Megan Sharma's Blog: The Savvy Surgeon's Wife

Warm holiday wishes to you and yours

12/20/2017

Happy holidays from the Sharma family! Photo by Josh Cuzzort

Hello, there! I just wanted to take a moment away from the craziness to wish you and your family a joyous holiday season.

Okay, yes, I’ll admit it – I’m also procrastinating on making my final recipe and grocery list for hosting both sides of our family in our home over Christmas. Let’s just say that the list will not be short.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I look forward to catching up with you in 2018.

Cheers to the season! Photo by Josh Cuzzort

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Parenting Life: I Can’t Feel Guilty if…(Holiday Edition)

11/22/2017

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So, what is up with this whole GUILT thing?

Where did it come from? Why is it so hard to shake?

Why do I feel the need to write a blog about it to absolve my conscience?

I don’t have the answers to these questions. I can only assume that guilt is fundamental and unique to the human experience.

I mean, think about it.

When a squirrel sees that their neighbor squirrel has just been blessed with a whole tree full of baby squirrels, do you think they feel guilty if they can’t swing by with a homemade acorn pie?

NO. They do not. Because they are squirrels.

The moral of the story: we might be just a tad saner if we aimed to live life more like the squirrels, and delete ‘should’ from our vocabulary.

Here we go. Here’s my attempt to shake off some of that guilt.

Join me, won’t you?

As a parent and an ordinary human being, I can’t feel guilty if…

Photo by Christopher.Michel on Visual hunt / CC BY

It’s not homemade

I don’t make an appearance at the gym

Our laundry seems to spontaneously multiply

The best I can do is take-n-bake pizza

I spend two hours getting my hair done every eight weeks

Facebook reminded me it was your birthday today. I can’t remember everyone’s birthday without a little help.

I take a nap instead of picking through my basement for Goodwill donations

I ‘accidentally’ eat six Reese’s peanut butter cups and four Kit Kat bars in rapid succession

I order Thanksgiving dinner from the local grocery store

We moved in 2.5 years ago and still aren’t 100% unpacked

Photo by emmajanehw on VisualHunt.com / CC BY

I didn’t participate in the school potluck, because it was inconvenient, and I just didn’t feel like it

I save too many useless receipts

I go a little nuts at TJ Maxx…on the regular

I resort to a movie to keep my toddler busy

If (when) I don’t have a perfect body

I’m a month behind on pedicures

I post photos on Facebook immediately or months later, and nothing in between

The meal delivery service meals sit in the refrigerator untouched, alongside takeout leftovers, because it’s been that kind of week

I show up an hour late to the party. Okay, I do feel a bit guilty, but my kid was napping.

SPILL IT! What are you no longer going to feel guilty about? Leave a comment!

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15 Incredible Thanksgiving Hacks that Save Time and Energy

10/20/2017

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Thanksgiving is child’s play, right?

You simply prepare and serve a harvest-themed feast for a massive group of ‘eclectic’ relatives while keeping your home spotless and your children off the America’s Most Wanted list.

You tastefully decorate in shades of burnt sienna and copper. You burn pumpkin spice latte scented candles.

You do NOT burn your house down. I repeat – do not burn your house down. This is not part of the plan. Keep a watchful eye on that oven.

Each of your seven gourmet, scratch-made pies are ready to go before your guests arrive.

You, dear hostess, have already showered and even bothered to put on lipstick and some jewelry. The host donned a pair of pants. You’re ready to rock.

Even though more than half of your guests never officially RSVP’d, you’re prepared.

There is seating for everyone, including the dogs that are apparently coming to dinner. Because…these dogs cannot be left alone. Whatever.

All that is left to do is enjoy lively, non-political conversation and bask in the glow of your own awesomeness?

Ummm…Yeah…If you didn’t detect my overwhelming sarcasm, I’ll let you in on the secret: Thanksgiving only goes like this in your dreams!

Here are 15 awesome Thanksgiving hacks that save time and energy – For REAL people

1. Get thee a bucket.
Visit any home improvement store to purchase a 5-gallon all-purpose bucket, which you can use to brine your turkey for ultimate flavor satisfaction. Just don’t use your bucket for this, for the love of God. And check ahead of time that the bucket fits inside your fridge, or plan to store it in your garage if temperatures are cold enough.

