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FLYing through April: Fledglings Spring into Action

604 replies

GoingGoingGoth · 31/03/2013 17:38

Welcome to the April Fledgling FLYers thread

... where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of and chatting along the way.

This little-and-often system is designed so that we 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 us 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 we get when we are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once.

To avoid being inundated with details, we advise not signing up to the Big Tent

We are in the process of 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.]

Flylady site is here

Don't worry if you are behind; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again anyway!

All the links for the babysteps and missions will be posted here every day and we'll all be here to cheer each other on.

Thanks to SC, Blue & Silvery for leading us through since January and for the brilliant OP I've just cut and pasted.
OP posts:
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BlueEyeshadow · 31/03/2013 17:54

Thanks Goth and to Silvery for March. Thanks [busmile]

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GoingGoingGoth · 31/03/2013 17:59

***
Here are the links we'll need for tomorrow:
Babystep 1 - Shine your sink. This is the most important one and the foundation of the system we follow.
Sneak peak for the week. Monday Sweep your front porch area around, shake out welcome mats and wipe down your front door.
Information on zones Zone 1 is Entrance, Porch and Dining Room
Daily focus for Monday- weekly home bleugh blessing
This month's habit making your bed, the one thing I can do.
The flightplan if anyone needs a quick check on where we are.

Use the parts that you want to and remember there is no such thing as being behind, just jump right in.

Fingers crossed these links work and I haven't missed anything.

OP posts:
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ellesabe · 31/03/2013 18:46

Marking my place [bugrin]

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GoingGoingGoth · 31/03/2013 22:23

Back again, probably won't be posting again until tomorrow evening, as I'm assisting Kid's Club all week. So have amalgamated Sunday & Monday to give myself a head start.

Done
Beds
Windows washing up
Laundry on
Cinema trip with Dd to see 'Rise of the Guardians', enjoyed it, but it did remind me of Terry Pratchett's Hogfather
Laundry hung outside (DH didn't see it or hear me ask (twice) Hmm)
Brief argument with Dh
Hid DD's eggs around flat, took her 10 mins to find them all
Took Dd to Easter event at local park
Rolled egg down a hill!
Dinner
Cut Dh's hair (a bit short-passive aggressive much?)
Vacuumed through flat, giving hallway & rugs a good going over)
Tidied shoe rack, put wellies away
Washing in
Ironing
Washing up & SS

Phew, time for bed soon

OP posts:
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SilveryMoon · 31/03/2013 23:49

Woo-hoo, I am now officially off the hook although I went out this afternoon and got completely drunk so haven't done round up for Sunday.
Thanks all for sticking with me through March and def sure we'll have a great April.
Thanks to goth for taking over.
My to do right now is to go to bed and to sleep and not vom at all in the night. Had a huge mixture of shots on top of a few bottles of wine, some champagne and a couple of vodkas.
The litter tray might not get cleaned tomorrow if I'm feeling hung over and I did not complete my list for Sunday Sad
Back in morning

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MercuryRising · 01/04/2013 01:58

Hello ladies Grin

I only managed two weeks flying in March, but I thought I would try yet again in April. As we have two weeks of holidays it should be slightly easier as Im at home a bit more.

I hope you are all having a lovely Easter [busmile]

Sounds like you have had a fab night Silvery, maybe lazing in the sofa watching Easter telly and scoffing chocolate is a more realistic plan than cleaning the litter tray tomorrow.

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Honu · 01/04/2013 09:59

Just checking in again in the hope that the todo list and the clutter will reduce this month rather than increase majestically as they did in March.

Thanks to Silvery who decided to celebrate the handover of responsibility for the thread in style, and to Goth for taking over.

Two weeks holiday here too, but looking at all the commitments and DH hospital, doctor, dentist appts I have put off till now I don't see much rest time for flying in them. Still - a quiet day today - shall make coffee cake then set the timer for some flying.

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mrsbugsywugsy · 01/04/2013 10:07

happy Easter [busmile]

so I did most of the baby steps last month, what do people recommend I try to do this month? continue babysteps, plus decluttering? I haven't done the control journal yet either.

yesterday I decluttered the Tupperware drawer, exciting times. I also made dp declutter his tshirts - he has three drawers full of them [bushock].

