Being Resistant To Doing Tasks

As soon as resistance steps in I get up and do that task. Example watering my sons plant. However going out today I felt resistant in buying another notebook. This is where resistance can be a good thing. It depends on the outcome. I know if I water my son's plant will keep it alive and grow.

One of the Places I like to walk in Epsomn

Buying another notebook will cost money and when I have plenty already and not gathering dust and once these are used then buy another notebook. It is good to journal. I journal every day and filmed my two favourite things on my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMmlsGjUCFY 

Resistant's is the mind saying "Be Careful" and can trigger anxiety and anxiousness. Thinking of the things I shouldn't do that I know will make me feel good, compared to what the consequences will be when I know I don't need another notebook and be tempted. I think of God testing Eve. Do I eat a poisoned apple or do something that won't lead to a good outcome. I write a lot but a blank piece of paper can still have the same benefits and yes I love a good pretty notebook but I have ones still unused and my one goal for me is to reduce waste and not keep adding more to landfill.

Also I have made my own and want to test these out and then sell my own. 

Walking for example is free, wakes me up and helps me feel peace in my mind and so can do this everyday, whereby spending money all the time it can make me feel sick at times because I know I don't need to spend money to be happy. Journaling has really good benefits but if someone asks what you'd like for your birthday then ask for a new notepad or when your on holiday save to buy a journal whilst away as to me now it has to have meaning. 

I find excuses as to why I need spend and then afterwards feel regret what I have purchased yet when I have cleaned the house and seen a result of a cleaner desk give me pride in having a shiny clean desk and cost me nothing. Cleaning products that actually clean is worth it, buying a cleaning device that was intended to clean sitting in the cupboard no purpose, when I have clothes and sponges do the same its just a fancy gadget that is a gimmick and not helped but add to more items I don't need. 

I wonder if you identify? Please fill in the comments box below if you do. It costs you nothing in doing so just would like to read other peoples stories. 

So manage your resistance as it can be a burden but it can also be useful in doing positive habits and stop negative habits. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Use It Up and Reducing what I buy

I love it when I have an empty fridge because it challenges me to use what I have in my food cupboard and freezer. I have not bought anymore skincare until I have used up my creams and I have enough Shampoo to last me a life time and shower gel and so I can focus at the moment on booking things to do in the Easter holidays. 

It is good to have a back up of food especially when it is freezing cold outside or your cooker goes on the blink and we tend to have sandwiches or soups for lunch and so the two things we buy is milk as that is what my son drinks, along with water and bread. 

Breakfast is usually toast, yogurt or cereal. 

We don't do our washing everyday but this helps me wear the clothes I have and not buying any this year. I like the clothes I have and I rotate my clothes and I was watching a Sheerluxe video on youtube and a lady saying she doesn't allow the weather to dictate what to wear so challenging myself to wear all my clothes still even when it is cold and not stop the weather from wearing a skirt and I think it is a British thing to do to dress by the weather and I have enough for the year. I have clothes that I can layer up but I have a blog about Versatile Fashion and try to buy clothes that suits all seasons.  Carries Versatile Fashion – I love Fashion that can be mixed with all seasons

I am keeping my hair short now because I don't need to keep investing in hair bands and I will still wear my baseball caps and winter hats but I just don't want to have to tie it up. 

I have reduced buying biscuits and I am still ordering from Amazon but the fact that I almost up all night waiting for a notebook to be delivered is the spirit telling me to stop relying on Amazon and buy from the high street as I have allowed myself one notebook a month. 

I am trying not to buy reading books and this has made me listen to the audiobooks I have and so holding myself in from buying so many. 

It is good to have no more baked beans and use tin spaghetti instead to use, pasta is great for meals and my son and husband love salt and pepper and so we keep staples like that but not too many. We at one time had a collection of herbs and spices and they never got used and so had to be thrown. 

Instead of buying fresh garlic we use Garlic Granules and have sauces like Mayonnaise, Ketchup and BBQ sauce. These are always used and never go to waste. 

