Let’s be real travel feels a little chaotic right now. Between long airport lines, delays, and the uncertainty that comes with things like a government shutdown, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed before you even step on a plane. And if you’re anything like me, travel isn’t just a luxury—it’s part of your lifestyle, your work, your reset.


So let me say this clearly: I’m not going to stop flying. I’m just pivoting. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that travel doesn’t have to stop when things get unpredictable—you just have to move smarter. Here are 3 travel tips I’m using right now to navigate the chaos without losing my mind (or my flights).


1. Give Yourself More Time Than You Think You Need
I know, I know—we all love cutting it close and making it to the gate right on time. But this is not the season for that.
With longer TSA lines, potential staffing shortages, and just overall airport congestion, you need to build in extra time. I’m talking:

• Arrive at least 2–3 hours early for domestic flights
• 3+ hours for international flights

Even airports like Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, which are usually pretty smooth, can have unexpected slowdowns right now. Trust me—sitting at your gate with a coffee is way better than running through the airport stressed and missing your flight.


2. Get TSA PreCheck or CLEAR (This Is Your Sign)
If you’ve been going back and forth about it, let this be your sign: get TSA PreCheck or CLEAR.
Right now, this is less of a luxury and more of a necessity.

• TSA PreCheck helps you move through security faster without taking off your shoes, laptop, or liquids
• CLEAR lets you skip the ID line entirely using biometric screening

When lines are wrapping around the airport? That time saved is everything. I personally look at it as investing in my peace. Because nothing throws off your travel energy like starting your trip stressed.


3. Be Flexible and Have a Backup Plan

This is the season of flexibility over frustration. Flights are getting delayed. Things are shifting. And instead of letting that ruin your entire trip, I’ve learned to pivot.
Here’s what that looks like for me:

• Booking flights earlier in the day (less chance of delays stacking up)
• Choosing airlines with multiple flight options in case I need to switch
• Keeping essentials in my carry-on (because checked bags can get delayed too)

Mentally? I’ve shifted my mindset. Instead of “this better go perfectly,” it’s “I’ll figure it out if it doesn’t.” Because I always do.


Travel right now might require a little more patience, a little more planning, and a lot more grace but that doesn’t mean we stop living our lives. For me, travel is freedom. It’s joy. It’s a reminder that there’s so much more out there. So no, I’m not canceling trips or putting my passport away. I’m just moving differently. I’m giving myself more time. I’m investing in convenience where it makes sense. And I’m staying flexible when things don’t go as planned. Because the world is still waiting and I’m still going to see it. If you’ve been feeling hesitant about traveling right now, let this be your reminder: You don’t have to stop. You just have to pivot.

During Women’s History Month, I always find myself thinking about the women who came before us—the ones who paved the way, fought for opportunity, and showed us what strength really looks like. But I’ve also been reflecting on something else: how modern women can honor that legacy by taking better care of ourselves.

Because let’s be honest for a second, friend. Women carry a lot. We’re building businesses, running households, supporting friends, raising children, showing up in our communities, and still trying to find time to breathe somewhere in between.Too often, our health becomes the thing that gets pushed to the bottom of the list. That’s why I love seeing more women step into spaces that remind us to slow down and take care of ourselves—one of those spaces being Our Health In Focus, founded by Marcy Fitzgerald  right here in Cincinnati.


What I appreciate about Our Health In Focus is that it’s rooted in something simple but powerful: helping women prioritize their health in realistic, sustainable ways. Not extreme trends. Not unrealistic expectations. Just real conversations about how we nourish our bodies, support our wellbeing, and actually rest. During a recent conversation, Marcy shared a few simple reminders that many of us need to hear—especially as busy women who are used to pouring into everyone else first.


Rest.
One of the biggest tips from Our Health In Focus is something many women struggle with: rest. We often feel guilty slowing down, like we should always be productive or doing something for someone else. But our bodies were not designed to run on empty. Real rest—sleeping well, unplugging from devices, and taking a quiet moment—helps our nervous system reset. It allows us to wake up stronger, clearer, and more present in our daily lives.


