Pina Colada Smoothie

What's this? Oh just a little recipe I concocted at work the other day! Try it out!

Family-Friendly Pina Colada Smoothie
1 can lite coconut milk
1/2 cup frozen mango
1/2 cup frozen pineapple
2 bananas 
2 spoonfuls of plain nonfat Greek yogurt
Milk/Almond Milk to help blend if needed 

Blend till smooth and delicious! Enjoy!


If you don't want to add the yogurt than opt out and add more frozen fruit to thicken your smoothie. Of course, for adult get-togethers, I'm sure you could add some Malibu rum to make it more of a genuine Pina Colada. :)




You can find all these ingredients at Trader Joe's for a great deal! Their coconut milk is only $0.99/can where most markets charge almost $3.00/can. They also sell their frozen fruit at a great price!

A Message from Matt

First, this is our 100th post (insert exploding streamers and confetti here)- HOORAY! Second, Matthew is about to make a guest appearance on our blog- WOOT WOOT! 

Ahh, at last. After 3 weeks I have finally stopped accidently writing ’12 when marking the date next to a signature or check. And now that the excitement of a new year is starting to die down, I wanted to fill everyone in some more changes to our lives. A few years ago, I would have never imagined that I would be trying to start a family. It took a long time for me to feel comfortable with the idea, but now I am beyond excited. However, I know that the road to becoming a father will not be easy as I watch my wife suffer through all of the procedures and side effects of doing IVF.

I am so proud of her courage to face the challenge of becoming a mother in the most difficult way possible. Sometimes I feel so helpless as I see her go through all of the injections, exams, and procedures. I have tried to support her in every way possible, and that includes giving her the peace of mind that we are stable at home and with work.

Over the past four and a half years, I have made a career of trying to bring some of the coolest electronics to the market at Apple. During that time I have met some amazing people, engineers, and friends. However, the rigors of working at Apple are demanding. Late night conference calls, spontaneous long-term travel, and stressful workday hours really took their toll. Things were different when I was single. But now that I have made the best decision of life in marrying Staci, I have had to come to the reality that it was time to make another one.

As much as I loved my work at Apple, it was becoming unsustainable. This past summer, I was travelling more than home, and when I was domestic, I was working more than not. I am blessed to have had an incredibly patient wife who was supportive of my career. We were doing great. I was showing steady progression within the company, and being able to provide a great life for Staci and Hunter. To any outsider, we were living the American dream.

But the whole time, I was beginning to break down inside. I couldn’t stand to spend so much time away from her and the dog, but even more so, I couldn’t stand to be thinking about all the things at work that were not getting done while I was with them. Work was consuming me. In order to preserve the quality of life I had worked so hard to build for us, I made a promise to myself that I would never let Staci see the turmoil I was going through inside. I knew she would feel awful if she knew I was putting myself through so much and hiding it from her. Huge mistake.

And so came along a simple text message from an old Apple friend who had moved on to a company called Nest. He just asked if I was interested in coming to lunch with him. There was no mention of a job, or any interest, but just lunch with an old friend. So of course I accepted the invitation. During our lunch, we caught up on our lives, and he was able to read how something at Apple was really wearing on me. Soon after our lunch was over, he suggested that I come up to Nest to meet with some of the engineers just so they could tell me what the company was all about.

I accepted the invitation and a few days later found myself sitting on a couch at Nest shooting the breeze with a bunch of old Apple engineers. What started as a casual conversation led to an interview about a week later. I was going to Nest again and again meeting with multiple people. Things were going great. And the more and more I was thinking about it, the more and more I wanted to work there. They expressed morals that would allow me to focus on family first while still working in a field that was cutting edge and exciting.

The more excited I was getting about the job, the more apprehensive I was getting about telling Staci. Not only would I have to admit how unhappy I was at Apple, but it was right during our first round of IVF. Talk about timing… And then Nest made me an offer. I knew it was time to talk to Staci. At first she was upset because of the afore mentioned reasons, but also because of all the added stress of changing jobs while trying to start a family.

