Topshop boots, ASOS sweater, Forever 21 shorts

I turned 20 on Sunday! I feel like I’ve been waiting to be in my 20s for forever, and at the same time, it totally freaks me out to think I’m 20. I don’t want to get old! But who does, right?

I flew home on Saturday to spend my birthday at home with my parents and boyfriend. I hate super short trips because I never feel like I have enough time to actually enjoy being home, it’s almost like another work trip. This time, I took almost the entire weekend off of social media, which was a breath of fresh air. My boyfriend surprised me and took me to one of my favorite hotels on the water in Connecticut, and we got to watch the sunrise over the beautiful balcony of our room. Whenever I take time off of social media, I still find myself wanting to take pictures and be on my phone. I’m learning that it’s totally OKAY to not take pictures of my every move. Just because you don’t have a picture of an event, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Let’s take the attention away from technology and bring it back to being in the moment, ya know.

After my KTLA segment last week, I wanted to take some pictures in my hot pink Topshop boots. When I was in London for Fashion Week, I saw someone wearing them, and I knew I needed them. I literally fell in love with the boots. I ordered them online, and had no clue what to wear with them until I did some online research…since they are a statement piece, I wanted to wear something less flashy on top. ASOS offers an incredible selection of clothing online, and I’m never disappointed with what I order from them. I chose the light pink sunglasses ($10!!) and the white cutout sweater to pair with the pink boots.

Baby, it feels goood to be back in LA.

PODCAST AIRS TOMORROW! STAY TUNED ON SOCIAL MEDIA! 

Xo,

Alexa

I’m the first person to talk about the importance of self-love, and truly loving yourself from the inside out. It’s not the easiest task to accomplish 7 days per week, or even 5. With the media, the models, that one friend you might have that will always be able to eat pounds of McDonald’s and never gain weight…the struggle is real. That being said, for the teens out there reading this: you are enough. Remember that you’re still young, with years of growth (physically and mentally) to come, so don’t beat yourself up about your body.

My guest blogger, Ashley, is here to talk about why loving yourself, whether you’re a mother or not, is crucial in giving your kids the right tools they need to accept their bodies, too.

Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be posting pictures of myself in swimwear, on the internet, especially after having a baby. When we started getting ready for our recent beach trip, the all too familiar feeling started to creep in. That feeling where you could almost throw up just thinking about trying swimsuits on… the WORST feeling in the world!

Historically, nothing is fun about trying on swimsuits. The lighting in the dressing room is terrible, and if you’re anything like me, you try on about 30 and there might be one that kind of works. I can remember feeling sick to my stomach as a kid, teenager, and post grad every time I was forced to try on swimsuits.

This time around, I made a decision. I decided that I’m not going to be that person anymore: the one who scowls and gets nauseous at the sight of herself in the mirror. Sure, before I had my daughter I was 30 pounds smaller, working out daily, and eating super clean. And yeah, I still haven’t adjusted to getting that lifestyle back after having a baby (and she’s 1.5 now).

But you know what? Who. Freaking. Cares.

I spent my whole life being self conscious in a swimsuit. I skipped my friends’ pool parties because of it. I spent my summers hoping no one would invite me to their pool. I stayed anxious throughout my entire beach trips growing up. How ridiculous is that?  

I am determined to not let this be my daughter. And in order to teach her self confidence, I need to be confident within myself.

So when we went to the beach, it was tempting to stay covered up the whole time as I chased her endlessly. It would have been easy to worry that people were watching my thick thighs running up and down the beach.

But… I didn’t. For the first time in my life, I didn’t care who was watching. I was there for one reason, and one reason only: to have fun with my kid at the beach. And we had a damn good time.

I think we, as women, put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect and do it all. Often times, I have to take a step back and look at what is really important.

I am sharing this for everyone out there who may be feeling insecure. It doesn’t matter how small or big you are, or whether or not you’re a Mom… it’s something we ALL FEEL. Insecurity is normal, but it isn’t healthy if you don’t take care of it. It festers into an unnecessary vessel of anxiety, stress, and depression. I can only hope that by reading this you will find comfort in knowing that you aren’t alone, and you can find freedom in loving yourself.

