Not jumping in with both feet

It is Friday, end of another week and my son is taking a while to go to sleep, and got things planned for the weekend and it is good to have things to look forward to. It has been a good week and had to make some decisions on looking for work outside of my online work, to help build my knowledge and understanding about healthcare and childcare, by working in Social care, but had to think about what is suitable for me to do and not jump in with both feet.

My son and I last weekend playing football 

I suffer with anxiety and have it under control but allowing myself to decide what is good for me and will help me grow, but nothing too demanding at the moment, that will get myself to get back on the bus of feeling confident to do more, and then grow my responsibility in the work force and that works around my writing and content creating.

Also want to focus on my son, and make sure he has a lot of time, to play and learn from one another, and grow as a mother and a son. He is really growing and developing that I am so glad I haven't missed watching him grow and now have to start looking for secondary schools, and I am nervous about it.

It is daunting for children and parents/carers, because it is the last school of his life, and will they be suitable schools? It is another transition and expands him mind, but is not behind in school.

I remember my friend who I was going to see, cancelled when she was looking for a Secondary school for her daughter, and just wanted to spend time with her daughter and partner, and I was fine. It is another Transition and am concerned about Henry blending in, and if it is the right match for him.

If you have any advice please share. You can leave a comment below.

So going to enjoy my weekend and see you very soon.

Carrie X 

Taking a break

So almost at the end of the week and feeling a little extra tired today, and think I am going to take a break from blogging and focus on my Youtube Channels, and books to refocus, and so going to blog until the end of the week but take two months out. I will be posting my cheat sheets, each week, but not writing any full blogs.

I will be putting up details on my social media sites and build these too, and want to have a reset which I will film, and will be back again in March at some point.

It is a decision that I need to make and it is good to take a break. I enjoy blog writing, and truly grateful for the followers I have got, since I began, but now I want my blogs to take a back seat, and have many projects to work on, and complete my next set of books, and so have a good evening and will blog again tomorrow.

Many thanks 

Carrie X 

The issues with medical care in the UK

So today has been good, and been focusing on my books I am writing, and building my knowledge, on social care, and watched a really disturbing video, which was filmed some years back of people being mistreated in care homes, and was part of my training I did yesterday and it was so upsetting.

Don't get me wrong, I think there are good carers and Support staff out there, who do do a good job, but it is watching via a episode of Panorama, showed terrible maltreatment and finding out that one member staff abused an elderly lady that had dementia, was given 18 months in prison and sent back to the country he was from, so could still continue on hurting someone. Deporting yes, but should in my opinion given a tougher sentence.

I spent sometime in a Mental health hospital and was prescribed medication that caused me not be able to move and had to have help in going to toilet at which some of the staff were unkind, yet due to my NIMO nurse, as soon as they could see I was having terrible side affects, lowered it and gave me a medication to help stop the bad side affects and did very quickly got back on my feet. There was good members of staff my NIMO nurse, was lovely and brilliant, and thankful for her help, and care.

How do you find the right people to care for those that are vulnerable? You can do the checks you like, but it is like GP's. My sons surgery, trying to book an appointment, we don't contact them all the time, as luckily he doesn't always get ill, but trying to see the doctor is merely impossible. The last year he was unwell and was getting a temperature, tried to make an appointment, only to be told we need to go to A & E, but didn't want to do that, because of how busy our A&E department is, where my son lives and had to push the receptionist to get an appointment and luckily got seen by another clinic that was open, and found out he had tonsilitis.

Then you have that nurse that was killing babies in the NICU. She was trained and qualified, yet was murdering babies, and yes now she serving life, but why did it take for loads of babies to be killed, for her to be found out and charged? I hope there can be lessons learned and make sure there are cameras, and people at the top watching. 

Let me know how you feel. You can leave a comment below. I hope these issues can be stopped.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X  

A productive Tuesday

So Tuesday done. I was doing some training today, as I am looking for outside work, and so had to take in a lot of information and so feel super tidy, but still a productive day and got some editing of my book I am writing, and so taken a lot out of me and glad to be chilling.

