Covid Ramblings: Back in America

 Hi friends. It's been a really long time! Things have been hectic and crazy but also seemingly mundane enough to where I feel like I have nothing noteworthy to share. I think we're all feeling that weird mixture of stress and fatigue right now with everything that is going on in the world, and America specifically. 

We are officially back in the states after three wonderful years in Japan and honestly it feels like it was a lifetime ago. We've been back in NC since October and the here-and-now seems so much stronger and more real to me than the last few years abroad, which is crazy when I think about it! Part of that is probably pregnancy brain related (baby #2 due in March) and part of it is chasing a toddler around all day, and at least half of it is my brain blocking crazy shit out in a pathetic attempt at self preservation haha!

All four fur babies and the tiny human made it back in one piece, as did a super stressed out mom and dad but we're here now! And that is the important part. I've been jumping back into work in the real estate world which has been a wonderful change of pace after doing only referrals for the last few years, and we've bee building our investment folder personally which is also super fun! 

The hubby and I are also under contract on a home down in pensacola where we will be stationed starting in the spring. I'm currently in the process of getting my Florida Brokers license reinstated so that I can split my time between NC and FL for work, and there is definitely a lot of good stuff in the works for this transition so keep your fingers crossed for my sanity. 

It has been strange coming home to a country ravaged by this pandemic after being in Japan, where the public and the government took action quickly and came together for the greater good. I don't feel very proud to be an American right now which makes me sad. We were able to vote overseas and make our voices heard for which I am thankful but I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried about the state of things in America right now. I am hopeful that this new administration will be able to turn things around and bridge the gap a bit, but at the same time I feel disgusted that so many hateful people are spewing their bogus and dangerous rhetoric around with abandon, and I don't want to bridge the gap with them. 

It's just kind of a scary time to be a parent in America. Everyone wants what is best for their children, and so many systems are broken here. We will have a lot of interesting decisions to make in the near future as far as education, healthcare, etc...and I'm not looking forward to it. 

Anyways, I am going to start to try to get back into the swing of writing since it is super cathartic for me and I would love to have you along for the journey. Goodness knows we could all use a little community these days! 

I hope you all have a relaxing and peaceful week, without a lot of holiday stress. If we've learned anything this year it should probably be that we need less than we think, and we have more than enough already. Let's keep in mind that old adage of building a longer table this season and paying it forward to those who are struggling in this time of uncertainty. 

Talk soon, Em

Quarantine Thoughts #1

Not too much has changed around here, was my first thought, when a friend asked me how we were holding up during this pandemic. As a stay at home mom who's family is stationed overseas, I'm used to the primary mode of communication being Facetime calls, I'm used to missing birthdays, and not seeing loved ones for months at a time. For the most part, with the exception of a few close friends who are in the same boat, we are pretty isolated over here.

That being said, it's impossible not to notice the shift around the world. When out on our daily walks (just to get out of the house for a bit and walk the doggies) people don't meet eyes as much. There is a hesitancy, an obvious discomfort and mistrust of those around you. Maybe if it's a pretty day you'll get a timid half-smile from someone walking by. But nobody stops and chats or watches as the babies high five while you awkwardly try to fill the language barrier with gestures and smiles. It's eerie. Japan is such a friendly culture but we're all on high alert now, just trying to make it through to the other side.

Ezmé of course, being small enough to have no clue what's going on, smiles and waves to anything that passes by us from construction workers, to other families hurrying past, to birds and airplanes flying overhead. She is a light in the darkness.

It may come as a surprise to most of you, but being stationed overseas and not having regular cable means that our news sources are primarily information that we read from news articles and scientific papers online. In other words, we have to actively go out and find it. In some ways I feel lucky that I'm not bombarded 24/7 with news (with the exception of Facebook which, I hardly trust as reliable).

However, it's hard to miss the stories about the suffering and deaths of those unfortunate ones who have contracted this virus. The stories of the families left behind and the healthcare workers being run into the ground as they try to stave off this infection are heartbreaking. And then there are the stories of those who can't seem to wrap their heads around the concept of staying home to help minimize the destruction of this illness. It makes me want to scream! Are these really the same people preaching the importance of all life? How is it okay to use policy to deny medical procedures to women with terminal pregnancies, but it's not okay to ask people to stay home to save the lives of those around you?

Will stores go out of business, yes. Will the economy take a hit, duh. Are people going to lose their jobs and need financial assistance, of course. But, can anyone honestly say that they are willing to sacrifice the lives of the people around them to 'prevent' those things from happening? I know that I can't in good conscience support that idea. To me, it is inhumane and a glaring example of one of the biggest problems in society today; our priorities are completely out of sorts.

You can see it in the posts made around the world about parents finally getting to spend quality time with their children. You can sense the frustration and stress associated with trying to balance family, self care, and working from home. You can feel the exasperation of parents trying to be teachers, parents, and friends to their kids as we're all sheltering in place. I wonder when it became so hard to have down time and just BE?

The world may have come skittering to a halt in the wake of Covid19, but it seems like even now there is an emphasis on pushing forward, working harder, overcoming this inconvenience by outpacing it. Parents trying to squeeze a full 8 hour work day into a 4 hour tele-call so they can help the kids do their 6 hours of online busy work (each!) before scrambling to get dinner and bedtime done to maintain some sense of normalcy, BUT WHY?? It's like trying to block a tsunami with a mote in the sand.

What if, instead of pushing so hard against this situation, we decided to yield a bit instead? Before I go on,  I realize that I speak from a place of privilege; I haven't lost my job, my family is financially stable and healthy for the moment, and I am able to maintain social distance in the comfort of my own home. I'm one of the lucky ones. But I can't help but wonder if this situation is being agitated by the fact that we are socially out of touch with what truly matters. The health of a society is only a good as its weakest part. What can we do to better the lives fo our neighbors? What policies and laws can we change/create to protect the good of ALL of our citizens in times of hardship?

If anything, this pandemic has shown that we need a serious overhaul in the way we think about the work-family dynamic, our healthcare system, the education system and how we treat/compensate our educators, our understanding of socio-economic worth, our care of the planet, and our (lack of) empathy/respect for our neighbors.

I don't know that I have the solution to any one of these HUGE underlying issues, but I do know that you would have to be a fool to not see these glaring problems for what they are, and to come out of this on the other side without a better understanding of the changes that we need to make.

