Losing something makes you declutter

This was inspired when looking for my sons straps for his watch. I looked everywhere. It made to the tasks I've been avoiding and they fallen behind the radiator and was on the floor under the radiator but made me sort out my storage bin. 

"If I had put in a place where it couldn't fall behind the radiator and the bins were already organised, then it would have needed to be declutter" I can hear from the voice in my head and those who are organised would say, but I am not organised.

I create this blog post because of the things I use to help me be more organised. 

It made me tidy up and I actually like it because it stops me from being on my laptop all the time. 

Having kids you lose a lot, because they love playing and getting toys out leaving the home in chaos. 

My son currently has his countdown game all out. I this morning tidied it up the best I can but I think I need to do it again because I feel it is growling at me to sort it out, better. 

So before I continue this blog I am going to tidy it up.

As 😊you can see below it not perfect but it is better than the first picture.

Our coat stand can get overloaded, so we do often go through it. I have to go through it again because there are coats for Henry but he won't wear them and hates wearing a jacket. He just doesn't want to know. 

The one thing I use is plastic folders. Yes I am aware that too much plastic is not good but I find them so useful because I like to craft and decorate my journals and I love a notebook and at the moment use my own I have created. 

Still at the planning the designing, but I will be selling hopefully by the end of this year. 

I love a journal and using paper to plan and take notes. I have used notion but only use this a little, but may end my subscription as don't really find it useful anymore.

The one thing I'd like to do more of is create Printables for you to use and plan, going on how I plan and I love having a wall planner. Going through my notebooks and journals is making sure they get used and they are great as gifts. I love paper.

I hope you find what you are looking for and declutter as it is for me a kind of therapy. 

It helps make sure I reduce waste and use what I have got. I check my Food cupboard a lot and my freezer. Go through what needs to be used and take not of what I have and so will learn more about improving organisation. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Ten Different Ways to Get more organised

When it comes to organisation I have to really drone in on my habits and I am avoiding my bedroom at the moment because of the heat wave I have gone through a lot of clothes, but I know in myself I will tidy them up but not just yet. 

Shut things away if it helps

So when I think I have decluttered and getting things order there is more stuff and moving can really make you aware of the stuff you have. I was living in Wimbledon but that has changed, so we have moved. I do keep notebooks because they are my tools. I write blogs, create vlogs and a mum, so if there are some things I don't want to deal with then I will put them away and concentrate on what I want to deal with.

My Working Space how I plan my tasks and get stuff done 

I have been putting a plan together to get the spaces in my home together. The good list is to have to remind me of what needs to be done, is to create an Overdue list. I go through never used, sometimes use and always use. I use my notebooks and so going to use the notebooks still with pages available before using a brand new one and file notes for books, blogs or video ideas in a folder. 

My son has inherited some more books to encourage him to read. I am hoping my son would suddenly want to read. He loves charts and maps and now he is in school again hope this will give him some encouragement to read. His Tutor before he got a place in the school he is in now, really helped because he does not like to read at home however much I try. 

Getting back to organisation, it is good to priorities. My main focus at the moment is to get my son ready for school now he has now got a placement and using the time he is at school to do home projects. Tomorrow I am going to the shops. Really glad to be able to go on a morning walk and so putting things away is great for focus on my regular weekly tasks so I have clothes that are clean, for my son to change into when he comes home from school, food and so I like to have an excuse to walk outdoors to pick up some shopping and that my bed has fresh bedding to put on and my son has many sports clubs at the weekend and so making sure I have his football clothes and rugby clothes clean and back to school next week. 

Being enthusiastic does not mean you want to get it done, so I go on how I feel right now. I do change my mind and was going to tidy the living room but looking at my list today I have changed my mind so going to clean my bedside cabinet and clean my sons room and clean the fireplace in the Living room. 

I have to break it up as I know I will be on my laptop all day which I will change my focus so waiting for my camera to charge and vlog and check out my last vlog which features me sorting out my home and post a Vlog every Friday: https://youtu.be/Cl9ESwGVp60

So going to get on and complete this blog and you can subscribe to this blog and if you like my blogs then check out my Pinterest, Facebook and X platforms: 

Pinterest

Typicallondongal | Facebook

The Typical London Gal (@Carrie82434764) / X

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Dealing With Avoidance

I think I have blogged this before, but it feels like it's a regular occurrence when I know that it will get done just not now. At the moment I am focusing on mainly getting my son settled now he is back to going to school and is an adjustment and some things I have to accept will have to be on hold. 

I love a list and it is good when things are ticked off but I have come to realise that it doesn't always have to be on a list. I do plan but often it can make me rebel. So now I use lists as a guidance and if I decide to do something else then so be it. 

As long as my son is ready for school then that is my focus at the moment. A plan is there to make space for things not listed, as there are items sometimes that take over. Like if Henry becomes unwell or has an event at school and been moving. This is a transition and so if something is causing you to be anxious then what would make it easier? Address your avoidance. Who can help you with it? 