What we eat.
Another key focus is nutrition. Food is fuel, and the better we nourish our bodies, the better we show up in every other area of life. That doesn’t mean perfection. It means being intentional—drinking more water, incorporating more whole foods, and actually listening to what our bodies need instead of ignoring those signals while running from one responsibility to the next.


Movement and care.
Our bodies deserve care beyond just surviving the day. Whether it’s Pilates, a long walk around the neighborhood, a lymphatic massage, or simply stretching in the morning, movement reminds our bodies that we are investing in them. It’s not about punishment or chasing unrealistic beauty standards. It’s about honoring the body that carries us through life. The truth is, when women take care of themselves, everyone benefits.


We show up as stronger mothers, stronger leaders, stronger friends, stronger entrepreneurs, and stronger community members. We also set an example for the next generation of women watching us, showing them that success and self-care can coexist.


Spaces like Our Health In Focus are important because they create a community where women feel encouraged to prioritize their health without guilt. Sometimes we just need that reminder that taking care of ourselves isn’t selfish—it’s necessary.


So during this Women’s History Month, while we celebrate the incredible women who shaped history, let’s also commit to something for ourselves.


Let’s rest when we need it.
Let’s nourish our bodies.
Let’s move with intention and care.


And if you’re looking for daily inspiration and practical wellness reminders, be sure to follow Our Health In Focus on Instagram and stay connected with the work Marcy is doing to help women put their health back into focus.

As we start to come out of winter (finally!), there’s one thing I’m prioritizing before stepping fully into spring: my skin. After months of cold weather, dry air, and honestly just being a little more low maintenance, my skin is always in need of a reset.
​
Spring is all about fresh, glowing, renewed energy, and your skin deserves to match that vibe. So if you’re looking to get your glow back before the season fully shifts, here are 3 skincare treatments I swear by before spring.


1. Hydrating Facial (Your Skin Reset)
Let’s start with the basics but elevated. A hydrating facial is one of the best ways to bring your skin back to life after winter. Think of it as a deep drink of water for your face. Dryness, dullness, and uneven texture don’t stand a chance once your skin is properly cleansed, exfoliated, and infused with hydration.
I personally love quick, effective treatments that don’t take up your whole day but still deliver results. A good facial can:

• Instantly boost your glow
• Smooth texture
• Calm irritation
• Prep your skin for the new season

This is especially perfect if you have an event, trip, or just want to feel refreshed. It’s giving “I woke up like this” energy and we love that.


2. Chemical Peel (Out with the Old)
Now if your skin needs a little more than hydration, it might be time for a chemical peel. Before you get nervous—this doesn’t mean your face is going to be peeling off dramatically (unless you go for a deeper peel, which is a whole different conversation). A light to medium peel can gently exfoliate away dead skin cells and reveal smoother, brighter skin underneath.
This is perfect for:

• Hyperpigmentation
• Acne scars
• Uneven skin tone
• Dullness

After a long winter, your skin can look tired—and a chemical peel helps you start fresh. It also allows your skincare products to penetrate better, which means everything you’re using at home will actually work more effectively.
Just make sure you’re going to a trusted professional and wearing your SPF after because your new skin needs protection.


3. Microneedling (The Glow-Up Treatment)
If you’re ready to take things up a notch, let’s talk about microneedling aka that treatment that really gets your skin together. Microneedling works by creating tiny micro-injuries in the skin to stimulate collagen production. I know that sounds intense, but the results? Worth it.
This treatment helps with:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Acne scars
• Skin texture
• Overall firmness and glow

It’s one of those treatments where your skin just keeps getting better over time. You may have a little redness for a day or two, but once your skin heals, it’s giving smooth, radiant, glass-skin vibes.
This is perfect to do before spring because it sets the foundation for long-term skin health not just a quick fix.

Spring is all about renewal and your skin deserves that same energy.
Whether you start with a simple hydrating facial, level up with a chemical peel, or go all in with microneedling, the goal is the same: healthy, glowing, confident skin.

Let’s be real when your skin looks good, you feel good.
So consider this your sign to book that appointment, invest in your glow, and step into spring looking and feeling like your best self.
Because glowing skin? That’s always in season.

