Category Archives: Planning 2023

Getting from A to B in life

26 Sunday Nov 2023

Posted by in Everyday living, friendship, Friendships and relationships, having bad days, health and wellbeing, New Beginnings, Personal care, Personal Development, Planning 2023, productivity, Weekly posts

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Just to let you know I write a daily blog now, that I did before and then took a break, but wanted to get back into posting on that blog site, because I enjoy it and sharing many things. Here is a link: https://mydailythougthsandfeelings.blogspot.com/

A picture I took from this weekend as I write this book, and visited Wimbledon Common on a Winter walk

If you didn’t know I have uploaded a new Newsletter so here is the link to that: November Newsletter 2023 I post one each month, and so check it out.

So getting from A to B. We spend a lot of time rushing around, travelling to different places and means dealing with delays on transport, the weather and errands you can’t avoid like getting ready for the different seasons, and Christmas can be so stressful that can make us become humbugs. Then there is dealing with emails, appointments and getting ready, if you have Children ready for school. So getting to A to B in life can come with many hurdles.

We will face challenges in our lives, and there is no avoiding them. Getting through childhood I found was hard, because I did find it hard to make friends and get to grips with things that happened, through childhood, like people dying, I didn’t understand life and death, and feared it for a while. I would live in a daydream a lot, and wished I spent more time taking it all in, and appreciated the things we did, like the weekends, where I’d played at my nans houses, did dancing lessons, whilst my brother played football. This was each weekend at a local recreation ground. We would spend time in pubs and all I wanted to do was go back home, and when those times stopped I really missed them. Those days were great and would be around lots of people that made me laugh and this was before the internet and social media and would go on some really good fun holidays. We’d go round to peoples homes, and stayed over, or they came round to us, and would squabble, trying to torment my brother a lot, and we’d have toy fights and would go to birthday parties and Christenings and it was such a brilliant time, and thanks to social media I have got back in touch with people, from those times and thankful for that.

When it comes to school and doing homework I couldn’t wait to those days to be over. Thinking and understanding my life, I actually did alright, and writing that, its the first time I felt that it was okay, and it was only the food at school that was bad, thinking about Primary School. Going on day trips, and spending time with friends and make the most of what we had in the UK, being British. It was my confidence that affected me, and feeling like I was climbing up a mountain and not making it up to the top, unless it came to playing sports or dancing, and because I would do badly in tests and remember dreading Secondary School, being so different to primary school.

I did go on to the sixth form year of my school, and felt I had a good level of freedom, but to be honest I had enough of education, and then started working, and I did write a blog about how I found work life, was good for me, and my knowledge of the world thrived and enjoyed the working environment and started going out around London, and on the first full time job, was taken from London to Lille on The Euro star and, parts I found hard, it wasn’t always great, but loved the fact I was earning my own money and forming relationships that was fun, and I am so glad I had that time to just enjoy my teens and early twenties.

It is important to enjoy the early years and when it comes to Christrmas, to embrace the people you love in your life and not worrying about it being better than the last, which I often have felt, because life isn’t a competition, and getting rid of resentment and begruding each other success, is important, because that is only going to flare other negative emotions and can lead you being alone. Pay each other compliments and really listening to people and celebrate each others achievements and how they are building their life.

Live life together and stop knocking it down.

If you feel your life is going backwards then Reset, and Relfect. This is where keeping a journal helps, going through things that you feel is causing you to have these feelings. That is what they are, feelings that can be controlled. This is where my Autumn Reset can help, and help finish tasks, to then start a fresh, and I will go through my lists and set a plan to get things finished, making sure I leave time to have some fun. Weekends I spend with my son, having plenty of exercise, watching TV I don’t always get to watch, in the week and just having time to hug, kiss and take in every minute. Life can be tiring, and it okay to be tired, we are all human, and that we spend time having a nice hot bath, read a book, doing some retail therapy, and not to be buy clothes but food we love to eat, stuff to decoarate our homes with and buying new things for our kids and bringing smiles to everyone in your life, faces.