I know that I personally have had to rework the way I think about a lot of things during this downtime. And I hope that when the skies clear we can all move forward on a better, cleaner, healthier, happier path than the one we rode in on.

Stay Safe Friends

A Letter to My Daughter on Her First Birthday: Ezmé's Birth Story

Ezmé Luna. My sweet, sassy, lovely girl. You are without a doubt the best thing that has ever happened to me. The day you were born, I was reborn as a better version of myself. You've taught me how to love unconditionally, how to push through when I want to give up, and how to slow down and appreciate every little moment.

A year ago today, your daddy and I went for our evening walk and I started to feel a little funny. At first I thought I had a cramp from walking, but I soon realized that we would probably be meeting you sooner than your due date. We finally made it home and decided to make dinner and just see how things went. I still felt a bit weird and was having regular contractions but they weren't painful so Annette, my midwife said to monitor things and keep her posted.

After dinner I decided to run a bath and just relax a bit, but as soon as I walked into the bedroom I felt a loud POP and my water broke. I'm still convinced that you karate kicked the plug out because you were tired of the scenery. I quickly messaged Annette again and said that I was definitely in labor and that my water had broken. She told us to come on in! It was about 9:00pm when we packed up the car and started driving to the hospital.

Let's just say that in the ten minutes between my water breaking and us making it down to the car, my contractions went from being super low key to being very intense and close together. I remember feeling so excited and surprised but never scared. I was so anxious to meet you!

We found a parking spot easily and joked around a bit as we got out of the car and started walking up to the hospital because my bedroom shoes were soggy, and I had to keep stopping to breathe through the contractions. They were uncomfortable but manageable and I thought to myself, 'this isn't so bad, I've totally got this'. HAH!

I quickly realized that I did not have this haha! I thought that being a yoga teacher would help me breathe through the contractions but after an hour or so I decided I wanted *quote* ALL OF THE FREAKING DRUGS *unquote*

Nobody told me that when your water breaks and you're only 1cm dilated that things get very intense, very quickly. My midwife preformed a swipe to try to get things moving and I decided I wanted to know my pain management options. Immediately. After two botched attempts to get my IV line in by a trainee I finally asked for a nurse and we were in business! I have never been so excited to get a needle shoved in my arm in my life.

I was given IV narcotics that made me feel like I was completely loopy, but I stopped feeling any pain and was able to sleep for a bit. I honestly can't remember anything during this time except that James was in a chair by the window and I could barely hold my head up! Apparently, I had several conversations with nurses and my midwife but who knows!

At some point around 1:00am on the 7th I woke up and the drugs had worn off. Not a great way to wake up! I think I said something to your daddy along the lines of, 'oh no its happening again!'  So we called the nurse in and I asked for an epidural. I remember thinking back to your Gram telling me to ask for an epidural at every appointment from 20 weeks on haha! I thought she was being funny at the time, but realized very quickly that she was only half joking.

*side note*
I am fully aware that women give birth all over the world without drugs. I am not that woman. I want all of the drugs. Pain is not my friend. And while I think all moms are badasses for giving birth however they choose...there ain't no trophy.

Anyways, the anesthesiologist was not awake and had to be woken up and called in. So, 208 years later when he finally came in I was more than ready to have a six inch needle shoved into my spine. Let me just say that I am TERRIFIED of needles, and hospitals, and shots, and blood. All of it. But when you feel like the grape stomping lady from that youtube video (see link here), you get over your fear and ask for the drugs. I honestly don't know how I stayed still long enough to get the epidural, my contractions were so close together and I still couldn't keep my head up!

Your daddy supported my shoulders and I felt a little pinch and it was done! Whew! After that I had to stay in bed because everything began to go numb, hallelujah. Annette checked me again and said things were progressing nicely so we should get some sleep. We settled down again for the night and with the exception of having to get flipped from one side to the other like a beached whale every hour or so because I would start to feel contractions in my top hip, the evening passed uneventfully.

I still felt a little bit drowsy from the narcotics so I slept really well. It was crazy to go to sleep knowing that we would get to meet you so soon, sweet girl! At six in the morning Annette came back in to check on me and I remember her face looking surprised and then her saying that I was +4 and it was time to push! She could see your head and I hadn't even noticed! Epidurals are LIFE.

For the first time I began to feel nervous. This was it. The big moment. And I couldn't feel ANYTHING. No urge to push, no contractions, nothing. I didn't know how to push because I couldn't feel anything at all. Thankfully, Annette was able to tell me when the contractions were happening from the fetal monitor. After about 40 minutes of pushing you were still stuck in the birth canal and not moving. Annette went and got a mirror so I could see what was happening when I pushed so that I would be able to better move you. I said HELL NO. As far as I was concerned there was a reason my head was on one end and my hoohah was on the other!

She said it wasn't scary looking and would help us get you out safely so I reluctantly agreed. And it actually wasn't as scary as I thought it would be! And thanks to that swift thinking idea by Annette, at 7:34am I got to see you come into this world and it was seriously the coolest thing I've ever seen. Your daddy caught you and handed you to Annette so she could put you up on my chest. You were so warm and squiggly and I remember being surprised at how warm your little body was as I held you for the first time. You were so perfect. With so much dark hair, and a funny little squished face!

Holding you felt like the most natural thing in the world. It was like meeting a part of my own soul.

Tomorrow you turn 1, and I am so proud of the little person you are becoming. You have made every single second of the last 365 days wonderful.You are so sweet and loving. We never doubt how you are feeling or what you want because you are so strong and steadfast in your opinions. You are silly and funny and so much fun to be around! You make me laugh every single day. And your hugs and smiles make my world go around.

Being your mama is the thing I am most proud of in this life. I can't wait to see what this next year brings my love. Happy Birthday <3

Happy New Year

Wow, what a whirlwind this holiday season has been! Celebrating Ezme's first Christmas back at home in NC was such a blessing, especially since she is growing and changing so much every day. Even if we ended up having to celebrate Christmas a day late because James and I were down for the count with a bug it was wonderful being with family and friends.

I have to admit though, that every time I go back home it is harder and harder to leave. Living overseas has been such a challenge for me, even more so this last year being a new mom. Not having family nearby for support during these post-partum months has really taken a toll on me, and even though we have wonderful friends here in Oki, it always feels like something is missing. I have so much respect for single parents, and parents who are stationed away from their families. It is NOT for the faint of heart!

