It’s been quite a year! 
Well, this blog has now been live for almost one year (it will be on the 27th of January 2019 – hurrah!)

I’ve consistently published content every Friday on the dot, for 11 months.  That’s 56 blog posts in all.  I threw in a few extra ones too.  I think this calls for celebration!

To close off the year in style, I am linking to my top 10 most-read blog posts. If you’ve missed out on any of them, here they are just for you.

I’m counting down from 10 to 1.  Drum roll please!

10. Review: Crockpot 5-in-1 multicooker

I reviewed my favourite cooking gadget!
Why I published this blog post:  So many people ask me about my slow cooker, so I put it all together over here!

9. Tips to make preparing lunches more bearable

My to-the-point, no fluff list saves you time like no other!
Why I published this blog post: I posted the following question on Facebook: ‘Name one thing you hate doing everyday. #getitoffyourchest’.  I got an overwhelming number of replies, most of which were preparing lunches!  This was published in an effort to help ease the pain!

38How I maintain my weight

Black on white.
Why I published this blog post:  I felt that this was the ultimate question that people wanted to ask but were too shy to.  I mean, I don’t blame them, but I really do not mind sharing!

7. Ask an expert: Child Nutrition

I teamed up with GP & nutritionist Dr. Antonella Grima for an interview. She very nicely answered a list of questions which were requested on the Mama Manual Facebook page.
Why I published this blog post:  We all want the best for our children, and nutrition is one of the things we fret and worry about!

6. What to gift the child who has everything

This blog post gained a lot of traction, and very quickly too!  It was published last month, but it swiftly caught up with blog posts that have been online for months and months!
Why I published this blog post: Don’t we all struggle with buying gifts for children who already have all they need?

5. Genius things to pack for your family holiday (which you probably didn’t think of)

This is one of my favourite blog posts, purely because this list is KING!  I am a sucker for being prepared in every situation, and this list will help you do just that (on holiday of course!)
Why I published this blog post:  This was written right before we left for our annual summer holiday this year.  I felt I was so well prepared, I had to share!

4. 10 reasons to buy a slow cooker

Oh, I could go on and on!
Why I published this blog post:  My life changed ever since I got a slow cooker.  I wanted you all to know how indispensable it is, in the hope that you will also get one and reap the benefits.

3. How to prepare your three year old for pre-school

This blog post is a favourite of mine, because I was very emotional during this time in our lives.  The suggested tips are simple and actionable.  This one got amazing feedback!
Why I published this blog post: We all struggle, stress and worry about our kids going off to kindergarten.  I was very involved in preparing Nina for her journey into big girl school.  Nina went into school like a young lady.  I am still astonished as to how well she transitioned.  I just had to share!

2. How I lost 6 kilos in 3 months without going on a diet

I had a final 6 kilos to lose after baby number 2, and no matter how hard I tried, they would not budge! I finally managed – you have to read how!
Why I published this blog post:  This is a hot topic.  I know a lot of mums that claim they cannot for the life of them go back to their pre-baby weight.  After much trial and error, I nailed it.  It was simpler than I thought.  Who wouldn’t want to know how?

And for the all-time favourite blog post from 2018….

1. Slovenia with kids part 1 – the why

Travelling with kids is fun, but a challenge still.  My list covers just WHY Slovenia is the perfect family destination.
Why I published this blog post: I felt so at ease with the kids in Slovenia, and it was such a beautiful experience, putting it down in a blog post was the most natural thing to do!

So there you have it.  My top 10 blog posts for 2018.  

Thank you for being such loyal readers. My blog’s statistics show that the large majority of you come back to the blog consistently. 
So many of you have subscribed, and do not miss one single post.  I am very grateful for your love and support.

Before I say close off the last blog post for 2018 I would like to ask you to leave any feedback and blog post suggestions below in the comments.  Well, any suggestions really 🙂 
This blog was born out of a desire to empower YOU to manage your time better and exercise a love for yourself.  So mama, if I can make this experience more valuable, please do let me know!

That’s all folks.  To a fantastic year, full of rich experiences and life lessons to take forward. 
I wish you a beautiful close to the year, and an enriching 2019 full of love, happiness and laughter.

Much love – Nakita xxx