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Jamillalliamilli · 01/04/2013 10:25

Silvery Thanks for leading March, and Goth Thanks for April.

Waves to all. I can?t even try and fly properly yet, but the thread continues to motivate, provide useful ideas, and keep me going. Thanks

Easter here is a little confused and April fool came early. Easter nests comprise of Lindt chocolate Santa, being snuggled by tiny Lindt bunnies, nesting on mini eggs, and it's trying to snow outside.

No one seems to mind, it's all celebratory, chocolate, and shiny foil and chocolate and tissue and chocolate. (Times are difficult and the big Santa's where 25p! [busmile] )

SC So glad to hear you?ve re-found your mojo. [busmile]
Couldn't even lurk in the end but caught up yesterday then fell asleep before posting! I haven?t made the deadline (too many injuries) and am still trying, but now have a van (yippee even if it did put my shoulder out adapting to it!) which will help, and a small, much needed time extension thanks to the snow stopping the builders, (silver lined clouds, but it also stopped me!) and Easter. It?s total chaos here, new deadline?s 4 days time, and we go away for a week the day after, (and catch up lots of paperwork, insurance claims, and major exam revision) and come back to the essential repairs/re-build done, and start again.
It?s all going to happen isn?t it? [bugrin]

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Jamillalliamilli · 01/04/2013 10:30

Mrs B I'm not the best person to answer, but I think it depends on if you have a lot of clutter or not. If you do, then best to carry on back round plus decluttering, until you've reduced the clutter and everything has places.
Someone with good knowledge will be along soon.

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SilveryMoon · 01/04/2013 10:31

Morning.
mrsb yes, I think you should re-inforce the babysteps (do the ones that aren't complete crap again) and add 15 min decluttering to your day.
I'm going to add a new page to my control journal about the babysteps.

I aqm feeling much better than I did at 5 this morning, so going to get in the bath and then today, finish yesterdays jobs and make a start on todays.

To Do
Make beds
Clear breakfast
Feed cats
Swish and swipe
get dressed
clean litter trays
dust/polish
Rubbish out
Print off new tick sheets for my cj
Laundry
Babystep
Hoover
Mop
Menu plan for this week and write shopping list
Food shopping
Quick clear of car
Washing machine drawer
Hotspot
Sort dry clothes
Non iron away
Stray item dash
Clean kitchen
Mission/detail clean
Lay out clothes
Check diary
Study
Shine sink
Bleach plugs

Had better get a move on.

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pushmepullyou · 01/04/2013 11:28

Happy Easter [bsmile]

Thankyou to silvery and goth for March and April respectively

Need to make a bit more of an effort this month, not least with body clutter as it's my sisters wedding in 6 weeks and my bridesmaids dress looks truly dreadful on me (it's not a bad dress, just makes me look very hippy and about 5 months pregnant).

Good news on the van just. It must be frustrating to have it still dragging on, but Hooray, you're nearly there Grin. Hang on in there bet you can't wait to get away!

I could do wiith a bit of a kick up the bum tbh. Our house is just horrible at the moment - I spend far more than the specified flying time on cleaning and tidying, but it just gets worse and worse Sad. Everything is grubby because we live down a muddy lane and extremely cluttered. I don't know what to do about it all really. Our house is too small. I have ruthlessly thrown things away and have no room in the house for more storage but am still drowning in 'stuff'. I can't get anything clean because of the clutter and I am sick of washing the sofa cover every 2 days because it is covered in muddy pawprints.

Plus I feel rubbish at the moment - overtired I think this always happens in the holidays. I haven't had any alcohol since thursday but feel really badly hungover and knackered. Can literally hardly open my eyes they are so puffy and sore and I feel exhausted.

Bah, sorry I'll stop whinging now and get on with it. Baby steps and all that Smile

To do
Meal planning
Online shopping
couple of bin bags worth of decluttering
Fold and put away washing
Go to tip
Go to B&Q
Put new handles on cupboard of doom
Polish kitchen table.

Will see how I get on and possibly add more later. happy flying Smile

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feetheart · 01/04/2013 12:33

Marking my place.