But I have learned a lot this last year. I have grown so much as a person. 2019 has by far been the hardest, most intense year of my life. But it has also been the most wonderful! I have been humbled to my core this year. Becoming a mom to my sweet girl has broken me down and built me back up as a stronger, more fierce, more determined version of myself. I've had to experience a lot of this journey alone since James' job has him working such long hours, and there were definitely times where I felt like I wasn't doing anything right. But there has been so much beauty in these weak moments.

My feelings of self doubt, anxiety, and being overwhelmed have been met head on with a newly found trust in myself. The kind of trust that comes from holding on to control so tightly that you reach a point where all you can do is let go and rely solely on your intuition and heart. This is a lesson of motherhood that I seem to forget and relearn almost weekly, but slowly I am getting better at reaching this point of calm quicker and more gracefully.

Ultimately, my biggest lesson from this year has been learning that the only thing that truly matters is love. I know, I know, that sounds super dorky and cliche, but it's the truth. Your baby is going to go through regressions, they won't sleep when they are supposed, or eat when you want them to. They will cry and fall down and have really hard learning moments. The house will be a mess, laundry will pile up, and sometimes you and your spouse will only see each other for a few minutes a day. And all of this can build up and make you feel like you are doing something wrong. But babies are just little humans learning how to fit into this big world, and all we can do as mothers is love them and be present for them, messy house or no!

I've learned that no matter how many books or blogs I read, no matter how many sleep training methods I study up on, whether I do baby led weaning of go for purees, none of this matters ultimately. My baby is safe, happy, loved, and has people around her who love and care for her. That is enough. More than enough really.

Another huge lesson I have been repeatedly learning this year is that you can't pour from an empty cup. When you spend your days and nights pouring your heart and soul into another persons happiness, taking care of yourself takes a backseat. Maintaining a balance of self care and the care of others during motherhood is the biggest struggle. I think every mom feels this way and recognizes that keeping this balance is basically a full time job! Honestly, I thought that I would be WAY better at it. Especially coming from a background in yoga, I felt so confident that I would be able to remain grounded and balanced throughout this journey.

HAH! I went from doing yoga at least once a day, meditating, teaching, reading yoga texts, and living my yoga every single day to completely neglecting my home practice. This has been one of my biggest struggles this year, losing this huge piece of myself. But looking back, I realize that I didn't lose my practice, it just evolved with me. My asana and meditation practice basically went out the door, but my utilization and practice of service to others, and my heart practice has grown tenfold. Living your yoga doesn't necessarily mean rolling out your mat every day, it encompasses so much more than that. A lesson that I read about and knew from my studies, but had to experience first hand to truly understand.

That being said, I am finally feeling ready to let go of a few things that have been holding me back this year and move forward into 2020 with the intention of getting back into my practice in a more balanced way. I've always loved the ritual of making resolutions at the beginning of a new year and letting go of the things that no longer serve me but this year I am going a different route.

Instead of making resolutions for this year, I am choosing to set intentions instead. I will try my best to honor these intentions and follow through on them, but I will be forgiving and flexible with myself when challenges arise, because they definitely will! Overall, my biggest intention for 2020 is to strive to find balance in all things. 

So, with all of that being said, and because I love lists, here are my intentions for this new year:

*I will trust my intuition and heart, and be open to change
*I will strive for patience and empathy in all situations
*I will let go of unnecessary worry, fear, and anxiety
*I will focus more on my mental & physical health
*I will spend 10 minutes every day in quiet meditation
*I will do something I enjoy, for myself every day
*I will be more open and honest with myself and others
*I will read & write more for enjoyment
*I will remember to live in the moment and appreciate it
*I will spend less time on social media and more time being present
*I will continue to love and teach my sweet baby to the best of my ability
*I will be at peace with my decisions
*I will opt for a plant based diet
*I will try to live a cruelty free lifestyle


My hope for you all in this new year, sweet friends, is that you find fulfillment and peace in your lives! That you live in each moment fully and blissfully. That you manifest your dreams and appreciate them for the lessons they bring you. That you let go of the things holding you back and banish negativity that tries to come between you and your happiness. I hope that you strive for love over hate, peace over conflict, unity over division. May we all share with others when we have more than we need, and opt for inclusion and kindness instead of division and fear of the unknown.

Wishing you and yours light and love...

Happy New Year!!

Catching Up, Thoughts of Motherhood

I'm currently sitting in my bed listening to the rain pouring down outside. I've got my mug of milky mama tea, my baby monitor, and my computer. It is so peaceful. If you would have asked me a couple of weeks ago if I thought I would be doing this right now, I would have cry-laughed in your face! You see, we JUST got sweet baby girl re-sleep-trained after about 3 months of teething, separation anxiety, colds, and me just being super afraid of starting that process over again.

Lets be honest, sleep training has a lot of negative vibes surrounding it. And if I'm being 100% real with myself, I would totally co-sleep with my babies until they left for college but my husband would kill me and it turns out that Ezme and I don't sleep well together. So, last week as a complete last resort, at the very edge of my sanity, I decided to start over using the Ferber method. We put her down drowsy but awake and basically let her fuss for 10 minutes before going in to soothe. We do this over and over until she finally falls asleep. I'm not going to lie to you, the first 4 nights were HORRIBLE. She cried. I cried. I felt mom guilt like, well, a mother. But we made it through, and on the fifth night, she slept until 3am. She had a few wake-ups, but each time she fell asleep after like 3 minutes of fussing. It felt like a miracle!

The next night, she did the same thing...slept through until 3 am. After the next few days, I realized that she could sleep through until morning but that if I go in and nurse her at 3, she will sleep until 7:30-8. So we've decided to keep that one feeding for the time being, until she naturally drops it or I decide to wean her.

Whew.

Motherhood is insane. I have never had so much anxiety, or guilt, or exhaustion in my life! But the scariest thing of all is that it is completely worth it. Raising this little human is such an honor and sometimes I find myself wondering how I got so lucky. Sure, I spend most of my days covered in drool, crawling around on the floor. And god knows I haven't worn a real bra in who knows how long. But, as time goes on I have started to better understand just how this roller coaster ride works. There are so many ups and downs, twists and turns, involved in being a parent. It can be really scary! But for me, the thing I keep coming back to is that, mindset is everything.

It is so easy to get overwhelmed as a mom. To feel pressure from others and yourself to do things a certain way. Literally every part of motherhood has become this weird competitive, guilt ridden, shit show and it's not okay. The human component is so subjective, each baby is so unique, each family has its own dynamic, each mama has her own style. We should be supporting each other and lifting each other up to ensure that the next generation has the tools they need to better their world and thrive in it. And I think that as a culture we have forgotten that this positive change starts with happy, healthy, SUPPORTED mamas.

