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')

PS did get a bit of exercise when I spotted our communal Christmas tree collection van at the end of our street this evening

cue dh, dd and me legging it down the road, clutching tree, waving madly, leaving river of pine needles in our wake ...

Well, ho hum, ds2 refused to go to Cubs, ds1 went, and loved it; I dropped and picked up as sharer annoyingly decided not to go... Dd had a tantrum over her homework, lentil pie delicious though then had to make dh his separate supper butternut squash soup

DB is having a Baby this minute (or should I say SIL)so we are waiting by the phone to hear progress reports (and try not to give any advice) Dd inbetween tantrums, very very excited at thought of new cousin, and keeps asking if it is possible to give birth at Home, and how would you go about it?...!

Think I have decided between Stone colour and something named Sumatran Sunrise for half the hall walls...(under the wallpaper)
Dd sat sobbing saying she wanted it back Pea Green again (children not keen on tasteful colours)

SC our house is very very shabby. So shabby it sometimes doesn't seem worth tidying Dh told me I should scrub the bannisters more, then it wouldn't need repainting

Final 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, recycling out, 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 done
S/s done
Make beds done
Collect DS from playgroup done
WI paperwork prep done
Playgroup PAYE done and paid rest of bills
Cook tea - make pizza done
Tea done
Evening routine done
Bedtime routine done

The failures
Sort out elec bill
Our finance on computer
Garden - too wet and cold
WI patchwork prep

I'll never get a day when everything gets done , and DH is very keen for me to get a p/t job, or do more from home, as I "must have a lot of spare time now DS is at playgroup"!

evening all

swan id scrub his ears for him

very late and im in bed hoping to be asleep very soon.

dc both were up allnight, it was like having newborns again. i have bribed them with sweets and chocolate for tonight. Think i will do the same tomorrow night as dh is away overnight on a business trip!

today i accomplished.
swept floor 3 times, tidied master bed, tidied living room, kept up with laundry, made new happy new year cards for ds montessorri teachers. played with moon sand (awful stuff), gymnastics class with dc, wrote cards for januarys birthdays, sorted out dh pile of clothes and paired his socks!!!

off to bed as early start in morning. sleep tight everyone

Evening all

Not a bad day today for a work day. All routines done bar a second round of the dishwasher, which I will put on before bed. I am mostly pleased that we are doing fairly well with January as a decluttering month and are doing at least a couple of trips to the tip each week. I am also starting to find that tidying up is getting easier and quicker as we get rid of 'stuff'.

I think I will post a quick list for tomorrow now whilst I am thinking about it!

Sweep and mop kitchen floor
Clutter clear kitchen drawers
Clear kitchen table
Hoover at least 1 set of stairs
Clean hob
Put away clean laundry
Room rescue our bedroom
5 hrs paid work!

Toffee really glad your DS got on OK today

OM 2lb isn't bad for Christmas. I loved Weightwatchers when I did it last year and will definitely be reactivating my membership in March!

Fab list from Ihate and toffee.. I am and all at once

Hello to SC, Swan, Lair, Linzer, arabella and everyone else

So chuffed that I completed my long list today! I'm going to have another go tomorrow, although going out for a friend's birthday lunch midday is probably going to be my downfall. Anyway, tomorrow's list (not quite as scary as today's) is:

Morning routine
Washing - boys' bedclothes
Put rubbish out
School run
Doctor's appt with DS1
Take DS1 to school
Wrap present
Hotspots - 2 mins
Declutter - 15 mins
Out for lunch
School run
Dinner - chicken casserole
Evening routine
Bed at decent hour

The good thing, I find, about sticking to Flylady routines is that you focus on what you have done and feel pleased with yourself, rather than focusing on what you still haven't done. I love knowing that I don't need to worry about the fridge needing cleaning because that gets done on Wednesday, for example.

Thank you all for your lovely messages about DS1. Apologies for not writing more to you all, but I want to follow Flylady's final tip for today: go to bed at a decent hour.

Goodnight.

Morning all,

I still need to work on the early night babystep as at the moment it's a real effort to drag myself out of bed in the mornings. I need to find a more gripping book to entice me to bed (DH is away until Thursday evening, and I almost always stay up far too late when he's not here).

Today's list:

Bank/pay bills done
Return inhaler to doctor's - took it in only to discover that we have to post it back (it's large and heavy), aargh
Find box to put inhaler box in (as per posting instructions)
Morning routine
15 min decluttering in kitchen
Mission
Prepare English lesson
Finish letter
Thank you letters
Pay annual pension contribution
Update Christmas card list
Afternoon routine
Collect pottery painted at DD1's party
DS to birthday party
Evening routine
Early night

Morning all

Toffee - glad yesterday went well for DS. I'm not surprised he was anxious about meeting his teacher but that will get easier and I would try to meet her weekly for now if I were you.It just keeps your DS at the front of her brain!!