Huge thanks to Silvery for March and Goth for taking over the reins for April Thanks

Can I be the first to ask if April can be the new January :o

pushme - sounds as though the endless winter has really got to you. Hopefully a little sunshine will be along soon and make you feel better. Keep going with the babysteps because at least things will be better than if you don't do them - it sort of works for me when I'm struggling (which seems to be quite often)

SC - glad your mojo has returned, here's hoping it stays.

PA - didn't get to comment on your return in March but it was LOVELY to hear from you. I really hope you are keeping a diary about your adventures/exploits and are planning a book. I still grin like a loon when I think about the pigeon-poking episode you described so eloquently many moons ago :)

Right...April...a new month. I will do the babysteps, I will continue to declutter, I will get the house ready for builders in May (eek!) and I will do something in the garden (note complete lack of specifics :))

Happy Bank Holiday everyone.

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ToffeeWhirl · 01/04/2013 12:38
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feetheart · 01/04/2013 12:40

Is there any chocolate left in there Toffee?

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SilveryMoon · 01/04/2013 13:02

Just sent dp to Tesco for the food shop, which means 1) I don't have to get dressed today, and 2) I won't be paying for it Grin
I have done the dreaded task of looking at my bank balance and statement, and discovered that I am skint, have spent £1200 in 5 days! Not even sure how that happens, waiting for my statement to catch up with my balance.

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ToffeeWhirl · 01/04/2013 13:02

Not a lot, Feet.



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CHBitchy · 01/04/2013 13:25

Morning.

just Good luck with the on-going sort out!

Stuff to do includes teaching ds an important life lesson. Thy shalt not make toilet tissue wads and throw around bathroom. Because you will be cleaning the entire bathroom to sparkling standards including the toilet!

toy corner of doom has been greatly tamed and almost done the massive annual lego sort out [bushock]

Shame my room is a complete disaster though [busad]. Tackling ds' room today...

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Castlelough · 01/04/2013 13:49

Hope everyone has been having a lovely Easter?
I've been a bit all over the place for the first week of the school holidays. My darling aunt passed away, and the week has been a bit of a blur. Glad I wasn't working, as I was able to go home to my parents. But now I feel I must achieve something this week!

To Do:

Get out of bed Blush
Morning routine Blush
Quick tidy of the kitchen
Unpack/reboot laundry
Out for dinner with DH
Watch the Irish Grand National (ooh must put a bet on too!)
Menu plan and grocery shop
Visit DMiL
Do something gardening-related (hmmm I should really plant the onion sets)...
Knitting project
Piano practice
Early night so I can get up and fly nice and early tomorrow :-)

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Castlelough · 01/04/2013 13:50

Oh and guzzle chocolate .... Grin

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Castlelough · 01/04/2013 13:53
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SilveryMoon · 01/04/2013 14:36

Sorry to hear about your aunt castle Sad Flowers

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ellesabe · 01/04/2013 16:02

Castle sorry to hear that :(

Feet I am determined that April will be the new January! Grin

Dd2 slept in her own bedroom (shared with dd1) for the first time last night - it was AMAZING!!! She woke for a feed at 9:30 before we'd gone to bed then didn't wake until 7:15am. THEN she went straight back to sleep until 10:30 Shock
Dd1 also didn't wake until 8:30 so we had a reeeeeally nice lie-in and have had a massively productive day as a result!

Ta dah
Showered, dressed S&S
Dusted
Hoovered
Breakfast and lunch eaten
Meal plan and shopping list
Online shopping ordered
Changed copious dirty nappies
Washed outside of windows
Played with dd1 outside (in t-shirts Shock )
Clothes put away

To do
Wash up
Cook dinner
Ironing

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SilveryMoon · 01/04/2013 16:54

Not got much done so far because dp has had a headache. He's off to work soon so will get the hoover out then and finish the bleurgh.
I have bleached and shined my kitchen sink, and am hoping to do all the babysteps this month.
Will post my tada later.

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CHBitchy · 01/04/2013 18:46

ta da
ds and his att1tude
ds and his life lesson (possibly two life lessons)
ds' room
Not killing ds

Nearly bedtime. Can't fucking wait tonight.

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