Fledglings Remember to FLY through November...

[BlueEyeshadow]

If your house is a mess and you are strugging with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of chat, support and wine along the way.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in weekly designated zones of the house; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with more time to do other more interesting things instead! At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again anyway!

We advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

• start or repeat baby steps
  

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone
  

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.
  

[And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.]

More info here on getting started and Flying lessons. Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings. Don't be put off by the barf-tastic language of the site - the underlying system is sound (and you may discover a few of our subversions of the vocabularly along the way).

Many thanks to SC for leading the thread through October (and for such a good OP, which I've blatantly cut and pasted) - - and I'll post the first babysteps and mission tomorrow evening.

All welcome!!

[feetheart]

Oooooo, can I be first to make my place? It might be a good sign after rubbish Flying attempts in Sept and rubbish keeping up with the thread in Oct.

HUGE thanks to SC for keeping us going in October and to Blue for taking on November.

I will do better, I will do better, I will do better...........
I WANT a decluttered house by Christmas.

[Catmint]

Marking place.

Pleeeease release me, let me goooo!

[ToffeeWhirl]

Marking place also.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Marking place here too, hoping I will find my wings again in November under all the clutter

[PositiveAttitude]

Brilliant, I can join in again until the thread gets too long!!

[Trazzletoes]

No flying here, but popping in to say hi so I don't lose you lovely lot.

[elliepac]

Checking in. Big waves and hugs to trazzle. i am keeping up with your other thread and am full of admiration for you and your lovely family and Joseph. Stay strong.

[nightshade1]

can i join?
-before i get swept away under the tidal wave of clutter and housework never to be seen again

[laurenamium]

Checking in from me too! sc for last month and blue for this one!!

[strictlycaballine]

Waves to fellow fledglings. Thanks for shiny new thread Blue!

Just parking my mop & bucket, cobwebs, stacks of microfibre cloths, eyes of newts and pkts of shoelaces ...[hwink]

Great to 'see' you Trazzles Ditto what Ellie said. You , your lovely Joseph and all your family are very much in our daily thoughts on here. So I'm afraid you couldn't lose us even if you wanted to x

A very warm welcome to Nightshade and a very warm welcome (back?) to Catmint too!

I'm with you Feetheart on the "must do better" front (think I said that last month too ) But I am going to do it this time [sets jaw determinedly]!

Ooh - there you are PA (flaps wings excitedly) and more wing flaps to Toffee Ellie Lauren Ellie and everyone else.

Going off to try [drum roll] to actually do some Flying today!!

[SC mounts broom stick and takes to the air unsteadily ..[hwink] ]

[PositiveAttitude]

back to SC and Hi to everyone else new and "old".

I am very excited, but I am not sure this is the place to share my excitement...... but I will, anyway!

SSssshhhhhhh but tomorrow I am meeting a lady who is likely to become our maid cleaner/helper. I never thought I would do it and I could never understand why people felt the need, but golly gosh it is too hot for any type of housework here and if I can pay someone to do it that's fine by me. In my defence I also see it that I am giving one lady an income that she so desperately needs to be able to help her to feed her family.
So, although I will be around here I will not even pretend to be doing housework! I will still be doing all the washing and ironing and cooking because I am a control freak and that is just a step too far! so my input into the thread will be limited! (but then it has been for many years months!!

DS now wants laptop and is walking around in circles around me to annoy me until I get off! No, he is not 3 years old, he is 16 years old!!!! Is he too old for a clip around the ear??? According to him he is, and to be honest I would need a step-ladder to reach anything other than his kneecaps!

[castlelough]

[paneer]

I am going to try this

[CarpeJugulum]

Been here all along honest!

[CaptainHoratioWragge]

Ooh hello, may I join you all please?

[castlelough]

Welcome Captain and Paneer

[paneer]

thanks.

