What Is Amazon Good For?

So I do have an obsession with Amazon because I love their craft supplies and love the option of stickers, journals but I am currently using one from TKMaxx and I do feel, myself that I need to support the high street. Their is  T G Jones. but Was Whsmiths and they can be pretty expensive and so on amazon and TKMaxx are a lot more price friendly and there are different ones you can purchase, but I am cutting back as I want to now make my own but still use Amazon for inspiration. 

My Journal bought from TK Maxx and my current one and sticker book from Amazon 

I like to buy books  on there because you get all different types of books. They are great value because you can resale them or donate them and yes I do buy from charity shops too, but I find the difference you can pre-order books and if you got Kindle then definitely worth using amazon for books. 

It is also good for bulk buying. I buy my sons shower gel, toilet rolls, kitchen roll and hand soap. 

I love buying shoes from there, but I have found some of the clothing disappointing and had to throw a few bits way due to not made well.

Amazon is good for furniture. The desk I am working on is from Amazon and I love it along with my sons desk in his bedroom and storage bins. Great for storage if nothing else and great value.

Electronics not so much. Yet my phone chargers are good, as you just sit your phone on them, but will need a certain plug to use them. USB. I have bought my insulated mug that I am using now. Was for picnics, so bought a flask never been used and a blanket so will need to use them at some point and have just come up with an idea. When it isn't raining put onto on our garden table and have a home picnic.

Will test it out once the weather changes. 

I like Prime as been watching few films on Prime Video and did have Audible but found my self not listening to many audiobooks and so cancelled my subscription because now I listen to BBC Sounds instead but Audible is good but I just wasn't using it as much. 

So there are some good items but tip shop around, especially when it comes to certain clothing and equipment. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Overloaded Appliances in the Kitchen

Buying appliances can be like buying clothes and wanting the new appliance on the market. Example Nutrabullet. I remember when it first came out in the 90's/2000's and we had one gifted to us and I used it once and not again. 

My Kitchen and like to watching something on my laptop when having a meal 

I have a food processor and whilst pregnant it fell off  and hit me in the back, because the bottom of appliance didn't stick to the surface as it should and the fan oven went on the blink and so now we use the #Airfryer it has been a real change and saves so much time. Not Sponsored, but if it was offered would accept.

When it comes to appliances I hate it when it takes so long to clean and we have a supposedly non stick pan but things still stick to it. We had a toasted sandwich maker, cup cake maker and an automatic tin opener and just took up so much space. 

Like clothes I find you can get an overloaded kitchen. I got into baking and did a Cake Making Course and it cost me more to make cakes for the course than the fee to take the course. I am not a baker and I like writing. I'd rather buy a cake, but I do enjoy making dinners and planning meals, but baking no. In fact I have Kitchen Aid that has been in my cupboard for about 4 years and not moved and we do have a slow cooker but that is a must and I love using my slow cooker. 

What does your kitchen mean to you? A kitchen is to me personal space, like a bathroom where you love doing your skincare and soak in the tub with a nice shower gel. I love having a Coffee and Tea area, my food cupboard and it is set up on what we like to eat and cook. I love to watch a bit of Youtube, Music or a audio book and have space to do that. I like combining my Kitchen with things I enjoy when sitting down and takes the feeling of a chore away and have things at easy reach and the appliances we use, is The Kettle, Airfryer and toaster. 

It is good to go through your appliances and utensils to and have what you know your going to use.

There are always a new appliance and when pregnant with my son and couldn't sleep well would watch info commercials and would buy items from Ideal Home and Bid TV and it can be so enticing that before you know it you have half of John Lewis in your kitchen. 

Our oven, cooker, fridge and freezer and microwave are all built in, but have gone faulty and our washing machine is in there too. When I can have my own home I'd like to have a separate laundry room and we live mainly in the living room or garden. 

I'd like a built in microwave and oven as they do save space and have a separate set of hobs and a separate fridge with a freezer. 

Watching Youtube many people have a coffee machine. I like instant coffee, percolated so have a cafetiere and the cartons of cold coffee and would be a waste for us. I like to once a week go to a coffee shop and at the weekends and have coffee shop APPs so I can have a free coffee and something we like to do. 