So if you use it all the time then it is good to stock up, but if it is only one recipe then buy less and make meals you know you will have. I feel that we buy, and this from my own personal experience for the "Ideal person" we want to be, so I am realistic now with what I know I will get consumed and to reduce waste. Keep it realistic and go through the diary to go through what you are going to be doing and what you will be using and I always have hand cream, a packet of tissues, wet wipes and an umbrella in my bag and my sons pocket money but not over doing it as my bags can be heavy. 

Also I like cloth bags and have one I use if we do need to pick up something from the shop.

We now have a mug we no longer use store money for shopping should we need more milk or bread. 

It is good to always have a back plan and I often will go through my stuff and what needs to be used up and keep a list. 

I hope you have found this blog helpful and I share all my blogs on Pinterest, X and Facebook: 

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Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

 

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: 

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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

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 

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 

Having a good declutter you will feel so much better

 At the weekend I sorted out my mums ottoman, which had books, toys and bits and pieces of items from some games and one of my favourite things I like to do is going through what's been used and what gets used a lot to rediscover some games we've played with and what we haven't and play with them and what suits the age range of items, that can be given to somebody else, or what my nieces and a friend we know will use them when they come over.

My desk in Wimbledon that I like to clear and organize to stop clutter 

I did this with my son, but he then left me to get on with it. Yes thanks son. 

It was a random, not planned at all. Having a clear out can really help mentally and physically, because it is less to think about and less to sort out and not taking ages to find anything because of clutter. So just a good clear out can do wonders.

When it comes to decluttering have sections and watching the programme on BBC 1 Sort your life out has given me motivation and going to go through my clothes again and have a closet in my bedroom in Epsom to clear so going to spend time this week going through that and be real. What use can I get out of the stuff I own and that I have no care for anymore. 

Have items that you not sure about in one section if you have toy pieces or games, a pile to go and you can donate if in good condition or pass it to someone you know who might like it or to sell, and what you want to keep and have homes for items you want to keep.

If you collect things that is fine, I used to collect teapots, badges and football programmes and loved them, so if there are important items that you really don't want to get rid off then create a home for them and put them where you an see them, because of out of sight and of mind, they can be forgotten and gathering dust and I love created displays with photos, ornaments and fits with who I am and would like to be discovered one day and who I was by the stuff I own and have items I know I can pass down to others and that don't effect their value. 

My in-laws had a lovely collection of pictures framed of Rock and Roll singers and had a lot of memorabilia and loved their home. You can bring your personality in your home and what will lift a home. When my nan was alive she had pictures of family displayed and decorated plates on the wall or shelf and was right for the people they were.

I love displaying pictures and would like to create a gallery of pictures and collages and photobooks of pictures I want to keep to build memories and be given to those important to me rather than sitting on my phone doing nothing. You may not be into that at all, and that is fine, make your home your own.

Create a good atmosphere like playing an audiobook or music, with a drink and take your time.

I hope this blog helps you and if you also have tips then share by leaving a comment below.

Many thanks for reading

Carrie X 

Do we consume too much?

I feel we do. As I write this blog I am thinking about a mug I saw in TKMaxx that I want to buy and soon we will going to ASDA's to pick up a few bits and thinking about buying an item of clothing and ordering a top from Amazon. 

If you not checked out my Youtube channel, then check this one out:

It is time to cut down, and I will be doing No spend January, and that means using my money on the essentials, such as food, bits for my son for when he returns to school. So, going to go through what I already have and use up and checking that his school clothes still fit him, because he is growing so fast, but no spending on items that I don't need, and can wait.

When it gets to this side of Christmas I get sick of spending, and so doing No Spend January helps me to do that, and save.

The problem with me is that I get bored, and the only thing that fixes that is buying something, but then I am spending money for the sake of it, I feel I have wasted it, and could have been saved for more important items. 

So going to change up my wardrobe of what has been worn and what I have not. Shop my wardrobe basically, and packing for when I am in Epsom, and wear what I have already got. I am so glad we had a quiet Christmas, and didn't over do it. 

