Shampoo & Conditioner

I have been using shampoo and conditioner for a good 20 + years ... so this means for a good 20 + years, companies have been making the conditioner bottle the same size or smaller than the shampoo bottle.

THIS IS AN ISSUE.

I wish one, just ONE company would starting making the conditioner bottle larger than the shampoo. Everyone knows that if your a woman you use more conditioner than shampoo, and when the conditioner bottle is empty you still have another 10 shampoos or so left in the shampoo bottle.

For 20 years I can never seem to get it right, and trust me, I have tried to use a conservative amount of conditioner and a load of shampoo, but somehow, I always run out of conditioner long before the shampoo ever thinks of being finished.

I have tried all types of duos too... the cheapy stuff to middle of the road brands, and even the high-end break the bank types - it. does. not. matter. - I never have enough conditioner. Sometimes if I get a good sale on the middle of the roads brands, I will buy two conditioner to one shampoo... but of course we all know where this is going. Then I am left with excess conditioner and no shampoo.

Now I suppose it I had some brand loyalty then I could go out and get another shampoo to go with my half a bottle of left over conditioner, and then get more conditioner to go with my quarter of a bottle of shampoo, and then more shampoo to go with... well you can see how the cycle would go, but I don't like to use the same shampoo/conditioner duo over and over again. I have heard its not good for your hair, and I personally think shampoo and conditioner should be used like perfume - you need to switch it up every so often.

At our household... when the conditioner runs out, I just bail on the shampoo. I leave it on the counter for a few days, and sure enough PC comes along with his words of concern 'are you throwing this out' and a look of disgust when I nod yes. He often takes the left over shampoos for his hockey bag, because like most men, he only needs shampoo and isn't that picky on the brand when its for after hockey. So I guess... all is not lost!

However... this doesn't mean I still don't long for the day to purchase a 750ml bottle of shampoo with 1000ml bottle of conditioner, and at the end of a month, be left with two empty containers and a feeling of sweet satisfaction. Anyone else out there have the same troubles, or is it just me?

How could someone do this?

I woke up to the radio news this AM, and they reported on a story from LA where a family was found dead in there home after the husband/father shot and killed the entire family including himself. This family consisted of a mother, a husband, and five kids - including two sets of twins.

The radio reported that this murder-suicide was as a result of the couple losing their jobs during this economic crisis, and the father feeling that he had 'no other choice' but to end their misery.

I did some research on the story and found it here in the LA Times. There is much more to the story than the radio reports, the father and mother were let go because of misconduct not because of the economic situation, but nonetheless, it just makes me sick to think that a parent, any parent could rationalize killing his own children, 5 children - making it the best option for everyone.

I think what gets me even more is that he shot each child in the head... and that at some point during these horrific actions, some of the other children probably witnessed these events as a part of their last hours/minutes in this life.

I have no idea who this man is or what his life was like, but I think that what he did was such a selfish thing... if he wanted to take his own life because he couldn't deal with the stress of life - I guess he's entitled to decide that, but he has no right to make a life-ending decision on behalf of his wife and especially his 5 children.

I think this is in part my motherly rage now coming to light... but I really couldn't get back to sleep this AM after hearing this story. What is your take on it?

How old is your baby?

I seem to get this question a lot... 'how old is your baby?'

For the first few weeks of E's life, I would answer truthfully... he is X weeks... but at the 8 week mark, I converted to months... and I am now using 'almost' 4 months, or 'he was 3 months on the 5th' when he hasn't exactly reached another full month on the dot.

I really have hard time with Mom's who are hell bent on keeping the week count going for the first year of life, and then the one's who keep the month count going well into the toddler's second and third year of life.

I mean... I was an Arts major for a reason, because I wasn't quick with division, and it pains me when you ask how old someone else's child is and they reply with 'he's 33 months' and a straight face.

Are you kidding me?

The other day, a friend and I were out for lunch with our little ones... to which her little girl is 7 weeks (an acceptable count), and me with E, who is almost 4 months. The waitress was so taken by our little ones, and as she was seating us, she told us how cute they were... and then proceeded to say, 'I have a 22 month-old at home - they grow up so fast'!

22 months? What are we talking - dog years? In my head I am scrambling to do the math... let's see 12 months in a year... 12 and 12 are 24, 24 minus 2 is 22, so that makes this kid, 1 year and 10 months... which is practically 2 - why didn't she just say 2, or a year and a half?

