Thanks to Kia for giving my friends and I girl time while showing us #thenewkia in San Diego
When was the last time you found yourself laughing so hard you couldn’t breathe while surrounded by a group of friends who get you? Who respect you? Who tell it like it is and who you can just do you around? If you’re like me then it has probably been a bit too long. And we need to fix that, mmmkay? You ready? You NEED girl time. Here is how to do it in 5 easy steps.
STEP 1: LEAVE
Yep. Caps lock ON for a reason. You’re going to have to leave the house. You may do it reluctantly or celebrate your pending freedom with a jam session on a toddler sized guitar like I did. Clearly there’s no judgement here either way. And if folding three loads of laundry before you go makes you feel good inside then you’re a better woman than I am! Sorry husband, you married the wrong girl for that.
No but seriously, call your friends, text them, DM them. It all goes down in the DM. Do whatever it is you do to communicate and just start figuring out a time to meet up.
STEP 2: Unite With Your Tribe
Yes, you have to get to step two and actually meet up or this doesn’t work at all. Push some red carts around, childless while sipping Frappuccinos and buying all the things at Target. Pack your bikini and head to Cabo. While one might be more exotic than the other, the effect you’re looking for is similar. You time. Us time. Gigglesnorts.
If you engaged in the whole #dateyourspouse thing then the concept of #dateyourfriends should resonate with you. I have no idea if that’s a thing but if it’s not I’m making it one. NOW. And hey, you don’t have to get dressed up, shave your legs or put on pretty underwear (though I actually did all three anyway so can I get a high five for that?) because your friends will not judge you if you show up rocking the mom bun and Lululemon. That’s why we’re friends, ladies!
The folks from Kia invited me and some of my favorite ladies – Xenia, Amber, Alice, Danielle, Heather, Melissa and Greta to spend some time with them at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego (convenient) and to check out their new 2017 lineup. I’m in the market for a new car and loved driving the Sorento in Steamboat this year so it seemed like the perfect moment to be with a few of my favorite people and test out vehicles.
STEP 3: Stick Yourselves in a Small Space
There is a reason girls visit the bathroom in groups. Not just to ward off creepers but because there is nothing more fun than being with your besties in a small space that you feel is yours to gab, laugh and just be plain ridiculous in. Alone. Second to an immaculate bathroom filled with flattering lighting, ample plush seating and vases of peonies I’ll take a car. Get in the car together and turn the music up! Some of my favorite high school memories are…you guessed it, in a car. I can still hear Nelly in the background.
As someone who uses a car daily but isn’t an auto enthusiast I never thought about just how much a car is the backdrop to most of our lives as moms. It’s a place where we get down when our song comes on and don’t care who sees. We rely on it to get our kids safely to school and a million other places. We stock it with everything we need to be prepared mom on the go. Cars are the unsung heroes of mom life.
STEP 4: Enjoy Some Guilty Pleasures
Yep. Do it. Eat the donut. Have two! None of that stuff counts when you’re on girl time. What happens at Krispy Kreme stays at Krispy Kreme. This is your time so don’t be afraid to make the most of what you’ve got. My friends and I hopped in a Kia Sedona and hightailed it to… Krispy Kreme. In other mom confessions I have always been anti-minivan because I’m trying to maintain a shred of the person I used to be when I was single in NY.
If I’m being honest, it was a pretty sweet car. The second row features first class seats. You know, those seats that are slowly dying out on airplanes which come with footrests, serious recline and maximum comfort. And because we were on girl time and being rule breakers we made a few pit stops including Chicano Park where naturally my friends could not keep me off the playground.
Ride the slides, wave at cute boys, sing at the top of your lungs to all of the music you know every word to and have loved since an age you would rather not admit. We did exactly that. And because I’m serious about this, we also recorded it, barely edited it and stuck it into this video to encourage you to live in the moment and have a blast with your friends.
STEP 5: Capture Those Memories
Super important. You’ll need them when you’re unloading the dishwasher. Again. But really, we as moms tend to be the ones behind the camera. Since I frequently get hired to take photos I naturally prefer to be behind the camera. I also have a black belt in picking out every imperfection I see about myself. Terrible habit (I know!) and we’re all our own worst critics, right? However, what’s worse than a hundred photos where you don’t feel like you look perfect? Having none. None is way worse.
So thank your friend who has NO shame in her selfie game. Everyone needs one of those! Thank you Amber!
And of course you’ll be so grateful when you realize one of your friends captured a moment like this on the sly. That would be me, the quiet paparazzi, clicking away.
And this one. Because when someone asks how much can you fit in the trunk of the car the inevitable way to measure is to see how many people you can fit in it, minion style. Three. The answer is three moms can fit in the trunk of a Sedona without putting any seats down.
So there you have it. Girls day. Donuts. Selfie game. Carpool Karaoke. Beaches. Besties. Memories. Thanks to Kia for bringing us together and giving us the gift of completely embarrassing amazing memories. You’ll probably be seeing more about their cars from me because after a second drive in the Sorento I’m fairly certain it will be my next car and future backdrop for lots of shenanigans and carpool karaoke.
