New New Journey (but still same journey, just new step?)

What's up internet family? I miss ya'll. I miss typing into this little white box on a regular basis. Maybe after this semester I'll be able to type more schtuff out for ya. My goal right now is to FILM more schtuff, and that's been going crazy too. BUT, I have filmed! AND posted! I know, it's crazy!


My videos are not the quality I want them to be, but they're a start. Maybe years from now I'll look back at them and laugh (or cringe? eh, that's okay). Maybe I'll look at them and think "who is that girl?" It's always interesting to look back on yourself and see (hopefully) growth and change.


Anyway, I got on blogger and started typing in this box so that I could share with you my latest filmed ramble. It's not exciting necessarily but it's real life, you know? My aim on my blog and youtube is to be real and authentic with ya'll.

I'm gonna film a big sit down video with planning and schtuff but this was a quick update I filmed with my phone (yay technology amirite?).




So, hope you enjoyed that.
TLDR; I'm doing beachbody stuff again! I'm eagerly awaiting my package right now (maybe i'll film an unboxing? That would be cool content). I'm starting Core de Force. I'll talk more about it in the next video.


Share with your friends, your amigos, your amici! And let me know if you're on a weight loss/fitness/health journey! I would love to connect.

Have a blessed day and weekend,
xoxo,
Alexandra Anne 

Dem Goals

I did a thing, ya'll!

I FINALLY posted my intro vlog for my fitness series on YouTube :)

You can watch it here:







I hope this helps hold me accountable AND helps inspire others on their fitness and health journeys too!

Please feel free, as always, to comment or message me if you want someone to talk to during your own journey, or if you have tips for mine!

xoxo,
Alexandra Anne

New Year, New Me

Ciao friends,

Boy oh boy, this year has been something else. I guess that's what a first year of marriage combined with college and opera performance and a part time job and personal development is like?

Yesterday was my birthday, and I am now at the point where I can probably get away with just saying "I'm a 20something" because that's easier and more delicate than revealing my birth year and actual age. I am grateful to have made it another year and I try my best to not take life for granted! But at the same time, I want people to respect me for me, not base their opinions on my age. Honestly I don't even have many friends "my age" but of all ages! Some of my closest friends are actually twice my age, and that's perfectly perfect for me.


Now that I *am* a new age, however, I think this is a good time to refocus my energy, thoughts, and productivity. It is my last year of college (yay super senior/music major/transfer student) but it is also the year of my standing up for myself and taking care of myself.

Taking care of myself physically and emotionally is my goal, and I don't always succeed, but it is my aim to be the best Alexandra I can be so I can better serve the world and help others. It is my hope that I will be a better wife and friend this year, and inspire others to be their best selves.

For the first time ever I am listening to podcasts and reading personal development intentionally, and WOW! We have SO much potential, ya'll! I mean really, you can be in the best part of your life or the worst, and you could change lives. I really believe it.

In fact, my name meaning (Hebrew, isn't that neat?) is: Helper of Mankind.

Well there you go! I was named to help others! But I gotta help myself too. That's been my biggest struggle.

I'm going to be very transparent right now, and if you don't want to deal with that then I suggest you find another post or blogger to read :)
I have been dealing with depression and it has taken physical tolls on my body that I am battling every day. This past summer I would have mornings where I woke up, said goodbye to my husband going off to work, and I would go back to sleep on the couch for hours and hours until I absolutely had to go somewhere (like my job). Then I would come home exhausted from my job (lifting heavy things by myself, standing outside for hours in the Alabama heat, not eating enough) and go to bed right after eating something out of necessity.
I felt I had no purpose, I felt no drive, I felt lost.

(side note: starving youtself and THEN eating is a really sucky way to go, don't do it! It's something I'm still battling, and I honestly have to FORCE myself to eat breakfast, and it's helped my energy and depression so much)

I wasn't living for the right reasons; some could argue that I wasn't really living at all.
But I have slowly begun changing my habits and building healthier ones. Thank God for the people in my life who have encouraged me and not left me (oh yeah, that adds to depression, getting friend dumped frequently and not being able to be close to people you desire that friendship with...). I have some amazing friends who are consistently there for me. Some of those friends happen to be coaches or fitness friends :)

You may be able to see where this is going: I am back to more regular workouts AND drinking Shakeology. I am still working on my consistency, but wow do I have energy and drive more than I used to. Yes, I still deal with depression and loneliness (I don't see my husband a few nights a week because of school) but working out TRULY helps me fight it and kick it in the butt!