I like to spend at least 10 minutes tidying and putting things away and when I got upstairs take something with me and I love pottering around the home and helps me take time off my laptop or go or a walk. Going shopping can help with fitting in exercise. Check out this blog: Get Active Get Fit : Shopping can have its benefits when staying Active

I am putting a declutter vlog together as I am altering my sons bedroom and my room in Epsom and I planned to do some today but as soon as a I do anything like that my son wants me and not in school today as he is doing a transition period as its his first week going to school again and so be back doing it tomorrow and today my mum was putting things away in the summer house we have and my needed new trainers and my husband wanted to do a dummy run to my sons school as the last two days it was my mum and step dad and so tomorrow me and his dad will be taking him and then next week, my son will going to school by taxi.

So in my journal I write what is my focus and what is worrying me and do it every morning now and helps to lower my apprehension and anxiousness. 

I'd recommend that. What one thing could you do, to stop avoidance and go through the weeks of the month and go through dates you already know you have set aside. Like a school visit. My son has world book day so need to find a costume and is going to be horrid henry. 

We aren't meant to to do everything. My husband will be doing dinner tonight and cooks on Sundays. So create a Rota and schedule and we just plan as we go, but if that doesn't suit you them do what works for you. 

I hope you find these blogs helpful. I do have more blogs, like my Pinterest, X and Facebook. 

https://x.com/Carrie82434764

https://uk.pinterest.com/thetypicalLondongal/

Typicallondongal | Facebook

I also have a vlog channel where I share my interests and the things that are important to me in my life that I like to share: Typical London Gal Carrie Holmes - YouTube

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

I finally Cleared out my handbag

Why has it taken so long? Because I hold my hands up because of how long it would take and worried I'd get rid of something important. 

Did I though? No. 

My New Handbag 

I have other bags to go through and spent some time as I have gone upstairs clear some bits and doing some as I go, so going to go through one bag at a time. We are moving from Wimbledon, because my Mum and Step dad have moved to a new home where I will be still spending time, but not have to pack every week and because of the move we have had to sort a lot out. 

I am putting together some items for the charity shop or may sell, but it is working out what is the best for those items and skincare that has not been opened. I love a gift set because I like the lotions and some items I can give as gifts or donate or sell. I may give some items to my nieces.

When sorting out my bag I found a broken pair of sunglasses and receipts. How many can nod, who also keep a lot of receipts? I found some loose change. Some cream that lost a lid and tablets I take as some of the bottles of the pills have lost their lids and lipsticks and so it was good to have completed this dreaded task. 

I know Kon Marie says you should do it everyday but for me, just unrealistic, but going to see what I can do about receipts. If you have any tips please feel free to share. You can leave a comment in the box below. 

It is good to have a bag and I feel lost if I don't, so my a goal is to take better care even though I used it a lot and was a while, until I had to sort it out and it has been through many weathers and so it is time to use a new one and others that I have. 

I have my sons old bag to go through and donate as this as it is in good condition and sometimes it is good for items to go to a new home and I am a lot more vigilant in letting things go because of landfill and so I am becoming less wasteful. 

I ask myself "What use does this item have that I need?" So I am going to go through my bags and if they would be good for someone else, then it may be gifted, if it is in a good state wonder "Could it be recycled?" 

I love donating, recycle and I love to use some bits like labels and different type of paper to journal. I find it so good for my mental health and so going to sort more out and then I have clothes to be bought over. I may have to really decide on them because of space so lets see if I am strong enough to have less when it comes to clothes because I know it will be impossible to have them all even though I had done that but still got lots. 

Wish me luck and more blogs to come. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Make one change can make a massive difference

My Shelf

It is amazing how just putting up a shelf up, can make a difference, with set of clothes hooks, so I have a place for my books and my clothes for the day and no longer all over the bed.

Before my Shelf was put up 

                                                  

So just one change can make a difference. It helps me with my laziness and procrastination. If I do one thing I know it will get done, if I have to clean a whole room it makes me want to leave and avoid and so I will break tasks up. 

I will wash up and clean the sink one day. Last night I dusted my file boxes, as there was dust from when my husband put up the Shelf in my room and clothes hook. I now have cleaned the windowsill and my son done one too, later it will be dinner and then tomorrow will clean the windowsills upstairs. 

Check out this blog: https://neworganizedself.blogspot.com/2024/09/one-minute-tasks-i-do-to-stay-productive.html 

Change your sleep pattern. I have always suffered with Insomnia and getting to sleep. I have had weeks of bad sleep and not slept at all and it was really effecting me daily. I would get terrible fatigue and would watch the time. So I no longer have a clock in my room. I use my phone but I put it where I have to get up to turn it off. Or my son will come into my room to turn it off.

I do take medication as it was getting bad and it did effect my mental health. 

It could be organising time to walk. You don't need a gym. I love walking and so I always organise time to do this and it will be 10 to 45 minutes. I love walking up London and local parks. I will check out the shops and have a coffee whilst I walk and love being near the river and it is free. 

Changing your shopping habits. I now try to buy shopping once. I have set up a notebook for planning meals. I did have a folder full of recipes but I never used them and I love the English favourites, Toad in the hole, curry, fish n chips, ham egg and chips, sausage and mash and so I will make sure we have vegetables, but frozen, even fresh veg so it has a longer life span and tinned items of food and it saved me a lot of money. 

 My Clothes Hook

Organising my online planner. Notion. It has saved me a lot of time and have the APP on my phone too and really been a game changer and keep track of things and great if you are planning sort of person and saves me time and money. 

