This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Cryo-Cell International. All opinions are 100% mine.

Cryo-Cell has been open since 1992 preserving newborns umbilical cord blood for potential uses in fighting diseases later on in life whether it is the person it came from or a sibling. Until recently it has always been discarded. We did not know that there was a need for it until research scientists discovered it was a source for stem cells which can be a substitute to bone marrow (which is a painful process to harvest if needed). Stem cells are a perfect match because it essentially was part of that person in utero. Now it might not be useful in all diseases so it will all depend on the situation. If you choose to harvest this blood, you can rest assured that there is a facility that will keep it which is Cryo-Cell.

If you enroll now with Cryo-Cell they will donate $25.00 from each enrollment to the “Save the Children: Haiti Relief Fund”. I’m sure you have been hearing the news about the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti and this is another way of helping out. Every little bit that can be gained is worth it so that they can rebuild for a better and brighter future. This is only going on through February with Cryo-Cell but you can always donate to the fund.

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 teaspoon peppered seasoned salt
2 medium unpeeled red potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (2 cups)
2 medium carrots, sliced (1 cup)
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped (1/2 cup)
2 cans (14 ounces each) chicken broth
2 cups small broccoli flowerets
1 medium yellow summer squash, coarsely chopped (1 1/2 cups)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

1. Spray 10-inch nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Add chicken to skillet; sprinkle with peppered seasoned salt. Cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown.
2. Mix chicken and remaining ingredients except broccoli, squash and basil in 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker.
3. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 7 to 8 hours.
4. Stir in broccoli, squash and basil. Increase heat setting to High. Cover and cook 15 to 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Substitution
In place of fresh broccoli, you can use 2 cups Green Giant Select® frozen broccoli florets. Thaw them before adding to the slow cooker.

I grabbed this off of the Betty Crocker website and thought you guys might like it. It’s beyond easy and tasty.

I love it when we have sponsored lecturers. Not only are we getting an informative lecture but we get free dinner to boot. Now that’s nice especially when we go to some of the more prominent establishments downtown and essentially is free bar. Last time I got gypped on dessert because the person I picked up wanted to leave early. I want my dang cheesecake you know. Sure I know I don’t NEED it but dang it I WANT it and you know it’s the good stuff. This time we are going to High Cotton. I know y’all are jealous

Now this little event will be in a couple weeks and I can only hope that the weather is NOT going to be as cold as it has been this week. This is insane. And I saw on a news story yesterday about North Dakota at -50 with wind chill. Who WANTS to live in that kind of cold? Are you people insane? Do you hibernate during the winter? Do you have enough wood to burn because I can’t imagine the A/C-Heat units keeping the place warm. It would be running 24/7 I would imagine. The weather peoples keep saying that bad word of snow here and the schools are already going to start 2 hours late just in case. What wimps.

I understand that there is a mass of H1N1 flu cases running rampant. I also know that there is a short supply of H1N1 vaccines to be given out especially around here as well as the regular seasonal flu supply due to some 40,000 doses being frozen during shipping. I, however, draw the line when it comes to people trying to shove this down your throat stating you are going to die without getting the shots. Some people do not believe in them and I am some of those people. Some people swear by them, so be it. I don’t harass them each time they get them. Some people freak if they can’t get them. Now I’m not going to mention any names but I know a few of these people and they are insane for thinking that they need them to be immune.

People, even if you get these shots you still might get the flu. It does not make you completely immune. It supposedly alleviates the symptoms somewhat but you can still get it. I don’t see why I should receive a shot a year, well 2 starting this year now, for something I don’t get. I can’t even tell you the last time I had the flu, if indeed I have ever had it. I’ve had bronchitis, severe colds, and allergies galore. And even if I do get the flu that won’t convince me to start getting the shots either because it does not make you immune to the bugs. People need to get a grip and relax.

What prompted this? The hospital was giving flu shots in the hallways again and stopping people asking have you had your flu shot yet? No, and I don’t want it either so back off.

I love that place. I’d probably eat there more often had I have enough money to waste as they are kind of expensive. I like getting the half and half with a tuna sandwich on sourdough and the Chopstix salad with Asian Sesame dressing. Well, I gave it a shot the other night to make my own version. I went and bought some sliced almonds, chicken, the chinese chopstix things, Asian toasted sesame dressing from Kraft and some lettuce and tomato. I left out the mandarin oranges because I always eat those first as I don’t like the dressing on them but I did add some cheese and cooked my chicken with some lemon pepper spice from Mrs. Dash. Was yummy if I do say so myself and quite easy as I usually cut up my chicken when I get it home from the store and put each chicken breast in its own tinfoil since it is just me. That way I don’t have to waste any or have leftovers because one chicken breast is good enough for just me.

Breast cancer, to me, seems so prevalent in society. You could probably do a six degrees from any one person and they will most likely know someone who has or has had breast cancer. I have known quite a few people and each one of them has survived by the way. I have a friend right now going through ovarian cancer on her second round of treatment because the first treatment course did not work so they are doing a different one now. Not sure how prevalent ovarian cancer is but maybe C’elle could help with that as well.

Right now there is a C’Elle Breast Cancer Donation drive going on during the month of October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. I am still some what bothered by the fact of using embryonic stem cells but more research is being offered using this sort of means including our own research. So long as it helps cure diseases in the end, that should be the other thing that matters right? Technically no one is being harmed in obtaining this which is important. Right now there is a Cyro-Cell Breast Cancer Donation of $50 for each purchase of the “Protect Baby, Protect Mom” service and $25 for each purchase of the “C’elle Menstrual Stem Cell” service to the Susan B. Komen Foundation. Cryo-Cell has a partnership with NIH right now to find how menstrual stem cells can be a treatment option for breast cancer. Get out there and support a worthwhile cause like this because we all know someone who has breast cancer.