Photo credit: Mr. Samuel

I'm a homebody.

Not an introvert - but a homebody. Meaning, I'm perfectly content curled up under a blanket with an order of BJ's Root Beer Glaze Wings watching reruns of Teen Titans Go or American Dad. And while I could possibly do this every single weekend, there's a part of me that knows I can't work, build a business, and thrive solely under the roof of my home.

For my own sanity's sake, I have to get away from time to time.

While today's social media culture of stuntin' dictates that getting away = passport stamps and staged pool selfies, it really doesn't take all of that to experience a change in scenery. Sometimes, you can't afford to. Other times, your calendar is just too packed to take a week off and jet somewhere tropical. Either way, I'm here to let you know there's absolutely nothing wrong with traveling within your state, or even city for a small getaway.

That's exactly what I did.

In partnership with DriveShop and Toyota, I took the roads about 2 hours outside of LA to Temecula, California - spending the day with Brandie and the Be Kekoa team.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to drink any wine (it gets dark soooo early now!), but there's always next time. Besides, my day was still full of laughter, learning, and love - without the vino.

I spent all day inside the Be Kekoa salon, surrounded by what I'm most passionate about - natural hair! I watched in awe as Brandie, Mary, and Frances transformed colors, big chopped, shaped hair, and set twists faster than I've ever seen in life.

While I was there, I got to experience one of theeeeee most relaxing services ever - a heavenly scalp massage from Mary with the new Be Relieved oil roller. Let me tell you - and I'm sure you know this already - but there's nothing that feels better than someone else's hands massaging your scalp. Self-scalp rubs are nice, but don't feel the same.

This trio is amazing. You'll want to head to bekekoa.com and grab yourself one!

I don't want to spill the beans too much here about Be Relieved (I'm writing about it in another post soon), but just know it's a vial of genius. From ingredients to packaging, it's going to be your scalp's new bff - at home and on the go. Stay tuned for that blog post.

I was also able to experience the new Tamanu Kukui Bath Truffle Melts - which are exactly what they sound like. Ultra moisturizing, skin nourishing truffles that melt in your bath water, helping to soften and heal the skin.

All in all, my Be Kekoa daycation was a single day, spent around beautiful women who are empowering women to embrace their natural hair, with positivity and love. The Be Kekoa salon is such an affirming space - if you ever get the chance, I highly recommend you visit.

Even though I spent the day learning, I got such a charge of energy from being around Brandie, Mary, and Frances. As I drove home in bumper-to-bumper-to-bumper-to-bumper (and did I mention to bumper?) traffic, I was notably less stressed - because I knew I got exactly what I needed while out in Temecula. A quick change of scenery + positive energy = refreshed and ready.

Ready to hit the road for a mini getaway of your own? Here are 5 tips to help you make the most of your day out:

5 Tips for Maximizing Your Self Care DayCation

1. Get a great set of wheels and a full tank of gas
If you're going to be driving some distance, I highly recommend driving a car that isn't yours. Not only will it save you miles, but it adds to the 'adventure' of the day. It's purely psychological, but a rental car (or just someone else's car) will make for an easier ride, leave you less stressed about wear and tear on your daily driver, and amps up the "getaway" feeling.

I also drove down to San Pedro, to get my workout on at Cabrillo Beach. #selfcarecomesinmanyforms

I'm so thankful that I was able to partner with Drive Shop and Toyota to take the new 2018 CH-R for a spin. This blue beauty was fully equipped with everything from bluetooth and heated seats to climate control and rear view camera. It was my first time in a true crossover vehicle, and I'm HOOKED. No more sedans for Christina.

2. Get on the road EARLY
Don't leave at 10am with the expectation that you're going to make the most of your day. Especially if you live in or around LA. After 9am, everybody and their cousin Shirley is on the road. I know it seems counterintutive (because who doesn't like to sleep in on a weekend), but the early bird really does get the worm here. If you can help it, get up, at 'em, and on the road by 7am. Trust me. It's worth it.

The Toyota CH-R is Bailey approved. Follow her on Instagram here.

3. Make a dope playlist
I have 3 main playlists that I work from, all which are amazing for long car trips. There's my Gym Werk list, which fulfills my desire to listen to music from artists like Cardi B, Vince Staples, Migos, and Drake. It also gets me hype in the gym and is perfect for waking me up on the early morning drive. Then, there's my gospel jams. Sometimes, you gotta praise your way through the traffic and construction zones. My final list? 90's and early 2000's rap and r&b. Because depending on the distance you're driving, there will be some lonely roads that are perfect for belting out Dru Hill lyrics at the top of your lungs.

And thanks to the Toyota CH-R, I was able to seamlessly skip around and enjoy my music while remaining a safe driver on the road.

4. Have a plan, but be open to new experiences
I went to Temecula with visions of hanging out at Be Kekoa for sure, but also dabbling in a winery or two. It didn't happen as I thought it would, which is okay. Release yourself from the added stress and burden of expectation. After all, you've only got one day. Go with the flow, and trust that you're going to get exactly what you need out of your time.

Photo Credit: Samuel

5. Detach from social media
I know you thought for sure that I was going to Snap and Instagram my whole Be Kekoa experience, right? Because that's what bloggers do - document everything. Not this time around. It's so important to unplug occasionally. To be present. To not get so caught up recording the moment to share that you miss out on the experience yourself. #issaword

When was the last time you hit the road for a day of discovery and self care? Let me know in the comments below!

This post is sponsored by Toyota and DriveShop.