Looked at the fly lady site... do I REALLY need to get dressed to lace-up shoes

[strictlycaballine]

[Craaaashhhh lands broom in front of naughty corner bar] - I have no control of the steering - honest! [hgrin] Swigs a glass or three of Carpe's 's lovely [red] and gets fire going under cauldron. What are you cooking for party grub tonight Castlelough?? [hwink]

A warm welcome to Paneer and CaptainHoratio

Paneer don't worry - you don't have to - here is some gumph about why Fat Fairy thinks it is a good idea but many people on here don't. Just adapt system to suit yourself!

PA how exciting about having a maid no less!!

Issima happy nesting Flying!! [hgrin]

Ahhhh... have five mins peace now ... dd despatched to hungry workers in office in full witch outfit (purple make up and everything) bearing meringue ghosts in blood (aka chilled red fruit compote with a touch of lemon zest, icing sugar and cognac thrown in) and ginger bread zombies (aka starved looking ginger bread men liberally dusted with ash poppy seeds) Meringue ghosts looked a bit like this but used ordinary egg white and icing sugar recipe and then just piped them on to baking sheets using raisins for eyes. DD's were the best actually (they are more effective the more twisty and mishapen they are!)

I just need to um, clear up the icing sugar and poppy seeds liberally coating the kitchen floor ...

[Engelsemama]

Popping in to mark my place. House is a tip so ignoring it and MNing instead (while planning my novel of course [hgrin] )

sc that battleships link was great [hsmile]

[laurenamium]

paneer I don't get dressed to shoes, in fact no shoes are allowed passed the kitchen! I took fly lady to mean just make sure you've bothered to actually get dressed and ready for the day, that way you are more motivated to get up and do something rather than just lazing around in pyjamas or maybe that's just me

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Evening all, welcome to Paneer, Catmint, Nightshade and CaptainHoratio.

I don't do the lace up shoes thing either sometimes I am still in my PJs at midday but I have got some lovely slippers which do just as well.

Had a moderately busy morning but was flagging by lunchtime and was very grateful for the arrival of my parents this afternoon. Between us we sorted out Hallowe'en outfits and window display, plus trick or treat sweets. DMum helped Ds bake cakes, DDad helped make the DCs tea, then DH arrived home to take the DCs out trick or treating. DH is off work till Monday now which is a relief.

PA - not doing any housework didn't stop me from posting lots on here last month, looking forward to hearing about your progress with the cleaner.

[paneer]

Thanks to all the lovely welcomes :) .... although I am a little scared. I actually have to do stuff.
And I am away tomorrow until Sunday night. Do I have to do everything on Sunday, or just jump in Sunday?

[BlueEyeshadow]

Evening all, and welcome to Paneer, Catmint, Nightshade and CaptainHoratio.

Paneer - the idea behind Flylady is that it all builds up gradually, so if you start by keeping your sink shiny you'll be fine. :)

WhoKnows - it's great that you've got such helpful family!

SC - impressed by all your halloween baking!

Waves to PA - hope we can keep the thread manageable for you! Good luck with new house, cleaner etc.

Just - Not surprised there's no flying with all that going on!

Issima - sounds like some serious nesting - keep us posted...

• cheers!
  
  Big waves to Trazzle, Lauren, Engels, castle, Ellie, Feet and anyone else I've missed!
  
  There's been no Halloween stuff here, partly because my parents are very anti so it's never been part of my life, and partly because DS1 is still a bit scared by the mob of overly realistic zombies he opened the door to last year. He kind of wanted to go trick or treating, but also wanted to stay at home and refuse to answer the door!
  
  Still, I have got some work done and am currently basking in the glow of my decluttered desk. The study/spare room needs to be cleared for FIL on Friday so managed to do that after collecting the boys this afternoon. :)
  
  
  Here come the first links for November...
  
  Babystep 1 is to shine your sink.
  
  The flight plan for tomorrow includes the mission, which is chucking out rubbish from the hall, porch and dining room, and the new habit of the month, which is menu planning.
  ***