I think a mother tends to get caught up in every little milestone her child achieves, so I guess it's easy to understand why some people choose to go the week and month route for so long... but it drives me a little bananas.

I know during pregnancy, I was a bit of hypocrite in this department, as people would ask me how far along I was and I would say 28 weeks or 32 weeks, but I would try to follow it up with a month count for clarification.

Maybe its my communications background that tells me to always communicate to the lowest common denominator - so that everyone has a chance at understanding. I'm not sure, but what I do know is that when 'I' ask you how old your child is... please, just give me the rough estimate, and save yourself from my famous eye roll and a smirk!

Bloggy Makeover!

Hold up... you don't need to go searching for the back button, you are indeed in the right place. I thought it was time for a little makeover here at From the Desk of Sara, so I asked for a little help from a creative mind (Becky Squire) and this is what she came up with.... polka dots and all!

I hope you like it... as I am really please with it!

If only all makeovers were this quick and painless!

Job Description - Parents

PC forwarded me an email... that I thought was cute/funny/true. If parenting were a position for hire in the real world... would you apply? Check it out!

POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :
Long term, team players needed, for challenging,
permanent work in an often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication
and organizational skills and be willing to work
variable hours, which will include evenings and
weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to
primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and
endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :
The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,
until someone needs $5.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a
pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in
three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from
the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,
such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish
toilets and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and
coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social
gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute,
an embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a
half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery
operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for
the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for the
quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and
janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :
None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for
years, without complaining, constantly retraining
and updating your skills, so that those in your charge
can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :
None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually
exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :
Get this!   You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18
because of the assumption that college will
help them become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary
scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish
you could only do more.

BENEFITS :
While no health or dental insurance, no pension,
no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and
no stock options are offered; this job supplies
limitless opportunities for personal growth,
unconditional love,and free hugs and kisses for life
if you play your cards right.

** AND A FOOTNOTE "THERE IS NO RETIREMENT  -- EVER!

What do you think... sounds like the worst job ever on paper, but I am pretty happy I got hired... how 'bout you?

Change has come to America!

Today... I was proud to be an American! Oh wait... I am not an American, but if I was, I would have been extremely proud to see Barack Obama be sworn into the White House. As a Canadian I am extremely proud and almost envious of the Americans who have the opportunity to be led by such an incredible person.

I don't follow American politics, but I stumbled across Mr. Obama a few years back on Oprah when he was promoting his 'The Audacity of Hope' book, and at that time I was very taken by him... his charisma, his character... everything about him is something Americans and people around the world will no doubt love in a president.

I actually got chills today listening to a few of his quotes from the inauguration speech...

"We remain a young nation, but in the words of scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."

"We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America. For everywhere we look, there is work to be done."

"To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

I loved listening to his speech... I wish that Canadian politics could be that moving! I had the same chills today that I had listening to Obama's 'Yes we can' speech back in November - seriously, this man has a gift to deliver powerful, moving, and inspiring speeches and I think it will be an honour to witness his run in the oval office.

As a side note, I loved a little snippet of a story that was on CNN... about Barack's daughter Malia ...

"The pressure on Obama to produce a speech for the ages not is limited to the public, Obama said. After a family visit to the Lincoln Memorial, which has Lincoln's second inaugural address inscribed on its walls, Obama's 10-year-old daughter, Malia, turned her father and said, "First African-American president -- better be good."

If my Dad was the president of the country, I think I would still have that same sacrastic attitude - I love it!

A morning conversation with E!

The wonderful world of blogging!

In the last few weeks or so, I, Sara Coleman, have become addicted to blog surfing. I am not sure if its a new Mom thing... or if its just me in general, but lately I have spent a lot of time surfing blogs and coming across some new ones I really enjoy.

You may have noticed my 'Blogs I like to PEEK at' list (to the right) has expanded quite a bit in the past few days... and that's because I have been lurking around other blogs and thoroughly enjoying it!

I am almost in awe of how many people blog - all types of people - some like me, some very different from me... some bad bloggers, and then of course some very good bloggers - much better bloggers than me (I know... your shocked, but believe it or not there are many a couple good writers out there who are better than I, and I'm not scared to own up to it!).

Since our purchase of the MacBook... I seem to spend a lot of my feeding time with E, just reading and clicking and reading more and more blogs.

Seriously... if you read my blog, then go to my list of blogs I read, and click one, any one blog... you'll find yourself at someone else place for five or 10 minutes, and then if you click just one, any one blog for their list of blogs they read, you arrive at another place... and then if you REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT... before you know it your baby is fed and fast asleep and your still checking out new blog after new blog after new blog! It's addicting and time consuming, yet wonderful and eventful all in the same breathe.

