Hello it is the morning in November 2025! What Things are Worth Buying or Subscribing to?
I have chosen mine for this weeks Cheat Sheet, as an example and it helps me see that things are growing and good to have a good resource to plan my life, organise my life and be the best person I can be. I love using Canva, Notion and my notebooks and Journals.
Audible is great for books. I read books aswell as listening and love that I have choice in listening or reading.
Please check out my Resource Library on this site: Resource Library
I post my Cheat Sheet each week and are free to download and print and on different topics to live more and do less.
It all about building and growing.
Do what you enjoy and use what you enjoy.
If you’d like to read more content then check out my Vlog Channel, my Pinterest and my Social Media Platforms. If you subscribe you will be alerted when I post on these site. See the links below:
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:
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.
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.
What is a form of self care. I remember watching one of Mel Robbins Podcasts, which are very good, I do get a lot of inspiration, but there was one guest that talked about how having a bubble bath is not a form of selfcare. Well may be not?. I love the whole process of having a bath whilst listening to an audiobook. So why can’t it be seen as a way of giving myself, self care? It is what helps you when you have had a busy day and Oprah for example reads in the bath and so I feel that was, when listening to the podcast a bit of a misconception. Zoe Sugg for example loves to be in the bath scrolling on her phone, and I bet there are people saying, that that’s a bad thing. Why? If it is relaxing. Selfcare is not the same for everybody.
Budgeting is the same as dieting. I love to budget it helps me from buying another pair of boots and another collection of notebooks. It is not depriving me from anything. Not in my case anyway, but helps me make sure I put money into my son’s account, I pay my phone bill and if I need to buy an emergency item, having budget ensures me that I will have the money should that happen. Its covering anything that may breakdown, like my laptop, a household appliance we use like our Airfryer and so for me it does not feel like a diet.
Going to bed early and you will wake up early. Not for me. I have suffered with Insomnia since a child and would wake up between 3am and 4am and when I tried to go back to sleep I would feel more tired or have a nightmare. When I’ve gone to bed early, to see if helped, I just wake up at midnight and find I have over slept, so for me I now go to bed later. I read my book so as soon I feel the most tired, I drift off nicely and wake up at 5am. Going to bed later has helped me sleep all the way through the night and lowered my Insomnia. It all depends on each person and so if going to bed early helps you, fine, its not one way fits all, but what suits you and your lifestyle.
Eating three meals day. Now I am not saying this is wrong or right. For me I not always a lunch girl and love dinner but not able to do large amount of food, whether it is healthy or not. I find I get indigestion if I eat too much. I have listened to those experts on the TV and on Social media of you can eat large amount of food, as long as it is healthy and there are people who can eat larger amounts, of food and I am working on my food consumption by trying different foods, but eating when I know will fill me up and reduce waste.
I have the mentality to know when I am full. My son is starting to. My husband will skip a meal to have a big meal in the evening, if we have for example Fish n Chips. Chatting with my diabetic nurse she told me not to eat too much fruit, as it is still sugar and that you eat more vegetables and that has worked, but again I not able to eat to much even if it is vegetables. I do think home cooking is good and like cooking. So feel that people should do what works for their body and the recommended portion for their body type by getting help from a dietician, diabetic nurse or your GP.
Scheduling and Planning. I like to now use post it notes. Check out this blog on one of other blog sites: https://organize4thebetter.blogspot.com/2025/10/new-way-of-planning-and-staying-on.html I now have a pinboard that I claimed as my mum and step dad was getting rid of it and it really making a huge difference. I have used Google Calendar but just kept filling up my Inbox and so I now use Notion, Post its and my phone. It is what suits you best. Some like doing Block Scheduling. I tried this method but I found it to restricting. On my phone I use the Notes APP on my phone but it can use up storage. Again depends on your lifestyle.
It is good to listen to others about Selfcare, Finance, getting a good nights sleep, eating nice foods and scheduling and planning, but not to the word because it is what helps you, to manage your life, that fits around your lifestyle.
It is so good to have a reset especially when you have a lot happening. We have been trying to sort out Henry, my sons, learning and get a school placement, do homeschooling until he gets a school or tutoring and then sort out his and my bedrooms and just life things like laundry, cleaning the home and at the moment I do voluntary work.
So have a great week and if you’d like to be notified when I post on this site them please subscribe.
When I ran a football team and felt “Oh I can do this by myself” I soon realised that I needed a bit of help. It doesn’t have to be One Man Band and asked a parent to help. I was hesitant in asking and running a football team, there was a lot to do. It was up to me to choose the training I wanted my players to do, pick the team for matches and collecting subs.
I think I was a bit naive too. I had this picture of it but the reality hits and realised it is totally different to what I imagines and underestimated it too.
If I was to run a team again I’d make sure I had someone helping me and have an assistant.
“It is okay to ask for help”.
If someone offers to help then say yes or have a chat and decide what their role will be and that they have the same mindset as you. When I working at Butlins I struggled with working Front of house and so asked if I could go back of house and felt good that I had the guts to talk to the manager of the restaurant. One of my friends said to try back of house and we were put together and we had a brilliant relationship. She got me and I got her and so glad I asked instead for help and I still did a bit of front of house work but not all the time and I felt pleased that I took the initiative to share how I felt and thankful to the Manager for listening to me and I felt better.
If you are stuck
I worked for a company that sold tickets for some attractions in the UK and I was finding one attraction booking difficult. I asked if I could have a bit more training. You should be supported by your manager or Team Leader because it shows them that you want to do well and it is the employer duty to help you if you are finding some things tricky.
