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When I went to Lisbon a few weeks ago, I couldn’t believe it was the first time I had ever visited. I’d heard from friends about how neat Lisbon is (and cheap!) so I was excited to experience the city. I flew from Istanbul to Lisbon on Turkish Airlines which was about a 2 hour flight. I’ve become a professional at sleeping on airplanes, which is what I did the entire flight. When my mom and I landed in Lisbon we took an Uber for about $10 from Lisbon to the city center. We decided to book an apartment with 2 bedrooms on VRBO because I am not a huge fan of Airbnb, and found VRBO to be a super easy and efficient resource to book a nice apartment through. It’s a bit cheaper than booking a hotel and you get much more space. Our apartment was located about a 15 minute walk away from the main area in Lisbon, which I made sure before booking because I hate having to walk far when I’m traveling to get a muffin or something. I love muffins so much. But seriously, it was in a perfect location and I loved being on side street away from the main city center. I felt like I was surrounded by locals the whole time and that’s what I enjoy most when traveling: really experiencing a culture!

I’ve been following Goop guides when traveling to a new city and I’ve never been disappointed with any of the suggestions. I downloaded the app on my phone (G.Spotting). If you’re not familiar with Goop, it’s Gwyneth Paltrow’s ridiculously overpriced website. Opposite the retail side of the site (I find it to actually be the most unreliable website ever unless you can afford a $900 pen)  she has city guides that list the coolest places to go in every city. I’ve almost crossed every city off of her list, having just gone to Morocco and Lisbon which are two places on her guides, but I’ve got a few countries left to still visit. I’m posting my favorite places we went to in Lisbon below, and I hope you get to check them out if you ever make the trip to Portugal! We didn’t go to Porto this time around, just Lisbon. Porto is next on my list!

P.S. If you’re looking for websites for many of the places listed below, you probably won’t find them. Most of the restaurants in Lisbon only have Instagram or FB pages, so you’ll have to call them directly to make a reservation.

BEST FOOD: SR. LISBOA

Avenida

If you’re looking for the best codfish cakes, wine and chocolate cake in Lisbon, this is your spot. We ate here two nights in a row because we were just that obsessed. You must make a reservation, you must have cash, and you must order the codfish cakes. Even if you don’t like fish, you’ll love these cakes. I found Sr. Lisboa to be a bit on the pricey side, but the food is so good you won’t regret the price. The cash only thing was really irritating but there is an ATM right across the street.

BEST COFFEE: Fabrica Coffee Roasters 

Multiple locations

When my boyfriend and mom were asleep and I was desperate to find a gym to get a sweat in, I ended up wandering off to Fabrica Coffee. Upon walking in (this was not on Goop, neither was Sr. Lisboa) I found out they served oat milk so I got my first (of many lattes) in Lisbon here. I suggest Fabrica over Copenhagen Coffee Co. because the coffee was better and the vibe was more intimate. I don’t suggest ordering food here, as they’re very unorganized and you’ll be waiting for a while to get a slice of avo toast. But the iced latte…to die for.

TAPAS & WINE: O Bar da Odete

Multiple locations

If you’re craving cheese, wine and meats like prosciutto then stop by O Bar. Situated right in the heart of the main shopping district, I thought this place was reasonably priced and uber chic.

I wouldn’t… waste your time at Cervejaria Ramiro (frequently called Ramiro) because the line was insanely long and the whole experience felt kinda unnecessary to me. Don’t get me wrong, the fish was delicious, but the hefty price tag and 2 hour wait (apparently you can email for reservations but no one does) wasn’t worth it to me for shrimp. Also, no codfish cakes.

FOR ACTIVITIES: Tagus Cruises

I highly suggest taking a boat tour or renting a private boat for a few hours with Tagus Cruises. They gave us a private tour around the island and it was honestly incredible. Though a bit far away from the city (about 30 minutes, be prepared) I thought the Uber drive was worth it.