Understanding, Staci’s concerns, Nest invited her up to their headquarters in Palo Alto to talk about the job and for her to ask any questions that she may have. I was blown away by this offer, and I do not think Staci first understood the significance. This is not something that any company would do. So we went to Palo Alto and we met with one of the founders of the company, and several other VPs. She was able to ask very candid questions and express her concerns directly to some of the most influential people there. And lets just say she was happy with what they had to say.

And so after running some complex financial calculations to understand what would happen if I were to change jobs, we agreed on a plan, and it included me changing careers to Nest. I was so excited. Now, we can’t exactly continue to live the “rock and roll” lifestyle, but we will still live comfortably and most importantly, continue our efforts to start a family through IVF.

Now two days into the job, I am positive I made the right choice. I am more relaxed at home, and enjoying the work that I will be doing for Nest. Now that we are done with the transition of me moving jobs, it is now time to start focusing on the next milestone of our lives: starting a family.

Side note: at the same time we decided for Matthew to change jobs, we decided I needed to give notice to my job. Due to IVF I'm just not able to work at this time- travel, meds, side effects, appointments- it's  just too much to be the consistent caregiver I need to be. I'm so pleased that my good friend Heather is going to be taking over and the family I love will be in good hands with her! For a girl who doesn't do well with change, this was a whole lot to deal with all within a matter of days, but we're so excited as they take place!

You Put What On Your Face???

I've always struggled with my skin- it's too oily in some parts and too dry in others, it breaks out, it's uneven, it's scarred... ugh and yuck! So years ago, I visited my dermatologist and started taking medication to fix all my skin woes. Now that I'm doing IVF I've had to stop taking it though (you can't be on it while pregnant) so I was faced with a real dilemma about what to do. I knew I couldn't take anything prescription so I started looking for other options and that's when I came across the Oil Cleansing Method.

I know, I know... rubbing oil on my already oily skin seems contradictory but I did a lot of research and it all started making sense:

• Oil dissolves oil.
• Oil itself doesn't create acne. Hormones, bacteria, and dead skin all build up together in our cells and cause acne.
• Your skin naturally tries to moisturize itself with oil and stripping that oil with cleaners causes it to overproduce more oil which then leads to breakouts (see point above again), which we treat with more oil-busting products, which causes more oil production, which makes more acne- you see the evil cycle.
• Easily removes all makeup products.
• Keeps skin soft, supple, and moisturized.
• Helps even out skin tone.
• 100% natural.
• Cheaper than buying facial products!

That's just the basic theory behind the madness. The method requires what's called a carrier oil (aka base oil or vegetable oil), such as Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Jojoba Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Sesame Oil, or Sunflower Oil. It's crucial that any oil you purchase be cold-pressed! Castor Oil is also great because its cleansing properties are so strong and it's able to get deep into the pores and draw out the bacteria and dead skin cells, however, its strength is also why it needs to be diluted with a carrier oil.

These oils can be mixed in different ratios based on your needs and skin type. Here's a link of some info that can help you know what you might use: Best Carrier Oil for Skin. Of course Google will provide you with much more information on any of these. Here's some sample ratios:

• Oily Skin: 2/3 Castor Oil to 1/3 Carrier Oil
• Normal Skin: equal parts Castor Oil to Carrier Oil
• Dry Skin: 1/3 Castor Oil to 2/3 Carrier Oil

And here's how you use them:

1. Prepare. Mix your oils in a small bottle ahead of time and have it ready (I picked my bottle up in the travel bin section of Target for $1). Set a clean washcloth beside the sink and turn the hot water on to warm up. 
2. Cleanse. No need for makeup remover! Rinse your face lightly with the warm, running water. Pour a small amount of oil (quarter size or less) in your hand and massage all over your face. 
3. Rinse. By now the water should be really hot (but not hot enough to burn you!) Soak your clean washcloth and apply it to your face until it cools (1 minute or so). This steaming process is critical to open the pores and allows the oil to seep in and draw everything out. Rinse the washcloth again and use it to gently wipe all the oil and makeup off your skin. Rinse your face a final time in cool water to close the pores and pat dry. 

