As I wrote in my previous post I always put a huge amount of pressure on myself to have a special celebration, to fly away somewhere, to do something amazing.
This year is a tough one because I'm so busy. This week alone I spent two long days at the Web Summit in Dublin networking and listening to inspiring talks.
The teaser for my TV show format takes place in two weeks and I've a million business meetings ahead of me.
So instead of doing something incredible/different this week for my birthday, I'm in Ireland with a lot of work to do.
To cheer myself up I decided to put a list of 25 things I've done before I turned 25:
1. Started a business
(okay that was an obvious one)
2. Lived in Italy
I lived in Forli for my Erasmus for 6 months in 2010. Travelled around Florence, Rome, Verona, Milan and Venice
3. Got a tattoo in Tijuana, Mexico
It really is as bad as it sounds. I decided to get a tattoo while doing shots at 4am in a Mexican nightclub (it's a dolphin on my foot btw and is now completely faded)
Mexico: Minutes after I got my tattoo
4. Got my passport stolen in Tijuana
I spent 24 hours at the border and had to bribe dodgy cops to let me and two of my friends back into the US (my parents loved me that summer)
5. Went back stage at the Late Late Show
I've been lucky to be back stage at RTE's Late Late Show a few times. I've hung out in the dressing rooms and the green room and met some serious characters.
The last time I was there for Louis Walsh's new band Hometown as they debuted on the Late Late. It was amazing standing in the wings and watching them perform on TV for the first time.
David Gray was in the dressing room next door and we all stayed around later to enjoy the after party
6. Auditioned for the X Factor
Yes when I was 16 I got the bus to Dublin with a friend and stood in a very long queue for hours at the former Jury's hotel. I auditioned for a music executive in an allocated room. I sang 'There You'll Be' by Faith Hill (cringe)
7. Completed the mini marathon
Last year with little training I did the Dublin Flora's Mini Marathon for the Cancer Society and was delighted I didn't faint half way through
8. Graduated from University
In 2011 I graduated with an honours degree from UL in New Media and English. It was a four year course and I loved being in college. Strangest part about graduating was leaving early to go back to the Herald (never thought I'd have a job that quickly)
Last year I had a second graduation, this time from the Gaiety School of Acting, something I'm incredibly proud of
Degree: I graduated in 2011
9. Lived in San Diego
I did a J1 in 2008 (which led to the Mexico madness). I lived in Mission Bay with a huge group of Irish people. When I wasn't working at the San Diego Zoo in their Treehouse restaurant I was lying on the sand at PB or by the pool at our apartment complex
10. Went up the Eiffel Tower
I've never got to the very top of the Eiffel Tower because of weather conditions but I've been to Paris three times. Each time I've been to Disneyland and each time I went to Versailles (one of my favourite places in the world)
11. Went on Big Brother
Well not exactly. My best friend Hazel O'Sullivan was on the show last year and I went on the after show to speak about her. It was a weird experience being right beside the famous house but I was so proud of her!
12. Visited New York
In 2013 I went to New York for the first time with my very New York friend Sheila.
She had a few weddings to attend so I wandered Macys and 5th Avenue on my own, sat in Central Park for an afternoon, went up the Rockefeller Centre and took the Ferry around the Statue of Liberty (and had a hotdog from a street cart obviously)
NYC
She had a few weddings to attend so I wandered Macys and 5th Avenue on my own, sat in Central Park for an afternoon, went up the Rockefeller Centre and took the Ferry around the Statue of Liberty (and had a hotdog from a street cart obviously)
13. Fell in love with LA
On the same trip to the US where I saw New York for the first time I went to LA and completely fell head over heels with the place.
I 100% want to live there. It's my place, my people, my weather - I just love it. That time me and my friends stayed in Santa Monica, as well as the infamous Lowes on Hollywood boulevard.
We rented a convertible for the week and I loved driving around Hollywood with the top down.
LA: Driving around Hollywood
We spent a day at Universal studios and went to Venice Beach. I had my first taste of the Chateau Marmont... And I didn't want to leave
14. Went wine tasting in Spain
Nearly every travel trip I've been on (for newspaper write ups) were in Spain and involved 10am wine tastings. I learned so much about enjoying wine and understanding all the tastes and textures. One of my favourite Spanish trips included seeing the Dali museum. It's a must see for art lovers
15. Edited the showbiz diary in the UK Mail
Last year I was went to London for two weeks to edit their showbiz diary. I stayed in Kensington (which I loved) and went to some amazing events.
