BBB - Baby, Books and Bumbo Seat

For years 4 pm has been my favorite time of the day . Once upon a time it used to be "chai time" . These days reading books to my 2 month old is the new 4 pm ritual. It is undoubtedly my favorite activity of the day . And hers( baby K ) too. She simply enjoys this time . 

Typically she is in her bumbo seat . I sit across from her and read the books aloud. I sometimes read the same book over and over again. It is never annoying but in fact a shared enjoyment . It is fun to watch as baby K gazes at the colorful pages with a sparkle in her tiny eyes . I intentionally turn the pages slowly so that she gets a good glimpse.  At times she smiles and coos as if she understands each and every word I read to her . It is a special bonding time for us. I see a curious little soul and a budding reader in the making. 

I encourage all parents out there to read to your babies. Reading not only improves speech and vocabulary but also helps develop a special bond . Your little ones love to hear you talk. They enjoy the rhythmic reading and listening to intonations. If you are wondering about the benefits of reading to your little one check out the AAP statement too.

 Recommendations by baby K for a starter library  - 

1. Brown Bear ,  Brown Bear , What do you see? - Bill Martin Jr/ Eric Carle

2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle

3. Goodnight moon - Margaret Wise Brown

Working Physician Mom

Every working mom needs advice and support .This makes the transition into the new phase of life very smooth. I am glad I have a guiding star.

I met her during my residency . She was a year ahead of me . I spoke to her once I matched at the program. And our bond of friendship grew stronger and stronger since. 

During residency we always spoke about our future over chai time and occasional dinners . We shared our thoughts about starting a family . Her daughter was born a year before mine . Since then she has been like  road map to guide me through this journey. During residency I always asked her advice about reference books and articles  . Now it's about parenting and baby stuff. Our talks range from fever guidelines and otitis management to  swaddle blankets and baby clothes .

Both of us are working moms now. We are trying to juggle work and family life at the same time. Just like millions of moms out there. Sometimes its about the giggles and babbles .Sometimes its about the tired sighs and sacrifices. But day by day we are learning , trying to focus and prioritize. Sometimes easily and sometimes not so. But in the end its all about being a caring doctor and a loving mommy .

Dedicated to my physician mommy friend RD . Thank you for everything. Hope that our baby girls will also be buddies just like their moms. 

I translate spring season as ...

Spring means a fresh breath, fresh start

Time to get rid of all the heavy coats and thick sweaters
I think of spring as a perfect transition season
I love seeing that green grass, lush flowers and color everywhere
The days are warm and much longer
There is happiness all around with birds chirping and flowers in bloom everywhere
I am so ready to dress up in fun prints and vibrant colors
Time to wear those sunglasses and flip flops
It feels so liberating and rejuvenating
Spring brings back creativity and motivation
I am so looking forward to this spring
I  absolutely love spring
I cannot wait to spring in action

What about you ? What does spring season mean to you ?

3 Simple Steps to Declutter Your Closet

Needless to say I am a shopaholic. I have accumulated so much stuff over years. I never realized how much I had until I had to move recently. Packing and unpacking was a big task. So I decided to sort through my stuff as I was unpacking in my new apartment. It was hard to begin with. The decluttering journey was painful.  But gradually I was ok with letting things go. I know I have a long way to go still. But I am proud that I made huge progress. I was able to donate numerous boxes of stuff to a nearby goodwill store. I actually felt better about this whole process in the end.

The hardest phase was when I had to part with clothes.  Yes I am emotionally attached to my clothes. Also all the clothes were expensive, good brands and  rarely worn. The ones I had worn were also well maintained making it harder to let go. As I started sorting clothes I was astonished by the amount of clothes I had bought . But in the end my closet looked so much spacious and well organized.

So here are three simple steps I came up with  to declutter a closet -

1. Step by step approach

I first decided to get all my clothes out of my closet. But there was no way I could go through every piece of clothing in a day. I  had way too many clothes. So I started to scan one part of my closet and then another and then another. It took me few hours a day on consecutive days. But I was able to accomplish my goal in the end. Also it was not too tiring.  I was able to fill the donation bags slowly and steadily, one at a time. As I made progress I realized donation bags were being filled faster.

2. The 3 Box method

I had set up various bins that had following labels-
    "must keep"
                        "toss"
                                  "never worn"
In the end I realized I had almost the same amount of clothes in toss and never worn. I had a made a conscious decision to not have  a bin labelled - "may be". I knew I would never be able to sort through that  " may be " set of clothes later. So I decided to go with either "keep " or "toss ". It was very hard initially to put anything in the "toss" bin. But I had made up my mind.  In the end I sorted size wise through the "never worn" section. I actually now have new set of clothes to wear which I did not know even existed in my closet. Also I have some brand new clothes that I can use to give gifts and thereby save some money. And finally I feel good about donating brand new clothes. And through all this my mom was there who encouraged and helped me tremendously.

3. Act Quickly

I had a hard time sleeping the first night after I started this process. I kept thinking all night long about the "toss " bin. I was tempted to sort it again and transfer some clothes to "must keep".  I did grab one piece too. But then I stopped myself.  I was cheating. I was not staying true to my myself and my motive. So I decided to put it back in the "toss " bin. And with that experience I drove to the donation store that very day. I dropped off the bags full of clothes. I felt happy. I think getting rid of the donations the very next day helped me tremendously to overcome the temptation of holding on to stuff.

 These 3 strategies helped me remove unneeded clothes.  I challenged myself to get rid of as much as I can.  I was able to see my closet in a new light. There was a  fresh breath after the clutter was gone. I learnt so much from this experience.

