Anyone up for a new FLYLADY thread 01/01/11?

[ASecretLemonadeDrinker]

I did it yonks ago (origional threads ) , have drunk alot of tea slipped since then and really want to start it again as it really seemed to work for me :) I am going to blitz as much as I can before the 1st (tree/decs away tonight etc.) so I am starting as much as I can with a clean sheet :) Anyone a lapsed flyer (or whatever we call ourselves) or wants to be a domestic goddess () as of the 1st?

planes, the skills tests are part of the requirement for becming a teacher. If I don't pass then I don't qualify I'm feeling VEY stressed about the maths. TRying to cnvince myself it doesn't matter because I have until September to pass and I can retake as many times as needed.

Am at you all making your pancakes and relieved I hadn't forgotten! LOL

Bessie I got that shock last time I filled my car up, when I bought the car 3 years ago it cost me between 40-45 to fill .

Am jealous of you having half term this week. I have a writing week from you uni this week- the children don't break up til friday when I am ue back at uni, so they are off to spend half term with their dads
I think I am going to skive thurs and fri as the lectures seem pointless, the foreign language students are giving lectures telling us about their exciting adventures abroad. Think I will just knick somebody elses notes.

Aah Dylsmum please don't worry too much about your maths test - you've got lots of time between now and September and even better that there is unlimited retakes. I didn't know that you're studying to become a teacher - well done you!

Thanks Carrots for the pancake trial - the Delia recipe is fab and my very fussy eater (DS1 - just 3) even ate one smothered in nutella.

Night all - have done my evening routine (laundry, etc) early so only have my sink left to shine. Plus get out outfits tomorrow. Have spent an hour or two getting up to date with ironing though so feeling good.

Bessie and Carrots I'm due in 2 weeks, but because I keep getting contractions that then stop dead, I keep getting my hopes up, only for them to be dashed! I'm going to have to be much more prepared this time, as I'll have to put babysitting action stations in place this time and I feel a bit stupid ringing people and putting them on standby and then saying 'No, not this time'!

I looked up pancake day just before I made pancakes, so didn't even have a trial pancake run!

I don't suppose any of you work for my local radio station? They were just talking about it being pancake day today! I hope I haven't upset the local press as well

hehe Carrots just think you may have influenced the world I think a pre-pancake day practice is a very good idea

Planes- your right I do have loads of time and no need to worry, just putting stupid amounts of pressure on myself. I have just done a practice test and failed, but was passing the ones I did last night. I'm just going to go and try

Going wash up then get dd ready.

bbl

ok I don't knwo why I was stressing so much- I passed the maths test

I was convinced I failed, so lovely surprise. Now I just need to finish this darn essay. Gonna have lunch and then crack on. Hope eveyone else is having a good day and enjoying the sunshine

Well done Dyls!!!

noeyedear and bessie - didn't realise you were both pregnant, hope you're not struggling too much with pregnancy and a little one, I found it pretty tough going. Oooh, I'm excited now, looking forward to hearing the announcements!

No cleaning news - morning routine done but not much else.

PS Any tips for getting china mugs clean - mine are getting tea-stained.

Hurrah! Well done dyls that is fab news.

noeyedear and bessie it was preg no 2 that began the decline in my house - until then I managed to keep it reasonably under control but while I was preg I felt so awful that only the barest minimum got done. Well done to both of you for keeping on top of it.

planes China mugs should come clean if you put a lot of salt in them and a little water and use the salt to scour them.

I have only unloaded and loaded the dishwasher today. Ds got up a 1.37am and struggled to settle for the rest of the night. [bleurgh emoticon] He fell asleep the minute we got in the car to collect dd and slept for hours but I had to carry on driving round the countryside picking up and dropping off as necessary.

Now he is massively lively and I have the shivers from tiredness.

I will have to go and get busy though to keep myself going until I pick up dd again and can put everyone to bed.

