Alex and Lexie

20/11/2019

The weather in the Thai islands is both very unpredictable yet predictable. For the most part this time of year, Koh Jum was sunny and humid and hot but at least once a day, an intense thunderstorm would roll in. We got good at timing it out perfectly where we would wake up and make coffee, have breakfast, and spend the morning at the beach. We would see the dark clouds in the distance coming our way and we’d hop back on our motor bike and walk into the bungalow as it started to sprinkle. Soon after, it would be as dark as night and the thunder were as loud as if the world were ending. However, the storm was usually short lived and we’d go grab lunch at the restaurant we had become regulars at.

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

19/11/2019

One year ago, we were enjoying our time on the little island of Koh Jum, Thailand. We woke up in our bungalow and drank coffee in the hammock while admiring the tropical forest surrounding us. We ran back into the bungalow, grabbed our cameras, and excitedly watched as a monkey strolled into our “yard” and started to eat a green banana from one of the many banana trees around us. We hadn’t started our YouTube channel yet, but we did make a vlog showing what our typical day on Koh Jum looked like. You can check it out at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9dcVQOqVAc :)

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

18/11/2019

Although we had a blast in Bangkok and loved all of the activities of the city, it was time to “take a vacation” from our vacation and head to the beach. We arrived on a small Thai island consisting of only 3,000 people by a tiny boat. This little island remains one of our absolute favorite places in the world - and we went to a lot of places! The locals are SO friendly, the food is amazing, and the nature is beautiful.

17/11/2019

It was a very big adjustment from Europe to Southeast Asia but we were loving it. We had sent all of our clothes home on our last day in Budapest to prepare for warmer weather and a different culture. That meant we spent our first few days in Asia learning how to barter for our new wardrobe in Bangkok. We weren’t that great at it, but we had a good time!

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

16/11/2019

It’s the middle of November and last year a few days ago, we had left Budapest and landed in Bangkok, Thailand. We would spend the next 3 months of winter enjoying the warm climate while traveling around Southeast Asia. We arrived at the airport in Hungary on a very full bus and waited around for a few hours before boarding the first plane on our 13 hour commute south. By the time we got to Bangkok, we were very tired and Lexie was very sick from drinking the water. From the plane, to a train, to a tuktuk, to walking through the busy streets of Bangkok at night - it was a rollercoaster of smells, emotions, noises, and culture. We fell asleep immediately and woke up feeling much better… at 3am. It took us a while to adjust to the 6 hour time difference but the journey ahead of us in this new country was an incredible one.

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

09/11/2019

This is one of my favorite pictures I have ever taken - and looking back a year ago when I was so new to photography makes me even more proud of it. Night had settled over Budapest and temperature had dropped quickly. We kept warm by eating falafel at the Hummus Bar and browsing the indoor market until it was dark. We decided to stay out a little later than usual to come to this spot and take this photo and I’m glad we did!

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

07/11/2019

Budapest was one of the most beautiful cities we visited in Europe and it felt like we had saved the best for last. The days we spent there were comfortable and sunny but the November nights became very cold quickly so we made the most out of our days exploring and taking photos of the architecture.

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

06/11/2019

One year ago today was our first full day in Budapest, Hungary. We had a late train into the city and had a long walk to our airbnb. We didn’t mind it though - the weather was beautiful and we got to see the city all lit up. Budapest was the last city we visited in Europe before heading south to Southeast Asia for the next few months and it was such a treat. Budapest is full of life, culture, amazing food, and incredible architecture.

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

27/10/2019

Happy Sunday! Our vlog is live at alexandlexie.com. Check it out for pumpkin carving, fall colors, and wholesome content with family :)

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

26/10/2019

The leaves are changing gorgeous colors! We hope you are able to get outside to admire them. In tomorrow’s video, we visited our hometown for the first time in 8 months and took pictures in some of our favorite spots. Check back in tomorrow at 9 am at alexandlexie.com :)

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

24/10/2019

Happy fall! 😀😍

23/10/2019

We haven't had the chance to shoot the fall colors yet so today when I got home I took a moment to appreciate the colors from our apartment window.

19/10/2019

After severely spraining my ankle in Croatia a year ago (check out our last post if you missed the story), we had had enough of sitting around our hostel and decided to attempt a visit to Plitvice National Park with an ankle brace and a walking stick. Although the weather was cold, we were very sore, and Lexie was broken, we fell in love with the park. The water was crystal clear and we enjoyed watching the fish below. The leaves were changing vibrant colors and there were so many waterfalls we lost count! This place is straight out of a fairytale in October.

