There will be no soot in the Fledglings sacks as they FLY through December and into the New Year

[laurenamium]

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 blue for leading the thread through November (and sc for such a good OP, which has been cut and pasted twice!) and I'll post the first babysteps and mission tomorrow evening.

All welcome!!

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I'm in!

[ToffeeWhirl]

Me too! Thanks lauren.

[BlueEyeshadow]

Thanks Lauren!

[NickNacks]

Hello Lauren, thanks for new thread.

[BitchyDragons]

Ahh December!

[Trazzletoes]

Thanks Lauren.

[Trazzletoes]

[Kirk1]

Desperately clutching at straws, since her first step (shine your sink?) seems to be the one I find hardest to achieve.... But I really need help I do suffer from chaos and we don't wear shoes in the house so I don't get the lace up shoes thing. Is it important?

[ToffeeWhirl]

Kirk - the shiny sink thingy is to give you a confidence boost. I certainly don't do it every day and I don't suppose I'm the only one. And many of us on this thread don't go along with the lace-up shoes thing either (it's meant to put you in a 'work' frame of mind). I think we all pick and choose a bit and some habits stick, whereas others don't.

But if you are feeling overwhelmed by your house, Flylady is definitely worth a try. My house is certainly more tidy and less cluttered than it was when I started following Flylady.

[Purpletoes]

Can I join have a 9month old ds and a small flat need something to get into a routine before we go under!

[Jdub]

Good morning! I've followed this thread for a whole year and it has really, really inspired me into action! Having marched down to the charity shop yesterday with 4 bags, I can start to see light at the end of the tunnel! (that's not 4 bags for the whole year, you understand, as that would be really lame!) The little-and-often approach really, really helps me not to feel swamped, and I think I have really become addicted to trying to keep on top of my filing!

[ToffeeWhirl]

Welcome, Purple and Jdub.

[NickNacks]

I've only gone and hired myself a bloody cleaner for the new year! Whoop whoop!

[Jdub]

Thank you very much! I won't make any crumbs!

[Kirk1]

Thanks Toffee! so it makes sense to substitute something else, like perhaps clear and clean dining table, something to make it feel like its achievable every day. Jdub, that's encouraging I'm just hoping I can do this even though my older DC and DH are not going to be helpful

[NickNacks]

Welcome to newbies. anyone?

[ToffeeWhirl]

NickNacks - Congratulations on the cleaner! (Will you ask her to follow Flylady rules? ).

Jdub - very glad to hear it! Crumbs are only allowed in the naughty corner (frequently occupied by those of us falling off the Flylady wagon, as you will know if you have been lurking).

Kirk - it's up to you, but, if I were you, I would do the shine-your-sink step to start with, even if it just involves putting crockery away and giving it a quick wipe down. I think Flylady is right in her thinking that having a clean and tidy sink gives you back a sense of control and cheers you up. Then you can drop that step as you move on, if you don't think it's necessary. Just do what works for you.

Really must get on with some home ed stuff with DS1 now (we are reading 'A Christmas Carol' to get into the seasonal spirit), but will grab a and before I go.

[nightshade1]

im here!
after failing at any flying last month..........no seriously i hid in the corner with the gin and chocolate, i will endeavour to do better ahead of the big day.
but the decorating should be completed this weekend hopefully so at least im not competeing with that mess aswell - although that did act as a great excuse to avoid any sort of housework.

thanks for the

[laurenamium]

to all the newbies

Will be back later with links to baby steps zones and missions for tomorrow!

[strictlycaballine]

Thank you Lauren - very kind of you! [Hoping for lots of equine references thoughout month]

And mahoosive thanks to Blue for steering us through November - much appreciated!!

A very warm welcome to Jdub Kirk and Purpletoes

Great news about the cleaner Nicknacks

[Just resting my bunions and swigging Bitchy's mulled wine parking my mop and bucket here for a moment]

Mahoosive waves to Trazzles Toffee Whoknows and everyone else

[strictlycaballine]

Forgot to say hello to Nightshade too!!

[IWipeArses]

Signing in while I contemplate my grubby house. Sorry for my extreme slack thread-keeping-upness, but I've been sort of keeping up with the house.
Getting into routines certainly helps, we've been working on those lately.

[Honu]

Just putting on the expresso for those who need it. See you all tomorrow.

[MercuryRising]

Hi ladies! I need to rejoin you, after flying for half of October I completely fell off the wagon and haven't managed to clamber back on. I am crazily busy at the moment but really need to get out of the CHAOS Im in before Christmas so I can start 2013 a little more in control - well thats the plan

[NickNacks]

Is it a tad premature to post my list for tomorrow?

Well here goes...

One load of laundry
Clean bathroom
Hoover downstairs
Get boys to start writing Xmas cards
Get school slips and cheques written
Mop kitchen
Send childminding newsletter to parents
Spend a couple of hours getting ready for our night out (DH 30th birthday celebrations)
15 minutes decluttering