There is something a little strange about being home this much.
If you know me, you know I’m usually somewhere. London, Paris, New York, Mexico, a hotel, an airport, a conference, a press trip-you name it. Traveling has become such a big part of my life and my business that sometimes I joke that my suitcase knows my schedule better than I do. So being back home, spending more time in Cincinnati and looking at my calendar with fewer flights and more local events has made me pause and really think about what this season of entrepreneurship is asking of me.


I’m learning how to build differently. The business landscape has changed. The rollback and reworking of DEI initiatives across corporate America has affected the way many brands approach partnerships, sponsorships and community investments. Research from Catalyst and NYU’s Meltzer Center found that 77% of organizations surveyed had adapted their inclusion efforts over the previous three years, while 51% of federal contractors reported scaling back those efforts. For entrepreneurs like me, who have built businesses through partnerships, brand relationships and creating experiences for underserved audiences, you feel those shifts.


I could sit around and complain about it, but that’s not really how I’m wired. So I’ve pivoted. Instead of relying as heavily on travel opportunities, brand campaigns and corporate partnerships, I’m putting more energy into what I can build myself. That means more events. More rooms. More experiences. More opportunities for women to connect, learn, network and pour back into themselves and their businesses. It means bringing people together instead of waiting for someone else to create the room I want to see.


That has required me to stretch. I’m hosting more events than I normally would, and while there is excitement that comes with that, there is also a lot of work behind the scenes. There are venues, sponsors, tickets, marketing, speakers, partnerships, emails, logistics and all the little details nobody sees when they walk into a beautiful room and everything looks effortless. But I’m realizing that this is also what entrepreneurship is: recognizing when the old way isn't working the same way and having the courage to build another way.

That brings me back to something I wrote recently about learning to build with intention, not just momentum. I’ve been thinking a lot about whether I’m simply doing more or actually building something sustainable. Tasha Randle has been a great resource for me in thinking through that question.

As a former Fortune 50 marketer and now strategic advisor to entrepreneurs, Tasha helps founders think through questions around how they position their business, communicate their value and make smarter decisions about where to focus as they grow.

And if there’s a business question you’ve been wrestling with, she’s opening up an opportunity to ask her directly. You can submit your business question here, and she may answer it in an upcoming YouTube video. Your name and business information won’t be shared publicly, and if your question is selected, the video response will be sent directly to you.

If you’d rather start by exploring some of her thinking first, you can also listen to her free audio guide, “5 Signs Your Value May Be Getting Lost in Translation.” It's a great place to start if you’ve been working hard but wondering whether people truly understand the value of what you offer.
Maybe this season isn't about traveling more. Maybe it’s about building deeper. Maybe it isn't about waiting for the next opportunity to knock. Maybe it's about creating the opportunity yourself.

So yes, I’m home. While I may be home more than usual, I’m not standing still. I’m building. I’m pivoting. I’m creating new rooms, new experiences and new opportunities. And most importantly, I’m learning that sometimes the biggest growth happens when you stop trying to recreate what worked before and start paying attention to what your business needs now.
This season may look different, but different doesn't mean diminished. It just means I’m building something new.

If you’ve ever heard someone mention Woodbury Common Premium Outlets while talking about shopping in New York and wondered, “Is it really worth the trip?” Well, honey, I went to find out for myself. This was my first time visiting Woodbury Common, and honestly, I’m glad I made the trip even though I wasn’t there to do a full-blown shopping haul. I was there to scope it out so you don’t have to. And let me just say this now: next time, I’m coming prepared.


We were staying in New York City and decided to take an express shuttle bus from Times Square to Woodbury Common. The roundtrip ticket was only about $50, which I thought was pretty reasonable considering you’re traveling about an hour outside of New York City. We decided to catch one of the earlier buses around 8:30 a.m. because we wanted to get there right when the stores opened. If you’re going to make the trip, I definitely recommend going early. Not only did it give us plenty of time to explore, but there was something nice about arriving before the shopping center really got busy.


And when I tell you I was overwhelmed when I got there, I mean it in the best possible way. Woodbury Common is HUGE. It’s not your typical little outlet mall where you can walk through a few stores, grab a couple of things and head back into the city. There are tons of stores spread throughout the property, including a pretty impressive selection of designer and luxury brands. You can find everything from fashion and accessories to shoes, beauty and home goods, and there are enough stores to easily turn this into an all-day shopping experience.


