22 Wednesday Jul 2026
Posted in Celebrating, Living, Monthly Newsletter, Monthly posts
Hello! July has been good. I took my son to the Guilfest to see the Proclaimers. His favourite band and share my first experience of the festival and also I am taking on a challenge in August 2026.
These newsletters I post every month and are free to download and print, and to share if you wish to.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
20 Monday Jul 2026
Posted in Cheat sheet, Living, Planning 2026, Printables, Weekly posts
Happy Summer Holidays! They have begun. We are planning the first Monday of the Holidays and in planning for the holiday it means knowing what to pack. We are doing days out and short holidays. I have been known to pack the world, but I have been reducing what I take and enjoy the surroundings rather than what I am going to wear.
So this Cheat Sheet is a guide what to packing depending on what your doing and where.
These are free to download and print and post every Monday except bank holiday Mondays and so please share if you wish and subscribe if you’d like to be kept informed of when I post on this site.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
17 Friday Jul 2026
Tags
health, reduce screen time, thinking of the good out of bad situations, turn your mindset around, wellbeing
When it comes to how we feel about the way we feel or had a bad day and you can’t stop thinking about it write about it. This will help to make sense of what happened and what would make you feel better. I had a Migraine a couple of days ago and it really hit me hard so I decided to take a break from screens and wet to bed and now limit my screen time.
If I have made a mistake when doing radio, I go over what I would do differently and what I have learned.
I learned in my last show to create some scripts for introducing my show better and with cooking a meal that I did wrong. I tried to make a Carbonara but I didn’t make enough sauce so took note of that and know for the next time.
Address the bad and how will you turn it around?
We saw that the traffic was heavy going back to the A3 to get to Tolworth to go home so we went a different route and life is like that too. Still focus on the destination and workout how many ways you can get there. You may need to do a U-turn, but if you can still reach it. I was having issues with posting Youtube videos as my software kept crashing so I thought well I have my phone so film on that now and use the software to edit videos for Youtube on my phone and I am getting so much enjoyment from that. I have no schedule and like being sporadic as I will plan but like today I wanted to do some cleaning I write it down but say Clean One Area and that instantly makes me do it. Lower the pressure and how can you make everyday yours and get much more out of your life. I went to the Guilfest and it was crowded and flying ants and I was a bit dubious and it meant moving away from that area and when we returned it was fine and I thought no I am going to enjoy it no matter what is swarming and just move away. We got a drink, found the toilets and so my anxiety faded and I didn’t want to spoil it for my son as he’s favourite band was playing and why I booked it and next time take chairs and get there earlier perhaps move and gave us a chance to look around. I do feel it needed more organisation because people were scattered all over the place and I may pay the extra year and pay for the VIP section.
My laptop crashed and luckily have been able to use my husbands laptop and now hand write books I want to publish and use Google Doc and so learned not to save everything on my husband’s laptop on Word but google docs I can use it via another laptop as many of my book ideas have gone and so not to rely on technology and go analogue still. If I use a notebook and write out a its less likely to go missing.
So I now make the bad into good by thinking of what went well and how could it be better next time.
Evaluate like you would in an accident. Is it safe? Did anyone get harmed? could it have been a dangerous situation?
Are you still breathing? Was it that bad now you have answered those questions?
I laugh now when my dad would say there are doobie noshes after us as he would say when walking from the entertainment venue to our caravan where we used to holiday and it was great fun. I take so much from that. I loved family holidays and being with a mixture of people. Yes I got sick on holiday and my nan did, but we still had fun and enjoyed those times and I love the things we do now.
We still went for a drive like we do each weekend, we had a nice breakfast and with my migraine going to take more care when it comes to screens and do things away from a screen like having a sort out, read or now I like to watch a bit of the World cup and the tennis.
Today continuing this blog sorted out my sons toy cupboard in the living room and put it off but glad that was done.
It helps to shape your life, check this blog: Shaping Your Life
I hope you find this blog helpful and please share if you have any tips too of dealing with the Good and the bad. You can leave a comment below.
Please check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Carriechalloner
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
15 Wednesday Jul 2026
There are times where we have all gone down the wrong path. We have done things that we think “I shouldn’t have done that” but at the end of the day you did, but I can’t fix the past. We can learn, but you have to move on and redirection doesn’t have to be hard because it is good to try things out and we only learn by experience.