Before the new years though I will be buying a jar of coffee, as I am running out in Epsom, and some face wash. So a few bits I need to get, but enough of what I need, and will get me through the month. Not meaning that after January I can go on a shopping spree, in fact it will be the opposite, and doing No spend days. 

I am going to challenge myself to make sure that before I buy anything that I already have and run out. This means my toiletries, clothes, food and buy less snacks, and go snack free. 

There will be temptations, but make sure I have a break between meals, and that I eat food that properly fills me up. 

So, going to keep going through of what I have got and save. I am going to pay of my credit card, and save so we can have a holiday this year, and a proper one. 

Why not join me in use up what we got and consume less.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X

Good ways to use what you have got

So before you begin to buy anything, do an inventory, and if it helps write it down, or do it, by viewing  of what you've got. See what you have and how much of the items you have, and if you will be using it again, or shop around to see if you can still get a good valued product for less, than what you usually pay, and still be a good product. 

I find writing it down helpful or keeping it on my phone using my note app, to be helpful, and doing a regular declutter, or review on items. I bought some salads from ASDA for my lunch in the week, and was horrible, and feel this was a lesson for me to make my own. 

Go through the things you watch or listen too. As I am writing this blog, catching up on some Podcasts I still have to listen to, and create a playlist and can help with concentration, and being productive. 

Challenge yourself. I love a challenge and going to do more, and has helped me in terms of my finances, having a no spend month, which I am going to do next January, like I did last year. I want to do more to help build my confidence and grow my content, to help my community and followers even more. 

Build up your skills. If you are bored doing the same thing all the time, learn something that can help build on the skills that you already have, and if you like me have enrolled on online course, get these completed first before enrolling on more. 

Use up your cash and change. Before buying anything by card, try and use cash instead that you have in your purse and now I do this, has helped me manage my finances and save. I have some ideas of how I am going to save me even more, and use my change, that I saved and on things I like to buy. 

Exercise and use everyday things. You don't have to buy fancy equipment, and you may have items in your home you can use, like stairs, chairs and floor space. I have a set of dumbbells that I keep in the living room, and so in the afternoon will pick these up and do some exercise but you can also use bottles of water and tins. If you a garden, in the summer workout outdoors, and a kick about with your kids is still exercise, so use a football if you have one or in Epsom my husband has a treadmill I can use, rather than going to the gym. I do like pay as you go gyms which we have in Epsom and plan to do this again, just to get out as it can get boring, working out indoors and spread your wings.

So I hope you find this helpful and going to do video on this too, and start thinking about Christmas, if you like me have only started now. You be surprised on how much you save, and still buy those memorable gifts and make time to spend it with those you love.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Getting my life together

Life changes and things that matter you can change. This is why it is good to have a good declutter and this month if you didn't know I am decluttering for an entire month (March) and I like doing this to start a fresh new season and go through where I am at. 

Since beginning this blog I decluttered more, and filmed so you'll see this in a video, its just putting them altogether and been a good process. The area I want to change in my desk as this space I use all the time, and fed up of looking at it, because it feels overcrowded and feeling anxious about it. I have journals that I use, but want them to be stored but not forgotten about. 

I checked out storage but going to look around and look at ideas, to help make my desk clearer and have different areas for different purposes. So have a place to work on the computer and write, and where I store my jewellery and places for my make up and toiletries, along with medication. 

I want my room to be cozy and help me sleep and relax and seeing space of having a declutter, has already has eased my anxiety of having so much and put my mind at rest so I can sleep peacefully and want my room to be a home office and a place to get dressed and ready for the day, and in thinking I may keep how my desk as it is, as I have a shelf that stores these items, as I do like to watch videos on my laptop as I don't have a TV in my room, whilst I put my make up on or getting looking good, but still have a better solution I can still do that. 

To me when it comes to getting my life together I like order and with a simple solution so I am not making areas decluttered again, and to keep it clean all the time is tough. so I will be tidying it again this week to find a different way to keep these items near me and easy to reach.