I just wrote a blog on my blog: https://thestylishmamma.blogspot.com/2024/01/enjoy-your-life-in-2024.html  and you have to enjoy life, and have to taken on challenges to do that, as we avoid challenges the more they build and can get us down, so face challenges, to learn and build our knowledge and skills.

Life is about spending time with family, seeing friends and just unwind. Life can be rush rush, but can lead to burn out, so give yourself some self care to develop your wellbeing and to be more happier about life, no matter what it throws at you. 

Today it was no spend day, and facing my yearly no spend January, and so was good not to buy anything and just focus on learning, and develop my understanding as I want to learn about healthcare and childcare, so looking to work in those sectors to gain knowledge to gain more understanding of the human being, and how we can build our minds and understanding certain behaviour and the human body. I want to help my son, who has ADHD to support other parents and understanding the child's mind. 

So yes, and going to enjoy my evening and get ready for another day tomorrow.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Getting stuff done for a good productive day

Today I think I was scammed again this time ETSY and it was some pens I was selling and thanks to ETSY they who it seemed bought the products on my store have been blocked, and it was some pens I was selling and only had a few things listed and do be careful when using online services and buying goods and selling as twice this year I was scammed, so be aware, and now going to be careful, and made me a little dubious in using ETSY to sell products.

Still a good day though, created my weekly cheat sheets, they are on my blog sites: http://www.everyonecanbuildacastle.com and https://www.theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.com and enjoying making these and helps start my week and days and getting my daily goals completed, but completing tasks towards my goals and making sure my finances were up to date, book editing as I am trying to complete two books now, and check out Mum&Me as this is going to be a series and edited my second book and get the first draft of this book completed and starting a new one, called Behind the eyes of the other woman. 

I edited a new vlog on my channel The Typical London Gal and getting my Christmas vlogs uploaded, and tomorrow I am doing some training for a potential outside job I may be doing, will be finding out more. It is good to have eggs in different baskets, because I like to doing various things and get bored easily so to keep me focused is building my knowledge doing different courses and training, to increase my skills and to help create more content, and grow my online community. 

My goals are still be created, and this month I am doing No Spend January and have had a few tempting moments to buy what I don't need, and so been creating my list of what I need to buy, like today I bought some batteries for my sons portable CD player I bought him for Christmas, and so really focus on spending less and save more, to pay my credit card debt. Check out my Youtube channel My way of living

So, signing off and hope you all have a good week.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

A Good weekend and sending my love to those who have had their homes flooded.

Happiness can take a lot because of uncontrollable events, and often it can lead us to giving up, but all that does is send further down the slope and then you feel that you have no sense of direction, and you feel more down and can't put one foot in front of the other.

Garfield park where we do our Sunday morning walk 

This weekend seeing those who are flooded because of the storms, to really effect of how can I be happy when I know that, that has happened? Well it makes you realise how lucky you are and that when life is good to cherish it and hold on to it. I wish I was Super girl I would help blow it all the way, but that's not possible. What I can do is pray for them and this year I want to raise money for causes to make a difference and that is donating food and clothes. 

Today Henry, my son and I, did our usual Sunday morning walk and wasn't feeling like being cold, but actually glad that I did and when the sun was out, it wasn't that cold until later in the day when playing football with my son, and so now indoors, half watching Youtube and the other watching the football, and glad to have had a good productive weekend, and going to chill and relax and worry about anything else tomorrow. 

Oh I had a lovely dinner cooked by my step dad, and now just had crackers and cheese. Good time to just enjoy the rest of the weekend until the week starts again. 

Sundays to me mean no alarm, relaxing morning to wake up and not having to rush anywhere. 

What do Sunday's mean to you. You can leave a comment below. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

What it means to be human and coming together

So it is the end of another week and the first week of January is over, and feel that I accomplished a lot this week. Its not always like that though, but when it has been a good productive week, it feels so good.