It was crazy over there, with about five events a night. Every event needed to be covered and there was a lot of pressure to get big showbiz exclusives.
It was here where I truly learned my potential to be an editor and a manager.
16. Had my own gigs
Before my open mic days I did a few gigs in Limerick, Galway and Ennis. I once performed a whole set in a bar in Limerick (Ridley's it used to be called)
Singing: I loved playing gigs
Before gigging I recorded a few songs when I was 15. And again when I was 18 & 19. I write a lot of mellow acoustic tunes and music is one of my favourite things in the world.
This year I want to get back in the studio again
17. Hosted a showbiz show
When I was working for the Mail I was asked to take part in their online showbiz show. I got to anchor and produce the show, it was a really cool experience.
From interviewing stars to doing chats in the studio I learned a lot about producing TV.
I also brought cameras to The Oscars and filmed some segments in LA, including a special segment in the the pre-Oscars Pamper Suite in the Beverly Hilton.
This year I want to get back in the studio again
17. Hosted a showbiz show
When I was working for the Mail I was asked to take part in their online showbiz show. I got to anchor and produce the show, it was a really cool experience.
From interviewing stars to doing chats in the studio I learned a lot about producing TV.
Presenting: I worked on Mail TV
I also brought cameras to The Oscars and filmed some segments in LA, including a special segment in the the pre-Oscars Pamper Suite in the Beverly Hilton.
18. Made a short film
In October 2013 I directed, wrote and started in my first short film called Stuck. It's about an ex couple who have been trying to avoid but get stuck together in a store room and are forced to talk out their problems.
We shot for an entire day in a store room in Lillies and did everything on a ZERO budget. It was a great experience
19. Went to the Cannes Film Festival
It was the most bizarre and awesome week. I made connections for life, interviewed Pamela Anderson, met Ryan Reynolds and Nicole Kidman, danced with James MacEvoy and went to two Harvey Weinstein parties.
I did some serious networking film industry wise and got a sun tan in between. I'm definitely going back next year, this time with a project to promote
Cannes Film Festival
20. Went up a volcano
Last May me and my friend Meghann went to Tenerife and had the most relaxing time. Then we decided to go up a volcano - Mount Teide. It was crazy windy and warm but crazy beautiful
21. Covered the Oscars
This year I persuaded my former bosses to send me to LA where I got myself in to some serious Oscar parties. I met Katherine Heigl, Selena Gomez, Bill Clinton, Alicia Keys and loads others.
The buzz around LA was just amazing and once again I really didn't want to leave. I remember sitting at Starbucks on Sunset Boulevard and trying to find an excuse to stay and never go back to work again
22. Swam with dolphins
In December 2013 I spent a week in Dubai and had the incredible experience of swimming with dolphins. It had always been a dream of mine and I did it at the gorgeous Atlantis resort. PS the dolphin I was paired with was called Tina :)
23. Got a tattoo in Vegas
I have a tendency to want to be inked when I'm out of the country. A dolphin in Mexico, then a guardian angel in Rome. But my very first tattoo was a cluster of stars behind my right ear.
I was in Vegas literally 5 minutes and was hit with Vegas fever. Two girls that were with me at the time got the exact same tattoo (I haven't seen them since)
24. Won an award
Definitely one of the highlights of my life so far was winning the NNI Showbiz Journalist of the Year in 2012. I couldn't believe it and still find it hard to believe it now
NNI: I won in 2012
25. Met and interviewed some insanely talented people
From Michael Fassbender to Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg, David Gray, Liam Neeson, Daniel Dey Lewis, Kodaline, Kate Beckinsale, Will Ferrell, Jessica Biel, Russell Crowe, Cillian Murphy, Martin Sheen, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Danny DeVito, Colin Farrell and Jamie Dornan (and more)
I've had some crazy experiences and spent time with people I admire who I never thought I'd get the chance to meet let alone have an interesting conversation.
Here's to another 25 years of madness!
Ali
x
Dreaming, Believing and seriously WERKING...
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