So glad to be recharged and ready for the new year

We plan all year round, our goals, habits and what we want to change, but we can often give ourselves too much and instead of looking forward to the new year we dread and another year where we have still not achieved the goals we set out.

Me and My Son

It can be like being on a big wheel and we feel sad, we don't want to not go out or we are rushed off our feet that you feel so exhausted by the time it is new years, that you didn't really celebrate and then your back to doing the school run, go to work and still on that hamster wheel and we just want hibernate and ignore the jobs we have to do, 

I really enjoyed Christmas. It went exactly as I wanted it to be, a good time to take it slow and just chill. It was good that I didn't have to cook come Christmas day and boxing day. Yesterday I went to the theatre with my sister-in-law and nieces and thanks to my mum had really good seats and then went to home in Wimbledon and had bits to eat drink and then it was bedtime and it this morning slept in. 

I watched the Royle Family. For me this is a seasonal thing I like to watch, along with the Snowman, Shrek and watch the Rocky Horror Show. My husband wasn't so keen. I had a nice bath on Christmas Day, went for a drive, read my book and then listened to an audiobook and just felt so free and relaxed. 

Now that is the new year I do feel somewhat prepared and ready for it. In 2025 a lot changed. My mum retired, my Step Sister got married, my son finished primary school and in myself feel I want to do more walks, see more films and concerts. Seeing Billy Idol was fantastic and in 2026 going to see Bon Jovi in concert and gonna be moving from Wimbledon and hope to have some more days out and a couple of holidays. 

I feel that the year 2026 is going to be about transition and Growing my word of for 2026 and continue to build my life, by not having too many commitments of my own, but focus on Henry, publish another book and live each day, not focusing too much of the days past and days to come. 

So I hope you have a fantastic new year and more blogs to come in 2026. 

Many thank for reading,

Carrie X 

Cozy Living

Today I am feeling a bit out of sorts, if you know what that means. I have had a couple of coffees and had a bit of breakfast and gonna have a nice lunch of soup with bread and chill.

I was a bit of a binge drinker when I was younger, but not any more I am over that stage of my life. I don't want to get drunk I prefer a Cider indoors, only one or a nice cup of tea with a mince pie or we do have donuts. No I don't always have a donut but I fancied it so I've had one. Not today but perhaps after my soup. 

It is good to just take it easy and just let the day be what it is. I love being at home and we have our Christmas lights on which what is making me happy. It is good not to have hangovers anymore, not knowing what I did the next day. 

I am glad to let those days go. I love my friends and family and like to go to the theatre or the Cinema, shopping when it is not busy. I love the mornings when me and Henry go to the coffee shop. I like to sit in  the Library. I am journaling a lot and reading and planning my radio show. I work for Epsom Hospital Radio and I like writing and working on a book that I want to publish in February 2026. It will be available from Amazon, on Kindle and Paper back. 

I will keep you posted. 

It is good to have time with son. Check out this blog I wrote: https://theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.wordpress.com/2025/12/12/my-love-spending-time-with-my-son/

Since continuing with this blog my son and I went on a Christmas bus tour to see the Christmas lights in London. Great fun as i had a Mulled Wine and my son had a hot chocolate included in the trip, with short bread biscuits and a mince pie.

We did get in late and not a fan of late nights but once a twice is okay and it was really nice and warm on the bus. 

I love good Cozy living and being in my PJs afterwards with a cup of tea is truly a requirement or a hot chocolate feels me with joy and leads to contentment and is a great way to have Easy Living. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

You Can't Beat a Pair of fluffy socks

You can't beat a pair of fluffy socks. Not so much in the summer as it is shorts and t-shirt but Winter it is a fluffy pair of socks and there is nothing better. Fluffy bed socks are a great stocking filler, along with a box of chocolates and a warm comfy PJ's and dressing gown. 

I like to put on my PJs early to then work on a book, blog or watch a bit of Youtube. 

They are great for a clean moisturized pair of feet and honestly your feet will thank you in doing so. 

Nice bath with salts and a nice glass of wine, hot chocolate or a cup of tea. 

My choice for the winter is a Bailey's ooh and a Bailey's Coffee. It is a real treat and just chill and be thankful for being you and for me is a luxury. 

I love when cooking watching something on my laptop whilst peeling potatoes especially in my PJs and getting ready for another evening and be fully refreshed for the next day. 