So just one change can make a huge difference. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Why I journal helps keep me Organised and address my fears

Since a child I have written down my thoughts and fears. I use my journal app on my phone also and I haven't kept them all. I have found getting rid of the ones from a child a way of letting go of the past and to focusing on my current thoughts and goals and about the challenges that are occurring and things I am putting off and my anxiety thoughts. 

It helps me to feel that I am okay to be natural in my appearance and not rush around. Now my son has learning at the library I have journaled a lot and it made me set out 2026 and my sentence for me this year is "Wait and see" and started to plan using too old letters or printouts, to recycle and things I want to get done and where my focus is at the moment. 

If I have changed my mind on what to do on some days. You don't always need a to do list to get things done or a fancy notebook. I do because I love a notebook. They help enthuse my feelings and my creativity. 

Journaling can be done using your Notes APP if you have enough space on your phone. You can use Notion or a plain notebook pocket size or bigger. I like it because there's no rules, just write what you feel or what you see your life going and address your fears. 

Allow your fears give your armer to take on the fears to prove that something is good. 

I went through all my fears. I have a radio show and I get so nervous and I sorry TMI but need a loo a lot before I go to the studio and feels good once I am doing my show and that I didn't bail out and I enjoy it. I really feel such pride about it.

My fear of being stranded when my son wants to go on a train or bus ride. I think of everything that could go wrong and then write what if it work outs? 

I go through what I can do to help to prevent things going wrong. Like I I worry about being late. Leave early. What if there are delays. Check to see if there is another route. Get my show all written down so I can set up my show ahead of time. It evaluates my fears and good to express what I feel and fear because it is my mind just weighing up and do and don't. 

If you feel uncomfortable about someone. What is it. Their manner, do they tut a lot when you speak? Do they huff when you try to speak to them? Where is it happening?

I find it makes me powerful. I focus on those like me open minded and those who also journal to learn new skills and to improve my wellbeing and this year it is about "Growing" and keep going. I love being a blogger, writing my books, I love putting my radio show together and I love to journal.

It really has helped me build good habits, like reading everyday. Decluttering and planning programmes and projects. It to me has been my ultimate discovery and want to help you all to enjoy life more and be good to yourself and what I have done to help build my self as a person, who is a daughter, mum, sister, niece and auntie.  

I hope you do enjoy these blogs and you can subscribe. Costs nothing and you will be alerted each time I post. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Getting organised in 2026

I no longer want to buy brand new clothes. I have all I need and need to remind myself of that. I have bought items emotionally not really needing the item. I feel like if it is on food then it is okay, but no, it all adds up when you know you have plenty of food in the food cupboard and freezer.

Since tracking my money it has opened my mind in seeing where my money is going and has been mind-blowing. I own too much so need to decide on what I want less of, or more.

I know going to the shops everyday is good because of building my steps, which I have written a blog about: Get Active Get Fit : Shopping can have its benefits when staying Active and part of that is because of the weather. When my son has had his lessons in the library, I have not wanted to go out unless it is a gift leading up to Christmas and I do tend to take break come Autumn and Winter when it comes to fitness. 

So if you want to help manage your finances and get organised in 2026, I now go through what I have paid out and add to my savings as I want to go to different places for a holiday. I set a savings target and add to each week and have specific goal. 

                                      

Next it is online. I lastnight went through my emails. I did more unsubscribing from sites. One thing I learned was that Google if you have a google email, will alert you of companies emails you have not read emails, notify you and so going to clear another account and it helps me not waste money. So Finance has been a focus and will continue to track my spending in 2026 and is important because I want to make my money useful and not buy emotionally but when we have no food left and I do buy bulk items, like toilet rolls and kitchen towels. 

I have purchased some shower gel for my son and sanitary products. 

Cleaning products is good to buy and I clean after each meal, rather than first thing in the morning or evening. I like to read before bed and in the mornings. 

I use a bag on my bed to stop having so many clothes at the bottom of the bed and take control of my spending on books but I accumulated free books and I know I will read them and for this is not a waste and buy one book a month or so. I love reading and love audible and I get so much out of it.

Its okay to have stuff but only if it gets used or you know you will use. 

My nan and I would share books, my mum has books and plan to have shelves in my room for my books and journals. I haven't always kept my journals as the one thing I have found good to let go of the past, is to not keep all my journals and then focused on the now and move on from the past.

However I like to keep them now as I like to decorate then and keep cards and junk journal and so means I have to let something go and so going to have a low spend year and keep decluttering one thing a day and then the other thing is bags. 

I love a bag but my problem is clearing them out. 

Not sure how to keep up with it. I know Kon Marie says that you should do it daily but I know I won't stick to that so need to figure this out. I don't want to have loads of bags so is a working progress.

So these are going to be my focus and only keep what is really important to me and sort out my bedroom, by sorting out my bags and let more things go. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X  

Avoiding The Mess

It has been a long insight to see that I avoid the mess.  There is something about mess that makes me close my door and ignore it. I have tried to put things away but I will pretend it isn't there and know at some point I will tidy it up. I am a still decluttering, but I have a cupboard full of underwear and socks, I have box files that have no order so I know I need to step up. 