So, no matter what season you are in right now. Whether you choose to co-sleep or sleep train, bottle feed or breast feed, practice BLW or introduce purees, cloth diaper or disposable diaper, know that you are seen and respected and needed. We're all doing the best we can, so let's spread the love instead of the judgement and try our best to be there for each other.

For all my mama friends out there, we have a facebook group called Motherhood United that brings together moms from all over the world, from all stages of motherhood, to share advice, commiserate on the tough stuff, and provide support. I know it can seem weirdly lonely on this journey, but you are most definitely not alone! Thinking back on those tough days last week, it feels like they are so far away. But I know how it feels to be in the thick of it, we all do!

So I don't know who needed to hear this today, but I guess what I'm trying to say is...YOU ARE A BADASS and things will get easier...and then harder...and then easier again, and that's just life. But know that you are not alone, you are part of a sisterhood now that you are a mama, and you matter.

Blogtober Day 8!

What are three lessons you have learned in the last year?

Narrowing this list down has been quite an adventure. The past year has been so incredibly full of important lessons and moments of clarity. I have days where I feel like I've got all of my ducks in a row, and I'm killing it as a mom, friend, wife, sister etc. And then there are other days where I never leave my house, and keeping the baby alive is the only goal of the day.

So honestly, the biggest lesson I have probably learned this year is; LET GO. Let go of all of the expectations that build up throughout the day about how you are supposed to be doing things. Let go of the self judgement and the feelings of not being good enough. Let go of the crippling need to control every little thing that happens (especially where the baby is concerned). Let go of the need to do everything myself so that it is 'done right'. Let go of the anxiety of doing things wrong for Ezmé. She will be fine if her routine is thrown off a little, or if she gags on a piece of food, or if we skip bath time once or twice. Just take a deep breath and let go a little.

The second important lesson I have learned this year is; ask for help when you need it. When we first brought Ezmé home I struggled horribly with anxiety and letting people come help me. Honestly, I didn't know how to ask for help because a lot of the time I didn't know what I needed. It was so overwhelming to realize that this tiny human was mine to raise and nurture and teach, that I could barely process what I needed to do outside of taking care of her. This anxiety made me hold on to controlling my environment to the point where I wouldn't ask anyone to help me do things because I needed them to be done a certain way. I've always been type A about the way things are cleaned and organized in my house, so this was a huge process for me, learning how to ask for help, allow the help to be given, and then to be okay with things being done differently than I would do them myself. Now, I'm finding it easier to ask for help because you start the realize that getting things done at all (like; laundry, dishes, cleaning the house, walking the dogs, going to the grocery store, everything) takes a damn village when you have a baby to take care of!

Thirdly, I have learned how important it is to appreciate and fully absorb each moment. Time goes so fast with babies. One minute they are a tiny little tree frog curled up on your chest, and the next minute they are crawling and laughing and playing. It is INSANE how easy it is to rush and miss these incredible moments, especially when you are multitasking which, let's be honest, we all do. The other day I was trying to get groceries out of the car and grab Ezmé, and get up all the stairs to our third floor apartment, when she put her head down on my shoulder and just snuggled in so tightly. You better believe I put down all of those bags in the middle of the parking lot, took off my backpack, and just gave her the biggest squeeze because I could tell she needed it and I did too. I'm trying to remember that I only have a certain amount of time to spend with her and love on her and make sure she knows that she is the most important thing in the world to me. I don't want her to think back and remember, my mom always kept the house spotless, or she brought all those groceries up in one go haha. All she cares about is spending time playing and reading and snuggling with her mama. And that is so important to remember. I read a quote today that said, 'you have a child forever, but you only have a baby for a year.'

Being grateful and in the moment is something that we all should focus on more. But I especially want to remember this lesson because the days may be long but the years are short, and I want to fill up my life with all of these little moments of happiness and love so that I can look back without regrets and know that I spent my time wisely enjoying my family.

What are the three most important lessons YOU have learned this year?

Blogtober Day 1

Welcome to #blogtober Day 1!
The topic for today is...
What is your main motivation in life??
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A broad answer to this question would be love. Love for my family. Love for my friends. Spreading love and kindness and just trying to make the world easier and more beautiful place to be a part of. Specifically, this tiny, miraculous human is my motivation. Because I want all of those things for her. I want Ezmé to grow up in a world that is kind, and peaceful, and compassionate for everyone. I want her to treat everyone with the respect and empathy that they deserve. I want her to understand that things aren’t always easy but that approaching life with a good outlook can make things better. I want her to know that she is fiercely loved and that she is perfect just the way she is. My motivation in life has completely been overtaken by this child because I want what all parents want; what’s best for their kid. There is a lot of ugliness in the world right now: school shootings, dirty politics, hate crimes, xenophobia, destruction of our planet. I want to raise a daughter who will strive to make these things better, because as much as I wish that she wouldn’t have to deal with these issues, her generation will be born into the middle of it. And I hope that they will rise to the occasion and fix the things that we couldn’t fix for them. 💙
#wherefeathersfall #motivation #journaling #awareness #babygirl #ezméluna #worldpeace #motherhoodrising #motherhood #motherhoodunplugged

Writing Prompts for #blogtober

Alright friends! It is October 1st, and that means it's the first day of #blogtober! Thank you so much for all of your topic suggestions, I am so excited to see what everyone has to say. In true fashion, I am a little late posting the list of prompts but without further ado here they are. Make sure to tag #wherefeathersfall and #blogtober when you participate so I can see your posts :)

Happy Writing!

1. What is your main motivation in life?

2. Who is your biggest inspiration, why?

3. What are five negative mindsets you could let go of?

4. Do you believe in spirit animals? What is yours?

5. What are your top 5 priorities in life?

6. What do you need more of in your life?

7. What is your biggest fear?

8. Three big lessons I've learned in the last year are...?

9. If you could have three wishes what would they be?

10. In what ways do you try to live a more sustainable life?

11. What do you think is the biggest issue the world faces?

12. What is the biggest challenge you currently face?

13. What is your best memory?

14. Which Hogwarts house would you be in? Why?

15. What book has had the biggest impact on you?

16. What are three things you said you'd never do as a parent? Have you done them?

17. One piece of advice you wish you could give your 18 year old self...

18. What is something positive in your life that you didn't have a year ago?

19. Where is your happy place?

20. Which fictional character do you relate to the most?

21. What would you do if you knew you would not fail?

22. When was the last time you did something for the FIRST time? What was it?

23. What do you consider to be your biggest achievement in life so far?

24. What are your top three goals for the next year?

25. What area of your life needs a little more attention?

26. What is the hardest part about motherhood? If you aren't a parent, what do you think it is?

27. Write a letter to your future self. 

28. How do you want to be remembered?

29. What three THINGS could you not live without?

30. Happiness is Homemade. What does this mean to you?

31. What is one thing you want to do daily for yourself?

Must Have Baby Items

Good morning!