Getting to A to B in life shapes you, depending on the paths you have chosen and if things haven’t worked out, brush yourself off and carry on.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Looking after your Wellbeing Celebrating Christmas

15 Wednesday Nov 2023

Posted by in Celebrating, health and wellbeing, Living, People, Personal Development, Planning 2023, Weekly posts

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Yes it is time for goodness and spending time with those you love, but it can also be tough for others. There was a time I dreaded Christmas and was a humbug. I was angry about it. Now though since my son has come into my life, love it again and looking forward to it

Photo by Nicole Michalou on Pexels.com
  1. Delegate: If you are worrying about hosting Christmas and it is your first time, then delegate duties, example have someone cook, and you concentrate on decorating and get your kids involved, depending on their age, and have those in your family contribute to it, by having those coming bring some wine and other bits of food, so it is not all landed on you.
  2. Budget: Yes I will be talking more about this on my channel My way of living and helping you not to over spend and what you can realistically afford. At the end of the day it is a day to bring people together and not on things you can’t afford.
  3. start buying groceries and treats, like chocolates before the prices increase. ASDA do some offers and I also like checking out M&S and Sainsbury’s, so take note, and have a folder to help plan and that is a good budget that fits into your lifestyle and you don’t leave yourself out of pocket, because of Christmas.
  4. Family feuds: Yes, not all families feel good to share Christmas if there is a fued and you don’t want it to escalate, by not including them into your plans, so set it out that you get to see some family on Christmas and the other family on boxing day and swap it round, so they don’t miss out and neither do you. Do the same for the new year, so you can still include all those in your life and noone ends up on their own.
  5. Music: Put on those records and create a playlist using Youtube or iTunes. I love having a good selection of music, that brings back those you have lost and miss over Christmas and creates a good atmosphere and have a Christmas party, with a Christmas Buffet and again have people bring food and drink and play games that everyone can join in. I love playing games a Christmas and always been such good fun. That helps if you have troubles and forget them for one day, and helps create a good setting so people feel good and relaxed.
  6. Drinking: The one tradition we did as a family was we’d go to my nans and my dad and uncles would go to the pub. It can be a great atmosphere. If someone over drinks then make sure you set out some rules beforehand and that people can get merry but doesn’t lead to bad behaviour that turns into a fued.

I have created a printable for parents and included it into my parenting blog: https://theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.com

So I hope this helps you and I will be doing more as we head towards Christmas and don’t feel alone in the worries and stress, Christmas can bring, as many like me feel the same, and just want to be a good day of cheer and love.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

When you see your life taking shape

12 Sunday Nov 2023

Posted by in Everyday living, health and wellbeing, Living, New Beginnings, People, Personal care, Personal Development, Planning 2023, Positive Habits, productivity, Weekly posts

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When you see that you no longer fearing life, and that you feel good each day and able to shake off the anxiousness, you have turned a corner and that your life is taking shape, perhaps with surprises but I feel that I am enjoying the days and feel positive no matter the challenges that come my way.

Photo by Dana Tentis on Pexels.com

Getting out and exploring has helped and having time with my son and family, along with making the most of the weekends, rather than doing nothing, has helped me be more present that has helped me get some shape in my life.

Really dig deep into what you want out of life and who you want to spend it with. Have new experiences. I want to do some more courses via Adult Community colleges to help, aswell as doing some online, and really learn about the mind and body more, to help build awareness, when it comes to happiness and wellbeing, and how our minds operate.

Yes it helps us to think and feel, but look into why we feel up and down a lot. Perhaps you feel like you are like a Yoyo. It could be food, and that leads you to feel sluggish a lot and that you want to change but your urges get the better of you, and feeling that you will always be punishing yourself over your diet, and will never change. Yet we all know deep down that we can, its often fear that other foods don’t give you the same joy.

Take each step to improve at having a better diet and allow yourself chocolate but work for it. I will if I have done all I needed to do in the morning for example will then make a coffee, or a treat and not talking just food, but like you would when you child does something good. I stop with the guilt, and as long as I get some exercise will have a treat or two, along with saving myself for my dinner and having a mixture of meals.

