If you're house is cluttered and you're Mad as a Hare, join March Fledgling Flyers and get it all square

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Following on from the February Fledgling Flyers thread, welcome to March. This is the thread that follows the Flylady website (loosely) for getting your home decluttered and your housework into routines, whilst dispensing tea and chat freely.

A big thank you to PushMePullYou for leading us through February ably assisted by ToffeeFudgeCake. We had a huge influx of new posters as well, which was lovely, anyone else who is lurking, please say hello, you will be 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!

xposts Alice - good luck!

lolol

I hovered up some of the cobwebs
but around a

spider

the ceilings are too high
sigh

Am actually doing quite well at not impersonating a headless chicken as the doctor's appointment didn't last as long as I'd expected and I even managed to get DH to kindergarten just before they locked the doors. The appointment itself was a bit of a waste of time (she wouldn't represcribe a medicine that the paediatrician recommended that really seemed to have helped, and is also convinced that I have something wrong with my lungs - mainly, I think, because I had a cough and cold last time I was there), but I managed to sneak out without making a follow-up appointment. I think we'll be sticking to the paed in future.

Today's list (which may be a little overambitious, but at least I have it all written down):

Doctor's appointment done
Take cake out of freezer (no time to bake) done
Morning routine doing
Purge magazines
Take glass to be recycled
Mend DD1's top
Polish shoes
Clean out bag
File papers
Check DD2 has packed everything she needs for tonight
Ditto for DD1 and DS. NB pack DS's medicines
Phone DD2's friend's mum to arrange earlier pick-up done
Get things ready for evening out (underground ticket, address of restaurant, etc.)
Afternoon routine highly unlikely
DD1 to dyslexia lesson
Weekly shop part I
DD2 to friend's
Friend here for tea
Pick up DS and friends from gymnastics and take to friends' house with DD1
Evening routine even less likely
Evening out

SC She's now a not entirely sane person on the top floor of the house. Actually, that sounds like me when I pluck up the courage to enter the playroom.

Alice DD1 has a Snapy insect catcher, which is great for getting rid of spiders without having to touch them!

I now carry a notebook round with me in order to "list". Utterly tragic but feel so much more in control.

Today I will:
Strip 2 beds, wash and dry bedding
Breadmaker on
Make soup
Make scones (DH is going to faint!)
Tidy livingroom
Hoover
Post DD's enrollment form
Take DD for a walk
Blitz hall and porch.

Going to cinema with a friend tonight!

PA a sort of backwards deja vu perhaps - very spooky, like the world is turning the wrong way on its axis...

Linzer I think you and Feet get the most enormous amount done, even if you think you don't.

World Book Day Dress up x 3 today [phew] they are all at school now, costume frenzy has abated.
This morning I had to invite some last minute Gobber the Belch Viking hair out of yellow raffia for ds2 (who refused to go as Horrid Henry suddenly because he said his stripes were the wrong colour) cut holes in dd's sleeves as they were too tight, and learn how to tie a bowtie for Ds1 who was Klaus in Lemony Snicket (internet lessons on tie-ing.
bowties!

Stayed up late sewing and tidying kitchen, so a bit knackered, but it's my own fault

will do list when I've done routines and tidied landing

not invite (freudian slip - clearly already worrying about guests) but INVENT Gobber the Belch hair

A quick hello to all before I head out again.

Push I do hope that you have a better day today and get a chance to rest before the baby comes.

Done list

dishwasher unloaded and reloaded
washing machine loaded and on
swish and swipe done for downstairs
card bought so that I can do the artwork for a class I'm teaching this weekend.
Exercise. Left the car parked by DCs school and walked to Post Office, realised didn't have passport form, walked home and now need to walk back!

To do list

Sort out DS1's Oystercard at Post Office. Remember passport this time!
Take DS2's photos to Post Office and make sure they comply with requirements before getting them signed. I had to do DDs photos 4 times before they passed muster!
Swish and swipe upstairs
Put away dry washing
Prepare for class I'm teaching this weekend.
Buy a birthday present
15 mins declutter
5 mins x 2 hotspot
Clean kitchen hob
Check DS2's maths work
Fill in DS2 passport form

Plus the usual collecting DS2 and DD from school, taking DS2 to band, cooking tea etc.

I have a feeling that either not everything will get done or that I'll be up late. Better get going!

Morning all

Well after a rubbish night's sleep the day got off to a lukewarm start, banshee-like screaming at the DDs as late for school, put rubbish out on drive for bin men in mad rush then promptly reversed over a big bag full kitchen waste including rotting fish pie which then distributed itself all over road. Hand collected the contents - so even more late - then to school for difficult conversation with DD1's class teacher (which actually all went brilliantly ).

Anyway we have an after school playdate here so my list for today (until pick up) is:

Clean kitchen and shine sink
Declutter sitting room, dust surfaces and hoover downstairs
Make beds
Declutter my dressing table and clean it
Wipe round bathroom
Entertain DD2 somehow. Drawing / jigsaws cbeebies etc
Prepare supper. This probably means take pizzas out of freezer.

