When its cold outside at the weekends

I have been up since 5:30am couldn't sleep much more so got up read, watched a bit of youtube video and then got up had shower and my son had his rugby. 

Find day for Rugby chilly because of the wind but warm in the son

So when it is cold outside I like to make sure that the heating is on. We don't have it on all through the day because of costs but in the mornings. I still go out but just make sure it has warmed up a bit first and like to treat myself to a hot chocolate. This is indoors aswell or in a coffee shop or cafe. 

I love a hot chocolate with cream and Marshmallows. I will have the works basically. When we get to rugby as there is a clubhouse, have a coffee and today that had pastries or you can have breakfast bun there too and it was chilly because of the wind, but the sun was out so still pleasant, but still needed a coat and jumper. 

Windmill in Wimbledon Common near to where I do Parkrun

Then there are meals. I love a Sunday Roast. This weekend we have belly pork. 

When it is cold a good to have nice hot meal. If you know someone who is alone why not share with them and is a must and cook for the week. Have a nice warm breakfast. Porridge or a toasted sandwich is a must with a cup of tea and as a kid would go to a market. There are local markets and often take my son to get his hair cut. We occasionally will watch a film on TV if there 's not sport on. We watched the last matches of the rugby union Six Nations and my mum and step dad bought me some ciders. I don't have any alcohol during the week but will have a can of cider at the weekend and thankfully I have two days where I don't have to make dinner and last Friday we had fish n chips, because my son came back from going to a Residential trip with his school. Check out this blog I wrote: https://theparentingadventuresthebirthofmyson.wordpress.com/2025/03/13/my-sons-last-residential-trip-with-his-primary-school/

my steps from Saturday doing parkrun ad walking home 

The temperature outside influences me in what to watch on TV or on Youtube, listening to music and what books to read. It is a good time to have a declutter and do those jobs that you have been putting off like housework, doing some laundry and wash your bedding, I do Parkrun on Saturday mornings and do my radio show on Sundays check out this link: https://www.epsomhospitalradio.org.uk/on-air/presenters/carrie-challoner

So it is now Monday finishing this blog. I have had my first cup of tea. My son partly ready for school and today it is a day indoors catching up on my blogs, plan for the week and have a good start to the week ahead. I hope you all have a good one. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Finding a new style for 2025

So I feel that it is time for a change of style. I do like clothes that feel like a big hug but I also like the tailored look to the rock style chick look. I love the rock style and wearing boots that I can wear with a pair of jog bottoms and like the oversized look. 

I use Pinterest for inspiration, as a kid and adult, before the internet existed I loved clothing in Catalogues and couldn't wait to be able to be older to buy clothes from Catalogues but led me to debt and so I have stopped buying clothes from Catalogues and love charity shops and secondhand fashion. 

The other places I like to style is my bedrooms, I stay in the week to look after my son in Epsom and weekends and holidays, stay at my home in Wimbledon, where my stepdad and mum live and changing my style on how I see my relationship with money, by changing my shopping habits and stop relying on clothing to make me happy. I am doing No spend January again so means not buying clothes, saving where possible and still go out for coffee, and take my son out before he goes back to school but not buying items I don't need and using up what I have got.

I am still going to buy food and use cash that was paid to me as my husband, to buy fish and chips on Friday and so I got cash for this and but will be the last one. My son and I are going to be, on Saturday's mornings, doing a local parkrun in Wimbledon and feel this will really help me save as I want to have a proper holiday this year and the park run is free, visiting a pay as you go gym once a week and change my fitness lifestyle as it needs improving and get back in running again. 

It is good to restyle your life if there are areas in your life you want to change, but not sure where to start and that could be fashion, a room in your house, your health and your relationships, visiting friends you've been meaning to meet up with, but not got round to seeing. Making time for yourself to write as writing and walking are areas I love and want to change my lifestyle to grow my books, blogs and videos and build on my other two Youtube channels. Financial Living and my educational youtube channel. Continue to vlog and help others change their life by making changes of my own. 

My word for this year is "Lifestyle". last year was "Grow" and year before was "Build".

I have changed my lifestyle, by focusing on what is important to me and being honest with myself and how would like to live? Who do want to me meet in my life? What parts of my life do I like? 

In 2024 I applied to work on Epsom Hospital Radio and this was something that I had wanted to do when I left school, this was 29 years ago, but didn't know how to go about it. I saw an advert outside Epsom Hospital getting off the bus and so I filled in the waiting list, not thinking anything will happen, but received an email about a Recruitment Evening and then started training and now I have my own show on a Sunday.

So never give up on your dreams and they can happen unexpectedly. I had to change my way if thinking by altering my lifestyle. I wanted to get fit and do running. This really helped my lifestyle because it changed my energy levels, my relationship with myself, no longer giving myself a hard time but use the positive side of the brain and took on things I never thought I could and did the Great North run, the Royal Park run, Race of life, Women's 10K run and the London 10K Run. Working in a corporate environment made me make effort to dress smartly, put on make up and get fit. 

