WELCOME. YOU ARE LOVED. YOU MATTER. YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW, ALWAYS.โก
WELCOME. YOU ARE LOVED. YOU MATTER. YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW, ALWAYS.โก
Welcome to Lovely Vegan. Here you will find messages from my heart, personal updates, & anything inspired to share. Hereโs to โThe Journeyโ โ in this together. ILY ~ Alex
Perfectly imperfect.
22 years ago, I had back surgery for scoliosis & was in the hospital for TEN DAYSโผ๏ธ
You may remember from the first LV fashion series the video where I talk about โRejection via Redirectionโ.
After my surgery, I couldn't do dance/ballet ๐ฉฐ the same, & it definitely took a while before I felt somewhat back to normal.
I drifted from the dance ๐บ world & was scouted into the modeling ๐ธ world. Before I knew it, I was off to NYC at about 14โ15 years old.
The curve in my spine was never perfectly corrected, & this image demonstrates that, which is what I love most about it.๐คฒ๐ผโจ
Here is what I want to note ๐:
Even though I was "redirected" into the fashion industry after my surgery, I then began to experience "rejection" on a whole other level! Constantly! NONSTOP.๐ณ
Redirection doesn't always mean we made it to the end, happily ever after. Part of life's purpose is growth ๐ชด. We will always be climbing ๐ง๐ผโโ๏ธ some sort of peak โฐ๏ธ, & there will be plenty of flowers ๐ผ to smell, rest spots to REST ๐, & views to take in along the way ๐.
A part of that rejection would come from my still perfectly imperfect spine.
During swim week in Miami, I didn't book one show. Not ONE. Could this be part of that? In the end, it doesnโt matter because...
I GREW THROUGH IT.๐คธ๐ผโโ๏ธ๐๐ซโจ
Life is our greatest teacher, & as said, it is for us, not against us.๐๐ผ
Through the ups & downs of self-acceptance, we eventually find our way to loving ourselves & all our "perfect imperfections".
Does this mean that we feel this way every second of every day? Of course not. But what it means is that even when we don't, we meet ourselves where we're at & love ourselves in those moments too.๐ช๐ซ
We love ourselves unconditionally, in a perfectly imperfect way.๐๐๐๐
This is freedom. This is how we break the chains โ๏ธ of seeing self-acceptance as "when I get there", "when I have that", "when I do this", & so on.
This kind of love also encourages us to desire our best selves, & therefore we want to โshow upโ because there are no contingencies to feel love based on the outcome. We just want to do our best.โค๏ธ
As we get closer to 2024, let this be part of our guiding principles! Let this be our way of loving. Unconditional self-love for our perfectly imperfect journeys.๐ซถ๐ผ๐บ๏ธ
All the love, fam.๐ค๐
Happy 5th Birthday, Atticus!
This cute bug ๐ turned 5 years old a few months ago & deserves a birthday ๐ฅณ post! Enjoy some random facts about this handsome pooch.โค๏ธ๐พ
Atticus is probably the best dog I've ever met! He never wants to get into any kind of trouble & truly just wants good vibes for everyone.๐
Atticus is a mama's boy, & we have many activities we enjoy together. He's my peanut butter sidekick, my cookie dough partner in crime, my cuddle buddy, & my pillow sharer.๐ค
Atticus & I are kindred spirits in that we're both super sensitive! He will leave the room even if the TV is too loud.๐ฅน
Atticus keeps Rocky & Apollo (the pugs) in check & thank heavens because, without his golden example, those two would wreck havoc in the house.๐คฃ
I love you, A Train ๐! Smooches on those ears, cheeks, & nose all day long!๐ฅฐ๐ถ๐๐ซ
Canvas Rebel Magazine
Fam!๐ Another special conversation, & this time it's with the wonderful team at Canvas Rebel.