2. Chop your chopping time.
Rather than spending hours chopping everything yourself, visit the fanciest grocery store salad bar you can find and load up on pre-chopped goodness: onions, celery, peppers, bacon, whatever you need.

3. Sleep on it.
Set your Thanksgiving table the night before, so you’re not scrambling at the last minute. You can also do this with your Thanksgiving dinner outfit by choosing and then laying it out.

4. Print to prep.
Print all your recipes before T-Day, and arrange them in order of preparation timing. You may even like to secure the printouts to your kitchen cabinets with painter’s tape to keep the flow going while you cook.

5. Got fridge space?
When you’re feeding a crowd, it’s tough to find enough space to stow all that food until meal time. If you don’t have an extra refrigerator to act as a pinch hitter, lug out your summer cooler and fill it with pre-prepped Thanksgiving food or any food currently taking up too much room in your fridge.

6. Put your crockpot(s) to work.
Your slow cooker is a great place to stash those perfectly buttery mashed potatoes or sugary sweet potatoes in a warm and cozy environment without sacrificing a stovetop burner. You could even warm green beans or stuffing in the crockpot on keep warm mode.

7. You’d butter try this.
Oh yeah, I went there. Instead of manually cutting in butter for biscuits and pie crusts, grate that butter stick right into the mix.

8. Roll with it.
My mom taught me this trick (because she is THE GREATEST!). To roll perfect pie or biscuit dough without the mess, grab a piece of parchment paper about the size you’ll eventually want the pie to be, and put it on top of your dough ball. Then roll it out with the parchment between the rolling pin and the dough. It works like a charm.

9. Create your own pie weights.
If you’re baking pie, you will need some sort of pie weight to prevent the shell from puffing up during pre-baking. Pie weights are expensive and rarely used. Instead, line the dough with foil or wax paper and use dried beans, uncooked rice or uncooked pasta to do the job.

10. Get a jump on dessert.
It’s just not realistic to have fresh pies right out of the oven after you’ve already cooked enough for the whole neighborhood. Make your pumpkin or pecan pies a day or two ahead of time and keep refrigerated. You can do the same with cranberry sauce. On the big day, remove from the fridge and let the pies come to room temperature.

11. Make an organic turkey rack.
You don’t need a fancy-schmancy roasting rack for your turkey. Elevate your poultry on a chunky bed of carrots, celery and quartered onions. The flavor addition is a nice bonus.

12. Keep that gravy warm.
This is pure genius: keep that luscious gravy warm in an insulated mug/thermos until serving time, then transfer it to a gravy boat.

13. Save your dry bird.
If you overdid it on the turkey, don’t beat yourself up. Just drizzle it with warm chicken broth to bring back moisture and add flavor.

14. Pretend your guests are your temporary personal assistants. Think of a few easy, out-of-the-way tasks that can be done by guests who (inevitably) ask how they can help. Examples: filling water glasses, opening wine bottles, taking coats and purses to a designated area, passing appetizers, entertaining kids, smuggling vodka to you on the sly. What? Who said that?

15. Get your gourd on.
No official ice bucket for your white or sparkling wine? Carve out the inside of a pumpkin (no, not your spongy Halloween leftovers—a fresh one, dude). Throw a glass or metal bowl in there if it will fit. Add ice. Add alcohol. Voila! Festive pumpkin ice bucket.

Onward, Thanksgiving experts! On this day, ye shall reign supreme.

What Thanksgiving tips and tricks do you swear by? Leave a comment!

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Cruise with kids: 20 secrets to a successful family cruise with toddlers (baby/toddler travel guide series)

9/18/2017

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Dreaming of a family cruise? You’ve come to the right place.

We recently took our first cruise as a family from Seattle to Alaska, and it was spectacular!

Since I love to share family travel tips, I’m spilling all our seafaring secrets on the subject.

First, check out my advice for nabbing a killer deal and for entertaining your toddler on your cruise.