Do the things you love. Avoid limitations but embrace your bed, your TV and the hot or cold drink you enjoy and put on some festive music and decorating your journal. Now my son learns in the Library I like to spend time listening to some chill out or festive tunes and fill in my journal, read and plan radio shows I do on a Sunday and planning trips and on Christmas day I am going to have my PJ bottoms on with a festive jumper and just take the festivities in, with a few non and alcoholic drink and fantastic food. 

I love Advocate and Lemonade. I am going to buy the small already mixed bottles this year and will have on with my dinner and watch some good Christmas TV. With some films. In our home it is Polar Express or the Grinch. Then of course the Snowman and love Ground HOG Day. 

It is good to be comfortable and fully relaxed and let them look after your feet and your body is what holds you together so why not look after it, the best way you can. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Things That Gives Me Pleasure

There was a time where I'd go and meet my friends when I worked in London on a Friday night and would be out all night. I am glad I had that time. Now though, I get pleasure being a homebody and spending time with my son, watching TV, music and now my son has lessons at the local library until he gets a school placement, put on some music and write in my journal. 

Me and My Son at the Cinema seeing  Wicked 2

I love a Charity shop. I get pleasure in the mornings when I have a coffee with my son before his lesson and create more ideas for my blog sites and planning content. Working on my books and planning, setting goals and organise my life so I have direction but also being flexible and if I don't feel like doing something and if somethings can wait then I will put it on hold and love having free choice days. I have shared this on my Blog site: Organize 4 the better: Doing Things That Aren't on a to do list 

I also like to spend time reading and my goal is to read twenty books this year and I am on my 16th and being in the library is really helping me to read and read. I love to read at the end of the evening before bed time and in the morning.

I also have audible and listening to books. I like to have a lot going on especially this time of year, with Christmas and birthday's. I like to plan meals and have a festive drink.

I like to check out Pinterest and journal in my APP on my phone when not in my Journal I write in and it helps to clear the mind and also love swimming. It is good to be active and feel that this year is very different. I like to spend time sorting something out. Like my bedroom and my books. 

I am liking the free tea and coffee at the library and is helping with my book collection. 

It is feels me with joy seeing the books I have. It is amazing how life changes and enjoying the comfort of being inside with a pair of good fluffy socks, a good pair of loungewear or PJ's when it is wet and rainy and just feeling so cozy and free. 

I do like to clean with some music or cook a nice hot meal. I love the good old fashioned dinners such as Bangers and Mash, Ham Egg and chips, fish n chips and a lovely roast dinner. I begun to create A Midweek Roast and the one thing I haven't done is do a Curry Sunday. 

My husband takes care of the season decor. It is good to have a the home decorated and I do feel sad when it comes to taking it all down. It's like, "Another Christmas over, how come?" but that is the reality and means the days become lighter for longer again and playing out in the garden until Autumn and Winter comes again. I do love all the seasons and change my meal choices and like clothes that can  be worn all year around. 

I also like going to the Cinema or going to the Theatre. I love doing my radio show and make sure I have a cup of tea and then go home and getting ready for the new week.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

What I do to Relax

For me it is essential to have time to relax. I have several blog sites and a mum. I also have three Youtube Channels and on various social media and like to highlight the things I love and so the first one is.

A Pot of tea in one of my son and I's favourite Coffee Shops 

• I love to write so find it relaxing. Along with reading with a brew and listening to music. 
• In the mornings and before I go to bed is read. I like to silence my phone and have a cup of tea. 

My son is not allowed to take his tablet to bed as when he did he would wake at 3am and so now only allowed it after we all are up and no longer allowed it with him in bed in the morning.

• I like to watch a concert or some TV, but not a lot now. My bed time at the moment keeps changing because we are out early taking Henry to see his tutor. We are out by 8am to about 1 or 12 and we both so tired so this week we have been going to bed around 8pm.  

It has been my sons birthday and so we have been focusing on that and he didn't want too much fuss and didn't want Candles and feel a little sad but respect his wishes. Instead we have been testing out one of his gifts. I got him a Telescope and so been testing and he loves it. 

When I relax I feel the day fading and so won't look at my phone as I do have a Overactive mind especially when I go to sleep so I read and completely switch off. 

It has been weird with Henry not being at school and he and I both miss the routine and it has been stressful sorting out his learning as been teaching at home. Now he has a tutor the routine has changed but it is okay, as I do get that time to myself and hope by end of 2026 he gets a Secondary School place, so he can see other children again. 

I find cleaning and cooking relaxing by playing music or listening to an audiobook and it doesn't have to be rushed, so I take my time. 

Seeing the difference helps me relax and not having tasks hanging over my head. 