The baby is FINALLY asleep for her morning nap after not sleeping well due to her cold, waking up at 5:00am, throwing a fit because she couldn't nurse since her nose was stuffy, and then finally pooping out from sheer exhaustion. Everything is fine (insert dog in flames meme). I have just poured myself a huge, holiday pour of wine, (I mean COFFEE!) Silly me, and realized that I have a bit of time to myself!

So, here I am at my computer going through all of the blog posts that I have backlogged in my head from the last 8 months...

One thing that I get asked a lot, as I'm sure every new mom can attest to, is what are your must have baby items if you're expecting? Now, this is a great question and I asked it myself, but I definitely realized through trial and error that the same thing doesn't always work for every baby. AND if it does work for your baby, don't hold your breath because it probably won't work next week.

However, with that in mind, here is a list of things that really helped us out when Ezmé was born:

1. My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow: this thing saved my life because I don't care what anybody says, breastfeeding is hard and not intuitive at all. This pillow straps around your waist, has pockets for your phone and stuff, and is curved to fit baby perfectly. If you plan on breastfeeding, I highly recommend this pillow.

2. The Haakaa: again, another weird breastfeeding thing. Something they don't tell you about is that while you're nursing on one side, your other boob is going to leak like it's possessed and get all over the place. And let me just tell you, there is NOTHING more sad than wasted milk. This bad boy suctions on to your other side and collects the milk so that you can save it. Be beware because little crazy feet like to kick this thing off and it will go flying. Also, I always kept a mug or cup next to me to set the Haakaa in because it is weirdly top heavy. But other than that, totally awesome!

3. Hatch Baby Rest Sound Machine: this thing is a lifesaver. It has so many different settings for light color, sound, and timer. It also let's you set programs to run automatically from the app on your phone. I want to get another one for my room! And I'm pretty sure the newer model has a digital clock built in.

4. Dock-a-tot: we LOVED our dock! Some people have said they weren't a fan but it worked really well for us because we could put her in it and bring her wherever we were in the house. It basically works as a portable, light bassinet and co-sleeper. When Ezmé was first born we swaddled her, put her in the dockatot and then set that in the pack in play (on the tall setting)right next to the bed.

5. Some kind of swing...we used the Graco Simple Swing but ended up going through two of them because they kept breaking, no idea why. Ezmé LOVED this swing though. She napped in it for the first 5 months of her life, and it would calm her down whenever she was angsty. But I will say it has a huge footprint and I think there are probably better options out there.

6. Tula Explore Baby Carrier: I love this baby carrier. It is so comfortable and baby is flush up against you so there's no weird pressure points. This specific one also can hold newborns, babies, and toddlers; front facing, inward facing, and on your back. It is easy to adjust, easy to wash, and perfect for every day use. We took this bad boy to Bali and it was the only thing we needed for Ezmé.

7.  Spectra S1 Pump: this pump is rechargeable, light, and really easy to use. It holds its charge for a long time, and has held up really well through our travels and getting banged around. It's also easy to figure out the settings and order new parts when you need them. 

These are the big items that we actually used every day with our nugget. There are a bunch of small items that are super useful to have too like; swaddles, nail clippers, a thermometer, butt cream, baby shampoo, baby mittens, and a soother! All of these things are linked and I am attaching my public amazon list of Baby Must Haves if anyone wants to check out the full shebang.

Just remember that you will get a ton of advice as a new parent, but you know your baby better than anyone. So just keep trying different things and see what works best for you :)

Hope this helps!

BLOGTOBER

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly time goes by. Since having Ezmé, it has flown by even faster and I find myself trying so hard to live in the moment because these little humans change and grow so quickly. Every day brings some new challenge or accomplishment for my little chunk!

It is also super easy as a new mom to get a little bit lost in the all consuming world that is caring and loving your new baby. I have definitely struggled with uniting the old and new me since having Ezmé, and one thing that has helped bring me back to a bit of old routine is writing and reading. Keeping my blog up has obviously fallen to the wayside in recent months, but the online community of mamas has played such an integral part in shaping my motherhood journey that it seems appropriate to try to put my journaling back onto the screen.

That is why I have decided to create Blogtober (is that already a thing??) ! 31 days of writing prompts and ideas. 31 blog posts that can be as long or short as you want them to be. If you don't have a blog, you can just write a Facebook or Instagram post! I hope this will help me get back into the swing of doing something for myself (writing) and encourage others to do the same.

I've been working on a list of writing prompts...but if there are any subjects or ideas that ring true to you, and you would like to take this journey with me, feel free to share!! On September 30th I will share the full list of writing prompts...

Let's take a couple of minutes out of the day to reflect and do something for ourselves <3

#motherhoodunplugged #thisgoesouttoallthebabymamas

Bali with Baby

Our first big trip with baby is officially in the books. Bali was absolutely amazing, and surprisingly baby friendly. We couldn’t believe how easy it was to travel with the nugget. Of course, taking trips with a baby adds a bit of extra chaos but as long as you are prepared to change plans at the last second and go with the flow, it is totally doable. James and I actually joked that traveling with Ezmé forced us to slow down and live more in the moment which was a nice change for two people who love to do EVERYTHING when we travel. The biggest tip I have for you if you are planning a trip with a kiddo is: RESPECT THE NAP. We quickly realized that as long as you make time to be somewhere quiet and calm for nap times, baby will be in an overall great mood. It also makes putting them down for the night easier as they won’t be overtired.

Since we were in Bali when Ezmé was 4.5 months old, we discovered that her morning nap was non-negotiable. We would get up early (7:30-8:30) and drive the scooter into Canggu for brunch and make sure we were back to our home base in time for her snooze around 10 or 11. Then we would lounge by the Airbnb pool for an hour or so until she woke up. This allowed us to break the day up into two excursions. Most afternoons we would bike into town and relax on the beach until dinnertime. James even got to go surfing a couple of times and I got to lay out and relax in the sun.