Cooking Lisbon

Anjos 

We were invited to a 2 hour cooking class at Cooking Lisbon and I had a blast. The instructor was super nice, and you get unlimited wine, chorizo and nuts while waiting for your food to cook. I guess it’s cheaper than going out for a multiple course meal? Plus, we met some other really nice people from all over the world. I found the class to be a bit packed for my liking, but I don’t always consider myself to be a “people person” so that was just my personal feeling. It’s $75 x person (pricey), but for a full meal over 3 hours, it’s a great Saturday night activity and a way to save a bit if you enjoy meals with drinks and tons of food.

If you like working out, I highly suggest trying to sneak into The One (hotel) gym. You’ll probably get kicked out like I did, but it’s honestly worth it because the gym is so beautiful and the hotel is too! Also, the the whole property smells soooo good. 

If there is anywhere I’m missing, let me know in the comments below!

Last year I went to the Radio Disney Music Awards for the first time before having officially signed with them and starting on Fearless Everyday, and I was so intimidated. I didn’t know anyone and I showed up feeling soo scared! This year things have changed a bit since my show has been on the air for almost 1 year come September, and I feel like I finally know my way a bit. Starting any new “job” is like going back to high school, meeting new people and trying to prove yourself. It’s a bit scary at the beginning but once you get adjusted the whole journey gets easier.

Last year the award show was held in Hollywood right by where I currently live, but this year it was held at CBS Studios in Studio City. Sometimes it’s crazy to go into the studio or be on the “lot” (where all of your favorite shows are filmed) because it reminds me that I’m kind of the 1% that will ever get to see this side of the world. Being on the lot is seriously the most Hollywood thing to experience, from the sets to the people on the lot. The ARDYs were much more intimate this year since they were filmed for the Disney Channel instead of simply online. I was next to everyone from Sofia Carson to every Disney Channel star you could imagine, which was super cool because you get to see what happens right before and after a singer goes on stage. We were all backstage in the “VIP” room which is this huge backstage area that everyone who is working at the show or performing hangs out. There’s food, tons of coffee and water and it’s the only way I like to be at a show now that I’ve been exposed to the area behind where people perform.

Singing feels so different from what I do when I go on TV, so I’m fascinated when I’m around singers because I can’t imagine getting on stage and singing. I’d be so in my head before going on stage, trying to make sure I don’t forget the words to a song.

One of my friends is friends with Steve Aoki, so we were backstage with him and his manager for a bit and they were seriously two of the nicest people ever. I’ve realized how instantly you can tell whether someone is genuine or not by how they are alone. I’ve met people that I anticipated to be so much nicer than they were, and other people I would’ve expected to be more snooty were even more grounded.

There is so much work and preparation that goes into any one performance and you can see that on my YouTube video from last night that just went up today!

Did you guys tune into the ARDYs this year!?

According to Ashley (who emailed me her opinion and advice this morning),

People tend to try to pay off their debts by throwing everything at it including the kitchen sink. What happens when you do that (unless you’re going to commit to being a full-time hermit crab or guarentee no emergency will come up in your life, you won’t have any money in savings to cover any emergebcy and you’ll end up putting it back on a credit card. You simply won’t have a chance if you haven’t saved anything.

Example: your car needs new breaks or you have to go to the dentist, or the house needs a repair…maybe your BFF is having a birthday party and you’re scrambling to put together a gift because you have no money in savings. You’ll resort to having to use your credit card because you have no money in the bank or just enough to pay your expenses, but nothing for a rainy day.

Work on your budget now, live below your means and get to three months of fixed expenses in your savings account. By then you’ll be more financially and a bit more mentally stable regarding debt that you can start tackling the debt more aggressively.

Thank you Ashley for answering this question for all of us!

Traveling the world can be fun but it can also be exhausting. Since I travel so often I invest more money in flying on nicer airlines or at better times of the day (12 PM vs. 5 AM) so that my mental health stays intact even though I have to work and travel at the same time. There’s nothing worse than rushing to the airport and then having to stand in line for hours, but I only say this now because my career has progressed drastically since I first started! Even though I enjoy spending a little more money on travel now, that doesn’t mean I am flying first class or doing anything completely out of the ordinary to make my travel experience more enjoyable. Traveling starts before you even leave the house, like with packing and getting your itinerary all set.

