

Kachelle Kelly is more than an accomplished author.
In fact, she holds titles like business and empowerment coach, motivational speaker, strategic project planner because of her undying dedication to inspire men and women to utilize social media, productivity, and lifestyle applications. The ultimate goal is to achieve more balance, be more productive, and grow their business.
With mantras like "Activate Your Hustle," Kelly realizes that going after your dreams and visions by eliminating distractions requires sacrifices. Kelly is a believer that you can win at life. That includes having a thriving career and cooking some bomb meals. You just have to find your sweet spot.
We had the chance to chat with this boss babe. Check out some of the inspiration and tips she shared.
You have relationships with major brands like Moet & Chandon, Dr. Pepper, Weight Watchers and Proctor & Gamble. What do you believe the key is to sustaining these relationships?
When I worked with those brands, it was not only important to understand their values and goals, but also be innovative in creating initiatives throughout their demographics. Not being afraid to pitch fresh ideas, think outside the box and ultimately recognized by senior management. While I no longer work with these companies, I'm proud of the marks I left in my tenure.
August 25th has been declared Kachelle Kelly Pray Day in your hometown of Houston, Texas. How does this make you feel?
Humbling but proud. Boss Women Pray and Boss Men Pray, my prayer guides for entrepreneurs, was a God idea that I obeyed. Selling over 16,000 copies as a self-published author, from my own marketing efforts, no team or PR, it was a labor of love. And to be recognized at home for my contribution in pioneering the thought of incorporating faith and business is an incredible legacy building feeling.
Your first book, Pretty Painful, was all about the beauty found within. How did you come to write this literary work?
I was watching Oprah a few times when she interviewed Halle Berry, Vanessa Williams, and Janet Jackson. All three [women] began to talk about the personal pain in their lives and Oprah's response was the stereotypical thinking of so many, "But you are the most beautiful talent, Miss America and from the most famous family?" And my friends and I experienced the same on a smaller scale, of course. People not seeing past our looks into the incredible pain we dealt with. Being prejudged and measured by everything from our outer appearance, success, clothes, etc. and if not checked, living with a sense of entitlement. While I wrote that book in 2004, it is more prevalent today with social media.
So many "pretty" women clearing [and] navigating through some "Pretty Painful" stuff, dying on the inside! But the difference is, they are voluntarily associating their looks and material possessions to their self-worth and demeaning other women in the process. Pretty Painful was and is necessary to help women to do away with these masks and deal with issues no one sees behind the beauty. I answer the question, "Can Looks Really Kill?" And sadly, the answer is "yes." Only if you allow them, by suppressing who and WHOSE you are in God.
Do you think Pretty Painful is linked to Boss Women Cook?
I never really thought about that but yes. Boss Women Cook was my saving grace from depression and my need to decompress from anxiety through a controlled hobby. When I felt like nothing was going right with work, life or love, I perfected a recipe to feel better. It also debunks the stereotype that busy and/or "pretty" women don't cook! Helping women return to basic qualities deemed beneath them and nurturing family rather than on this constant race of being a "boss" to prove our worth.
Why is Boss Women Cook so important right now?
To my earlier point, cooking can serve as a therapeutic for busy women and men. Also, we have replaced a sense of family values and legacy with being a boss and materialism. Back in the day, it was a joy to watch your grandmother, mother, and aunts cook while bringing the family together. We've lost that over the years. Somehow, we have adopted the idea we have to choose between being domestic and being boss, we can be both.
"Somehow we have adopted the idea we have to choose between being domestic and being boss, we can be both."
What sets BWC apart from other cooking books?
It is geared towards the busy woman that would like to learn to cook, return to cooking, or adopt the value of family while continuing to be a boss. It features recipes and stories that helped me through my toughest times. I'm not a chef so I provide the basic steps from the perspective of a novice cook. I offer my personal cooking playlist on BossWomenCook.com, encouraging women to grab a glass of wine, jam to the music, and cook at the end of the day. The tone of the cookbook is relaxed and eliminates the pressure to be perfect because, while delicious, my cooking certainly is not.
To keep up with Kachelle Kelly, follow her on Instagram. Find Boss Women Cook as well as other books she's penned by clicking here. Check out a couple of Kelly's favorite recipes from her cookbook below:
Blackened Tilapia With Crawfish and Shrimp Sauce
The Ingredients:
- 2 Tilapia fillets (at room temperature)
- Olive Oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/4 cup of Blackened seasoning (recipe below)
- Blackened Season recipe, equal parts:
- Paprika
- White pepper
- Black pepper
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Cayenne Pepper
- Sea Salt
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
Ingredients for crawfish & shrimp sauce:
- (1 cup) peeled crawfish tails
- 1/2 cup of peeled & deveined shrimp (optional)
- 1/4 cup of season blend or diced onions & bell pepper
- 2 teaspoons of Creole Seasoning or leftover blackened seasoning
- 1/3 cup chopped green onions
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 teaspoon of minced Garlic
- Pair with long grain & wild rice
Cooking Steps:
- Season fish, cover and set aside.
