Finding Myself Again... In San Diego Of All Places.

A funny, or perhaps slightly tragic, thing has happened as I've gotten older and my focus has shifted from myself to my family. As the days roll by and there are bills to pay, homework to help with, meals to plan, and tee ball games to attend, I've realized that I've lost a bit of "me." It feels like I hand over little pieces of myself to those I love each and every day and I'm just a fraction of the person I once was. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my life, but I also miss the fun, carefree version of myself.

After having kids I figured my days of dancing, joyriding with the music turned up and just going with the flow were over. I know this is a temporary season in my life, but man, I've been feeling stagnant. I think this is a common thing when you've got little kids and mid-life is just around the corner. I know my husband definitely feels it too.

I met a few members of the Kia team last year at Mom 2.0, a popular conference for influencers in the parenting space. I learned a little about the brand and about the Kia Niro, which also happens to rank as the most reliable vehicle in the US by Consumer Reports. I'd never driven a Kia before so I took the Niro for a spin and was impressed with the ride and the value. But, what I was most impressed with were the people. The team that was staffing the conference was laidback and really seemed to enjoy what they were doing.

When an invitation arrived to attend an event in San Diego to learn more about the Kia Stinger, I didn't hesitate to accept. A chance to escape for two days and cruise around southern California in a sleek, and dare I say sexy, Stinger? Yes, please! I was told there'd be lots of laidback fun and a rousing carpool karaoke challenge. Mission accepted.

Right off the bat, I could tell this event was going to be different than any other brand immersion event I've attended. There'd be no stuffy business clothes or rigid scheduling. The event would be a true reflection of the Kia brand: unpretentious and fun.

Kia brought around 50 influencers together to meet with members of the Kia team. We arrived at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego to find a huge hospitality suite with rooftop balcony so we could kick back and relax and get to know one another. We also had a bird's eye view of all those beautiful Stingers they brought for us to drive.

The first night brought us all together at a local restaurant called Rusted Root. Luckily enough, some of my favorite people were there and I was thrilled I'd get to experience this event with them.

James Bell, the Director of Corporate Communications, introduced every member of their brand team in attendance and one statement really stood out to me. When asked what he does, one gentleman said, "I help design cars that enrich people's lives." The comment was striking.

He didn't just talk about designing a safe car, or a very functional car, or a good looking car. He said he wanted to enrich lives. He was looking at the big picture of how these vehicles actually fit into our everyday lives, not just sales figures or awards (although Kia's got an impressive list of those as well).

Music was the central theme of the event and I learned that it's a huge part of the Kia brand. Music can evoke strong emotions and memories and that's what Kia wants to do with its vehicles. I think they're really pulling it off, especially with the new Kia Stinger.

The Kia Stinger

Kia had a bit of a rocky start when it entered the US marketplace in 1994. The quality just wasn't there. So, they made a big investment, monetarily and time-wise, to create vehicles that would drive as good as they looked. Over time they succeeded, but they didn't let those victories go to their head. They remain humble, yet intensely focused on creating quality vehicles that can go toe to toe with other heavy hitters in the marketplace at a much more palatable price point.

For instance, take the Stinger. Not only is this sedan extremely pleasing to the eye, it's insanely powerful. It can go from 0-60 MPH in 4.7 seconds and tops out at 167 MPH (don't try that at home kids). This is Kia's first all-wheel-drive sedan and it handles beautifully.

What I love about the Stinger is that it's a HOT looking car, but it's got 4 doors and it can comfortably fit a family of 5 with plenty of trunk space left over for groceries or a stroller. Note for parents, you can definitely fit two car seats in the back. The Stinger is longer and wider than other vehicles in its class (think BMW 3 or 4 series or Lexus GS) and that delivers great stability and more cabin space.

We got to put the Stinger to the test with a test drive that felt more like a joy ride. We cruised around San Diego in this beautiful vehicle and turned heads everywhere we went.

I love the silhouette of the Stinger and the signature tiger-nose grill design.

As we drove around San Diego, I recognized a familiar feeling coming over me: peace. I've been so wrapped up in the hustle of daily life and mothering two small kids, with the added stress of building a house (that we were supposed to close on 2 days before this trip... but that didn't happen). I hadn't felt this at-ease in months. I was simply enjoying myself and being with my friends.

Remember how I mentioned we were challenged to do a little carpool karaoke? Well, I just so happen to love a challenge. I partnered with Victoria from Simply Today Life, Kelly from Food Fun and Faraway Places and Keri Lyn from She Saved to recreate Meghan Trainor's Me Too and I'm pretty sure we nailed it!

Yeah, that happened! The day went on and I felt lighter and lighter. It's hard to feel stressed when you're goofing off with good company.

For our last night in San Diego, Kia went all out for us. They hired a live band for a karaoke event, the likes of which I've never seen before. We laughed, we sang, we danced. I even did a little Kid n' Play dance remix. It was surely something to see.

Not only did I get to spend time rocking out with some of my most cherished friends, I feel like I found myself again. I know she'll probably have to go back into hiding now that I'm back to reality and have kindergarten field trips to chaperone and groceries to get, but at least I know she's still in there.

 

Special thanks to Kia for sponsoring this trip so I could learn more about #TheNewKia. I'm honored to be part of the #KiaFamily. Thanks to Cielo Roth Photography for the gorgeous photos!