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Everyone can build a castle

~ Creating goals, habits and being empowered aiming for success

Everyone can build a castle

Category Archives: Everyday living

Friendships, What is important to me.

30 Tuesday Dec 2025

Posted by Carries Blog Network in Boundaries, Everyday living, friendship, Friendships and relationships, Love, People, Personal Development, Weekly posts

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blog post about friendships and how they can effect your health, developing friendships, finding good friends, unhappy friendships, wordpress posts about friendships

So, I did a blog about how Bestfriends can help your health, but what happens when a friend turns out to be an enemy and can damage our health physically and mentally.

I am a friend for life, and so for me the relationship of friendship is important to me and what I see in a friend is someone who loves your company like you to with them, and there was a time thought it is about having things in common, but now I realise as I have experience life being in my 40’s that it is not, but about being comfortable and being able to chat about everything and anything.

If they start to be snidey, two-faced and change their tone towards you then what do you feel you should do?

1# Has the trust gone and how are they with other people?

If they are beginning to invite you to places, greeting you differently then ask them about it. I read a book called Brave New Girl and she says that it is okay to confront. Why allow them to treat you unkindly and you have the right to stand up and be accounted for.

2# Never see is as it is you, because it isn’t it is them.

Friends can make you worry about certain things that you didn’t like before, such as your body image. I was told by a girl at school that i was boring about, because I was talking about my favourite TV show The Bill and that i would talk about my holiday to America.

It did hit a nerve, but it was about her and that she liked her own voice, but not others. Now I see that that was her opinion and started talking about The Bill and she moved on.

3# Having boundaries is not all about being argumentative but allow the other to speak. The one thing I hate and I have done it myself, interrupting,

My mum always tells me off about this and so I do catch myself. If I want a good friendship then I have to step up and let them talk. When I feel myself wanting to jump in, I will move my body back so I go from sitting forward to upright and with my look at them to listen.

Even if they say something you do not like, doesn’t mean you have to talk over them or them talking over you. I stopped watching Jeremy Kyle because of the shouting and now as much as the like the ladies, no longer watch Loose Women because of an episode, where they had a lady who was in #Big Brother the celebrity one and I felt so uncomfortable that I stopped watching it, because it seemed they wanted a bust up for entertainment value and why I no longer watch Big Brother and so have boundaries but let the person talk and if you helping a friendship because you actually care, but if they gonna jump in at everytime you talk then what’s point on having a conversation and friendship.

4# If it is a group of friends turning on you.

I like having a group of friends. It is good because it helps for me, with my endorphins, but when they purposely agree with each other purposely then it is time to ask why are they doing that? How would they feel if you did it to them? Friendship is a two way street and not an excuse to gang up on someone.

5# if you don’t wanna lose a friends you have known forever?

So how I have done it, is through Social media like Facebook and Instagram but by sending a letter or a card occasionally. This can feel to them a warm hug to say I know we are not really in each others lives, you still love them and you are there should they wish to return to see you physically again.

It is all about what you value in a person? One thing I like to see is that they will be honest. Friends do fall out, but doesn’t has to mean, you can’t be friends. It is good to see things differently and not all have the same out look on life. I like to be friends with many different people. It to me, when having friends I worked with at Butlins for example opened my eyes and that I can be myself and they can be themselves too.

If you’d like to see more content then head over to my Pinterest and I do have a vlog channel too. Please see these following links:

(44) Typical London Gal Carrie Holmes – YouTube

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Monday’s Cheat Sheet: Getting Ready for 2026

29 Monday Dec 2025

Posted by Carries Blog Network in Celebrating, Cheat sheet, Goal setting, having bad days, Living, new year, Personal Development, Printables, Weekly posts

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2026, making changes, new year, weekly blog, weekly printable

HELLO! It is almost 2026 and so it is time to make those changes. For me I want more of what I had experienced this year (2025) and so don’t see it as starting a fresh. For me it means more growing as a person and focus on my son and on my own learning. I love to learn and listen to others that have had success as a author, right blogs and successful on Youtube and find out what works and what doesn’t.

My reading has grown so much and a habit I have stuck to. I enjoyed the walks I did, even when I was reluctant and trying out Park run and would like to try out more fitness clubs. I liked the trips we went on and met up with my eldest cousin. It was good to see family and wish it could be more often.

So this Cheat Sheet is about Getting for 2026.

Getting Ready for 2026Download

These are free to download and print. I post them weekly and thank you for those who have liked them and will post more come the new year.

