Alexa

Better Late Than Never

December 28, 2018December 28, 2018by Alexa2 Comments

I have said time and time again that creating this blog started out as a simple way to be connected with friends and family when I was abroad, but it quickly turned into so much more for me. It has become an outlet for me and a place where I can really be expressive. I embarked on a creative journey this year which leads me to the point of this post. I made a decision with the new year that I wanted to bring this blog back to life, so I have been cataloging my travels throughout the year in the form of vlogs (read: video logs); tonight, I launched my YouTube channel!

I figured that since people have enjoyed my photos on my blog, what could be better than actually taking everyone with me on my trips? Admittedly, the first few vlogs are a bit ‘cringy’ as I am getting used to speaking to a camera in public, and I struggled in some places due to weather conditions, but I have to say that the whole process has been a lot of fun for me so far! People have a lot of ideas and feelings about YouTube, but I am excited to share these videos with you and, I guess, the rest of the world.

As of right now, the vlogs will be uploaded every other Thursday, and they will be posted in chronological order with my first trip of the year to L.A. What I plan to showcase through this channel is not only the travel footage, but other discussions about experiences while traveling, tips for more seamless travel, and featured guests to provide a more well-rounded view rather than just hearing everything from me. My brother, Cameron, will also graciously be producing all of the music for my vlogs.

I will continue updating this blog exactly as I do now because this is the drawing board for me. It is the place where I fully tapped into my writing and what made me realize that it could be part of a larger career. Long story short, no matter what ideas come to fruition, this blog will not go away, but I am so happy to be finally sharing this with everyone just in time for the new year. I cannot wait to start creating more videos and improving on this new skill set.

I would really appreciate any feedback that people have–the only way for me to improve the content that I provide for you all is to know exactly what brings you to my blog (and now my YouTube Channel) and what keeps you here. I hope that these videos will bring you as much joy as I had filming them. For the people who knew about this or were actually a part of this, thank you so much for your support! I would not have felt comfortable continuing this if it hadn’t been for the encouragement I received in the last year.

Again, new videos will be up every other Thursday, but there are already two uploaded for you all to check out. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts! ❤

xx, AE

Adventures

Colors by the Crescent

October 11, 2018November 2, 2018by Alexa1 Comment

My friend, Ilse, told me about another cool pop-up happening in Dallas called “Psychedelic Robot.” After my amazing experience at the Sweet Tooth Hotel, I knew I wanted to check it out. Seeing as it was only on for nine days, I immediately purchased a ticket for me and my mom and we made our way over.

This exhibition was so cool. Though similar to other pop-ups I see online with neon, paint splatter, and a pool of all of the colors of the rainbow, it featured all of the artists’ personal work alongside their curated pieces for this show. That was arguably my favorite part. As expected, it is interactive (meaning you can touch things and sit on things) and there are PLENTY of photo ops. In fact, they encourage it!
Continue reading “Colors by the Crescent” →

Lex Files

An Evening of Inspiration with Bold Babes Co.

September 30, 2018September 30, 2018by Alexa2 Comments

Last night, I had the opportunity to attend the launch party of Bold Babes Co, a brand and community dedicated to bringing women together to use their resources to help one another through skill sharing, mentorship, and guidance. The founder of Bold Babes, Shampaigne Graves, invited me personally and I could not turn down this opportunity after reading about her mission. To say this event was inspiring would be an understatement.
ANE_0269 ANE_0337 ANE_0273 The theme of the night was collaboration. Every speaker touched on the importance of utilizing and building one’s network even when it may seem silly or discouraging at times. Collaboration is the best way to get inspired, to get your name out there, and, most importantly, to help someone else along the way. A way to make that happen is to also believe in the power of manifestation.

Sheena & Andy of OWNext Media

Cydney Burchfield of Create Her

Miss Jordan Plus World 2018, Dina Alsaid, and founder of Bold Babes, Shampaigne Graves

Michelle Lamont

Maria Sanchez of Beauty Door

Amanda Smith of Dallas Girl Gang

Founder of Bold Babes, Shampaigne Graves

Mindfulness and manifestation are not new concepts, but many are skeptical of their results. I write a lot on here about my personal mindfulness journeys, but I am a lazy participant when it comes to manifestation. I wholeheartedly believe that what you put into the universe is what you get back, and I can sit all day long telling other people that. But do I do that for myself? Sadly, no. I succumb to confirmation bias, and just when I am ready to throw in the towel, moments like last night come along to remind me to continue on my journey.

I also thought it was incredible for Shampaigne to partner with Dallas-based businesses such as OWNEXT Media, who created the Bold Babes commercial, and Beverages in Bibs (BIBS) who provided us with refreshments. There were so many more vendors and sponsors, I was blown away that she rallied all of these people in a matter of a couple of weeks. If that isn’t a #girlboss move, I don’t know what is!

ANE_0336 ANE_0350 ANE_0352 ANE_0351 ANE_0357 What I loved about this event was that everyone was there to support Shampaigne and in turn ended up supporting each other. I loved seeing everyone’s business cards being traded and the positive energy surging through the event as all these beautiful women (and a few men) were connecting to strengthen this network in Dallas. Everyone was proudly sharing their stories and it dissipated any fear I had to introduce myself as a blogger for the first time.

I seriously cannot thank Shampaigne enough for reaching out to me about the Bold Babes Launch Party! Though we did not know each other personally before this event, I am so proud of her and feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to meet so many smart, creative people. ❤

Make sure you are following @boldbabesco on Instagram!!

xx, AE

Adventures

Break in Barcelona

September 20, 2018September 20, 2018by Alexa9 Comments

Since my last post, I have been in a desperate need of a break from my mind. I have had this trip to Barcelona planned for almost three months so when the day arrived, I could not wait. Needless to say, it ended up being the best travel experience of my life so far. I was in the heart of the city for five full days with some of my friends and it was equally crazy-packed and relaxing at the same time–the best kind of vacation.

Day One: Hitting the Ground Running
◊ Exploring La Rambla
I arrived in Barcelona after a combined 11 hours of flying and hit the ground running. We mostly walked around and explored the area where our Airbnb was located. By the way, our Airbnb was absolutely fantastic. We were in the El Poble-Sec area near the Para∙lel metro station. It was so centrally-located. We were just killing time before our friend Ksenia arrived later that evening.

After Ksenia arrived and we caught up on life, we headed out to a late Spanish dinner and a flamenco show at Casa Lola! I did not have as much to do with planning this trip as I normally like to do, but I knew I had to at least see a flamenco show. It was a Thursday night so it was not crowded at all. We got front row seating, ordered sangria, and watched the magic happen.

Spanish dish of potatoes, spicy tomato-based sauce, and garlic aioli 🙂

We actually stumbled upon Casa Lola when we were exploring earlier in the day. Normally, they require reservations (likely for the weekend), but when we called, they said it was fine without one. We received a flyer for €5 off for two options of either dinner and a show or drink and a show. We chose drink and a show and opted to get our own dinner (which ended up being at Casa Lola anyway because we left the apartment a little late), but it was a wonderful experience!!
Continue reading “Break in Barcelona” →