Loving yourself is hard. It’s a struggle I have every day. But by embodying that sort of love, I hope I can teach my daughter to love herself as well.

Wearing AllSaints with hair + makeup by Glamsquad 

As you know, I usually do TV segments that have tons of models, prep, and brands involved. When I’m doing fashion or lifestyle segments, I don’t have the creative power I usually like. For the most part, I become a brand, and not a human being. When you’re any age, but especially 19, being considered a brand can start to get to you. I feel forced to act and say certain things that I wouldn’t necessarily say if it was me, on my own.

 I’ve been wanting to go on KTLA for ages now, since I literally first started blogging! I know I say that about every show, but I have always wanted to appear on this particular morning show. It has tons of celeb + hard news content, which is why it’s pretty much a hit show.

Last week, the producer reached out and asked if they could interview me on the Forbes article, and on my nonprofit, M.I.N.T.! Patience is key, my friends. It’s easy to get upset when you think things “don’t move fast enough” or you constantly feel like you’re wanting more. Unfortunately, there isn’t any positive outcome that comes from being impatient. My parents, my boyfriend, and my best friends have all taught me how crucial patience is, and I think their advice is finally sinking in.

I’ve never had a stylist, partially because I didn’t want to pay for one when I could get clothing for free, and because I do like choosing my own outfits. Since it’s always been a dream of mine to appear on KTLA, I wanted to take a little risk and hire a stylist for this shoot. I ended up coming across Michael Saint Michael on Instagram, and I reached out to inquire about styling me for the segment. I met up with him at Hotel Angeleno, and was surprisingly nervous about what he’d put me in…the first look ended up being the one I chose, and we didn’t have to try on more than two outfits for me to pick the first one! Now I’m never going to NOT have a stylist- HAHA! I adore this look, and Glamsquad sent me a fantastic team this morning for my hair/makeup. I always laugh when I see pictures of myself totally natural, and when I see pictures of myself in full glam. It’s totally different vibes, but I love both images. No one wakes up looking TV ready- remember that!

I hope you love the segment! Thank you guys for your continued support: I couldn’t do it without you.

Xo,

Alexa

Helllooo lovelies! Good morning and hello, Wednesday. I got up at 5:30 AM today to workout. I wanted to try a new class at Reebok Crossfit Lab in West Hollywood, and they only had a 6am slot available for the class I was looking for so therefore I had to get up at the crack of dawn to try out this class. I ended up running over a curb and almost crashing into another car, so I think I’m done waking up that early for workout classes.

When you wake up at 5 AM, the day goes by so much slower. I feel like I have much more time today to both relax and work. I might take an hour for lunch today instead of 30 minutes, and for your mental health, 30 minutes can make a major difference in your day.

The podcast I started, This is Life Unfiltered, airs next Wednesday at 7 AM! I’ve been working on this podcast since the beginning of this year, so I’m vveerryy excited for you guys to listen to it! I never thought I’d be the kind of person to have a podcast. I spend so much time on TV sets, but podcasts are a whole other ball game. A TV segment lasts anywhere from 3-5 minutes and it’s usually me briefly talking about myself and then the majority of the segment is about the products I’m featuring. Podcasts on the other hand can be anywhere from half an hour long to over an hour, and they’re a lot more personal. You might think it would be hard to talk for an hour straight, but once you get conversing with someone it actually happens effortlessly. I love that podcasts allow you to connect with someone because you’re honing in on what they’re saying and you aren’t distracted by appearance (as can happen on TV shows). There’s also the raw aspect to podcasts which allow both the speaker and listener to feel as though they are engaged in a conversation with a close friend.

Stay tuned, and I can’t wait for you guys to hear more!

Xo,

Alexa

I returned on Saturday from a crazy packed few days in Houston with M.I.N.T., my nonprofit. It’s National Mental Health Day today, so it only seems right that I spend today promoting how important mental health is!

