Ya'll, it's been 5 years since I started writing The Savvy Surgeon's Wife blog!

I cannot believe how the years have flown by. 

To celebrate, I'm sharing the top 40 most popular Savvy Surgeon's Wife blogs on writing, work, parenthood, travel, and being married to medicine. Dig in, it's going to be a fun one!

Travel

​Vacation fun: 44 things you only do when you're on vacation or holiday

Baby/toddler travel guide series: what to pack

Baby/toddler travel guide series: going international

Why travel? 9 reasons I will never stop traveling

Cruise with kids: Entertainment strategies that keep the whole family happy (baby/toddler travel guide series)

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

Your insider Seattle trip planner: lodging (where to stay) and getting around (rental car or no rental car?)
​
An insider’s guide to Seattle’s Pike Place Market

I’m about as Type A as they come, so this is difficult for me to come to terms with: pregnancy is utterly exhausting, and it’s time for me to start slowing down a bit.
 
In a little less than 10 weeks, I’ll be having my second child. My husband, daughter and I are thrilled to welcome another baby girl into the world in December.
 
Here’s the problem – I’ve been beating myself up internally about all the things I should be doing with my writing and book promotion, on social media, around the house, and in preparation for our growing family, even though it’s physically impossible for me to tackle everything on my to-do list.
 
I’m at the point where it’s an extreme challenge just to put on my own shoes (aside from flip flops, standing up, of course).
 
Heartburn strikes at all hours, regardless of what I’ve eaten.
 
A daily nap is a must.
 
If I get two hours of writing work done on any given day, that’s a major win.
 
I’m now completely useless in the evenings, when I previously tied up loose ends and caught up on whatever I didn’t have time for during the day.
 
But, you know what? I also published a book while pregnant.
 
I suffered through months of debilitating nausea and still managed to complete and publish a freaking book – doing everything but the cover design and professional editing myself.
 
I’ve been interviewed on a podcast, in a local magazine, and for my business email and grammar expertise. 

And I also managed to care for a three-year-old and a surgeon hubby on top of it all.
 
I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in 2018.
 
Now I’m choosing to shift my own paradigm – altering the expectations I have for myself.
 
The reality is that I have about 2-4 hours of quality energy in my personal tank every day. Rather than moaning and groaning or denying this fact, I am going to start using that time wisely.
 
I will NOT waste energy obsessing over what I should be doing. I will NOT waste energy feeling guilty.
 
Instead, I’m going to enjoy this time that I will never get back: quality 1:1 time with my daughter and husband, and the joys of nesting and preparing for a new baby.
 
Ultimately, this means I’ll be taking an extended break from this blog, as well as social media.
 
I’ll be revving down instead of up so that I can focus on my family and stay sane and healthy.
 
I’ll be recharging my batteries so that I can enter this next exciting phase of life and give it my all.
 
I’ll share this journey with you, my readers, as time and energy allow.
 
In the meantime, I wish you all the best and brightest! If you need me, I'll probably be sleeping (while I can!). 

Anyone who creates social media content for a brand or business knows that content is king.
 
Anyone with social media marketing savvy also knows that it’s not a one-sided affair: the goal of social media is to engage with people (namely: your fans and customers).
 
To keep things interesting, I’ve created this ultimate cheat sheet of 150 social media post ideas that get the conversation rolling.
 
HR professionals and trainers may like to try these ideas as icebreakers or get-to-know-you prompts for meetings, trainings, and events.
 
Keep things polished by using Pablo by Buffer or Canva to create free images for your social media posts.
 
Any way you spin it, your social media calendar will be full in no time!
 
150 social media post ideas to steal right now for your brand or business

This or that

1.  Coke or Pepsi?
2.  Cats or dogs?
3.  Coffee or tea?
4.  Books or music?
5.  Ice skates or roller blades?
6.  Train, plane, or car?
7.  Pie or cake?
8.  Beach or mountains?
9.  Procrastinate or get it done now?
10.  Pancakes or waffles?
11.  Morning person or night person?
12.  Text or call?
13.  Library or museum?
14.  Summer or winter?
15.  Spring or fall?
16.  Chocolate or vanilla?
17.  Rain or snow?
18.  Comedy or drama?
19.  Burger or hot dog?
20.  Reading or writing?
21.  Skiing or snowboarding?
22.  Pool or ocean for swimming?
23.  Sweet or salty?
24.  Alaska or Hawaii?
25.  Shower or bath?
26.  Pasta or pizza?
27.  Candy or chocolate?
28.  Sleep or gym?
29.  Scones or cinnamon rolls?
30.  Eggs--scrambled, sunny side up, or fried?
31.  Monopoly or Life?
32.  Villain or superhero?
33.  Milkshake or ice cream sundae?
34.  Chipotle or Qdoba?
35.  Cooking or takeout?
36.  Swim with dolphins or sharks?
37.  Rice or potatoes?
38.  Beer or wine?
39.  City or country?
40.  Nachos or cheese fries?

