My First Solo Trip

As of April 24th, I officially embarked on the last year of my 20s! Since this blog is still pretty new, I figured we should play catch up a little bit! Sounds fun, right? Okay, okay… not everyone say yes at once 🙂

To kick off this new chapter, I decided that 29 would be the best year of my 20s yet, and I’m determined to make every moment count. So for my birthday this year I did something that was never on the bucket list for 2026!

Not only was this my first solo trip., but it was also my birthday trip. Instead of celebrating the way I normally would- getting my nails done, going out to eat, and finding something fun to get into-I wanted something different this year. I had a lot going on leading up to my birthday, and honestly, I just didn’t feel like being around anyone. I needed time to reset.

God placed it on my heart to take a solo road trip to Houston, Texas, and that’s exactly what I did. So on the day of my birthday I drove from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Houston, Texas all by myself. My first time driving 4 hours non-stop.

I moved at my own pace, did only things that I wanted to do, and genuinely enjoyed my own company. The funny thing is…. I didn’t even do much. But because I had been feeling so suffocated by my hometown, simply being somewhere new and doing all the “boring” things that I was going to do anyway but in another city definitely was a great choice.

That trip reminded me that sometimes peace doesn’t come from having a packed itinerary- it comes from giving yourself permission to slow down, breathe, and just be. So with that being said, here a few things that I did on my trip that maybe you would like to do if you ever go to Houston.

While searching for things to do in Houston, I came across the cutest candle and perfume-making shop called Love & Make on Times Boulevard. If you know, you know I love perfume and smelling good, So making my own signature scent was an easy choice.

The experience was honestly so much fun and surprisingly relaxing. They taught us about the different fragrance notes and perfume layers before letting us mix and match a variety of oils to create our own unique scent. Once I found the perfect combination, I wrote all of my fragrance notes on a card so that if I ever run out, they can recreate my perfume using that recipe.

The atmosphere was amazing, the staff was incredibly friendly, and it’s Black-owned, which made me love the experience even more.

I had wanted a permanent bracelet for sooooo long-I just never got around to getting one. Since I was already in Houston, I figured it was finally time.

The funny part is that I originally found the place on TikTok. I looked it up, plugged it into Google Maps, and still couldn’t find it anywhere! I was literally about to leave when something told me look one more time. Turns out it was a cute little pop-up shop inside of a coffee shop.

The whole experience was quick, easy, and so worth it. The bracelet is simple, dainty, and I still have it on to this day. It still looks just as good as when I first got it, and I say that because the first thing that came to mind when wanting a permanent bracelet was will it rust. But so far so good! And I love that it serves as a little reminder of my birthday trip and the memories I made in Houston. The charm is also my birth stone 🙂

First of all, it took me FOREVER to decide where I wanted to have a nice birthday dinner. Houston is full of beautiful, aesthetically pleasing restaurants, but after reading all the reviews, Joey Uptown completely sold me.

The first thing that impressed me? They handed me a glass of champagne while I waited for my table. CHAMPAGNE PEOPLE…. just for waiting! THEN, asked me if I wanted MORE!! I had never experienced that before, and it immediately made the whole experience a 10/10.

The restaurant was definitely busy, but I wasn’t in a rush. Since I was celebrating myself, I was perfectly content taking my time and soaking it all in. Although while I waited I went across the street to The cheesecake factory and had drinks at their bar! lol

I had been craving a steak, a fresh salad, and truffle fries-and that’s exactly what I ordered. let me tell you… every single thing was AMAZING. I’m seriously not exaggerating. Everything was cooked perfectly, and I left completely satisfied.

The only piece of advice I’d give is to make a reservation if you don’t want to wait for a table, especially on a Saturday (which is when I went). Other than that, I had a wonderful experience.

That pretty much sums up the highlights of my trip. Aside from all the fun experiences, I also spend a lot of time reflecting, sitting by the pool with my kindle, and simply enjoying my own company.

As simple as this trip was, it reminded me how important it is to pour into yourself every once in a while. I didn’t need a packed itinerary or a big celebration-I just needed a change of scenery and a little peace.

Taking this solo trip completely changed my perspective on traveling. It opened my mind to all the possibilities that come with exploring new places on my own, and I Honestly can’t wait to bring y’all along for the ride🤍