I am super thankful for the space they shared to talk about topics near & dear to my heart.โค๏ธ
Something we touched on was resilience in the creative/artist journey. Iโve learned & grown a lot in this process, & I hope my journey offers comfort to those in similar circumstances or about to embark on their own.๐ค๐๐ซ
These thoughts are applicable to many aspects of life & what I believe to be one of the most important keys to freedom within ourselves, our minds, and our hearts.๐คฒ๐ผ๐คฒ๐ฟ๐คฒ๐ฝ๐คฒ๐ป๐คฒ๐พ๐๏ธโจ
Slides 8 & 9 are written ๐ญ below:
โI believe the entire journey requires resilience.
Being a creator & being at peace with what you're doing, whether others are applauding you or there's complete silence, is vital. Losing one's focus to primarily external validation will be a miserable journey.
Sharpening your inner voice to be as in tune with your heart as possible is very, very important. This is what will guide you when you feel the outside world isn't mirroring your inner hopes, dreams, or โexpectations".
One of many helpful mindsets is to trust yourself. When you create or put your heart into something, it's key to ask yourself how you feel about it & remember how you felt before & after sharing or posting online.
No matter what the results are, this is truly what matters. Loving what you created will bring you peace of mind & heart. It's within the integrity of being an authentic artist or creator.
What you create is from your heart; it should always be personal for you! And those who are meant to connect with you & find you will. Those are the people you want to attract within your community because they are invested in who you authentically are.
Another important thing to always fall back on when overwhelmed, tired, or exhausted is your WHY.
Why do you create? Why are you doing what you are doing? What is the "WHY" at the core of it all? Make sure this "why" stands on a solid foundation & not a faulty, external temporary "fix".
Finally, remember that the only constant is change, & the highs may go low & the lows will go high again. Enjoy the journey.
Enjoy the peaks & valleys. Try to stay steady through it all, knowing your heart will never fail you.
Enjoy creating and BE-ing!โ
Check out the entire article here.
ALL THE LOVE, FAM.๐คโพ๏ธ
Follow your heartโฆ
And trust the process.
A little collage fun from the first Lovely Vegan Fashion Series โ this was the 'Chronicle Series' & summer was the 'Be Series'!๐ฅฐ๐คฒ๐ผ๐
All the best vibes & love in the process. I wonder what's next. Dreaming & praying about those answers...โ๐ผโจ
There are big changes in the air.๐ฌ๏ธ I'm getting ready to uproot my life & move in new directions. Feeling very excited & full of faith.๐ฅฒ๐ซ
Dancing with God & creation without clear vision & purely believing in my heart has become my life's rhythm.๐ถ๐๐ต๐
I have no expectation or attachment for what's to come, but I know it won't be anything short of gratitude for the journey, growth in the process, blessings in abundance, & miracles that await.๐๐ผโค๏ธ
Sending LOVE to YOU! Here's to trusting the process & surrendering to Divine timing, Divine order, & Divine purposes fulfilled.๐๐ผ๐ฏ
Big, big, big, BIG HUGS ๐ซ!๐ค
๐Model/Stylist: @lovelyveganalex
๐Photographer: @alexrosenkreuzphotography
๐Muah: @hairandmakeupbyjosie
Thatโs a wrap!
Itโs been a journey! And I wouldnโt want to ride it with anyone else but the FAM.๐ค๐
ANOTHER WRAP.๐๐ผ
The choices we make have a ripple effect, & we get to choose what kind of ripple we send out.๐โจ
Letโs choose COMPASSION for all.๐ฏ
Letโs choose LOVE for all.๐ฏ
Let us choose GOOD for all.๐ฏ
It starts within; it starts with US.โ๐ผโค๏ธ
You, me, animals, & the planet.
๐ฃ๐๐พ๐๐พ๐๐ฃ
We are ONE, like a ray from the sun.๐ซ
I love you, & Iโm so glad youโre here.โพ๏ธโจ
Feel free to browse the entire LV Fashion & Goods Summer 2023 Seriesโฆ the fashion ๐ , โthe โBEโ videos ๐คฒ๐ผ, & the delcious food ๐ฝ๏ธ. Messages are purely sought through ๐๐ผ from the โค๏ธ.