It often is trial and error. 

I hope this helps you too and see that I am not perfectly organized but I make the time to do so, as I like the result afterwards once I have a clearer space around me. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Putting things off

I have a feeling I have written this before, but I do it all of the time. Anything I know that feels like a chore I instantly want to do something else. 

So, I take one step at a time and take each step, and break it down. Whilst I was writing my blog on my other site (https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com) tidied the area behind where I sit on my computer as that has storage and as much as I tried to ignore it, I couldn't, so whilst watching a podcast got up and sorted it out. 

If you didn't know I am doing Monthly challenge of decluttering and get rid of items that no longer has a use, and to own less. I did find some bits on Shein that I'd like but going to wait and have a good clear out first. I am not a fan of decluttering but know in order to make change, I need to get my belongs sorted out and love the results of a declutter. 

I have uploaded my first video on my Youtube channel document this challenge: https://youtu.be/djrCPs1JTFQ

Even the word declutter annoys me, because I find it hard and boring. If only I can find a professional declutterer, if one exists. However when I do it I put on a podcast or a video and that is how I get it done and I do it in the morning whilst I am in the mindset of getting it done. 

I just filmed more, and showed what I have done so far and want to do next and trying to do it everyday hard so will do when I know I have a morning free. Today I have an interview so want to concentrate on that. Yet I do want to continue and want to be minimal and thinking of getting rid of more of my make up as I don't wear it all the time, but wonder if I will regret it, as thinking about it not being on my shelf I will want to wear it a lot more. 

Yet I do have some storage back in Epsom that may be an option, but will need t plan it out. I want to get another draw unit and so will be making changes so I have more functional setting. 

I hope this helps you too to declutter and get sort out your spaces and rooms. 

It is all about making harsh choices but if it helps the mind then its about stop moaning, and get it done. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Challenge for March 2022/Decluttering month

Hello and welcome to my blog Organize for the better. I hope you are ready for this blog. If you haven't read this blog before, so it is all about organizing if you didn't know, and this blog is to introduce my challenge for March 2023. My last months challenges were, January 2023 No Spend and February Finding good deals. Check out my other blog I wrote on these challenges, https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com  and my Youtube channel where I filmed videos for these challenges: https://www.youtube.com/@typicallondongal

So the have started to plan where I will be decluttering, and will be filming and will going to begin this week. Last week I was doing a course and still got a bit of content to film for my last monthly challenge so they are going to overlap, but it is to encourage you to do the same, to see the different areas in your life and where changes need to be made and create new habits. I want to be more minimal. 

This is what these challenges made me realise. I need to wake to the fact that clutter is clutter and does disrupt my wellbeing, and so want to change my desk and think of storage options I have, and what clothes I can get rid off, and is my sons and my clothes that I am referring to.

I like having a functional space, and need to go through my notebook I have got too and have them more organized and thinking about down sizing my make up a bit more, as I don't wear it all of the time, and so I will be doing some more shop with me's to find some different storage ideas, and will be looking at Pinterest for ideas.

Check out my pins that I have put together for this blog: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/thetypicalLondongal/organizing-4-the-better/

So lets get decluttering. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

  

Looking after your pennies

So I did a no spend challenge and still doing it. At the moment I am filming my next challenge and that is finding different deals but it has taken a turn as I have so far since Monday not bought anything and it feels so good. I do need to buy my son some pants so going to sort this out for when he stays with for  half term and going to take him up London and have him choose a some pairs. 

 Check out my first video talking about this challenge: https://youtu.be/CKnKguiQ94g

I was gong to buy myself some new socks because I keep losing them, but decided to save my money and find my socks and spending this time has just saved me some money. If you don't need then don't get it. 

That is going to be my motto. So next is my underwear and I do have pairs but some are too big for me so I do need some new sizes and so will see if I can buy some by the end of the week and have sort through and replace the ones that are too big. Underwear should be comfortable and feel light. 