I have always wanted to change my lifestyle to follow my dream to write a book and so when I became a parent and was getting ready to change my lifestyle in terms of work, I discovered blog writing, that lead me to write my first book, The Parenting Adventures and wrote a novel called A Lonely Walk to happens and learned about this by watching programme about it and lead me to Youtube and having my own channels and blog sites. 

In 2024 I have done a lot of courses in mental health, life coaching and counselling and got 10,000 all time views on my blog site, Everyone can build a castle. 

Now it is 2025 I am going to be doing a Winter 5K Walk in London to raise money for the British heart foundation, check out my fundraising page if you'd like to sponsor me: https://www.justgiving.com/page/typicallondongal

There will be more I want to do and have set my goals for 2025. I have created my vision boards and really ready to take on more challenges and experiences to make 2025 even better, by changing my style and learning more to continue to build a lifestyle I love.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

What I like Autumn to look like

It is coming towards the end of October and I am glad that like today it is not raining and the sun is out. 

Inside Wimbledon Theatre watching the musical Hairspray 

I like the colours of Autumn, warm orange colours, browns and yellow leaves. I like to go for walks through our local commons and parks with a coffee and a pastry. 

On Sunday's have a roast, a coffee with my husband and son. I wrote a blog on my parenting blog about the Little Things that I enjoy as a parent: https://theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.wordpress.com/2024/10/23/building-memories-enjoying-the-little-moments-of-being-a-parent/

We went to see Hairspray and I like going to shows this time of year and already booked to see a panto and doing Autumn adventures, like having a seasonal drink. We are going to have Hot Chocolates and to the park tomorrow, local as I am done with travelling this week, as getting back from Wimbledon, after seeing Hairspray, we got stuck as the first train that stopped at Epsom was packed and no way were we going to get on it. 

I love going to markets and buying myself some new knitwear and a scarf, along with good shoes or boots and wrapping myself up so snuggled and ready for the cold crisp mornings and days and adjusting to the time changing and snuggle at home watching a film or a TV series, read a book or watch a bit of Youtube and other drinks, like herbal teas and different coffees. 

Not all days are plain sailing as Henry can be demanding as he want to there and everywhere and go a certain route and if not can have a meltdown. He has ADHD and Development Delay. 

The other thing I love is having lunch with my son and having a cooked breakfast and as a kid every Sunday my dad would make me a Bacon or Sausage Sandwich. I would get told off for not eating much of it as found it too big and hard to finish, but just nice to wake up not get dressed straight away and having a nice hot bath whilst listening to a podcast, audio book or music. 

I like having PJs and creating my own by using a t-shirt, vest top and bottoms. I love wearing fleece and cosy socks and shoes with fur (fake) inside them. 

What does Autumn look like for you? You can leave a comment below. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Getting Ready For The Autumn

It is almost time for when the days get dark early and the weather changes, which means leaves falling off the trees and buying autumn food and back to wearing jumpers, tights or think trousers/leggins and be back in coats. 

My Printable for my Autumn Reset that will begin on the 10th September through to October 
Check out my blog site Everyone can build a castle

However it does not mean staying in but going for walks in the crispy mornings and going back to making cozy food and drink.

I like to have a hot chocolate with marshmallows and cream. 

Not that I am not a fan of the summer, not at all, in fact it has been the best ever and was nervous like I often am, but was melted away and it worked out well and it was good to go the places we visited, but I do like cozy evenings where it is warm, whilst outside it is cold. 

So I will be using some of my candles that people have given to me as gifts, in Epsom, I would in Wimbledon but a little fearful because the space, as it is my step dad's and mums house, plus I did asked Glen, my husband, if he wanted them and he does so will be using them and will decorate my room in Wimbledon with some autumn reefs, and will be doing yearly reset programme, I created two years ago, my Autumn Reset to get things sorted out and completed before we head towards the winter and then it is birthday season for me and of course Christmas which I have started to think about. 

It also means the football season is back and going to take my son to a few matches in Wimbledon and wants to see a match at Craven Cottage in London, where Fulham FC play and so will be sorting this out and going to see a rugby match in September with my brother, mum and step dad and planning my sons birthday, and mine. 

Then there is TV, with Strictly Come Dancing, even though there have been some negative press about the show and have been in two minds, then the apprentice if there is a new series and I have started to watch The Crown and been watching the new series of Celebrity Race Across the world and will be running into September and changing the clocks. 

So what do you like to do in Autumn, please leave a comment below.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Life doesn't have to be too much

Wasn't sure if I was going to post this on my other site everyone can build a castle as I am doing a yearly Life Coaching Programme Summer Project 2024. 

I think I will share it on there. 

The inspiration for this post came about watching a video on Youtube of BGT those that auditioned and where they are now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-gFvSuo10A 

There was a dancing group, where one of the dancers had a spinal condition where she feared she'd never get to dance again, and that must be so hard to face, knowing what you have dreamed of could be over but shows her afterwards and she still got to dance, and helped my Simon Cowell and I know he may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I like the guy and he is putting Variety Performers back out there and that your dreams can come true, you just should never stop believing. 

