February Fledglings Fluttering and Flying! It's the awesomely alliterative Flylady Fred.

[fuzzpig]

2016 is truly underway and maybe the New Year Resolutions have been forgotten please say it's not just me - never mind, it's a new month and a new start beckons.

Perhaps you have too much S.T.U.F.F. (Something That Undermines Family Fun) getting in the way. Or maybe you want to rid your house of C.H.A.O.S. (Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome)? Have no fear, the Fledglings are here! We are all learning to get into a routine for maintaining the household, so we have more time to enjoy life!

This is where, from the first of the month, we follow – loosely – the rules of FlyLady. We ignore the somewhat barftastic language, and also thoroughly recommend NOT signing up to the emails… unless you want your inbox full to bursting.

Here’s some basic info on getting started – but don’t worry, all will be revealed on a daily basis (assuming I get the links right…) so just jump in.

There are 3 basic stages:

• Baby Steps – if you’re new, start here. Or if you’re coming back to us after a break (trust me, we’ve been there!) then these are good way to get back into it.
  

• Repeat Baby Steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current room or 'zone' - yep, just 15 mins, it makes a difference!
  

and/or

• Reinforce Baby Steps + do Daily Missions which introduce specific things to work on.
  

There are also detailed cleaning guides if you’re really crazy enthusiastic.

NB
This is a very long-running thread so we may appear cliquey but we really aren't! All newcomers, long-termers, lurkers and intermittent returnees not only welcome to join in but positively encouraged to do so!

Another NB
Start where you are. There is no need to worry about being perfect – perfectionism = paralysis! There is no such thing as ‘falling behind’ with FlyLady, if you miss anything, just move on and continue as normal the next day.

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Good luck!

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

Thanks Fuzz

[YesEinsteinsMumDid]

Holy shit balls Batman. It's February.

[BlueEyeshadow]

Thanks Fuzz and WhoKnows for January.

[Sairelou]

Hello
Tentatively dipping my toe in to this thread. I did sign up to the flylady emails...and promptly unsubscribed. Oh my days how many emails??!!

Anyhow my house is an absolute mess and therefore my head is panicking as it doesn't know what to sort first!

My mission is to get the house as organised as possible before I go on holiday on 20th, then I can relax on holiday without making mental lists in my head about what needs to be done at home

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

Sounds like a good plan Sairelou, welcome to the thread .

[Slimmingcrackers]

Thank you again Whoknows for January thread; I don't know how you did all the things you listed at the end of previous thread ând still managed to post links every night

Fuzzpig huge thanks for shiny new thread and great op! [Never mind forgetting NY resolutions - I haven't even started them yet - hopefully tomorrow though!]

[secretes vodka in floor safe well away from Einstein]

A very warm welcome to Sairelou! Good to have a holiday date as a motivating factor! Good luck with the it - small steps and all of that!

Have just finished clearing up the kitchen after dh has cooked [grits teeth and tries to smile]. I am v. particular about my kitchen sink, bin and fridge and I know this is incredibly nit-picking of me in the full scheme of things, but dh always

• throws tea bags in sink which stains it (when there is a receptacle for them) which means I have to keep bleaching it,
  

• fills bin to bursting (necessitating the cleaning of entire yucky lid and most of bin instead of just a quick wipe and a bag change) and
  

• for some reason, breaks off parsley stalks and celery leaves and various herbs when cooking, while they are still in plastic veg box thing in fridge (without bringing them out fully and chopping them on board) which means there are leaves and bits and yuck all over the bottom of the fridge (necessitating further cleaning).
  

-never empties dw before starting cooking (when necessary) so he can stack dirty pots in to it as he goes along (and then stacks everything up on clean surfaces which means extra work)

Makes me seethe! Makes a 10 min clean up in to a 50 min one!! He however, is always very pleased with himself for cooking up a tasty supper so quickly!

I know I should be grateful ...

