2016 Here I come!

No beginning of year would be complete without joining in with the Currently link up at Oh Boy 4th Grade. Easily one of the most popular and fun link ups for a teacher blogger, please go check it out if you haven't before!

Listening - I <3 BBC iPlayer! Catching up on the UK Christmas programming and enjoying this adaption of 'And then there were none'. 

Loving - I was lucky enough this year to go with my family to New York City and Washington DC for two weeks over Christmas and although I'm suffering from a 13-hour time difference at the moment, it was totally worth it!

Thinking - After the hectic (but fun!) last few weeks, I go back to work tomorrow, but have one glorious day of holiday time left. Shall I do the laundry etc or just lounge on the sofa?!

Wanting - A 16 hour flight home has meant that I've finished the last book I had on my kindle... any suggestions of what to read next?!

Needing - To get back into the work groove as I've not even thought about it for nearly 3 weeks!!

One Little Word - Positivity. I had some rather challenging times in 2015 with my move and it not going quite as smoothly as I would have liked, but 2016 will be better I'm determined. So no more focusing on what's not perfect but looking for the positive side and moving on! 

2015 The Year in Review

How is it the start of another year already? Time flies (especially when you manage to post as infrequently as I do!!) Today I am joining Mrs Beattie's Classroom for a review of 2015.

I don't have a top 10 blog posts, because let's be honest, I only posted 20 times in total last year. Which compared to 84 in 2014, really seems quite pathetic! My top viewed post though was CNY Freebie where I shared some ideas and resources for the Chinese New Year festival (coming up on February 8th 2016), the freebie is still available should you wish to use it this year! 

The biggest blogging milestone was reaching 100 posts in April, something that seemed a very distant goal when I started blogging just over 2 years ago (incidentally I missed my 2 year blogiversary back in November). It was of course a Currently, my most prolific link up party. 

I am frankly amazed that I have any followers left after the shocking irregularity of blog posts in 2015, but my page views are slowly increasing, I hope to reach 10,000 in January 2016! Again, another number that seemed impossibly far away when I started. 

I do have blogging goals for 2016, starting with a minimum of 2 blog posts a month. I also need to get back into creating things for TpT as I find it so useful in my teaching practice that I want to share my own resources more. 

This review has been rather short, however that is probably an accurate reflection of my blogging achievements in 2015! If you have more to say, please head over to Mrs Beattie's Classroom and link up! 

Christmassy Currently

Listening - It's that time of year again in my house... I'm a Celebrity 2015! An explosive series this year, although I genuinely cannot believe how rude Lady C is (she certainly is not a lady in any sense of class!) Still Ant and Dec are their usual funny selves!

Loving - That the end of term reports are done and dusted!

Thinking - Only one more week of Christmas/sugar-filled craziness left to go with my kidlets!

Wanting - All my Christmas shopping to be done, got a full-on weekend of shopping planned... ugh

Needing - To go to the post office to post all my cards... school day means I only have a small window on a Saturday morning to get there!

Real or Fake - fake now that I live abroad as real ones are imported and waaaay too expensive for me!

Now you've read mine, why not head over to Oh Boy 4th Grade and join in the linky!

Bit of a cheating post...

But wanted to draw your attention to the Teachers Pay Teachers Cyber Sale taking place over the next couple of days. I've put my entire store on 20% off and include the discount code 'SMILE' at the checkout to get another 10% off that.

I shall be purchasing a few items off my Wish list, why don't you? It's only on for Monday 30th November and Tuesday 1st December! Hurry hurry!

Double link up fun

Now I'm slightly more awake in this blogging world, I thought it was time to get back into my monthly link up with Oh Boy 4th Grade for her Currently linky party.

Listening - to my washing machine (this is actually a miracle as a couple of weeks ago I had an exploding washing machine/landlord refusing to replace it situation going on!)

Loving - parents' evenings the week after half-term break is NOT FUN, but they are done now and I love thats its months and months before that stress again.

Thinking - that my work to-do list is mountainous and I'm in denial about how I'm going to manage it!

Wanting - to be more efficient with my time in school (see above!)

Needing - to tidy my house as I've just had visitors staying for a few days and its quite messy now!

Yummy - my mother cooked when she was visiting here and left me some food to reheat when they left yesterday, so dinner tonight is sorted!! 

I also wanted to link up (on a Tuesday) for The Ordinary to Extraordinary's Meet the Teacher Monday... 

Due to circumstances out of my control, my 30th birthday celebration was delayed by 11 months, but it was completely worth it as myself and 13 friends ended up staying in a resort that looked like this...

I wish I was there now!!! But until that is possible, it is definitely my favourite birthday memory.