Use what you no longer need to those that do/storage ideas

 Christmas is a time to give gifts and a good way to declutter your home whilst you decorate for the festive season. 

Hand creams is a good item for the winter as my hands always get sore and chapped if I don't use hand cream and so is an essential item, but try natural products and not items that have too many added unwanted ingredients in them. 

These make good presents but it all depends on that person's skin but are a nice item that has not been used and still brand new. 

If you have books that you have read why not pass them on or if you to re-read it create a shelf to do that and have a books in section "To be read again", but if you haven't touched them over a year and forget "One day" pick on up or pass it on. 

Give items back like books back to charity shops as it helps them earn money again for the charity and a good way of passing the book on for someone else to get pleasure out of it. 

Have a lucky dip for your kids instead of an advent calendar, or to help prep for Christmas and can be decorations for the tree for them to hang, have personalised barbles and use Christmas as a way to use up your bakery ingredients stored and then make way for other food for Christmas, and reduces waste, making sure they are okay to use up. Check the label of the item or if stored in a jar put a label on it from when it was originally put in the jar with the expiring date or best before dates.

Use up chocolate bars to make into a cake for Christmas, like Oreo cup cakes or digestives bashed made into crumbs to make a base for a cheesecake, including chocolate digestives or bourbans is nice and makes the cheese super rich but great as a change, and so worth it. 

If you have a someone with a birthday close by Christmas then it can be difficult knowing what to buy them separates their birthday and Christmas by having kids in fancy dress of their favourite books and use clothes you already have or handmedowns, always welcomed and make custumes out of paper. My mum did this once when we would holiday in Clacton and the holiday camp there would have fancy dress competitions and not about Christmas or have a birthday party in the morning and Christmas in the evening. 

Have a birthday breakfast party and then have Christmas feast and do picky bits of different foods, depending on your budget and have sibling or any one who volunteers their help. 

It is all about loving the festive season and doing what makes bring smiles and creating everlasting memories. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

My first mince pie and Christmas coffee/Let's get festive

Hello and welcome to a new post. 

This time of year once the first 4 birthdays on this side of the year of my family, have passed I will start prepping for Christmas, and start to get ideas of gifts to buy and have a theme, and not gonna say what theme it will be this year as those I buy for, may read this blog, but you might find this helpful to help you plan for Christmas.

I always set a day in December, to do my Christmas shopping, and I do write a list and have a dedicated folder to help me too and a notebook, to prep and, already had a mince pie and a Christmas coffee. The one I always have is the Blackforest Hot Chocolate from Costas.

I like personal items like Jewellery, gift sets and gift cards. 

When planning for Christmas I do budget but I do go extra when it comes to buying items for children in the family, my son and nieces, and this year instead of putting items into a box or gift bag, I am going to buy some pillowcases and use this for gifts, or a tote bag, as they can use these aswell. 

I like to do different things, and I am gonna make some Christmas cards, and do a bit of decor if I can and one item I am gonna get is small Christmas tree to have in Henry's room where he lives with his dad, and going to buy advent calendars this year rather than make one and when it comes to hosting Christmas, I have no idea as not sure where I will be, but I would like to do that again and I like seeing family and seeing those I don't get to see during the year, at Christmas too.

For kids it for me is for Kids and allowing then to enjoy being a kid, and creating magical memories. I used to love a Christmas party and would have a lots of these this time of the year when I worked up in London, and living in a housing estate. They were all funtimes. 

I want it to be different to last years and not go too mad, but do little things I buy some more mince pies, buy selection boxes, read a Christmas book and buy some Advent Calendars. 

I hope this blog gives you some inspiration and go and get yourself or make a nice Christmas drink and lets get festive. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X  

 

Organizing for half term/How to organize birthdays this time of the year

Hello, so last week and this week kids have had, in the UK half term, and some get one week and others get two weeks, which is currently it for me, but because I co-parent with his father, Henry is spending time with him at the moment, and then back with me on Wednesday which is tomorow as I write this blot post. 

His, my son birthday next week and it can be tricky to get him bits, but I have picked up some and want to take him out on his birthday but he is back at school then, so gonna use the weekend instead, either before his birthday or after, and trying to get tickets to take him to a football match. Also the rugby is on so thinking we could do a rugby or a visit to Bockets Farm. They do, do birthday celebrations, and my niece had hers there. 

