Happy New Year, January's here, fly with the fledglings to get clutter clear

[ToffeeChristmascake]

Welcome to the January Fledgling Flying thread. A very big thank you to Ellie, our intrepid leader, for guiding us through the frantic Christmas month.

We are not strict followers of the Fat Fairy and take some of the babysteps - such as getting dressed to lace-up shoes - with a pinch of salt. We also strongly advise against signing up for the FlyLady emails.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's tips on restoring order to our homes, using one of the following methods:

1. Babysteps
2. Babysteps + 15 mins daily decluttering
3. Babysteps + daily missions

Following the babysteps helps to establish daily routines and build a weekly plan.

This month's motto is: You can't clean clutter! See here for Flylady's advice on decluttering.

If you are overwhelmed by the mess in your home, start with just one thing: shine your sink.

And if you need to sort out the house after the New Year revelry is over, a crisis clean is what you need.

Back shortly with tomorrow's babystep .

(With apologies to Ellie for plagiarising some of last month's intro')

Evening all

Quite a productive evening here all in all. Christmas decs down (finally ), Kitchen floor finished, armchair springs reattached, much laundry and dishwashing done and entrance hall mostly decluttered! Hoovering done as well. Have to admit it has been a team effort with DH who has suddenly remembered that heavily pregnant wives are not the quickest or most effective around the house .

Glad to hear everyone has had good weekends. Very of the zoo trip toffee, I love a good zoo trip and was contemplating going to Chester last weekend, but felt a bit too heavy and cumbersome to be walking around for hours!

I thought the article was interesting - would be good to read the underlying research. I think the link was on there but I'm just a bit too sleepy to bother at the moment! I wasn't too clear on the definitions of 'chaos' from the information in the article, but I suspect these are

I have to admit that DD does seem more settled when the house is reasonably orderly and her routines are predictable.

Sounds like you had a lovely day ogre. I love Greenwich park and the observatory, my sister and best friend both live in Blackheath so I go down there quite a bit.

Run out of steam and time a bit now I'm afraid so a quick hello and goodnight to nettie, swan, SC, arabella, lair, Ihate Optomistic and everyone else I've missed

Monday's babystep is here: add a five-minute room rescue to your daily routine. This means spending just five minutes clearing a path in your worst room. (I quote: "You know this area of your home: the place you would never allow anyone to see. Just 5 minutes a day for the next 27 days and you will have a place you can be proud to take anyone.").

It is a weekday again, so we are back to 'zones' and 'missions'. Monday's mission is here. Or spend 15 minutes decluttering that room if you are not onto 'missions' yet.

Monday is 'weekly home blessing' day, ie. the day you spend an hour cleaning your home. More on that here. If you don't have a whole hour, Flylady suggests you break it down into 10-minute slots of work when you can - say 20 minutes before you go out in the morning and the rest after.

I notice we are on Day 9 of Babysteps, but it is the 10th tomorrow. I think I must have posted the same babystep twice one day or missed out a day, because I should be on Day 10, shouldn't I? Ellie, will I be demoted ? My apologies.

Morning all! grin]

Toffee, you wont be demoted. Who noticed anyway??? Did you get loads of messages from us all saying ha...errrrmm esteemed leader, excuse me, but I think you may ahve made a slight mistake???? Or did nobody even notice?? Well, I rest my case!

I had a relaxing weekend, much needed! But somehow, i have ended up with empty washbins, which is shockingly amazing!!!

Morning all...

Last night I decided to actually do what fly lady tells me for a week! . I'm one of those people who tends to think 'Dress to the shoes? Whatever!' etc etc. It struck me if I followed her like a slave, not questioning which day I should do what it might make a difference!!
Anyway, here I am dressed to the shoes, make up on ready to go!!

So today:
'home blessing'
weight watchers (dreading this as I know I've put loads on'
Nip in to school for a couple of bits
Nip into town for a couple of bits
laundry
supper?

Have a good day all.

Phew - thanks, PA. Thought I might be hauled into Chief Leader's office for a verbal warning (it could still happen ). Glad you had such a relaxing and productive weekend - maybe you are just so good at your routines now that you didn't notice doing the washing .

I remember queuing up to see 'Grease' with friends many years ago - I loved it. I used to sing along to a tape of the songs at home and can still remember them word for word.

Good luck at job number 2 today - sounds like a good one.