Sometimes if E is showing off and feeding without the assistance of both my hands, I can sometimes muster up enough patience to type out a one-handed comment on other blogs. I find myself commenting more and more these days as it feels like some form of adult contact when I can chip in on someone else's conversation rather than the one I have with E everyday where I ask him a question and answer for him and then ask myself a quesiton on his behalf and answer for me! Its A LOT of me talking to me all. day. long. so its nice to feel like I've participated in another coversation even if it doesn't require me to open my mouth (if PC is reading this - I am sure he's wondering how he get in on that... me giving my two cents without some much as a whisper)!

If your stopping by here today or in the past few days, because I have left a comment on your blog and you are wondering who the bleeeep is SC.. while it's just little old young and vibrant - under 30 - me.... Ottawa civil servant on mat leave, new mommy, wife, with a bit of mixed bag for a mouth piece! You never know what your getting over here... lately its been mostly Mommy stuff all. the. time. but I do hope to get back to my famous rants on underwear lines and Tim Horton's drive thru, money, customer service and all that fun stuff very soon.

But for now, I am just in sheer amazement of just how many GREAT blogs there are out there... how other peoples lives can seem so exciting compared to my own - especially on days when its -40 out in the middle of winter, and E and I are confined to the walls of our home!

I just want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the men and woman of the blogging world who take the time to update their blogs on an almost daily basis - for this cat on mat leave, who regularly surfs the net these days - I am LOVING you.

Keep up the good work and thanks for stopping by!

I love a good SWAP!

My birthday always signifies one thing to everyone: ONE MONTH UNTIL VALENTINE'S DAY!

I don't love V-DAY, its a pretty useless Hallmark holiday, but I do love that it initiates some sort of gift giving so soon after my b-day!

Over at Life of a Southern Belle, I stumbled upon a SWAP she is hosting for Valentine's Day.

She didn't specifically limited it to bloggers only, so I imagine anyone can play... so if you're interested - blogger or not - head on over there, and sign yourself up (by Friday)! Basically she will match you up with another participant... and you put together a little V-Day package for your partner... and mail it off to him/her for FUN!

I love putting these little packages together, mailing them off and waiting to see what the other person thinks of them. It's also a great way to connect with new bloggers... AND probably the number one reason I do it is to GET SNAIL MAIL. I love getting actual mail in my mail box ... I know that I will check the mail every day after January 27th (mailing deadline), with anticipation as I wait for my package to arrive.

So excited...!

If like getting mail and don't mind doing a little shopping to the tune of $25... get your name on the participant's list PRONTO!

Forever 29

It's the eve of my 29th b-day... and as I sit here on the couch, with the laptop, I'm feeling a little astonished, that I'll actually be 29 tomorrow. I mean I swear that I was just. seven. teen., with braces, playing basketball, learning how to drive, etc... yet somewhere along the lines I took an express bus through my twenties and have now arrived on the doorstep of 29 or dare I say (gasp!) 30.

Its officially my last year in my twenties... I will be as far gone into my 'late twenties' as anyone can get, and while this may bother some people, for me its actually quite exciting because I have someone new in my life to share it with.

My... how time flies.

10 years ago... turning 19 was a BIG deal... my last 'teen' birthday... not only was I the legal drinking age, but I think I had just ditched my high school boyfriend like a bad habit, and was ready to take the world by storm... finishing up my last year of secondary school, choosing a University to attend, and just letting loose (and boy did I ever let loose that year eh Mom!?!).

Now... 10 years later, I'm married to the man of my dreams, and have just experienced what life is really all about for me - being a Mom.

It's funny to think back when I entered my twenties... I couldn't foresee all that would happen by the time I turned the BIG 2-9. Heck... I almost chose to go to the University of Windsor over Ottawa U - and now looking back on things, if I had actually decided to go to Windsor and not Ottawa - nothing in my life would be what it is today.

I wouldn't have the same job, I wouldn't have met the girls from 130-O or many of my other wonderful friends, and I definitely wouldn't have met PC, married him, or had a baby with him (if I had went to Windsor I would probably be with some gangster from Deeeetroit Michigan and we'd be on the run... robbing houses and stealing cars)!

Who knew that by making one choice as I was approaching my twenties - the choice to go to Ottawa ... that it would really shaped how the rest of my twenties would go?

