Talking about the School run and Exercise

So it is another weekend gone and I am starting this blog on a Sunday night and getting myself prepared for the week, who else can relate to that, as it means I am up super early tomorrow waiting for my son to be picked up to be taken to school. 

When it comes to the School run I find that if you have spaces in your home for getting my son ready is easy than having to go up stairs and down again, and having all uniform all laid out and the same for breakfast and when I have to get up early I have a basket near my bed of all my clothes I am going to wear each day and week. 

I live in Leggins, polar necks and jumpers at the moment and fitness bottoms, as each week I love to do a bit of walking and get fit indoors. 

The workouts I use is in Youtube and I do walking ones and aerobics, along with playing football with my son, in the morning or when I am there indoors waiting for him to come home from school. I do a lot of travelling now, but don't mind as it keeps me active and that is really important to me, is exercise even it is a ten minute walk or so. 

Here an example of the different workouts on Youtube:

Check out out my two sites where I write on about fitness and Getting Active:

https://sportsandfitnesspassion.wordpress.com

https://www.getfitgetactive.blogspot.com

I do need to sort through my sons clothes and decided that when it comes the Spring I will doing a series of videos to do a spring clean up as I do have a lot to sort out and so gonna film and do this in the next two month ready for the Summer. 

It is good to plan a declutter and so just gonna go through days and decide when this will be happening, and make a list of places I want to conquer first.

I am doing another monthly challenge this month, for March and have a clean up of my email accounts. 

This may run over but don't want to overlap other projects, but make sure that there will be bits gone through and it does help clear the mind. 

I do write two blogs called: Organize4thebetter and neworganizedself 

When it comes to school uniform it is good to have about 5 or 6 items as kids get mucky and have more white shirts if that is the colour your kids wear for school as they can get super dirty. 

For the Spring I like to invest in some school shorts for school Henry gets too hot in the summer and has suffered since a baby from Eczema so we have to be careful of him getting breakouts again. 

So good to begin the week with a smile instead of stress and now going to get on with some other bits I need to do and will be back with another blog tomorrow, 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

 

Adventures of the Weekend

So here we are. It is Friday and feel like I want to get outdoors and travel to Epsom to wait in for Henry to return to school now. I loving the fact it is getting darker later and feels like you get more of a day when it is like that. 

Tomorrow it is back to taking my son Swimming for his lesson and then we are off to the Polka Theatre to see the Gingerbread man and I am looking forward it. The Polka Theatre is a child's theatre and simple plays and so would recommend, if you have a Polka Theatre near you and they do different shows for different ages.

There is a little café and a Softplay area and do have disabled access and toilets and so great afternoon of fun.  

I think we, especially with Lockdown, should go to the theatres to help keep them running as where would we be without theatre shows. 

As a Kid I was always going to the Cinemas and Theatres and saw shows like, Me and My Girl, Grease, The Sooty Show and Keith and Ovril, and loved doing that, and we would have a bite to eat in Wimpy's and there is a Wimpy's in Morden, which I was surprised of. 

The weather looks like it going to be good for the weekend and starting to plan for the next seasons and March is going to be full of exciting things. I hope I will be getting involved in looking after people with Mental Health, I had an interview about this on Thursday and looked like it will be doing workshops and going to help me with my blogs as still there is a stigma attached when talking about it. 

I think it is good to do different things when it comes to working outdoors and not on my blogs and books all of the time. It is good for inspiration and learning more. I do believe as a human that we learn all of the time. 

The one day I have not heard about was Pancake Day, and was looking forward to get some, or am I being too early. It is World book day and so went with my mum to find a customer for him and is going to be the mouse in the book The Gruffalo.

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjmjcaGo6D2AhUJYhgKHZdkAQAYABABGgJsZQ&sig=AOD64_2qPu7Q6TxQRqg7pB75kOB7fKLXQQ&adurl&ctype=5&ved=2ahUKEwjkn7aGo6D2AhXXtioKHXtjC08Qvhd6BAgBEEc

It is good to have such days and I am going to do a blog about World Book day and it is this Thursday. 

I wish you a good week ahead. 

Carrie X 

 

Celebrating the Queens Platinum Jubilee/Being a Royalist

I have finished my Newsletter for February so go and check this out, it is on my site:

https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com 

Today I slept in until 9am and good to catch up on some rest and soon I am off to go and wait for my son to return from school and want to have a stroll around the shops and got some errands to catch up. on. 

I set myself tasks for each day and with sleeping in I had enough energy to catch up on things that I need to do, like tidy my clothes up, have my first cup of tea and coffee, which for some isn't important, but for me it is, and written a couple of blogs and this is my third one I have written for today. 

I break my tasks up and feel that when I take my time rather than rushed I am a lot more productive. 

I have watched videos talking about how to wake up really early and the benefits, which next week I will be doing as I will be over to my sons' in the morning some days next week to wait for my sons Taxi to pick him up for school, and I like having that whole day to myself but find I get tired around 7pm, but when I go to bed that time I know I will be awake again at midnight and struggle to get back to sleep. 

For me it is all about lifestyle and if getting up early does not work well for you then sleep in later and I like working in the evenings aswell as the morning and helps to break it up a bit more. 

What I like about getting up early on some days I can go up London for the rest of the day when I do the morning school run, and going to be paying visits up to London again, to grow my blog content and because I like travelling around my city I come from.

I like visiting Oxford and Regency street and do a bit of shopping and walking around national parks and seeing the Queen's Guards and would love to go up there to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. 

Not sure if I will be able to but want to celebrate it, and gonna dress up for the day to help celebrate and have a few drinks whilst I do. 

These are the parts of life I hate to miss, and for me I stopped being a royalist because of what happened to Lady Diana, but now love being a royalist and want to take these celebrations in, and marks life for me and feel that she has had a lot to deal with, I am sure you will know what I am talking about, so it is good that as a English Woman to mark this occasion. 

I have actually been inside of the Buckingham Palace gates some years back when I was about ten. It was Trooping of the colour and because my mum worked in my Secondary school, got tickets to go and be inside the grounds. 

I got to see the Queen and her children and Lady Diana and Sarah Ferguson. 

