If your nest is cluttered and getting you down, join February's Fledgling Flyers and turn it around

[pushmepullyou]

Welcome to the February Fledgling Flyers' thread. A very big thankyou to ToffeeChristmasCake (who will presumably return under her non-Christmas name ) for seeing us through the thick and thin of January decluttering.

All flyers and fledgings old and new are very welcome - we have a fairly relaxed attitude to flying 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.

If you are overwhelmed by the mess in your home, start with just one thing: shine your sink. It's amazing what you can achieve by just doing a bit at a time!

Pleased be warned that my month's leadership comes with a bit of a caveat as I am due to have DC2 at the beginning of March so there is a chance I may disappear mid month! Thankfully Toffee has very kindly offered to deputise in the event of the unexpected appearance of DS .

Apologies to Toffee (and by extension Ellie) for blatant intro plagarising and thankyou to Nettie for the thread title

See you all in February!

Sounds good Toffee

Really glad to hear such good news Toffee, what a nice sensible head!

I was glad I had got to actual bed at half ten last night when ds woke me at 5 Will aim to do same tonight.

I can't believe you ladies have chatted flown through another two pages since I've been out or that we're now on page 20 after just a week! If we continue at this rate, it definitely doesn't look like one thread will be enough for this month.

Thanks to all for the good wishes re the headache. It was just about bearable without me having to resort to paracetamol this morning, but still pretty bad so I'll go to the doctor's about it tomorrow morning.

Apart from DS refusing point blank to take part for the first 10-15 minutes, the skiing course went well (yes, it's the semester break here - like half-term, only we just get one a year) and DD2 was very disappointed that she couldn't go skiing this afternoon too. It was so warm that there was virtually no snow (the children's ski piste had been covered with artificial snow); I'd been worried that we would be hanging around in the freezing cold for a good part of the time, but it was actually quite warm and sunny. Took DD2 to have her school photo taken afterwards, plus had a photo taken of all three, and then took DD1 to have her hair cut, so we've had a fairly produtive day (albeit not Flying-wise - am just about to rectify that by getting on with my list!).

No time for personal messages I'm afraid, as I'd be here for the rest of the afternoon otherwise - just wanted to say that's wonderful news about your DS, Toffee. Will try to come back later to catch up on the chat, though.

Thanks, Pink and Systems. Just wanted to say to PA - you said to me a while back: 'you won't be educating the stressed out boy you have now, you will be having fun with a more relaxed boy!' Just wanted to say how true that has been today. I don't suppose every day will be as easy, but DS has been lovely company today.

And, somehow, I have managed to keep up with my list today too :

B/fasts done
Packed lunches done
S&S done
Unload d/w done
Reload d/w with b/fast stuff done
W/M on done
T/D on done
School run done
Visit home ed mum and borrow books done
Buy flowers for poorly neighbour done
Delegate some Flying duties to trainee Flyboy done
Hoover done
Mop floors done
Dust cba - no cobwebs visible
Empty bins done
Purge papers/mags done
Clean mirrors/windows mostly done
Wash sheets on DS1's bed done
T/D on for second load done
Lunch done
School run done

To do:
Make shepherd's pie
Hotspots
15-min declutter
Dinner
D/W on
Laundry mountain [weary emoticon]
Ironing [even more weary emoticon]
Bedtime routine
Evening routine
Bed at decent hour

Ellie are you sure you are up for round-up tonight after your horrible Monday? Let us know if you are too busy!!

I'll be back to post steps later and can do attempt it then (well, an inferior version anyway!!) if you struck down by CBA.

Toffee so glad things looking more positive for your ds today and that he's more relaxed and settled

doric I'm not entirely sure what all this BigTent stuff is either!! Sorry!! I think it is the umbrella account through which Fat Fairy encourages you to receive e-mails and send testimonials etc. Best avoided methinks!! (She sends out from 5 to 15 emails a day!!) You can receive all the info you need through this thread (which is one of main reasons why it was set up originally) and by browsing Flylady site from time to time ie FAQs is good for explaining nomenclature.