We were super impressed with Canggu so spent almost our whole trip exploring, shopping, and eating our way through the town. Each cafe we went to had wonderful coffee, the restaurants had beautiful & delicious food with TONS of veggie options, and the boutique shopping was to die for (especially for two large Americans who have been living in Japan for a year). I'll leave a list of our favorites at the end of the post!

Two of the days however, we decided to throw caution to the wind and forego nap time in order to get out and explore a bit more of the island. One day we hired a wonderful driver for the day to take us on a tour of some of the lesser known temples and landmarks. We even got to take place in a buddhist blessing which was a fun experience. Driving through the countryside was also quite a treat (when Ezmé wasn't losing her shit) because we got to see all of the lush greenery outside the town limits. She did a decent job napping in the car as we drove from place to place but I was glad we got home by six in order to put her down for the night because she was definitely done sitting in a car. Also, as far as cars are concerned, we chose not to bring a car seat and simply held her the whole time. When we were on the motorbike, I rode behind James and wore her (we went like 15 mph, and saw other parents doing the same so please, no comments about child safety, in this part of the world everyone rides on a scooter and is fine.)

Another day we drove into Ubud for the day to see the Monkey Forest. It was well worth the drive even though we only stayed for a couple of hours and then headed home. Ubud was really touristy, but we still enjoyed it and would love to go back and explore a bit more. It had an almost mountain-y feel to it.

Overall, I'm really pleased that we chose Bali as our first post baby trip. The large differentiation of travelers, locals, and expats provided a very diverse cultural experience that we loved. The scenery, food, and shopping was great. And we enjoyed the slow, beachy pace of life there. We definitely feel like we only scratched the surface and plan on returning to Bali for at least one more trip before heading back to America!

So, if you have a small baby and feel like travel is out of the question, don't write it off just yet. Is it different than traveling alone? Yes. Are some things harder than before? Duh. But, your life doesn't have to stop after having a kid, and the sooner you get them used to traveling, the better they will be at it! So rip the band aid off and go for it!

Final Thoughts...

Favorite Restaurants:
The Betelnut Cafe (recommended by The Luxe Travelers)
The Lawn (swanky but still kid friendly)
Milk & Madu (super kid friendly with amazing coffee and food)
Parachute (they had chickens and a huge garden out back to explore)
Old Mans (great mahi burger, and right next to the beach)

Extra Tips:
Bring a stroller...we chose not to and got pretty tired of carrying/wearing the nugget
Bring a baby carrier...this was absolutely clutch for riding a motorbike, exploring temples etc
Bring a water bottle that you can refill and chug it all day
Liquor is expensive so be prepared for that
Grab (the car app) doesn't work everywhere, and sometimes taxis are few and far between
Make sure your Airbnb has baby amenities (we forgot to make sure it had a tub...)
Plan around baby's nap time/ bed time
Always bring extra diapers and a change of clothes in case of blow outs #yikes

Happy traveling!

Three Words

Y'all.
It is 2019.
In fact, it's been 2019 for almost an entire month.
My only resolutions so far consist of 3 words: BREATHE, GRATITUDE, & LOVE.

I want to remember to breathe through the tough times and find peace in knowing that every challenge is a lesson. To always be able to come back to center when I feel out of control or less than, especially with this new role of motherhood.

I want to to be grateful for each moment. To keep in mind how lucky we are to have this life, our health, our support system, and each other. I want to find tiny moments throughout the day where, even when things seem ridiculously hard, I can come back and list all of the beautiful things that I am grateful for.

And love. I want to spread more love and happiness and life into every situation I find myself in. I want to be a better version of myself and never leave a space untouched by positivity. I want to gossip less, judge less, and create an environment that I am proud for our daughter to grow up in.

With so much chaos and change and upheaval going on in the world and each of our lives individually, it is more important than ever to remember what is truly meaningful. How we treat others, our words, the way we handle that moment before we react, seeing the light in everyone, respecting our planet and all living things on it, standing up for what is right even (especially) when it is uncomfortable or hard, walking the walk.

Being human is complicated, but its also incredibly simple when you are able to come back to your center and rediscover what truly matters. Its easy to see how much our similarities outweigh our differences when we cut away all of the bullshit.

So, for this year, I am not focussing on things like; getting my pre-baby body back, or completing my 500 hr yoga course, or making a certain amount of income. I am simplifying, working from the inside out, and growing everything from a place of light and love.

I hope you all have had a wonderful start to this new year and I can't wait to see what the next turn around the sun has in store for all of us! Sending everyone lots of hugs from Okinawa!

Reunited: Weekend Wishes

We are finally over our first deployment hump! Picking J up and bringing him home was honestly one of the best feelings ever. Even though this one was only a few months long, it was very weird being away from him and not being able to communicate freely. Not that we haven't had a decent bit of practice in our relationship with being long distance. The limited communication however, really made things much harder.

But now that he is back, just in time for all of the fun holidays, I am ready to fully embrace the season and enjoy our time together. If there's one thing deployment teaches you, it is that the little things truly are the "big things" when you look at the grand scheme of your life. Being able to cook dinner together after going to the gym, watching Netflix, taking day trips to the beach on the weekend, even just walking the dogs together at night. These are the little moments that matter.

I feel so much gratitude for everything in our life right now, and many of those things are just that, THINGS. But the living things, the people and furry friends in our lives, are the things that don't change despite the ups and downs. Surrounding yourself with a good tribe of people who support you, and root for your success make any challenge possible.

The wonderful group of women in this squadron made my first deployment experience absolutely great. While nothing compares to having your partner home, being surrounded by kind, compassionate, hilarious, intelligent people (who are in the same boat) definitely takes the edge off! Facetime is also a wonderful thing! Getting to talk to my family back home each day and update them on everything made this time so much easier <3

It was especially nice to have that support as a first time mom to be. On top of the emotional roller coaster that deployments cause on their own, having to ride the pregnancy crazy train added a whole separate level of angst to this experience (0/10 do not recommend). But being around other people who have gone through the same thing or who were currently going through the same situation almost completely eliminated that sense of loneliness. I am so thankful for all of the Tiger spouses!