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

17/10/2019

One year ago was the worst day of our 6 months traveling the world. It was also quite amazing. We woke up early, made a big breakfast, packed some lunch and snacks, and headed out the door with three other people staying at our hostel. It was a freezing morning with fog so thick we could hardly see anything in front of us. We passed fields and old houses and the paved road turned to gravel. After about an hour, we finally made it to the base of Pljesevica Mountain. Having packed so light for our long trip, we didn’t pack the best hiking shoes. Alex’s shoes were falling apart while mine had absolutely no grip. We took the challenge, though, and started hiking straight upward. The trail was gravelly causing us to slip and slide which each step. After a grueling 5 or so hours of hiking/climbing, we had finally reached the top! We explored an abandoned army base, walked cautiously through pitch black tunnels, and enjoyed lunch with the most incredible views. Being at the top was short and sweet because we were going to lose daylight and had to make it out of the trees before sunset. The beginning of the trail leading down was the steepest and most gravelly part of the trail. To avoid slipping on the rocks, I stepped into some long grass beside the trail - unfortunately that grass was longer than expected and hid a drop off. I fell and twisted my ankle. Trying not to panic but in extreme pain, I got up. After a few hours and four more falls, we had finally reached the bottom! We still had about an hour’s walk back to the hostel in complete darkness on my now very swollen ankle but we had finished the hard part. This injury became a huge part of my life over the next year - giving me the experience of my first MRI (in Vietnam), sending us home early from our trip a few months later, putting me on crutches, and severely reducing my quality of life for a while. But if I was going to tear the ligaments in my ankle somehow, at least I have a badass story like “I sprained my ankle hiking down a mountain in Croatia”.

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

16/10/2019

About a year ago, we put on all of our layers and took a shuttle from our hostel to Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia. It was a dreary and foggy morning but the colorful leaves of autumn made up for it. We spent the day taking a water taxi across the lake to different trails and waterfalls. It was a perfect fall day.

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

13/10/2019

Happy Sunday! We decided to take this week off of our vlog. We have been working crazy schedules between our day jobs and having recently opened our business (Star Media, LLC). We will have a video up at our regularly scheduled time next Sunday and look forward to seeing you then! In the meantime, here are some trees from when the weather was a little better. 💚

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

07/10/2019

Have you watched yesterday’s vlog yet? Check it out at alexandlexie.com to see some creative shots we took on a photo hunt around Saint Paul!

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

06/10/2019

Happy Sunday! This week, we went on a mission around Saint Paul to get photos that fit into different categories. Here’s one from our “portrait” category - watch the video at alexandlexie.com to see more!

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

29/09/2019

Happy Sunday! This week’s video is all about fall things - hot apple cider, corn mazes, sweaters, and apple orchards. We figured the only way to get over our post-summer depression is to embrace the new season head on! Check out the vlog at alexandlexie.com :)

Edited by Lexie

23/09/2019

We hope you’re enjoying the Badlands photos! It’s so cool having such an amazing national park only 8 hours away. If you haven’t watched our Badlands videos, watch both episodes on our YouTube channel (alexandlexie.com)

Photographed and Edited by Alex

22/09/2019

Happy Sunday! The long awaited backpacking vlog is finally here! If you haven’t watched Part 1 (the adventure just to get to the Badlands), watch that first! This episode is a long one so get cozy. We spent three nights backcountry camping and filmed it. We’ve been on backcountry backpacking trips before but this time we used valuable space and weight in our packs to make this video. This video shows all the ups and downs of being in the backcountry. We hope you enjoy! Watch at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eumBMtMIrgQ&t=3s

Photographed and Edited by Alex

21/09/2019

T-1 day until our backpacking video is out! Check back in tomorrow at 9am for incredible sunsets, scary wildlife, amazing rock formations, and more!

Photographed by Lexie and Edited by Alex

20/09/2019

Our little tent in the middle of nowhere. We had a map and a compass and followed the river a few miles to get to this spot. We hiked up the rolling hills to take this photo and then sat near our tent by the river reminiscing about all of the backpacking trips we’ve taken together. Catch our video this Sunday to see the full Badlands backpacking adventure! :)

Photographed and Edited by Alex

19/09/2019

The best experiences often come with some discomfort. This photo was taken on our second day in the Badlands which was beautiful until the sun started to go down. The wind picked up and the temperature dropped quickly. After setting up camp, we made tea and went on multiple hikes to stay moving and keep warm. By 7pm, we were in all of our layers hiding in our sleeping bags in the tent away from the wind. While in the moment we were asking ourselves “why are we doing this?!”, the next morning the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, the fog dissipated, and we continued backpacking to our next site with smiles on our faces admiring the crazy views.