Today:

morning routine done
Tuesday flylady plan
30 min decluttering kitchen
Make supper/cake
Go to work!!(pm only)

have a raging sore throat today so that will have to do ....

Have a good day everyone...

Morning. Another slow no flying day here. I forgot to go to sleep, and have to be out today. alot.

Intravenous coffee
training
swimming lessons
pass out.

Well that is the planned order. might have to grab a sneaky hour if i get back in time.

Commiserations Lair, I failed to sleep too! Know I have paid work to do that is urgent, but can't even remember what it is!

Slow start this morning - I am never any good in the morning, and today DS was asleep when I went into his room at 8am, and not keen on getting up.

Morning routine done
Packed lunches done
Walk DS to playgroup done
Get DH out of door to work done
Clean washing away done
S/s done
Make beds done
Wash up
Finish zone cleaning - clean windows, microwave, plant maintenance, tidy at least one cupboard/drawer
Zone mission - did yesterday
Washing on airer - very windy today, but likely to rain
Hotspot
WI patchwork prep
Pack overnight bag for DS
Collect DS from playgroup and take to mother's
Old clothes to recycling
Sort elec bill
Phone library
Collect books for book club if available
Get bins, recycling boxes in
Our finance on computer
Paper file item
Filing
Cook tea
Go to WI
Clear up after DH
Evening routine
Bed

Good morning everyone

So far this morning

Everyone up and dressed by 8 am dh left by 8.15 for Wales.
S/s
Dropped ds off at Montessori
Got everything ready to take Dd to swimming.

Still to
Get Christmas bottles to bottle bank
Buy stamps for birthday cards
Find presents for dnephews birthday and a use for 2 now your 7 cards cos they are 8 this year
change dc beds
Dejunk dh clothes whilst he is out of town (change of plan
Dh is on his way back after his business meeting fell through. He rang fuming as he has driven over 150 miles and now has to turn around and come back) on plus side I don't need a babysitter tonight!
Sweep floors
Take Dd swimming
15 dejunk in conservatory!
Pick ds up from Montessori

Think that'll do if I manage that much. Feeling bit lack lustre.

Hope you all have lovely day

Haven't read anything on here since w/e and will now have to add it to my list to catch up again :)

Out most of yesterday doing 'stuff' and need to work today so need a list to keep me on track and make me realise that I have actually achieved some things:

• Email friend in US whose house I manage here. I foresee lots of extra work now though it has ticked along quietly for about 2 years so I can't complain really - done
• Send DH round to elderly neighbour at 7.15am as her lights had fused - done
• All up and out (no shouting but slight strop from DD!) - done
• Morning routine - need to finish
• Post Office to follow-up Christmas complaint - done
• Vets to pick up worming stuff - done
• Swimming Pool to get details of Come-and-try-it diving for DS in half-term (heart in mouth time for me I think ) - done
• WORK
• Get cheese sauce and gammon from freezer for macaroni cheese for dinner
• Make Hedgerow Jelly from frozen foraged fruit
• M&S order to get swimsuit for DD
• Lakeland order without breaking bank
• Catch up with chatty fellow Flyers :)

That's enough for now, MUST work.

[gives Nettie a polish to bring back the shine ] I'm glad I'm not your poor dh! Hope he has something nice on the radio to listen to.

DB has had BABY GIRL! Great excitement here, although we know no details (grim or otherwise) whatsoever, except that SIL has had a baby . 8 years since the last grandchild in our family, so my parents are ringing me up to remind themselves about what babies are made of etc..

Feetheart cheese sauce in freezer sounds A+ organisation. Dd is booked to make Macaroni Cheese this evening with me.

done
dcs to school
dd homework first thing
cleared up/rescued master bedroom and brought all laundry and sheets down out of builder's path

ds to dr appt for being overweight. Ongoing saga since breaking leg in 2009. Dr said not overweight, just flabby! Refused to refer me to dietician or weigh and measure him. Any fule know etc...Which is heartening, but I think a 10 year old who weighs 8 stone (he is tall) must be slightly overweight. Anyway she gave a few helpful hints on what constitutes a healthy snack for a 10 year old. Apparently after school all he needs is one banana and a yoghurt till supper at 6pm...which is difficult to enforce when your son has hollow legs. But I think he felt a bit more empowered to be a bit less greedy and not label himself as a fatty puff.