You don't have to worry about food they do it all for you. and when it comes to gifts always have a table if they can provide it to put the gifts together. It has an indoor play area and outdoor, so you aren't stuck when it is raining outside. 

My son loves Thomas the tank engine and has actually been on this train, and so check out out, as that is a great day out, and I have bought him a pop up book from Whsmiths and a big thomas tank engine train from Amazon. I want to get him or making him a writing set as he started to lots more of this now.

Going on this theme colouring books are great and making your own by the power of the internet can be even better for them and no cost at all, and kids are not worried about price but on how it will make them feel and good to get useful things rather than all toys. 

If they are having a load of kids together then it is good to set a meeting area, and have them play first and some venues will have it where the kids get to play for an hour and then have birthday party once they have had time to explore, if you want to organize something like visiting a zoo or a farm. 

When is their birthday near or during half term then plan ahead and book ahead, as places like Bocketts farm have many families booking and so you do have to get in early or you can end up missing your chance, and do forget Christmas parties will begin too at such places, and so plan ahead. 

Do a prep and check list and I often use just my notepad and often will put it on my phone aswell as I have got my ideas together and gone through what I have booked and still do get. 

So I hope this helps you and if it is your's or your childrens birthday then best wishes to you.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X  

How to help remember tasks each day when there is so much to remember

Hello and welcome to a new organization blog. So going through what I did when I started this post, yesterday when I had an appointment in the morning, and then in the afternoon/evening went to my son's school parents evening, and worked on books, and going through things that have been done and then remembered that I needed to pick up my prescription and sort out getting an upgrade on my phone. I did since writing this blog, and give myself less to do, to make space to do more, and doing a weekly reset to help me, and taken a break from blogging, to concentrate on unfinished tasks.

So to help me remember I now use my diary that my son bought for my birthday, my Filofax to plan my writing, manage my finances and keep tabs on steps of the week and words on a new book I am creating.

I did set alerts on my phone too, but kept clogging up my email, but use the calendar on my phone to remember appointments and events.

For me its about getting in done and making sure I schedule time for myself too, and taking time out from the everyday grind that will help my memory, and get things done.

The other thing is to listening to music, or reading a book, especially when travelling and I get anxious over appointments, I give myself a good amount of time and always see if there is somewhere, where I can have a coffee whilst I wait to do a bit of writing and I am making it a habit to have a coffee and read a good mag, and I did this today, now finishing this blog on Friday, the start of my son's half term break, and now its making time so I can take Henry out to places, and are affordable, and have time to still write and complete tasks. I brain dump and if I have an idea of a book, blog or video I keep note of it in my Filofax, OneNote and Notes app on my phone as I do have an over reactive mind.

Soon my son will be in as he's finishing school early, so gonna end this blog, but more blogs will still be published, but be pre-scheduled, and so have a good half term everyone, and if you want to read more content that I write about, then please visit my Pinterest site:

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

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

 

Keeping the home safe and preparing for the colder weather

 A lot of hazardous can accumilate in the home and we often forget about home safety as we just go about our days living. 

Yet keeping the home safe is a must and should be remembered. 

So to begin, the first tip is: Don't put candles on appliances like TV's, near curtains and near baby and not put on low surfaces kids can reach. Fires can wreck a home and one of my colleagues I used to work with had a home fire. Never thiink this can't happen in your home, because it can so be safe when purchasing candles.

The second tip is keeping dirty sponges on surfaces or in the sink. They can be covered in bacteria and can be harmful. If you have kids, they will at tiny to child age put things into their mouths and the last thing you want them to touch is the used sponge and so have them wash up but supervised, until they stop putting things in their mouths and stay at bay of illnesses caused by dirty water. 

If you have a used sponge replace and keep them dry as possible, but in easy reach for yourself to use when kids aren't nearby. 

The third is. Keep coats clean and wash regularly emptying pockets in case of used tissues and near the front door, not to high reach from your kids so they know where their coat belongs when they come home and they know where to put when dirty. Jacket accumilate outdoor germs so wash and dry hygiencially.

Keep hobs and cookers clean and store cleaning chemicals in a locked up cupboard and know before hand how to use them. Some of these cleaners are toxic and when working in a industrial kitchen you'd wear a mask when cleaning an oven or a grill.

Never play on the steps and that kids are supervised when a child uses the stairs and have bare banisters so they have something to hold on, making sure doors and banisters are cleaned safely too. 