It's that simple and you only need to do it once a day! I splash water on my face in the morning and wash my face in the evening (you can do it opposite but I have to take my makeup off at night anyways). You can add Essential Oils based on your skin type, too. After washing my face, I use Tea Tree Oil on a q-tip to spot treat any pimples and they dry up overnight. Essential Oils (such as Lavender, Rosemary, Jasmine, Orange, Mint, or Eucalyptus) can also be used to scent your new face wash.

Any time you change your skin routine it's possible that you may have a small breakout or two, but I hope I've opened your mind to something new, inspired you to learn more, and maybe even give it a try!

Links to the products I use:
Castor Oil
Jojoba Oil
Tea Tree Oil

Celebrating 29

My 29th birthday was on the 3rd and my family and Matt went above and beyond to help me celebrate this year! After a day at work, we opened presents over FaceTime with my parents and then headed out for Kara's Cupcakes and a sushi dinner (yes, in that order... it was my birthday after all!)

Every year I get to pick something special I want to do for my birthday and this year I chose the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We've been there once before, years ago when we were dating, for a day trip. It was especially fun to head back as a married couple! Matt also suggested that we stay in Carmel for the night and make a weekend of it- what a smart man!! Here's the birthday recap (click on any picture to see a larger view):

Birthday balloons are a tradition in our family and we always try to find the biggest, most obnoxious ones just for fun!

Thank you for the birthday cards!

Gift from Matt: Fossil watch in Rose Gold!

Gifts from my parents: Real Techniques makeup brushes, eyeshadow palette, and my favorite perfume!

My mom also included these (some of my favorites!)

(My makeup collection is getting bigger and bigger but I'm keeping it organized...of course)  ;)

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Our suite at the Hyatt Carmel

Another view of our room

Rainy day view off our balcony

Most ginormous tub ever! 

My dad taught me how to build awesome fires

Sorry for the sideways view, but we went out for an amazing seafood dinner in Carmel

The view we woke up to Sunday morning

We spent Sunday afternoon watching the Redskins game with our friends Justin and Sita (truthfully, they watched and I read a book. We all know I don't watch sports. Haha!), and they gave me a tasty Edible Arrangements bouquet which I promptly ate and therefore there are no photos.

Thanks everyone who sent me love on my birthday this year! xoxo

From My Heart

It’s that time of year where people look back over the last year and reflect on their blessings, while looking forward to the next with hope and promises of new tucked away in their pockets and hearts. Social media is littered with it- photo collages, lists, dreams, inspirational quotes, and favorite memories. And for the life of me I just can’t chime in.

It’s not that I’m not grateful for my blessings; indeed, I feel like they’re what’s kept me going these last days. But I’m struggling to feel something other than sadness. Struggling to find something that sounds good to eat, but thankful for a husband who stuffs me full of food anyways and has been cooking our meals. Struggling to get dressed, but thankful I have a closet full of things to wear. Struggling to leave the house, but appreciative of the wonderful job I have and a well-kept vehicle to get me there. But still, through everything, I’m struggling.

I never really expected a positive result on our first round of IVF. It happens, but it’s rare, so I held back hope. And then it was there. Staring me in the face. And my hope snuck up on me and bloomed full-force in my heart.

“Mama loves you, baby,” I quietly crooned. “Just keep growing, okay?”  I whispered while I marveled at our miracle. And I dreamed of our future as a family. But then, for reasons we don’t know, it just slipped away- right through our fingers and the nest of dreams I’d stitched together.