Dealing with regrets. Instead of thinking about changing what we didn’t do or did do, what about if we looked at it, “No I didn’t do that but I did this instead”. I didn’t continue working with the Groundsman at Fulham FC and become the first professional Female Coach in the football leagues, but I did find a good job to build my experience even more and working with the groundsman got me ready to have a paid job. It taught me attention to detail, not having a sneaky cup of tea with the maintenance workers, being on time, completing jobs, following instructions, getting out of my comfort zone and having a routine.
Its not never too late. My mum went back into education and did a degree in her later years and now retired, but she went to night school and Lee Child didn’t start writing books until he was 40. Madonna singing career didn’t take off until she was in the 30s and Olivier Newton John, was Sandy playing a high school kid in her 30s. Is there anything more to say?
Write down what you are happy with. So I am happy that I now do morning walks, read in the morning and evening, workout through out the day and having my morning coffee. I get to play football with my son, I get to cook nice meals and I like to journal each day. So do I want to change that? Is your life best ever? Would you give your life a 10 or you feel miserable a 1? What would make a difference? Change can start anytime but you’ve got to do it for you.
Turn the noise off. If your finding constantly hard to function mentally turn it down. I like to listen to the rain and wrote a blog about it: https://mystylewayofliving.blogspot.com/2026/05/listening-to-rain-can-be-peaceful.html it can be just what you need to switch off from social media, emails and to gain sense and what will make you move forward not backwards.
Make plans. I love to plan. It is one of the things that lifts me and feel that I can make logical decisions and I always make sure I have something to do each day. It helps to redirect if the bus is late, that I planned to get and how else can I get where I want to be and if it will be a good thing or perhaps I should think of other options?
Go analogue. Yes I have a the Journal APP but love writing in a physical journal. I do use Notion, but sometimes I love to write it down because I find it goes in and tried planning my whole life on Notion, but it hasn’t really worked for me and my laptop died and so I had to sign in again and not able to view it on my phone because it used up the storage, so now I use a physical system, with Notion and it has helped with my memory and using google docs and so mainly use Notion for planning my yearly programmes. The Summer Project, Autumn and last year started Winter Wellness.
It is all about not feeling bad because something didn’t work out and that looking back is a trigger you need to re-direct and decide today to think about now to move forward. Forgive those that have hurt you. No longer holding on to possessions that trigger your negative emotions and just live a a life that suits you using the tips above. Not all may work but it is worth dipping your toe in to see and figure things out.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
06 Monday Jul 2026
Posted in Cheat sheet, Everyday living, Financial Living, Living, Planning 2026, Printables, Weekly posts
Tags
free weekly Post, looking after the home, recycling, Redesigning your clothing, use up what you've got
Hello! I am recovering from taking my son to the Guilfest and then watched the football so am slowly waking up.
I am conscious of what I have to use up and I do a list each week of what has be used from food and check my skincare and toiletries to make sure I use them up before buying more or running low on like Hand washes as we use them daily, I have sanitary products, shower gels and just keeping stock of what I have in my home and it helps be inventive like I have sow on badges to put on my rucksack I often use and a pair of jeans to give them a bit more character and with cooking what I can use it for and what I have in my fridge.
So this Cheat Sheet is tips on using on Using Up What You’ve got.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
03 Friday Jul 2026
I have never felt good in all of my life as I do now. I feel so good because I am not allowing the inner critic get to me, that talks me out of things but now I am Shaping My life because I’m following my dreams to get closer and have experiences. I look forward in achieving my goals, by not putting hurdles in the way. So take that trip around the world, go to see the World cup, go on a cruise and see a family member who’ve you’ve been meaning to see but never got round to it. Make the time and you’ll feel better for it.
I am doing things that I never thought I would do. No I am not a millionaire. No offence to those who are but I am living. I am going to be going away with my son for the first time. Just him and me. Part of me is nervous but looking forward to it at the same time. A friend of mine travelled solo for the first time, just her and you have to live. Take the chance. I have been full of excuses in why I shouldn’t do something putting hurdles in the way and my mum said it once “If you want to do something you’ll always find a way if it is something you really want to do”. I have had opportunities. I could have trained every week in a local football team but I just couldn’t push myself but it was seeing the players who were built like bricks and put me off rather than using that to work towards learning football, but then I did some Courses later on and coached a team and so I achieved that goal, With dancing I went every week. With football I feel that I wanted the glitz and the glamour be the female version of Gazza and run rings around the other players rather than just enjoying the moment.