I have realised that I enjoy buying food and love mouching around the big stores but also budget, and making different meals. I do like cooking whilst listening to music or an audio book and found my real joys and using it to be happy each day. I also like it when I don’t need to cook, and help with the washing up. like as I write this blog had a lovely roast dinner, made by my husband and today took Henry up London as it was his birthday on Saturday and doing different things and experiences can help.

So make each day count and when you are no longer feel stressed, feel good and that days aren’t hard, and you enjoy life more, means your life is taking shape.

Many thanks for reading.

Carrie X

Autumn Reset: The last three days for Autumn Reset 2023

28 Saturday Oct 2023

Posted by in Autumn Reset, Dreams and ambitions, Everyday living, Financial Living, health and wellbeing, Living, Personal care, Personal Development, Planning 2023, Positive Habits, productivity, Weekly posts, Yearly Reset

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So, three days left of my Autumn Reset, and I have happy with the progress I have made to get my next book completed, almost got the areas of my room done and tomorrow going to do my Sunday reset, to help me in these last days and I like what I have done so far, by sorting out my top shelf above my desk, sorted out my wardrobe and closet/cupboard I decluttered and just got my shoes to do.

I have filmed these areas and I hope they help you, and motivate you to have a reset, and if not Autumn then Winter and before Christmas, so you can celebrate without having so much to do, and have more time to celebrate.

Writing books can take a while, and make sure I some spend time with my son, so have to manage my time so I don’t stress, but take time away from the computer, to stop with burnout and moving from my desk helps the process and why I wanted to sort out room too, to have more time to write and not having so much stuff, but what I need and know I am gong to use.

This is my desk and I love how it looks, I do need to clean it which I am going to do tomorrow and still like to make changes to it, but I like that I don’t have too much on it and helps me write, having a nice clear space.

I was also trying to finish a course I enrolled in, and glad to be getting this done, as there are others I want to do, as there is still so much I want to learn and grow my writing and knowledge in helping people through my blogs, books and videos, along with face to face. As I want others lives to be happy and use the tools I have learned and learning so I can do that.

It still feels surreal that it is coming to the end of October and have to get my Christmas planned, along with birthdays, including my sons and so using my evenings like now at the weekend to catch up on tasks, being it has been half term, and spending time with family, and enjoying the week with my son and not sat in front of the computer all day long, and like going outdoors. This helps to clear my mind and boosts my energy.

I have realised I love food shopping and in big supermarkets, mainly Sainsbury’s, ASDA and M&S, because of what is on offer, and like planning my dinners, with some treats and when I need clothing essentials. This morning we took a trip to ASDA and bought some socks, and went to Sainsbury’s on Friday and bought cake mix as we made some cupcakes which I have filmed for my main Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@typicallondongal Along with items for dinner and I enjoy it.

So what have you discovered since you did a RESET? How has it made you feel if you have completed your tasks for it. You can leave a comment below.

I do have another video where I talk about how I manage my money and post every week, and hope they help you too, to manage your money: https://www.youtube.com/@mywayofliving1602

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

October Newsletter 2023

27 Friday Oct 2023

Posted by in Autumn Reset, Monthly Newsletter, Monthly posts, Planning 2023, Printables

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HI check out my Newsletter that I post each month, about my content and projects I have been doing, and I have been doing a Autumn Reset if you are new to this site, to complete different areas of my life, like getting my next book I am writing finished, completing some courses I have enrolled on, which are part time, and via a site called Ofcourse.

So please check it out:

october-newsletter-2023Download

Many thanks for finding this blog site and you follow me, to get updated each time I post a blog, and if you have been doing an Autumn Reset, I would be interested in knowing what areas you have been completing, and lets support and help each other.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Autumn Reset: Coming to the end

23 Monday Oct 2023

Posted by in Autumn Reset, health and wellbeing, Living, new year, Personal Development, Planning 2023, Positive Habits, Weekly posts, Yearly Reset, Youtube videos

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Yes it is the last week and means that I will need to get my head down and complete the third edit of my new book I am writing, called When Mothers Are Real and have been filming videos and sharing snippets from this book, and all the videos will be on my main Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@typicallondongal

I have been working on my bedroom in Wimbledon, and just got my shoes in my room to go through and so that means all that I wanted to sort out, has been done, and want to do more resets and will be as we go into winter making further changes. I have started to plan for 2024.