OK so now I have had my first traditional whinge and bleat of the month I am going to wave goodbye for a bit now while docs check out my ovaries. Then we are away for half term and I will be away for a bit longer than that!

Big waves to all fledglings! Have a good month everyone!

[Toffeewhirl]

WhoKnows - thank you very much for running the January thread.

And here's some to keep you going through the February thread, Fuzz.

Welcome, Sairelou.

Have had a very busy weekend with family and domestic duties. Managed to fit in nine hours' sleep on Friday night, which gave me some extra energy. Took DS1 to his first session at the gym on Saturday morning. Very funny when the gym instructor asked DS1 if he'd been before, meaning 'to the gym': I could see DS1 looking confused because he's been to the leisure centre lots of times before and missed the instructor's inference. Anyway, he lolloped off after the instructor for his introductory session and came out very excited because he can apparently watch telly whilst he's on the treadmill . I hope this proves to be a new interest for him.

Then had to do shopping and look after MIL, who's been ill. It was nice to see her cheering up when we all arrived.

Today, it was swimming lesson first thing for DS2, another visit to check on MIL, then hours and hours of housework, cooking, washing and ironing, as I'm having to fit everything in to the one evening. It is lovely to start the week with the house reasonably tidy and all our clothes washed, ironed and hanging up, ready, though. I could post an enormous list, by CBA.

Sorry about your DH's habits in the kitchen, SC. On a similar theme, my DH said today that he knew he wasn't perfect at housework, but at least he was keeping on top of the washing up and keeping the kitchen tidy, whereas this hadn't been the case when he worked and I was at home. I pointed out that in those days it had been his job to wash and tidy because I was cooking, but now it was my job - and I nearly always do it, whereas he often didn't, leaving it to me to do the next morning. He looked a bit crestfallen at that.

But, to be fair, he's doing a sterling job and I do appreciate how hard it is to keep on top of housework (as does he now ).

Am trying to be pragmatic about the tricky boss at work and hoping I can last at least a year in that job, then use the experience to get something else. As WhoKnows said in the January thread, having a difficult boss does at least draw everyone else closer together, as we're all in the same boat.

Off to have a bath and go to bed now.

[Toffeewhirl]

'but CBA', not 'by'. Tsk.

[fuzzpig]

Morning folks!

Hoping the links work out ok - my internet has been HORRENDOUSLY SLOW since last night, it is driving me insane and makes me want to hit things. :o

Back in a few minutes, if I don't commit laptopicide before then.

[fuzzpig]

Links for Monday 1st February!

This month’s habit is… drum roll… DECLUTTERING! 15 minutes every day. The most necessary habit for me, certainly…

This week we enter Zone 1 – entrance/front porch, and dining room if you have one (I’m thinking of just using our table for that bit).

Today’s Baby Step: No. 1, Shine Your Sink!

Today’s Mission: Sweep that front porch!

Monday’s Daily Focus is the Home Bleugh. An hour filled with some essential tasks.

Have a great start to the week/month Fledglings!

[fuzzpig]

Welcome Sairelou :)

Ugh I am feeling like crap today! Thought I was over the bug but nope, worse again today. FFS.

[fuzzpig]

And I forgot to say a huge thank you to Who for January!

[Allgunsblazing]

thank you fuzz. :)

[Sairelou]

Thank you for the warm welcome everyone. We are all full of colds here too. With a toddler and a 5 month old there is snot flying everywhere, eurgh!

[YesEinsteinsMumDid]

Such an attractive picture you paint sairelou grateful out of this stage of parenting

So in my time away from flying I have been decluttering by doing craft projects. Sort of. I am awaiting a parcel to be delivered and am serious contemplating another order. The the new order would be stuff for making for christmas 2016 so that is almost flying by being organised in advance. yes?

[fuzzpig]

Ooh, Christmas :o

I'd really like to be organised enough to do proper crafty/cooking stuff at Christmas.

