Category Archives: Friendships and relationships

How to value what you’ve already got in your life

Featured

Posted by in Everyday living, Financial Living, Friendships and relationships, having bad days, Personal Development, Positive Habits, Weekly posts

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

As I continue to declutter and make plans to sort out my belongings, it helps me to value the things I have. Example: a bed for my son for when he comes and stays with me at the weekend, and the desk space I have to write my blogs and books, and for the curtains that black out the light to have a good sleep, and shoes that protect my feet. This helps me not to buy another pair of shoes, a brand new set of curtains, and so I go through it of the items that gives me comfort and peacefulness in my mind and how I feel about myself.

This is not to say I will never buy clothes or shoes again, or have the same curtains for the rest of my life who knows what is destined for us, we never know so being appreciative to what we have already that makes you happy can delete those feelings we get when we want a pair of shoes that sparkle or the latest iPhone, when we know its just more expense and actually what we were already using was enough and then worry because we couldn’t really afford it and the buzz you had in buying the item has quickly gone.

As I wrote this blog I just picked up my gratitude journal and wrote what I currently value down as I love practicing gratitude and being thankful. Look around you and the people in your life, how do they add value and how do you feel around them and others like I wrote that I value the roof over my head and the my everyday trainers I bought from TU Sainsbury’s as they weren’t that expensive and wear them most of the time, because they are so easy and light on my feet. I value the food that is made for me as I currently live with my Mum and step dad and so grateful the space and room I have and so need to value more as I want a more minimal amount of stuff that no longer gives me joy.

It’s following the Kon Marie method of if that item gives you joy or not, and what purpose does it give? My trainers for example help me walk and comfortable and goes with what I like to wear and are practical as my son likes to play sports and I do a lot of travelling and saves me time, and saved me money.

.

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

What does money means to you?

For me it is essential item because I need in order to travel and get from A to B and buy food as some days my mum and step dad go out and not rely on others and to be able to buy stuff for my son and I believe that every penny does count as I would like to give my room a make over and have it more organized, and so it is essential item to live, and respect it for the items it allows me to have.

My dad used to say “That money speaks a difference language” and part of me believe that too. When I worked in accounts if people didn’t get their expenses paid they would get angry about it and would hunt me down, and found tough because it was a lot of work for one person, and felt overwhelmed. Since those days my relationship with money is starting to be good again, as it is hard when you have little and you have bills to pay.

I did get into debt and became reliant on using a credit card and it can be stressful and can really effect how you feel about money but I am to blame and I have had to admit that. Admitting that has helped me to get back on track with my money and stopped me from taking it for grunted and I like to see money saved and can’t wait to pay off my debt and put it behind me. I have already cleared one, so just got one debt which I am getting down, and so money is important and is what we need to survive, but not having a load of stuff that will make us happy for 5 minutes but forever.

When I buy something now I think to myself Do I need it right now? Will it last once its been cleaned and what role will it play in my life. I know I don’t need 30 pairs of leggins, or 100 notebooks, to feel good about life, but enough that will help clothes me, and does it work with what I have got.

What place do it have?

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

People who do amazing things that help other people live happy lives.

Featured

Posted by in empowerment, Everyday living, Friendships and relationships, Inspiring stories, People, Personal care, Personal Development, Weekly posts

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

I got the idea of this blog from seeing the theatre show The Bodyguard, which was originally a film with Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston, because bodyguards do amazing things and people who create music that last decades and means so much to people.

People who I see on Instagram doing running events to raise money for charity and those who save lives like the NHS, the forces and people who are firefighters or paramedics. I know there has been negative press about some of these services and they overshadow the ones working in these services who do a brilliant job and risk their lives everyday.

Then there are people who run foodbanks and on the One show, which is a BBC weekly show at 7pm each evening apart from the weekend do a section called One Big Thank you to people who have gone out of the way to help others with daily living and making life easier for people who are struggling to live and be happy. Example they had a lady who ran a library and arranged it into local meeting place and people creating a community for those struggling have somewhere to have interaction and support where they haven’t any support.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1tRdb9XG6F1SCmF900Zdsr5/the-one-show-one-big-thank-you

Photo by fauxels on Pexels.com

We should be helping each other and building happy communities and not just here in the UK but all over the world. Doing acts of kindness can really make a difference, and when I shop in Tescos they give you an option to donate to a charity which I always do and giving others clothes to help landfill and making a more healthy environment and help with less waste.

