Warning: self-indulgence ahead.
Still here? Fabulous! But don’t say I didn’t warn you.
This time last year, I reflected on the year that was. My ‘greatest hits’ of the year, by month, in reverse order. And it was a lovely way to round out the year.
So I’m doing it again. But for 2015. Because that’s what year it is.
This is going well, don’t you think?
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DECEMBER
It’s been a hectic and illness-filled end to the year. So this is my only post for December. It wins! It’s the best!
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NOVEMBER
My most popular post for November? We Didn’t Start the Mummy Wars. It’s ten bloggers. Singing. Ranting. About the bloody mummy wars and the bloody need for them to bloody end already.
Yesterday, preferably.
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OCTOBER
In October, I lost my blogging mojo. My blojo, as a commenter called it (but which I will henceforth and forever no longer ever use again).
So I took a break from blogging and writing, and spent lots of cuddle time with my family. And when I shared a few of our little family quirks with you all, the response blew me away. Thank you.
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SEPTEMBER
This month? It’s a tie! I had a fantastic response to my post for #strokeweek15, in which I shared how my life has been affected by stroke, and why awareness of the symptoms is so important.
I also had a fantastic, but vastly different, response to a post about letting my five-year-old choose my outfits for a week. There were tears and there was laughter, but most of all, I think you were all just super impressed with how well she did. As was I!
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AUGUST
In August, I attended the annual ProBlogger conference on the Gold Coast. I spent the weekend (and a bit more) soaking up the words, wisdom and wine winning tips of blogging royalty.
And you soaked up these seven things I learnt from the 2015 ProBlogger conference when I blogged them upon my return to reality.
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JULY
Okay. I have to admit that this surprises me. The most read, most shared and most commented on post of July was about the word ‘they’.
And what else, you ask? Nothing else. It was almost 1,000 words on the word ‘they’ in the context of its use as a gender-neutral third person singular pronoun.
I am so happy right now. I have clearly found my geek ‘tribe’. I have the coolest non-job job in the world. I write about words and language and YOU GUYS READ IT. You are the best. Literally.
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JUNE
I know it seems like I’m cheating. But I swear, June was another tie!
Two very different posts topped the chart at emhawkerblog in June. One was a post about blogging: specifically, the seven things I learnt from the #voicesof2015 masterclass. (Note to self: seven is the magic number when it comes to list posts.)
The other? A reflective piece on how I stop myself from yelling at the kids. Most of the time. Some of the time. Really, it works sometimes. Occasionally.
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MAY
A post about my little ol’ kidneys went gangbusters in May. May is the home of Kidney Health Week, and my post about living with polycystic kidney disease resonated with my fellow sufferers and introduced PKD to people who’d never heard of it.
It’s still being shared, and I’ve long accepted that I’ll never keep up with the questions and comments on those shares. So thank you to anyone who read it, learnt from it and/or shared it. This post meant that it was a huge month for me, both personally and professionally.
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APRIL
I am 100% not a fashion blogger. But perhaps I should become a parody fashion blogger, because my daughter’s styling efforts landed the top spot in September, and a post about why I’m not a fashion and beauty blogger landed the top spot in April.
(I would like to state that while I still only own three items of make-up, the brands are now recognisable to most people. Better quality, sure. Easier to use, you bet. Also: goodie bags.)
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MARCH
Another blogging post for the win in March. When my parody fashion blogging career takes off and I can afford an entourage, I’ll set up a blogging about blogging blog on the side.
Not only is it another post about blogging, but it’s another post about blogging featuring the magical number seven. My new lucky number. Here’s seven things I learnt from the Melbourne #pbevent.
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FEBRUARY
Another draw. (I promise not to call it a ‘draw’ in January. Cross my heart.) And again, it’s with two very different posts.
One is a how-to: specifically, how to win 25-words-or-less competitions. This post actually lands me most of my Google traffic; there are plenty of people out there wanting all the tips and tricks to winning these babies. And I’ve won fewer competitions this year; clearly, my tips worked, and you’re all stealing the prizes that should rightly come to me. DAMN YOU ALL!
The other post? Untabooing grief. My father died more than 20 years ago, and after spending most of that time not really talking about it because AWKWARD and UNCOMFORTABLE and ICKY, I’m talking about it.
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JANUARY
In January, I did something I’ve never done before. I chose a word for the year. A word to live by, a word to lean on, and a word that’s very interesting to now reflect back on!
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And that’s it! emhawkerblog‘s greatest hits of 2015, as voted by your visits, comments, likes and shares.
Thank you for sticking around. I’m having a bloggy break over the Christmas and New Year period, and will hit your computer screens again in mid-January.
I hope you all have a happy and safe end of 2015 and start of 2016!
What did you enjoy reading on emhawkerblog this year? Any requests for 2016?
And if you’re a blogger, what was your ‘greatest hit’ of 2015?
I loved the post on ‘They” – We have a lot to learn and are constantly evolving. And that’s a good thing!!