I am not going to stress running a bit over to get my book done as this week it is half term and so have to put other things aside to get it done, and this helps because I do jump from one task to another, not completing anything, and want this book out and published, to work on my next book and projects.

Things will get in the way, like school holidays and family events, but if you have ten minutes, then you still working closer to the finish line, and keep going, with taking breaks in between.

Create a plan, I used calendars on Word and Excel and has made a difference, and writing a writing plan each week has helped, and choosing areas in my room, that are priority and pleased with what I have done so far. Please check out my Pinterest to find content https://www.pinterest.co.uk/thetypicalLondongal/autumn-reset/ and starting to get my vlogs up, and if you didn’t see my first video, where I sorted out a ruck sack that I no longer wanted and how I do a Sunday Reset and planning for the week ahead: https://youtu.be/puscj58zXSw

Prioritising is the key to getting tasks finished and spreading out tasks, that I want to do in the morning, afternoon and evening. Set the scene, I find cleaning the table or desk before I start really effective in helping me do my book and do bits around the house or in my room, and doing exercise, really boost my energy, and feel sufficient in Iron because had bad fatigue in the morning again, but when I take Iron, seems to really help, along with coffee and not eating too much.

So got a week left and feel pleased with my progress, and see the finish line, so it has been good and will continue to do this each year and want to do another monthly reset in the year to help too and plan my projects year in advance, as I find with my videos I get behind and so want to continue to a structure that will help with that.

I hope, if you have also been doing an Autumn Reset and please tell what you have completed and how you plan your life to complete projects. You can leave a comment below.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Autumn Reset: Good decluttering session

15 Sunday Oct 2023

Posted by in Autumn Reset, Everyday living, health and wellbeing, Living, Personal care, Personal Development, Planning 2023, Positive Habits, productivity, Weekly posts, Yearly Reset

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So another weekend and today me, my mum and step dad decluttered a cupboard that we use for many purposes such as clothes, books and the bar holding our clothes fell down, so had to sort through and it feels so good to let go of stuff and having a sort through.

It meant that I had to store items in my wardrobe in my bedroom, that I cleared out but that is okay because it is stuff I want to use and not still be sitting there in days to come. I may have another sort out, but have some bits for my son and I to paint, and want to use for Halloween. And I feel it is okay to do that, as long as they do get used, and look after my walking boots and it items that I care about.

Today I sorted through my notebooks by my desk and tidied up, and kept notes from them in folders as great for keeping ideas and goals not achieved yet, and I like going through old notes, as seeing the list it made me see that I have achieved many of my goals, I had written in these notebooks, like sorting out my bedroom and books written, and anything not used for the last two years where I began my life coaching programme I will go through and help me plan the next one in summer 2024.

I still got to go through my shoes, and I like the fact that my desk is clearer and uncluttered, and got a blue box near my bed that I want to sort through too. I have asked my husband, if I can use the shed once this has been sorted out, to stock my craft stuff, as since I found a notebook I made into a scrapbook, I want to get back into it.

My videos that features the areas I want to get done for my Autumn Reset, will go up starting this week ahead, and if it is the future, then they will be up on my main Youtube channel:

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

Next week it is half term but my son is at a holiday club for two of those days so going use the spare time from completing the work I am doing on my next book, and have included that, and then it is time to get ready for the festive season, and I do plan of having a new programme set up for this period, and so, more content to come.