My biggest mistake? We did not come prepared to shop like we were going to shop. And by that, I mean we absolutely should have brought an empty suitcase. We saw people walking around pulling suitcases behind them and at first I thought, “Oh, that's smart.” Then I realized exactly why they had them. When you’re shopping at multiple stores and buying bags, boxes, shoes and clothing, having something on wheels to put everything in makes so much sense. We were only there to check things out, so we didn’t think we needed one. But trust me, if you’re planning a serious shopping day, bring the suitcase.
There were so many stores I wanted to go back and actually s


pend time in, especially the designer stores. I found myself looking around thinking, “Okay, I need to come back when I have a PLAN.” Because Woodbury Common is not the place I would recommend visiting casually if your goal is to maximize your shopping. You’ll want to know what stores you want to visit, have a budget, wear comfortable shoes and, most importantly, give yourself enough time.


Which brings me to the big question: Is Woodbury Common worth it? Based on my first visit, I would say yes, especially if you love designer shopping and outlet finds and you're willing to make the trip outside of New York City. The fact that you can take a relatively affordable roundtrip shuttle from Manhattan makes it even easier. But I would approach it differently depending on what kind of shopper you are. If you're just curious like I was, going for a few hours to explore and see what's there can be fun. But if you're serious about shopping, make a full day of it.


As for me, I’m already planning my next visit—and it’s going to look VERY different. This time, I’ll be saving my coins ahead of time, bringing an empty suitcase and rounding up my girls because I think Woodbury Common would make for an amazing girls’ shopping trip. There’s something about spending the day shopping, grabbing lunch, trying things on and hunting for designer deals with your friends that sounds like the perfect New York getaway.


So, did I buy anything this time? Not really. But that was the point. I was scoping it out so I could report back to you, and now I know exactly what I’m getting myself into. Next time, honey, I’m coming ready to shop until I drop. Woodbury Common, consider yourself warned

Apparently, you can go to your very first New York Fashion Week, live out a dream you’ve had for years, network, create some amazing content, make new connections, open the door to future opportunities, and somehow leave New York with a sprained or strained shoulder.  Would I do it again? Absolutely. In fact, if you had asked me before the trip if I would trade the experience for a pain-free weekend, the answer would still be no. My first NYFW was everything I hoped it would be, and it reminded me of something I’ve learned over and over again throughout my entrepreneurial journey: sometimes you simply have to get yourself in the room.


Going to NYFW has been on my wish list for years. I’ve watched the street-style photos, the fashion shows, the parties, the networking, the designers and all of the excitement surrounding Fashion Week and always thought, “One day, I’m going to experience this.” This year, that one day finally came. Allegiant helped get me to New York, and what started as an opportunity to attend my first NYFW turned into so much more. I was able to network, meet new people, create some really great content and, most importantly, make connections that opened the door to even more opportunities. I’m already looking forward to the possibility of coming back with even more on the table, and that is something I don’t take lightly.


I think we sometimes put too much pressure on ourselves to know exactly what an opportunity is going to produce before we say yes to it. We want to know who we’re going to meet, what the outcome will be, whether it will lead to a partnership, whether someone will call us back or whether it will immediately turn into something tangible. But that’s not always how opportunity works. Sometimes you have to show up simply because you believe there is something on the other side of that door. You have to get on the plane, walk into the event, introduce yourself, start the conversation and trust that something will come from it. That doesn’t mean every room will lead to a major opportunity, but you certainly can’t make the connection if you never put yourself in the room.


That’s what NYFW reminded me of. I didn’t go to New York knowing exactly what would happen. I went because I had a dream, an invitation, an opportunity and enough faith to say, “Let me see what happens.” And what happened was pretty amazing. I got to experience Fashion Week for the first time, I created content that I’m genuinely proud of, I connected with people I may not have met otherwise, and I walked away with conversations that could lead to future opportunities. Sometimes the biggest thing an opportunity gives you isn’t the immediate result. It’s the next door it introduces you to.


