Hi, I’m Samantha.

Hi, I’m Samantha Shoua Lee - aka @samshoua.

I started this space as a way to document the things that make life feel full — the places I go, the meals I can’t stop thinking about, and the small obsessions that quietly become part of who I am.

I’m a Midwest-based product manager who recently moved to Chicago, drawn to its energy, its food scene, and the feeling that there is always something new waiting just around the corner. I have a deep love for thoughtful design, memorable meals, and the kind of travel that shifts your perspective. I like noticing the moments, places, and experiences that turn ordinary days into something memorable. Whether that’s discovering a new café, planning the next trip, or falling down a TikTok rabbit hole that leads to something that takes over my life for the time being.

This site is a collection of my experiences, recommendations, and evolving interests. Think of it as part travel diary, part personal archive, and part love letter to the things that make life feel interesting.

I’m glad you’re here.

A few things about me:

Ethnicity
Hmong and Korean American

Sun, Moon, Rising
Scorpio, Scorpio, Capricorn

Go-to café order
Iced matcha — ideally with whatever house-made flavor they’re featuring

Hogwarts house
Slytherin. Always.

MBTI
ESFJ-T — though it seems to evolve with each chapter of life

Favorite colors
Orange, unapologetically - maybe one day I will show you my “ugly coat”.
To wear: grey and evergreen

A movie I’ll never say no to
Howl’s Moving Castle

My Approach

This started as a place to keep track of the things I loved — meals I couldn’t stop thinking about, places that surprised me, and the small discoveries that made everyday life more interesting. Over time, it’s become a personal archive of my experiences as I explore Chicago and beyond. I share what genuinely excites me, what I keep coming back to, and what feels worth remembering.

Things I’m loving

I tend to fall down rabbit holes and local trends: a new café, a travel destination, a skincare product, or something completely random I discovered at 1AM (which is saying a lot because I am usually in bed before 10PM). This space is where those interests live, evolve, and occasionally take over my personality for a while.

Worth remembering

Not everything makes the cut. If it’s here, it’s because it left an impression — something I’d recommend to a friend, revisit myself, or think about long after the moment passed.