So, the point of this ramble is:
*I want to inspire and help others
*I want to be the best Alexandra I can be (and be proud of this next year of life!)
*I want to have confidence and strength to chase my crazy dreams (DO IT, DREAM BIG!!!)


I'm not sure if I will be blogging regularly, or if I'll transition into vlogging on youtube, or maybe I'll do both! We shall see.
But let this post encourage you, please: YOU are worthy, YOU are capable, YOU can get out of the darkness and run freely in the light.

If I can help you in any way, even just by listening to you, please message or comment. <3


With Love,
Alexandra Anne

Tea, VEDA, and Historicon

Hello internet readers!!

Did you know I'm posting regularly on YouTube this month? You didn't? Well, I am! I'm partaking in a challenge/thing called VEDA- Vlog Every Day in August :)

You can stalk find me here! 




It's been fun so far, tomorrow I'm gonna start using Windows Movie Maker (finally) and try to edit my vids a little better! I'm learning. If all else fails, my iPhone take decent quality footage. I just stink at trying to get all my thoughts out coherently in one take. Eek.

I'm hoping that after August I will still vlog regularly about my fitness journey, my wedding planning, and the life I live as a vocal performance major in a small college town in Alabama :) Oh, and my gaming stuff! Duh! I still owe ya'll a picture dump.

Wanna stalk me some more? Check out THIS post written by professionals on the internet who also included me in their live podcast at said event, that event being Historicon :) I love WWPD so much, they are great guys, their podcast is awesome, and I'm honored to ever be mentioned by them.

Michael and I on the ends, WWPD in between :) 

There was much gaming, much booze, and much fun had at this convention. Next year when Michael and I attend we will be MARRIED. WHAT. 5 months left, folks. I'm excited. 

But yeah. 

Here are my some of my historicon pics!

About to head out to Virginia for HISTORICON 2015!

Right after someone recognized me from twitter! Represent girl gamers, ya''ll!

Did I mention lots of booze? Yeah, it was nice.

Vikings!!

Our army for the Flames of War doubles Tournament :) Germans!

Painted me a halfling mini :)

Overall, it was a great trip and I'm ready for Historicon 2016 already. 

For now, I'm serving tea at farmer's markets to local Alabama tea lovers and preparing to move into my own apartment for the upcoming semester (eek! no roommates!)

Our tea is local tea that comes in mason jars, super cute and super yummy

So that's me, follow me on the YouTube for daily updates this month! 

xoxo,

Allie Anne 

Do You Even Lift?

Lifting is hard, yo.

But SO invigorating!!! I am loving my exercise recently and how strong I am becoming. My manager at work even complimented how my leg work was good while lifting enormous buckets of water and then lowering them (total body worked, more calories burned!)

I'm working hard to save for school stuff/apartment stuff/book stuff (hehe)/ and a fitbit charge hr! I'm glad I got more shifts this week because this once a week stuff is silly. I go back to school next month so I won't have TIME for more shifts, so I need to work as much as possible now while it can be my biggest priority. That and the working out.

Last post I may have mentioned I want to vlog soon? I just signed up for VEDA (Vlog Every Day In August) and this year I'm determined to stick through it!!


Check here for updates, and right now a video of me doing some singin' in recital class at school (yay Italian arias full of passion, am I right?)






I will have to teach myself to talk to the camera on a regular basis, good thing I don't have roommates to judge me. I can't wait to learn the youtube world and world of vlogging!!!


Who is going to Dragon Con?? I'm a few paychecks away from being able to buy my fitbit AND by my con ticket! (I already have a room set up, so that's good, and it's affordable, also good!)

Still need to figure out how to cosplay and who to cosplay as...



As for fitness, since that's the main subject of the post, I am starting a challenge group on August 1st!!! I'm so excited! We are all going to do 21 Day Fix together and be AWESOME. We will also drink Shakeology every day and share yummy recipes for it. I think I want to try baking shakeology brownies ;)

Are you interested in joining the challenge group?? You must!! You won't regret it :)

Comment below or contact me (check out the contact page!) for more info! 

I love ya'll, thanks for reading <3 I'll have more interesting things to say later this week. Right now I'm exhausted from working 11hours yesterday (4am to 3pm) and then immediately going to a wedding after and then dancing a lot a lot at said wedding. I am good and sore! My creative writing will be better with more sleep, I promise ;) 

Have a great week!

xoxo, Alexandra Anne