Went to bed by 12.30 last night, which is good for me, and woke up at 6.30, so I am ahead of myself today. Have dressed and am even making DH a coffee (not a daily event).

This is what I should do today to keep up with my routines. Not sure whether I will get it all done though:

Do packed lunches and water bottles
Boys' breakfast
Unload d/w
Put washing on (bedclothes)
Swish and swipe
School run
Errands - buy birthday present for friend, bank
Tumbledrier on
Second load of washing on
Tumbledrier on again
Make beds
15 mins declutter
Hotspots
Empty bin
Hoover
Dust
Mop kitchen and bathroom floor
Clean mirrors
Recycle mags/papers
5-min room rescue in our bedroom
Tumbledrier on
Make mince for shepherd's pie
School run
Meeting with teacher about DS1
Dinner
Evening routine

DS1 says he is going to go into school today, although he is obviously very nervous. He doesn't want to go in with a friend (too girly, apparently), so I'm going to get him in early, before the hordes arrive.

I think DH's coffee is well and truly brewed now....

Have a good day everyone.

aaaaarrrrgggghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

morning SC you ok?

Been up for hours, ran later but traffic better then feared so it wasnt too bad time wise in terms of being where i should hae been when i should have been. Survived trial by fire and managed to impress Ds is completely ready for school and is playing noisily on his ds.

I am about to put last few bits in school bag and grab some breakfast. After that it will be a case of what is done is what will be done. No list, just a gentle day - probably including a very nice long nap lack of sleep is catching up this morning.

Have a lovely day all.

Morning all,

What's up, SC?

That is one impressive list, Toffee.

I managed to stay off the Internet until late afternoon yesterday, which must be a record for me, and even after that only spent about 10 minutes online. Consequently, I had quite a productive day and got lots of decluttering done - I just followed the DC (and DH) from room to room, wherever they were playing, and decluttered in there.

The DC are now back at school so it's finally back to normal here. I haven't done a list for ages, so time to get back into it again (just a short one for now).

Weekly food shop done
Post thank you cards done by DH, I hope
Morning routine
Mission
15 minutes decluttering in kitchen
DDs to piano lesson
Afternoon routine
Get DC to write remaining thank you letters
Evening routine
Early night (DH at work do, so must NOT potter around and go to bed far too late as I usually do when he's out)

Yes thanks Lair - forgive my amateur dramatics - tis just the shock of the school run combined with return to work -after long 2 week break. Bit of a jolt to the system. Everything is chaos so am trying to be blinkered and focus on one step after another. It was lovely to have the time off mind. What with the snow and everything, it felt like a really long break for once. Enjoy your snooze! Gentle day sounds good.

Toffee that's certainly a mammoth list!!!! Good luck with it!

Today after work I must:
-catch up with babysteps + general tidy up and s&s of bathroom
-do at least 4 loads of washing + one panier of ironing

• find two school forms and fill in
• organise thank you letters

-quick supermarket shop and school run

• supper, homework, bath+bed routine

afternoon/evening routine

if time:

• make a start on reward chart
• make a start on sewing dd a school hat

-make a start on taking down decorations and try and get rid of tree

Other things to do this week:
-write up in Xmas file what worked and what didn't this year and tips for next
-tidy whole house esp. master bed
-write letters to friends/godchildren
-catch up with washing and ironing
-update cj, calendars, diaries
-menu planning

• make medical appts + dentist appt for dd
• haircuts for all

-sewing -start healthy eating and exercise plan -dd's summer clothing order (mad though it sounds)

• sort my own underwear and sock drawers
• sort my shoes + dd's shoes

Still haven't caught up with thread so apologies - no more personal messages - will try and get back tonight and see what everyone has been up to

Happy Flying everyone

x posts - mahoosive waves to Linzer

add to own list - laundry order

feeling tired...my own fault for not going to bed early..pootling around looking up tiles for bathroom which of course is not much use, compared to seeing in real life...

dcs at school, well ds1 is still here, as I'm taking him to physio this morning.

OH BUILDER Has arrived, without warning to start painting hall! and doing new bathroom. I knew he might turn up but was vaguely hopign not today!!! Ah well, that will galvanise me into action.
bbl off to find the Dulux colour chart.in my magnificent filing system..

Back to routine again here, DH gone to work, DS gone to playgroup.