Thornykate look here for tips on how to clean plastic sink (if you don't want to use bleach all the time) the tip about using
Vanish Oxy Action powder looks good and I know from experience that Barkeeper's friend and Lakeland products usually work well! Good luck!

Swan sympathies - sometimes I get that exact same feeling - the more treats and attention you give them - the worse their behaviour - very frustrating. Like somehow, whatever one does, and after all one's efforts, it's never enough somehow (and hark at me with only one dd!!)

ihate hope your day got better!

Got to go again. Just done 30 mins of crafts with dd instead of tidying master bedroom as she was in need of solace after school (and that's my excuse). Off to peel potatoes ...

Bring it on! Raaaaaaar

B*gger all done today! Oops!

Went out to buy a shredder so i can get cracking on the paperwork. Also bought a pot plant for kitchen windowsill, tester pot of paint for the hall, a new doorbell and some sugar soap to clean the walls.

Then had lunch with Ds at school, spag bol and crumble and custard. Yum!

Then visited a friend for an hour.

No flying done today though I'm afraid. Because we've been out DD hasn't slept (she's cat napped but rubbish at sleeping out and about) so is really grumpy this evening and its really draining my energy.

Have a large list for tomorrow though so i hope i can make up for it!

Sorry just making dinner and I've got a food shop coming any monute so BBL.

So pleased your day was so good Toffee. And it seems like a perfect plan for your DS with the school, too.

DH is in serious danger of being damaged where it hurts very soon. He is driving me absolutely crazy today. He needs to get out of the house and use up some energy rather than trying his hardest to annoy me (which he doesnt have to try very hard at, as it happens!!)
He is now putting swimming goggles on the cat! He and DS think it is hysterically funny. Cat needs rescuing. WWhen he is in a mood like this he is worse than any teenager, or any toddler!! GGrrrr!! No wondering where DS gets his madness from at times!!

Soooo much chat on here, I wouldnt get anything done if I read through it all. Just had a skim through. massive waves to everyone and i feel a huge vat of is in order all round tonight!

I have got my suspicions about why DH is so enthusiastic for me to get the very best hoover. He has dropped in conversation yet again that he might start looking at a new bike. Apparently this one would be the last one he would Ever need. - I think i have heard that once.....twice before! He wants to spend more on a bike than we have ever spent on any car we have ever owned, including a minibus and a number of 8 seaters!!!
At least he would be out of the house, though, I suppose!!

Hi everyone thank to all the lovelies who wished me luck with the dinner. It all went well and DH collegues were sutiably fed However after spending sunday running around like a headless chicken today I have done nothing and still feel shattered.
All I mamaged today was
Morning routine
breakfast
Go for a swim
School run
lunch
load of laundry
Dw (half done)
DS2 for his first ever proper swimming lesson
and now pizza for dinner

See you all tomorrow to get back to flying

Dropping in for a quick goodnight - DP's off work tonight - woohoo! - so now we're all fed and watered, he's putting DS to bed and I'm having a swift MN. Then DD to bed and we're going to have a glass of wine, watch a programme on iPlayer and then have a Mario Kart deathmatch before bed. The definitive romantic evening

Happy flying and thanks for all your help and support over the last week, my house may not be sparkling yet but I've had sustained motivation which is fantastic :)

lines up

to fortify Ellie tonight!!

Newbie - wants to join in. Do I just watch this thread or look out for something else?

Hello Lionrock - have you tried Flying before, do you know roughly how it works? The Flylady website posts daily housekeeping tasks, the OP of this thread pastes the links into a post every evening or morning so we can all follow them and have a chat at the same time. There are Babysteps, which are small daily habits you are supposed to adopt (we don't all do all of them, but many are very good), then there is a weekly zone, an area of the house to focus on. At first you are meant to spend 15 mins a day decluttering in that weeks zone. When you are all decluttered, you can start doing missions, which are more in depth bits of cleaning in that week's zone. Have a good browse around the Flylady website, but don't sign up for the emails, you get dozens a day, and it is overwhelming.

evening all

well...I'll never be able to catch up with a whole days chat after a day at work if you all talk so much LOL

Well done to those who have done well on their lists, to those having bad days

toffee so glad you had a nice day with DS. Head's plan sounds good.