Fill in the blank

41.  The women who have most influenced me are _________
42.  If I could go anywhere in the world right now, I would go to _________
43.  The best way to relax after a long day is _________
44.  _________always makes me feel inspired
45.  The best afternoon snack is _________
46.  I've lived in _________ cities in my life
47.  I laugh every time I think about _________
48.  _________ is the most annoying celebrity on the planet
49.  _________is the best quality in a partner/mate
50.  _________ always cheers me up
51.  I just called (texted) to say _________
52.  _________is the most hilarious person ever
53.  _________ does NOT belong in a salad
54.  I think children are _________
55.  I have never _________
56.  I love it when _________
57.  My idea of beauty is _________
58.  The most important decision I ever made was _________
59.  There is nothing I enjoy more than _________
60.  I really look up to _________

Playing favorites

61.  Favorite quote?
62.  Favorite food--the one you could eat any day of the week?
63.  What is your all-time favorite movie?
64.  Favorite ice cream flavor?
65.  Favorite toppings to add to pizza?
66.  Favorite comfort food?
67.  Favorite 80s movie?
68.  Favorite animated movie?
69.  Favorite music artists?
70.  Favorite sport to watch?
71.  Favorite sport to play?
72.  Favorite holiday?
73.  What's your favorite dish to cook?
74.  Favorite sports teams?
75.  Favorite place to shop?

Blast from the past

76.  Confess: who were your teenage celebrity crushes?
77.  How long have you known your best friend, and how did you meet?
78.  How did you keep in touch before the days of social media?
79.  What's the most embarrassing thing you did in high school?
80.  What's your favorite childhood memory?
81.  As a teenager, how did you spend your summers?
82.  What was your very first job?

Travel and leisure
​
83.  What would you do on a 'stay-cation'?
84.  What do you love most about travel?
85.  What do you hate most about travel?
86.  Do you have a passport? If so, what countries have you visited?
87.  What's your favorite thing to do on a plane?
88.  What's the best or craziest road trip you've ever been on?
89.  What destination is your favorite (so far)?
90.  What destination is on the top of your bucket list?
91.  What can't you travel without?
92.  When you travel, what do you miss most about home?
93.  Which country has the friendliest people?
94.  What's the longest you've ever been away from home?
95.  How do you document your travels?
96.  What's your top travel tip?
97.  When you travel, do you follow a schedule or go with the flow?
98.  Window or aisle seat?
99.  What's the longest plane ride you've ever been on?

Reading

100.  What are you reading right now?
101.  What were some of your favorite books as a child?
102.  What super popular book that everyone else loved did you seriously hate?
103.  It's a day of the week that ends in 'day'. Are you reading?
104.  Where do you most often find yourself reading (bed, bus, hammock, etc.)?
105.  What are you typically wearing while reading?
106.  What's your reaction when someone buys you a book?
107.  Would you rather read the book or watch the movie adaptation?
108.  What's your opinion on e-books vs. traditional paper books?
109.  You are stranded on a desert island. Would you rather have a pocket knife or a huge stack of books?
110.  What's your worst reading habit?
111.  Who are some of your favorite fictional characters?
112.  Who are your favorite authors?

Random questions

113.  What is the strangest thing your purse or wallet right now?
114.  Who is your celebrity doppelgänger (lookalike)?
115.  Which TV family is most like your own?
116.  What's the best compliment you've ever received?
117.  If you had 3 magic wishes, what would they be? (let's skip 'money' and 'more wishes', shall we?)
118.  Name a song that best reflects your current mood
119.  Are you a lucky or unlucky person?
120.  Confess: Do you sing in the shower?
121.  Are you crafty? What's the coolest thing you've ever made?
122.  What's your dream job?
123.  If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
124.  Describe yourself in only 3 words

Have you ever...?

125.  Been to Europe?
126.  Ridden on a motorcycle?
127.  Lived in another state?
128.  Met a celebrity?
129.  Been to a Disney park?
130.  Planted a garden?
131.  Run a marathon?
132.  Climbed a mountain?
133.  Ridden in a limousine?
134.  Been through a natural disaster (earthquake, tornado, hurricane, wild fire, flood, etc.)?
135.  Driven a riding lawn mower?
136.  Spoken a second language?
137.  Played a musical instrument?
138.  Sang or danced in public?
139.  Been on a college sports team?
140.  Sang karaoke?
141.  Driven a go kart?
142.  Gone skydiving?
143.  Gone bungee jumping?
144.  Ridden in a helicopter?
145.  Broken a bone?
146.  Stayed up all night?
147.  Been on the radio or on TV?
148.  Helped someone who was in danger?
149.  Laughed so hard you spit out your drink?
150.  Won a contest? 