So the first thing I need to do is to step away. I need to allow rest time and then when I go to brush my teeth will tidy up my bed once I have had my tea and it is time to brush my teeth and in fact I am going to do that now.

Do a bit a day. A small amount can still make a difference and I am enjoying my decluttering. Finding items that are just gathering dust. If there is no reason for an item, then it goes.

It is good to allow others to motivate. I will clean, tidy and declutter if I see my husband cleaning so he will be the influence and then I will sort my mess out and that I am not letting the side down.

Let your kids help clear up the mess. My son has the habit of leaving is teddy bear on the floor so will tune into asking him to pick it up and the same with other toys and things he has finished using. 

It is good to have a calendar that is available to you. So plan what you are going to focus on first, to break it down and avoid overwhelm if this is causing you to avoid any mess.

Journal your fears about the mess. I will write down my fears. I find it helps address them and how to get over it and if it works out and you do it, how will it make you feel? 

Have a system. When it comes to washing up, I will use my morning whilst the kettle is on to clear any plates or mugs away used the night before. Then, when it comes to dinner time I will clear away any items used for lunch and what needs to be left out for dinner. 

I find I am more untidy during the winter with gifts for Christmas and muddy clothes from the rain and taking my son to do his sports at the weekend and find it hard to dress because of the cold. I love to layer up so clothes are messy and the bottom of the bed, keeping stuff to junk journal and I love notebooks and so need to make choice if I want it to be tidy or live in a mess.

So 2026 it is a year of change and invest in the things that are help me "Grow" which is my word for 2026. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Having to Move on and plan visits to new places

I have a bedroom that needs sorting out. I love that I have my room, I like a lived in environment but I want it to be more than a room but my Sanctuary and be like a nest. I just vacuumed my bedroom and it wasn't that bad, I was thinking that it was going to be a hard task and actually it was good as I got to declutter another item and so going to do one thing a day and including my stuff in Wimbledon and it feels good to let things go. 

Picture I took of the #southcoast of England 

When it comes to organisation it is also a personal change. Example I loved working at a Holiday Camp and met a lot of people but now I am ready to let that part of my life go. I still keep in contact but many have gone their own way and that is fine. People come and go, have a family, meet new friends which is fine. I have found it hard to move on, because it was such a brilliant experience and my son wants to visit Bognor where the Holiday Camp is located, so we may visit again, but not any time soon. 

The vibe to go down there has gone and want to go different places like the Isle of Wight and Edinburgh next year and Henry my son said he'd like to go somewhere hot so, will see.

I am sure we will go back to Bognor Regis but not anytime soon and want to explore other places in England and my son is desperate to go to St Albans and I'd like to go there too. Not that I going to stop contact with people via social media and wish then happy birthday, but visit other places along the coast of England. 

So organising trips but not worrying that it has to be planned by the book and is sometimes last minute can be some of the best times. It is good to go somewhere historic, so not full of fancy restaurants, but where we can get a coffee, shop at a supermarket or has a cafe. 

If it got a kid friendly pub that's does food, we like to take advantage and if there are funfair rides and fish n chips stalls fantastic but take our time and just being by the sea makes me feel so good and have a peaceful mind. 

I go over the bad times I've had and trying to stop. I want to stop living in the past and want some new experiences and meet more people and build more relationships. 

So gonna plan for 2026 and enjoy Christmas and explore and building more memories. 

I do have a Vlog Channel if you'd like to check it out: (117) Typical London Gal Carrie Holmes - YouTube

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Keeping The Kitchen Clean

Today I have prepared for dinner today, we are having a Roast Chicken dinner and never been this organised and had to clean the surfaces a few times to maintain hygiene as Kitchens can have lots of very bad bacteria if its not kept clean.

So the first tip is:

1#Clean as you go: I find it saves me so much time and can enjoy my dinner without having so much to clean at once.

2#Change the sponge and cloths: These can really spread germs and so make sure they are damp but not soaking as excess water can turn to mold. I keep the sink clean and dishwasher. Make sure you descale the dishwasher and sink. The best thing to descale the sink is salt and lemon for sinks and I also use kitchen spray. 

3#Clean glasses separately if you washing up by hand: They can tend to be cloudy and have marks around the rim so wash first and dry with a washable cloth and you can use vinegar for utensils to help clean these items. I have been told to clean them properly and so working on as they can have water marks.

4#Clean the floors on a daily basis: They can have all kinds of dirt on it and be build up with crumbs and other bits of food and so will sweep and either I do it or my husband does to help fight germs and wash it. We use a spray mop and dustpan and brush. Keep rubbish in the recycle bin and general waste separately and are cleared and bag up food left over and thrown for collection by the dustmen, which is for us is, on Tuesdays. 

5#Clean all areas and sort through. Do a regular clean inside and outside the cupboards and do a declutter and go through what you have got like plates, cutlery, glassware and appliances. Are they in good order or need to go and be rid of. 

It can be challenge but seeing a clean kitchen it helps you feel fresh and use what you have and making the most of your kitchen and cook without worrying about getting dirty. Bit by bit goes a long way. 