I know there are many places in Britain that are flooded and so my love goes to them, and for Gate Galloway, hearing of her husband had died, after being terribly ill with COVID. 

Picture I took on one of my walks of Rosbery Park Epsom 
And helps me feel happy about my life and how I can make a difference to my life and others 

She is a TV Presenter and does the news on GMB and does radio too on some mornings on Smooth radio.

My hearts goes out to people who haven't had a good Christmas or new year, and reminds me how lucky I am and that your life can change at any moment and so you have to make the most of life the best you can and not hold back.

I hope everyone who had to travel today managed to get to where they wanted to be and got home, as I do worry about others because other peoples lives are important to me, and would love for the world to come together and not be at war, as all this does is leave scars and takeaway innocent peoples lives.

The weather can, if we let us take away our happiness but watching the news see that people are coping the best they can and trying to carry on with their life the best they can, and this helps me to face challenges and not stop me from feeling happy about life.

I am going to start looking at fundraising events and to help make a difference, to raise money for charity again and they are so rewarding, and doing my bit as a human being and supporting other peoples lives, makes me feel good about myself and being proud of myself.

The other thing I started at Christmas and want to continue is buy food to give to foodbanks and other charitable causes, because I like to help and is setting an example to others to do the same.

We have to respect one another and do acts of kindness, and the one thing I needed to learn, is alright if someone I have helped doesn't say thank you. I did my bit and not do it for a reward, but showing what it means to be human.

So lets so our bit for others and play our part in the world and help bring the world together.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Getting my life together for 2024

Hello and I hope you have had a good day, it is coming to the end of the week. It has felt so short as my son went back to school on Wednesday, and been using my time to get up to date with my blogs, vlogs and books, and walking after my son has been picked up to go to school.

Four things I like to do at the beginning of the year and how do they make me feel?

1. Setting new goals: Each year I will set goals for the year and into quarters. Some people do daily, weekly and monthly, it is up to you. It helps to map out the things you want to get done that are still to be finished and use a notebook and digitally. I use a notebook and OneNote. Yes I do have a diary, to get tasks done that will lead me to complete my goals, and break them up. This make me feel joy about the new year.

2. Make life changes and not resolutions: I make life changes that I know I can keep. This year is to look after my money, by checking my bank account each day and keep track on what comes in and what's going out, and yesterday I spend time doing my yearly budget. This helps to not over spend that can lead me to feel anxiety over money, and be in control of my money, not let money control me. 

3. Changing habits: So this is selfcare, writing and planning my day, that helps me feel organized and have a productive day, and make sure my son is ready for school, and exercise like walking, either outside or indoors using the treadmill, and will be going to a gym again that I can pay as I go, to help motivate me because I do get bored, and exercising in different places, doing different routines helps with that, and helps to manage my diet. 

4. Reset: Catching up on cleaning, decluttering and go through important dates through the year, like birthdays, holidays and other special occasions. Keep track of goals that I didn't complete and one thing I want to do again is meal plan. and plan my food again, as my diet is bad, and needs to be better. 

So what are the four things you do at the beginning of the year. Please leave a comment below.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X  

Getting productive for 2024

Hello and normality is back. My son is back at school and so got a lot done today. I wrote new blogs, check out https://www.carriesversatilefashion.com and on https://www.everyonecanbuildcastle.com

I did my yearly budget and got food cooked for dinner and did some exercise and feels good to have been so productive. There are days where I just want to chill and that is fine, and helps to avoid burnout, and I lose concentration, when I too much, so did it chunks of my day, and it is good to break down task, as it helps get the most of the day, and helps the days move at a pace where I am not worrying about time.

Getting the dinner prepped in the day helped, along with take a break from my laptop, and now working on three books, and feel excited about it and really enjoying the process, and I love to write and develop a good story and take my time on that too.