Then saw them on the Balcony and I it is a blur to me now, but I at one point be part of the family and ride in a Horse Drawn Carriage and experience a Royal Wedding. 

It is almost the end of the week and got an evening to myself and so gonna make the most of it. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X  

 

School Days and Dream Jobs/Bringing new things into your life

I am back after waiting for my son to return from school and he keeps telling me that he was waiting for me to see him at school but I didn't, and this made my heart sink. 

This was because Henry's dad picked him up a week before half term as his taxi driver that takes him to and from school had an appointment and been worried because I haven't picked him up from school. 

Today I did a Make up and chat video and I don't want to do these weekly as I know it can be boring for some so gonna post these and do these fortnightly. 

I am due to do a another video so this will be done on Thursday and one I haven't done in a while, and I have a video for my Educational Network channel. I talk about working at a Holiday Camp and what the life is like when you do. 

It was such a good experience working at a Holiday Camp as it is a different world of its own and you basically living and breathing when on camp, but I am glad I have those memories and happy that I got the chance to follow my dreams in wanting to work at a holiday camp.

A job shouldn't just be a job, but something you truly care about and you have the right attitude. I would find myself getting annoyed when guests would come into the restaurants last minute, but I would remind myself that they've paid to be there and are on holiday, and are paying my wages. 

I need these people so I can buy food for myself and to keep my job. I experienced bad customer service and when I would get a last minute call when working in a call centre, reminded me I need these people ringing to help but so I can put food on the table. 

I am a believer if you want to work in a industry you dream of, you have to go through the motions and build with each stage. I know it can be hard talking to people all day as I would find difficulty talking after working, especially in the call centre, even though it wasn't the job I wanted to do for the rest of my life, but needed it at the time. 

It was through working there I got introduced to the online world and building a website and so glad to be part of the blogging world. I had to take these steps to find the work I love doing and now in the last week been wanting to do other work apart from my writing and now got some work in a Holiday Club and potentially working in Mental Health. 

I write down in my one of notebook to work in the mental health and educational setting and now I am going to be doing that. I want to do these to help build my knowledge and expand my blogs even more.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X  

 

Back to the School Routine

It is the start of another week and feels strange that my son is not here, but will be seeing him later when he returns to school. I have a few errands to do today so gonna make a move soon and get back into the routine of school being back and fully open. 

When it comes to the school run I give myself time to get there to my son's home where he lives with his dad and like this week I have been travelling later to meet my son when he is bought to his home as he travels by taxi because of the distance and I get there by bus, so I give myself plenty of time.  

Everything I need I get ready and in the morning when I do the drop off (when my son henry gets home) ready so I am not in a rush. 

I take a book to read, a few note books and essentials like keys and purse etc and I do think to set your time to two minutes ahead as it means I am never late and on time. 

I did write a blog about people being late and how it can be disrespectful, check out blog:

https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com 

I am not saying that I am sort of punctual hero or angel but being late can make everyone else late so waiting in for son to be picked up or dropped home is essential because I am not delaying anyone else. 

It can take time to get out of the house and so I give myself time like now to sort out my bag to take with me and shower and getting dressed and so get all that done before I do anything else. 

I plan on doing a long walk today before I have to be over to my son's home and is my way of keeping fit. I am a great believer that you should fit in time to exercise around your current lifestyle and not the other way around. 

I do schedule and make sure make a list each day for the next day and pick the 4 things I want to do each on day of the day. This I got from watching Mel Robbins and it is helping me have each day tasks ticked off.

So I am today going to film a couple of videos for my main Youtube channel and Educational channel and will link those in tomorrows blog post and then work a bit on my book I am currently writing and want to update my Pinterest. 

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/thetypicalLondongal  

If you like these blogs then please let me know and share them. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

End of half term and getting back to the school routine

Half term is nearly over and my son has gone back to his dads and tomorrow will be waiting for him to return from school, but glad I got through it, and now I can be back with my blogs, videos and other things needed to do. 

I am working on my Newsletter for February, see link of where I have linked my Newsletter I did for January. 

http://everyonecanbuildacastle.com/2022/01/18/first-ever-newsletter-jan-2022-and-first-free-ebook-creating-a-new-vision-first-ebook-2022/

I get to have a bit of time to myself and not that I don't love my son, because I love him out of this world, but when I do get spare time I like to make the most of it and looking forward getting back into the routine of the school term. 

I tried to pack in as much as I could with the help of family and so filmed part of the week so if you want to see my last Days of my life video then check out the video via this link here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flzMuiK2lGs

The next holiday there is a chance I will be working outdoors and at a local school, but save for Easter and still be present in my son's life to celebrate the Easter Holiday. 

It is hard when the holiday didn't go well and Henry had his moments of being defiant and not wanting to play ball, but do what he wanted to do. I do my best to not have a tantrum myself and staying cool, but after the tenth strop of the day it can test my patience. 

I find there seems to be bursts of boisterous behaviour when my son is tired or hungry. My son could eat all day, and so we have had to monitor what he eats because I want him to be healthy and have meals rather than snacks all of the time. 

That means monitoring my food too and setting an example and I do feel like picking up raspberries and blackberries to eat, and I have gotten into eating dry fruits and nuts for the Omega 3 and other vitamins and minerals my body needs.

I do write about my son and dilemmas of parenting on my blog:

https://theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.wordpress.com

So back to travelling back and fourth but I don't mind, I actually love the journey and so lets get prepared and ready for the new school term. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X

Half term and getting back to school

It is Thursday and just finished my blog from yesterday done and today it is the last two days excluding the weekend of half term and so it means getting back into the school routine, and today I had a day indoors and maybe like that tomorrow depending on the weather. We may encounter high winds, and not that is not me farting. 

It is Thursday and just finished my blog from yesterday done and today it is the last two days excluding the weekend of half term and so it means getting back into the school routine, and today I had a day indoors and maybe like that tomorrow depending on the weather. We may encounter high winds, and not that is not me farting. 

When it comes to getting back the school days it means getting early which is no problem for my son but is for me, but means once it is done I do get some time to myself, and travelling a lot again.

Thank the lord for books as I do read a lot when it comes to a new school term and gonna download some more podcasts on audible as I was listening to one by French and Saunders and loved it, so going to find more to listen to whilst I commute to be there for when my son gets picked up from school or when he returns and making sure he has everything he needs and getting back to having time with my son, and can get to posting on my other blog sites, check my Pinterest where I share a lot of content on. 