When I landed in Houston, I went right to my hotel. I stayed at the Royal Sonesta Houston, which is one of my go-to hotels in Houston. I either stay downtown or by the Galleria, and each time, the hotels get better. I was in back to back meetings for the entire time, so I didn’t get to spend as much time as I wanted at the hotel, but we did get to enjoy a lovely dinner and some time by the pool! The hotel surprised my friends and I with an insanely delicious meal consisting of everything on the menu, as you can see below…

I ate all of the pasta. One chick, one bowl of pasta. 

But back to the school talks! The first school I met with was a pretty prestigious prep school in Houston- apparently, they lead the way for all things prep school in Texas. I haven’t met with a school, without students around, in a while, so I was nervous going into the meeting about what their response would be. I was shocked at how much the team knew about social media, cutting, sexting, and bullying. The principal seemed to know more than I knew!

They are interested in heaving M.I.N.T. come and present, so I followed-up with some information about our program after our meeting. From there, I met up with my videographer and went straight to Fusion Academy. This school is like no other. I was totally unprepared for the setup. Immediately upon stepping into the school, we were greeted with warm welcomes and hugs. Unlike most packed public schools, this one was small, intimate, and totally different. The students spend their time learning how to produce music, take pictures, and write, along with required classes like math and science. This school is located on the top floor of the Houston Galleria, which is the massive mall in the center of the city.

We talked about bullying and following your dreams, before I realized I was out of time! Since this school environment is so laid-back, we didn’t have to go heavy on the deeper topics like cutting and sexting. The great thing about a school like this is that everyone knows each other, and the students feel like they can talk to the teachers as open as they can be with their friends.

From this school, we ventured to a different part of Texas, about 20 minutes South. Eastwood Academy is a much larger public school. We ended up presenting two talks (I guess they liked us, a lot) over 2.5 hours, on social media and sexting. An ongoing theme we found was that many students felt like their grades defined them. They either felt “less good” about who they are, or “less worthy of opportunities” depending on their grades. It hurt my heart so see how many teenagers feel like they aren’t going to be successful if they don’t have straight A’s. Steve and I demonstrated how we didn’t get 100% on every test in school, yet we’ve managed to follow our dreams and make careers for ourselves.

Just remember: nothing defines you besides your incredible personality.

Xo,
Alexa

You guys know how important mental health is to me. I started my nonprofit, Media Impact and Navigation for Teens, to bring more awareness and love to mental health. I find that there are not many brands willing to talk openly about mental health. More than 450 people worldwide suffer with some form of mental health issues, whether it’s mild to serious.  Everything from post-traumatic stress to depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, self–esteem and financial stress – all of which disproportionately affect women around the world.

 Recognizing that mental health issues are one of the greatest challenges women face, Philosophy created the hope & grace initiative which pledges an unending commitment to support mental health and wellbeing. Previously celebrity ambassadors such as Ellen Pompeo and Zelda Williams have endorsed the program.

Through inspired action, Philosophy encourages the practice of self-care, not only in soothing and replenishing the skin, but the mind and soul as well.

Some of my mental health day tips are;

1. Take some time to yourself. Get away from all of the noise, and just breathe. Eat a cupcake, or go to a yoga class!

2. Find something new that keeps you on your toes. I love taking a new class every month, or finding somewhere new to shoot street style pictures in front of. 

3. Get the help you want, if you want it. Don’t ever let anyone tell you not to get help for ANYTHING you’re dealing with. Take control of your life. 

For every product sold (this includes all products, no limitations), Philosophy will contribute 1% of sales to the hope and grace fund, and will award multiple financial grants each year to local organizations working to empower women through promotion of mental health and wellbeing, and the prevention and treatment of related issues. The majority of funding from the hope and grace initiative will support community-based programs doing the most good in mental health and wellbeing.

Now that you know what product to buy this season, head to their site, Instagram, or some stores to find the Philosophy line, and get ready to get hooked!

The funds are administered by the new venture fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to supporting innovative and effective public interest projects. 

