Monday 17 June 2019

Ten Achievements in Ten Years



Hello my lovelies! I know this picture of me above is super old and isn't the best quality at all but I wanted to use an old picture of myself as this is a look-back blog post and when I was searching for a picture to use and came across this one, it made me realise how much things have changed for me.

| I worked at Girl Talk and Tatler Magazines | Working at not on, but two, major magazines was a lifelong dream for me and I am so thankful to say that I was able to do so. I won a competition with Girl Talk Magazine years and years ago to have my own column in the fortnightly mag and I learnt so much there about writing and journalism when I went on to university to study runway and theatrical makeup artistry I was given the change to work with Tatler Magazine behind the scene on their photo shoots, I loved it and I am so thankful to the people who worked with me and taught me so many tips and tricks that I am still grateful for today.

| I Got Married | Due to my grandfather being diagnosed with cancer and wanting to be there for my wedding, my husband and I planned our wedding and were married within ten weeks - thankfully my Grandad is still here today and is doing well with treatment. However, that time of my life was one of the most stressful times we have ever gone through and although we don't regret actually getting married, we both wish we could do it all over again and do it so differently. Although we are so thankful to everyone who helped make our wedding happen, a lot of our wedding was not how we wanted it and we just took whatever help was offed and accepted it with open arms so our wedding was pretty rushed really. Maybe one day we could retake our vows how we wanted to do so.

| I Became A Mother | Finding out I was pregnant with our daughter was one of the biggest shocks of my life, I still laugh at how I was totally convinced my doctor was having me on, but becoming a mother is one of lives most precious gifts. Sadly, my husband and I heartbreakingly lost both our daughter at seventeen weeks pregnant and our son at fourteen weeks pregnant, since we have found out that we will no longer be able to have children naturally but we are planning to adopt or foster children in the future so we are staying positive that we can share our love and make a big difference to children's lives this way.

| I Got An Education | Moving out of my family home and going to university was one of the scariest, most amazing things I have ever done and I am so proud of myself for taking the jump and doing so. Due to my health reasons, I had no idea how I would cope with living away from home and dealing with the stress of university, but I got through it and graduated with a very proud 2.1 and couldn't have been happier. Plus, I made some amazing friends who are still in my life today and I became an adult and learnt how to juggle bills and money etc. I'd recommend going to university to everyone as it really is a life-changing experience!

| I Traveled | Even though I can't travel much anymore due to my health, I am so thankful that I managed to travel when I was younger. My three favourite places to travel so far have been - Puerto Rico in Gran Canaria, Paris in France and Amsterdam in the Netherlands. I would really love to visit Ireland, Devon and the Bahamas - I can dream so maybe one day.

| I Found My Forever Home | Believe it or not, for numerous of reasons - mainly being shit on by landlords and letting agents, I have moved house nine times in ten years and please believe me when I tell you it is very stressful. Finally, after years and years of searching my husband and I found and moved into our forever home, I adore our new house and couldn't ever see myself living anywhere else.

| I Have Raised Over 25K For Different Charities | I feel so proud of myself in the fact that I have raised so much money for different charities including - Cancer Research, Crohns and Colitis UK, The Whitechapel Center in Liverpool, RSPCA, Dogs Trust and Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. I would highly recommend if you have even a penny to donate, please do so because every single little thing helps. My Nan used to say "look after your pennies and your pounds will take care of themselves" meaning that every penny you have adds up and makes pounds.

| I Became A Vegan | Veganism can be a very touchy subject with some people so I want to state that this is only my opinion from my own experience. Before becoming a vegan I was a massive chicken eater, I didn't eat many other animals to be fair but I would mainly eat chicken every single day so when my doctor suggested I become vegan for my health I would always say no, then one day I decided that I would do my own research into becoming a vegan and how it would help my health. Two days later I decided to become vegan and haven't looked back since and I feel so much healthier, I'm saving our planet and I'm not abusing any animals.

| I Am Alive | Ten years ago, due to my health was so terrible that I dropped down to under four stone, I was like a walking skeleton, couldn't eat anything, spent most of my days and nights in the bathroom and could hardly walk - I wasn't making myself sick or anything, my ulcerative colitis was in a really bad flare up and it was very hard to get it under control. Thankfully, I have amazing doctors and nurses looking after me and although my weight jumps up and down sometimes (I'm currently a UK size ten - twelve and I'm just under seven stone) I have learnt to love my body even with all its medical problems that I have.

| I Started My Blog | I've been blogging since I was fourteen years old, that's a whopping seventeen years in total, on various websites - myspace, girland, freewebs, webs, tumblr, wordpress and now blogger - but when I joined blogger I went full time and although I was so scared as I have no idea where my blog was going to take me, I love full time blogging and adore every single reader that comes onto my blog and keeps coming back over and over again because it proves I am doing something right and not giving up on my dreams.


