Not even North Korea's constant threats, it seems, could deter me from visiting Seoul. With cold weather clothing in my luggage and my boyfriend in tow, I recently flew to South Korea's capital with high hopes for one memorable vacation.

And one truly memorable vacation it was! I've been to quite a few popular destinations abroad, but there's just something about Seoul that captured my heart. While I appreciated the city's firm grasp on its storied past, it was Seoul's quirky, energetic vibe that truly spoke to me. If you're young, carefree, and—dare I say it—in love, I suggest you get lost at least once in your life in this charming metropolis.

In just a little over a week, I'll be packing my bags and flying to a city I've been so excited to visit since I booked my plane ticket in November. What I'm not looking forward to, however, is the couple of hours I'll be spending in a metal vessel miles away from the ground. But I digress...

While I'm no jet-setter, I have gone on my fair share of long-haul plane rides. And during those trips, I have learned (sometimes the hard way!) how to look presentable even after way too many hours up in the air.

I'm sure every child in the world thinks of her mom as the best mother in existence. Naturally, I feel the same way. My mom, Cecile, is the best mom in the world—no questions asked. At just 24 years old (the same age I'll be in a few months), she gave birth to me, her firstborn.

I was told I was a sickly baby, so mom readily gave up her career to stay at home to care for me. I'm sure that must have been a tough decision, but I appreciate the choice she made. Because of that, my siblings and I never knew a life where mom was out of the house on meetings or business trips. Every morning, her face urges us to get ready for school, and every afternoon, her smile greets us at the door. Until now, it's the same story—except we don't get home until well into the night.