Btw on reflection I don't think ds even thinks of himself as fat, just can't stop eating and is rather lazy and unfit. But I was worried that quite soon he will role cast himself as a relaxed laid back child who loves food and not a sporty energetic child. Anyway I am NOT GOING TO WORRY, just try and keep chasing him around the park and cut out the crisps.

Todo
get spare roll of wallpaper from loft
buy another paint sample, darker
loads of piano practice
buy washing powder and some extra food as per menu plan
post thank yous I have written
IRONING but only after piano practise
sort out stuff under the playroom table, and put a tablecloth over it to disguise
post Brother's BABY CARD (which I bought 2 weeks ago, v organised of me, in two different versions, boy and girl!)

Hello again all! OK I have the food thing sussed, for me. I have learned:

• meal planning for a week doesn't work in my world. Too many contingencies and last-minute things out of my control. I have beaten myself up for years over not managing this one. But:
• planning 2 or 3 meals ahead at all times works really, really well. I have a fridge with no science experiments in it!

My next babystep: The Before Bed Routine.

• It will make a huge difference if I can do clothes and food ready the night before. But:
• After dcs are in bed, I desperately want to just collapse. I know I have more energy in the mornings and put things off till then. I can just about manage by doing this, but it means we're always up against deadlines and I never have extra time / energy for decluttering so it's an endless whirl, none of the spinning plates make it off the sticks.

Congrats on niece Swanriver!

I read that Oliver James article too - I'm sure he's right - but I shouldn't ever look at his stuff as it seems expressly designed to make me feel personally hugely guilty for every choice I have made in life. And it doesn't recognise that no-one chooses to live in chaos - he seems to be suggesting you can just go, oh!! I see!! Life will be easier if we are more organised and tidy - that had never occurred to me before!! whereas most of us are in an endless struggle to get to that point, with good reasons why it is difficult.

must stop, sorry huge post!

Just re-read that, should have said please Toffee don't read my diatribe as a criticism of your having posted the link to the article I thought of this thread when I read it too, he just pushes my buttons!

Quick update to keep me on track:

Bank/pay bills done
Return inhaler to doctor's - took it in only to discover that we have to post it back (it's large and heavy), aargh
Find box to put inhaler box in (as per posting instructions)
Morning routine done
15 min decluttering in kitchen done
Mission done
Prepare English lesson
Finish letter getting there
Thank you letters
Pay annual pension contribution bank transfer form filled in
Update Christmas card list done
Afternoon routine
Hang up washing
Ironing
Collect pottery painted at DD1's party
DS to birthday party
Evening routine
Early night

Just back from school with DD2, who is voluntarily playing the piano (now just need to work on her voluntarily doing her piano practice). I'm hoping the fact that I've started playing more often might encourage her (and DD1).

swan I can't imagine a banana and yogurt filling any of my three up for more than about 5 minutes. It must be frustrating that you weren't able to be referred to a dietician, although reassuring that the doctor doesn't seem to see it as a major concern. Am quite glad you can't really get crisps here (only huge bags of paprika flavoured ones) - my brother bought a box at Christmas time and the DC couldn't stop eating them.

Right, have managed a good 3 hours paid work, so time for an hour or so of flying and some lunch I think!

Sweep and mop kitchen floor
Clutter clear kitchen drawers
Clear kitchen table
Hoover at least 1 set of stairs
Clean hob
Put away clean laundry
Room rescue our bedroom
2 hrs paid work
Make soup for tomorrow's lunch
decide on and make tea!
Finalise online shop

systems we did packed lunches, and dh and I nearly divorced over it. Is there any possibility of dcs having school dinners? Sorry if they are too little, can't remember whether at nursery or not.
Putting clothes out I do WITH the children, as I am ptting them to bed, even if I haven'tput the laundry away, at least I can find one pair of pants and sockss in advance.
I so agree on meal planning, live in hope of dh eating what I plan, but now try just to vaguely attempt a few meals ahead. Until I am superwoman! Dh is the sort of man who says, I had soup yesterday (ie: not again), or I had pasta yesterday, or today I don't feel in a potato mood...or worse still, I don't like stew/lentil shepherd's pie/lamb. Flylady's suggestion of batch cooked Split pea soup is his idea of the most revolting meal ever.

I'm beginning to see why ds1 became fat! Not enough food ishoos! He likes everything.

Had a very productive morning though! lots of cleaning and tidying done.

linzer I find if I start playing the piano, all three children insist it is their turn However if I start playing the violin, they run away (as I can't play and it sounds awful!)