Conversations with the Inspiring Alexi Rajala

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexi Rajala.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
From a very young age I knew that I wanted to work for myself. I have never been a very good rule follower and have always had a mind for crazy ideas.

Before I launched my blog, I worked in accounting. Early last year, there was a point that I was overworking myself so much that I couldn’t recognize myself anymore. With the support of my husband, I decided to leave my job and find some inspiration in life. At the time I had no idea what that inspiration was.

It only took about a month of soul searching and the basics of Lifestyle Wifestyle were shaping up. Fashion, beauty, and general oversharing have always been a big part of my life. When I was younger I worked in make-up and clothing stores. The satisfaction I got from helping a customer feel good about themselves was unbeatable. I was reminded what that felt like during my search for inspiration. I remembered what I was passionate about. Helping people the best way I know how; by making them feel beautiful.

I decided the internet was the place I wanted to house my ideas; the place I want to share the joy I find in a great sale or a new tube of mascara.

Lifestyle Wifestyle has only been live for a handful of months and has a rather small following. This whole realm of business is completely foreign to me and I am learning something new everyday. The followers I have are the kindest most understanding supporters anyone could ask for. They are patient when I crash my site and excited for me when I get it working again. I hope to continue to grow Lifestyle Wifestyle and spread the idea that everyone deserves to feel beautiful.

Has it been a smooth road?
Haha! NO!! Like I said, this is a completely new adventure for me. I had no idea what I was getting myself in to when I started.

I’ve crashed my site, lost all of my content and completely had to rebuild twice. Building a website isn’t just cut and paste pretty things on to a web page. It requires some light coding and a whole lot of resourcefulness. It’s doable. And reminding yourself of that fact everyday helps immensely. Youtube is also very helpful.

For anyone who has thought about starting a website or a blog, do it! It can be a little overwhelming, I admit. At times, it is frustrating and slow going. Patience and the ability to laugh at your mistakes are key. But you will never get anywhere if you don’t start. Even if it is a slow start.

My blog is improving everyday. The biggest improvements came after the two crashes. I chose to look at my errors as a second (and third) chance. Going back and rebuilding with slightly more knowledge really helped me hone in on what I wanted my site to be.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Lifestyle Wifestyle story. Tell us more about the business.
My blog is all about being open and sharing things I love. Mostly, my posts are about new beauty products I’ve tried or great fashion finds. Periodically, I will post life updates. I think it is important to share my daily life with my followers. It is a way for us to connect and for them to get an understanding of what my lifestyle is like. You wouldn’t want fashion advice from someone who wears stilettos everyday if you prefer to wear sneakers. There is more power in the opinion of someone you can relate to.

I think I am a really good guinea pig, haha. I am willing to try anything once. Some people prefer to do research before they put the latest face cream on their skin. I hope that my blog is a place they can trust to find honest, in depth reviews of products.

I am proud to share my failures and disappointments. Because by doing so, I am giving my followers a real look at my life. Not just the good stuff. I like to think that by sharing the not so good parts, someone might feel less alone when they read it. Sometimes all we need to feel better is to know that there is someone else who has been where we are.

I know there are many bloggers and influencers out there that are rather open about their lives. Finding a totally transparent person in the fashion and beauty category, I feel, is difficult. I want to offer that open and honest environment to my followers.

For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
I think any opportunity anyone wants to take advantage of is theirs for the taking. I don’t believe that any one woman is better than any one man and vise versa. The most important thing is to find what you are great at and passionate about. Then, pursue it. When you really want something whether you’re well positioned for it or not doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you are willing to fight to get it.

So to answer the question, I think women are particularly well positioned to create their own opportunities.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lifestylewifestyle.com
• Email: alexi@lifestylewifestyle.com
• Instagram: @lifestylewifestyle
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/lifestylewifestyle
• Other: www.bloglovin.com/@lifestylewifestyle

Image Credit:
Ian Rajala

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.