I look at Road sweepers and when I worked for the Borough Cleansing for Hammersmith and Fulham, they would be people who had been working in cleaning our streets all their lives but never get mentioned and they should, because they don’t often get paid a lot but we need people cleaning our pavements and roads.

They should be rewarded and given honours, and people who stand out in all weathers selling the big issue. These are people that do amazing jobs, and they don’t see it that way. To them its become their life and just doing a job, but do we want to have dirty untidy streets? Growing up in Hammersmith and Fulham in the 80’s there would be dog pooh all over the pavements, rubbish everywhere and in Chelsea too. It was grubby and so people who clean our rubbish and they in Hammersmith had refuge officers making sure that people didn’t put rubbish in the wrong place and fly tipping, which is against the law in the UK so they would make sure that people paid for items to be collected as waste like fridges were collected and alerted by residence of the borough following the rules in living waste on the streets.

Then there are carers. They don’t get much help financially either and that to me is disgusting because when you have a person with a disability or an illness can affect them emotionally and do wonderful jobs in helping people to still have normality in their lives. I think about Katie Price and how she has looked after Harvey. and on her own a lot, and had to deal with people using him to make fun of children and adult with disorders, and using him to put offensive material online. I know she is in the public eye but that is no excuse of the treatment they have often received and I think she is a excellent advocate to carers of children and yet doesn’t always get credit where she should.

Lets celebrate the wonderful people we have in the world and give them a One Big Thank you.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Celebrating Women/International Women’s Day/Love ourselves as women

Featured

Posted by in Celebrating, empowerment, Friendships and relationships, Personal Development, Weekly posts

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

This is not saying we should forget about the man as there are men we could celebrate, like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, but us women should be celebrated to and love writing blogs on this day because as women we carry our families with us and try to do so much and in the passed decades women were seen as being wives and looking after children when now men and women take care of the home and we raised our voices to change on what being a woman means.

Photo by Andre Furtado on Pexels.com

I was around very domestic women and when I think of decluttering, which is my challenge this month (March 2023) to declutter think of it being a woman thing, because of the women I was influenced by. This is not a bad thing I am glad to have learned to tidy and clean, cook and make a cup of tea, and look after my son whilst his dad goes to work . Cleaning and tidy is not my favourite activity, but who else is going to do it? Should it be me? Or course, check my last post: I do not want to declutter and its only the beginning

Being a woman means to be strong and feeling good about being woman and like my boobs, my bum, face, eyes and seeing what we can achieve being a woman. Don’t forget I know not everyone was a fan but had female Prime Ministers, we have had Queens and celebrated Queen Elizabeth ruled for 70 years and so we should feel proud in being a woman.

I love the fact I was carrying a child, my son and was able to cradle him in my womb, and see him being born and watching him grow, not want to miss any minute and us women carry a lot on our shoulders and so being woman is to be a sister, mother, Aunty friend and a Nanny. Not saying that we all should be mothers, that is personal choice, but being able to carry another life is an amazing thing, being able to produce milk to feed our children, and be proud of what as women of what we can do.

If you like a laugh then check out my book Mum&Me on Amazon.co.uk: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mum-Me-Gucci-Tits-Virtue-ebook/dp/B0BGSS7H9K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Z39QFM7PKFEI&keywords=Mum%26Me+Carrie+Holmes&qid=1678305753&sprefix=mum%26me+carrie+holmes+%2Caps%2C764&sr=8-1

So, lets say cheers and continue to be women and say thanks for what a woman means.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Goal ideas for Spring 2023

Featured

Posted by in Creating a vision, Dreams and ambitions, Financial Living, Friendships and relationships, Goal setting, New Beginnings, Personal Development, Planning 2023, Printables, productivity, Weekly posts, Yearly Reset

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Thank you once again for liking my blogs on this site. If you didn’t know I am doing a monthly challenge where I am finding deals of items I need for the month and have two new Reset 2023 videos up too, so please check my channel to see them: https://www.youtube.com/@typicallondongal

This blog I am talking about goal ideas to set for spring and I have created a new printable.

spring-goalsDownload

When it comes to Spring we begin to have longer days and I find it makes me feel I have more time to do stuff and that means a good spring clean, take on a spring challenge if you haven’t begun challenging yourself. It is all about being SMART which I am sure you have heard before, but is important. example when the weather gets nicer to have a meal outside a local pub or restaurant with friends or join an outdoor exercise class. When my son was a baby I would go to Buggyfit and it such good fun, and it is good to spend time outdoors and not something you don’t always can do in the winter time.

