Deck the halls (or the wine) as the Fledglings head into December.

[GoingGoingGoth]

Huge thanks to Blue for leading the thread throughout November (and to SC for such a copy and paste-able OP )

If you are struggling 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 and cake along the way.

Flylady link is here

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 zones of the house which are designated weekly; defining and minimising housework, which in theory should leave you with loads more time to do something more interesting 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!

It's up to you, but 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):

1. start or repeat baby steps
   

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

1. 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!

Three key points to keep in mind:
(1)No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine
(2)You are never behind just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
(3) It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy over night - accept it will take time to get on top of things and you will be happier.

If you are new; then trying to spend 15mins decluttering daily and doing the babysteps is a good way to start. Some of us (mentioning no names!) can have scary looking lists but don't let that worry you! Do what you can, anything is better then nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

If all else fails, a + the power of three technique + a bit of support on here can work wonders!

Oh and don’t let it put you off if we appear a bit cliquey – some of us have been on here for years – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers very, very welcome!

[BitchyTakesOnManagement]

Thanks Goth

Thanks to *blue for last month

[Slowcommotion]

Lawdy, going to need this thread this month (as ever!)

Thank you so much for starting it Goth! [proffers seasonal fortifying fortified wines and pints of Guinness]

And huge thanks to Blue for navigating us through November

[Yes, it's me, SC btw, I'm awake 'cos dh drank rather a lot of this evening and is now snoring like a trooper. I can hear him through two floors! ]

Big feathery waves to all fledlings!

[AliceinWinterWonderland]

Thanks blue for last month!

Thanks to Goth for this month!

Ooooooooooooooooh December!! I love this now!!! Please bear with me - I tend to be a bit "tigger-ish" right before Christmas. I suspect I may be more excited over it than the dcs.

We're doing a bunch of baking today. I'm just sitting here organising the recipes before our friends come over and we help the dcs make all sorts of stuff! Aprons ready, ingredients to get out, oven is preheating now for me to get a few things baked before they get here.

[BitchyTakesOnManagement]

I suppose as it is December I might now forgive the "C" word

[AliceinWinterWonderland]

[Vivacia]

Hi Everyone, just popping in to say hello as we're having a big pre-decorating clean today and you were all in my thoughts.

Entire family mobilised to deep clean bedrooms, we've had four loads of washing and bed linen on and just taking a break before we start dusting and hoovering the bedrooms. DP and DS1 dispatched/escaped on a mission for bicarb.

I'm even watching this week's unwatched episode of Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners!

(I love cleaning far too much than is healthy).

[BitchyTakesOnManagement]

Do you fancy coming and visit here for getting the deep clean done Vicacia i fecking hate cleaning!

[Vivacia]

(I would love to). Rooms aired, back of furnitures de-fluffed and new linen on beds. Bliss.

[BitchyTakesOnManagement]

I am on load 6 or 101 - whole week's mountain of normal stuff, plus multiple tableclothes plus mountains of bedding and towels after visitors.

Windows were though about being opened. But have only just managed to get washed for getting up.

Have managed to get ds to do 3 of 4 lots of homework and pick a few books up off the floor.

Coffee, more laundry/folding/ironing and then the start of furniture moving.

[OneSkinnyChip]

Hi I am a bit of a lurker so hope you don't mind me sneaking in.

Do you folks find the shine your sink stuff useful? It seems so basic or something so I skip past it even though Fly Lady says not to

[Vivacia]

I think that it's the only FlyLady habit I have, but each to their own.

(I sometimes go upstairs to pour away water if my sink's already been shined up).

[ToffeeWhirl]

Thanks, Goth.

And lots of to Blue for running the thread last month.

[BitchyTakesOnManagement]

Yes, actually I do OneSkinny but there are other bits I don't do. This really does work, laying clothes out for me doesn't work so much. Tailor it to what suits you but give it a fair try, it might surprise you.

Busy day prepping for tomo's rug cleaning. Furniture emptied, cleaned and moved. Laundry done, homework supervised, tempers lost and angry energy useful in achieving the prior items. Now ready for bed but there is still a lot that needs to be done On a plus note it is nearly tea time and I am off to make swede mash.

[Greymalkin]

Feathery waves to all.

I have name changed as I have been recognised on another thread by someone in RL and I much prefer the anonymity of MN! I was previously known as a caffeinated drink....

Ta da
Both beds made
Two loads of washing done and hung up
DSs nursery bag re packed and clothes laid out for tomorrow
Whole pile of newspapers and magazines culled
Some letters dealt with
Family walk to the park
Recycling sorted for tomorrow
Science experiments chucked out of fridge

To do
Iron work trousers
Online banking
Online grocery shop

Then I'm going to park my behind on the sofa and catch up on I'm a Celeb while writing Christmas Cards.

Thanks to Blue for last months thread and the Goth for this one.

Love your decorations Alice, we're doing ours next weekend.

When are you due Engles, hope you get some downtime beforehand

[BlueEyeshadow]

Thanks Goth!

I need to rejig my daily routines, I've decided - they were arranged around a different working/school rhythm from the one I have now. I've kind of lost touch with them and hoping this will kick me into gear again!

Today we've been having a toy clear out and have got rid of a lot of stuff and rearranged other things. It doesn't look much tidier at the moment, but it will help in the end, I hope.

[CallingAllEngels]

Evening all!