Photographed by Lexie and Edited by Alex

17/09/2019

On our final night in the Badlands, we went on a photo hunt for golden hour and to chase the sunset. As the sun went down, it hit the rocks perfectly giving them a warm glow. It got darker out and the coyotes howled around us sending a chill down our spines. We recently posted a video of the first part of our Badlands trip and the second part will be posted this Sunday! Check it out at alexandlexie.com :)

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

15/09/2019

Happy Sunday! This week’s vlog is out and it’s such an adventure. We filmed our multi-day backpacking trip in the Badlands and this is Part 1 of 2. This trip was definitely a rollercoaster and a test of our positive attitudes at times but will remain such a fantastic experience and memory. You don’t want to miss this one!

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

14/09/2019

Part 1 of our Badlands vlog comes out tomorrow! If you’ve ever wondered about backcountry backpacking or would like to see what it’s like without doing any of the work (because it is a lot of work!)/ investing in the gear, we’re super excited to show you in our next 2 videos. There’s something really special about experiencing the wild nature of the world without connection to regular society for a while. We hope our photos and videos inspire you to spend some time in nature and reconnect with the Earth.

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

13/09/2019

After backpacking out to our final site in the Badlands, we dropped our packs and continued on the trail to explore. We came across this view and knew that come golden hour and sunset, this was the perfect spot. We experienced some truly magical sunsets in this national park. Catch our vlog on this trip on Sunday!

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

12/09/2019

We’re just getting settled back in after spending a few nights backcountry backpacking in the Badlands. We’re SO excited to show you what the backcountry is like - the canyons, the wildlife, the struggles, the whole reality of taking a trip like this. This photo was taken at sunset near Sage Creek in Badlands National Park where we set up camp for the night. Tune in the rest of the week for more photos of this trip and Sunday we’ll have our video up on our YouTube channel!

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

08/09/2019

Happy Sunday! Our vlog is now up and live at alexandlexie.com. They say a picture is worth a thousand words… find out the story behind this photo taken in Croatia and see our step-by-step processes on how we each edited it. The first picture is edited by Lexie and the second is edited by Alex.

Photographed by Alex

07/09/2019

Rotterdam Timelapse/ Mac Miller Tribute

Last year, we were walking around Rotterdam admiring the interesting architecture and listening to Mac Miller as a tribute to his life and passing. Here is a timelapse of the city that Alex created to honor it.

06/09/2019

A year ago we were doing our best to avoid the rain while exploring the cobblestone streets of Amsterdam. This city is such an incredible mixture of past, present, culture, and fun. Although the weather was gloomy, our spirits were high and we made the best of the time we had there between thunderstorms!

Photographed by Alex and Edited by Lexie

03/09/2019

The Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of unity of the city of Berlin, Germany. Last year, we had the privilege of walking through it after a long day of admiring the artwork along the Berlin Wall and eating delicious vegan food!

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

01/09/2019

Happy Sunday and happy Labor Day weekend! For 7 months, we've posted a video every week. We decided to take this week off to spend time with friends and reset. We hope you understand - catch our vlog next Sunday at 9am CT! ❤️

31/08/2019

My favorite memory from our time spent in Warsaw, Poland was visiting Lazienki Park. We spent the whole day hiking around, admiring the historical architecture, and taking photos. It was a beautiful summer day that we’ll never forget.

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

30/08/2019

One year ago we were wandering around Warsaw and stopped to admire the architecture and watch the birds swarm around anyone willing to feed them. Our surroundings held so much history and it was amazing to see it in person.

Photographed by Alex and Edited by Lexie

29/08/2019

Last year at this time, we had just arrived in Warsaw, Poland. This was 2.5 weeks into our 6 month trip and we had decided we packed too many clothes. We had an interesting experience at the post office trying to communicate with the language barrier to send a few things home and writing the address in the wrong place - but a few months later, our package arrived back home tattered and very beat up (but it made it!). Warsaw was a fun experience exploring the Old Town, beautiful parks, and city. Poland is such a beautiful place.

Photographed and Edited by Lexie

28/08/2019

One year ago today, we got our first tattoos in Krakow, Poland! It was sort of a spontaneous decision although we had been talking about it for a while. We thought what better way to represent this life changing adventure around the world and our dedication to the Earth than to get the continents tattooed onto our bodies in our own unique styles. Looking at this artwork everyday reminds us to be open-minded and appreciate all cultures, to care for this planet, and pushes us to continue seeing as much of this world as possible.

27/08/2019

The square in Krakow is a cultural center. Every hour, a trumpet is played outside the window of the clock tower. During the day, venders set up displaying their art, crafts, clothing, and food while live music is played. It was a chilly day so we put on all of our layers and embraced it while Lexie enjoyed a cup of hot spiced wine to stay warm (gluwein). The day was gloomy but our spirits were high. We fell in love with this city and all it had to offer.

Photographed by Alex and Edited by Lexie

25/08/2019

Happy Sunday! We're not the most competitive people, but when the loser has to buy lunch, the challenge is on. Watch this week's vlog at https://youtu.be/GfPWUQsbDWk to see who the winner of this fierce mini golf challenge is! 😆