So go through your appliances and if they are in good condition then why not to sell or like my mums neighbours as if anyone would like it so its not a complete waste as it could be suitable for some families and people. 

I like a clear surface and I am gradually letting go of some appliances as they can be hard to let go.

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X  

 

Things I like to stock up on

It is good to not run out of toilet roll or kitchen towel so we bulk buy and through receiving gift sets and stocking up on hair care products I haven't had to buy any shampoo or conditioner, which are the main things I use, for a long time and it is saved me so much money and the same with food and drink items. 

I like to have plenty of socks and underwear and did do clear out not so long ago and it felt good as my corner unit was a mess, I got it cleared out and went through my underwear and it is good to have clearer spaces but I like to make sure that I have plenty of underwear and also socks go missing. 

The amount of socks go missing is an issue and so I have to fish them out. My husband often is never sure which ones are mine and who is my sons. So I have to go on a hunt, but I like to wear woolly socks for the autumn and winter and spring and summer, ankle socks or no socks at all. 

As I continue this blog after giving my son a bath, found a pair of socks in his pocket organiser and if you have any tips on this please share. You can use the comment box below. 

I am not buying clothes this year as I have enough so I rotate them and can put some of my woolly jumpers away and been sorting through my clothes and I declutter my clothes as I go. 

We like to make sure we have enough hand soap and because I suffer with chapped hands I have to make sure I have plenty of hand cream. Also my face and so it is essentials and what we use all the time. 

Batteries too. My son likes his battery operated lamps and also for our TV remote and other appliances. We make sure we have enough cleaning products and medicines. 

It is good to have a first aid kit and for my son I have put together a toiletry bag for school. This has tissues, wet wipes, sun cream and going to put his nose spray in there too, for his Hayfever. He suffers mainly this time of year. My son did use Piritese but it made him go off his food and made him constipated and so it is cool baths and there are wet wipes for Hayfever too and so its, emergency supplies. 

So go through what you have got and what gets used up most of the time.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Organsing My Weekends

It is almost the weekend and it means that it is time whilst my son is school to clean his rugby boots and get my sons football kit together for tomorrow and then has tennis club in the afternoon tomorrow and I am doing my Radio show this week on Sunday.

So now I plan in advance knowing that I have to wash my sons school clothes ready for Monday and also make sure I have my notes done for my show and I don't have a producer or director and so it is up to me to make sure I am ready and prepared. So I make sure now this is done by Tuesday before and I plan my shows in bulk. I have learned now that "Bulk is the way to go". 

The weekends are a day to be outdoors and go for a coffee and have time to relax and so I use Friday as my day to get the essential tasks done by the end of Friday and today over the weekend going to continue to sort out my home. I need to continue with with organising my sons books, get his canvases up on his wall, sort out the kitchen and begin sorting out my baking cupboard and I also have a vlog going up scheduled for today. This has now been posted check out link: https://youtu.be/NOiWbxclo4w

I have been up super early to read and watch a bit of Youtube before my son gets up ready for school and done a walk on the treadmill. I am not gloating I am actually surprised with myself and got a good stretch of the day to get the other tasks done, before that though going to see if I can change my change into the cash machine in the bank and have a coffee.  

So if there is anything you need to do before the weekend:  

• plan in advance of when you realistically about to get your task done. 
• Do some things in bulk  
• Have a coffee 
• Perhaps I should clean my sons rugby boots and done that at the beginning of the week 
• Have an essential list by Friday and everything is prepared for your kids if they too have clubs to got to

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Tidy as you go to reduce time and messy spaces

You go through your home and it seems okay but you see a sock on the floor. Should you leave it there or pick it up? You see that the toilet roll needs to be changed, do you change it? 

The Window in my living of a real picture of clutter that I have cleared. 

It is good to do a scan with your eyes of anything that will take less than a minute, to straighten out and can focus on something else. The one thing is if I go upstairs and needs to taken up there, I take it. 

It is good when you prep dinner to clean as you go. It is good do to a quick check of items that are not in the right place and your spaces in your home in functional and when cooking going through what needs to be eaten and helps with food planning. 

