My Journal is MY Companion

I love my new Journal. I have been writing in it all day and its light weight and best notebook I have used. I am always going to get my Journals from Amazon as they are such a good purchase.

My Journal I am now using 

Since a kid I have journaled. Not everyday but now it is a must and I decided not to junk journal but write everyday to share feelings, goals and for memories and will be putting photos in it. It has been good to get it all out, of how I feel and want to do. 

It is good to empty the mind and was listening to Fearn Cotton Podcast and she says how she loves buying a nice notebook because it helps her to write neatly and yes I feel that way too. I love a good notebook and are my tools as a writer and content creator. 

I use a big black notebook for planning my radio show and one of planning meals and just find it so good to get everything down on paper and so why I like a good pretty journal and is like having a companion and would not live without them. 

If I was stuck on an Island I'd make sure I took a journal and use the river to wash and plants as food along with fish and use wood from the trees and twigs on the Island to make a bonfire to cook and whilst cooking write in my journal. 

Jamie Oliver uses a journal for his gardening and used it for one of his cooking programmes. Oprah Winfrey uses a journal and shared one on her show she had back in the 80's and 90's and she shared about her struggles with her weight. 

I think of Harry Potter where Dumbledore uses a well to empty out his memories and that's how I see journaling and I haven't kept them all or notes because I wanted to get rid of those memories and thoughts but now I add photos and greeting cards I've received then I do keep them. 

The one thing I am looking forward to is to go to a coffee shop and writing in it and have written that in it that I'd like to do that next week as we come to the end of this week where we already have plans and it I like to jot down the little joys aswell as the big joys. 

Everything I have written or listed in a journal has happened. I do use plain notebooks to write my to do lists with Notion but these I don't always keep and take out the notes I feel I need to keep will take out and put into a folder. I love writing stories on paper or on the computer and writing notes for my books and and it is important to store these and use your journal for a story you want to tell. 

Make your notebooks and journals your bestfriend and take them wherever you go. There are no rules and just write. I find once you begin you continue and it doesn't have to be everyday and not for very long. Just a sentence a day is still something and there is bullet journal where you have everything in one place. 

The Perfect Set up

It is good to have different areas in the home where you can watch something on the TV or now as I write this blog, which inspired this post, watched Youtube in the kitchen whilst I cut up some potatoes for my dinner and it is one of my favourite things. 

At the moment now I have my laptop on cushion on the sofa and it is good to be sitting on a soft seat. 

It is good to be comfortable and not get distracted. I love having that time to write and now I am no longer in #Wimbledon I have more time to write and spread my time out and tasks. I like working at a desk as I watch Youtube get ideas on blog posts, planning my week and I like having a different place to write and so it is good to have a good spots around the home to do what you love and Mondays I always stop in as I like to be out throughout the rest of the week. 

Sometimes I will use the edge of the sofa to type. In Atomic Habits he says you should have a different places for different purposes, so I will use the Living room to type and create a blog or work on a book and it does not come up with me to bed, but did once upon a time when living in Wimbledon and Epsom but prefer to work in the Living room.

When watching something though it is the in the Kitchen or Living room. 

For reading I like reading in bed but going to read through the day too and today had chill out music playing whilst I read and gave me proper break from my Laptop and when watching TV I am in the Living room and when travelling like to listen to music, podcast or an audio book. 

When getting fit I like to watch Youtube. At the moment I play four songs, but also to podcasts or videos. I I love creating playlists and will play different ones depending on what I am working on. It is good to have a good set up so prepping dinner is not a chore and takes the burden of making dinner away. It helps to stop me from Procrastinating and when reading I like to have to wrapped up and so relaxing and is a ritual for me. 

What areas of your home like to write or relax? You can use the comment box below. 

I have may blog sites and post them on Pinterest, X and Facebook. 

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Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

My Love For Food Shopping

YES! I get excited about food shopping. I could buy the supermarket, which for us at the present is ASDA but I budget and I plan meals ahead and have the staples but I just get so much joy about food shopping. I buy food I can have at any time, like yogurts, tin fruit, cereal. Yes I can eat cereal for lunch and love a stocked up food cupboard, fridge and freezer. 

I do meal plan and have list of what food to use up and I am not one to have the same meal each day. I like variety and often it is what I feel like. I love breaded prawns, good meat dishes and desserts. 

Yes I love a dessert. As a kid it would be jelly and ice cream. The one meal I liked as a kid at school was Artic Roll and towards the end of Primary was cake and custard. At Secondary though it was packed lunch. I found that boring, but I was once a fussy eater. I couldn't eat a burger with ketchup and mustard or anything and had to be plain and didn't eat Curry until I was in my 20's or Pizza.

