Getting Ready for 2026

It is on the horizon, but feel good about it. I means starting a new chapter and sticking with some existing things like reading. If I don't conquer my reading goal which is 20 then so be it, will try again. It means getting some projects finished, like my sons bedroom and mine. Hopefully my son gets a place in a school and my blogs and YouTube channels continue to grow and have another book published. 

One of my favourite meals not just at Christmas, with healthy food for 2026, along with sticking with our favourites. 

So what habits are you going to continue and projects?

It doesn't have to be done in January but when it feels right to you. I was reading an article and there was an article interviewing Amelia Fox who's famous actor, she doesn't make resolutions but she goes through what she wants the new year to look like. 

Everyone has their own way and it doesn't make it wrong. Each to their own. It is what works for you.

I like to make life changes. I like to have word. Two thousand and six is Grow. 

It means doing more Radio shows and not allow my fear over take and not shy away from other opportunities. It means letting go of stuff no longer serve me. So I am getting rid of my baking items and I will be moving. I live with my mum and step dad aswell with my son and husband part of the time. So that is going to be a massive change but not worried, which is the first of me. 

I can worry my socks off and all it does is cause stress and so letting go of my old feelings, for 2026.

Then my son has his sports clubs and get back to my walking and building my steps. 

I am taking part in a Walking Event in April and seeing Bon Jovi in concert so got a few things to look forward to.

It is good to have things planned. It can be meeting with a specific friend you don't often see once a month or week. It can be to go for a walk in a park once a week and go on a shopping trip. I will be doing No Spend January and cutting my spending down and since Henry's learning in the library for now spent less and so saving for holidays we plan to have in 2026. 

So lets get ready for the new year to have a lot more happiness, if possible and things to look forward to.

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

I have guilty pleasures

Hello! So when I was pregnant with my son who has just turned 12 I would watch TOWIE because it took my mind off my indigestion. Now it is watching Cliff Richard in concert and watching Jo and Stacey on BBC One.

It is good to watch others live their lives and it is addictive TV. 

I think with my dad it was Eastenders, even though, I feel if he was alive he'd say no, but it is the reality of #TV and at one time for me would be watching "Say Yes To the Dress" and the Kardashians. 

It is good to when the kids are in bed to watch a bit of music that your friends and family don't know about. Okay I am not talking about Porn, just in case someone thinks that, that is something that is totally different, but is something that is not what many of who, would know you. My husband loves the Traitors yet he normally be critical about that kind of TV as neither of us watch Big Brother and for me I like Celebrity Race Across the World. 

It doesn't have to be TV. It could be a type of food or drink, as long as you are wise about it and for me that is, having a Baileys and a Malibu and Coke. 

I am not a heavy drinker but like a bit of alcohol at the weekend. 

It could be a song. Mine is Dollar Mirror Mirror. 

A certain place to eat or a sport. 

Even a film or clothing. 

Many it can be smoking and drugs, which can mean that something more serious going on and that these can lead to addictions. Yet my Grandad loved his Tobacco and was never willing to give it up and my dad and mum smoked.

There was a time I did smoke out of curiosity but I didn't get any pleasure from it. 

Your Guilty Pleasure can be books, like romance novels or biographies. 

I remember in friends the comedy where Joey finds a book of Rachel's and there is nothing wrong with a bit of romance. I love love songs and still listen to Buck Fizz. Many may not admit that they love cheesy music but a bit of pop did no harm to anyone.

Life is to be live and so have a guilty pleasure, as long as it won't do you or anyone, any harm. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

How I Plan my days

So I have filmed a Plan with me Vlog which I plan to post next week as I have a Vlog Channel, sharing different parts of my life and interests. I will be back posting once a week as two a week is too much and like to focus on doing One thing in different areas to sort out and organise my life. I know some say it is good to do multitask, but not me. 

We took a Walk up London and have filmed so will in a Vlog soon

I sometimes will have my laptop in the kitchen cooking but to watch videos. 

So I now use mainly post its: https://organize4thebetter.blogspot.com/2025/10/new-way-of-planning-and-staying-on.html On Google Calendar I map out what is happening in terms of my sons tutoring sessions whilst we wait for a space in a Secondary School and going to do this once a week.  

Today we are out for the morning. I love our walks and going for coffees so the one thing I do is make sure we have time outdoors and yesterday felt so good and I like to make sure we go out early and in the Winter I feel I need to get out and just take in the new season. 

I am a home body and do like to as soon I get back indoors, to change into my PJ bottoms. I make the  time to have that time to do bits of work, like plan my radio show. I am off at the moment but will be back at end of November, see details of my show. It is slightly changing to The History Of Music. https://www.epsomhospitalradio.org.uk/on-air/presenters/carrie-challoner I do a show on Sunday's 4 to 6pm. 

