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  

Getting tasks out of the way to free up time to relax

I today went for my morning walk, and got a phone call regarding a job I may be doing, and felt inner fear like  "Will this be good or bad?" but it was okay just had to do a few more tasks and going to get these done by tomorrow if it is truly possible. 

Check out new Vlog for 2024: 

There are times I want to avoid certain tasks, and I know once it is done I will feel better, example I like doing vlogs but find it a challenge to edit them to appeal to my audience, and that they are real and raw, but would take a whole day.

Now I have got a new laptop, thanks to my mum, it has made the process better, but because it took all day, it would fill me with dread. So I break tasks up, and be realistic of how long it will take, and if there other tasks that are more important, like in the mornings I will get my son ready for school, get myself dressed and have breakfast. 

Breaking tasks up, helps stop you from being overwhelmed and if know you need help, then ask someone all they can say is no, and if they do, don't be discouraged, but keep looking. I am going to find a good editor, and a front cover artist, as I write books, check out my current book, which you can buy from amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mum-Me-Gucci-Tits-Virtue-ebook/dp/B0BGSS7H9K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=11Y2WQ18Z9OG8&keywords=mum+%26+me+carrie+holmes&qid=1703597598&s=books&sprefix=Mum%26Me+Carrie%2Cstripbooks%2C54&sr=1-1  

I today needed a bit of advice as my son has a Residential trip coming and had to apply but was worried about it, because he still has accidents at night time, but hoping as we are trying all we can to nip that in the bud, and so, it is good to have someone you can speak to help worry over things. 

It now is the time to plan our year and I did a printable on my blog site, everyone can build a castle, where you can download my Kick start your life in 2024 printable: https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com/2023/12/28/who-are-you-and-what-do-you-want-to-become-in-2024/

I each week doing a cheat sheet on that blog too check out my first one in this blog: https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com/2023/12/28/who-are-you-and-what-do-you-want-to-become-in-2024/

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

How I like to spend my Christmas

Yes we are in December, and bought another Christmas present and is getting nearer, and its going to be a quiet one, and really looking forward to it. First of all I like to have a day decorating and gradually gettting things together, and this includes, preseents, food, drink and decor.

I like to check out Charity shops, and look online as Amazon can be a great place to find goodies, and gifts and budgeting, so I don't over spend but have what I need. I budget per person and per presents, along with food and drink. I am lucky in that I do have others who contribute so I don't have to spend too much, and if you children, set them a budget to buy gifts and then remember they have to be given to Santa and make sure they have been good and not naughty. 

I keep my Christmas wrapping paper, for the next year and depending on the gift use tissue paper and gift bags. It depends on the gift, and the size of the present. 

I like to spending with family and go to a Pantomime, have Advocat and Lemonade. I have to have mince pies, and would like to make my own, and making cakes and have things that I don't have everyday. Like Turkey and Pigs n Blankets. 

Watching Christmas specials, and films. My favourite film is Polar express, and is my son's faovourite along with the Grinch. I like the old ones like, A Christmas Carole, The Snowman, and listening to festivef music. 

I love going for a walk on Christmas day and wearing a Christmas jumper or outfit, to celebrate and just having a relaxing day. 

It should be about spending it with people you lovem and who don't get to see any other time of the year and going away too. One year I booked a holday to Florida and it was so good to do something different and it was so nice being flip flops on boxing day and went to Universal Studios and was so magical and would do that again.

So, I hope that you have a good Chritstmas and check out monthly newsletter that I post on my blog site: http://everyonecanbuildacastle.com

This I use to share my content, and check out my Pinterest where you can find some of my posts, and follow me if you'd like to be notified of my content and the many things I share, from being a mum. auther, blog writer and I also have 3 Youtube channels.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X  

Why I love a bit of coffee time

 As a kid I rarely drank coffee and found it would give me headaches, but now it is my one thing when my son gets picked up to go to school, is to make myself a coffee and enjoy it whilst I start getting stuff done and every sip of my coffee brings me joy and I drink it slowly, and I like meeting for a coffee and each week I go to a local coffee shop and start writing notes and planning and just good to be in a different environment, but do like a coffee at home too. 

I find it's me time, once my son goes off to school and after I have been out for a walk and getting some good fresh air and taking a coffee on the go. 

It helps me write and concentration. It is good that there are so many blends and it is a gift to myself when it has been a busy and hectic morning. My son at the moment is not always obedient, check out my new blog I wrote on my parenting site: https://theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.wordpress.com/2023/10/12/behaviour-issues-and-setting-boundaries/

So it is good to have a that time. I am all about improving my health and wellbeing, because I no longer want my mood to be up and down, but stable and I am at that place. It is all about taking steps towards a life you want and dream about, and going for a coffee, really helps with that. 