I like to consider myself a travel pro in the area of packing and getting s*** done real quick- like packing for multiple weeks in ten minutes quick. I’ve put together a bunch of my hacks in this video above, from always packing a cloth bag with me (so that I can bring more through the TSA line without being told I have too many bags) to where I put the largest items in my suitcase to make sure I have enough space. You can head to my YouTube to watch my other travel videos like how I travel the world for $400 + more!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Yesterday morning I woke up in LA to see a profile in the Hartford Courant came out on me. I’ve dreamt of being in this newspaper for so many years. I figured when the time was right I’d finally get asked to be in the paper, and this week my dream came true! It’s absolutely crazy to go through these old pictures of me from the site (when I was still blogging about fashion) to compare them to where I am now. I have a vision board in my first bedroom that listed a ton of things on it, from the Teen Vogue Snapshot Contest (pictured below, I eventually lost the contest) to a nice handbag to being happy and inspiring people, and I knew that one day everything on that board would come true.

From being such an insecure and scared kid/teenager to growing into running this full-time and producing 2 different shows makes me step back a little and realize one thing: you have the power to make your life into anything you want. It won’t be easy and it won’t happen overnight (I started this blog in 2011, it’s 2019 now) but if you are passionate about anything, you have nothing to lose besides going after it. No one wakes up fearless. You have to create your own path and find your purpose through that.

Karlie Kloss has made coding cooler and trendier than it has ever been. What was initially considered a strictly male dominated industry has transformed into a powerhouse industry that’s filled with women and men working at and launching their own tech startups. Anisah Britton founded 23 Code Street, a platform to make coding easy and affordable for women in the world. There’s nothing cooler to me than a chick who can work in a male dominated industry and prove people wrong consistently. Who said women can’t do it all?

According to Anisah “We’ve tried to make coding accessible to women,” Osman Britton says. 23 Code Street has payment plans to help women pay the $1,500 fee for the course, and also offers scholarships. If you don’t get the opportunity to be involved with Kode with Klossy, you should apply for a 23 Code scholarship. Nowadays companies admire anyone who can put on a resume that they can code. How cool are you!?

Thanks Anisah for your work and for inspiring young women to get out of their comfort zone by coding!

I’m intrigued by the concept of the work/life balance. Can you really do it all? In the media we always see stories of working mothers and fathers who talk about how they balance picking up their kids, going to work, making dinner, etc., but can they really do it all? I’m not a parent, but I certainly struggle with trying to do everything including be a daughter, a friend, and an entrepreneur. When I travel I face even more guilt than when I’m simply at home in Connecticut or LA, but it’s guilt that I’m working to overcome. The guilt stems from knowing that if I go to a dinner or a lunch and spend to much time enjoying (something along the lines of that) that I’ll be missing out on a work opportunity or making money. In reality I need to get better at living in the moment. How can you enjoy your life if you’re always thinking about what is coming next?

I know that staying on a super strict schedule during the week from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed, and everything in between, helps me stay consistently balanced and happy. Meal prepping on Sunday nights helps me not get hungry throughout the day and spend time going out to lunch, while planning the events and dinners with my friends on the weekend helps me prepare for the upcoming week. How do you balance everything, even if you aren’t a business owner?

Let’s talk more about this work/life balance this week on TILU, available below and on all podcast streaming platforms.

This post is in response to a video I posted yesterday and have since removed, but still wanted to talk about. 

Last week I posted an Instagram story while I was in Madrid of a YouTube video I came across addressing something called “a tannery scam” that is a very common scam in Morocco. Yesterday I decided to post my own experience video (my boyfriend and I were both scammed and he was mugged) about this because I know how many of you want to go to Morocco. I in no way meant for this video to be negative or a deterrent for people who are looking to travel to Morocco- but I know the power my voice has and the importance of me being honest and real with all of you so that you all live happy and exciting lives while also being safe.