I hope this blog is helpful and there will be more to come.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Getting Organised 2025

I like to cover this because my Organisation habit have changed, as I see bags that I need to clear out and store them somewhere. I have been making plans. I have kept some of my sons work at school that he has been bringing home and not sure what to do with them. I feel sad throwing them away. Getting organised is something I have always battled with because of keeping things. 

At the moment I am sorting out my room in Epsom. I have used under bed storage and it sorted out a place for my PJS and some clothes. My husband ordered me some hangers to hang more clothes up and then it is stripping my bed and I have got a second hand cabinet from my mum and step dad and will have a bedside table again which I have missed. This has place to store bits and a draw too.

I have file boxes which is good for storing papers and ordered ring binders as  I used one to store letters and school reports and so going to use these new folders to make him a new one and go through his older folder. 

When it comes to getting organised I like to check out Pinterest for organisation ideas and the room I have is small, so can't store too much. 

I have suitcases that have bits in and once I have cleared the storage in the closet then these will be going in the shed, this will make more space. The one question I ask myself is "When is a good time to get it done?" #I will answer do it now and I have got to sort the top of my closet.

Many would probably say "Do it in one go". For me, this makes me dread it. This is why I do it one bit at a time and small changes is helping me make sure it is done for bigger changes, such as a room is my own little nest and will make me love it more.

It  is good to have a room where it is functional and hung up more clothes yesterday. I have easy access to them, my underwear and socks with bras and leggins. I am trying to get out of wearing leggins all the time, so will be wearing more trousers and dresses. Yet practical. I play many sports with my son and I do Parkrun and see my son play rugby on Sundays.

I have a ruck sack which stores all that I need and this comes with me I travel to and from my home in Wimbledon. The black one I have I take when I once a week go to a coffee shop to write and picking up shopping. I would like a better place for them. 

The one thing I have done that has made me be vigilant is go through my finance each week and stuck at it and so careful with my money. Unsubscribing from retailers and other companies I no longer interested in. This includes Youtube and need to go through my photos again. 

I use Notion, Notebook, google calendar and diary. Really helps me stay on track. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Having Simple Systems to stay organised to reduce waste

Hello and welcome! I love systems that help me to get each day tasks done and I make sure I have planned my week for Monday using Notion, my everyday Project Planner notebook and in my diary and like to write it down so it stays in my brain and when thinking of ideas to grow my content to make sure that things are done. 

Tip#1: Set a place where the bits you need for the day is easily accessible and where your main room is. 

Tip#2: Have your everyday items in the room spend most of your time in. Ours is the Living room. We make sure my sons school clothes are there for my son and  can put his uniform on and not make it a scavenger hunt.

A Meal we had to use up food we had Waffle with Maple Sauce, raspberries, banana and frothy cream

I am looking for some more storage and had a good declutter over the weekend, but going to use for the time being my suitcases to store bits in.  I have a stack of notebooks, as I write a lot and have a place that is easy to find and grab them once I finished with the ones I am using. I have journals, like a writing one and a personal journal and a Journal APP on my phone that I use a lot. 

It will mean the floor will be clear and making sure that if I want something ask myself: 

Will it fit into my system? Will it cause clutter? Will it reduce the pile? 

I write so having a good set of notebooks is a must but not to purchase anymore until I use what I have got and can serve many purposes. I like planning meals for the week and so today I set up a Meal Planner template on Notion aswell as a printable because I like to put the meals I plan to have the week stuck on the wall in the kitchen and if my laptop breaks or my phone I've got a back up system.

Each week I check the fridge daily and check to see what has to be used and plan meals around the items we have and check the food cupboards. 

There was a time where I'd buy spices but then never used them so had to put them in the bin, so I am quite aware of knowing that I am going to use an item up. I like to have tin vegetables, aswell as fresh and love fresh fruit and tinned. I like to have soups, pasta and things like noodles, stir fry sauces and do my maths when shopping. I am particular about some foods like I Heinz Ketchup, soups and spaghetti hoops and my husband and son like their baked beans. 

I also have systems for my son as he now is in charge of setting the table for dinner and I tidy the the table for dinner. 

Tip#3: Choose a day to have a massive declutter. This frees up space so you can set up systems and I have decided on Wednesday to have a declutter, as it is bugging me having so much.

I want to get my son a desk for his bedroom as he has a Keyboard which is currently on the windowsill and not used. We are going to, (my husband and I) go through his toy cupboard in the Living room and he has a stash of books that he has not read and never read and too young for him now and see if we can sell them or donate. 

I can organise his clothes and go through item that are too small and a better system to store his clothes, but the one thing I do is have a change of clothing in the Living room for my son to grab and put on. My son is a bit fussy about clothes as he doesn't like Polar shirts, but understands that he has to for school or anything top that has a hood. 

We did manage to persuade him wear a pair of jeans rather than tracksuit bottoms all the time but can make a fuss if it is new item and different to what is normally wears. I wonder how many parents can identify with that? 

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Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Where can you reduce clutter in your life

So first off  I love notebooks, clothes and shoes...it feels good to confess. I bet there are others out there who read this blog, who are nodding. I have reduced it though and have decluttered. I use the one in and one out method and declutter one item at a time. 

Picture of the Garden when we were clearing out our shed 

When I declutter these are areas I start with. What's is to be used, can be donated or handed down to a family member, or to sell. 