Today's list
Morning routine done
DS ready for playgroup done
Food for lunch club done
DH lunch from freezer and put in very conspicuous place done
Walk DS to playgroup done
WHBH done
Clean washing away done
Washing on airer done
Room rescue living room done
Bin out done
Recycling out done
Food bin out
Empty compost bin
Wash bins in kitchen
Washing in machine for tonight
Hotspot
Zone cleaning
Zone mission
Paper file
S/s
Make beds
Collect DS from playgroup
Sort out elec bill
WI prep
Playgroup PAYE
Our finance on computer
Garden
Cook tea - make pizza
Tea
Evening routine
Bedtime routine

And see how we go! Am trying very hard not to list down more than I can do, so I can get that little sense of achievement for having finished something (how exciting is my life ).

back with 4 tester pots for hall
ds1 phsyio and back to school
now need to clear the landings for poor builder, he's starting outside our bedroom and working down, every picture I take down from wall is bringing clouds of dust

also saw a friend for coffee she turned up, which is always lovely

Booked MOT and service for car for Friday
sink done
dw done
bin washed out done

now food shopping

DS1 went to school! He is so brave. He put on his school swagger, said, "See ya, Mum" and went off to join his classmates in the playground (we got there early, so that was good). I just hope today went ok.

Have had a mad, non-stop, energetic day today:

Do packed lunches and water bottles done
Boys' breakfast done
Unload d/w done
Put washing on (bedclothes) done
Swish and swipe done
School run done
Errands - buy birthday present for friend, bank done
Tumbledrier on done
Second load of washing on done
Tumbledrier on again
Make beds
15 mins declutter done
Hotspots
Empty bin did all the bins
Hoover done
Dust cba
Mop kitchen and bathroom floor done
Clean mirrors done
Recycle mags/papers done
5-min room rescue in our bedroom done
Tumbledrier on
Make mince for shepherd's pie
School run
Meeting with teacher about DS1
Dinner
Evening routine

Chose to combine the 5-minute rescue with the 15-minute declutter in our bedroom. Am amazed, really, at what I acheived in just 20 minutes. OM - I am doing what you're doing and trying to follow Flylady to the letter this week. The timer really helps me to focus.

Have literally just sat down and DH has walked in the door. I can't believe it! Now it looks as if I have been sitting here, browsing MN all day.

Off to pick up the children and have a meeting with DS1's teacher now. Back with babysteps later.

afternoon. long long nap. took most of the day. Could have continue to sleep if my alarm hadnt gone off. My body seems to have needed it though. Ds has an after school activity so i have an hour before i need to pick him up. might go tackle some washing and ironing. or more realistically eat some lunch and mn GOT to sort this out.

Toffee - am glad this morning went OK and that DS1 is positive when he comes home...

Done quite a lot today despite having bit of a row with DD (she went in for one exam and came home at 11.15 whereupon she lay around with her poorly bro instead of revising until 3!!I did point out she was on study leave not Wii leave but she stropped off slamming doors and telling me to butt out - oh the joys of teenagers!!)

'home blessing'done
weight watchers (dreading this as I know I've put loads on'done only put on 2 lb
Nip in to school for a couple of bitsdone
Nip into town for a couple of bitsdone
laundry2 lots done
supper?lasagne

Still got to hot spot and declutter in the zone - kitchen cupboards here I come!!

Update

Morning routine done
DS ready for playgroup done
Food for lunch club done
DH lunch from freezer and put in very conspicuous place done and he took it!
Walk DS to playgroup done
WHBH done
Clean washing away done
Washing on airer done
Room rescue living room done
Bin out done
Recycling out done
Food bin out done
Empty compost bin done
Wash bins in kitchen done
Washing in machine for tonight done
Hotspot done
Zone cleaning done - fridge, Aga, kettle, dust tops of cupboards, shelves, ornaments etc, decobweb and clean walls, cupboard doors, undersink cupboard, litter tray, vacuum and wash floor, furniture, magazine box, kitchen table, windowsills, counters, doors, all bins
Zone mission done
Paper file
S/s done
Make beds done
Collect DS from playgroup done
Sort out elec bill
WI prep - started
Playgroup PAYE done and paid rest of bills
Our finance on computer
Garden - too wet and cold
Cook tea - make pizza
Tea
Evening routine
Bedtime routine

one of NY resolutions was to cook more with dc.
accordingly I have forced ds1 to help me with lentil shepherd's pie when he was trying to escape back to tellyland

hall beyond rescuing as builder's stuff all over it, and contents have been deposited in every room

Done
taken all to park for rollerblading running and scootering

OM good luck with dd's exam..at least she wasn't panicking.
toffee hope ds survived today and you survive the meeting, what an exhausting (but productive day

IHate well done for the zone cleaning...I fear I am losing grip on the zones completely.

right I must lay the table and take some children to Cubs, and find their green sweatshirts...Ds2 first day at Cubs (although run by exactly same people) I'mhoping he will like the more information based aspect of it. He is desperate for a few more badges too.