Kelly's mission

Wednesday's Daily focus

carrots hope everyone is home and ready for bed, or even better asleep now so you can get some rest too.

Love the fact I did the mission the other day when I cleaned, again
As for the daily focus, how does she know what I need to do?? I swear kelly has a cam in my house

Oh well suppose I should go and clean the fish tank before I sit down in front of the tv

dyls both dcs are washed, pyjamaed and fed. Dh also just came in the door so I will actually have a bit of support tonight. Poor man is shattered too.
I have created more mess than I have cleaned today as have been crafting with ds. I have decluttered here and there when he has been absorbed though so all has not been lost.

What is everyone doing about decluttering that is dh/dp's stuff? In many areas I have got to the stage that I can't do more without dh sorting his stuff. He has very little time on his hands for this right now and the time he does have goes to the dcs first (and quite rightly so). Any suggestions? I don't want to start nagging about the pile of magazines and journals on the coffee table etc. We have enough to cope with without fighting over housework

Carrots - I don't have that problem with my DH so can't help, sorry. If anything, he's the one that nags / motivates me!! I actually find it quite useful though as need someone to give me a good push in the right direction. I dream of having a wardrobe like my DHs where everything is always neatly folded and in its place. Currently he is ironing all his stuff

Would he get cross if you placed all of his mags and journals in the recycling - he could then retrieve any he hasn't read? Or is that a little extreme? I try to only keep the current month's editions (this is a recent thing since decluttering!)

Thanks for the tip re: cleaning mugs!

PS I know its a little late but I've ordered a diary and a weekly calendar from organisedmum.com - they are both reduced to £5 in the sale. I have been trying to do it all electronically but decided much better to have a visual hanging up.

Just about to clean my computer screen - my vanity cupboards are all in good shape.

hi all

well done dyls mum, hope you are having a cheeky glass of something tonight to celebrate . I know what you mean about dps stuff. There is a massive pile of golf magazines in our bedroom that somehow keeps getting smaller everyweek!!!! I throw the oldest ones out and so far dp has not noticed, well I dont think he has!!!!

Well I have only done my routines so far this week but have just finished work for the school holidays so I am planning on catching up over the next couple days. I am also decorating the bathroom next week so I am skipping this weeks bathroom zone in hope that I will have a lovely shiney bathroom soon. I will concentrate on the extra room and sort out dds room.

Hope you are all

Hi all,

I am having suh a busy week this week so haven't had much chance to come on here but have been able to get all the jobs done which is great

carrots with regards to dh's stuff last year my dh bought me a set of 3 boxfiles from WH Smith with the idea that I put all my crap important paperwork in them rather than it being left lying around.

Could you do the same, buy a big box and put everything in it, keep it under the stairs or somewhere where dh can get it if he needs the stuff you might find he does what I do and put things in it thinking it needs keeping but actually 2 months later when I go through the box I realise I'm never going to look at that website/visit that shop/cook that recipe etc. so I chuck it away!

Curly that sounds like a plan. Thanks! I put all his paperwork in a big plastic box in the dreaded study. I will start a box for journals etc and see what happens. I don't mind stuff, that is why we are in such a state, but it is really hard to feel I have completed the declutter when these things are everywhere.

Planes dh's side of the wardrobe is absolutley immaculate. He is very careful in some areas but obviously not in others. I am far worse than he is though so can't say too much.

Hi, been at work the last couple of days & have the workmen in fixing the wall (yay!) so I haven't done much, will have to catch up with the missions & bathroom cleaning on Friday.

DH has a pile of stuff under his side of the bed. When that gets too big I drag it all out & put it on top of the bed (under the pretence of vacuuming under the bed) and he will usually then sort some of it out. Any post or magazines he leaves out downstairs get put on his "post pile" which he sorts out fairly regularly.

Carrots no dp/dh here so no advice to offer. sorry. Although I do like the sound of Curly's plan.