Xo,

Alexa

This week, Ashley Dorough from House of Dorough is here to talk about 3 things she wish she knew in high school. When I was in high school, I wish I knew soooo much stuff that I didn’t know…things like 1) nothing matters besides your school work and 2) people don’t hate you, they’ re just too involved with themselves. Ashley will go into further detail about some of her tips and tricks for navigating the tricky time of high school!

3 THINGS I WISH I KNEW IN HIGH SCHOOL

I’m in my 30’s now, but in the year 2004 I was graduating high school. Things were a lot different than they are now. Here’s what I wish I’d known:

1. YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED, SO BE NICE

Because of social media, you will actually know these people after high school. You’ll be able to see what they do with their lives, and you can choose whether or not to keep in touch. When I was a senior in high school, Myspace had JUST come out and I seemed to be the only one who knew about it. I remember being in my marketing class, which was basically a free period in a classroom with computers, and I’d hop on to check my Myspace and my classmates thought I was SO WEIRD. Little did we know that we’d be able to keep in touch for the rest of our lives if we wanted! Everything on the web is there, for good.

2. NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR OUTFIT, BE YOURSELF

No one is actually keeping tabs on what you’re wearing. I can remember spending hours trying to figure out what to wear. WHY? If I could talk to my high school self, I’d say this: Quit dressing for other people, dress for yourself. Wear what you want to wear and what you feel comfortable in. You do YOU. People will respect you for that, and you’ll respect yourself. I went through a different style phase each year of high school and always felt unsure about it. Embrace your creativity and uniqueness; be yourself.

3. THINK ABOUT YOUR FUTURE & ACT ON IT

I didn’t start thinking about my future until my senior year of high school. I had a slew of self doubt in my abilities, and when my parents mentioned college to me I cringed. More school?! I spent lots of time trying to figure out things I could do without going to college and I was convinced I’d be super successful on my own. But in the end, I got scared and did what my parents told me to do. The college I ended up going to was not the right fit for me, and it kind of set me back a little in finding my way. I’m not saying don’t go to college; but take the time to think about your goals and your future. I never did that, and instead just went with the flow because I didn’t know what else to do. I was skating by in academics because none of it interested me. Looking back, I should have tried to go to a school with more of a creative concentration, but I didn’t know that those existed. It’s 2017; there are SO many different and nontraditional schools that one of them is bound to be your ideal learning environment. I worked hard to be where I am today, but I think having clear goals and reaching for the stars would have helped me tremendously.

Betty & Veronica sweater, Steve Madden shoes

On Monday, I got certified in mental health first aid. I dropped out of high school when I was 16, transferred to online school, got my diploma, and never went to college. Occasionally, I drive by a college and feel like I’m missing out on something, but life is all about trial and error. You will always want what you don’t have. For me, I’ll know I will always feel a little gap in my heart about missing college, but that’s the route I’ve accepted and chosen to go down. Honestly, I don’t think I’d last a day in college. I can barely stay up past 10 PM, seriously!

Now that I’m certified in mental health first aid, after a day-long, seriously longgggg training, I feel like I’m ready to take on the world. With my nonprofit, M.I.N.T., we strive to inspire young adults to get away from their phones and back to reality. Since the world isn’t always online what it’s like IRL, it’s important that young adults know how to conduct themselves when they aren’t on their cell phones. For me, the more I’m on my phone, the less I sleep, the less healthy I eat, the more my heart races, and the more stress I feel. I’m being honest, too. Last night, I didn’t really sleep at all, and I think it’s because I was on my phone until the minute I turned my light off. I understand that some nights, you want to be on your phone from dusk to dawn. And other nights, it’s okay to not be on your phone. The world isn’t going to end, and neither are you.

On Tuesday, one of my best girl friends messaged me on Instagram about panic attacks she was getting. I love this chick, and I thought she was just making fun of me and my new certification (I understand I can’t entirely say a day of training calls for a college degree, but I’m really proud of myself). I texted her, and she told me she was actually very stressed, and felt herself getting more and more anxious, which was stemming the panic attacks. It broke my heart to know she, along with 1000s of young adults out there, are feeling stressed and anxious constantly. Sometimes you don’t ever know what is setting your panic attacks off, or your heightened level of stress. There is a lot that goes in on your brain that you don’t realize!