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/thetypicalLondongal/

When the weather is bad it does mean finding things to do each day to keep kids entertained and I struggle a lot to find what to do. It depends on how many kids you have and where you live. 

I England it tends to get bad near the coasts and northern parts of the country, seem to get the brisk of it, and so what I would do is have a cupboard or a draw of different things they can get out but tidy as they play. 

The home can be a mess. and so have made a rule that Henry can only have one or two items at a time and is seems to do the trick. Teaching kids to tidy aswell as play is a good lesson as it adds value to the toys and games they have.

Why not get a family puzzle or a set of cards. As a kid I was always playing card games with my grandad and a game called "Shut the box" and with my son we play Connect 4 and Snakes and Ladders. 

Today me and Henry watched a video about the seasons as he has to learn the seasons for this term and so watched many that included the learning about different times of the year. 

It is good to teach them about what happens through the year in terms of nature and the being present in the current moment, spending time to get out doors and visit the different kind of parks in the country and abroad. 

I would love to take Henry to Florida as he loves planes and helicopters. 

The one thing I am wanting to do once I have a place of my own is bake again and with Henry as cooking and baking is great to get all the kids involved and is a skill that will benefit. It may help them to be less fussy and actually eat what they have helped to make. 

As a kid as soon as I could reach the counter tops learned how to make a cup of tea and as a kid loved to wash up the dishes and playing with the pots and pans. 

The other things that I am looking forward to is to be able to go on long distant walks, and going to keep this up when Henry returns to school, not that we have been sitting on our bums the whole half term but been doing different things and I did plan to take Henry Swimming tomorrow but unsure now because of the weather. 

I will be keeping a check list of items that Henry needs for school and going help more when it comes to Henry getting ready for school as he isn't the easier child to get dressed and the one tip I would give is have a main area set up of uniform so you aren't searching for items and that is there nearby to grab. 

Henry does take a snack with him of a Banana and Raisins and a bottle of water and his fleece packed along with a coat. 

Henry hates having to wear a coat or his fleece but you never know things could change. 

When it comes to getting back the school days it means getting up early which is no problem for my son but is for me, and means once he is picked up I do get some time to myself, and travelling a lot again, which I don't mind as I can look out the windows and see the world go by and do some reading. 

Thank the lord for books as I do read a lot when it comes to a new school term and gonna download some more podcasts on audible as I was listening to one by French and Saunders and loved it, so going to find more to listen to whilst I commute to be there for when my son gets picked up from school or when he returns and making sure he has everything he needs and getting back to having time with my son, and can get to posting on my other blog sites, check my Pinterest where I share a lot of content on. 

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/thetypicalLondongal/

When the weather is bad it does mean finding things to do each day to keep kids entertained and I struggle a lot to find what to do. It depends on how many kids you have and where you live. 

In England it tends to get bad near the coastal areas and northern parts of the country, and they seem, the people who live in those places, to get the brick of it, and so what I would do is have a cupboard or a draw of different things they can get out and play with.

It can means that the home can be a mess. and so I have Implemented a rule that Henry can only have one or two items at a time and is seems to do the trick. Teaching kids to tidy aswell as play is a good lesson as it adds value to the toys and games they have.

Why not get a family puzzle or a set of cards. As a kid I was always playing card games with my grandad and a game called "Shut the box" and with my son we play Connect 4 and Snakes and Ladders. 

Today me and Henry watched a video about the seasons as he has to learn the seasons for this term and so watched many that included the learning about different times of the year. 

It is good to teach them about what happens through the year in terms of nature and the being present in the current moment, spending time to get out doors and visit the different kind of parks in the country and abroad. 

I would love to take Henry to Florida as he loves planes and helicopters. 

The one thing I am wanting to do once I have a place of my own is bake again and this would be with Henry as cooking and baking is great to get all the kids involved and is a skill that will benefit. It may help them to be less fussy and actually eat what they have helped to make. 

As a kid as soon as I could reach the counter tops learned how to make a cup of tea and as a kid loved to wash up the dishes and playing with the pots and pans. 

The other things that I am looking forward to is to be able to go on long distant walks, and going to keep this up when Henry returns to school, not that we have been sitting on our bums the whole half term but been doing different things and I did plan to take Henry Swimming tomorrow but unsure now because of the weather. 

I will be keeping a check list of items that Henry needs for school and going help more when it comes to Henry getting ready for school as he isn't the easier child to get dressed and the one tip I would give is have a main area set up of uniform so you aren't searching for items and have items to grab. 

Henry does take a snack with him of a Banana and Raisins and a bottle of water and his fleece packed along with a coat. 

Henry hates having to wear a coat or his fleece but you never know things could change. 

It really has been a busy half term but glad to be out and about. 

I have more blogs to come so see you then. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X  

Visiting different parks and places in the half term break

All day been thinking it is the weekend and not in the week, so when a UK TV programme came on, The One Show I thought "What today" as it only comes on in the week, not the weekend. 

Today it was Bocketts Farm and even though it was raining in parts it was a really good day. 

These kind of places you do have to pre-plan, because it was very muddy and have shoes that you can change into afterwards if your worried about your car getting covered in mud. 

The other thing is food, there is an indoor Kiosk and an outdoor one to grab a coffee and a sandwich and have fresh foods like chopped carrots and cucumber with a dip, but I would next time bring a packed lunch. 

Going at one o'clock was a good time as a lot of people booked the early entry time and then go home early so less queuing. 

It does get booked really quickly so plan for that, I booked tickets last minute but would book when there is good weather for an early slot as I could see it being extra busy during the Easter and Summer holidays.

Chessington World of Adventures was open, but when it is raining it could be so over booked that queuing for rides can take a long time and so I like to go to such places outside the school holidays if possible. 

I have some peace at the moment as son has gone to do a Tree Trail, and I am trying to fill in some forms but not all is working so decided to watch some Youtube and some writing whilst these issues are rectified.

I used to work for an entertainments company that sold tickets for theme parks and so would get a free tickets and it did make a huge difference in my pocket. Now I don't I am going to working for kids holiday club and looking forward to it.    