I at the moment enjoying a magazine to read whilst my son is learning and going for walks around town and building my steps. I love to walk and another thing I do whilst my son is learning and we like to have a drink in a coffee shop beforehand and when my son has his bath we will often sit and chat. 

Letting the day flow of the things that I enjoy and making tasks that aren't usually enjoyable fun and it seems less work but pleasurable. So what do you like to do to relax? You can leave comment below. 

Please check out my Pinterest where you can find other blogs I write and of fashion, food and how people plan their lives: https://uk.pinterest.com/thetypicalLondongal/

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

My Home Comforts

It is never to early to put on your PJ's or stay in them. My niece loves being in her PJs all day at the weekend and I loved this too, but when I did I would feel some sort of guilt. It made me feel that it was a waste of a day and was bought up to believe that mornings were about getting up, making your bed, getting dressed, brush your teeth and go out, but there are days I don't want to go out and indoors reading, writing and spending time watching TV with my son.

I love seeing the clouds and sky turn from daytime to night especially during the Winter

Yet looking back as a kid I am glad that I didn't always stay indoors because I loved the weekends. We were always socialising and would go to see a friend, see my grandparents, watch my brother play football, I would be at dancing school and so my brother did judo and I lived a very sociable life. 

Now, I have a few or at least one or two days a week indoors or an afternoon indoors, as I love going on morning walks. It's a bit hard at the moment to walk, because my son Henry, likes to take the bus, but like to have break in the afternoon, so my first Home Comfort, which I do in the morning and evenings too, is having a Cup of Tea. 

I do like coffee but I like to go out for one. I tried a new Flavored Latte called Nutcracker in Costas and is lovely. 

A second home comfort is having a magazine to read. I have just got back to buying a magazine and so want to buy another magazine to read and when Henry has his lessons, as he will have a tutor, whilst we await for a place to be available at a Secondary School, is to read a magazine in a coffee shop. 

Then there is clothes. I like to put on my jogger bottoms and a jumper. I like to watch a documentary or a concert. I am into the Celebrity Traitors and like to have a nice cup of tea and write along with a biscuit too. Not trying to do this too much as I am starting to be a bit more of a lunch girl and avoiding having a snack. I enjoy food and mix it up, by having a McDonalds or a pastry, just not all the time.

I like to watch sport and I love my radio show. I like to plan meals and will be Christmas shopping soon but will think about this at the beginning of December.

Have a blissful life and feel you have to over do it. I like to take my time and focus on my mornings, then the afternoon and then the evening as it comes, with a bit of a structure and take a break from a to do list and pleasing other people. 

So what are your Home Comforts? I will be adding this blog post on my Winter Wellness Programme that starts today and it is all about having a better Winter if you dread this time of year and enjoy it more. 

Check out Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/thetypicalLondongal/winter-wellness-2025/

Check out my blog site: https://www.everyonecanbuildacastle.cm 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

I love to Plan in my Pajamas

Thursdays are becoming my Fridays where I won't do so much. I will read with a cup of tea and plan in my Pajamas. It helps take my time and plan. We have a storm so good excuse to have an easy day. I love days where I can potter, watch a bit of TV, Youtube and perhaps some cleaning. I love writing lists.

Photo of the morning in my PJ's 

Having a nice hot drink when it is wet outside, with a notebook, feels me up with so much joy and been planning the week ahead and it doesn't have to be a fancy notebook, just having a set of regular tools can help with making plans and just set the week ahead. I also keep track of what I want to accomplish on what days. 

I like going through appointments and special dates. It is my sons birthday soon along with my Mums and brothers so it is a very busy time of year, so it is good to have plans for home, my blogs and books, along with vlogging and meals planned and listen to some music, whilst in my PJ's.

When it comes to planning my life it is good to do it as a family thing. So you all have to plan whilst in your night clothes and do it each evening or once a week and I find it takes the chore aspect away, but a fun activity. 

It is good to be in bed and plan, with your bed clothes with a cup of tea and a bit of TV on. I like to plan whilst watching TV or Youtube as it gives me ideas of what content to post and is still being productive and being in my PJ's I plan better. I find it hard to plan when comfortable. 

When my son is in the bath tub we will chat and make plans. I have to write it down and put it on Notion as I know I will forget. It is good to have a bits done when still in your bed gear or at night getting ready for bed. 

Then once the planning is done it is time to get dressed and kick start the day. We do go out mainly in the mornings, but have a day where we have time indoors and not having to get dressed before 7am but when I feel ready to.

So do you like planning in your PJs? Does this give you ideas on planning?

You can leave a comment below. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X