Now that J is back, we are enjoying the last few months of that no-kid life! Doing a little bit of last minute traveling, enjoying the peace and quiet, and sleeping late on weekends. Taking advantage of the freedom that is allowed us right now and getting ready for our little girl to make her way earth-side in the new year. J finally got to feel her kick and see her wiggling around which was fun, because its definitely hard to explain via email! Maybe now that he is back we will start getting the nursery organized, but knowing us, we will wait until the last minute on that one...oh well!

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. Remember to take a little bit of extra time to appreciate the special people in your life! Give them an extra hug or just take the time to really be in the moment with them, intentionally.

Happy Saturday from Oki!
Em

A Little Dash Of Santosha

This morning I woke up and decided that, instead of running around like crazy person trying to get my to -do list of the day done, I was going to take a few minutes to ask myself what I needed right now. You know, really ask, what does my mind, body, and spirit need today in order to feel fulfilled and complete? The yoga principle of Santosha (or contentment) came to mind. Santosha isn't about being 110% ecstatically enthused and PERFECTLY happy with every single thing. It's much more simple and pure than all that. Santosha is simply being satisfied and at peace with where you are right now. It's actually an incredibly beautiful concept when you think about it. Sometimes it can feel like we, as humans, are always striving and reaching and fighting against something to achieve something else. And while goals and energy and movement are great things, we are generally terrible about balancing that super Yang energy with the more subtle Yin energies!

We are all guilty of having a day off or taking a holiday and having that sneaking suspicion that we are forgetting something, or that we should be DOING something. We feel guilty for sitting down and reading a book when we could be doing something 'productive'. Its really hard to get out of that mindset! Our culture tells us that slowing down and taking this time is lazy. But how is self care, contentment, and mindfulness lazy?

There does seem to be a shift culturally towards being more mindful and grateful, but there always seems to be a catch. A product to buy to make it possible, a book claiming to have all of the answers. Or a class you can take to learn how to be a better person. *insert eye roll here* Talk about over complicating one of the simplest, cheapest, most internal processes a person can experience! It might sound cheesy but everything you need to practice santosha is within you already, literally. In fact, if you are adding all of these extra things into the equation, you're kind of defeating the purpose.

It is as simple as taking a few minutes right when you wake up, before you get out of bed, maybe even before you open your eyes, and thinking of a few things you are grateful for right now. What things in your life are you truly and utterly thankful for? And then ask yourself, what is one thing that I could do today that would bring me contentment? Maybe you've been wanting to go play in your garden for an hour all week, or maybe you would love to sit on the porch and have a hot cup of coffee before work! Ask yourself these questions without judgement or guilt or anxiety. And then make the time to do it! It's that simple :)

When I asked myself what would make my heart truly content today, it said to leave my errands for tomorrow, and take the day to create. I wanted to spend my day baking, reading, writing, listening to  music, and doing yoga. So I did.

I realize how lucky I am to be able to take a whole day to observe santosha in such an extreme way. Being in Okinawa, I have the privilege of a very easy work schedule. I teach english online at night, and a few yoga classes during the week. I have much more free time than most and it's taken me a long time to get used to the idea and not feel guilty about it. That guilt has honestly probably caused me to under-appreciate this time and create busy work for myself to do so I feel more useful (whatever that means). It's a perfect example of how we as humans, identify our self worth with how busy we are. But being busy does not always equate with being productive or smart or worthwhile, and I think we all need to take a second look at how we are spending our time.

I would love for everyone to take more time to work on relationships, with others and ourselves personally. To ask the questions like, how can I make this world a better place? How can I be more kind? How can I feel more complete and happy with what I already have? Do I need all of these things in my house or does someone else need them more?

If we all took the time to observe santosha (contentment) every day, I think we would realize that there are a whole lot of extra, noisy, distracting things that we surround ourselves with but don't really need. In fact, we probably need the exact opposite.

So, take a deep breath, let go of all of that useless guilt and kinetic energy (just for a moment) and ask yourself what you truly need to be content and at peace with yourself, right now.

<3 Em

Adjust Your Sails

It's October in Okinawa. That means we are coming up on our one year Oki-versary! It's hard to believe we have been here for almost a whole year already. The last few weeks have been a little crazy with all of the typhoons, the deployment, and work, so I am super thankful for my favorite season to finally be here. Autumn has always been a time for slowing down and turning inwards for me. The weather gets colder and everything becomes much more focused on things like; rest, introspection, hygge, and cultivating a deeper relationship with the simple quotidian things in life.

Honestly, this shift couldn't come at a better time for me. Being 6 months pregnant, I am more than ready to start slowing down and and taking more time each day to do some self care and introspection. It hasn't been easy doing the majority of this pregnancy alone while J is deployed, and I have tried to keep myself so busy that I'm honestly exhausted from all of the distractions. I want to spend more time reading, and meditating, and listening to good podcasts, TAKING a yoga class instead of just teaching them! The first trimester was very difficult for me, my energy level was way down, I was constantly nauseous, and we were doing a lot of traveling at the time so I was basically a walking zombie. Then when the second trimester hit, I felt so much better that I did a complete 180 and decided to just do ALL OF THE THINGS! Looking back, neither one of these has that lovely element of balance that one hopes to achieve in life!

But, I think I'm finally starting to get it. The learning curve for understanding what your body and mind need during pregnancy is steep. As someone who prides herself on knowing herself very well, I've been surprisingly obtuse at times during my pregnancy. Trying to push through when I know I should rest, or taking a nap because I was sad J wasn't here when I KNEW that going to yoga would make me feel better. I've spent a lot of time the last few months feeling like I should be doing things a certain way, and judging myself for not being up to my normal standards. But, that is so ridiculous!

So, it may have taken me a good six months, but here we are at the crossroads. I think I can finally understand and accept that these changes that are happening are not ultimately changing me or the things that are important to me. I just need to put my Yin Yoga training into practice and soften myself to roll with the tides, not against them. With this new season comes a new outlook. I will strive to be patient and in tune with my needs, and less focused on comparing myself to how I was before becoming pregnant. I will make time to relax, and read, and practice my daily sadhana. I will understand that it is okay to slow down. After all, come February, there won't be much time for relaxing anymore...

The Shortest Month

February has blown by just as quickly as I thought it would. I turned 29 this month which is absurd because I still feel like I'm about 19...until I try to go on a bender and then it quickly becomes clear to me that I'm waaaay closer to 30 than 20! It is so surreal how quickly time flies.