Please check out my Vlog channel if you want to see more of my life, being a mum, writer and now do a radio show each week for my local hospital: https://www.youtube.com/@typicallondongal

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Getting The Best Out of Winter As we head into 2026

19 Friday Dec 2025

Posted by Carries Blog Network in Celebrating, having bad days, health and wellbeing, Living, new year, Personal Development, Planning 2026, Printables, Winter Wellness

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2026, getting the best out of winter, happy living, Winter blues, winter wellness blog

It has a been a different kind of winter this year. Not that cold but wet and rainy, with a bit of frost in the morning. Yet riding on the bus in the mornings to take my son, Henry, to do his schooling, I have found myself boiling hot.

Picture I took from when I visited Windsor this year and so been setting my Winter, to enjoy the places we went to and so using this time of year, winter, to go through 2025 heading into 2026.

I like to have a nice iced coffee still, yet you’d think that that would be too cold and hot coffee all the way but no. So enjoy your take away iced coffee, is one tip. As I write this blog, gonna have an iced coffee indoors and I am looking forward to getting a perfect glass for a home coffee for 2026. So to gift to myself is going to be shopping for a better set of glasses and no more novelty mugs.

With the changes I want to make I want to clear out the kitchen before the start of the New Year. I decided to let my baking tools and equipment go; I know I may go back into it but I like cooking dinners rather than baking.

So second tip, find some home projects to do. I am trying to do more of my sons bedroom and mine and it really is making me use my Winter, to my advantage to concentrate on what I can let go of and making improvements to my homes. I live in two places and soon we, my parents, will be moving from Wimbledon and I feel positive about it.

I spent time yesterday creating vision boards for 2026. Organsing my birthday and Christmas gifts for family for this years Christmas and been organising my Notion. I went through my plans in terms of my finances for 2026, just got to put my planner together. I like to plan ahead when it comes to my finances I am going to do “No spend January” and try to do a “Low spend year” as I am going to call it, because I feel doing a No Spend for me, too unrealistic.

I am finding now that there are less things I want to change, but have more experiences. I liked the walks we did this year and the places we visited, my son, husband and I, with my mum and step dad and would want to visit more places. So rather than focusing on the low energy I usually get, I think well I am going to slow down. I am going to have a good set of books to read and just thinking about what I can do, not what I can’t. Normally I put my indoor workouts on hold but I have found that I like breaking up my exercise and do some through the day, rather than a set workout and I have a watch that I bought to wear at home and out to see how many steps I do when at home and outside as do like to potter around the home and tidy. I like to walk through the local parks and checking out the shops and can shop with out buying and going to continue and not act on impulse unless it is doing a bit of a workout and cleaning and tidying is still physical activity. Check my blog site on google: https://getfitgetactivewithme.blogspot.com/

I loved the walks we did even though I was reluctant at the time but it was good and loved Windsor, We walked from Kingston to Teddington and would love to continue to walk and visit different places within the UK, so using the Winter to think of all what we did this year and I love to plan my year and have things to look forward to. I have tickets to see Bon Jovi, plan to visit Scotland and the Isle Of Wight. Third is to get away. If you can get out and my son and I do bus rides and just good to be in a different environment and where my creative side of my brain gets active and I live rivers, lakes and the sea.

I hope you have been enjoying these blogs and there will be more to come. Please check out these links:

December 2025 Newsletter

https://www.youtube.com/@typicallondongal

https://www.instagram.com/typicallondongal/

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

December 2025 Newsletter

18 Thursday Dec 2025

Posted by Carries Blog Network in Celebrating, health and wellbeing, Living, Monthly Newsletter, Monthly posts, new year, Planning 2026, Printables, Reflecting

≈ 1 Comment

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December blog, everyone can build a castle, Monthly Newsletter, New year 2026

Hello! So should I ask how the Christmas shopping is going and organising the food, presents and decor. My husband and my mum have taken care of the decor and the food.

It is good to delegate and I can take care of buying gifts and ordering bits and I am looking forward to the celebrations.

Then there is the new year. Twenty Twenty Five has not been a bad year for me and share the things I feel were good and worth remembering. Please check out my December Newsletter:

December Newsletter 2025Download

There will be more Cheat Sheets. I will be doing some training on my Educational YOUTUBE CHANNEL:

(128) Carries Education Youtube Channel – YouTube

It is about making 2026 as good as the previous year but growing it to be even better. My word for 2026 is “Grow” and that is what I intend to do.