Last year when Henry was at his first Primary school he did join an after school club and it he loved it and holiday club. 

I think with Henry is an only child, he misses other kids to interact with and so is on a playdate today and with Bocketts Farm he had made a friend. Kids will form their own friendships and as a kid myself I had a best friend that I will play with and saw each weekend and we still in touch now through social media. 

I did write a blog about Bestfriends and going to find it to link it. 

https://wordpress.com/posts/everyonecanbuildacastle.com?s=Bestfriends

When it comes to squabbling though you have to be on guard and you will get people not wanting to queue for rides and push in, and Henry did this and so had to stop him and he did wait but often he needs reminding. 

Whatever bad habits your son has, nip them in he bud straight away as I want my son to have good manners and behave. It is a bad habit pushing in and a pet hate of mind. 

So four more days and the half term break is going to end and the normal school run will be back into play and then the next one is the Easter Holiday when I will be working. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Half term fun and places to go to have lots of family fun

So first day of the week of half term and it is a mixed one as Henry was playing up. and he is with his dad tonight and back with me tomorrow and took him swimming and we had a really good time.  

I was a bit anxious over it because in case Henry ran off but didn't and had a really good hour of fun. 

I would encourage other parents to do the same. When I was a kid a young lad from whom I knew through my mum and dad drowned and it was so sad that it is important to help my son to be safe in the water. 

He does swimming lessons at a local school but today we swam in a local gym and if you have a BETTER GYM near you check them out as it really is affordable and worth trying as they are funded by the local authority. 

Tomorrow we are heading back to the gym because they have Softplay in there and great for when it is wet and rainy outside. 

I like to do different things each school holiday and writing about them. I am so grateful I get to experience these different places for Henry as he has good memories to look back on. 

Life full of fun and laughter is just what you need, and when you go to a different place, and do things you wouldn't be able to do in school term, can make a huge difference.  

I'd like to take Henry up into London and check the markets out, but been told they aren't very good anymore, yet in Surbiton last Saturday we sat by the river and saw boats, planes and helicopters and was nice in the sun but got a bit cold towards the end, but would love to do this in the summer time. 

You can take boat trips along their to Hampton Court and back. There is a good fundraising walk you can do, called the Thames Path challenge. My mum and I did this one year and was a great one to do. 

There are 25k or 50k walks you can do. We did the 25k. 

Today I did feel a bit annoyed with some girl that jumped in the bus queue, and so told her off but was acting as if she didn't hear me and had no mask on. I hate ignorance.

That is what puts me off from going is people who are so rude and that they should always go before anyone else, like the bus, not the fact that others have queued for longer and we (the other people standing there) were the first to ones to be there. 

This is why I would take time off to not go out and see why my dad would often come home unhappy after being out to the shops, but left happy and now I see it for myself.  

There are people that have time to be courteous and those that just don't care and will always push in queues and not say thank you when you've opened the door to them, or let them go first knowing they have waited, and take no notice. 

On Wednesday I am taking my son to Bocketts Farm and brilliant place to go, because they have a softplay there and outdoor parks with animals and my son loves it and had asked me if we could go there, and we are and I will film whilst we are there. 

I do have a Days in a life video to come documenting the half term and clips that Henry can watch when he is older. childhoods should be full of happy memories, that in 20 years time he can still smile about.

It can effect my self confidence sometimes when it comes to filming, so if you hear me speaking quietly when I do my days of my life, that is why.

I will link the video in my next blog once they are edited and uploaded. I do have few Youtube Channels: typicallondongal Carrie Lee Holmes, mystylewayofliving and carrieseducationalyoutubechannel. 

I have booked to go swimming again on Friday, and thinking about doing this as a regular thing we do each week. 

Oh and I go the Playworkers role and so be working for a holiday club for kids and really looking forward to it. 

So more to come, and thank you for reading my blogs on this site, I do write on several platforms, so check out my Pinterest for details: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/thetypicalLondongal/

Carrie X 

The Modern world the pros and cons

It is the end of another week and lost the blog I was originally writing so had to restart. 

Tomorrow it is Monday start of another week, but its half term and a little apprehensive about tomorrow as taking Henry to Swimming on my own, for the first time. It means I am swimming with him too and been a long time since I was in a swimming pool.

When it comes to doing things on your own can take time, because of being a parent you often don't know what to expect, and when Henry my son doesn't want to do something it is tough to try and get him to do it. 

Like today he didn't want to play with his balloon in the corridor because we, my mum and step dad was watching the rugby so tried to gain his attention by playing tennis whilst the rugby was done. 

He was doing everything he could to protest, so I had to stand my ground and say the word I hate to says in "No". For kids this can make them do the opposite, but often it can be hard to find a way to get him to understand he can't do everything he wants and life is about sharing. 

As it is Valentines day tomorrow I bought my son a card and some treats, of the chocolate kind. I want him to know about these dates in the calendar, because you can have a lot of fun when you do.  

There was a time when I was against Valentines Day because I wasn't seeing anyone, and thought it was too commercial and companies just trying to get more money out of you. Yet now I like to acknowledge it, and want my son to know about it. If he decides later on in his life, and isn't bothered about the day, then that is up to him. 

I have to get in touch with the modern world, as I often feel I get left behind, because I was listening to a portable CD player rather than an MP3, for ages and miss not having one. I was getting fed up of having to buy batteries for all of the time, and then went onto having an iTouch, around 2007, so with the days in the calendar I want to make the effort for each month in 2022. 

That is the same with my son and get to grips with the stages of his life. Kids grow fast and again feel like I can't often get to grips with it. 

Blogging was brand new to me and others around me didn't know what it was either, but I then understood it and when I began to get followers it boosted my wellbeing, in a way I never thought. It got me into communicating to people all over the world, and is good to be part of the blogging community. 

I love reaching out to people and those that reach out to me and have written books, started making videos for Youtube, use social media and now I have four online courses too. 

I miss not having a record player as there still a lot of songs like the temptations did, I'd like to have on vinyl (record) and LP's. 

I wish I still had my video recorder as I loved recording programmes, but then had Sky where you can save things in the planner on sky, but is very expensive so discovered Now TV and this is a great alternative.