I am very conscious of waste and going to have a sort through of my sons clothes and socks and underwear as he has grown out a lot and so need to see how much he has of something and if anything still looks good and not worn, going to donate or put in a recycle bin. Of course not with pants but with socks and other clothing. 

I like have a sort through and like saving. It helps me control my impulse buying. Supermarkets are crafty when it comes to attracting peoples attention and put items near the till. Never fall for it and if you don't need don't buy it and stick to a list. I know everyone says that, but it is important and just not doing that one thing can really make a difference. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Typical London Gal  

Getting ready for the new school year 2022

Yes the schools are open and it feels strange after 6 weeks holiday as you get used to the routine of the summer holidays, only for it to change again. I don't mind though it means I can take time in the mornings again and spend time with my son each day and today me and Henry are going to make a cake. 

It is good to spend this time to do homely things and sort stuff out. At the moment I am doing a Autumn Reset, which I have created to do a sort of, of areas that need to be sorted out, preparing for the new season and used to call it a Autumn Clear up, but it is the same. It is going through my laptop, my room and closet to get stuff ready for the colder months and be get rid of items I that no longer adds value to my life, and I enjoy doing this, it means starting a fresh. 

I would like to get a autumn mug, but want to save more and get ready as this is the birthday season for me. My mums, my brothers, Henry, sister in law and step dad, so its time to budget and then Christmas yes, sorry I had to mention it, and I know neither am I fully ready and the fear of it, is rising. 

It means making sure Henry has enough uniform and ordered some new tops for when he does P.E, but they haven't arrived yet and so got that to worry about and could do without but remember, no use worrying as it doesn't fix it, it just adds salt to the wounds and I have chased it up, so I hope they turn up and if not will be emailing until they reply and it gets sorted out. 

Getting to grips with what my son will be learning this year and I thought this was tomorrow but it isn't and will be next week. I am looking forward to hearing about what he will be learning this year and do some fun educational games ourselves and going to make some sheets for him and go through other means of him learning and getting to grips with his education to improve his ability even more. 

Keeping track is important so I know what areas he needs to build on and be on the same page as my sons school and work together. 

It means making sure I get to Epsom on time waiting for him to return from school and helps to get things done whilst travelling and so going to use the time wisely and help me help him. So it means reading a book, going through my emails and listening to music, and so having quiet time ready for when he arrives as he likes to play as soon as he gets in.

I want to continue to help Henry learning about the seasons again and the months of the year and so going to set a plan for him and me and will share on my Parenting blog The parenting adventures tips and tricks. 

So lets get to it, school has returned and got to get bits done before I have to travel to wait for him to come home. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Typical London Gal 

Organizing my life 2022

So this week I have really been sorting my stuff out, and have a reset. So basically going through my computer and online, this morning before I had my first cup of tea sorted out my clothes, and yesterday when I got back from spending some time with my son, is tidy and clean my desk. 

It is good to get Organized even though I do put it off. I find any excuse, so hence why this morning I tidied my clothes, and setting myself a challenge, I am sorting out one area a day, and works everytime I challenge myself to do this. 

There is structure in this too, and that is I will take note of what I want to sort out and just little bits can make such a difference, that it becomes like walking, you end up doing a sort out everyday. 

Avoiding is not the answer, but doing a huge amounts, it can demotivate, and I wish I had a hiding place sometimes or be able to click my fingers, but not possible. It has to be done for mindset. Sorting my stuff out does help to clear my mind. 

Looking at my tidy desk gives me a burst of good energy, that doing it is the hardest thing, but seeing the results is encouraging and helps me to keep it going, and get my life back on track. 

At the moment I am listening to a youtube video, by Kate Kaden on 30 Easy Frugal Habits, and these type of videos are really helpful, and gives me a boost of energy to sort out my life. I have started to organize my finances better with sorting one area of my life that I feel needs changing, and I check my bank balance all the time now, and jot down what money has gone where and how I can save. I am all about #frugalliving 

So if there are areas in your life that needs changing, then do it by challenging yourself too.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X