๐Model/Stylist: @lovelyveganalex
๐ธPhotographer: @alexrosenkreuzphotography
๐Muah: @hairandmakeupbyjosie
๐ฅDigi tech: @insta__bram
WE DID IT!
We did it! That's a wrap for the Lovely Vegan Fashion & Goods summer series โ woohoo!๐ฅฐ๐๐ผ
I'll be sharing a wrap video with a final message. Thank you for your love, support, & feedback, & as always, I'm so glad YOU are here.๐ผ
I feel it's my responsibility to always let my fam, most specifically my sisters ๐ฏโโ๏ธ, know that there are so many components that go into photo shoots. Great lighting, an amazing team, post-production, editing images, & so on.๐ธ๐ช๐ป
What we see in an image, especially on social media, usually does not portray reality. In fact, it most often does not.๐ฏ
I take care of myself from the inside out, & when it comes to a shoot, obviously the outside is an important factor. I prepare for shoots with extra clean eating, fitness, low sodium & sugar intake, spray tanning, & all the other things.๐๐ง๐ผโโ๏ธ๐ ๐ผ
I want to be clear so that you know that being human & embracing "imperfections" is what IS real & ultimately most important.๐๐ผโจ
Never compare yourself to an image โ not online, in a magazine, on TV, or on a billboard. There's so much that goes on behind what we see โ even a selfie ๐คณ๐ผ with filters.
Love yourself for the beautiful human being that you are, & may we all remember that truthfully, not just as a feel-good thing that's said, TRUE BEAUTY IS FOUND, eternally exists, & is untouchable within.๐คฒ๐ผ๐คฒ๐ฟ๐คฒ๐ฝ๐คฒ๐ป๐คฒ๐พ๐๐ซ
ALL the LOVE โค๏ธ & big, big, big, BIG HUGS ๐ซ.๐
๐บModel/Stylist: @lovelyveganalex
๐ธPhotographer: @alexrosenkreuzphotography
๐นMuah: @hairandmakeupbyjosie
๐ชทDigi tech: @insta__bram
Be connected. Be ONE heart.
The finale of the โBE Seriesโ!๐๐ผ And weโre taking it from the top as a solid reminder to begin right NOW, in THIS MOMENT, TODAY.โค๏ธ
BE TRUE ~ BE YOU ๐๐ถ
BE BRAVE ~ BE RESILIENT ๐๐ฅ
BE PRESENT ~ BE FRIEND ๐๐ค
BE SEEN ~ BE BIG ๐๐ฏ
BE HOPE ~ BE-LIEVE ๐๐๐ผ
BE GENTLE ~ BE KIND ๐๐ช
BE WEIRD ~ BE PERFECTLY IMPERFECT ๐๐ฆ
BE WARMTH ~ BE SUNSHINE ๐โค๏ธ
BE PEACEFUL ~ BE HOME ๐๐คฒ๐ผ
BE LIGHT ~ BE FREE ๐๐ชฝ
BE CONNECTED ~ BE ONE HEART ๐โพ๏ธ
Compassion is our guiding compass ๐งญ.
Positive change is our desired destination ๐บ๏ธ.
Grace & kindness are our medicines of choice ๐ผ.
Love is our unified, healing vibration & sound โค๏ธ.
I love you! Iโm so glad youโre here.๐ค
Feel free to browse the other โBEโ videos in case youโve missed any. Messages are purely sought through ๐๐ผ from the โค๏ธ.
ใฐ๏ธFashion details listed in previous post on LV Fashion Blog.๐ธ
ใฐ๏ธFood details listed in next, & final, post for Lovely Vegan ๐ฑ summer fashion Look Eleven.๐๐ฆ
โจModel/Stylist: @lovelyveganalex
๐Photographer: @alexrosenkreuzphotography
โจMuah: @hairandmakeupbyjosie
๐Digi tech: @insta__bram