I have been wanting an iPhone for ages, but because it would mean paying a high price on having one I have stuck with the phone I have, which is android, but still would like to have an iPhone at some point.

I like modern technology, when it is working, but when it goes wrong and you've lost work on there it can hold you back and be a real pain in the bum. 

This is why I still jot things down on paper because I do keep things on my phone, but then it runs out of space and if it doesn't work at all, it is a whole lot gone. 

When working for a contact centre it was all done on the computers and so because of that it would often crash, it meant jotting the calls on paper until the computers were back up and running. It meant I  had to process them in as there would be things like service level targets we had to meet, and this was on how many calls you took that day, and was the customer satisfied with the service so was twice the work, but it was limited to as we'd have to call the customers back. So I like having items on paper aswell as on my phone and my laptop so I still have record of the blog I wrote or what things are urgent and top of the list rather then losing them due to being put on my laptop. 

Modern technology is not always the answer. The Self service checkouts in supermarkets are taking away having someone to serve you, and soon mean that not all staff are needed because of the self service. People like having a genuine person helping them not a machine. When I did Chat services when working for a contact centre you'd have people using it to play a prank on someone, and was free and so meant the demand for it was more, but when this went down, it would have to be by telephone again. 

So is technology worth investing all of the time? 

It all depends on what it is. I mean if you are a dog walker you may used it to take notes of who's dogs you are looking after, but is best done on paper. If it is a retailer it is good to have online shopping as for me it can be a lot more convenient. 

Has it effected the world and how we live? 

I say yes, because when on a train or bus noone talks to each other as they are all looking on their phones and when it comes to talking to someone at the bank, you could be waiting 20 minutes or an hour to speak to anyone, and the first thing they do is advise you to do what you are wanting online. 

I live by my phone and laptop, but yesterday and today I wanted to be more present, so I had my phone upstairs whilst I watched TV downstairs and it felt good to take a break from it, and I think taking time away from modern technology can really relax your mind and make you feel less stressed. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X

 

Building Memories/School half term/Sharing more content

Hello and welcome, so I am really ready for some new challenges in my life coming my way. 

I have uploaded a new video on my channel, My Style way of Living, and talking about my routine, and I want to do another to show my treasures I have found, in terms of clothes, bags and shoes. 

Last night I uploaded a new Truth about growing up and talking about my Teenage years and getting through my time in Secondary school. 

I am writing a new parenting blog as it is another day. Thursday's is where I get a little extra tired, I think it is because I travel a lot each day so catches up with me. Thank the lord for Coffee and for tea as I have no idea how I would function without them. I do crave Caffeine, but like to get it under my control, so I don't consume to much. 

I am really battling with the fatigue I feel so gonna have my first coffee of the day, and get on with the tasks I have planned to do this morning and have some other blogs to write for my other sites, please check out my Pinterest site which has some of my content on it: 

I am feeling a bit restless because I am waiting for some news to see if I can do the Playworker Work I had applied for as it is half term in the UK this coming week and so need to set some time aside to take my son out and having some fun together. 

I don't like to stay in all day, and I know my son would like to go outdoors and I have setting a plan and I would encourage to do the same, and it doesn't have to be written down but kept in your mind. 

I like to explore with Henry so he can see different places and gets to go on the train and a bus. I think this teaches him how to get to places and has an amazing memory. I want to document the times we spend together. I feel it is so important so he can look back and smile. I am sure there will be difficult times in his life as, however much we would love it, we don't get to live forever. 

In fact my target for me is to get to 81, as noone in my family have ever reached this age, and then after that, not going to worry about it.

I want to look back at all the good memories I have and be grateful for them, I love doing videos that my son can look back on, and so next week as it is half term, I am going to video part of it and will be on my main channel: 

Memories are important to me. Some may disagree, but that is up to them. We aren't born to be all the same but make a difference to others in life. 

Today me and my son were playing football and want to video this at some point to store these times. I am thinking at this moment of setting up a youtube channel dedicated to my son, or to go with my parenting blog I write on Wordpress: https://theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.wordpress.com 

My son has become more independent and I am very happy about that, and today after many attempts to get him to do, he got changed all by himself today and gave him praise because he often doesn't always show his full potential, and he has so much going for him, he just doesn't always show it. 

Schooling has been tricky as he doesn't always want to do some sit down learning, and so we really have to push him in order for him to do it. He wants to be in charge all of the time, but we are trying to show that, as much as we don't want to do something you have too. I want Henry to have a good education, but I also want him to be involved in what he needs and what he wants.

When he does do some sit down work or sits quietly, I praise him, which for me as a parent is so important and he sees that he has started to make a difference to his development by himself and when he sees he has done something good he soon gets it.  

The blog I wrote today was about, half term and getting through it, and about Celebrating Valentines day with your kids, giving ideas of what I plan to do, and there will be more to come. I have a Truth about parenting video to do, but that may have to be done the week after. 

This blog will be written in the evenings, but won't be everyday as I want to get some of my other blogs done, and get my next book written ready to be published in March. 

So see you tomorrow and many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

 

Sorting my life out/More Challenges to be achieved for myself

I am getting a little behind since writing these blogs, but I am prioritising and making sure I give myself time to travel to see my son, to do other tasks and blogs, but feel good that I am achieving my 750 words which helped me to repost on this blog site on a daily basis. 

I write this as I finished yesterday's post so gonna give myself a head start. 

I completed my blog challenge I set for myself and happy that I did it but gonna take a break and then decide what challenge I am going to do for March. 

If you'd like to read the blogs I wrote in the challenge then you can, check out this link: https://buildingselfconfidencetud.blogspot.com/

I uploaded a Days of my life video on my main Youtube channel. I enjoy doing these not sure if people are enjoying them, its a spending time with me as a writer and a mum. If you'd like to check out all my Youtube channels then you can via these links:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUDFIqjVKLy7NhtcR6Hy0Tg

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVjvO2fsowvFne_iMuG7d1g/videos

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW6X7xXVFoaToqlDpGLTtSg

I love doing Youtube, and as long as people are watching them then this still means a lot to me and for me I find if you have a set routine it makes it  easy to share content by video, rather than doing a video a day, which I was doing but was getting behind on my other work. 