I’m always very careful with my words and what I say online, so I’m deeply sorry if I offended anyone who watched the video. However, it’s important to take into consideration that everyone has their own experience and we should all be sensitive to every experience regardless if you can relate. You can read up about the tannery scam online, there are tons of videos and blog posts that talk about this unfortunate but common scam that occurs in Morocco. What happened is that we were convinced to visit a place where locals from the mountains make leather goods, and told there was no cost at all to visit this shop. My gut instinct was telling me something was off but I figured I should take the leap and not worry too much like I usually do. After about 45 minutes, we were forced into a leather store and almost coerced into buying leather goods. Upon seriously telling this store owner we were not going to buy anything, we decided to leave abruptly. We walked outside to a few men waiting for us now requesting payment for the “tour” and they seemed extra agitated that we hadn’t purchased anything.

In the moment, we could have run or walked away. But we were in an isolated part of the city where there weren’t many people around besides people from the leather store. Also, I don’t live my life in fear and decided I would put my foot down and make an exit whenever I wanted to if things went in this direction. We decided to give the tour guide $5 euro, and expected we would be left alone. Then the initial guy came who brought us on this “free” tour started demanding $50 euro, which is when we started to quickly walk away and were forced into this back alley, now completely alone with no stores or tourists nearby. Multiple other men came out and started getting super physical, touching us, and being incredibly aggressive. They took our money and some of our belongings and we finally escaped and ran into a main road that was about a 4 minute run away.

I in no way shape or form want any of you to NOT travel to Morocco- this unfortunate stuff happens in every city and it’s up to you to keep your wits about you and always trust your gut. I personally wouldn’t travel back to Morocco alone, but that’s just my personal feeling after this experience. That’s the only reason I posted that video and I still feel the responsibility to share this experience online so that it doesn’t happen to anyone else. I love to travel and all of you should travel as much as you can too- you see a different culture in every part of the world. You become cultured by immersing yourself in a culture and letting yourself be a little vulnerable to different experiences and opportunities.

Love you guys, xo

Alexa

J.Crew sneakers, Kohl’s (PopSugar & LC Lauren Conrad) outfit

The week I learned how to sail in Lisbon! I’m working on a Lisbon city guide for you guys because I seriously think Lisbon is THE coolest city to visit and tickets aren’t crazy expensive. If you fly with an airline like Norwegian, you can fly into Paris or London and catch a flight on EasyJet or Iberia to Lisbon for $100- steal!

I’ve never been a huge fan of water like some people. There’s something about sand and sun that makes me kind of exhausted, but growing up in Connecticut I used to go swimming in lakes by my house. Now that I loved. Lisbon doesn’t have water you can swim in unless you’re on the coast, so when I was researching activities one that was common was sailing or boating for the day. Since I can’t do either I thought I had nothing to lose trying to sail my family around a harbor. The worst thing that could happen would be the boat flipping over, but I didn’t get asked to sign a contract or give my credit card so I felt like I was in the clear if things went South.

Just kidding, but also not kidding. Though I didn’t think anyone would actually let me tip a boat over.

So we embarked 30 minutes outside of the city with Tagus Cruises for an adventure I’d never forget. I can’t say that I’d sail again on my own, but I always enjoy crossing another fearless experience off of my bucket list.

What did YOU do this week that was fearless? Share your experience with me on social media with the hashtag #fearlesseveryday!

We were in the midst of a winter storm in NY when I invited Ziad Ahmed into the ABC Studio in NYC to film for Fearless Everyday. I came across Ziad through an online search and knew I had to invite him into the studio. If a guest can’t fly out to LA, I’ll occasionally jet to the city to film at the studio there, which is what I had to do that week for the NYC guests I wanted to interview.

Ziad is a budding activist, entrepreneur and student at Yale University whose the founder of 2 companies to date. You might know him from Juv Consulting, the consulting company he founded and runs from NYC when he’s not attending classes at Yale. *Casual*.

Ziad also speaks at global summits across the country including the upcoming Makers of Good Hershey’s Summit in Manhattan- most of the topics he speaks on and promotes include social justice and entrepreneurship, which fits right into everything I enjoy educating you guys about!

Find out where to listen to this episode by checking your local listings at fearlesseveryday.org!