Pause Pages: Wandering Seoul, Wondering Often, and Skincare Stops

a monthly care package of thoughts, faves, and little joys — plus some prompts for a little mom self-care woven into your day.

Welcome to the monthly roundup! Think of this as a little care package of all the things I’ve been loving, thinking about, and obsessing over lately — books, baby stuff, articles, and random life joys that deserve a shoutout. It’s also a time to pause, reflect, and nurture yourself — a little mom self-care woven into your day.

September Intention: Wander and wonder.

Hello from Seoul! It’s been really exciting being here — I love that we actually get to take our time. Since we’re staying a while, we’ve been letting our days unfold slowly — wandering through new neighborhoods, enjoying aaall the food and cafés, people-watching at the park with Keira… just soaking it in.

We don’t have an itinerary, but we do have pins on a map of things that look cool. I’m also treating myself to some skincare while I’m here — because when in Seoul… it’s a must. I’ve been looking into doing a few sessions of Picoway toning, a laser treatment with very little downtime (if any). Since we’ll be here for a bit, I can actually get multiple sessions in and hopefully see more results (I’m targeting my hyperpigmentation/sun spots).

Beyond that, we’re just enjoying daily life elsewhere. We’re walking slower (thanks to Keira, haha) and noticing more. Being away from the day-to-day responsibilities makes everything feel richer — less laundry, fewer to-dos, more room to just be. It’s all a reminder that there’s magic in the meandering.

So this month, I’m giving myself permission to wander — in thought, in routine, in creativity. And to wonder — letting that sense of wide-eyed awe Keira embodies guide me through it all.

💭 Prompts to Ponder:

• Where could I let curiosity lead, even just a little?

• What moments lately have made me pause and smile?

• How can I bring a little more wonder into my everyday — even if I’m not traveling?

my desk setup at our airbnb in seoul! where I’m currently writing you from…

Reflection: 13 months into motherhood

• Kiwi is officially a full-on walking gal. It definitely changes the game, but it’s also so much fun. I love seeing her wobble around with purpose — tiny feet, big energy.

• 13 months in and Miss Girl has never slept through the night. Just a little validation for any moms out there in the same boat — you’re not alone, and you’re doing great.

• Traveling with a toddler was… exhausting, yes. But honestly, it went as well as it could have — biz class was 1000% worth it, there were no delays, and the turbulence was stellar for keeping Keira in a deeper sleep lol. I’m really grateful we have two whole months here before we have to do it all over again. But even if this were just a two-week trip, it still would’ve been worth it.

• Adjusting to the time change felt a little like experiencing the 6-month sleep leap all over again... but thankfully, it only lasted about 5 days. I’ve clocked on average about 4-ish hours of sleep per night since getting here, so I think my adrenaline is carrying me through, not gonna lie.

🧠 Mom Brain Moment: I keep calling Keira “Clover”… our dog’s name.

Life Lately: things worth sharing

1. I love this water bottle for Keira. It has a silicone protector on the base, so if you drop it, no damage. You can also lock it so the straw doesn’t leak. It’s easy to clean too. I like this more than the Owala we had before.

2. Keira has 6-ish teeth, so yeah we are starting to be more consistent with brushing daily. I use this toothbrush now, and I’m going to start toothpaste I think. I brought this brand with me from the US.

3. I tried 5 different shoe brands, and I reeeeally wanted Robeez to work out… but the ankle was too tight on her chubby legs. These ended up being a winner. They have a wide toe box, flexible thin sole, and don’t look like clown shoes like some other brands. I also am curious to try BirdRock Baby moccasins but with the hard sole (I hear the leather bottoms can be slippery on carpet / some surfaces). I just couldn’t get them in her size (5.5) in time for our trip.

4. Absolutely so glad we traveled with this stain remover pen… everyday we have stains (and then so do I thanks to Keira). At home, she eats shirtless for this reason, haha.

5. Ever need to entertain a baby? Masking tape and post-its! Worked wonders on our 14 hour flight. Read this recap for how I packed/prepped!

✨ Got any topic requests or questions? Let me know in the comments!

See you next month, mamas!

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