When organising, it is good to look at what are the areas that you battle with the most. A great way is to ask for help. My mum is always decluttering and this is not just physical things, but like emails, subscriptions, documents no longer needed and tidy up my desktop on my computer or on my phone. 

It is good to go through your food cupboards and fridge. If there is a odour in your fridge? If yes then it is time to have a sort out and to help have a long lasting relationship with your fridge is by having a regular sort out and take note of food to be used.

Go through what's got to be used first, second and third and lay it out so the items that have a shorter life span is put at the top or front unless it is meat at which case, is placed at the bottom away from other items to stop contamination. Eggs don't need to go in the fridge but any dairy like butter, milk and cheese should be in the fridge and jams sealed, along with juices you bought from the fridge in the supermarket and any left overs food, like food that was in tins, left over meals and stock items in the freezer and helps to make the food last longer.

Then there is cleaning cupboards. Make sure the cleaning sprays and detergents are somewhere safely stored and where your kids can't have access to, depending on age and are properly sealed and are labelled and use different cloths for different areas and things used daily and this is not just cleaning cupboard, make the items accessible to you and if you have different floors in your home, you have items placed somewhere on each floor to save you time in keeping your home clean, in a safe place. 

Muddy shoes on a unused magazine or newspaper, near a door that leads to outside, like use the corridor or garage, to avoid the mud spreading into your home and when the mud falls off the shoes, boots on the mag and newspaper, you won't need to scrub the floor where they shoes are located and you have a bin or bucket to clean the shoes, boots and trainers with. 

The washing machines and Dishwashers, the less mugs, water bottles, utensils and serving equipment the less decluttering you have to do. I no longer by ornaments, they gather a lot of dust along with jewelry or glasses. Not saying we never have company but with less, the less you have to worry about. 

Something I tell myself when I see a nice mug or want another t-shirt or fancy kitchenware. 

I do a regular clean of the draws and we go through medicines that we have, place to store batteries and keys. Have the keys in a pot, draw or cupboard and again, easily accessible. It is amazing how you can accumulate batteries and keys. If they are no longer needed then take to be recycled. There are recycle bins for clothes, shoes and bags in some supermarkets. There usually in the carparks. 

So lets get ready for Spring and time to declutter. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Getting Organised in 2025/Using my time Wisely

 As I write this blog I have a lot of clutter in the Living room windowsill and got bags that need sorting through and doing lunch. It the new year where I want to make changes and go through what is important to me right now. 

Today is my last day of the Christmas Holidays, my son has an inset day so making the most our time together and planned to go to Morden which we did and now having a nice lunch. Tomorrow it is back to normal routine so going to use my time wisely. 

It means getting my sons school uniform ready which my husband has put out ready thankfully I ordered him some new shirts for school and PE Shorts and so it all done and not having to rush which I hate.

My son is very demanding at the moment so it is challenging to get bits done and so do little bits. Just now put the shoes in the living room to the shoe rack in the Corridor by the front door. Seeing clutter does make me want to curl up in a ball and snooze but its not going to clear its self and so if I clear one item it is still contributing to having more of an organised space. Check out this printable for tips on organisation: When you feel overwhelmed.pdf turning the things off and at the weekend went through my subscriptions and deleted ones I was not using and taking off APPs on my phone. 

I journaled and wrote down random thoughts and ideas and goals. What I would like to do in 2025 and starting new challenges and experiences. 

My son starts rugby again. Yesterday was when it was supposed to start but due to the weather it got called off and so we went on a bus ride instead and picked up a few bits for dinner. We stopped for a coffee and spent morning putting make up on whilst watching something on my youtube on my phone as when I go to Wimbledon where I live with my mum and stepdad, putting make up on as we had friends over for dinner and in the evening organised my Notion planner and going through my tasks uncompleted. 

This morning I did my cheat sheet that I post each week on a Monday but have made changes by posting on my blog site Everyone Can build a castle as I was posting it on two of my sites my parenting blog, see the link if you liked to check out my Cheat Sheets: https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com/2025/01/06/new-cheat-sheet-for-2025-it-is-planning-to-build-your-life-to-be-better-than-ever/

The other thing I do is make sure I take breaks from my laptop and a good chance to get other bits done and soon I will be making dinner so I will spend this time listening to something, like music, podcast or audiobook. 

So lets get organised and start 2025 on a good note and getting back to the usual routine, now Christmas is over and now in a new year.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

  

When you have a lot of responsibilities

It really is a funny time of year as my motivation to get things done gets harder. I feel more tired and I know it is just my body adjusting to the season because of the change of daylight. Yet I have to get up making sure my bed is made, look after my son to help make sure he is ready for the day and getting few tasks done before my son's taxi arrives to take him to school. Then once he is at school pop out if I need to pick up any groceries or other items, work on my content and then be ready for when my son returns and tidy and clean up after breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Meal we like to have shops and vegetables and mash potato 

Having a lot of responsibilities comes stress, so I take my time and give myself less to do on each day and like I am clearing out my closet and just by doing a bit each day I can already see the room take shape and have more space so I can organise my clothes. The items that has been stored, my craft items in the closet, is to go in the shed we have in our back garden which is going to be where I will be doing my crafting. 

