Getting Ready for the Autumn

I am really ready for the Autumn. I like the dark mornings. I already had soup which is something we top up on for Autumn and wanting to be cosy, layering up and my sons rugby club is starting again and means the football season has begun and just looking forward to all of that.

It was a good summer. Walking along the beach was lovely in the Isle of wight, but I like the fresh mornings and having some good quality TV again and films and having a coffee at home and just have easy days. I have enjoyed sitting out in the garden but I am not a favourite of the heat and so for me Autumn is my favourite season and time to get those unfinished projects done. 

Check out my site: https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com/ I will be doing my yearly Autumn Reset programme and will be accessible to my subscribers on my above site and something I enjoy doing. 

It is good to see people and have a catch up after the holidays and starting a fresh and I love Henry's rugby and sharing what we did in the holidays and the fact we are out on a Sunday morning. I will be walking around the big lawn his rugby clubs has, around the pitches and helping when my son has tennis. I will be back doing my radio show for my local hospital on Fridays and just ready for it. 

It is also my birthday during the Autumn along with other members of my family. I am off to see Bon Jovi, The Real Thing and going to Twickenham to see the Red Roses and I am ready to buy my Puffa Jacket for the Autumn and Winter and love the sport you get during the Autumn and Winter. 

You meet such a range of sport. I would love to go and see Leatherhead FC play. I will be decorating for Halloween and not sure if we will go to a fireworks display but just going to enjoy the autumn to write, still go on walks outside aswell as on my husbands Treadmill and have some time for myself again. 

My son is looking forward to seeing his friends. I am also looking forward to some days indoors and I am getting my hair cut, so good time to spend more time looking after my skin and being in my PJ bottoms and jumpers. 

So are you the same? Please leave a comment below.

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.

(2) Pinterest

The Typical London Gal (@Carrie82434764) / X

Typical London Gal Carrie Holmes - YouTube

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 

Tea and Toast

It is good in the mornings going out. Yes it is cold but you can't beat the fresh air and you can't beat the basics of a nice cup of tea and lovely tasty toast, reading, listening to music or to a podcast. Or watching a bit of TV, watching the nighttime turn into the day. 

I feel so good about things now and loving the little pleasures of life and not on the big pleasures and I have a new found attitude to life and not thinking about what I haven't got but what I have got. 

Life is full of the life if you spend time looking around you. 

I love going for drive, getting a takeaway coffee aswell as being indoors and writing blogs, filming and planning my other things I like to do and it is so refreshing to not worry about what will happen. Let life show you what it can create and become. 

With all the love in the world feels a little strained, it makes me wake up to feeling good and spending time with family and enjoyed it, not a burden or a pleasure because of conflict or you feel uncomfortable. It can turn around by swallowing your pride and forgive those that have hurt you and move on. 

Time will never wait and just popping into see someone and chatting to a friend can help with our feelings and feel this year is about healing from passed wounds and not allow hate in the past over take and want to reunite with friends even if they don't want to. 

Wish those you keep in contact with a Happy New year. I send an old teacher I keep in contact with on  X and you be surprised what an impact that has. People want acknowledgement and surprises, like a little message. What I use social media for, is to wish people I know that I don't see anymore a happy birthday or a on congratulations, they have achieved something and just that little amount of praise and wishing someone well with a cup of tea and toast can make someone feel so good and you. Love is a strong word and I love friends and family, no matter what happened before. Live for today and just have those little pleasures. Life is yours so spend it having those little pleasures, not allowing the bad side to life bring you down.

Me and my son like to go on bus trips and train rides and having a cup tea and toast can help set your day on a high and for others it is coffee. Yes I like a coffee too followed by a cup of tea and some toast.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

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