Write things down. I am now working on Radio for a local hospital and if there is an issue I will flag it up and it helps me and my colleagues to inform one another and I make sure if there is something I am not sure about, I ask. I write in my journal of how I felt about my show and if they have told me how to do something, I go through each step in my mind and journaling is a great tool and do it everyday and write down what you are not sure of and who is the best person to ask. Or ask someone if they know of anyone that can help and worked in an area.
It is better to ask then not.
If you make a mistake
We all make mistakes. It is part of our learning as human beings. It is also shows you what you want to do and talking to others, that if they have made the same mistake and what they did to fix it. Don’t hide behind a mistake, but apologies, move on and learn so you know for next time.
I have made mistakes and it would cause me stress but then it can be down to the fact that they hadn’t communicated properly. I found in some companies, especially when I did temporary work that they assumed that you should already know. I worked for a holiday company, processing data but struggled to understand what I had to enter and the manager spoke to me as if I was dumb said “Oh it is easy” and telling a friend she said “Yes because he had probably done it for 20 years and so of course it is obvious to him” and so if they assume you know, say “I need to be shown again so I don’t make the same mistake”. Ask if there is someone you can sit with to go over it and them give you written instructions too.
Do they want to do a good job or a bad one
It is all about what works best for you, but never be afraid to ask someone to help you and feel you have to go it alone.
I have. When having an argument said something you shouldn’t have.
Take a moment to breath and go somewhere you can cool off and reflect.
People clash, its human nature and its a form of protection. It can affect the environment and escalate so do you want to put the fire out or keep it burning?
I have hit out and I am not proud of that. I find anger overwhelming, to the point I am not able to calm down, so I will leave the room or take two or so minutes, but then come back apologised and all has been right again.
It is good to have your say and give your point of view, but calling someone a nob head is not the way. Yes we want to vent and glad I have a journal and this has made a huge difference and use it for my books and looking back, realising that I lost control and I have learned from arguments and to put the smoke out, before its turned into fire.
I have looking back, laughed at myself. I remember when I was with my husband, when he was trying to give up smoking and we argued over a plate of chips and a draw. I remember saying “Have a bloody cigarette”. That wasn’t the best form of advice and should have been a lot more supportive as it can be hard to give up a habit and a lot of people smoke because it to them is calming and a break.
I felt like it was a personal attack, but no it just was that I wanted to share a plate of chips but not draw and now writing this, makes me laugh as actually I get his point.
He did when people were band from smoking in a pub, gave up smoking and he has never gone back. So often it can be that someone is fighting against a addiction or a habit. He just wasn’t in the right mindset to give up smoking. I am very good at weighing up my emotions, by thinking, “Is this going to lead to an argument and is worth venting about?” This helps me think before I speak and defuse the smoke before it turns into a fire.
No human being is perfect. Some may think they are, but noone is. Not that is some excuse to be verbally abusive. I have through habits controlled my feelings. This is journaling, walking and writing. As said weighing up. I will ask myself “How would you feel if someone said that to me?”
I dislike people who are hypocritical and have double standards. It should be one rule for all not specific people and being fair.
There have been times that I know I am right and finding myself wanting to say “Oh shut you shit bag and listen” but stopped myself and asked, “Do I want a good day or not?” and kept my thoughts to myself.
So try to stay calm and write it down. Turn it into a story, write a letter to yourself and if you can take yourself out of the situation, to defuse it before you say anything you will regret later. Try to remain in a good mindset and not lash out.
Hello it is time to post a new Cheat Sheet. They are free to download and print and post every Monday accept UK Bank Holidays and this week it is all about the Enjoyments of life.
It can be full of rollercoasters is life and you never know really what is going to happen each day. It is good to do things that help create good days and getting the most out of it, as much as possible.
It is good to go for walks. One of my colleagues on Epsom Hospital Radio does Walking Football and my brother does Walking Rugby. I like to do courses, read books and go for a coffee with my son and Swimming. The little things are just as good as the big things in life and life is about living.
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So I hope you have a good week and if you’d like to keep up to date of, when I post, on this site, then you can do so, by Subscribing and so see you in my other blogs, I plan to write.
I was finding it tricky to film for my other Youtube Channels, but in the week I filmed for my channel Financial Living and listening to Henry Winkler when he did a interview once on the TV, said, “If you really want something or do something, you’ll always find a way”.
Yet if you find that you need to hold off from completing one of the areas you wanted to finish, then fine. You can add projects too, I decided because I knew it wouldn’t take long, wanted to go through my emails, to clear it out, so I as part of my Autumn Reset when through my email, get rid of spam. I do subscribe to different things, but before you know it, I’ve ended up having a thousand of emails and it can get out of control. You may find that to complete some tasks, you have to do other tasks. Life is full of challenges and so other things will crop up.
I have also been doing some training to help complete my next book. My son has not got a Secondary School Placement and I love my son, but he wants to go to Secondary school and it has been a real mission. In the meantime I am home schooling and so had to put some bits on hold.
It means adjusting because to my son, I am mum and not a teacher and why when he is at school he gets more out of being in a different environment. We are going out a lot which is a good thing and he goes to clubs at the weekend and because I do a radio show on Sunday’s have to commute and setting time to plan my show ready for Sunday.
I have been using my mornings and in the afternoons. Me and son like to ride on trains and buses, or walking various bus routes. I use that time, when travelling to think about my book, my blogs and chill watching a bit of quizzes in the afternoon. Parenting is a job. I can’t split myself in half so if somethings have to hold. Do things at your own pace and just one change a day, is still getting tasks done.
If you didn’t know I have a new book out it is called Mum&Me. It is available from Amazon, by Kindle and Paperback: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BGNF4LNF
I also have a Vlog Channel. Taking some time off but I will be filming again in October and share my home life as a mum, writer, coach and Radio presenter: https://www.youtube.com/@typicallondongal
Everyone can build a castle 