Dosey, no alcohol left in the house so had a glass or two of cherryade instead not quite the same though...

Bessie yay for getting you rwall fixed

today I need to run some errands, then I hope to wrap this assignment up. Struggling a bit as I can't find journals etc for the other side of the arguemwent. Its not my fault if everyone agrees with me

going to start by going to post office with ebay stuff. then put the prescriptions in at the docs as I still haven't got there

BBL

Morning all,

Just some housekeeping advice on No 2 needed, as the subject has been brought up. How do you keep the place tidy? All I remember from DS was sitting in front of the telly with my boobs out for hours on end. I have visions of the new baby sitting in the bouncer watching me while I clean the kitchen and DS is at pre school, but that probably won't happen!

Morning all,

Just some housekeeping advice on No 2 needed, as the subject has been brought up. How do you keep the place tidy? All I remember from DS was sitting in front of the telly with my boobs out for hours on end. I have visions of the new baby sitting in the bouncer watching me while I clean the kitchen and DS is at pre school, but that probably won't happen!

Oops!

noeyedear I imagine you try to do routines as we have been doing once No 2 pops up. You might need to rope dh/dp in to help, especially in the first couple of weeks.
Will anyone from your family be coming to help? We had lots of visitors who caused me more work rather than helped but my MIL was fantastic.

Ds had a day constantly attatched to my boobs where I was stuck on the sofa with him. MIL ironed everything she laid eyes on and the bits of the house she felt it was ok to go in were immaculate. She is a home care worker so she is expert at getting other peoples' houses sparkling without digging around.
A relative or friend like this is a godsend in the first week or two.
Otherwise I think you just have to be realistic. Some days baby will sit and play/watch happily and you will get loads done. Other days they will want cuddled and you will have to just cuddle. (in the nicest possible way)
Some mums use slings if their baby likes to cuddle all day.
I tended to run around like a looney while they were napping and the rest just had to be left.
They are only tiny for such a short time and you don't want to miss it because you are cleaning.

Dd went back to school today but ds is home after an explosive incident in his underwear this morning. There was no need to encourage me to get the first load of washing on today! He seems bright and chirpy enough but is getting little warning when he needs to go.
Despite this he has helped me to hoover all of downstairs and the stairs themselves. I have also finally mopped 2/3 of the kitchen floor - just the bit round the big table to do. Cunningly I mopped myself onto the sofa and had to take a rest while it dried!
I will mop the bathroom and clean the vanity cupboard fronts although they are pretty clean anyway as it is part of my home blessing hour to do them.
I have also been decluttering the sideboard but made little progress. It has been narrowed down to stuff I don't really know what to do with.

Kelly's Mission for Thursday

Not sure about the inventory but finishing th desk top is a great idea.

thursday's daily focus

Dylsmum looks like you are right on target.

I suspect I won't be going on any errands today. We took the dog to the park after we dropped dd at school but ds nearly had a mishap so that was cut short. Luckily my dad phoned and offered to walk the dog so he won't go without!

oh i do like when I do jobs I need to do then find them on the mission etc. I'd already added the toiletries to the shopping list

Carrots its most unfortunate when the mop makes you starnded on the sofa isnt it

noeyedear I did a mix of things when dd came along for doing housework I did what I could manage when she was asleep (not often she catnapped mostly). I laid her on floor to play while I dusted, cleared up in a mad dash. she sat in her bouncer while I cooked.
When I played games etc with ds she was attached to the boob mainly. I did end up with her in the sling occasionally trying to get things done as she was my little velcro baby, complete contrast with ds who would quite happily sit in his bouncy chair while I did anything that needed doing

Zone 3 Detailed Cleaning List

I know this has been linked before but this version seems easier to print for anyone who still has to.

I am not doing great with this this week.

However, the purple bit in italics at the top suggests I am trying to run before I can walk - hence the feeling of failure which is putting me off altogether.

Is anyone else still trying to declutter or am I the only one struggling?