Going through clothes, photos that need to be organised and just create a system where they are in sight.

Use the one in and one out. You can do this as you go. You try an item you on and it no longer fits or has not washed well or not able to repaired or altered, it is time to let it go. 

Can anything be donated or sold, for someone else to wear or use. I love a charity shops, but don't over do it and if there is specific reason. I found some trainers that I use when I do Parkrun and they have been brilliant. If any don't fit and you can take them to be recycled or donated. Even Foodbanks are taking clothes too, if you don't wish to sell them. 

I like to spend time putting things away, but it is good to also have a items that you can grab. This is something I have adopted to be consistent with my organisation, to ensure I have clothes accessible to save myself time. Another tip is, give things time. This ensures the item you are letting go, won't be making you feel regretful,  later on, for letting it go.

I hope you find this blog helpful. 

I now have a new book out. It is called Mum&Me and so check it out: 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BGSS7H9K

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Things I do to save myself time

 Watching a Video, I thought of all the things I do to save myself time. 

1. I always have clothes out ready for the next day at the bottom of my bed and my wardrobe has a sliding door and so have it open to put anything else I may want to wear.

 

2. Have appliances set up in the kitchen ready to make dinner and meal plan 

3. Keep a shopping list on my Notebook APP on my phone

4. Clean in sections of the day. So whilst I am making my first coffee I will clear items on the sink draining board from breakfast, then after Lunch and whilst prepping dinner. 

5. Have all what I need when I go back to my home in Wimbledon in ruck sack which is a travel bag. as a I technically, live in two places and make sure I have all my meds, hair brush, a magazine to read and other bits I need on the go. 

6. I make sure I have two of everything I use all of the time, like skincare. I use a Nivea cream and E45 cream and use deodorants/body sprays or perfume 

7. I have my laptop fully charged and have tabs open that I use all the time already and programmes open like Word and Excel.

8. Make my bed as soon as I wake up 

9. Have a bath or shower the night before 

10. I workout as I go, like waiting for my son to come home from school so looking out of the window because he goes to and from school by taxi and do arm routines and legs.

I like a routine, doing things that save me time to do other things, like reading, cooking and watching TV. I'd love to hear what you do to save time. You can comment below and why not subscribe. This will help you to be notified of when I post a blog on this site and never miss a blog/

Many thanks for reading

Carrie X

Looking After The Home

When I see stuff put away it will feel good in my mind and wish I had a wand for it to put into place. I am no Mary Poppins. I am untidy and have been since a kid. Only I know where things are. I like to have more space but then I find it hard to let go. 

The Daily Set up of me in Epsom, make the dining table serve many purposes 

I have gotten better and today got items for my son that he needs and he has enough for his packed lunch as during the school holidays he goes to a Holiday club and so has to have a packed lunch each day. 

We live in two places and so I tend to buy double but really I can do without and so it is going through what I have is helping me to have better spending habit and use what I have got and make my money go further. Buy essentials like, Feminine products, food, a few snacks and anything I need for the home to make it more organized and clean.

Then there are bags. I feel I need a better system. Now I have written that, my mind is already started to come up in my head of what will help. 

Try out a system until you find what works.

I do have a rucksack that I have everything I need and unless I am in Wimbledon for two days, mainly the weekends, I will usually leave my laptop in Epsom and so I need a system for the holidays to still carry the things I need to carry less. 

How many of you have this problem?

What systems would you recommend?

You can leave a comment below. 

When it comes to being organized it is to admit where you have gone wrong. As a kid I would shove everything in a draw and the draws would break. It is also feels like a weight on my shoulders, to see clearer spaces and have a realistic organized setting, so I can have the items I use everyday to have easy access to them.

I always lay out my clothes for the day and I do wear the same clothes on consecutive days and that my perfume, deodorant and face cream. 

Downsizing is the key too for me and so today I saw that I had many items in draws I bought that I know I will not where so going to have sort out of my clothes again and anything that has a hole or worn then get rid of it, if he can't be fixed or sown up. 

If something is not working then it needs to be changed. 

So more blogs to come, but for now, many thanks for reading,

Carrie X