I have a book out that I published at the beginning of the new year. It is called Mum&Me and is about a mother and daughter who live together and see things very differently, and the mum is obsessed with ordering goods from TV shopping channels and online and of things she didn’t actually realised she’d ordered, and Elizabeth the daughter, is a stay at home mum, and has a son called Freddie and has a little baking business on the side, and has arch rival, a neighbour called Gloria, who tries to gate crash Elizabeth birthday party and obsessed with beauty and cosmetic surgery and her kids go to the same school as Elizabeth and are on the school PTFA, and Gloria happens to be the head, and only her opinion counts. So if you like a good comedy and want to have a good read whilst you have some free time,check it out. Its available in paperback and Kindle: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mum-Me-Gucci-Tits-Virtue-ebook/dp/B0BGSS7H9K/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1697392250&sr=8-1

So, let me know what you have finished if you too are doing an Autumn Reset. You can leave a comment below and lets inspire one another and get family involved or friends, and put on a good Podcast or like I did today, listened to an audio book, called Save A Cat Writes a Novel.

Many thaks for reading,

Carrie X

Autumn Reset: What you want out of this years Autumn Reset?

06 Friday Oct 2023

Posted by in Autumn Reset, Dreams and ambitions, Everyday living, Goal setting, health and wellbeing, Living, Personal Development, Planning 2023, Positive Habits, productivity, Weekly posts, Yearly Reset

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Doing an Autumn Reset, I have to have a reason to do it and a goal, to move onto the next stage of my life. For me it is because I like to have projects completed and learn from them as I continue so I can create more blogs, and more content and build my income and because I enjoy my writing and sharing my life with you, as I like being part of the online community and to so wanted to help others complete tasks, to build more sustainable life, that they put themselves first sometimes.

Being an adult now. and being a mum, I have responsibilities and it can pile up and up, and make you feel like say “Sod it, I’m gonna what a TV series instead” and that is okay, because for me that is a sign I am doing too much, so now I use Autumn to catch up on things that I had to put a side, for the summer holidays and why also I developed my Life Coaching programme too, Summer Project which is to help you have a better life and better year, and can be used also for all year round, but meant that I had to put the work on my next book to one side, and do a little, and now I have completed the second edit of my book, feels so good, and having minimal stuff, and sorting out my bedroom in Wimbledon, see the space I have from doing that, and clears my mind, and be more functional room and everything has a home, and getting rid of what I don’t want, and that I may use one day and still in a years time, be there still untouched.

Don’t feel as though you have to do it, as I am not in charge of your life, you are, and may not work for everyone,.but I find it has been helpful to me and so I am sharing my Autumn Reset, because I know it can help, and because I know many people like me, find it hard to work one project at a time and become a chore rather than enjoying the process of working on projects that need completing, to restart for the New year in January. Then there is Christmas and very busy time of year, so implemented so I can focus on enjoying get ready for the festive season, and have birthdays coming up that I need to focus on, and has helped manage my time better.

So, set goals, create a plan and ask yourself, what do you want out of this years Autumn Reset? And please if you want to share then please do, you can by leaving a comment below.

Just to let you know I have books already published on amazon, under the names. Carrie Challoner and Carrie Holmes and on parenting and novels, including serious fiction and comedy too. They are on Kindle and on Paper, so please check them out.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Autumn Reset: Doing things I don’t like doing

04 Wednesday Oct 2023

Posted by in Autumn Reset, Everyday living, Financial Living, health and wellbeing, Living, Personal Development, Planning 2023, Positive Habits, productivity, Weekly posts, Yearly Reset

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So there aren’t many things I don’t like doing, I find editing a real challenge and that is my books and videos and need to have more fun doing these things, which I am still trying to establish. I am not a fan of cleaning. I know some love it, but for me I’d rather watch paint dry, yet I still, because what I do like is that the long lasting result and feelings when it is done, is do it and it helps brighten up my feelings and going through a transition because now, after being a hoarder for so long, want to own less and be wiser on what I buy and working on my finances and getting this back in shape, has made a huge difference and exercising.

Doing a reset can really help, because it can help to get back on track and how I created my Autumn Reset and there are others do the same, and what helped me with mine, and want to encourage you to do the same, so you have a clearer mindset.

I don’t always like a routine as such now, but like being productive and making sure I prioritize and have family time and not being on my laptop all day and I enjoy the process of having a clear out and I enjoy having projects, because I like connecting with people and want to do more social events, to build more friendships and build myself, to grow.

