2016 has definitely been an interesting year. At the beginning, I had it in my head that I would work hard and head off on another expat adventure in 2017. But after my boss left and my apartment was sold, I decided to return to expat life in Vancouver instead. It hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows since coming back to Canada, but I am glad I took the leap.

So here is a recap of my favourite things from this year, including books, travels, bloggers and blog posts.

My favourite blog posts

I definitely got better at posting more consistently this year. Here are my favourite posts, as well as the most-clicked articles.

♥ Moving to Melbourne // This is a fan favourite, as well as one of mine. It also got featured on Lonely Planet, which was just kind of awesome. If you want to know whether Melbourne is the city for you, look no further.

♥ Bali Favourites // I love these photos from Bali. They just make me smile and miss my little island paradise.

♥ Winter Wonderland // This is a new one, but I love these photos from my walk around my neighbourhood after a heavy snowfall the day before. I doubt I’ll experience anything like that again!

♥ Magnetic Island // So, I also just love the photos I took for this post. Maggie Island is home.

♥ Eating & Drinking in Legian // This post has definitely been the most popular in 2016. It seems choosing a place to eat in Legian is a tough business. I am glad my taste buds and I could be of service.

My favourite TV shows

Oh, we all know I am addicted to too many TV shows. But these are the series that I have LOVED.

♥ Blindspot // I have been loving the second season of Blindspot. I basically tell everyone I meet they need to watch it now. It is interesting, captivating and always surprising. Plus, there are two Aussie actors this season.

♥ This is Us // What a show, am I right? I think when the series was released, as an audience we had no idea what to expect. The entire premise was a surprise from the beginning. I am pretty much in love with Milo Ventimiglia, and his chemistry with Mandy Moore is spot on.

♥ Suits // I began watching Suits this year, and man, what have I been missing out on? At the beginning, I couldn’t really believe the show had lasted so long on the single premise of a guy pretending to be a lawyer. But it is a fantastic show with a stellar cast. I still need to finish season 6, but it will happen.

♥ Gilmore Girls // I know, old show. But I started rewatching the series in anticipation of the A Year in the Life release. I am still finishing off season 7 as I type, but I have loved watching the girls again. A Year in the Life slightly underwhelmed me, but I am going to give it a rewatch once I have completed the entire series, and see if my opinion has changed.

My favourite travels

2016 wasn’t a huge travel year for me, as moving across the world and starting my life again took up a little bit of time. But don’t worry, I will make up for this next year.

♥ Bondi // I started 2016 with a visit to Bondi Beach, which was actually my first time visiting Australia’s most iconic beach. It was a perfect day with perfect weather, and the perfect start to the year. I may have to get around to sharing my photos from the day in 2017!

♥ Bali // Being able to celebrate my 27th birthday in Bali with my mum was definitely a highlight of the year. I will always return to Bali whenever I can.

♥ Vancouver // Well, I can’t not include my return to Vancouver on this list. It was a pretty big spur of the moment decision, but coming back here felt surreal. No matter what happens in the future, Vancouver will always feel like one of my worldwide homes.

♥ Whistler // Sometimes a day trip is as good as a holiday. After I returned to Vancouver and had some spare time on my hands, I decided to venture solo up to Whistler for the day. I lucked out and got a beautiful fall day to explore the village and see a couple of new places. However, I think a visit in summer is in order in 2017.

My favourite bloggers

These are definitely the bloggers whose posts I most look forward to reading in Bloglovin’. I think my feed includes like 200 bloggers, so only choosing a few favourites is hardcore.

♥ Helene in Between // I love reading Helene’s post, whether they are travel, life or blog-related. She is a blogging mastermind and I am excited to see what she gets up to in Europe in 2017.

♥ Little Grey Box // I don’t know how I first discovered Phoebe’s blog, but I am glad I did. Her posts are informative, practical and funny. I also love her personal posts, for an extra dose of inspiration throughout the month.

♥ Heart my Backpack // Firstly, I can’t get over Silvia’s photos from Norway. I mean, white snow and rolling green hills have never looked so good! Silvia has an authentic way of writing, which is what keeps me reading! That and the ridiculously pretty photos.

♥ Gal Meets Glam // Julia’s blog is just all kinds of beautiful. From the photos to the outfits to the design, I love reading her daily posts from Charleston and the world.

♥ C’est Christine // I have been reading Christine’s blog for years. She is a perfect example of someone with a home base who always makes travel a priority. There is also an extra dose of cuteness in some of her blog posts these days, thanks to the addition of Gertie the pug.

My favourite books

I’ve read a lot this year (50 books in fact) but some books definitely stood out from the crowd. Funnily enough, I hardly read nonfiction, but it seems that when I do, I love it. Something to remedy in 2017.

♥ Talking as Fast as I Can // I just finished this book from Lauren Graham and I thought it was not only well-written but insightful. If you like Lauren Graham, you will love this book.

♥ Plain Truth // Jodi Picoult’s books have a way of sticking inside my head long after I have turned the last page. I read two of her books this year and this has to be one of her best. For me, this novel was also an education in Amish culture.

♥ Big Magic // I wrote a blog post about my love for this book by Elizabeth Gilbert. It was so inspirational and a must-read for all creatives. My thoughts and writing processes changed after reading Big Magic, and I am so thankful for that.

♥ What Alice Forgot // Liane Moriarty has definitely become the Australian author of the moment, and rightly so. I have now read three of her novels and I do love that they are set around Sydney. What Alice Forgot is a favourite from this year, purely because the storyline kept me intrigued from beginning to end.

♥ Two phenomenal YA series by one author // I loved two different YA fantasy series this year, which both happen to be written by Sarah J. Maas. The Throne of Glass series is now up to book five, and the last book was one of the best. Then there is the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, where the second book just completely blew me away. This series is written for a slightly older audience, but I am so, so eager for more of both.

And that, my friends, is a wrap of 2016. I am already excited for 2017, as I know it will include career progression and many travels. I hope you all have happy New Year celebrations, and thank you for reading Hayley on Holiday this year.

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