A very good thing! So glad I’ve found my fellow word nerds online. x
I was feeling really smug (as in ‘I’ve totally read all these and I KNEW they were awesome’) until I got to ‘They’. I don’t remember reading that one! Off to read it now. #wordnerdfail
Whoops! Hope you enjoyed the read. And a return to smugness.
Oh yes, I recall your ‘they’ post and your daughter’s fashion styling post! Great stuff! Perhaps you should play the child-stylist post as a regular link up idea? My kids would have a ball with it and I would just HAVE to play along! Merry Christmas!
Thanks Jody! I’ll be doing the child-stylist post again this month – the ‘summer edition’, if you will! Most welcome to join in. x
So much GREAT stuff! I always love catching your everyday style posts on Insta and I always appreciate your monthly re-cap too. Have a lovely Christmas and I’m sure 2016 will be a big year again for you!
PS – I will have to reflect on what was a winner on my blog this year. Maybe the birth stories? Woman always love them don’t they?
Thank you Vicki! A lot of people do love birth stories. And no two are ever the same.
Thanks for reflecting on your post 7 Things I Learnt from the 2015 Problogger Conference. I loved your notations and I will re-read this post with pen and paper in hand and make my own ‘to do’ list. I am hoping to attend next year’s conference. Annette
Thanks Annette – I’m so glad they helped! We may meet at this year’s conference!
So many fab posts to choose from. Hoping your hectic and illness filled December is behind you know. Wishing you and your gorgeous little family a wonderful Christmas.
Thank you Raychael. No more illnesses (thus far – touch wood!). Happy new year. Hope to see you again lots of times this year! x
My highlight for this year was surviving it. Sad but true. I have committed so much time to this blogging thing (and yes things are starting to pay off) but my relationships with my kids have altered and I can’t affords for that to change. Next year – I will do things differently.
I will too. I find that workdays where my kids were at kinder and care were always horrible when we got home. This year, I’m making the effort to completely switch off from work when I do the pick-ups. Then go back to it later, if I have to. I hope 2016 is a butt-kicking year for you!
My highlight this year was coping with near-constant change!
That is impressive!
Loved reading about your year x
Thank you Janet. Happy new year!
Always love your posts — especially the grammar and wordy ones. Being a word-nerd myself, it’s always enjoyable. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas! See you in the new year! xx
Thank you so much! Lovely comment. Happy first day of 2016.
Wow, what a year. I didn’t even realise you had a break from blogging!! Loved the Mummy Wars song and there are a few posts I’ve missed in the middle that I need to read up on. Cheers to another happy and successful year in blogging for 2016. xx
Thanks Bec. Big year. Huge! Let’s kick butt in 2016!
Aaaah yes, I remember a lot of these posts!! But yes, the Mummy Wars will have to go down in Australian blogging history. Bring on 2016!
HISTORY! Or herstory? Mumstory? x
I remember a lot of those posts, your tips are always tops, and I was a big fan of your Problogger and Kidspot Masterclass pearls of wisdom. Of course, I always love your grammar posts, you’ll always be my favourite grammar guru (especially as you so generously overlook my blatant overuse of exclamation marks.) Happy Holi-yays! Hope all your Christmas wishes come true xx
Thank you so much, Sammie. Happy Holi-yays to you and the Mr, too. x
Delicious, Em. I read ’em all. Geddit? Will you choose a word for 2016? I’m in! Enjoy your break! x
Thanks Bron! I will choose a word for 2016. Still deciding between two. x
I’ve loved reading your blog this year Em (I do every year, don’t ever stop!!!) and I’m pretty sure I read all of the posts you’ve mentioned. So good! My most popular post of 2015 (according to GA) was a photography post about Shutter Speed, followed by a post about good baby shower gifts and rounded out with a post about Dymocks 2015 Top 101 books list. I’m pretty happy with that, I must say, especially with the top post being photography-related! Gives me confidence moving in to 2016.
Have a fabulous Christmas Em, can’t wait to read your words next year!
Thanks so much Kylie! I love looking at your photos. And that’s a HUGE statement, because I’m not an overly visual person. There’s just something about the way you capture your family. Happy 2016 x
What an epic year, Em! I look forward to your words every week, especially your grammar posts. Keep them coming because I’m learning so much. I hope you guys are all fighting fit now and ready to welcome Santa to town. Have a fabulous Christmas and I look forward to reading more of you words and listening to you music in the new year xxxxx
Thanks Renee! I still find it so funny that people WANT to read about grammar! And that my knowledge is actually knowledge. (Which sounds tautological, but sometimes it’s hard to step outside your own head and realise that not everyone knows what you know.) Happy 2016 x
My request for 2016 is for your three year old munchkin to be in charge of your wardrobe for a week. What could go wrong?! Merry Christmas Em xx
I would, but he’s just not interested! So I’d be naked all week! Ha! I will be repeating the 5yo version, though. The summer edition. Coming soon! x