 


Ingredients for 1 pan:

  • 2 cans 14 oz. Nestlé® La Lechera® condensed milk
  • 2 1/2 cans evaporated milk
  • 4 whole eggs
  • 8 egg yolks
  • Caramel for pan
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 tsp. Vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tbsp. Cin
  • A few pinches of Cinnamon

Directions:

  1. Mix all ingredients, EXCEPT caramel
  2. Preheat oven to 350°.
  3. Put caramel in a pot on stovetop and stir at medium heat until syrup is formed.
  4. Add caramel syrup to pan.
  5. Using a strainer, pour mixture into pan.
  6. Cover pan.
  7. Bake uncovered for about 45 min or until lightly brown on top.
  8. Continue checking mixture with a toothpick until the toothpick is clear after doing so.
  9. Serve chilled plain or with whipped cream.

Even just one slice is amazing! Enjoy!

Something Shiny this Holiday Season

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This post is sponsored by Victoria Emerson. All opinions are my own.
December is just a few days away! Holiday Season has arrived, which means holiday shopping is in full swing. I recently explained a little bit of what’s on our Wish List this Christmas on my Instagram:

On my wish list is to have as much family time as possible … on this little one’s is probably to be able to run around as much as he wants.

While it might sound clichey, family time really is the biggest non-material thing I hope to get as much of, aside from good health, of course. Life has been hectic and busy and go-go-go, or so it seems. Some days, I want to hit a pause button, and lately, I’ve been wishing for slower living. While I’m not sure that will happen soon, I do know it is a goal of mine … maybe that will go on my 2018 goal list.
As for material items on my Wish List, if I had to pick some things I would pick these Victoria Emerson boho cuff and wrap bracelet. They are shiny, stylish and made with beautiful stones and materials. The cuff looks like it is multiple bracelets in one — I wore my cuff on Thanksgiving and got many compliments on it! It is well made and feels elegant when worn. The wrap bracelet looks simply chic, too — like a wrist staple. These are currently my favorite wrist candy.
Be sure to check out the sales currently going on at Victoria Emerson! I think the special lady/ladies in your life will surely love to receive these this Holiday Season. 

No More Hide and Seek with our Belongings

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S has successfully hidden remotes in his stroller bin and play pen, and a credit card in a box. We have had to be mindful when he has had his hands on our keys and cell phones. Luckily, now he won’t be able to successfully hide anything, such my electronics, because I’ve got a Tile to locate them if he does put them somewhere! 

Now, with Tile, I’ve joined a vast community that can help me find my things fast. It’s important to note that Tile isn’t just for keys and wallets — it’s for any item that you never want to lose, like a bike, a pair of skis, or a child’s favorite toy.

The way it works is simple:
  • Find lost items with your phone. If your Tile is within the 100-foot Bluetooth range, it will play a loud tune until you find it.
  • Can’t find your phone? Double press your Tiles to make it ring, even if it’s on silent.
  • Keep your Tile app running in the background and it will remember the last place and time you had your item.

The Tile app connects you to the world’s largest lost-and-found community, where friends and strangers work together using the Tile app to find everything that matters. Every app updates the location of each Tile device it detects. With more than 10 million Tiles sold and over 2 million items located every day, our network is the largest, fastest and most powerful lost and found community in the world.