I like a good milky coffee and if you know of some good alternate healthier milk, then please recommend by leaving a comment below. 

Today it is the end of the week and for Halloween bought myself a Halloween mug and I love it and think I am going to have a set of seasonal holiday mugs, because I love a mug and no I don't want by a lot, just the same ones for the different seasons. I already have one for Christmas in Epsom, and so need one for Easter and valentines day. I have one that my son bought me for mothers day and I drink from it all the time. 

So find a different a place to have a coffee once a week or so, buy a special mug and different coffees to enjoy. It is getting the most out of what you love and honestly is my one daily pleasure. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Nothings better than a brew

As a kid I was a avid tea drinker and would drink about 8 cups a day but in recent years as I have gotten older got the taste for coffee. The thing is I love making my coffee in the morning. I do have jar that I bought from Poundland and I hope it is nice. As there is nothing good with coffee that is bad and would spoil my day. 

It helps with my energy to to wake me up and it is the little things I like that's made a huge difference to the way I like to live for my wellbeing. It is important to have comforts and for me I wouldn't go a day without a cup.

For me it helps kick start my day and I look forward to it. It goes lovely with some nice biscuits. I know this may be frowned upon in the healthy world but I like it. I like dunking biscuits, please don't shoot me for that. 

I am looking forward to having an Iced Coffee. I don't have these until it starts to get warmer and reading in the park and having a picnic and do some writing. 

What did we do when there was no coffee? Who knows but I know for a fact I'd struggle without it. 

My son loves going to a coffee shop because to have a glass and has asked if he can have a coffee, I would allow him to because its just widening his taste buds, but I like making my own at home, and buying coffees out all the time can be expensive, but I do like to work in a coffee shop and plan to do that this week, and it can be relaxing but so is having a coffee indoors and I like trying different kinds. 

So are you a coffee drinker? Please leave a comment below and would be welcomed of recommendations of ones to try. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X

@Typicallondongal 

Eating leftovers and lowering the cost on food

I was inspired to write this blog post, talking about Manifesting habits by Emily Norris, as I having my dinner whilst watching the video which was leftover pasta and carbonara, and saves me having to buy some food, and this month January 2023, been doing a No spend challenge, and food can be a huge expense depending of how many there are in your family. 

This was in Wagammas and good meals to make and save as leftovers 

Luckily I live with my Mum and step dad and so will regularly have meals with them, but there was a time when I'd go shopping spend £70 a week, and would generate waste because having to throw items away. A hate that style way of living. 

Making food that can be a meal for the whole week can save you about half of what you spend each week and it is going through everything you already have and planning. I know Cliche, but it is important to manage money when it comes to groceries, and a lot of people are growing their own which can save you a lot of money, it is just learning how to do this and if you have a place to do that. 

If not then you can still save and investing in a freezer can make a difference. It is good to make a batch of food so it saves you time aswell as money when you have been working all day and so I would recommend making leftovers and place in the fridge going to use by dates and with freezer too, and it is great to store and save on baby food. I made a lot of purees for my son myself and can be done with other foods, like meats, vegetables and fruits. 

I have gotten into habit of consuming what I have still to eat and until I finish with the items I don't buy anything else and pay by cash if I can. 

I hope this helps you and if you have tips too about saving money then please leave a comment below.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Typicallondongirl 

Getting myself together

I have been really disciplined in that I sorting out my life at the moment, and today I am going through what I can do next, and going to clear some clothes away and have a total tidy and trying my hardest not to ignore it. 

This morning I checked the passed blogs on this site and made the changes to posts I wanted to edit, and delete those that aren't relevant anymore, before I wrote a new one. 

I have a cup of tea on the go and watching a Youtube video and feel super hot. I do like the summer but when it is so hot, I do feel I have a bit of a fight with my energy. I have a swollen eye due to having Hayfever and is getting to me. When you have a sort out, the way I stop putting it off, is to get it done. 

I write to do lists, and my planning does change a lot, because I get bored if I do the same thing everyday.

Just now I have written my 5 things I want to do today, yet have done some tasks already. I am still filming my day in a life this week, filmed my quarterly haul I like to do, and it was items from Poundland. 

I am getting my finances together so not going to be a Youtuber who films a haul each week, but when I do purchase new items, I will share them. 

Life it not about doing so much in one day. I am about being productive, but this includes taking a break, hydrating and spend time just pottering around, and getting items completed. 

So, there is more to come and thank you for being so supportive and love being part of the online community and I hope my blogs to reach out to you in a positive way and there will be more to come. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X