The next challenge I am going to do is to each day go through my email accounts and delete old ones as they are super filled up and so need to get to grips with doing this. 

If you I showed you, you'd say "They need a good clear out" and so gonna start this as of March and set myself a target of how many emails I clear out from each email account each day.

When it comes to decluttering I have to be in the right mind and know that my email accounts need for me to go through a couple of hours a day. I do watch organize videos but yep I put it off. 

So my goals for March is going to be to clear out my email accounts to having only 100 emails stored in each of them. 

I've also got a sky email account to and so will need to visit this as somepoint but will leave that until I have my google email accounts instead. 

If you ask why allow it to build up? I wish I could answer but I don't, but do want to get them under control...so what area in your life do you need to get sorted, I would love for you to comment below, as I do get energized to declutter by being inspired by others. 

Then I have my paper work in my room, that needs sorting and going to do this in April and gonna set this out now to make sure I do it. Then in May it will be starting my programme like I did last year for a month, my "2022 Project" offering two months of Life Coaching content, in videos, EBook and blogs, and going to be using my main Youtube channel and my blog site: https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com that project I am going to do.

I feel good in planning these tasks and I know that I can face them head on. I may get times where I can't be bothered but gonna spear myself on, and reward myself, as I get these challenges completed. 

Life is about challenges, and going beyond my capabilities to complete them.

Every thing we do in our lives, there will be hurdles, so I know with planning I will complete tasks I set out for myself and if I need time to myself, I am going to take it, and once I have the items under control then I know this will lead me to do more decluttering and I am desperate to do my Seasoanl clean up videos again, as it really got me to complete having a sort out, instead of putting them off. 

You have to give yourself tough love and be ruthless and what items are important that need to be kept and what isn't. It is about stopping the piles and making homes for items you have.  

I am looking forward to having my own home again, but I know I need to work hard to make this happen. 

I like creating projects for myself and building my blog content and I really hope that I do get to work during these months in a kids club setting or supporting mental health. I do see good things happening in that direcation, but its time and a lot of energy that needs to be the right thing for me and have a good connection with people. 

So that my thoughts and feelings for today and more to come tomorrow too. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

How I Organize my life and why I do it and getting ticks on my lists

YES ANOTHER WEEK! Today I have been filling in an application form and someone who writes a lot I find them hard going, but I know I need to get it done application form and what I like to do is take my time. No we have the internet it helps make it easier rather than writing because of having to print of several copies. So for me if I can do it, via the internet, that is what I do. 

Never rush it or fill them out when tired, as that is where I make huge mistakes, and it is all about having attention to detail. Be honest and relevant. Example if it is job working for a vet, they want to know of what you know about looking after animals and how to help assist them, and not about your record collection you create. 

I have had a bit of time off from writing my other blogs, and like today I did some walking and going to do the same tomorrow, and want to catch up on other tasks, example I am filming a day in a life, along with planning other work and going to work on my book, as I am desperate to have this finished and planning for my next challenge, once the self confidence blog has been achieved. 

When it comes to managing my time to keep writing, you can get to the point where it gets a bit too much and so trying to help by only planning four things I want to  accomplish and today I have one item ticked off. 

It is so good to have items ticked off, and I feel that I am getting through my lists and what I have decided to do is pick 4 things I want to do each day and so far I have managed to do them. I don't use any fancy digital programme but my A4 notebook and I go through my lists on One note but basically I use a pen and a notebook.

This as far I am concerned is all you need to get back on track and do a weekly list. I do have a planner where I will put any appointments done and any errand and do a brief list of items, but my notebook I live in. 

I do believe that having a computer is bette than a laptop and do miss using a computer so gonna see if I can have a new one or use an old one to help me. 

I have to be really careful of how much I put on it, and miss having a disc drive and having better video and movie software, they are a lot better to use to improve my videos as I am very much a Novice still but it is all about learning, and I have to accept that there are bound to be mistakes but that is good, I love challenges and taking on the internet world. 

Reaching out o people is so rewarding and I forget that sometimes and focused on,"I got to get it done, I got to get it done", not the full process. I am very self critical, yet when I see that you my audience likes or even viewed my blogs reminds me why I write blogs for. 

I like what I do and when I am able to workout out of home again gonna help me too. 

Life is about taking steps to reach happiness as that is what we all want, isn't it?

It is builidng progress, and achieve goals no matter what they are, and this includes setting habits that can change your life. For me this year is to be a healthier, so set days to exercise if I can't workout all week and so I walk and do some training indoors 3x a week. 

Setting time to do items overdue, for me I need to go through my emails address to declutter and not feel like a mountain to get through, there is a lot. 

I spend, like a lot of people on my mobile and use it to film videos along with my laptop to have a break from Social Media, and make it a habit to only film on Instagram once or twice a week, for me that is the weekend, and when over to wait for my son to return from school, spend time catching up on TV and only check the my mobile to check travel information, e.g. When my bus will be when travelling back from my son's home. 

I hope you are enjoying my blogs I send out daily on this site and coment below of how you organize your life and get stuff done and includes time for yourself. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

 

My thoughts and feelings at the end of another week/Shopping tips/Organization

Yes it is Friday and yes "The End Of the Week" almost as for me my weeks end on Sundays and be start a new week from Monday. Today is it Day 5 of my Self Confidence blog challenge and it has been really good. 

If you'd like to catch up on the blogs on that site I have created, then please do. Here is the link:

https://buildingselfconfidencetud.blogspot.com/

I am soon gonna have my interview that has been booked and getting a little nervous, as I said I would feel in my last blog, but do feel somehow relaxed at the same time, and it is because I just want to get it done and start it. 

So since beginning this blog today had my interview and it went really well, and relieved. You never know when it comes to interviews how it is going to be, but it is done and got a video filmed beforehand to give me a good boost of confidence. A "Make up and chat video" and so will be going live some point today, and will link when I do. I have also planned to do some hauls, as I have some new items and want to show you. When it comes to buying clothes, I would recommend visiting a Charity shop or a Thrift store, as you'd be amazed what goodies you can find. 

Buying from Charity shows how you can still give back and embrace somebody elses goods that they no longer want anymore and is a cost effective way to buy items and should be included in your shopping on the high street.