Now, here are 20 more secrets to totally nailing your family cruise experience:

Planning your trip
1. Request a Pack N Play or portable crib for your room, if you need one.

2. Choose open seating for dinner. Some nights you’ll end up at the buffet, some you will make it to the formal dining room (call ahead for reservations). And other nights you may be seasick and order room service (been there, done that!).

3. Splurge on a room with a balcony so that you can sit outside and revel while your toddler naps or sleeps for the night (be sure to bring an audio monitor).

4. Bring your e-reader so that you can read in the dark while your toddler snoozes.

5. Keep your kiddo’s stuff organized with packing cubes like the ones from Eagle Creek. We use these for every trip for our daughter and for ourselves! Simply throw them in the closet or drawer and you won’t have to worry about piles of clothes forming everywhere.

6. Pack a favorite blanket or stuffed animal to help nap and bed time go more smoothly.

7. Bring a lightweight and compact stroller for excursions and walks around town. We currently use the Chico Liteway stroller and used the Summer Infant 3D Lite stroller when our daughter was younger. The Summer Infant model is perfect for younger, lighter kids but the Chico works better after 18 months or so, and handles better on corners.

Food and milk
8. The easiest way to get your toddler’s milk is to grab a few cartons from the buffet once or twice a day, and then store them in your in-room fridge. On Holland America Line, they keep the milk out at the breakfast buffet, and then at lunch and dinner you can ask for it at the ice cream station.

9. You could also order milk via room service (although this generally takes 30-45 minutes).

10. If you’re grabbing a latte for yourself, you can also get milk from the café.

11. Make peace with the fact that your kid is going to consume a ton of sugar, as will you. Just try to avoid it right before sleeping time.

12. That said, chocolate milk or the chocolates from your nightly turndown service can be your biggest bargaining chips with your toddler!

While on board
13. Take advantage of toddler nap time by getting some reading or work done, or snooze along with them.

14. If your child is not yet potty-trained, beware that Holland America Line has zero changing tables in bathrooms, at least on the Oosterdam ship. When it was time for a diaper change, we went back to our room every time.

15. Don’t expect to catch any of the evening entertainment (8:00 pm or later), unless you have babysitters traveling with you or the cruise line offers babysitting services.

16. Use the on-board laundry services to pack lighter. For $20 on Holland America Line, you get a fully stuffed bag and each piece is promptly washed, dried and ironed to perfection.

17. If the dining room is too crowded or you need a change of scenery, plan to eat by the pool.

18. Your toddler will love the towel animals created by your room stewards. See if they can guess which animal they’ll meet next.

19. Take family photos on board, but expect some your toddler to make silly faces in them.

20. Even if you don’t like to go crazy with shopping, you can look for a special book that your child will treasure for years to come, like “Goodnight Alaska”, and you can always find room in your suitcase and budget for magnets.

All set to go exploring? Me, too! See you on the flip side.

*Author’s note: these opinions are my own based on my personal experiences. I have not been paid to endorse any businesses, products or services in this blog

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Cruise with kids: Travel tips for cruising with toddlers (baby/toddler travel guide series)

8/31/2017

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Ya’ll! We just returned from the most dazzling family vacation: a cruise from Seattle to Alaska!

We saw dozens of whales throughout the trip (Humpbacks and Orcas), thousands of jellyfish while kayaking a hidden cove in Sitka, and a handful of majestic Bald Eagles in the wild. The massive Hubbard Glacier was breath-taking. It was all pretty drool-worthy, I must admit.

Photo by Megan Sharma. Secret kayaking launch point in Sitka, Alaska.

Photo by Megan Sharma. View of the Hubbard Glacier in Alaska.

As usual, we brought along our toddler, who has already accompanied us to Spain, Ireland and Mexico, but who had yet to board a cruise ship.

In this blog series, I’ll share everything I learned from the experience of cruising with a toddler.

Cruise with kids: Travel tips for cruising with toddlers

Part 1: Get the Best Cruise Deal

IMPORTANT: Before you book anything, check the age requirements of the cruise line you are considering. Most will only accept children six months and older as of the first day of the cruise. For some itineraries, such as transatlantic, transpacific, Hawaii, or otherwise, children must be at least 12 months of age at the start of the cruise.