What are your favorite social media post questions? Share them in the comments!

You may also like these blogs by Megan Sharma:
The newbie’s guide to optimizing blog SEO in 10 easy steps
Writing tips: What I want to blog about vs. what I actually blog about
Try this new, no-brainer social media tool to support an author: Thunderclap
It's Here! Get My Free E-Book: 100 of Your Toughest Business Emails: Solved on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks and more
Business Email Etiquette: 50 Things You Should Never Say in a Work Email
Writing Quiz: What Percent Writing Genius Are You?
On The Write Life: 18 Ways to Support an Author (Besides Buying Their Book)
On The Write Life: Get Inspired! 20 Writers to Follow on Twitter
Book cover design: How I developed a concept for my indie author book cover
On The Write Life: 17 Incredible Possibilities if Writers Ran The World
For writers: All your writing fears, squashed!
A real, imperfect day in the life of a writer: me
Boss baby: 22 traits shared by 2-year-olds and bad bosses
Writing tips: Cutting down on word fat and other newsletter best practices 
Writing tips for email: In 30 seconds, this message will self-destruct 
Public speaking tips: How to move your audience from callous to captivated

Today's blog post is an entertaining little quiz to test your writing and grammar skilllzzzz. 

In only 10 short questions, you'll know exactly what percent writing genius you are. 

Share it with your friends, compare stats, and earn bragging rights. 

Good luck, and have fun!

PS - Feel free to share your quiz results (without the answers) in the comments!

Take the quiz:

You may also like these blogs by Megan Sharma:
Try this new, no-brainer social media tool to support an author: Thunderclap
Book cover design: How I developed a concept for my indie author book cover
BIG NEWS! I’m self-publishing my memoir in 2018. Here’s why…
On The Write Life: 12 Traits Bad Writers and Toddlers Have in Common
On The Write Life: 18 Ways to Support an Author (Besides Buying Their Book)
On The Write Life: 17 Incredible Possibilities if Writers Ran The World
On The Write Life: Get Inspired! 20 Writers to Follow on Twitter
Article on The Write Life: Think Like a Journalist to Improve Your Writing (Trench Coat Optional!)
One year after my major career change from full-time mom to full-time writer: reflections and lessons learned
For writers: All your writing fears, squashed!
A real, imperfect day in the life of a writer: me
Your writing conference checklist: how to make it worth every minute and every penny (takeaways from the 2017 San Francisco Writers Conference)
Writing tips: Cutting down on word fat and other newsletter best practices 
All about writing: writing 'til it hurts

This month on The Write Life, a trusted resource for the business and craft of writing, I'm drawing inspiration from real life. 
​
Specifically, on life with a toddler and as a writer, and where the two paths intersect.

So, what do toddlers and bad writers have in common? 

You'll have to read the article to find out. If you're a parent, writer, or both -- this one is not to be missed.

Find all of my articles on The Write Life here.  

You may also like these blogs by Megan Sharma:
On The Write Life: 18 Ways to Support an Author (Besides Buying Their Book)
On The Write Life: 17 Incredible Possibilities if Writers Ran The World
On The Write Life: Get Inspired! 20 Writers to Follow on Twitter
Article on The Write Life: Think Like a Journalist to Improve Your Writing (Trench Coat Optional!)
How to be the perfect friend: a guide for the ladies
Writing tips: What I want to blog about vs. what I actually blog about
One year after my major career change from full-time mom to full-time writer: reflections and lessons learned
For writers: All your writing fears, squashed!
A real, imperfect day in the life of a writer: me
Your writing conference checklist: how to make it worth every minute and every penny (takeaways from the 2017 San Francisco Writers Conference) 
The write stuff: An author’s favorite books and authors 
Writing tips: Cutting down on word fat and other newsletter best practices 
All about writing: writing 'til it hurts 

Congratulations to the winners of my Book Release Date Giveaway, and many thanks to everyone who participated!

Winners will be notified via email. 
​
Exciting news on two release dates coming soon:

1. Paperback edition of "100 of Your Toughest Business Emails: Solved"
2. Digital edition of "Memoirs of a Surgeon's Wife"

​Stay tuned to this blog for more info!