So I am focusing on what I can do still to work towards these plans and each morning I have been working on another book and finding secondary schools and means putting other things I want to do on hold and do what I can. 

I will wash up through out the day as I don't have a dishwasher so wash by hand and that we have all eaten and that my son has his schools clothes ready along with his clothes to change into when he comes home from school.

Divide the tasks, going through what is your main focus? This time of year I do a reset programme, called, Autumn reset to get certain tasks complete to prep before the festive season and focus Christmas and holidays leading up to it and do this reset from September to October. Check out my blog Everyone can be build a castle. 

Divide your year up into quarters. we are now in the last quarter for 2024 and I use Notion to plan, google calendar and notebook. 

To plan meals I use a planner and put this up on the kitchen wall and when it comes to shopping go through what is to be used in a food cupboards and fridge, to check your essentials, like ours is bread, milk, tea bags and coffee, food, like cereal, fruit and what we drink all of the time and plenty to make a meal out of. 

So spend sometime just going through what is the first thing you want to do and put on some good tunes, audiobook or a podcast and lets spend time getting our lives together. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie  X 

  

The Ten things I do to stay on top of organizing my life

There is always a good time to organize and get your life together and I like to do things that help me stay on track of my life and manage it in a way I don't get overwhelmed. 

1. Make sure that my bed has been made and that my son is okay and my clothes are laid out for the day ahead.

2. With laundry I do get help with that, but if I still got laundry to be done I do it in the mornings and then it is done and rotate my clothes, so it all gets worn, if not then it is given away and like to do a regularly declutter of my clothes and toiletries if I see something that is in good condition see if someone else may wear or use them or if there is any wear and tare when checking my clothes, they are dispose of but try to fix clothes now if I can, to try an eliminate waste, to stop adding to landfill.

3. Do a meal plan and think of different meals and check my fridge and food cupboards of what we have in terms of food and groceries and that it all gets eaten. 

4. Prep dinners. Like cutting up the potatoes, vegetables and meats. 

5. Go through my finances each Sunday and check my bank account daily.

6. Planning the week ahead and doing spending plan

7. Clear any dishes washed and put things away

8. Made sure I clean on area a day of my homes, as I live in Epsom and Wimbledon, to look after my son and making sure he is ready for school

9. If my son is unwell like he was this week, make sure I take note of when he has had medicine and his temperature.

10. Take breaks from my phone and laptop to focus on spending time with my son and loves it when we watch a bit of TV together and so I make sure we have that time as children grow up so fast that its those moments that I feel are important. 

I hope that this blog helps you and please follow then you won't miss a post,

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie  X 

Buying Stuff I do not need

I keep getting urges to buy more clothes and notebooks, when I don't need to so I have done a mood board of  items I am going to buy this year to limit it. 

 A Picture from today and want to spend my money to have a coffee and write, rather than a top I no longer need.

I am one of those that will put things in the basket and not buy anything and create wish lists as this makes me really decide if I need it or not and limit what clothing I buy and save for day trips to places, during school holidays or at weekends, for household products. I going to be buying pillows and a new bed sheet. 

To get reminded of what I have I do watch decluttering programmes and Youtube videos and I have filmed me decluttering as stuff is stuff, and so now I am trying to make the most of what I already have, and it feels good to use up what you got before buying anything else. 

Also what is important. Does it better to have nice bedding or buy another jumper because it is cheap? 

It is a decision that I battle a lot with, because I like buying clothes, so before I buy anything more going to have another declutter of my wardrobe and see if can find the items I want secondhand and I do want to change my style a bit. 

How do you shop for clothes? Please leave a comment below, as I like hear others and how they organise their life to help me not be bogged down with stuff. 

I am buying more of what is a good investment, example I have bought a pair of Swimming shorts as I take my son swimming and will be going swimming again once a week when my son is at school and check Better Gyms as you don't need a membership to book to us the facilities and take my son in the holidays, as he has been having swimming lessons, so want him to practice and such a good skill and not have a fear of water like I did. 

So buying items that I know is practical and will be worn and would like to stop wearing leggins all of the time, and save my money towards having a holiday and buy one or two items per year and not every month and now I am debt free check out my Financial Living Youtube channel: Life and Money - YouTube and so want to save and build my income, so I can save for a good holiday and want to go to more concerts and go to another music festival. So I have to decide what it important to me to be able to do that and don't a lot of clothing, and also focus on my health and looking after my body and mind, buy not buying things I don't need. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Living in chaos and getting your stuff together

Do you feel that life is chaotic? Not knowing where to begin? I do put things off but I bite the bullet and just do it. You never going to write a book if you don't write or spend time outlining it or having a clean bathroom and not want to look at it so you keep the door closed and not using it to go for its purpose.

Storage for books and regularly go through them and any books that we kept donate, sell or hand them down so another child can enjoy them.

Clear the main areas in your home that is the place where you spend the most time in and the areas you need to use weekly like our bathroom, where we get ourselves clean but that not going to be possible if you can't actually get in the bath because it has a load of stuff in it.

So start with one area like the bath which you use most of the time and the toilet.

We use is the Living room and the Kitchen a lot so we clean this areas first and then clean the rest of house afterwards and main station points, like the dining table, fireplace and windowsills, then the floor and the kitchen the hob, kitchen sink and oven.