That is okay but I wanted to be Wonder Woman not seeing it as a learning experience. Back then women’s football was still being overshadowed by men’s football and I ended up running a team but fell pregnant and the team was taken our of my hands and even though that was disappointing I am grateful for it now as I could just enjoy my pregnancy and glad I had the experience.
I did dancing because I was good at that. I played football because I began playing at school but one of the girls made a remark and once again stopped going. It would matter to me when I was called a name by someone. Now I have gotten older got a lot stronger and why I got into running, now do a radio show and write. I published another book this year When Mothers are Real.
I took Henry to music festival in Hampton Court and got another this year and then with my mum going to see Bon Jovi. I am taking my son on a Ferry for the first time and he now plays tennis, which he has done well at. He finally got a school placement and so my aim now is to publish a new book I am working on, continue with my radio show I do for a local hospital, continue with my yearly Life Coaching programmes I’ve created and there is still a long way to go but I am no longer allow fear to follow my dreams and doing what I said I will do.
Take chances. I was listening to a Podcast hosted by Davina Called Begin Again with Jojo Moyes and it was so interesting. Here’s a link if you’d like to watch it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpTd0zOyg8Y&t=2894s and how you should never give up and enjoy the process. Jojo talks about how much she’s done now since she spoke to someone about her life and her failures. We all fail that is how we long and it makes you stronger. I feel that we can feel bad in taking some time wanting something for ourselves.
I like doing my yearly reading challenges. I love reading everyday. That’s helped with shaping my life because it has helped me with my books. It has helped me with writing and seeing the different styles. Going on my morning walks and watching a concert. I have been enjoying watching the world cup and listening about music. I love creating my show, even though the inner fear makes me resistant and get nervous but at the same time feel like “Wow I can’t believe I am doing this” and I did write a blog about Its Okay to Be Selfish as we need to help our world shape to help others we care about have shape. I want my son to have experiences, friends and a life that he is happy with. I love it when we play table tennis, go to the cinema, take trips on buses and trains and he is looking forward to seeing the Proclaimers and now I am being more intentional and it feels good.
So Shape you life and own your goals.
For more content why not check out my Youtube channel. I could do with some support and share parts of my life as a mum and a writer. Please check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/@Carriechalloner
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
29 Monday Jun 2026
So I was going through my google docs as there are some that I created and never used and came across this one. It is a goals template I had created for 2020 so used it and thought I’d share it with you too.
These are free to download and print. I post them every Monday except on bank holidays.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
26 Friday Jun 2026
My dad used to say “When one door closes another one will open” and it has stayed with me. My dad was severely hurt in around the 90’s and he lost part of his memory and doesn’t remember what happened to him. He kept leaving the hospital because he thinking he had to go to work and it was a tough time. He couldn’t work for a while and it was so hard when your life gets swept under your feet.
One of my Uncle’s who worked on ships, sailing around the world had a nasty stroke and it was heart breaking.
They had to start over. It taught me a valuable lesson to not sit around waiting and do the things you want, even if you have to start over and my dad had a good life, but it took a while for him to recover. He had a lot of friends and the became like a second family and eventually his memory returned, but still unaware of what happened, and I am going to keep the rest private but he had to get used to not working for a bit, because he was a window cleaner and would be high up sometimes to clean windows and with a head injury you can get after effects from the trauma and my uncle had to learn how to use a wheelchair, live in a Care Home and so you have to keep going however hard it is to live. It taught me to not sit on your arse all day and go out.
I ended up in a Mental Health hospital and it was the best thing because I got my life together. I now made up with friends and family and now I work voluntary work for my hospital’s local radio, been to concerts and festivals and my son does sports clubs which has helped me to meet people and doing more now than I have ever done. That doesn’t mean that’s it. I want to build my income, take my son to different places and live life like it could end tomorrow and go for a walks, play a certain song in the morning, have a good breakfast and just live.
You have to get out there. My habit that I have that I have had to stop is to to jump in with both feet to stop being overwhelmed and not commit to too many things and so manage my time better and be realistic in my decisions, but not wait around but do the things I want to do. I am learning a lot like never before. I journaling everyday, read, write books and take my son to different places and I still get annoyed at things. I am human but I am learning to stop being bothered by past events, someone not saying thank you when I have done a good deed and just feel good. I can still be pessimistic, like England’s football matches and the world cup 2026, but do that out of hopefully being surprised and hoping, but not expecting too much and just be more present. I could day dream all day and would switch off as I found reality hard. Now I enjoy living each day as it comes with planning and creating projects, writing and spending time with my son.