Laziness used to be my biggest habit and would have days where I’d still be in my PJ’s and have lazy days but looking back to those days, doing this made me feel even more tired, and so changed this by focusing on preparing myself for each day, and not always setting the alarm. As a kid in the Autumn and Winter when it started to get cold and dark, wish I could hibernate like animals as getting up is still a struggle for me and this morning I did did go back to bed, but, then thought “No, get up” and I did.

Alarms used to piss my right off, and would get on my nerves and hated setting it, especially on my old phone, that would tell me how many hours I had to sleep and then would spend all night worrying about the time, and wanted to smash them. I never did, how much I was tempted, but just would be by worst enemy.

Then there was going to school. I never got used to routine of school and would never sleep on a Sunday night knowing I had school again, and wished we had a longer weekend. Looking back I would do a reset by making sure I did my homework, but would be done last minute and wished I never got started, and now I like education, and I think it is because I can more of less do it in my own time, and hated being forced to do it, on subjects I had no interest in.

Doing things the night before can help or for short bursts. Just now as I write this blog tidied the table in the living room and vacuumed the floor and will pretend to ignore the mess, but seeing the result by cleaning up, helps my wellbeing and gives good energy to get tasks done and completed.

It can be so easy procrastinate and sit watch TV all day and spending all day in bed, and every morning of the week I get that fatigue and think I will, once my son goes off to school, get some extra sleep, and so I? No, I will go out for the walk and as soon as my alarm goes off I get dressed and this helps me to not get back into bed, and start my day, seeing my son off to school and thankful to his dad, as he will help too and would miss it, if he didn’t, and so truly thankful for that.

Delegate duties can make a difference, of things you don’t like doing. I no longer like clothes shopping. I get the buzz at first if I see items I like, but then quite quickly the momentum is gone, and hate shopping during the Christmas period, or Black Friday, and so avoid the shops at all costs, when this is going on, and so will plan ahead and getting tasks completed can help with that, because frees the time I have to get ready for Christmas and what to buy and not need to shop on the high street if I don’t have too.

So there are ways around it and focus on what we do like doing.

I would really like you to tell me, in the comments below of things you don’t like doing and tips you may have in getting them done. Your feedback is truly welcomed.

Many thanks for reading.

Carrie X

Autumn Reset: Make life count and getting my life together

01 Sunday Oct 2023

Posted by in Autumn Reset, Creating a vision, Everyday living, health and wellbeing, Living, Personal Development, Planning 2023, Positive Habits, productivity, Weekly posts, Yearly Reset

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I am up and it is Saturday and usually my night off but spent the time planning in my diary and what is happening for October and November as it is birthday season again for me and like to use the hours I have wisely making sure I have fun, and today me and my son went to see Shrek the musical at the Wimbledon Theatre, and I like doing something different, and this helps me see value in life and grateful for the people I have in my life, like my mum and step dad, my sons dad and my son. Along with other families and friends.

Photo by Leeloo Thefirst on Pexels.com

I have wasted days and just would do nothing, and I was so depressed and felt I had no value and would be like, “Let’s just get through this day” and my life came to a full stop. Now though I make sure I make the most of the days and weeks and months.

A reset is for me winding myself back and getting on top of things, and not falling behind. This year I have had to do a reset on my finances, because there were days before where I feared money and not having enough. Now it is spreading my money so it goes further and not owning so much, and letting things go and making changes to my habits in spending money on clothes each week and coffees and there was times I would need to borrow money, and not being able to pay off my debts and it can cause anxiety and so to stop that I began having no spend days and doing No Spend January and I did videos sharing this on my main channel,

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

I monitor everything in my account and what comes in and what goes and go through my spending on a Sunday on my budget what I spent and how much I have in my budget and make sure that it covers my travel, food, my son and school and each month make sure I pay money towards paying off my credit card debt, put money into my savings, and I save my £5 notes to make sure I have cash available and put money into my sons bank account, so it helps to manage life and not live in fear of things like money and just live a life you are happy with and unless it is hurting someone, then take action so you can have a happier life and feel good about being alive.

If you like reading then and a laugh then check out my book Mum&Me on amazon and is available on Kindle and Paperback:

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X