- Make the sauce first. In a saucepan, drizzle olive oil and sauté season blend or onions
- Add garlic & green onions until fragrant
- Season crawfish (& shrimp) with seasoning
- Add Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, heavy cream and butter. Bring to a light boil.
- Add crawfish and/or shrimp. Stir well, cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Prepare wild rice in separate pot.
- Heat a cast iron skillet until smoking.
- Reduce heat and place fish in skillet with butter
- Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side (or to the wellness you prefer your fish)
- Scoop the butter from skillet onto the fish throughout the entire cooking process
- Add the remainder butter when you flip the fish.
- Remove fish directly to plate on top of a bed of wild rice and add sauce on top.
- Eat immediately. Enjoy!
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Joce Blake is a womanist who loves fashion, Beyonce and Hot Cheetos. The sophistiratchet enthusiast is based in Brooklyn, NY but has southern belle roots as she was born and raised in Memphis, TN. Keep up with her on Instagram @joce_blake and on Twitter @SaraJessicaBee.
Devale Ellis On Being A Provider, Marriage Growth & Redefining Fatherhood
In this candid episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Devale Ellis, actor, social media personality, and star of Zatima, about modern masculinity, learning to be a better husband, emotional presence in marriage, fatherhood for Black men, and leading by example.
“I Wasn’t Present Emotionally”: Devale Ellis on Marriage Growth
Devale Ellis On Learning He Was a ‘Bad Husband’
Ellis grew up believing that a man should prioritize providing for his family. “I know this may come off as misogynistic, but I feel like it’s my responsibility as a man to pay for everything,” he said, emphasizing the wise guidance passed down by his father. However, five years into his marriage to long-time partner Khadeen Ellis, he realized provision wasn’t just financial.
“I was a bad husband because I wasn’t present emotionally… I wasn’t concerned about what she needed outside of the resources.”
Once he shifted his mindset, his marriage improved. “In me trying to be of service to her, I learned that me being of service created a woman who is now willing to be of service to me.”
On Redefining Masculinity and Fatherhood
For Ellis, “being a man is about being consistent.” As a father of four, he sees parenthood as a chance to reshape the future.
“Children give you another chance at life. I have four different opportunities right now to do my life all over again.”
He also works to uplift young Black men, reinforcing their worth in a world that often undermines them. His values extend to his career—Ellis refuses to play roles that involve domestic violence or sexual assault.
Watch the full episode below:
On Marriage, Family Planning, and Writing His Story
After his wife’s postpartum preeclampsia, Ellis chose a vasectomy over her taking hormonal birth control, further proving his commitment to their partnership. He and Khadeen share their journey in We Over Me, and his next book, Raising Kings: How Fatherhood Saved Me From Myself, is on the way.
Through honesty and growth, Devale Ellis challenges traditional ideas of masculinity, making his story one that resonates deeply with millennial women.
For the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker peels back the layers of masculinity with candid conversations that challenge stereotypes and celebrate vulnerability. Real men. Real stories. Real talk.
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by YouTube/xoNecole
Traveling This Summer? These 10 Layover Hacks Will Get You Through.
With the current administration that we have, I’m sure it comes as no surprise that summer travel is in a bit of a slump this year. Still, that doesn’t mean that many folks aren’t going on some kind of trip that requires air travel, and, in order to keep a few extra bucks in their pocket, they are avoiding direct flights. Instead, they are booking ones that require some sort of a layover.
Layover. Although it isn’t exactly “music to our ears” whenever we hear the word, it doesn’t have to be a tremendous burden if you know some tricks of the trade that will make a layover more bearable. Luckily, I’ve got 10 that could actually make this your best year for summer travel yet, y’all!
10 Layover Travel Tips You’ll Be Glad You Know
1. Research Best Layover Airports (Yes, There Is Such a Thing)
If while planning your trip, if it looks like a layover is going to be more than 90 minutes, it never hurts to research the airports that are the most user-friendly as far as layovers are concerned. From what I can see, several studies reveal that George Bush Intercontinental Airport (Houston, Texas) gets a lot of props, thanks to the food options and the amount of frequent flyer miles that you can stack up.