When my mind wonders to the past I now will try to change what I think about. I can’t mend the past but celebrate it. I can’t fix arguments but I can forgive and as you get old your mindset changes anyway, you do get wiser when your older and not care of what people think, not trying to please everyone and be real.
Please check out my Youtube channel where I share parts of my life: https://www.youtube.com/@Carriechalloner
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
22 Monday Jun 2026
Tags
free weekly printable, Giving to others, life as a mum, use up what you've got, weekly cheat sheet
Hello! I hope you all had a good Fathers Day. Sadly my dad is no longer alive physically but feel sometimes he is watching in spirit and be taking the mickey out of those in Heaven. My dad would be someone who’d have you in tears if myself and brother did something wrong and tears of laughter.
I wonder what he thinks about the world as we weren’t super wealthy as a family but we still didn’t go without and he would use what he had. He loved music, comedy TV mainly and films. His Idols were Kevin Keegan and John Wayne.
Times are hard at the moment, I give each month to the Trussell Trust the Food bank organisation and not sponsored but want to help families be able to have things to eat. The thought of a young child not able to have breakfast or dinner feels my heart with sadness and so this Cheat Sheet is about Use Up What You’ve Got.
I like to see my fridge empty, it means we have to use up what we have in the Food Cupboard that has sauces, spreads, tinned meats and other tin produce and in the freezer.
So please check out this weeks Cheat Sheet:
These cheat sheets are free to download and print. I post at the beginning of each week except Bank Holidays.
Have a great week and please check out my Youtube channel where I share much more: https://www.youtube.com/@Carriechalloner
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
19 Friday Jun 2026
Tags
Everyday living, life coaching blog, therapy, what you do in your life, what you have in your life
I have had hard times like everyone. I created this blog when I felt stuck. It happened on a Whim. In fact I got a bit jealous over a girl I was working with. I trained her and then she became my Senior Agent and was created websites for the company we were representing and I was like “Hang on that should have been me” but she was more willing than me and she left, because before I found out I was pregnant, I was made redundant, she left to another country and I was moving towards another opportunity. I was coaching a Youth Football team, so I am glad she got the job and not me because I imagined being a senior agent but to honest I knew I didn’t wanted go any further. My ambitions changed and I could have gone for the role but I was more or less training many agents that were new and I enjoyed my time there but I wanted other things.
That job was to help support my income but I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life doing that job and then I did more work in a call centre because it was what I wanted at that point, but it was not what I wanted and again they wanted less people as agents so I lost my job anyway.
I was coaching a football so my working life had changed and then I was pregnant.
I then was not in a happy place, not because of my son, it was I felt not good about my capabilities. Before I was made redundant I’d got into going to the gym a lot, walking a lot and running and for me it helped me clear my head. You’d be surprised with what is around you that can be therapy. I liked going to the gym then and then began walking home which was a long way and again because it cleared the everyday stress. I like to read. I like to clean my desk, I like to listen to music before my son comes home from school and music is a great source of therapy.
I am glad my son came into my world but within myself I wasn’t fully settled inside. I was confused as what I wanted to do next and I am glad now that I didn’t return to work when my son was born because I was there when he smiled for the first time, called me mum and see him walk so it was a good change.
I began working weekends and then I thought someone was getting hurt and I was not happy. Now though I am fully recovered from that time and in a happy place. I love planning my radio show, I like to do morning walks. I find chatting therapy. Depending who with and just enjoy listening to nature in the garden and some find Ironing therapeutic, painting and arts and crafting. I love journaling and making dinner.
Its anything that helps you have a good peace of mind and can switch off. When I am on the treadmill like to listen to four songs, cover over the time and watch the birds in the back garden.
We were supposed to have gone to play tennis but the weather has been miserable and not warm, so I listened to a podcast whilst Henry was listening to his music and putting sticker into his soccer book because he didn’t want to and that to me is therapy and having a bath and shower. Doing my skin care and watching TV.
So you don’t need to pay for therapy. Not saying you shouldn’t. It is up to yourself but for me the habits I do each day is therapy and helps shape my days and weeks.
It is amazing what is around you and now I am no longer daydreaming all day I am noticing more and that to is therapy.
I hope you find this blog helpful and if you want to read more then please subscribe.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
Everyone can build a castle 