I at the moment see that one of my windowsill in the living needs tidying again and staying on top of it can be hard but not impossible to do. 

Clearing it up will take two second so as I write this blog I got up and sorted it out rather than keep looking at it and now I don't have to think about it, and so now can focus on my son eating his breakfast and getting ready for the day. 

Getting out of chaos and organise one area whilst you children have the breakfast, can literally help with wellbeing and a little does go a long way along with tasks that take up the most time, like cleaning the entire house in one day. I prefer to break it up and as thinking about doing it in one day puts me off and why it doesn't get done and like not cleaning the food cupboard all the time, but just taking a two minutes to check to see what is to be used and what I can get by as it is Saturday shopping day, that we can use up that helps to keep it tidy and is laid out so it can see everything.

Then there is bags. I am a bag clutterer and find it hard to keep them tidy so I will make sure that before I use a bag that I go through it and any recipes is in a little purse to put them in or with my Filofax which I use to go through my finances and that I go through what I have in them and if I can downsize on some days and I have been good I have stuck with my main handbag for about two years and not bought a new one and feel good about that. 

When it comes to rooms I will go through my clothes once a week to go through them and what have some clothes in Epsom and in Wimbledon so go through what I have that I can keep in Epsom and what I can keep in Wimbledon. I like having a sort through and rotate my clothes and anything that I know I am not going to wear, goes. 

So just taking two to ten minutes to just go through different places can help control the chaos. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Ten ways I organize my life

I like systems, having a good routine and planning. Please believe me when I say I am not organized, but because of that I have implemented systems to help with that, by:

A picture of when we decluttered the shed as mentioned in this blog 

1. Getting up before anyone else. My life changing habit for 2024. It means I can listen to some chill out music, have a nice cup of tea and start working on my laptop, doing some writing and planning without disruption. 

2. Tidy up. I like to spend time washing up any dishes from the night before, and my husband puts some laundry on or I do this myself and making sure we all have breakfast and are dressed, we have brushed our teeth and got dressed for the day, and sorting out my clothes for the day.

3. Money. Check out my Youtube Channel where I share how I manage my money: https://www.youtube.com/@mywayofliving1602 I check my bank account everyday and each Sunday and Monday I go through what I have spent that week and track it on a spreadsheet . I will do a spending plan for the week and for the month, and making sure I pay money onto my credit card, as did get into debt, but now clearing it. I put money into my sons bank account and put money into my savings. I do no spend days, and do a no spend challenge in January and this has really made a huge difference in how I manage my money.

4. Shopping. As a kid my mum would shop on Friday and often me and my brother would be super hungry which can increase what you buy, and play up. So I make sure I have eaten, and my husband will do his grocery shopping on a Saturday morning when it is less busy, but rarely takes a list. I always make list and shop in the mornings in the week, as I like using this to build up my steps and then have the rest of the day to get other bits done.

5. Garden. My husband deals with the garden, but I do like to have a place to sit and do some writing out there during the Spring and Summer and play football with my son, and keep the table out there along with the goal, and this year had a declutter of the shed, which I would recommend to do, as it can become a dumping ground. When it Wimbledon my mum and step dad take care of that, but my son will help, and thinking of getting some flower pots again. 

6. Bags. I have cut down on the bags I own, but my bag is something that needs to be cleared out. This doesn't always get done, but make it a must that I sort it out and put my receipts into a small plastic folder. I do like to have a bum bag for short trips out and going to start using this again in the summer and the weekends, because I don't need to carry a lot unless filming for youtube vlog channel: Typical London Gal.

7. IT and the internet. To organize my days, weeks, months, quarters and for the year I will use OneNote which is a free Microsoft programme, my diary, journal and begun to use google calendar again. Every Monday I plan for the week ahead and for each day. I will have a clear out of photos, tidy up my Pinterest, any images of videos stored on my laptop that I no longer need and google photos, same with emails and documents and downloaded items. 

8. Journal. Every evening now I will write down what I am happy about each day, and if I want to express my feelings and thoughts. It is a good way to lift weight off your shoulders and everyday using my journal app on my phone too.

9. Reading. I love to read, and so I make it a must that I do some reading, and not going to buy anymore until I have read the books I have got and do read several books at the same time, especially self help books and I do write reviews, check out my Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/thetypicalLondongal/my-current-books-i-am-reading/book-reviews-my-recommended-reads-other/ I also have a Wordpress site too where I write books reviews: My Books & Stories – Reading is the food for our writing (wordpress.com I store them in a bookcase, in a walking closet I have in Wimbledon, in a ruck sack in a plastic draw unit. I have joined libraries and can help with storing so many, but I like having a good selection, and is so important as it helps us to grow, and if you like writing then get reading as this will help you.

10. Exercise. I am lucky because in Epsom my husband has a treadmill, weights and I keep my exercise mate there too, or I will make sure I do some walking, and I put my clothes which are mainly fitness on and then there is no excuse and I like going for a morning walks and indoor workout in the afternoons. 

So I hope this blog helps you to organize your life. You can be alerted of when I post on this site if you select subscribe I try to write a blog on this site each week and I also have a Pinterest board where I share these posts and shares others content that have helped me in organization, so see above and just put in Organize 4 the better. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X