This has been one of the hardest times of my life and taking place during the holiday season has only intensified it. I haven’t been able to bring myself to look at or be excited for the blessings of others- the photos of beautiful children, new homes, and babies expected in 2013. For the first time in my life, I haven’t been able to bear the thought of holding a baby. The soft skin, sweet smell, and the small features are just too much of a reminder of our loss.  I’ve walked away crying after seeing the radiant glow and showing shape of pregnant friends. How can I be excited for someone else’s joys when I’m so lost in the grief of my own? How can I expect a woman who’s never struggled to get pregnant, or who’s never had a miscarriage, to understand the devastating loss of hope??? I feel like I’m left full of questions that never come with answers.

How is it that someone who wants a child more than anything- and for so long- can’t have a baby, yet other women abort their unwanted babies every day? I recently read a news story of a mother giving birth and leaving her baby to die in a field. My already broken heart breaks even more because there are programs in place to drop your baby off in a safe place with no questions asked, and yet instead this mother left her infant cold and abandoned in an empty field to slowly die. When your heart cries out at the loss of a hard-earned pregnancy and meanwhile other mother’s are simply throwing their children away, I can’t accept that “life is not fair.”

I cry and wonder how I can do this again. How I can do the shots, and pain, and side effects, and exams, and travel, and being away from Matt, and uncertainty, and cost, and devastation…and yet I know that I will because we have no other natural choice.

It’s hard to put this out there, especially to share from my heart and have people not read it, and then ask questions that are upsetting and hurtful. So I’m thinking about not going further with sharing this publicly and keeping our next round private whenever that time comes. The support that I’ve received from so many of you has been so helpful though that I’m reluctant to do so and haven’t decided quite yet. With that, I do want to say a big THANK YOU to those who have sent texts, private messages, and personal hugs to let me know you’re thinking of us and praying for our family. They’ve meant the world to me and helps me feel less alone during this time of struggle and loss. 

News

A few days ago the doctor called with a positive pregnancy test and today we went back to confirm that the baby was progressing and growing, unfortunately, the numbers showed that we were losing the baby and in a few days I will be having a miscarriage.

I don’t have much to say at this point. I’m devastated and my heart is broken. I wonder how I can do this whole process again, how my body and heart can stand it. But we will, we just don’t know when or how exactly.

I would have waited to share until I could process this a little more, but with the holidays we will be seeing lots of family and friends, whom I know will want to know and ask us. At this point, we’re not up for talking about it or answering any questions, but we truly value all of your love and support throughout this process and during this time.

Much love and Merry Christmas,

Team Scott

The 2ww

We're in what's known as the two week wait, or 2ww in the infertility world. It's been no picnic. I can barely form a coherent thought, so who knows what this post will turn out like. During this time I continue to flood myself with hormones to help the embryos stick and grow, and I'm finding there's a whole slew of unpleasant side effects that go with that.

#1. I'm constantly overly fatigued and barely able to keep my eyes open, yet when I head to bed, I can't fall asleep (and once I do, I toss and turn all night). 

#2. With each day I find myself getting more and more depressed. Not just hormonal, silly crying, but deep sadness, unhappiness, and melancholy. I just want Matt home and nothing else seems to help, although I love those dearly who have tried and been SO encouraging. 

#3. I get agitated very easily. Everything annoys me or frustrates me. I can't stand any TV show or song on the radio. Nothing sounds good to eat and I don't want to bother making anything. I thankfully haven't bitten anyone's head off, except for a few other drivers out there who didn't know they were getting my road-rage. 

#4. I constantly have a raging headache, which Tylenol doesn't help, and I can't take anything else. 

#5. I have a fever of 99.5, which is apparently normal, but still makes me feel like poo on top of everything else. 

#6. Let's just clump together dizziness, confusion, forgetfulness, nausea, bloating, cramps, acne, hair growth (only females will understand the annoyance of constant waxing and roots that seem to never go away), bruises from injections, and anxiety and panic like I haven't had in years.

Finally, my back pain is coming back and there's nothing to be done about it. 

There's still several days until we know if the transplant took, but until then, and especially as each day draws nearer, all I can think about is, "Did it work? Will this all be worth it? Or will I be starting from scratch and doing this again???"