We get so stressed each day that we forget to enjoy ourselves and spend time just being free from errands and things that we have to do otherwise other things don't get done and so make time for you to enjoy life and listen to an audiobook whilst having a coffee in a local park. Do a bit of dancing whilst doing the housework and call your friend you haven't heard from for a long time. 

I today went to Marks and Spencers hoping I would bump into a woman I know from when our sons were born and were both in the Special Care unit, but didn't see her as we chatted about having a playdate. 

So good to have a girly and a men's chat, and with a coffee and on Sunday which I hadn't done in a while gone for a Sunday morning walk. One of my most favourite things and did my steps for the day and today finishing this blog went on a morning walk and it feels so good and mix my walking with the treadmill I can use, its my husbands and walking outdoors. 

Doing a walk in the morning gets the day going and feels me with such good energy. 

So life doesn't need to be hard work, but be a joy doing the things that bring you joy and a better wellbeing.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Managing my life as a mum

I love being a mum, as my son is a real character but he loves it when I play sports with him and when I make his dinner, and feel in some way sad as he is growing, but it is important to me to also have time for myself, so I can give him my full attention. 

When he was a lot younger it would be full on and when they become toddlers they will want to put their hand down the toilet, flood the bathroom playing with the taps and chucking his pooh across the room.

The one thing that I do like to manage is meal times. There was a time that my son would eat his dinner first and then we'd, my husband and I would then have ours, but for me I like to have a meal together. This helped with him moving from his table during meal time. This helped with planning meals that were healthy and what we could have, as his appetite grew. 

I like also to have lunch when he is at school on my own at times and catch up on Youtube or watching TV. I like to spend time reading and writing. I now get up early whilst my sons in bed to get things done, and at one time was using the evenings, but felt it would take a lot to switch off so like to do it in the morning then it is done and can then concentrate on getting my son ready for school. 

Once he has gone to school I will go for a walk or start my day going through what I need to do for the week or day and ticking off and finish for around 2pm, so I am not on my laptop all day and make dinner and watch a bit of TV or read and spend time with my son, who will do some reading and then it is bed time. 

I always plan the night before and journal. I will make sure I have gotten myself washed and cleaned, aswell as my son and have a good nights sleep. 

He has always been an early bird, well from about when he was a month old and never sleeps in, further than 6am. It means managing my time constructively and wisely. 

It means having clothes out that I can grab and has made me more organised, even though I can still be untidy and that my son puts his stuff away and items like clothes are in a place he can grab and put on with little fuss. 

I avoid buttons at the moment, as he finds using bottoms tricky, but make sure it is a poppers or zips that easy to use, or have him have a t-shirt on and a jumper that he can just put over his head. The same with bottoms. 

When it comes to tidying up, make sure we all are responsible for this and keep the home tidy. He will tidy away his plates and cups, and if you want them to do this naturally, to start them early in teaching them this habit and they will just do it without being prompted, and be like drinking water or breathing, so they know to take all plates, bowls and cutlery in the kitchen near the sink. 

The more they can look after themselves the better. I need to take a further step back, but learning and often he will say he will do it himself, so I need to just allow him the space to do that, and chill. 

So it is a juggling act but would not change it for the world, being a mum and watching my son grow gives me so much pleasure. 

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Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Getting my life together

I have had time to really look at myself and look at my life as a mum and generally to really work on different areas of my life. 

Building relationships, like money and my self image. I no longer am self critical and thankful for who I am and want to be. It has taken a long time. I write a blog called Building Self Confidents The Ugly Duckling, and how my happiness with my self image has taken a lot of work, and not alone in having such feelings. 

With money, not spending a lot and now check my bank account everyday and give myself a £100 allowance each month and budget on where my money goes and cancelling Debits and subscriptions I no longer use and have a spreadsheet to monitor where my moneys gone each week. I use Excel, may bank app and my Filofax to monitor my expenses and save. 

I also write a blog called Organize4thebetter and have written about getting my life together on that platform and was one of my first blogs I wrote, because I never used to be organized and something I have had to work on as I can live in a mess and I have hoarded and now changing that habit. I want to use what I have already got and do a regular declutter, as it really helps my wellbeing and to be able to enjoy what I own and life isn't having lots of stuff. 

Then there is food. I can easily eat a lot of biscuits but this is changing. I have gotten fed up of snacking and gain control of my eating habits. Today I made sure I had a good breakfast and didn't snack, but when my son was home, he had some cheeselets and I caved, but had a good lunch with a baguette and apple and so going to make fuller lunches, and plan my meals again. 

Every good habit I add to my life, can help be the person I wish to be and not for anyone else, but for me and putting my needs first because I want to make sure I have energy to play sports with my son and take him to different places and build his hobbies and being thankful that I have a good supportive family and many don't and stop my begrudging feelings are put to rest and feel proud of my family and friends doing well and that I show up and be me. 

So I hope this blog helps you to Getting your life together and lower the expectation and give yourself credit and build on your habits, to be the person you want to be and have a life you can love.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X