I love pub grub type meals and so I make sure we always got a bag of potatoes, onions, milk and butter, along with bread and eggs. Again Eggs are great for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I love to have a variety of soups, pasta sauces and pasta in my food cupboard, along with Tin Curry which I had this week as I write this blog and found a packet of mini Naan breads, in Tescos surprisingly and it was so nice. The Princes Tin Curry very tasty and I struggle to eat the large Naans so the mini ones, we bought from Tesco were just right and so we also make sure we have rice available for meals. 

As I write this blog we having picky bits and something we, my husband and son, love to have sometimes and love cheese and pineapple, with dip, bread sticks and tortilla chips. 

I love mixing it up and ASDA (not sponsored even though I'd like to be) is our main shop but we are thinking of ordering from Tescos for a change, but they have a Chicken and Vegetable Pie in ASDA and it is great to have for dinner with mash potato and peas. 

I do like the smaller stores too and soon we will have a Sainsbury's near us in Epsom and also see if we can order online again. We tried to from ASDA but wouldn't allow me to choose delivery and also I won't be tempted to buy clothes and what is easier for us as a family of three.

When I was a kid we would shop at market rather than supermarkets sometimes and buy meat from the Butchers and in Fulham and Hammersmith you had a lot of bakeries but then they started to shut down and now it is coffee shops and you can have takeaway food and Greggs. 

It gave me joy as a kid with my Nan and go to what it was the Worlds End, Somerfield's and the main store back when I was a kid was Safeway's, which is now Morrisons and I like a deal. I like trying the Gluten Free food now and like a lot of choice. 

I like to build my points and I shop more wisely, but I like trying new things and going to different stores and what they've got. My sons school is near a large Tescos and why I'd like to shop there for a change. 

I feel it is good to compare prices and it is good when they have a Cafe inside. Not all do but when they do it can be an experience and my son loves it too and likes to be charge of the trolley. 

He also likes to be included when it comes to writing our shopping lists and putting the trolley away in the trolley stations in the Car park of the Supermarket. We like to go there early when it is less busy and then go and get a coffee. 

I will be buying Cucumber tomorrow as not had in a while, Cheese and Cucumber Sandwich with crisps. My go to for this time of year as we get to spring our food shop changes. I love Salads, tinned fruit and bought some Ice Cream. 

It is what we feel like but with the mind of buying food that will go with what we already have.

So yes I am food shop lover and feel pride in writing that to finish this blog.

I write other blogs and so here is a link to my Pinterest and X where I post on and I also share parts of my life in Vlogs so please check this out too and remember it is free to subscribe to these platforms.

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Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Having the perfect Set up

It is Thursday and been trying to operate my new printer and upload a vlog in my PJ bottoms and jumper and when it is raining there is nothing more perfect than working on content having a beer. I no longer binge drink, which is not good but have the odd one here and there and helps to relax, especially when it is raining and miserable outside. 

For dinner is a staple in my home, Bangers N Mash. Then got some desserts and feel so blessed with my lifestyle and enjoy the now rather then dwelling on the past and tomorrow. The day will come when I may not be able to enjoy such luxuries, so I have come to recognise that it is important to live every moment and enjoy life as much as possible and enjoy the home comforts, of good lovely comfort homely dinners and working on content and sitting on the sofa now I have eaten with the background of the TV on. 

We have been watching the Ireland Traitors. So good and tonight it is Rugby so will be watching some of that tonight as it is the six nations. I like days where we catch up on TV or I love watching comedies old and new and its just takes you away off the life for a few moments and not let the daily challenges and hurdles get you down. 

Since becoming a mum I have never treasured quiet time and having a set up where Henry can play, my son and I can work on my Laptop. I feel that the perfect setting helps to be more productive, less stressed and just comfortable. 

I have been sorting out my stuff and I do own too much. I feel I need to be honest with myself. So this year is about owning less, getting rid of the things I no longer have an interest in and only keeping what is important to me right now. Not tomorrow NOW. I like my journals, but I prefer A5 so my A4 notebooks I have given to my husband. I use A4 notebook for my radio show but that is it now and soon my son will be going to a school and so will be planning using the notebook as I was using others and want to create printables for myself rather than on notebooks and go more digital. 

So I have the perfect set up to share my joys of life and feel a good bit of peace to my life. 

If you'd like to see more content and my life please checkout my Youtube channel: (259) Typical London Gal Carrie Holmes - YouTube

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Living A Peaceful Life

This morning has been a good one and that is because there is no rushing. I popped out to get some bread and my son is getting annoyed because he wants a kinder egg and it is only quarter past seven. That boy could eat a horse if he was given the permission. 

However it is been a good morning. I have been that person who has left things to the last minute and it just did no good for my wellbeing and so I always give myself plenty of time.