However it feels a long time for him to stay till 8.00, he may come out in hysterics

DS1 seems to have coped well with school today and the meeting with the teacher went well (although the meeting itself made DS anxious!). Appointment with dr tomorrow to tackle DS's anxiety issues.

Tomorrow's babystep is: you can do anything for 15 minutes. Good advice. I am amazed at what I acheived in my brief declutter in our bedroom. Using the timer really helps me to focus.

Tomorrow's mission is here.

Tuesday is a free day, so just do the usual routines and declutter/do the mission.

Off to serve shepherd's pie now. DS2 has agreed to have the mince bit of the pie provided he can have it with pasta, not potato. I suppose that's some progress .

Toffee - Well done DS1 for making himself go back into school, sounds like he's doing well!

Ihatecobwebs and Toffee - impressive lists of housework!!!

Quick update of my not-very-impressive list:

Weekly food shop done
Post thank you cards done by DH, I hope
Morning routine done
Mission done
15 minutes decluttering in kitchen done
DDs to piano lesson done
Afternoon routine done
Get DC to write remaining thank you letters
Evening routine
Early night (DH at work do, so must NOT potter around and go to bed far too late as I usually do when he's out)

Apart from an hour while the DDs were at their piano lesson, I've had a spectacularly unproductive afternoon picking up the DC and ferrying them around followed by supervising/helping the DDs with their homework. DD2 managed to get hers done fairly quickly, but it took DD1 the best part of two hours - luckily, DD2 and DS played together very well the entire time (the Playmobil castle is a godsend). I sometimes wonder how we'd fit everything in if school finished later than midday.

Nettie DS was very excited to receive your Christmas card; thank you so much.

Ogre No need to apologise; I think I said at the time that my brain had already switched off for the day! I knew who you were, but just didn't associate you with G&T and thought it was some new and special kind of drink.

Toffee That's great news about your DS, esp. as going into school must have been quite a hurdle for him to overcome. I hope your doctor's appointment tomorrow proves to be helpful.

Am now going to do tomorrow's babystep in the hope that 15 minutes will be long enough to turn the chaos into an oasis of calm.

Evening all

List re-cap for today
-catch up with babysteps + general tidy up and s&s of bathroom did kitchen and hall cloakroom and one hot spot - loads more to do
-do at least 4 loads of washing + one panier of ironing on second load of washing did ironing

• find two school forms and fill in
• organise thank you letters done half

-quick supermarket shop and school run

• supper, homework, bath+bed routine done

afternoon/evening routine nearly done but need to shine sink again

Also cleaned out gps

if time:

• make a start on reward chart started
• make a start on sewing dd a school hat NOPE

-make a start on taking down decorations and try and get rid of tree tree done

Started my healthy eating/exercise regime today too (very necessary ). Using food focus website which is brilliant. Very surprised by results of first day food log as I am 250 cal over my daily limit (wasn't starving myself by any means plus had one glass of red but ate loads less than usual) so all in all that's given me (again very necessary) short sharp shock. I've sunk in to very bad habits over the past couple of months. Think I might need to go for a quick walk around the block tonight to reduce my daily total!

Well done to Toffees ds1 for going to school today and [aw sniff] at his "bravado" - brilliant progress - and congrats on your long list

Ditto to Ihate - you've done an amazing amount today!

Swan hope you are surving the decorating. I'm certain I am going to have to finish what dh started in the holidays and decorate our entire sitting room once all the Christmas decorations have been put away - it is going to look so shabby. I haven't got a grip on zones either atm if it's any consolation.

Huge waves to PA (very impressed by your empty wash bins) Optimistle (hope your dd's exam went ok) Lair Ogre Ellie Pushme Linzer Bob and all other Fledglings I've missed

G'night all

waves to ... Nettie and Arabella too...