Setting goals for me is important to help me grow and learn. I set them quarterly and make them realistic and reachable. For example: I want to do more runs.

Where would you like to run?

How far you’d like to reach?

So put, build to doing 5km of running and around my local park or common. I do write a sports and fitness blog, see the link here if you’d like to read these blogs too: https://sportsandfitnesspassion.wordpress.com

It is a good season to decide on what you want to let go of and what you want t let into your life now we heading into a new season to start a fresh for the Spring. I am doing more RESTS because I want less and continue my goal for this year, which is not to buy anymore clothes, and concentrate on paying off my Credit card and so where I can save I will. I am continuing on having no spending days too. I feel good not buying things everyday.

I do have a printables page on this site if you wanted to check this page out: New Printables Page

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

@typicallondongal

Building Bridges

Featured

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

It is hard when there is a tension between people, because it can cause a bad atmosphere for everyone. When you feel that the world is against you, you can lash out, and even you don’t know why.

Photo by Elina Fairytale on Pexels.com

The way I see it now is that, do you want that be the last memory you have with that person? It can be too late. I never got to see my dad in the end and it taught me that no matter of what has gone on, you have to build the bridge again between you and them and often we can forget what the issue was that caused the break in the first place.

It is important for my son, because he will now never get to meet him and it brings me sadness, that he knows about him. I wished I could have had that time back, but once someone goes what is left? Anger, resentment, what you could have done, what you couldn’t do, etc etc. Yet I have shown pictures of him to my son, to help with the memory of him and so if you have had family or even friends that you have fallen out with, which you wished never happened, it is time to rebuild and whatever happened forgive and forget.

Of course if they have done something terrible then that is different like physical harm and I am writing a book at the moment called When Mothers Are Real and it is about a lady called Lesley who was abused as a kid and now her mum wants to build a good relationship because can you forgive? This is no reflection of my life, as I had a good childhood, accept at school, but many children aren’t that lucky and are hurt by their parents or other guardians everyday.

Nevertheless if it was an argument and its just escalated to not seeing each other, ask how important is this person in your life? How do you feel when you don’t go out with them anymore? What did they bring to your life?

Some people may have a illness that they worry about telling anymore and be the cause. So sitting and talking to them can do wonders and listening over a coffee or tea, or any drink but understanding what actually happened. It is important to let the dust settle, but not to leave it too long, get in touch and be the one to make the first move and remove the bridge that caused the break in your relationship and rebuild the foundations so it can grow positively and whatever happened is laid to rest.

Thank you for supporting this blog site and the feedback is amazing and lets work together to happier in ourselves and love the people we have in our lives and be happier so no tension is there again.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

@typicallondongal

My Challenge for February 2023/Changing money habits for clear debt

Featured

Posted by in Everyday living, Financial Living, Friendships and relationships, new year, Personal Development, Planning 2023, Positive Habits, Weekly posts, Yearly Reset

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

So my last “No spend January” video is up on my main Youtube channel https://youtu.be/Ree9adtj7YM and it really helped me to look at my money in a different light in that it not about not spending, but cutting back on things and looking at all the stuff I already got and not buying anything more until I used everything up.

It made me see that there I things I like to enjoy, and that is no spending days which I began last year. I enjoy making my coffee, rather than someone else do it and I like instant coffee. I did want to buy some clothes, as I have decided that this year I won’t be buying any and wear what I have got and the same with skincare, and so would say to myself “I have enough”.

My February challenge is to look for deals on the items I plan on buying this month. and I have filmed one video already for this and will be posting videos on my Instagram and my main Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@typicallondongal once a week.