The British Heart Foundation seem to have some really good items and where a lot of good fashion items I can be found. I bought a lovely cardigan on Thursday and was a great find, and showed it in my Make up and chat video,. I use them to buy Christmas presents, and gonna do what I did before rather than last minute to find items through out the year and have a storage bin to keep items I find, yet buying clothes from non charity stores, is often worth a wait as the price of items can be on sale.

I just can't stand the Christmas rush, and I bet some may say "I don't want to think about that now", but to stay on board I feel I have to be more prepared for it. 

I want to do more gift guides not just at Christmas but other times through out the year. 

We have Valentines coming up, Easter, and I want to celebrate St George's day. I was gonna do that last year and bought clothes for it and missed the date. 

St Georgies day does not always get celebrated so this year I will be doing so and would love to make a cake for it, along with going out to celebrate the day. 

I just wrote down what I want to do this week, and one is to go through special dates of the year and would like to add them to my monthly Newsletter and do challenges around them and blogs and videos too. 

I like having things to look forward too and explore different places. 

Name name one thing you'd like to do and date you'd like to celebrate that does often get publicized?

Comment below. 

I have a lot of sorting to do still in my old home and sort out my letters what I haven't bought over, to see if I should keep them or let go. In my opinion I think it is worth keeping hold of letters, like from the bank because like PPI many got so much money back and so did I, and was a life saver. Yet I do need to reorganize my stored paper I have to file them better.

I do write two blogs I specifically write on google about organization, and how I don't often think I am organized, and is often put at the bottom of the list, but subconciously I am, and have discovered myself that I must be organized to get stuff done. These blogs are: 

- Organized4thebetter 

- New Organized Self 

Is it good to be organized? 

Yes because who wants to live in a mess? I do want my own home again to store certain items I'd like to keep, and I am also a mum so I do have to be organized for that, to meet my son's needs. I do his home work every Sunday before he goes back to his dads, and it is finding methods that work for you.

I want Henry to do more writing and reading, but I get why he often doesn't want to, but having a good routine I make sure that he does do those things, but when he does I make sure that he doesn't have any distractions as it can effect his concentration. 

My son has ADHD and Autisom and works better with a regular routine, and so I must be organized yet often challenge myself to see if I am or not. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

My Thoughts and feelings/Self Confidence/New opportunities

So it is another day, yes Thursday to be precise and been taking time out to listen and was feeling slumped at one point but is easing away. I really was feeling like I didn't want to write but here I am. 

My blog from yesterday has gone up so I am little behind on my site where I share these blogs.

https://mydailythougthsandfeelings.blogspot.com/

Yet I have had a force of energy that has helped me to get some writing completed and to keep going, however it may take a lot longer for me to write and continue on creating blogs, books and Uploading videos.

I feel like I need to explore more of London and tempted to go up there tomorrow as a change, but I want to take Henry up there on Saturday as not taken him up there for a while. 

So back from travelling to look after my son for when his dad gets in from work and had some good news today, and will let you know what it is soon, I have an interview tomorrow and that is all I am gonna say, and I am  a little nervous. I already thinking lots about it and gonna print some stuff off to get ready for it. 

I have learned in the last two years or so, that often you do have to wait and keep plodding along the best you can, and value myself. Just now as I saw myself via door relection and was ready to start on myself. I have struggled with body confidence issues but I shut those negative thoughts down. 

There have been times when I have looked at myself, where at the time I didn't feel like I looked good, but then looked back and thought "You know I didn't look bad at all". It is shutting that inner critic down. The one that attacks at any minute where I take a look at myself. 

Today's Self confidence blog is gonna to be about Dealing with Anger when we Lack confidence. We can often lash out at others and want approval from someone else, like our point of view isn't good enough.

If you didn't know I am doing a challenge whereby I am writing a blog a day for the whole week on my blog site linked here: https://buildingselfconfidencetud.blogspot.com/

It is Day 4 and so going to crack on with that tonight before I go to bed, as for me it is actually Thursday evening. 

Tomorrow I plan to do another long walk as gotta take some bras back I bought from M&S and buying good underwear is another way you can build your confidence as often we can be wearing the wrong size. I'm not sure if stores still do measyring but when bra shopping I need to remember to try different ones on, and for me I have to go up a size. 

A new video will be filmed and uploaded to my Youtube channel, typicallondongal and gonna be a Make up and Chat video.

So it is almost time for me to go to bed ready for another day, so gonna write bit of my book and when it comes to writing, doing sprints for like 10 minutes really helps me with my writing and is  a great skill because creating stories is so enjoyable and rewarding, that I am so glad I returned to it. 

I have taken breaks from it and that is important. Writing is about imagination, creating good characters and things that you can relate to. 

When I write I do like to listen to music, like I am and I like all different kind of music and helps bring personality to the book, and makes me sit back and write and using it to build a network of books and love being part of that world. 

I have felt often that I don't belong, but so wanted to. Then I discovered blog writing and it just came to me from funnily enough reading a book, which was a comedy book about a woman who is a real life WAG (footballers wife) and she writes blog that she thinks noone would read, yet it goes worldwide and just wanted to give it try. I am glad I never looked back. 

Would I ever want to be a WAG? Not gonna a lie did think about it, but no because first of all it makes someone sound cheap and would never go out with anyone just because they play professional football, but of how they are and, relationships is all about connection, and loving someone for who they are, and being football coach I like to be friends with footballers, as I would like to do coaching at some point again, and who knows.

You have to have respect when it comes to relationships and proper romanic love depending who it is. Of course the love you have for your kids is different, but I am in love with my son. I love my son out of this world, and there are different kinds of love, but its listening and talking, and respect all the way.  

How about you? You can leave a coment below.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

My Thoughts and Daily Feelings/Getting bits accomplished/Managing my time

So it is Wednesday and I was due for a appointment, to have my Smear Test, but having anxiety over it I have changed it to next week. I know putting things off. I know I will get it done. 

I am also going to need to return some bras back to exchange. 

I rebooked my Smear test again for next week and feel better in doing so. 

Its my anxiety but I have to correct it by making sure that things I don't want to do, are done no matter what, but I have to be ready to do those things as much as I try to avoid.