And without knowing it, that decision has allowed me to arrive at my 29th birthday, feeling very accomplished and content with my life.

Its crazy how life unfolds, isn't it?

Yes... this year of my life, is going to be unlike any other year in my twenties... not because its my last year in my twenties, but because this year is not about me, its about my little boy, and seeing the world through his eyes, experiencing things with him for the first time, and remembering how precious life really is.

This year is going to be fun and exciting, and in my mind, I know that it will be the best year of my life because of Little E.

Here's to being FOREVER 29!

Curling in HD!

Today I have been taking in the Casino Rama Skins Game on TSN... and I think its the first curling event I have ever seen in HD. I have to admit... it's AWESOME!

A few years ago when we got our HD TV, PC would often have this conversation with his male buddies.

Buddy: Did you see the football game yesterday?
PC: Ya, it was good.

Buddy: Ya, it was a great game... did you see when X made the play on Y, it was freakin awesome.
PC: It was awesome ... but you shoulda seen it in HIGH DEFINITION.

It was the running joke around our place ... I would often mock PC by saying 'but you shoulda seen it High Definition', after just about everything he talked about. It got old fast... and to be honest, I never really got what he meant by that line, as it all looked the same to me (probably because I don't like football, and don't pay attention to it either). But today when I turned the TV to TSN ... and skins game was in HD... well - I GOT IT.

HD and curling are a great match... all the games should be broadcast in HD. For me, it made me feel like you are practically on the ice. I have never before seen the actual pebble on the ice so clearly than on these broadcasts. I loved the crowd too... I saw a few people I knew in about the 10th row up... and I know I would have never recognized them without the HD.

From viewing the games in HD... I learned the following:

• Randy Ferbey has the face for radio (honestly... I knew he wasn't the greatest catch in the curling world, but queue the HD and all I can say is WOW)!
• HD is Johhny Mo's friend - he cleans up nicely!
• Dave Nedohin really fills out that uniform... he's obviously been to the gym in recent years.
  
• just how little hair Glenn Howard actually has on his head!
  
• what beautiful complexions JJ and her teammates have...
• Craig Savill put some effort into his faux hawk hairdo...
• Jill Officer was in need of some lip chap!
  

What I didn't need HD to tell me is that Tow Truck in a Box is available at Zellars - I figured that out after the first 20 commercials!!! I also didn't need HD to realize just how much I did not miss Linda and Ray in the non-curling season. I don't know what it is... but as the years roll on, they never seem to come to a broadcast with any new material. As you may recall, I am a bigger fan of CBC's Joan & Mike... Mike Harris says it like it is... and I love that. Ray and Linda are so monotone... and tonight if I hear them say 'its all about reading the ice' one more time .... honestly (even little E was rolling his eyes at them!)

However... for a new Mom being confined to the house on a Saturday, I was lovin TSN Curling (minus Linda & Ray) in HD!

In NEED of a Mommy Makeover!

Well... I am pretty sure the post-pregnancy/new mom glow has worn off by now, and I am in desperate need of Mommy Makeover. I say 'makeover' which in my books includes, hair, makeup, and wardrobe, but at this point I would really just take a haircut and some highlights - or as PC warns 'the MOM cut'!

If you can believe it... its been 6 months since my last haircut/highlights... 6 MONTHS, I kid you not. I think this is by far a record, since I usually pride myself in getting my hair done once every 2 to 3 months. The last time I had highlights and a cut was at the beginning of July (08). I am actually so embarrassed about my hair that I refuse to go back to the salon that did my hair pre-Mommyhood... they would most likely give me the same look from Pretty Woman the ladies on Rodeo Drive gave Julia Roberts in her hooker wardrobe.

Its funny... because a month ago, I looked in the mirror and thought to myself, WOW, my hair has really held up post-pregnancy... but CLEARLY the new mommy glow was blinding me, because when I look back at some picture before Christmas, it was AWFUL.

This week I see myself in the mirror and feel like spitting on it. My roots are a disaster... and my hair is so thick and shaggy, you would think I was 70s rock star wanna be!

I have had the same group of friends for 10 years, and we make the kind of promises to one another that we would sooooo tell the other person if she was starting to look a little run down... but either my friends are too afraid to approach the subject with me (for fear I would go postal on them) or they too have their blinders on... because not one of them has said anything to me!

I have made an appointment to remedy this situation on Sunday... and I can't wait! At least by the close of business Sunday I will have improved my new mommy self-esteem, just a wee bit! As for the wardrobe and makeup... that will have to come another time.