I hope these 3 steps will help you declutter. But no matter how you decide to start this process it needs motivation, efforts and time. Trust me! nothing happens magically.  You have to take the leap.

Make a STATEMENT with a NECKLACE

We all have some outfits which we tend to wear often. A particular dress for a cocktail party. A suit for job interview. We tend to wear these outfits again and again when these right occasions pop up. But I get bored of wearing the same outfit. And when that happens I do not buy a new outfit always ( seldom I do - being honest ). Instead  I end up adding an accessory . Instantly there is a whole new look.

A statement necklace creates that drastic transformation. Just the perfect finishing touch to my outfit. I think statement necklaces make such a lasting impression. They speak so much about you. They portray confidence and boost self esteem. These necklaces add sparkle to any outfit instantly. If I had to pick one accessory , I would go for a statement necklace without a doubt. Statement necklaces are so in fashion right now. I think they are a must have. Check my previous blog post here.

Statement necklaces come in all colors, sizes, shapes, lengths and designs. The options are endless. The ones in unusual patterns and materials are certainly an eye catcher. The best part is they are available at affordable prices. I don't have to spend the big bucks to look stylish. I can achieve maximum impact by spending minimum money (win win situation ). I think it is almost impossible to go unnoticed  if you are wearing one of these necklaces. No wonder someone aptly named them  STATEMENT necklaces .

A statement necklace is such a versatile accessory. I am sharing some ideas to wear a statement necklace-

1.Getting ready for work? You can wear it around your dress shirt collar. 

2.Too flashy you think ? You may wear it peeping out under the collar for that understated interest . 

3.Going out on a date? Wear the necklace and you will be a head turner. 

4. Its winter time and you are wearing a polo neck sweater ? Add a playful twist to the classic sweater using a statement necklace. 

5. For a cohesive look tie in colors from a printed skirt/trousers with the necklace. Keep the top/blouse plain to show off your necklace. 

A statement necklace is just the perfect accessory to add  "pop of color" . It will  instantly brighten up any outfit . For work or for weekend, you can never go wrong with a statement necklace. 

Here is a picture of a shop literally flooded with statement necklaces. So would you wear a statement necklace ? Are you ready to go from boring to bold  - instantly ?

My Hospital Gift Shop Experience

My training and profession imply that I am in the hospital numerous hours a day. While in residency I walked through and across the whole hospital, visiting different floors. I took care of patients admitted in various units. Sometimes I had to run to the other end of the hospital in need of some caffeine ( to visit Starbucks ). I passed by the hospital gift shop numerous times but never visited the store.

Years ago I was shocked  when I spotted a gift shop in a hospital for the first time. I had a hard time seeing the necessity of having a gift shop in a hospital. But after my niece was born, the gift shop suddenly seemed a perfect idea. We were able to buy balloons as soon as she was born. We also had some visitors who brought flowers from the shop as they visited my newborn niece. And now years later I have completely embraced the idea of having a gift store in a hospital. These stores usually have everything. May be the selection is limited but they have everything. And by everything I mean balloons and cards, fresh flowers and pottery, candies and chocolates, books and magazines, stuffed animals and baby clothes. An exhausting list indeed.

Recently on my away rotation I finally visited the hospital gift shop. I had reached work 15 minutes before time. I never run late ( don't judge me !) but I never arrive before the scheduled time either. To conclude  I am always on time!  So to utilize those 15 minutes wisely I decided to visit the hospital gift shop before my shift began. As I glanced through the shop this is what caught my eye.

How aptly a simple mug was able to convey how I felt. I thought it was more than coincidence. I decided to buy it.  But as I made up my mind to purchase the mug I spotted this one ( below ) on the other side of the display pillar.

Now I was so confused. But this yellow smiley mug brought an instant cheer. It made me smile. It served as a boost to uplift my mood. I was suddenly better. I felt energetic. So I decided to buy the yellow mug instead of the green one. 

But when I walked to the register there were three people in line for checkout. I had only couple of minutes left before the shift started. Since I didn't want to be late I decided to not buy the mug . As I left the shop I was actually happy. My spirits were elevated and I had saved some bucks by skipping a purchase. Not a single penny spent but so much gained.   A win win situation for me indeed ! 

Fear of Being Judged and 3 Ways to Overcome it

We all fear about being judged at some point in our lives. Don't we? I sure do.

I also am aware that sometimes I do form opinions about others too suddenly. Without knowing a person and all the real facts I judge people too. I realize that people will be judgemental. I have no control over that. 

But I find it hard to get over it. I wish I could live in a world where we should not justify ourselves. I don't mind being honest about myself and voicing what I feel. But I think no one should judge me for that. In fact people should respect my opinions/thoughts.

This is however too good to be true. All of this is too realistic, idealistic. 

I started thinking as to how to overcome all this. So I came up with these three mental exercises. I will try to practice these three things gradually and daily.

1. Believe in yourself

I want to be strong mentally and have complete faith in myself. I have decided to never doubt myself and my abilities. But having said that I will be open to constructive criticism. 

2. Maintain positive energy

I plan to consciously avoid negative thoughts. I easily keep playing the same scenario in my mind again and again. That disturbs me and makes me angry. This negative energy affects not only me but also people around me. Hence maintaining a positive attitude will help nourish a good environment in my mind and around me. 

3. Forgive others

Despite of all the above there will be people who will question my integrity, directly or indirectly. Through actions or words people with limited vision will disapprove sometimes. But to be kind, forgive others and see above all this is the ultimate goal.