Had a BIG row with DH last night....as others have siad, mostly about the trivia of everyday life LOL told him I was fed up of having to deal with all things like school/dd special needs/homework etc on my own....now he's sulking...sigh

have had a busy day at (paid) work. Moved into my new office, pleased to find computer now working and significantly better than my old one LOL

a little list of what I've managed to cheer myself up:
6 dc up, dressed, brerakfasted
rebooted laundry
bathrooms S&S
school run
work
home
laundry reboot
playing/reading/drawing/cuddling with DC
bath and bedtimes littlies
tidied kitchen and shone sink
sorted out mountain of old trainers/wellies/hiking boots in garage - large bag to go to charity shop...others organised on shelves
sorted through 2 large black bags of old clothes
rang local clothing collection service to arrange collection of above clothes
replied to email from Ed Psych re DD3

now feeling a bit bleurgh...
still to do:
reboot laundry

not sure what else...

need to turn computer off now and be more pro-active I feel....

BBtomorrow

OgreTripletsAreSoCute - thanks for the info, I hadn't heard of Flying / Flylady until tonight. I thought it was a MN thing, but you prompted me to find the website and wiki page.

Hi Lion, welcome. I too am a newbie!!! Only been here a couple of days, and am enjoying the motivation!! I don't really know what i am doing yet, but all the ladies here seem lovely!! - and all must have sparkling homes!!!
Good luck! x

I have just spat my all over my keyboard!! Your fault MissJulie. Yes we are all lovely here , but as for the sparkling home, I should have been kicked off 18 months ago then!! I still dont know what I am doing half the time, but the chat is pretty good and we do have a laugh!!

I had a snigger at the gleaming homes comment too!

I wish MissJulie, I wish!! It is definitely more sparkling than it used to be, but I have a bad habit of getting so far and letting it all slip again.

Still, quite a productive day, have managed hoovering, washing, clean kitchen floor, clean bathroom, 4 bags of stuff into the car for charity shop/tip, had a friend round for coffee, helped at school and helped at Beavers.

PA - any likelihood that DH would get rid of any old bikes to make space, offset the cost though? I bet not if he's anything like mine and his amplifiers and speakers, grrr.

Toffee that sounds like a brilliant plan for you and DS1, so pleased the school are prepared to work with you.

Night all.

Sorry positive, sending you a virtual wet wipe!!! Lol!
The chat seems good, although, moves very fast! You go away for a while, and there have been about 20 posts! Always sooo much to read!! I hate to just jump in mid way in between the conversation!!! - So tend not to!
Laughing is great! I love laughing! Miss that, being on my own at home most of the time!

Glad i am entertaining you all! lol! I aim to please!!!;)

Flippin heck, is there a conspiracy to make me snort and snigger like a pig tonight?? Ogre absolutely no chance whatsoever!!! One bike has recently been relegated to the shed!! Shock/horror - not a bike in the shed, surely!! Only I am now thinking that it could be to make room for the next one. Bedroom is still a definite no-go for a bike and I am NOT bending on that one!! Other spaces either have bikes in already (the ones that are too good to be lowered to the ranks of the shed), or the bikes would be in danger of being touched damaged by DCs. Not implying that Dh is obsessed, or anything!

Right, I am formally announcing that I am giving up on today. It did not happen. It will be wiped from the memeory. Monday 7th February did not exist!

Power has just come back on. Went off at 3ish this afternoon. today's list not complete Thankfully, with the Aga I could still cook food and make a cup of tea, but have been entertaining DS in the gloom and dark, eaten by candlelight, survived DS trama about lack of nightlight (put a tealight lantern in his room, but said that it would only stay while I was up), and got DS to bed. Sat in his room reading by candlelight for him for quite a while, as he missed out on "last play". DH came home (at last), reheated cottage pie for him and was just about to give up and go to bed when power came back on. But for the second night running I am not going to have a shiny sink. I am going to bed early and get a grip on it in the morning.

How many has he got then PA?

MissJulie don't worry, I don't think any of us can keep up with the volume of chat at the moment, but glad you're enjoying it nonetheless. I joined this thread after I got made redundant because I needed the company, and it has been brilliant.