I was having one of those real conversations the other day with a girlfriend, the kind where you’re not sugarcoating anything. We were talking about business, the economy, the shifting landscape for entrepreneurs, and how things just feel different right now. The truth is, a lot of us are working harder than ever but being asked to do more for less.  I finally said something out loud that I think more women, especially women founders need to hear.


We have to start asking for our worth.


For so long, many of us have been conditioned to shrink our value. To feel grateful for the opportunity instead of confident in the expertise we bring. To say yes quickly and negotiate quietly. But the landscape of business has changed. If we don’t adjust how we view our own value, we risk staying stuck in cycles of burnout and under-earning. And honestly? Women’s History Month feels like the perfect time to talk about that.


Because when I think about the women who came before us, the ones who fought for seats at the table, for equal pay, for opportunities we benefit from today, I don’t think they did all that work so we could still be playing small.


If anything, we’re supposed to take it even further. I’ve been reflecting on this a lot lately as an entrepreneur. There are seasons where things are flowing and opportunities are everywhere. And then there are seasons where you start questioning everything. The contracts slow down, partnerships shift, and you’re looking at the same workload wondering why the revenue isn’t matching the effort.


That’s where many founders get stuck: working harder instead of working smarter. The truth is, many purpose-driven or faith-led entrepreneurs carry an additional misconception: that if their work is meaningful, they are somehow supposed to struggle financially. But that’s not how impact works.


If you want to make a massive impact, your business has to be sustainable. And sustainability means building something profitable enough to support the vision.


Recently I came across a perspective that really resonated with me around this idea. Sometimes when entrepreneurs feel stuck financially, the problem isn’t effort or talent. It’s that the value they bring to the table isn’t being positioned or packaged in a way that the market fully understands.
That’s something former Fortune 50 marketing executive Tasha Randle talks about often in her work with founders. Through her Strategic Advisory Intensive, she helps entrepreneurs identify the hidden friction in their business, clarify their positioning, and turn underleveraged expertise into premium offers that better reflect the impact they’re making. And honestly? That type of guidance can be the difference between surviving and thriving.
If you’re a founder who feels like you’ve been working way too hard for the revenue you’re generating, I’d definitely encourage you to take a look at it. You can learn more here:
​https://828leadershipgroup.com/morgan2


As women, especially during Women’s History Month, I think it’s time we normalize something. We can be purpose-driven and profitable. We can be impactful and financially successful. We can lead with heart and charge what we’re worth.


Girl power isn’t just about cheering each other on. It’s also about reminding each other that our expertise, our leadership, and our ideas have real value. It’s okay actually, it’s necessary to build businesses that reflect that.

Every March, during Women's History Month, we celebrate women who have shaped our communities, our culture, and our future. We often think about famous names and historic figures, but some of the most powerful examples of leadership and impact happen quietly — every single day. For me, one of those women is my mom, Marchelle Kay Hall Owens.


My mom was born in Richmond, Indiana, but her life’s work has deeply impacted generations of students through her career with Cincinnati Public Schools. For more than 30 years, she has been a teacher but honestly, that word barely scratches the surface of what she does.
To her students, she’s far more than someone standing at the front of a classroom.


She pours her entire heart into the children she teaches. I’ve watched her treat her students like they were her own kids  because in many ways, they are. Teaching for my mom has never been “just a job.” It’s a calling. It’s a commitment. It’s a responsibility she takes personally.
My mom has spent countless hours after the school bell rings, staying late to make sure her students understand their lessons, helping them finish assignments, or simply giving them a safe place to be. While many people head home when the school day ends, she’s often still there — long after the hallways have quieted. And it doesn’t stop there.


She has spent her own money on classroom materials, supplies, and resources because she believes her students deserve the best learning environment possible. She has cooked meals and brought food into the classroom because she knows that sometimes learning is easier when a child feels cared for and supported.


Even during school breaks, when many teachers finally get a moment to step away, my mom will still go into her classroom organizing, preparing, and making sure everything is ready for the next group of students who walk through her door. That’s the kind of dedication you can’t teach in a training program. That’s heart.