When I think back to college and where I thought I'd be in my life right now, its honestly shocking to me how things turned out. I definitely did not think I would be married to a Marine. Or living in Japan. Or working as a yoga instructor instead of a Realtor! So many things have happened that I didn't expect. It's funny how life works isn't it?

And the craziest thing of all is looking back and realizing how many tiny, quotidian instances and decisions lead to this very moment! The person you are today has been a process, millions of thoughts and emotions turned into actions and words. An infinite number of choices could have been made, but each specific one you CHOSE has lead you to now. 

It's so incredible to me how interwoven our lives are, and how easily things could have been completely different (The Chaos Theory and all that). I just feel so incredibly lucky to have been surrounded by such wonderful role models my whole life. I know for a fact that I would not be the person I am today if it hadn't been for my parents, family, friends, even chance encounters with strangers. 

I feel like as I get older, I am more easily able to step outside of myself and try to see the bigger picture. I've learned some pretty great life lessons in my 29 years and I'm definitely not claiming to know it all but here are just a few things that I wish I could tell my 19 year old self...

Always, always be kind, to everyone, even if you don't feel like it.

Try to get to know people who are different from you, you'll be better for it.

Talk is cheap, actions speak louder than words.

Don't care so much about what other people think.

Don't ever let your happiness depend on someone else.

Above all always be truthful and genuine, especially to yourself.

You don't have to say everything you think out loud. 

It's okay to say 'no'. 

It is sometimes better to ask for forgiveness, than for permission. 

Start building your credit history!

You will never regret going out of your way to help another.

Focus more on the NOW.

Keep spending time with your family, you wont regret it!

Never settle for something just because it is easy.

It is okay to be alone. In fact your relationship with yourself is the most important.

One day the little things will be the big things, and the big things will be the little things.

Try to meditate for a little while every day. 

Keep reading everything you can get your hands on.

Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. (-E.R)

Always speak out when you witness injustices, even if its uncomfortable. 

It's okay to FEEL sad or angry or upset, but remember that YOU are not your emotions. 

Your thoughts become your words and deeds.

There are so many things that I have learned about myself and life in the last 10 years. I have made a lot of mistakes, done my fair share of stupid things, and eaten my words more than once, but ultimately I think it all worked out okay! 

What do you wish you could tell your younger self? 

Em

P.S 

Here is my Pinterest board for motivational words of wisdom!

https://www.pinterest.com/ememismeme/more-than-words/

January 2018 Update

It's already the end of January and the theme of this month for me has been: creating routine. It's always difficult after one of these big PCS moves to orient yourself and find a place in your new home. And honestly this overseas move has been much like the others, just with the added factors of being in a foreign country and not being close to family and friends. Overall though, the process has been much the same.

The first couple of months are all about getting your physical place, your home, situated. It's about J getting settled into his new squadron, finding the nearest grocery store, learning how to drive on the 'wrong' side of the road, meeting new friends, finding your new favorite restaurants, you know finding your place literally.

But as we came into the new year, I found myself struggling to find space mentally. The holidays were over, we were done settling in physically, and now all of the sudden it's time to make space mentally and realize that this is going to be our home for the next few years. Since J and I started dating, we haven't lived in one place for more than a year, so it's difficult for me to get my head around actually living in one place for 3-4 years. AND of course it doesn't help that our new place is on the exact opposite side of the world from home.

Home. A word I've been struggling to redefine since this move. A word that means so much more than a building, or a city. Home is where your people are. It's where your heart is. But what do you do when your heart is in a bunch of different places? Obviously my heart is with my hubby and our little family unit here in Japan. But pieces are also with my family and friends back in the states.

Creating space mentally to accept and thrive in this new place and taking the time to create a feeling of home internally is the next step. The easy part is done. Our dishes and linens are put away. The boxes are unpacked, broken down and thrown out (on the porch, but still). I no longer have to use google maps to get everywhere. We have a favorite ramen joint, and I have a yoga class I like to go to. Now, it's time to take that routine and use it to thrive.

February is going to be a month of growth. If January's theme was Routine, the foundation of our life here, then February will be about putting up some walls (in a good way!) I want to spend time this coming month really creating a life that we love out of this routine. It's been quite rainy and cold here for the last couple of weeks but I'm hoping that this next month will begin to warm up so I can get outside and do some more exploring and traveling.

Here's to Spring in Okinawa!

Jim & Em: Adventures in Seoul

Hi friends! It is the very last day of 2017 and we just got back from our amazing first trip off island to Seoul, South Korea. It was such a wonderful way to end the year! We got to visit family, explore a new country, and EAT ALL OF THE FOOD! Getting to tour Seoul with people who actually live in the city was great, my brother and sister in law took us to all of the cool touristy places but also the secret little joints that nobody knows about!

We visited temples, museums, shopping districts, and palaces! The bus system and metro were very user friendly and cheap to use, and the people were very nice (except for the old people who try to run you over and the bus drivers that attempt to fling you off the bus every chance they get...)

On our Museum tour day, J and i visited the Korean War Museum and the Korean National Museum. The Korean War museum was beautiful and very interesting to see the Korean perspective on the war. The National Museum had all of the normal anthropological stuff, just with an Asian twist. After visiting the Louvre this fall I think we were a little burnt out on the history but otherwise it was a great museum.

We also got to visit the Jogyesa Buddhist temple which had the most beautiful colors I've seen. It was right smack in the middle of the city but felt like a completely different world! That same day we walked around the art district and saw some great street markets that were full of food, trinkets, and shops! It was a complete sensory overload...but in a good way!

The architecture in the palaces was incredible and it was so interesting to compare the it to Okinawan shrines and castles! Even the dragons and shisas had different characteristics. My favorite part was the sequence of figures on the roofs that protect the buildings from fire! The inclusion of the zodiac and astrological elements was also very neat.

Some things to keep in mind while traveling in Seoul:
-Pick an Airbnb that is near the stuff you want to see (Seoul is huge and spread out!)
-If you are a vegetarian, there are plenty of food options for you so eat up!
-Know what the weather will be like and dress appropriately (it was like 15 degrees...)
-Utilize the public transportation!
-Wear comfy walking shoes because you will be walking all over the place!
-Learn a few key Korean phrases, most young people have some english but not everyone
-Try everything!
-If you know someone who lives in Seoul, ask them for their favorite places

Overall, it was an amazing trip and I feel so lucky that we get the opportunity to travel to all of these amazing places! Here are some photos from our Seoul exploration...hope you enjoy!

Now time to plan our next trip!
Em