Now my son has had is bath and so have I and now writing this blog on the sofa and going to have a nice pudding with custard and love a good dessert. Not all the time, but now and again, and not going deprive myself and just eat when I am hungry. 

I do feel snacking is not a good habit, and had less because I had a good breakfast, lunch and dinner so if I fancy a dessert I am going to have one. 

Tomorrow I will popping out going for a morning walk, and got to get a few bits, like coffee, some raisins for my son and some chips for tomorrows dinner, to use up some Gammon that I bought for Christmas. 

As I am doing no spend did myself a homemade Cappuccino with cream, with sprinkles and marshmallows, and it was really nice, and using what I have got rather than having a coffee at a coffee shop, and had a no spend day, which I got into the habit of doing, and it feels good.

So, going to chill now and enjoy a quiet night with a lovely dessert.

Are you a pudding person, and what is your favourite dessert. You can leave a comment below.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X  

Last day of the Christmas holidays

Oh great day, the weather was not too good, but not going to fear and get outdoors, and there are many things you still can do.

I took Henry to the Cinema for the second time, to see Wonka and it was really good. I am doing no spend January again, check out my new video: https://youtu.be/0aQQooZ3O1U

Just now I wrote a whole blog but lost connection so didn't save, but not going it to stop me in posting and life is full of things going wrong, but never allow faults to stop you in living your life. 

You may be wondering why when I am doing No spend as to why I went to the cinema, but it was raining and did plan to do this before my son returned to school tomorrow and there was no better day then today, and got a good deal on the tickets and yes paid for food which can be expensive, but I don't got to the cinema a lot, so when I do like to experience the whole thing. 

Christmas has been fun, and wanted it to continue for one last day, and so was a good decision to go, whilst the weather was bad, and the same as Sunday, we went to a Cat Cafe and posted in Sunday's blog and so, was worth it. 

I am never going to get that time back so, felt good in spending today, but will save now as I want to pay of my credit card and go on a holiday, during the summer holidays, and going to continue building other income streams.

Tomorrow I am waiting in for a new toilet to be delivered, so stopping in, but still going to have a productive day. I posted my first two cheat sheets today, as going to do this weekly to help others have a good week, and will be tips on having a easy ways to stay on track with your life and so check out my two blog sites: https://www.anyonecanbuildacastle.com and https://www.theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.com

So I am going to chill now ready for tomorrow, and will be back with another daily blog tomorrow.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Getting back into planning to be organized for another year

Happy new year everyone! I have been packing, and sorting out stuff to be put away and now back in Wimbledon, and been a chilled day. I washed my hair and done my skincare for the evening, and worked on book and writing notes and started a new book idea. 

I have been planning the year and this week, and week ahead. I feel good in getting set up for the year ahead, and organizing my notes on OneNote, along with my Filofax.

Part of me feels sad to let go of 2023, but you have to just get on with it, as time is never going to stop, so there is nothing we can do about that. I have also getting clothes and items, that my son will need to return to school on Wednesday and choosing his lunches and I got to say that they really are different when to comes to school dinners. They have a real good selection, and wished I could go to his school and have lunch there. 

It means that it will be time to plan the year out and update my calendar and my step sister bought me a new one to hang up, and I have began to use my google calendar again, as it easy to put dates that I have to remember using my phone and save paper. 

When it comes to planning I like easy assessable systems and nothing that causes me to be overwhelmed. I do like using paper, aswell and is back up should I lose my phone or my laptop doesn't work and still be able to check a physical paper planner/diary. 

Check out my Pinterest board on planning: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/thetypicalLondongal/planner-and-notebooks/planning-and-organization/  

I have two diaries to use, my Filofax and soft cover diary from my son, that he bought for my birthday, and so will help to plan and get organized. 

So, going to enjoy the rest of the day that there is left and then my son is off tomorrow from school being an inset day, so going to take him to the Cinemas to see Wonka.

Have a good week ahead.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X