I stole the brilliant idea for this blog post from the lovely Jenny Marston aka Jenny in Neverland's blog post, please make sure that you check her out and leave her some love! The achievements I have listed above are not in any sort of order.

What are some of your biggest achievements from the past ten years? Are any of your achievements similar to mine? Leave me a comment below and let me know what your thoughts are?

With love, Alisha Valerie. x

53 comments:

  1. These are some wonderful achievements from your grandad getting to see you marry your partner to raising money for charity and blogging. It's so important to look back on our achievements.

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  2. You have made some really great achievement in 10 years! That’s so amazing that your grandad is still doing really well! X

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  3. You've accomplished so much in 10 years! Well done! Your marriage, blogging, getting batter, your daughter! Wow! To your next accomplishments!

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  4. I love these kinds of posts. I just did a "23 Achievements in 23 Years" for my birthday last month :) you've done some incredible things. I used to read girl talk when I was younger!

    Becky - theowlet.co.uk

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  5. You've achieved so much and you have 2 beautiful angel babies, when you do adopt and foster that child will be so lucky to have you and Phil!

    Love, Amie ❤
    The Curvaceous Vegan

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  6. These are some great accomplishments, each of which deserves to be celebrated. Congratulations!

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  7. You have achieved a lot. It's good to remember what we achieved instead of what we lost or failed on. Congratulations!

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  8. What a lovely read. Well done you for everything you have achieved so far... and this is only the beginning!!!

    Lucie x

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  9. I am so sorry for the loss of your children but am so happy to see you celebrating the sunshine in your life! I hope you find the perfect little one to love.

    I can relate to starting a blog being one of the best things in your life; it helped me overcome anxiety.

    Something about writing is so full of rainbows!

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  10. So many huge milestones in your life! I'm so glad you managed to work at the magazines given that was such a big one for you. Sorry about your babies, but I'm sure giving another a great home will be a great addition to the next version of this list x

    Sophie
    www.glowsteady.co.uk

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  11. You have had such amazing achievements and dealt with blows with such dignity. You are an inspiration x

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  12. I used to love Girl Talk! It was one of the first magazines I used to read! Then moved up to Sugar, and now I mainly read Cosmo, Glamour, Elle and a few others. I've had work experience at Cosmo, Elle and Grazia and it was so interesting to see how print magazines work in the digital age! It has also helped me with my blog too.

    Ellyn x | Life Of A Beauty Nerd

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  13. Wow! You achieved so much in just 10 years! :) So awesome!

    Bettie
    www.thewildflowerhippie.com

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  14. when you write it all down like this, it makes me incredibly proud of you!! You have done so so so much and you are a true inspiration!! Here's to ten more years!
    Rosie

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  15. I love reading posts like this as it helps me feel like I know the writer better x

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  16. So glad you found your forever home as you have been through so much xx

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  17. Sounds like you've been through so much but you've come through the other side! You've done amazing. So glad you found your forever home xx

    Tiffany x www.foodandotherloves.co.uk

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  18. Great achievements. I used to love Girl Talk magazine!

    Jenny
    http://www.jennyinneverland.com

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  19. Some great achievements! Congratulations :)
    Laura / https://www.laustworld.com/

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  20. Loved the idea of this. Might have to pinch x

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  21. wonderful achievements ... so so sorry for you loss of your daughters and son, you are so brave for sharing that as I still cant bring myself to share mine in my blog on any social media platform yet. thanks for sharing you accomplishment

    www.meilifisayo.com

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  22. A life well lived! Lots of experiences good and bad but that's what makes you unique. I can see from your post what an awesome soul you are.I'm sure with your positive attitude lots more love and great experiences will come your way!

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  23. You have achieved so much Alisha! A life which you have most definitely lived to the fullest so far! This is such a great idea for a post! x

    Lucy | www.lucymary.co.uk

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  24. This is such a good idea,I love reading you accomplishment its inspiring ��

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  25. Well done with all your achievements. H
    They are amazing and it's such a nice idea to look back on them. Glad to hear your Grandad is doing well
    Well done for supporting so many charities and keeping up blogging.

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  26. These are amazing accomplishments...especially love your generosity. I may borrow this idea for my own blog. I get so caught up in what I haven’t done yet, I rarely celebrate successes and progress...will need to take some time to reflect.

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