I referred her to my therapist, and told her my copay is only $15 because I have insurance. I make a point to take two days off per week, whether it’s completely off of social media, or simply off of work, those are my two days. This past weekend, Gabe and I ventured out to Culver City for acai and shopping. During the week, I workout for one hour every day, and I try and take a normal lunch break and walk around if I find myself getting frustrated sitting down. Luckily for me, I travel a lot, so when I’m working from a coffee shop or from home, I don’t ever feel bored. However, knowing what your limits are and when to take a break is crucial in self-love.

I always need time alone, or a day to do my own thang, and you do too.

Xo,

Alexa

I woke up to headline news this morning that a major shooting has occurred in Las Vegas. More than 50 people were killed in what CNN is labeling the biggest mass shooting of all time. A 64-year-old man, with more than one gun, started firing shots from his hotel window near a music festival on the strip. My heart goes out to EVERYONE who was in Las Vegas, or knows someone who was. All of those people had lives. They had family, kids, and friends.  

This year alone, London trains have been targeted, music festivals with kids have been shot up, nightclubs in Istanbul, major tourist attractions…the list goes on. I’ll never forget the day I was in high school and the Sandy Hook shooting happened. Since I’m from CT, the shooting wasn’t far from my high school. My school was put on lockdown, and it was terrifying. I didn’t think my school handled the shooting properly, because they let us go on our phones while they locked the school down. Since teens talk, that’s all we did for an hour. The issue wasn’t our cell phones: it was that we were learning about major news from our phones, and not from people. Because of that, we got to take the story to a new level of sadness and anger before we even knew what happened.

As shootings and terrible world events continue to happen, it’s important to start talking to your children everyday. Asking them about how school is, how their friends are, and even who they eat lunch with is a fantastic start to getting them to open up. You never know what pain a young adult may be facing, or the immense pressure they are under from students and people around them.

I’d like to see schools talking openly about this shooting. Make students turn their phone off for the day, or even an hour, to be present in the moment. Talk about how it makes you feel, even if you don’t have direct family or friends involved. There is no harm in taking some time to think about how this could have been avoided, and especially, what the warning signs are for someone who needs mental health help.

Please, if you need help today, don’t be afraid to call:

National Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-448-4663

We also have even more resources up on the M.I.N.T. page for you too. 

Xo,

Alexa

 I usually take Saturday + Sunday off of social media. For me, it’s a chance for my mind to breathe and reset. When you spend 24/7 on social media, you basically become hooked to the web. I go to bed looking at my phone, and wake up looking at it too. That’s unhealthy, obviously, and that’s why I take a few days off each week!

Since I’m still obsessed with work, I ended up hopping on to my email Saturday morning while drinking a cup of coffee to see an email from a Forbes reporter. She wanted to call me, and we chatted on the phone for about 20 minutes before she asked me to send her a headshot. It’s a Saturday morning: September 30th, and I’ve made it into Forbes. I almost cried when the article came out. I never truly feel accomplished. You could have honestly Tina Fey or Steve Jobs tell me they think I’m successful, and I wouldn’t believe it unless I actually felt like I was where I want to be in my career. For me, this is just the beginning.

I hope you love reading it. I hope you realize that you can do what you want with your life. I hope this article inspires you to push your kids to follow their dreams and become entrepreanurs, if they wish. You never know what you can accomplish until you try.

For Alexa Curtis writing was always an escape. “When I was 7, my father was wrongfully convicted of a heinous crime and put in a maximum security prison. He got out when I was twelve and I spent years of my childhood watching him almost die as a diabetic in prison,” she shares. “Around that time, I started writing and expressing myself through fashion. It helped me cope.” She would write short stories and describe what she was wearing or what inspired her. She was so incredibly passionate about blogging and writing she started making a small amount of money. “I had no interest in anything else besides following my passion,” says Curtis.

FORBES!

Xo,

Alexa