WHAT A MORNING! I used to call into my local radio station to try and win Subway tickets every week when I was in middle school, and now I’m getting interviewed on this station. How nuts? Wayne, the host of 95.3 in Connecticut, asked me if I ever thought I’d be where I am when I started my blog. Like if someone had given me a crystal ball, would I have imagined my life being where it is?

Um, no. Heck no.

I never thought I would’ve been living in LA, following my dreams, appearing on crazy TV segments, and preparing for a TED TALK! Every moment I have to inspire more people and share my story reminds me why I’ve decided to follow this career path. I love my job, and I love you guys for your support. Thank you for believing in me- and I hope you believe in yourself more when you read about my journey.

Listen to the full interview here!

Xo,

Alexa

ASOS dress

I dragged my assistant to the Beverly Hills Hotel for tiramisu 2 days ago. This is the most outrageously overpriced ball of heaven you’ll ever eat, but it’s the only food I’d eat if I had one meal left. I was also craving that cake, and I figured I could call it a business expense by bringing her along and taking pictures. Being an entrepreanur has some perks…

This week has got me thinking a lot about the future. I had a moment yesterday where I realized I’ll be 30 years old in less than 10 years- that’s scary to think about! Do you ever have moments where you stop and think about the direction your life is heading in, and either question that direction or feel nervous for it? Feelings of both are absolutely normal and if there is one thing I’ve learnt through my time in therapy, it’s to only live in the moment. I have a lot of anxiety on a daily basis, and trying to use my moments wisely and surrounded by healthy and happy people have impacted my anxiety. When I say live in the moment, I truly mean take every moment in. You’re going to look back at your life one day and regret looking so deeply into the future if you didn’t focus as much as you could on the present. If you want to drive 30 minutes for a donut, do it! If you want to take the rest of the night off from studying, do it! What’s the point of thinking about 1 year from now instead of thinking about 1 hour from now? All you have is now.

Xo,

Alexa

As written & published by Fab Fit Fun!

Do’s

Be selective
Fill your feed with positive people and positive messages. This will help ensure you’re only inundated with feel-good posts, even if you’re mindlessly scrolling through your feed for several hours a day.

Reach out
When you start to notice a negative impact on your mental health, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. It can be helpful to confide in a friend or a therapist. There are also other resources if you want to keep it anonymous like the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255).

Unplug
Even one day away from social media can make a difference. So delete the apps on your phone for a day, a week, a month — whatever makes you feel best.

It’s only part of the picture
Keep in mind that what people post on social media doesn’t always represent the whole picture. People post what they want people to see, so you’re only seeing a snippet of their life.

Focus on the reality
As important as it is to unplug, it’s also important to invest your time and energy into the people around you. Think of your family and friends or a cuddle session with your furry pal — those are the things that really matter in the end!

Don’ts

Don’t post seeking validation
Rather than posting a picture seeking validation from others, choose pictures that make you feel good. That way, there’s no room for disappointment if you don’t get the feedback you were expecting.

It isn’t about the numbers
Don’t determine your self-worth by the number of likes or comments you receive on your post. Instagram has such a funky algorithm now, you might get five likes on a post and 500 on another. The point is…who cares?!

Treat others the way you want to be treated
Avoid putting others down. Think your friend posted a picture that’s a bit too risqué? If you’re close, voice your concern in person, but what she puts online is her decision, not yours. We all have different opinions, and that’s OK.

Okay, so I’m pretty honest about how I was super young when I moved out. Most of you guys probably haven’t moved out yet or will move out when you are the normal age of 18. I say normal because moving out before 18 is not the best decision- you’re too young to try and tackle life on your own, I swear! I decided to move out when I was 16/17, and because of that, I have learnt SO much over the past 4 years. Like living with roommates sucks, but it has to be done when you’re first starting. Doing the dishes and the laundry doesn’t suck as much as you think it will. And having no financial support from your family? That’s tough!

Here’s what I wish I knew when I moved out: this is just a step of your journey. The real journey starts now, and you have to be willing to accept and love every part of your journey. You’re going to learn so much about yourself, and the kind of people you want around you, as you begin to become an adult. That’s not something to fear: that’s something to be nervous and excited for!

Listen to Episode 15 with Danielle Robay below: she moved out to LA and lived on a couch for so long when she first started! We all start somewhere!

Xo,

Alexa

I met Danielle Robay last year when I appeared on a different WCIU Chicago segment. I usually only briefly talk to the host, but on that segment, I totally felt a vibe with Danielle. She seemed genuinely curious about my life, and story, which is rare to hear from morning show hosts. They have so many guests on, I don’t even know how they keep track of who everyone is!

After last years segment, Danielle and I kept wanting to plan a time to sit down and chat but neither of us could make time in our schedule. When I was back in Chicago last week, my only goal was to finally get Danielle on This is Life Unfiltered. We sat in my hotel room and talked about how she ended up with over 100k Instagram followers, what feminism means to her, and what more women in TV means for our ever-changing entertainment industry.

Listen to Episode 15 BELOW AND ON ITUNES & OUR APP!