My mom quietly gives back in ways that most people will never see. She doesn’t do it for recognition or praise. In fact, if I told her I was writing about her like this, she’d probably tell me I’m doing too much. I think women like her deserve to be celebrated. Over the past year, I’ve also had the blessing of being closer to my mom in a different way. After losing my dad, I went and stayed with her for a while. Grief has a way of bringing life into sharp focus, and during that time I was able to watch her navigate loss with a level of resilience, courage, and vulnerability that deeply moved me.


Even in the middle of heartbreak, she carried herself with grace. Watching her move through that season reminded me of the quiet strength she has always had. The same strength that shows up in her classroom. The same compassion she pours into her students. The same love she gives to her family and community. My mom is a boss behind the scenes in every sense of the word. She leads with care. She shows up consistently. She makes an impact without needing the spotlight.


As I reflect during Women’s History Month, I realize that history isn’t only written by women on stages or in headlines. It’s also written in classrooms, in small acts of kindness, and in the lives of students who will grow up remembering the teacher who believed in them.
For more than three decades, my mom has been writing that kind of history every day.

Entrepreneurship can be one of the most rewarding journeys you’ll ever take. But if I’m being honest, it can also be one of the most emotionally exhausting.


Lately, I found myself in a place I didn’t expect, feeling defeated. The past year has been a tough landscape for many entrepreneurs, especially those of us working in media, events, and community-centered work. Contracts that once felt stable have been cut short. Sponsorship dollars that businesses once allocated toward community engagement have dwindled as companies tighten their budgets. Programs that used to support diverse voices and initiatives have disappeared.


The list goes on. If you’re an entrepreneur, you know what that means. When funding shifts, the pressure doesn’t disappear  it shifts onto you. You’re still expected to show up, produce, create, and lead, even when the resources that once supported that work begin to shrink.


At some point, the weight of all of it started to get to me. I remember sitting there thinking, Maybe I can’t do this anymore. It’s not something entrepreneurs always admit publicly. We’re used to being the strong ones, the visionaries, the problem solvers, the people who find a way forward. But behind the scenes, there are moments when doubt creeps in and asks some really hard questions. Is this still worth it? Am I forcing something that isn’t meant to continue? How much longer can I keep pushing through uncertainty?


Those thoughts led me somewhere I didn’t initially plan, I decided to seek guidance. That’s how I found myself having a conversation with Pastor Joel at Endeavor Church in Cincinnati. Sometimes when you’re feeling overwhelmed, what you really need is perspective from someone who can help you zoom out. Not just from a business standpoint, but from a spiritual and purpose-driven one.


I shared honestly about where I was mentally,the frustration, the exhaustion, and the feeling that doors were closing faster than they were opening. I talked about the contracts that had ended unexpectedly, the sponsors who once supported my work but now had limited funds, and the pressure of continuing to build something meaningful when the landscape keeps shifting.


Instead of immediately offering solutions, he did something more important. He listened. Then he reminded me of something I think many entrepreneurs forget: purpose doesn’t always come with perfect conditions. Sometimes the work you’re called to do will face obstacles. Sometimes the path will feel uncertain. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re on the wrong road. Often it simply means you’re in a season that requires faith, patience, and resilience.


That conversation didn’t magically solve every business challenge I’m facing. The reality is, the entrepreneurial journey still requires strategy, funding, partnerships, and constant innovation. But what it did change was my mindset. I walked away feeling lighter. Not because everything was fixed overnight, but because I was reminded that my work has always been bigger than contracts or sponsorship deals. The purpose behind what I do, creating platforms, building community, telling stories, and uplifting voices — still matters.


Sometimes when you’re deep in the pressure of entrepreneurship, you lose sight of that. Faith has a way of grounding you again. It reminds you that your journey isn’t defined solely by the numbers, the deals, or the setbacks. It’s defined by the impact you continue to make, even during the difficult seasons.


Entrepreneurship will always come with highs and lows. There will be seasons of abundance and seasons of uncertainty. But moments like that conversation reminded me that giving up in the middle of the storm isn’t the answer.


Sometimes you just need to pause, seek guidance, and reconnect with the reason you started in the first place. For me, that reminder came exactly when I needed it most.