Henry Winkler who played Fonzy on Happy Days said because he had dislexia "If something is a challenge you always you'll you will always find a way around it to get it done" and he is spot on. 

It is day 3 for my Self Confidence challenge and this blog is going to be about Does, and it can yes, please see link to my blogs written so far: https://buildingselfconfidencetud.blogspot.com/

I have written some bits of my book too, and it is a hard task writing a book because I don't have at the moment direct help with it, so aswell as writing it, I edit myself too. Writing and creating books should never be underestimated how long a book takes to write. I wanted initially to be written in a month but because it takes time for me, not been possible. 

When it is finally ready for Publishing I will let you know.

I have to get my second Newsletter done, and check out my blog Everyonecanbuildacastle.com as it is available on there, and what challenges are to be completed next. 

I am writing my list for tomorrow was going to film another shop with me, but feel I want to wait as I really want to check out H&M in Oxford Street. I am sure there is a store I just need to remember where. I am a girl who does get lost a lot, but I always find my way, and it is good to cxplore. 

So I am off to be ready for when Henry comes back from school, and I take 2-3 buses and the train sometimes, but I don't mind it at all. When I get to my son's home I will be watching Call the Midwife, but watching on Youtube Sheerluxe BTS the moment and gonna watch the rest later whem I am back where I live, aswell working more on my book...

I travelled back and now watching the rest of Sheerluxe BTS, and tomorrow I have an appointment, my Career Specialist and helping me to find outside work, which will help me with my blogs, books I write and to create more content, and expand myself. 

I think expanding is a must in order for me to continue what I do but improving it even more. 

I do get a good following on my wordpress blogs and so want do more work covering more areas to help others be successful in their life too. 

I still got my blog to do for Day 3 of my blog challenge, and get ready to do the same tomorrow. 

I have now posted Day 3 blog, and doing small jobs can really make my wellbeing good, and I like feeling that I have had a productive day, and still relaxed whilst doing errands and being a mum, and is important to me to feel like I have accomplished my tasks set out. 

Next week I will be working mainly on my book and desperate to get it written to start editing again and so want it out by the end of this month and ready to continue writing my other books I plan to write are done, and praying to have some help with this. Writing a book is a long process but with rewards too. 

I would encourage others to write books and it is easier than you think, and is worth it when I see on Amazon ready to be read. 

All my books can be found on Amazon.com or amazon.co.uk under the names, Carrie Challoner, Carrie Lee Holmes and Carrie Holmes. 

I do plan to film for my other channels, and when it comes to Youtube, I was publishing videos everyday but found this to be too much so I now have set a schedule for my videos and now post a video on my channel Typical London Gal Carrie Lee Holmes, 3 days a week, Tuesday's, Wedesdays and Fridays. 

I would like to film for my other two, but have videos up every week too. 

It is all about time and giving myself leeway to get bits completed. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

My Thoughts and Feelings in Doing tasks at the right time

So it is a new month and ready for it to be spring, and the weather today writing this blog is lovely. and did more walking again today. I am concentrating on the things I need today and have more videos filmed ready to be uploaded and Tuesday's. Wednesdays and Friday is when I post my videos on my channels and want to film a video for my other two channels. 

When I arrived back to Wimbledon where I am currently living did a bit of tiding and running errands and feel productive, and good to have  a free day and heard back about the Playworker role that I want to do in a local school during half term. 

So in between this writing this blog I am uploaded a DIAL video which will be on my Youtube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUDFIqjVKLy7NhtcR6Hy0Tg

And do a lot of videos about fashion, makeup, skincare, shop with me's, along with parenting and Days of my life. 

I want to work on my book today and write few more blogs today on my site that I have shared Everybody can build a castle to share my first blog challenge of 2022. I will be posting for today to do take on the challenge, and it is writing on my blog, Building Self Confidence - The Ugly Duckling, all this week until Sunday the 7th February 2022.

I realised I put the incorrect link down for my Self Confidence blog so here it is: https://buildingselfconfidencetud.blogspot.com/

Today it is Day 2 of my blog challenge and so check out for that by pressing the link above, and want to have a clear out of my emails, and yes been putting it off but has to be done. 

I have to be in the right mindset to do it, but needs to be dealt with.

What is the one thing you got to do that you have been putting off? Or is it just me? I hear you and yes "Don't talk about it just get it done".

Is procrastinating good or bad? That is a question that has mixed views, but after running errands this morning and had to make a phonecall today I just want to take some time to catch up on Youtube. and it depends on what has been done. I have ticked a few things off my lists today so consider this a success and another steps forward in having a good day, to have more good days. 

This morning I had a lovely coffee which was something I had planned to do, in my local Polka Theatre, which is for kids, but has a cafe you can pop into, and had been planned a few weeks, whilst going through my notebook that carry around with me of things that need to be done this week is a must as a writer, you never know when ideas come to you. So it was a good morning to do this and going to plan days out to visit other places for a coffee and have more mornings of walking and enjoying life as much as I can.

As I finish this blog I have written my second blog on my self confidence blog and is all about Restarting your life. If life needs changing then make a start, it is all about doing try and tested strategies to restart your life and seeing the good results. 

I have often had to restart and it can feel like taking a step backwards, but no you are making changes to get further results. Example you haven't driven a car for a while and so need to restart doing little drives or finding an instructor to help you. It may be because you had an accident and has caused you fear in driving again. 

Life is life, and full of ups and downs but if you say I can drive again and start having lessons will see that you still can drive you just needed a break. We all need breaks in our lives and so its re-establishing our lives. 

Its okay to have set backs and it is okay to be fearful. Fear will always be there but it can guide you and looking back on mistakes and now you've learned and so now can drive your child to school again and feel safe again. 

If something in your life is not working, it needs to be observed and taken note of for it to then be fixed to something that is working for you. 

I have almost completed my tasks for today and feels good to have my lists with ticks by each task and been a productive day and so can almost take a break and then have an early night. 

I tried one some bras that I bought from M&S but only just fit so need to exchange to a bigger size. It's amazing how the body changes, and is annoying at times, but again is life. The body will does change, and I know that I can excange them to buy the right size. Is this a setback? No its just one of those things. 

So do things when you are ready and promise to yourself that the item you are putting off "Will be done".

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X