Also check any passport requirements. If your cruise docks outside of the U.S. or its territories, you and your children will need a passport. See my advice on traveling internationally with your baby or toddler here.

Obviously, you’ll want to secure the very best deal for your cruise. I subscribe to Travelzoo, which features Top 20 deals every Wednesday. This is how I found our Alaskan cruise on Holland America for a fantastic price with tons of bonuses, through Prestige Cruises.

To be honest, I was initially nervous about booking through Prestige Cruises, since I hadn’t heard of them and the package almost seemed too good to be true. However, I was assured by Travelzoo that all their deals are verified.

So, we made out like bandits: upgrade from a balcony to a signature suite, two free beverage packages (normally $700/person), free gratuities, third and fourth guest free (this paid for our toddler), and a whopping $350 in on board credits, which can be used for spa treatments, photography, excursions, and more. Normally, you’d be lucky to get $200 in on board credits.

I recommend holding out for that third and fourth guest free promotion, otherwise you will have to pay for your children separately at the same price as an adult.

You can also take advantage of Wave Season deals, which typically run between January and March. Last-minute deals can also add immense value to your experience.

Next Time: Plan Toddler Activities and Entertainment for your Cruise

Watch for Part 2 of this series, which will outline strategies for keeping your toddler happy and busy on board!

Photo by Megan Sharma. Downtown Juneau, Alaska.

*Author’s note: these opinions are my own based on my personal experiences. I have not been paid to endorse any businesses, products or services in this blog

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Vacation time! Why I’m actually vacationing on my vacation

8/14/2017

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Your first question should probably be, ‘Why is this even a question, the whole vacationing on your vacation thing?’.

To which I say, EXACTLY! Why is it a question?

At what point did it become socially acceptable, nay, silently required, to work through one’s time off?

I’ve been struggling with this over the last few weeks as I’ve tried to cram a month’s worth of work into a week.

This summer has been the usual whirlwind, plus daily swimming lessons, a few trips, tons of writing and a hyper-focus on social media as part of my efforts to win a book deal.

I’ve been working. Hard. Constantly. Most of the day and then as soon as my daughter goes to bed for the night—weekends included.

I can’t remember the last time I just relaxed and did nothing in the evening.

I know, I know…this sounds like the whole ‘I’m SO busy and important’ spiel, but it’s not.

The point is, I deserve a vacation, and since I actually have one just around the corner, I am going to take it.

Am I under the gun to make my ‘author platform’ happen? Yes, I am. Am I going to be gone for the rest of August and then traveling again in early September? Yup, you betcha.

But without time to relax and recharge I fear that both my inspiration and my motivation will dwindle to nothing.

And that’s the last thing I want.

So, yes. All this rambling does have a conclusion.

I’m going on vacation with my family, and I am damn well going to enjoy it (Seattle and an Alaskan cruise, woop woop!).

I’ll be right back on the blog come early September, ready to dazzle you with my wit and prose.

Until then, I encourage you to find your beach!

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<<Previous

Warm holiday wishes to you and yours

Parenting Life: I Can’t Feel Guilty if…(Holiday Edition)

15 Incredible Thanksgiving Hacks that Save Time and Energy

Cruise with kids: 20 secrets to a successful family cruise with toddlers (baby/toddler travel guide series)

Cruise with kids: Travel tips for cruising with toddlers (baby/toddler travel guide series)

Vacation time! Why I’m actually vacationing on my vacation

The Savvy Surgeon's Wife Blog

Categories

Archives

Warm holiday wishes to you and yours

Parenting Life: I Can’t Feel Guilty if…(Holiday Edition)

15 Incredible Thanksgiving Hacks that Save Time and Energy

Cruise with kids: 20 secrets to a successful family cruise with toddlers (baby/toddler travel guide series)

Cruise with kids: Travel tips for cruising with toddlers (baby/toddler travel guide series)

Vacation time! Why I’m actually vacationing on my vacation

The Savvy Surgeon's Wife Blog

Categories

Archives

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