When it comes to ourselves we are all guilty of spreading germs and we can easily do that when walking around in barefeet and so when walking around your home, make sure you clean all floors, carpteted, wooden floors and rugs. These can have lots of bacteria if not and make sure you feet are clean too. Any veruccas are cleared and treated as they can spread and wear socks in the winter and good unworn shoes and these should be cleaned regulary also when walking around on different surfaces outdoors.  

During fireworks night never store in a warm room and should be in a darkened room in a garage not in other rooms as heat can cause devestation.

Any dogs or cats, make sure they are cleaned up and their fur is picked up. Make sure that they keep indoors in the warm in the winter and in hot weather they are in the shade and can burn their paws.

I hope these tips help you and many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X  

Being a keeper not a hoarder or is it the same thing?

Hello and welcome! So yes I am a hoarder and I am not afraid to admit it, but I do have regular clear outs to help me and if you to are a hoarder then I call it myself "A Keeper" of item that do bring me pleasure. Like example notepads. I love them and I do buy them a lot but that is because I do use them and won't by many its certain times. 

I write so I hoard those items because they a special to me and I like flipping through my notebooks to measure my life and how it has changed and altered. 

Yet I haven't kept things like my school books because I just wanted my school days to be over and what difficult time of my life and I felt like I couldn't get to grips with it, but taking part in plays and dancing did give a sense of purpose. 

I have kept my dancing trophies because I am proud of them and being "A Keeper" is it the same thing? You tell me. As I think many people would have different views on that so I am gonna leave it up to you.

What I like is longlastting items and still wear items I bought ten years ago if they still fit and in good condition. I do value things and clothes most definitely. I choose items which have a character about them, and I with clothes I tend to go for patterned or printed tops and plain leggins and jeans for the bottom half of me. It is what ever your style is. 

For me I like items that a different from the norm, I used to love markets and would regulary take a train to Petticoat Lane in London or Wembley market on Sundays, and find some real hidden treasures and I miss those. 

The biggest one is the one in Skegness if it is still there and could have shopped all day. When I lived in the South Coast they would have a regular market at the weekend and when it was the summer season, and Chichester is a brilliant place to go shopping and have many different shops and definitely one to pay a visit too, and so have bought different items from them, yet I can hold onto money and wait until I have the money to invest. 

When it comes to sales I am cautious and only spend if it is worth the deal, and I do like going into stores again rather than shopping online as this can be addictive and I am an  amazon fan and love shopping on there. 

I don't buy everything I can see in fact I keep a few things in my basket but don't actually buy it. I go through it and ask how important is that item to me? Often I will put items in "Save for later list" and I recommend doing that and creating wish lists. 

I have spoken about this a lot, but that is how I control my hoarding and remind me I am "A Keeper" and will get longevity items, things tha will last a life time and it has helped me save and to gain control and "Keep what serves a purpose". Are you the same? Let me know. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

  

 

Organize your clothes so you always have something to wear/Having a functional wardrobe

Hello, and I hope you aren't rushed off your feet. This blog is about Organize your clothes so you always have something to wear. 

Rotate your clothes and go through items you want to add to your wardrobe, I like having a sort through and it helps in terms I can mix and match. I plan my wardrobe for the year, adding and taking away items from it. I go through, items I no longer need, doesn't fit or does not give me any joy anymore. I like Kon Marie she is a woman of organizing and I follow her, on items that bring me joy. 

I go through the staple items I love to wear and want to bring into my wardrobe and I do this by regularly sorting through, and seeing what I am missing from it, that will complete my wardrobe, and not buying items all the time. 

I like having no spending weeks, and only buying what I need, and this helps with making sure I go through and wear all the clothes I have. 

Example: I own at the moment,two pairs of jeans, blue and black, my usual colours and once worn then I replace, but I don't need 25 of them, just one blue and one black. 

I do have a fashion blog on wordpress, where on Mondays and Thursdays, I do a look book, so check it out if you would like:

https://carriesversitilefashion.wordpress.com 

I do have items I stock up on though like, tights, leggins, jumpers and t-shirts. 

When it comes to bags and jewellery I could have 100s as I am a bag and shoe girl, but know I don't need that much, so stick to a good suffiicient number, 5. 

With jewellery I like having a packs with many different earrings included, and I like to treat myself to them, but again I do hold myself back and dont' buy too many. One or two a year, is not gonna damage my purse, but keep my fashion and accessories to continue to love these items. 

So how do you organize your clothes? Do you have a house full of clothes but nothing goes together? 

You can comment below.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X