I like buying sensibly now and the part of a reset is managing your finances if you have debt like I have and it can really affect your wellbeing and cause anxiety. My financial goal for 2023 is to pay off my debts and have a target amount on what I want to save and I love hunting for deals and if I can find a product that is still as good, but get it for less than I normally pay for, I know that this is a good deal.

Building a life is investing on what you care about and I have had a bad relationship with money, because when I began working up in London I would be out in the evenings a lot, near Oxford Street in London and became a bit ruthless. Now I feel I am managing my money well again and think about what it is going to help me and feeling happy with spending money, but not gonna cause me to get stressed. When it comes to money it is good to have a plan and have a list. With the internet it is good to go through how much different items cost that you need and what you are willing to pay for items. Budget for me in very important and that has really helped me to get my good money habits back on track.

If you’d like to join me in this challenge then you can do and let me know how it went for you, and see how much we can save, and use it to buy what we have always wanted. I have a what I want to call, a Financial Wish, to take my son on a holiday and would love to take to Disney in Florida.

It is also good to get your kids involved to if you have children and why not have your friends and family involved too.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Typical London Gal

Let’s talk about love

Featured

Posted by in Dreams and ambitions, Everyday living, Friendships and relationships, People, Personal Development, Weekly posts

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

What have you learned in your life about love?

When it comes to love it is all around us and often we can’t see it. To remind me about love I will write in my gratitude journal of everything I am grateful and thankful for, like my son, he is the most precious person of my life and love seeing him everyday and spending time having fun and bonding by play and learning.

Love is about giving your whole being to somebody and at times it can be a challenge, if you have different views on life and love, but as long you can talk, laugh and be yourself, that is what is important.

It can break your heart and change, but it can also be what drives you forward and learn how to help love be good again, by looking around you and by that phone call, watching the one show tonight on BBC 1, Will Young was talking about writing letters, rather than a text message can really make a difference and change your view about love.

Love is a personal feeling that should not be taken for granted and it can be from a person who let you go first on the bus and giving money to buskers and street acts, and there is so many ways to show it and give, that it lights up your world and their’s, and it can also be a object, like a music instrument you love, where you like to travel to each year and watch on the TV and writing a book to help others, and spreading love through many different channels and I do tell friends I love them, because I do or if I see a post from a celebrity on Instagram for example and say if I love something they have posted and it has to be what relates to you, and mean something more than a post of someone unwell or just reaching out and showing love.

Compassion goes a long way and love is where it all begins and grows.

Tell me what love means to you and what you have learned. You can leave a comment below, and remember if you’d like to see more posts then please follow me so you don’t miss out on more content and blogs.

I love you for taking the time to read my blog and for your feedback, because without that I wouldn’t know if they are helpful to you and feel so enlighten by the likes and follows I get, you make it that way.

So lets spread the love today and always, and remember to love yourself too.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Typical London Gal

My New Book Mum&Me

Featured

Posted by in Books, EBooks, Friendships and relationships

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

Hello, so it is December the 31st and yes it is going to be a regular each year to publish a book at the end of the each year.

My book Mum&Me is now published.

It is a comedy and is about a Mum and a daughter who live together and get on each other nerves and have a different opinion on most things that leads to arguments. Elizabeth Mum is continuously ordering items from TV shopping channels and online and not what she thought they were and Elizabeth guest bedroom is full of boxes, but when it comes to Bucci Tits Gloria they always reunite as she is Elizabeth’s arch rival.

I want the book to be a good cozy read and go lovely for winters day or the summer, with a cup of tea or coffee or even a cocktail and have a good laugh.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Typical London Gal

Autumn Reset Day 10: 5 Tips on How to have a good day off

Featured

Posted by in Autumn Reset, Everyday living, Friendships and relationships, Personal Development, Positive Habits, productivity, Weekly posts

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

So you have gone through your habits, you have tidied different spaces of your home and now you feel like you can’t do more. So that means it is time to take some time off and so in this blog I am going to give ideas of How to have a good day off.

Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com
  1. Switch off your devices. I do this a lot now and the day I mainly do this, is Saturdays. I often get tempted to write a blog or film a video, but I remind myself I have my son to think about and so this is the day I spend a lot of time with my son and nothing substitutes that. The only thing I do like is to post on my Instagram but then the rest of the day I will watch some morning TV, and go outdoors and just spend time having fun
  2. Have a homely day. Just spending time watching a movie or episodes of the your favourite shows can really be a good way to unwind for the whole family, but then get your kids to make dinner for a change. One thing I will have my son do at some point. As a kid when I could reach the kitchen tables and basins, I would wash up and make a cup of tea, whilst my parents watched some TV they liked. I would spend ages as a kid washing up and playing, and make it fun, by using a funny sponge and if they complete the task then they get to choose what they want to do, in terms of playing.
  3. Set a date. Yes choose a date in your diary to book holiday for a day and have a Personal Day, and this could be meeting friends for a meal or a coffee, and go shopping or for a long walk somewhere. It is good after having a day where you have just not stopped resetting your life and taking a day helps to reset even more. Rest is just as important when it comes to a reset, as it can effect the motivation and so take breaks in between and set a time to rest is a must for me
  4. Travel to see family you don’t always get to see. I think visiting family and friends regularly so important for you and if you have kids make it a must that I make the effort and good way to do something and see different people on occasions does wonders for your wellbeing.
  5. Use the weekends for all of the above. If you are not able to do anything during the week because of the school run, running errands to help do a reset, then take a day off then. Each Sunday now I will take Henry to our local gardens and he will use his scooter whilst I sit and watch or walk round with him, and I know this may not suit everyone’s idea of having a day off, but because I travel a lot in the week, then doing this on a Sunday is such a joy.

Doing a Reset is not breaking you neck, but to put things back into place, developing a good routine, which includes some time to do other things, and being able to just unwind as said and putting your feet for a bit.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Typical London Gal

Autumn Reset Day 5: Spending time with the ones you love

Featured

Posted by in Autumn Reset, Everyday living, Friendships and relationships, People, Personal Development, Positive Habits, Weekly posts

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , ,

This blog has been influenced by the passing of the Queen because how huge it is when someone who did so much for the world dies and she meant so much to other people. When it comes to resetting, you have to prioritize family time, because time is precious and I have learned that by becoming a mum and yes it can be tiring as a mother, it is my life and I love being a mum.

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

I want to create forever memories that he can keep, and time is short. I want to see my son enjoy school and have friends, and learn to forgive any issues with family members that may have upset you.

Living a more happier life, involves having good family around you and that supports you. I see friends as family and so love keeping in touch and spend time sending them a message or liking what they are sharing via social media. It is good to come off social media, because I think there are downsides to it, but I love it for keeping each touch with my family and wishing them a happy birthday, or what ever occasion they are sharing.

Spend time going with your children of family that have passed on, like I do with Henry. Yesterday we went on trip up central London to wish our condolences to the Queen and this will be something that our kids will be talking about, but as we travelled back by bus, went through family who lived near where we were travelling, and talking to my son about his relatives.

He won’t get to see all of our family as it is big, so it is good to talk to your kids about those who are still around and who have passed away. I want my son to know who my dad was, and so have a family reset and go through pictures and letters, and just make the time to be with family.

Time passes and once it has gone it won’t be there again so make time for family and why not play some old fashion games, like card games. The one thing I loved about my family was when we had a game of cards or dominoes.

Just never forget those who you love, and today I am going to help Henry write a message to King Charles III. When I was at school we were told to write a letter to Prince Williams, I went to St Paul’s Primary in Hammersmith and wished I had kept a copy but we didn’t have equipment back then to do so, and it is good to mark these occasions as we won’t many of us see a Queen again or a Jubilee so you have to take the time to restore that with your children, for when they grow up can tell their children, if they want children and their grandchildren one day..

This is the same when it comes to the ones you love. Create enough memories as possible, and never allow too much time as it could be too late. My grandad always gave my nan a kiss at nighttime because as you never know if you’ll wake up the next day.

Make time for a family day and I think the Royal Family have continued because they are very much joined and make the time for each member, and is something we should do the same. Make a meal that you can all enjoy, or reading time, and just be together even if it is once a week. This you could do a menu and make it fun, and have a tea party and write a gratitude journal and a happy journal to jot down memorable moments.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Typical London Gal