Category Archives: productivity

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

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

Autumn Reset: Pumping up the mind ready to take action and make changes to reset your life

24 Sunday Sep 2023

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

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Today I went for a morning walk around a park in Cheam called Nonsuch Park, and wanted to do it because on Thursday I was supposed to be doing a walk with a walking group, called the Ramblers but I couldn’t find the meeting point, yet got there in plenty of time, and asked people who I thought walk around it a lot but even they didn’t know, so I went there today to see if I could find it but still no joy but it was good to walk and a great place to go.

It still felt good and going to be a regular place to walk for me and definitely recommend, and there is a cafe there too, but yet couldn’t find it. A good excuse to walk again and I bet it is a good picnic spot too. When I was football coaching, I would during the summer, on a Monday’s coach a football team there and it did see a fitness group going on when walking there, so a great place to get fit and loads of green to be with nature and taking in the fresh air and surroundings.

Any how I was at first when I got up, thinking twice about whether to go there or not to walk, so I am glad I did because it really gave me a boost and got my mind ready to take action and complete the tasks I have planned for the day, done and so I would recommend, when doing a reset to get the mind pumped before hand and take action.

I have been guilty on putting tasks on hold, and so is another reason to set up an even better plan to stop this and manage my life even better. You have to set yourself up, ready and so listening to a podcast whilst walking can help, putting on a play list, and just lose yourself in completing projects.

Exercise is so good for getting the blood circulating and the brain operating, and it doesn’t have to be for long. I do small workouts aswell as longer ones and I have two blog sites where I write about exercise:

https://sportsandfitnesspassion.wordpress.com

https://getfitgetactivewithme.blogspot.com/

It helps to clear the mind of negativity and spending time looking after the body and helps stop daily annoyances like Transport delays and traffic, people jumping in queues, one of my biggest “Pet hates” I call it and just letting my feet do the talking and eyes take in the view and what is around me.

Living in the now is so important, and I would day dream all the time of where I’d like to be and what my life to look like but just thinking about it, isn’t going to get anywhere if you don’t do physical changes and take control of your thoughts and fears, so they don’t hold you back but to continue to grow and make life as happier as it can be. So lets work together and get this Autumn Reset done and tasks completed.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Autumn Reset: Keeping track of tasks and feeling behind

21 Thursday Sep 2023

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

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So when it comes to doing a reset there are times like today where I have been trying to upload my weekly vlog for my main Youtube channel and it is not uploading so having tried all morning hopefully it will finally save, to be uploaded.

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com

Rather than getting stressed over I took a break and re edited and cut it down and will then upload on Youtube and then work on editing my book for today and check tomorrow as I have joined a walking group and was supposed to it today, and went but couldn’t find the meeting point, so I still did some walking and going to go there tomorrow to find it for next time. I yesterday prepped for that, but I didn’t do some of my coaching course. If I haven’t managed to do the tasks I planned for the day I am not going to stress and do it the next day.

I will make notes as I go through the day of other things I want to get done, and make sure I get plenty of relaxation too. Rest is just as important aswell as getting tasks done, and so it is prioritizing and being flexible about getting tasks completed, as other things may crop up, like Tuesday, I had to make changes to what my son has for lunch at his school, because he wasn’t keen on the dessert I had selected, and so there will be times that the tasks you had planned get push aside, that is life, and the worst thing is to stress about it.

So you have to put things off, it happens, this doesn’t mean it can’t be done, it just means rescheduling and moving things around. We can’t be everything to everyone, we are only one person and if someone wants to help with something, to help you complete a task, then accept.

Check out my last weekly vlog I was trying to upload, this took me all day yesterday to upload it, hence why wrote this blog, and may motivate you to have a reset and declutter: https://youtu.be/yAC1ewpoja0

It meant I couldn’t edit my book, as from the time my son goes to school and comes back, it seems to fly by and so was putting dinner together to get this video uploaded and published it this morning, so check it out above.

Let me know how you are getting this Autumn Reset, I want us to inspire and help each other. All comments can be left below.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Autumn Reset: Being Committed to start new habits getting tasks done and finished

17 Sunday Sep 2023

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It is important to be committed to start new habits getting tasks done and finished for your own sanity as when I can’t finish a project I find it becomes a headache. Don’t get me wrong I love writing and creating books for example, but it is the editing that takes a lot of time, but for me I want my books to be relatable and connects with people, and so for me it is about putting in the time and effort, and making time to work on my book and other tasks I want to complete for this reset, and be ready for the next projects I want to do, come January.

Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels.com

I want a room that is cleared of clutter and have more space, as it can cause me to feel claustrophobic and overwhelmed. So I now want to have less stuff, get rid of what no longer fits into my life and keep items that has a purpose, along with getting courses I have been doing completed, and manage my time so I get my Autumn reset done, and start a fresh for winter and I want you to join me, and please let me know at the end of it, of what you got done and how you found it. You can leave comments below, and I will be filming for it too on my main Youtube channel, Typical London Gal Carrie Holmes.

I will be adding my Autumn reset into my weekly vlogs, and I know this will help me in getting my life in shape, like my current book I am writing done, and know I need to make time to do that and commit to it, and give myself deadlines.

This means scheduling and working around family and seeing friends, and work together and have them do a reset too, and help one another through it. So meet friends to talk about it, and do it as a group thing, you don’t have to reset on your own and then celebrate, once you’ve completed tasks and then start a fresh onto the next projects/tasks you want to get done, and do weekly resets. Mine is always on a Sunday and go through my tasks I want to get done for the week, my finances, and planning what things I need to spend money on this week and plan for no spend days, getting my bag ready for the week and make sure I have a good amount of rest and making sure I commit my time and energy, to the things that really matter to me.

Just now being a Sunday I am writing this blog, I cleared a rucksack I no longer want, and clearing out my wardrobe and already feel better for doing that and each Sunday as I am in Epsom all week, will do this each Sunday, and feel good in letting stuff go, and don’t need so many bags.

Time yourself, to get my book edited I have been joining Double Down Days on Youtube, doing sprints working on my book and it really has helped me and doesn’t have to be on that day, which is the first Saturday of the month and is all day, but because I tend to go out and spend time with my son on Saturdays, do it in the week, when I have free time and you can use sprints to help other unfinished tasks and it makes it fun and I love a challenge and so check this out on Youtube and has made a different to getting tasks completed and will be continuing on.

Please remember its not to do more, but to do less and building your life so it is a lot happier and freer and following you dreams.

If you’d like to be notified of my blogs on this site then subscribe and please let me know if you like these blogs, and will help me make sure I write good relevant content that supports and helps you.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

Autumn RESET 2023: Where to begin

14 Thursday Sep 2023

Posted by in Autumn Reset, Books, health and wellbeing, Living, new year, Personal Development, Planning 2023, productivity, Weekly posts

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So if you are new then last year I did a Autumn Reset getting tasks completed to make a fresh start for winter through to the new year, and so doing the same this year. Please check my previous post, that contained my free printable: My Autumn Reset Begins the introduction and start by using a calendar to plan out the tasks you want to get done and when.

example-of-a-calendar-to-use-to-do-a-resetDownload

I have used Excel to do this and to plan out the second edit of my book When Mothers are Real, and is a fictional novel, and have written other books, on amazon. I have written EBooks but want to make changes to these, so are not available at the moment, but still have books on parenting, The Parenting adventures and novels, under my married name, Carrie Challoner and Carrie Holmes.

Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA on Pexels.com

We are going to do this together and I have a board set up to on my Pinterest ready to upload these videos and for other resources that will help you, and creating more space into your life.

I then do a list of what needs to be completed and set a deadline. Make it realistic and what you know you can get done. The end of this reset will finish on the 31st October 2023.

I have used my Filofax to take notes of the items I need to complete and on OneNote which was the prep for it and as I go through it, making changes and adapting to a new routine I have begun, due to my son starting a new school, and what is important to me, and give me time to spend with my son, when he comes home. I have been doing some online courses and this is on my priority list, and want to sort out my bedroom in Wimbledon and get rid of more stuff that I have not worn or used, and see if I can sell some items, recycle and donate.

So get that calendar and planner and start getting ready to finishing tasks and create goals, and declutter and reorganize your life so it is functional and doesn’t course burn out but more energy and being in a happy environment will lead to better wellbeing and mind.

As I am writing this blog I am jotting tasks down and idea to sort out my Youtube and go through playlists, as the music ones have the same tunes in them and so repeating the same song, and I use playlists to help me write and in the background to help me to concentrate and stay focused, and so as you reset put on some music or sometimes it will be a podcast and get started, and keep record of your progress.

I find doing a reset helps boosts my mind of other areas I want to work on and so jot them down, but if can’t do them in this reset, then I will leave them to the next reset, and get my life sorted out, which for me is the aim and set goals as you begin and get projects completed.

Lets do this together.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X