Had my autism appt, it was great. :)

Haven't done much else other than getting the DCs to put their clothes away while mine and DH's pile up precariously again and returning some library books. Oh and I did finally finish that giant book on Asperger's (been reading it on and off since October! ) so I will start some fiction tonight, hurrah.

Going to do some reading with the DCs now but that's about it. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

[Sairelou]

I did it! First baby step and daily mission done.

I also thought I hadn't decluttered, but I did organise the food cupboards today when the shop came which counts I suppose

[fuzzpig]

Awesome Flying, Sairelou! That surely deserves a newbie Fledgling medal :)

[Scattymum101]

Poking my head back in. Finally moved at the end of December and have unpacked all but a few boxes however still have waaaay too much stuff and getting used to new home routines in a much bigger house compared to a little flat.

Have dd2's first bday party on Saturday and living in chaos argh. Hoping to pull it back this week somehow. Dishwasher finally arrived today and is being plumbed in on Thursday along with a new sink. Can't wait.

Hope you're all well and had a good Xmas. Xx

[fuzzpig]

Welcome back Scatty! Glad the move has happened now. And happy birthday to your little one :)

I'd reeeeally like to stay home today but DD has a class. Feel like crap still but can't ask DH to come home early - he'd like to, but his targets are looming so he can't afford any time off at all. He's ill himself (unquestionably due to stress).

I'll do links in a mo. :)

[fuzzpig]

Links for Tuesday 2nd February!

This month’s habit is decluttering

We are in Zone 1

Today’s Baby Step: No. 2, getting dressed. Bit of a controversial one really.

Today’s Mission: Hot Spots!

Tuesday’s Daily Focus is planning day

[Sairelou]

Morning!
Well seems I've already done the baby step for today, apart from shoes, who wears shoes in the house?! I have long since resigned myself to the fact that my hallway will not be the way I want it until the summer as we currently have our clothes drying there, the only space for them! I will organise the jackets today though and sort out the nook under the stairs.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

[knittingwithnettles]

hi everyone,

all is fine, just trying to summon up motivation and not panic (easier to retreat back under the duvet I find)

doing a lot of washing
a lot of driving and a VERY early start today
and I did a dryslope ski-ing lesson today (which has driven me back to bed as I now feel like collapsing)
Toffee ds2 loved the treadmill and setting himself targets, however I have to say he has now lost interest!! He did run a 5k and various little races though in his running phase so it can only be a good thing.

Children all lovely (sometimes). Gsce stress considerable though. Ds1 is really not academic, nor is he practical, so it is difficult to work out just what he going to be good at. He seems to be philosophical about it, as long as I don;t challenge him on the subject or ask him to give me his phone!

Sorry you are going in to Hospital SC. Hope there is a nice book to keep you company.

[fuzzpig]

Hi Knitting and Saire :)

Quite glad Tuesday is planning day. I need to locate the diary! I wrote appointments down elsewhere and can I remember where... nooooo...

Got to get lunch sorted now and then head out to DD's class. Will pay in my cheque on the way through town but really not expecting to do much else today. Tomorrow we will not need to go anywhere until Brownies, so I'm really hoping for a relaxing day at home when hopefully we can get some work done as well as some housework.

Not the best start to the morning - DD incredibly stroppy (lack of sleep - she had a 'bad feeling' last night which is thankfully rare now) although has calmed down now, done her homework for the class and is resting watching Spongebob . I slept on the sofa last night (always do when I have a cough/cold, to prop myself up)... gradually came to as the DCs came downstairs and DS had curled up at my feet while DD got breakfast. Stretched out later on and felt something with my foot... a small nugget of poo. Thank you, DS.

[Shannaratiger]

Evening all

Hi Saire, knitting, fuzzpig, scatty and everyone else I've missed.

Dd's tablet has broken so he is now back attached to the laptop, DH is home so he has the main computer so I'm on the phone and cooking yea at the same time.

Sorry it's not working, will be back later with a continued post!