So please enjoy and if you’d like to see more of my life then why not check out my Vlog Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@typicallondongal

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Cheat Sheet: What To Do After Christmas

15 Monday Dec 2025

Posted by Carries Blog Network in Celebrating, Cheat sheet, Everyday living, Living, Printables, Weekly posts

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Christmas tips, free printable, post Christmas, tips and tricks, weekly cheat sheet

Hello! It is early I know but that what heartburn does. I am good nevertheless and had to get up.

So Christmas is upon us and so wanted to do a Cheat Sheet of tips of what to do after Christmas having leftover food, sales on Christmas products that are on sale and tidying up.

What to do after Christmas cheat SheetDownload

These are free to download and print. I post each Monday and to be kept and help you with tips and advice and we can have so much food, drink and it is good to be prepared for the following year.

I do have a Vlog channel, sharing parts of my life check it out here:

https://www.youtube.com/@typicallondongal

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

This Weeks Cheat Sheet: What to do a on a Rainy day

08 Monday Dec 2025

Posted by Carries Blog Network in Cheat sheet, Everyday living, having bad days, Living, Printables, Weekly posts

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family fun, free printable, weekly cheat sheet, winter 2025

Hello! I hope you had a good weekend. It is Monday once again and this weeks Cheat Sheet is all about What To Do On a Rainy day. Inspired by getting wet on Friday when the Radio Station I work on, hosted an event and was cold too.

What to do on a Rainy DayDownload

These are free to download and print.

Have a good week.

Many thanks for reading

Carrie X

If There Are Times You Wish You Could Forget

06 Saturday Dec 2025

Posted by Carries Blog Network in Celebrating, Everyday living, Friendships and relationships, having bad days, health and wellbeing, Living, Personal Development, Winter Wellness

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celebrating Christmas, Christmas 2025, good and bad times, what Christmas is all about, yearly wellness programme

In the year the Two Thousand for the first time I dreaded Christmas. My family life had changed, my Nan passed away and I was in a job I hated. It was a fail. I had to re-address my life and where it was going.

Our Elf on A shelf

For some, there are people, like that year who dread Christmas. When a change happens, all those good times feel like they have stopped and can make you feel like you want the world to swallow you up, to never be seen again. It took me a while to adjust and I made the decision to leave my life in Richmond behind to move to work in the South Coast.

When I moved Christmases were a work day. I moved to work at a holiday camp and where I met my husband and so I had the Christmas my boyfriend, then at one of our friends house and it was fun working at Christmas. Within in one year, I stayed with then my boyfriend and worked with a hangover but I do not regret as it, it was so much fun.

I lost my spark for the festive cheer. I was sad. My nan was the center of my universe and my Grandad and my Nan, made the Festive season the best ones and it struck me that those times were gone and I asked, “Would Christmas be good again?”

I see the Christmas as a day a of rest and recuperation now. I love that my son loves it and he has helped bring back my Christmas spirit, to feeling happy again, we hosted Christmas once with my in-laws. Now though it is just the three of us and celebrate for him now and he has helped me bring back my joy for #Christmas.

I am not a fan of the busyness of the Christmas so tend to buy online but do like to have a traditional drinks, decor an like a Mulled Wine or a Winter Cider and may have a glass of wine. I love a festive coffee. This year 2025 its the nutcracker latte, iced or hot. What is your festive drink this year? For a while it was the Blackforest Gateaux Hot Chocolate.

If you’ve not had a good year then it can be hard to enjoy Christmas but do something different and if you want to eat out as many restaurants or pubs can be open. The year before Henry was born we, my husband I went to Florida which was good fun and next year I plan to go to Scotland and today we are off to Kingston if the weather is okay and see the lights and see if we can get any decor or my sons bedroom.

The other thing is family break ups. Alternate visits. One year let your kids be with their dad and the next with you. It was hard when my parent divorced but my dad would go to my brothers and so it can work out and just say “Your not gonna choose” but will see them what day works for you and if they are persistent then say “No this is what is going to work with me” and if they make it hard for you then you have to be honest with them and be stern with the decision you have made.

It is not the time for arguments. It is the time to end family feuds and just enjoy it.

So going to pop out as I need something for my teeth they’ve been hurting me a lot and have a Christmas coffee and a pastry of some kind. Sometimes you just need that lift and it helps me think and feel lucky to have experience Christmases with those gone and that Christmas is now worth celebrating.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

New Weekly Cheat Sheet: Declutter Your Life

01 Monday Dec 2025

Posted by Carries Blog Network in Cheat sheet, Everyday living, health and wellbeing, Living, Weekly posts

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Hello it is the start of a new week and is the beginning of December and so got literally 25 days until Christmas. Yikes! It can be the best time to declutter and so this weeks Cheat Sheet is tips on Decluttering Your Life.