Thanks for the new thread goth and thank you for taking us through November blue

I don't exactly shine it skinny but I do make sure I do the washing up every evening straight after dinner and the sink is rinsed round and left empty. It's the one thing I've managed to do from FL that has made a real different to my state of mind when I come down in the morning. We keep our washing up bowl out of sight and like a lot fo Dutch kitchens, have a removable draining board that also lives in a cupboard rather than a permanent one.

I am 36 weeks today, so hoping for at least 2 weeks before baby makes an appearance. Will get a lot done this week when DS goes to nursery on Tuesday - just want to get Christmas and baby bits all sorted so then I can nest properly!

Need to plan my thoughts for the week

My list for tomorrow:

Supermarket inc recycling bottles
home bleurgh - have been neglecting hoovering upstairs, beds and watering plants
make some mulled wine so the house smells delicious
do an inventory of freezer. need to empty it out a bit this week so I can defrost it
split pea soup for tea (out of freezer!)
put up fairy lights round bookshelf
clean upstairs bathroom

For non-DS days

go into town and get last baby/christmas bits and hair cut
send bloody parcels
have enough energy in evenings to write UK christmas cards
tidy lounge - cupboards, bookshelves and tables in preparation for Christmas decorations next week
need to do some sewing and fixing of things
ironing while watching christmas and sinterklaas films
clean front window outside and weed small bed in front, then put up lights in tiny bush (have bought some battery operated outside lights as an experiment for the first time this year!)
Finish off baby room

And I MUST pack my hospital bag! All the bits are in the baby room upstairs but not in a bag!

[GoingGoingGoth]

Evening all,

Another day at the Art Village and. I've a commission to make some baby leggings (just need to work out a price)

Skinny I'm the same as Engles in that I don't shine every day, but do make sure the washing up is done, put away and the sides wiped down. The fat fairy doesn't insist on the pots being done but does do the shining. I find it more uplifting NOT facing dirty plates in the morning.

Will be back with links in a minute

[GoingGoingGoth]

LINKS FOR MONDAY 1st DECEMBER

Babystep 1 is to shine your sink. Even on the 1st day there is some discussion on whether to stick to the Fat Fairy's rules. Just do what you feel is best for yourself, it's all about setting up routines that work for you.

Monday is weekly bleugh day

This week we are in the Lounge, Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room
Monday's mission is to go into the Entrance area and grab all those shoes, books and jackets that seem to pile up and put them away.

Newbies IF you decide to do a mission (which you don't have to yet) remember they should take less than 15 minutes. Don't try to do to much, remember it takes years to make the chaos, you can't fix it overnight.

For any masochists in the group, here are the detailed cleaning lists for Living Room & The Entrance, Front Porch & Dining Room I know I'm not doing them.

The Launch Pad is here

Christmas Links

Holiday Control Journal

Christmas Mission 1

[BitchyTakesOnManagement]

Right not exactly following baby steps this week as some deep cleaning is going on and that takes precedent. Plus bins and hoovering has been done today.

Monday's to do list:
work
ds to training
ring gp re ds' meds
wash chemicals out of carpet with a clean water wash
wash rug with cleaning chemicals
collapse into a hot epsom salts bath

Not sure if i will get any crafting done tomo but tea is cooked and ready for reheating.
Blanket no2's based is completely done and fastened off but i need to make the applique bit for it now.

Slow run down to ds' bedtime and i am going to sit and try to finish off a project. Although i would happily fall asleep if i thought ds would let me sleep and put himself to bed.

[BitchyTakesOnManagement]

Guess I am a masochist then that list is exactly what is going on this week.

[AliceinWinterWonderland]

Loads of baking done today, friend and family over for pizza and video games. Now just relaxing.

[ToffeeWhirl]

Well done to you and your DS1, Swan! Your day at BGT sounds amazing. And how lovely of the producer to give DS1 advice and encouragement .

SC - congrats on the cupboard! I can absolutely understand what a difference something like that makes. And thank you for your kind words about DM's criticisms. I'm sure she doesn't mean to upset me, but she just can't help herself.

Engels and Bitchy - excellent decluttering!

Thanks for the Xmas links, Goth. I'm in danger of beginning to feel Christmassy (not as much as Alice, of course ).

Had to take DS2 to local A&E today as he had something in his eye, which was swollen and weeping. Embarrassingly, once the nurse had put drops in to examine his eye and declared that she couldn't find anything in it or any scratches, he declared himself cured . Felt a right idiot. (Reminder to self: DS2 makes a drama out of the smallest thing).

DS1 managed another trip out to Caffe Nero this evening. He still won't eat or drink there, but he is happy to wait whilst I drink my hot chocolate and he can talk to me to his heart's content about ciphers and the Big Bang. I keep thinking I should really introduce him to the concept of two-way conversations, but I need to find the right moment .

No Flying to report. Plan to do better tomorrow, but don't hold out much hope.

[dizzyday07]

Sneaking back in for the last month of they year as November seemed to disappear in a flash with minimal flying done .

[BitchyTakesOnManagement]

Pfft don't sneak back Dizzy stomp back in style nice to see you.

[AliceinWinterWonderland]

I really would love to take the dcs to a "live" Christmas event this year, but I worry that they won't tolerate it well. Ideally, a version of the Nutcracker with an orchestra. There's nothing quite seeing something with a live orchestra. I know they'd need ear defenders but I thought it might be less "overwhelming" than a live panto IYSWIM which can be more immersive and stressful because they're not only dealing with input from the stage but from the audience as well.

But not a clue if there is one locally. I'll have to take a peek and see.