Did any of you experience the need makeover feeling after becoming a Mom.... when did you get your first Mom cut? How did it feel?

Photo Shoot

At the beginning of Decemeber I had a local photographer (thanks to the recommendation of Dal) come to the house to take some black and whites/sepia photos of E, in his infant state.

She was a really great photographer, laid back, easy going... and she took some really great shots of him, and a few with PC and I. E was so good the day she was here... he was perfect for about 45 minutes when she captured the majority of the shots.

Here are some of the results of the shoot... I used a few of the pics on our Christmas card this year... but never got around to posting some of the others.

I love all of them... perhaps you will too!

To see more ... click here!

3 Months... and on a ROLL!

E was three months old yesterday... 3 MONTHS!!! I feel like the time has flown by... and I am sure you will notice from the pics below that he is changing so much.

Yesterday, on his three month b-day, he rolled over in his crib, from his tummy to his back. It was a pretty big deal around here! Today he is not interested in putting himself to sleep in his crib at all, he is too busy practicing his new skill... holding his head straight up in, looking from side to side, and then rolling over on his back and laughing to himself!

This past month was a lot of fun. E is smiling all the time... sleeping lots, and starting to use and recognize his toys. His little personality is emerging more and more each day, and if there is trait he has yet to develop, its PATIENCE. He is very impatience these days (I wonder where he gets that from!), so I guess we will have to work on this as the months progress.

I have a feeling, that last month was an easy month, compared to what this month has in store for me... as my baby boy is officially on the move!

Here are a few pics of E... from the last month (excluding Christmas those will come in a seperate post hopefully)!

2008 A Year in Review

I did this last year... and I thought it worked well, so I am going to do it again (and probably every year).

It's the titles of a few posts from each month of the year.... that quickly sum up 2008 in a nutshell! If you only joined me half way through the year, this may be a good way to catch up on what you missed, and if you have been a faithful reader all along... this is just a quick refresher of what we've been through via this blog, during the past year.

So ... here we go, a quick look at 2008...:

January
-2008, The Year of Getting What I Want
-Mamma Mia
-Update from Sunny Punta Cana (Toubi & Vicki's Wedding)

February
-Rascal Flatts Concert
-Ba-hum-bug!(rant on Christmas lights)
-Déjà 20 ans! (Elizabeth Manley wins Olympic silver)

March
-The Big Storm
-T.O isn't such a bad place after all (trip to see good friends)
-It was a good Friday indeed! (Carrie Underwood concert)
-A picture is worth a thousand words! (Baby Coleman is on the way)

April
-Throwing Caution to the Wind (our decision to start a family)
-Random Grocery Store Sighting (spotted by one of my readers!)
-Baby Belly # 1 (first belly pic)
-Second Look at Baby Coleman (ultrasound #2)
-Grandparents are a gift! (remembering my grandparents)

May
-Prenatal Classes
-Baby Belly Update
-Back from the Big Apple (our trip to NYC)

June
-A trip to Yankee Stadium
-Snapshots from Halifax
-A new addition to the family (our new Escape)
-Here's a tip (find out the sex of the baby!)

July
-Belly Update #3
-And the rings come off!
-PC's Big 3-0 Party!
-Baby Coleman @ 30 weeks
-A letter to my first born
-King-Nelles Wedding, Evolution of Dance

August
-Nesting
-I thought breastfeeding was the cheaper option

September
-Belly Update 36 weeks
-Not working... weird (maternity leave begins)
-Presenting Baby Coleman's Bedroom Suite
-The last child free anniversary (PC & I celebrate our 3rd Ann.)
-Overdue: Day 1

October
-Our New Baby Boy!
-My Labour Story
-Happy Halloween (E's first)

November
-Things I have learned in a month (E is 1 month old)
-Phantom Crying
-Easy my ass!

December
-Household appliance meltdown
-2 months and counting
-Malls, strangers, and shopping with a baby!
-Christmas Traditions
-Merry Christmas

Well... there you have it! 2008 here and gone. It was an exciting year... there have been lots of highs this year ... a trip down south, finding out PC and I were having a baby, our trip to New York City, pregnancy in general but none as exciting as the arrival of my baby boy, and and being a new Mom... nothing will compare to 2008 for these reasons, but I am looking forward to 2009 and everything it has to offer!

Cheers to '09!

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2009!

Wishing each of you health, happiness and prosperity throughout the year.

Regular blogging to resume shortly... complete with holiday update & 2008 year-in-review!