COVER PHOTO CREDIT: CHELSEA KYLE VIA EPICURIOUS

This recipe will change your life! Source: Paleo Grubs

For the dough

2 tbsp coconut oil, melted, available here

1 egg

1 tbsp raw honey, available here

1 tsp pure vanilla extract, available here

1 1/2 cups almond flour, available here

1 tbsp coconut flour, available here

1 tsp pure baking soda, available here

Pinch of organic sea salt, available here

For the filling

1 tbsp organic cinnamon, available here

Honey, for drizzling

1/4 cup pitted organic Medjool dates, finely chopped, available here

1/4 cup organic walnuts, finely chopped, available here

For the glaze

2 tbsp honey

2 tbsp coconut cream, available here

Pinch of cinnamon

Instructions

1. Whisk together the coconut oil, egg, honey, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add the almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir well to combine.
2. Transfer the dough onto a sheet of wax paper. Cover with another sheet of wax paper and roll out into a long rectangle. Remove the top sheet of wax paper. Drizzle the dough with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon. Top with the chopped walnuts and dates.
3. Use the wax paper to roll the dough into a log. Place the log in the freezer to harden for 15 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Slice the log into individual pieces, about 9 or 10 rolls. Place onto a baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden.
5. Meanwhile, make the glaze by stirring together the honey, coconut cream, and cinnamon. Once the rolls are golden, remove from the oven and drizzle with glaze. Serve warm.

Notes

1. Servings: 9-10 small rolls

When I started This is Life Unfiltered, I was asked frequently about putting an episode up about brand sponsorships and landing deals. When I decided that I wanted to follow the career path of being a blogger, I had to figure out how I was going to be able to make a living off of my company. That meant things like getting incorporated, paying taxes, and more obstacles that I never expected having to learn! Before I jumped into the money phase, I had to seriously determine what my niche was, and what the target demographic (you guys) I wanted to speak to was. You can track your demographic and your numbers through Instagram, Facebook ads, and Google Analytics, but the best way to learn about your brand is to pay attention to the people who are reaching out and following you. Because the word influencer has become an actual word in the dictionary over the past year, I have learned a thing or two about making your brand your business, and I wanted to share that with you on todays episode!

Listen above or on iTunes/SoundCloud!

I went to the movies with my friends last night to see Lady Bird, the award-winning film starring actress Saoirse Ronan. I really adore this actress: she’s from The Bronx and she’s only 23 years old! I became aware of the movie last week, after my manager suggested I see it because it speaks a lot about growing up and young adult phases. I’ve seen movies like Fault in the Stars and Perks of Being a Wallflower, so I was expecting this movie to make me cry AND smile. Of course, since the movie has so many awards tied to it now, I literally thought this was going to inspire and change my life. I’m incredibly curious to hear your thoughts about Lady Bird because I don’t entirely see why it’s being considered one of the top movies of 2018. I thought the acting was great, and the characters are young and fruitful, but I feel like everyone has lived that movie in one shape or form. When I watch a movie, I want to feel like I either am the character, or like I’d never be able to imagine what the main character was going through. I felt both of those feelings during this movie, which is why I didn’t enjoy it as much as someone else might have. She is too similar to most teens out there: and that’s why you could say it’s the worst movie or the greatest movie you’ll ever see…

The definition of a coming of age film is: “Coming of age is a young person’s transition from being a child to being an adult. It continues through the teenage years of life. The certain age at which this transition takes place changes in society, as does the nature of the change.”

I see why people would relate to this movie, and why they’d think the acting was spot on, if not perfect, but is that enough for making it the best movie of 2018? But maybe that’s the true reason: because there aren’t many movies that reflect real life, without the use of social media, that let the characters translate their experiences on the screen. I thoroughly enjoyed that Lady Bird was set in 2003, because if it had been set in 2018, the entire storyline would’ve changed. The characters in the movie didn’t even have iPhones or iPads, so social media wasn’t an issue: but if it had been set today, I bet the movie would’ve been about bullying and suicide. 13 Reasons Why is done and over with, and I’m ready for the next TV show or movie to really strike a chord with me. This movie in particular wasn’t the one for me, but I’m eager to see what comes out in the next months.

If you have a chance to see this movie, I highly suggest it. You’ll realize how the issues you’re facing in high school will eventually end, and that life should be about looking at the bigger picture. I’d love to hear what you thought about Lady Bird- leave your comments below!

Xo,

Alexa

If you thought living in a city like New York or Boston was something, living in LA takes things to a new level.

When I moved to LA, I never thought I’d be able to fit in. I heard all of these crazy stories about people who moved to LA and ended up going crazy, and I feel like I definitely am going crazy at some points, but on most days, I feel more passionate and eager to succeed. I think the difference between California and East Coast cities is that people move to LA for one reason: to become successful in the entertainment world. You’d definitely be surprised to meet someone who moved to LA to not be an actress, a model, or an influencer. Because of that, you feel like you’re constantly living in the Hunger Games. I have days where I wake up and sit at Starbucks for hours, and I have days where I’m running around town going to meetings, introducing myself to every person I meet, and hanging out with friends. I actually like my work days and my crazy days equally as much- life never gets boring when you’re constantly doing something different.

If you feel like you’re getting stuck creatively or mentally, check out my tips for overcoming a creative slouch here. 

Xo,

Alexa

Styling by Michael St Michael and hair/makeup by Karelys Makeup

Sacramento is so darn cold! I can’t believe how chilly this weather is even though it’s a short 40 minute flight from LA. I appeared on Good Day Sacramento this morning to discuss looking and feeling good inside and outside of the gym with Lane Bryant. We all deal with insecurities, and many of those stem from what you may see in magazines and social media. I’ve been using a natural models agency, based out of LA, for my segments lately, and I dig the term natural instead of curvy or plus-size. I hate the word thick too! I’m constantly getting called thick and it honestly makes me uncomfortable because I don’t understand why I have to be any size besides the one I am. I don’t need to be called skinny, thick, or curvy! Why can’t all body types be equal and equally named too? If you’re a size 0 you’re called thin, if you’re a size 6 you’re called slim, and if you’re a size 8 or larger you’re curvy or plus-size. When I look for models, I want to showcase how they have beautiful faces, hearts and bodies- and that’s a lot more important than simply looking good in clothing. They’re role models, not just runway models.

You can buy all of the clothing above at Lane Bryant and the socks are from BOMBAS!

Xo,

Alexa