Of course, Fashion Week is also WORK. Between getting dressed, traveling around New York City, shooting content, attending events, networking, trying to look cute while walking everywhere and attempting to actually enjoy the experience, my body was definitely working overtime. Somewhere along the way, my shoulder decided it had had enough and apparently wanted to become part of the NYFW story too. I’m still dealing with a sprained or strained shoulder, but even that has become a funny reminder of just how much I packed into those few days.


I came home tired, a little sore and very grateful. Grateful to Allegiant for helping get me there, grateful for the people I met, grateful for the content I created and grateful for the doors that opened simply because I decided to go. More than anything, I’m grateful for the reminder that faith sometimes means taking the first step before you know where the entire path is going to lead. You can pray for the opportunity, dream about the opportunity and prepare for the opportunity, but eventually you have to put yourself in position to receive it.


My first NYFW may have left me with a sore shoulder, but it also left me with memories, connections, content and new possibilities. And honestly, I’ll take all of it. Sometimes you just have to get yourself in the room and trust that the right doors will open. You never know who you’ll meet, what conversation you’ll have or what opportunity will come from simply showing up. So yes, I left New York with a shoulder injury, but I also left knowing that I need to keep showing up, keep creating, keep networking and keep believing in what’s possible. And if another NYFW opportunity comes my way? Well somebody better tell my shoulder to get ready, because I’d do it all over again.

Sometimes you have to stop and really take a look at your life. Not just at where you are today, but where you started, what you prayed for, what you wrote down, and all of those little dreams you had before you knew exactly how they would happen. Well, honey I’m going to New York Fashion Week! And not just going to New York during Fashion Week. I’m going with a brand. That distinction means everything to me.


For years, attending NYFW with a brand has been on my wish list. I’ve watched the street style, the shows, the events, the designers, the creators and all of the fashion magic happening throughout New York City and thought, “One day, that’s going to be me.” I didn’t always know what that would look like. I just knew I wanted to experience it. Now, I’m getting ready for my very first NYFW. I manifested this.


But manifestation alone didn’t get me here. It was the hard work. The dedication. The early mornings and late nights. The pitching, the writing, the content, the emails, the meetings, the events, the yeses and the nos. It was the moments when I questioned whether something was actually going to work out, but kept showing up anyway. It was continuing to believe in my vision even when nobody else could see it yet.


It was building my brand for years before there was a clear roadmap for what I was trying to create. It was taking opportunities that scared me, creating opportunities when there weren't any, and learning how to bet on myself. And most importantly, God brought me here. There have been so many moments in my entrepreneurial journey where I had no idea how I was going to get from point A to point B. I just kept moving. I kept believing. I kept creating. I kept putting one foot in front of the other. Somehow, the things I once wrote on my vision board started becoming my reality.


NYFW is one of those moments, and I think that’s why this feels bigger than just fashion to me. It represents what happens when you stay committed to a vision long enough to actually see it come to life. Because sometimes we are so busy working toward the next thing that we forget to stop and celebrate the things we once prayed for. So today, I’m celebrating. I’m celebrating the little girl who loved fashion, the woman who decided to bet on herself, the entrepreneur who kept building, and every opportunity that helped me become the woman, creator and media personality I am today.


I’m celebrating the fact that I get to walk into New York Fashion Week representing my own brand. That part is pretty special. There is something powerful about entering a room you once dreamed about entering and realizing you didn’t get there by accident. You worked your way there.


If you’re following me on social media, GET READY FOR THE LOOKS, HONEY! Because your girl is coming to NYFW and we are absolutely going to have some fun with this! I already know the outfits are going to be giving. The beauty looks? Giving. The photos? Giving. The content? GIVING! But underneath every outfit, every photo and every fashion moment is a story about perseverance, betting on yourself, staying the course and trusting God even when you can’t see the entire path.


I hope my NYFW moment reminds you that the dream you have today really can become the life you’re living tomorrow. If there’s something sitting on your wish list right now something you’ve been praying about, working toward or quietly dreaming about I hope you keep going. Write it down. Pray about it. Work for it. Prepare for it. And when the opportunity comes, be ready to walk through the door.


Sometimes the dream doesn’t happen exactly when you want it to. Sometimes it takes years. Sometimes it looks completely different than you imagined. And sometimes you wake up one day and realize, “Wait a minute. I’m actually living the thing I used to dream about.”
And baby, that’s where I am right now. NYFW, I’ll see you soon. Your girl manifested her way here.