Declutter Your LifeDownload

These are free to download and print and check out my Pinterest to see more: https://uk.pinterest.com/thetypicalLondongal/everyone-can-build-a-castle/cheat-sheets/

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

A Bag Full Of Memories

07 Friday Nov 2025

Posted by Carries Blog Network in Celebrating, Dreams and ambitions, Everyday living, having bad days, health and wellbeing, Living, Winter Wellness

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building memories, celebrating milestones, enjoying the Winter, from a child to an adult, Winter Wellness Post

The Winter can be a great way to create a Bag Full of Memories. They can go to the park. Retake a photo from when you were a kid to when you became an adult. Celebrate milestones, like for example, someone turning 40 or 18 and take photos in the park on each milestone.

One of my Sons and I favourite places and yes we even have Ice Cream in the Winter

I love a photo and seeing pictures of the different Christmases I have had since a kid. I remember those that are no longer with us. I include their traditions and new ones. Check out this post below, of my printable where I have created: Winter Wellness Programme 2025 | Everyone can build a castle

In the winter I like to try a festive coffee and document it. It just a little guilty pleasure along with having a Mulled Wine or a Winter Cider.

Yes I have a Christmas mug and want to get a new one. I like to take picture of my son and his cousins. We do set dates of when we can get together. It is great to have family time. I loved spending time with family, as a kid. I cherish those times and want my son to feel the same.

I have had a hard time during the winter. Because of this, I created the Programme Winter Wellness. Then, I started to realize that change is good. You have to move on.

People come and go. Memories will last a lifetime. If you allow it, you can create more memories. Life is full of surprises. Change can mean new experiences that makes you look back and smile. I loved my childhood and now I love my adulthood. It has not always been like that. Life is full of challenges. As you live, you will learn that they are a test to see how resilient you are. You have more strength than before. You can speak for yourself and create memories that others will cherish. Laughing and having fun is contagious. Winter time can have a bag full of memories just as much as the others, throughout the year.

Let out your feelings on my Printable, please see link in the blog above and is free to download.

If you’d like to see more content I have a Youtube Vlog where I share parts of my life and have created a Pinterest board for this years Winter Wellness and so check these out in the links below:

Vlog Channel https://www.youtube.com/@typicallondongal

My Pinterest board:

Many thanks for reading

Carrie X

What Songs Do you Relate to that makes you feel good ?

05 Wednesday Nov 2025

Posted by Carries Blog Network in Everyday living, having bad days, health and wellbeing, Living, Personal Development, Winter Wellness

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health and happiness, life as a mum, listening to music, winter programme, Winter Wellness

There isn’t a day in my life where I have not played music. It was my first love. I would dream about living a different life. I would imagine that I am in concert singing songs like the Greatest Love of All. I wished I had written songs I have loved and still love today.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Music is great for building relationships. This happens if you share similar tastes and have a song that makes you smile whenever you hear it. The song by Eurythmics, There must be an Angel playing in my heart, reminds me of our trips to Menorca. We used to go there for our Summer holiday and were such good fun. We traveled with other families. These trips gave me so much joy. I was allowed to stay up all night and would watch the sun go down and love watching the sunset.

In the Winter I normally listen to Enya, of course Christmas songs and mainly soft music.

If you find that Winter is gloomy, put on some music to lift your mood. Create a playlist of songs that make you feel good.

I have created a Printable and I talk about Habits. One of them is listening to a playlist of songs in the mornings. For me, I always play music around 3:50 pm until dinner time. This includes nice, slow, easy music, and joyful tunes too.

I work for my local hospital radio on Sundays from 4 to 6 Sunday afternoon. If you are in the UK, you can go to the Epsom Hospital website. Listen to it if you have internet. I back doing my show on Sunday the 30th November 2025: https://www.epsomhospitalradio.org.uk/on-air/presenters/carrie-challoner

I like to have a bath and listen to music some times and especially when cooking.

My husband does the same. I love to listen to music when it’s cold and wet outside. It helps me write and work on a book. I have created a playlist on Youtube to go with the book I am writing. I enjoy it with an Earl Grey tea and a nice sweet treat.

I hate the worry of people not being happy. It can affect my mood. I hope that this Winter Wellness Programme helps you. If you want to join, just subscribe. You will be alerted when I post a blog. I also do other programmes throughout the year.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

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