I make sure I fuelled with breakfast and it will be some toast or cereal mainly, except for this morning I had a Sausage Sandwich and means I won't want much later, in terms of food. I like to start a blog which is this one today and I have another to write and just listening to some good music, with the TV news programme, GMB. I try to not consume much news but watch a bit of it.

I enjoy my evenings too. Last night Henry did some homework and then we watched a bit of TV and I just like the peacefulness of the day where I can properly wake up and then properly relax at the end of the day. 

It has taken a lot to get into having more peace but it is possible and just adjusting to the time of the day, not worrying, as I used to worry all the time. It is a habit that is hard to break but it is possible and I still get bouts but now I know how to fight it off and not allow things to get too much. 

I get nervous still and I do get anxiety but I have learned that it is not fear it is excitement and looking forward to the day and have set things into place to help reduce stress. Like I will read, write in my journal and working on writing a book. That is my happy place and watch a bit of Youtube or will do a bit more reading and will sometimes go for a walk. It has been a hard one to keep up at the moment because of the weather but just do what I can, not feeling guilt and just do what is suitable for my mind and body. 

I like to wonder. Today, now it is later in the day I have walked and checked out the Charity shops, books shops and just enjoying the outside to break up the day whilst Henry is learning and not cooped up. 

So how do you live a peaceful life? What changes have you made? You can share below. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

 

What is my perfect weekend?

The weekends at the moment is spent with my son. Yesterday my son had football training, then we went on a bus ride, a train ride and then got back home and watched Gillett Soccer Saturday, played cricket and then today Henry had his rugby. On some Sundays I do a radio show and then have a nice Sunday roast. 

Our Weekend Riding through London 

It is good to rest and recharge our batteries and let the stresses of the week go. I loved it yesterday and going on different routes and I love vlogging my weekends. 

Check out my Vlogging Channel: (23) Typical London Gal Carrie Holmes - YouTube

I never get sick of my home town, London and Brixton which I realised I had not seen in daylight was really surprisingly a full of light, with people shopping, there was a band playing, market stalls and so lively and so gonna visit and take a look around. 

I love discovering new places and journeys. 

It is good to have a coffee whilst my son plays Rugby and after my sons football training. 

My son loves it on Sundays before his rugby, watching Match of the day and I like that we don't get until 7am and during the week it is at 6am and at the moment he has a tutor until he gets a place in a school and on Friday we went to the park and played tennis and last Friday I did my first walk on the treadmill. The first this year after a break. 

It is good to have some much planned and not enough hours so we make the most of our time and will be doing more and spending time just, me and my son and with family too, to explore. I would like to travel and travel and walk around towns and places in Surrey. 

#travelling is my sons favourite thing and knows all the bus routes and trains too and already planning walking from London Bridge to Fulham Broadway if there isn't too many routes that have problems as in the UK the weekend travel can be tricky as that's when they do engineering works and roadworks.

Travelling in London can be tricky but not impossible. Its just good to know the different routes we can take to get to the place we want to see and getting home. 

The joys that give you a bit of time to just enjoy the journey of life and what will be will be. Yet life is full of journeys of life having a good weekend really helps to revaluate and reset. 

I am so looking forward to 2026 adventures and have more fun at the weekend. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

I Know I can't keep everything

I do have a organising blog Organize 4 the better but wanted to write this on this blog, because I find that the more I do keep organised, my style is changing. I know I have to be strong when it comes to letting things go. I had a good declutter at the weekend and it felt good, to say goodbye to things and I know I have to get my arse in gear and sort out my room and own less. 

There is my sons work from the schools he had attended and I feel sad in letting these items go so I have a folder to put it in but kept putting this off but I know I want to clearer space I need to get my act together so have set up a plan. I want to keep them for him, so I know I need to really be tough on myself. So I think it is good to have a section as many tell you, Sell, Donate and Keep, but I also like having a maybe Category. 

Do you have any advice? 

Have you kept your children's school drawings and bits? 

Is it time to let go? 

So gonna be strong and make my mind up. I am super indecisive and it drives me mad.

My room is small and is overcrowded and so these next few month tasks is to sort it out and finally get my shelves for my books and journals. Clear the top of my closet and the bottom is jam packed after I had cleared it out.

So I am going to focus on getting my room together. I watched those who do videos of decluttering but I find it hard to sort it out in one go, so for me it is a bit at a time and to be fare I have been decluttering each day and perhaps I should get three or four boxes or make bins and each day put something in one of the bins. 

It really is about getting my act together and to start a new chapter I have to decide what has to go and be ruthless and continue to vlog. 

Then there is the Living room. I have taken over the windowsills and so these need to be sorted out and why I am sorting out my bedroom, that will make space as I do have a few journals not used yet and in the kitchen gonna make some space. 

There is a lot to get done, but focusing on the result is what is helping me to be more organised and that I can't keep everything.

Have you been doing the same?

I feel I need some encouragement. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X