Some other airports that top the list include Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Seattle–Tacoma International Airport and Denver International Airport. If you want to save money on your travel by having a layover, purposely landing in these cities can make the wait much more pleasurable for you.
2. Download Your Airline’s App
Whatever airline you plan on flying on, make sure to download its app before heading to the airport. There are many reasons why this is a solid hack including the fact that:
1) you can check-in and get a mobile boarding pass; 2) you can get real-time travel updates; 3) you can utilize the entertainment options that they have (including the airline’s Wi-Fi); 4) you can see how to best navigate through various airports; 5) you can easily contact their customer service support; 6) you can oftentimes track your checked baggage, and 7) some apps (like Delta) can even help you to store where you parked your car (if you put it in long-term parking) in your smartphone, so that you can easily find it upon your return.
3. Also Download Your Entertainment Beforehand
If you happen to be on a flight that either doesn’t have Wi-Fi or charges for it, you can still enjoy your movies ‘n stuff by downloading them before you leave. This can also come in handy at the airport when their internet access is running hella slow because so many people are accessing it.
4. Choose a (Layover) City Where You Have a Friend
Although I don’t hate to fly, I wouldn’t exactly say that it’s my favorite thing to do. And so, back when I used to fly to South Africa to see some family, it was common for me to stop over in London for a couple of days because it’s the halfway mark for me — and seven hours on a plane is a lot easier to endure than a whopping 14.
That said, if you’re planning on an international trip, you’re not the biggest fan of flying yourself or, again, you want to save a few coins by booking a flight that has a layover or two — why not use this as an opportunity to hang out with a family member or friend in another city? That way, you can get a break from air travel and get in some quality time with them as well.
5. Pack Some of Your Own Snacks
If you’ve ever wondered why airport food is so damn expensive, one of the main reasons is how much it costs for each restaurant to rent their space is completely insane. Plus, there are things like vendors, commission costs and all kinds of other “blah, blahs” that make the mark-ups so crazy. That’s why it can never hurt to bring some snacks along — non-liquid items that you can pack in your carry-on that will get you through your layovers without you breaking the bank in the process.
6. Put an Empty Recyclable Bottle in Your Carry On
Since a lot of airports have water refills stations available, you can stay hydrated while also keeping coins in your pocket by packing an EMPTY recyclable bottle in your carry-on too. Most TSAs will totally allow it. As far as refills on actual drinks, some airports allow those as well (after you purchase one drink from them, of course); never assume, though. Ask before making the purchase.
7. Have a Portable Charger in Tow
Maybe it’s just me but, even though airports seem to be filled with charging stations all over the place, it’s like only half of them actually work (and I’m being gracious on that!). That’s why it’s also a good idea to invest in a portable charger. I don’t know what took me so freakin’ long to get myself one; however, it’s basically my BFF at this point.
The one that I will cosign on is the ANKER Zolo Power Bank, 20,000mAh 30W Max Fast Portable Charger. It charges pretty fast and I’ve been able to get about three full charges on my smartphone before needing to charge the portable one all over again. Such a lifesaver!
8. Get Some Lounge Access
If almost everything about airports gets on your very last nerve, you definitely need to get some airport lounge access. It’s quiet(er); you have lots of room to stretch out; the food and drink that they have to offer is typically free; many lounges have spaces that are designed and designated for children; there are convenient work stations, and some even feature spas and showers (I know, right?).
And just how do you get your hands on all of this? You can do so by flying first or business class, using your frequent flyer miles, presenting your military ID or purchasing a membership or even a day pass access into your airline’s lounge.
9. Cop Some Duty-Free Samples
If you are going on an international flight, make sure to take advantage of the duty-free shops, not just because you are usually able to purchase items from there without paying local taxes but they oftentimes have free samples that you can stock up on as well; this is especially the case when it comes to beauty-related items.
10. Stay over a Night
Since a fair share of my friends are in the entertainment world, they tend to travel a lot. What is always funny to me is how most of them talk about flying to almost every city in the country while only actually visiting a handful of them. My point here? If you are headed one place and you decide to not have a direct flight, if the city where you are having your layover is one that you’ve always been interested in, stay over a night or even two.
You can find some hacks for how to find cheap hotel rooms by checking out “Hot to Get Cheap Hotel Rooms: 20 Tips and Tricks” on Travel Mums’ site.
BONUS: Get an Exit Row Seat
If one of the things that you hate about changing planes is how uncomfortable the flights can be, space wise, ask to be put in an exit row seat. You will automatically have so much more room without having to pay what first class passengers do. Brilliant. Happy (and safe) travels!
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