At the moment I am Planning my sons' birthday, my mums birthday and my brothers birthday. I mark off these dates each year at the beginning of each year and go through things that I will need to pay for and that I end my spreadsheet in regards to my finances and I check my bank account everyday. Check out my Financial Living Youtube Channel: (69) Financial Living - YouTube

I like to make sure I get up at the time that suits me. That time is usually between 5am to 6am, to have a cup of tea and read my book. 

I will take breaks and tidy up the plates etc before each meal of the day and plan what we are going to eat for dinner and make time to eat out and visit different places. My son loves travelling on bus and trains and I enjoy that too. 

Please if you recommend can recommend good places to walk then please sure share. I like walking up London, but there are a lot of road works at the moment, so not looking so scenic and we go to Kingston, but would like to do others, so if you know of some good walks, preferably involve being near nature then please share. You can use the comment section below. 

I am so glad my clubbing days are over and for me sorting out my Pinboard gives me pleasure, watching a comedy and plan some time in front of the TV and not all about To do lists but what gives me the utmost pleasure. So, I'm going to sort out dinner soon, but before then going to have another up of Earl Grey Tea and binge on Youtube.

I am doing a Programme at the moment called, Winter Wellness and posting through November and December through to January and so if you are interested then please visit my blog site: https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com/

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

My Relaxing Routine

How do you like to relax? For me it is good book and a cuppa. I do watch TV but not a lot. I like to listen to music, as it helps me plan for my Radio Show and finding doing my radio show relaxing as I will take my shoes off once I set up, and doing little things like that takes the pressure away of delivering a good show. You never know who is listening and so like to get into the zone. 

One Of the Places we like to walk to Wimbledon Park, London 

I like to wake up early and avoid the mad rush and in the evenings my son and I like to, once my husband has gone to bed, watch repeats of show likes Not Going Out. Some evenings mainly Autumn and Winter like to have a nice hot bath with salts, listening to an audiobook and read once my son and I have gone to bed, to end the day. 

Many may find it strange but I find walking relaxing, especially by a pond or a river and have a nice dinner. 

I like to wear lounge wear, tracksuit or cozy jumper. 

For me having a good set of jumpers, jeans and good set of boots, good for Autumn and Winter and funky socks. I love cozy clothes and invest in Turtle Necks this time of year. I tend to by many of my woolly clothes from Charity shops.

It is good to have a cozy dinner. I like the typical roast dinners, on a Sundays and begun a new meal for some weeks. It is a Midweek Roast or we will have casserole, spaghetti Bolognese and anything that warms the tummy and a nice pudding. Soup and a Roll for lunch. Porridge for breakfast and just feeling warm on the outside and on the inside. 

I am going to be doing a Programme called Winter Wellness, which I created last year and so will be a group of blogs, like this to help have a good Winter and help enjoy it rather than dread it. I will be mainly using blog site: https://www.everyonecanbuildacastle.com

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

New Way of Planning and Staying On The Right Track, Getting Things Done

I have tried so many different ways to be organised and now I use post its. Check out my New Vlog: https://youtu.be/iryXj4wW1-A It feels so good to rip them off and tare them up. There are some daily tasks, weekly and yearly. 

It is up to you what works, with your Lifestyle, my word of this year, but I am finding this to be even more effective along with Notion and my other notepads. It is good to have a vision board and perhaps use smaller post it notes, but gonna keep with the post its I am using now and continue to build it up to help me to complete tasks and working on projects. 

Not everything goes to plan but doesn't mean that you should change your plans. With life you may have to alter your plans, but finding a method that works best.

Stop doing things to satisfy others. Focus on what works for you. 

I love a simple systems and it is good to be relaxed about it and if you feel you need more rest then do so. 

Often it is good to stop plans and decide on the day. 

It is good to have a flexible approach and often it is good to let others decide. I feel it is good to do something different from your normal plans. Weekends my son goes to sports clubs and it gives me a break and I enjoy going to see my son do his football training and his rugby. 

So look at what is working and what is not. What you enjoy and a visual plan near me it helps me to find better ways to stay on track. I am homeschooling at the moment and so making sure my son does some learning. We like go for walks and I enjoy planning these and so make sure we make that a priority and note it down and pin to my pinboard. 

Also Pinterest. I love that platform. I love creating vision boards. thetypicalLondongal - Profile | Pinterest

Canva is good too. I use this to create my videos boards I call them for my Vlog channel: youtube.com/@typicallondongal

I am not sponsored, but if they did I would accept, on all online platforms I use and can use these  platforms on my phone and that is simple to use. 

So how do you plan and stay on track, getting things done? Please share. You can use the comment box below. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X