Sorry no personals but I'll come back later and do some then

Have a good day everyone

I think I peak too early

by eight am

I had walked the dog
been to the bakery
cleaned two floors
taken ds to school
and done two loads of washing
and cleaned out the rabbit

then my energy is gone

and the spider

ateeny one has woven webs all over the kitchen again

Morning all, didn't get a chance to post yesterday as I was at work, for some of the day!

kids up and breakfasted done
row with DS done

to do:

washing
shopping
lunch
15 min declutter of bedroom
15 min declutter DD's toys
tea
meal/shopping plan for next week

I know it doesn't seem like much really but it's enough for me!

sorry for no personal messages, but thanks to everyone for their lists etc, it really does help to see those who are flying so well ~ I WILL, one day, be a proper flylady

Adventures in decluttering continued here last night, managed to declutter the bathroom - did almost all of it while kids were in the bath then finished after they went to bed - all crap from round the basin now either chucked, put away or corralled into baskets, all dirty clothes in the laundry basket. Didn't manage to wash the mouldy curtains but that can be for tonight. Next declutter: stairs and landing. But my biggest achievement by far was then to go and 'maintain the gain' in the kitchen and living room, only took a few minutes to get them back to decluttered but felt amazing to get out of the 2 steps forward - 2 steps back that I have been stuck in forever. I now have 4 rooms surface decluttered, at the same time!!! This has never happened before, at least not when we are not having visitors.

However, it's knocked my routines a bit and I went off my diet yesterday for the first time since New Year 'cos I hadn't prepped food in advance, been decluttering instead - so need to watch that, as it's eating properly that's giving me energy to declutter in the first place.

(Did I mention I found my passport when I did the kitchen? Which is a good job 'cos I was convinced it was in the piles of paperwork still hidden in my bedroom and would have spent days tearing the whole room apart looking for it.)

Push can't believe you are having to deal with work stress now. Hope they leave you alone when you're on ML. Good luck next week - have heard good things from friends about recovery from sections.

Linzer hope all OK with lung specialist, and impressed at you managing Friday Date Night!! May try and force dp to slump in front of a film this evening, that's as far as we get!

PA and simone sorry to hear about your respective car incidents. So easily done ...

Molly my life would spiral into a hellish vortex of utter chaos without my notebook.

WK great roundup!

right,
LIST
sort out project stuff and put in playroom in neat pile
piano practice
landing ALERT
dw unload still
clear up all bits of WBD costume muddle
prepare red lentil soup

get WAAARM (still freezing after school run, need to do some rushing around

back when I've done that

Systems kitchen has deterioated the minute I allowed clutter back in - I am going to beat the clutter today in here and be ruthless!

Simone - that's good about school .

good morning everyone. good start to my day today and managed an earlyish night last night

done list:

morning routine done

boys up, dressed and fed done

ds1 to childminer done

ds2 to nursery done

ds3 to school done

meeting with ds2's speech therepist done

breakfast dishes and s/s done

to do list:

hoover downstairs

bring clean washing upstairs

put load in tumble dryer

put load in washing machine

pick ds3 up from childminder

do lunch

get ds2 from nursery

get ds3 from school

mission

sort laundry

take ds1+2 to football

dinner

will try and fit more flying in around that but dont want to be overwhelmed

push: sounds like an awful day for you yesterday, hope things are better today. echo celetial on being a buzy bee and due c/s next week! [admiration emoticon]

perhaps: hope the chicken pox are getting better, poor wee thing. i found the chamomile cream far better than the lotion as it goes on easier and doesnt get all clogged up in the bottle. my ds1,2 and 3 plus dp had it all at the same time last year.

linzertorte: sounds like a hectic juggling day ahead for you! hope you get a well deserved tonight

simon: oh dear nightmare start to your morning! i prob would have drove on hope you day picks up

well better fly!

Not much flying this morning, as we've been to toddler group.

Morning routine done
Make beds done
S/s done
Toddler group
Find library books done
Clean washing away done
Washing on airer done
Make lunch - doing
Handwashing
Washing up
Go to library
Buy present for 4 year old girl who has everything - going to her party tomorrow
Log library books
Zone cleaning
Zone mission
Our finance
Paper file item
Cook tea
Tea
Bedtime routine
Evening routine
DO SOMETHING FOR ME THIS EVENING (not meaning to shout, but just to remind myself not to start doing jobs, accounts, etc, and have an evening for me for a change - seem to have been doing accounts, paperwork and other people's jobs all this week)

Having a much better day today

Clean kitchen and shine sink done
Declutter sitting room, dust surfaces done and hoover downstairs going to post this then hoover
Make beds done
Declutter my dressing table and clean it not yet
Wipe round bathroom done
Entertain DD2 somehow. Drawing / jigsaws cbeebies etc er... cbeebies has helped a lot here
Prepare supper. This probably means take pizzas out of freezer. pizzas are out of freezer

snot glad you're having a productive day
Molly think I will attempt a notebook too, can't be faffed with post its everywhere
cobwebs please make sure you do do something for yourself tonight, it's easy to say then something 'more important' often comes along
Alice funambulist and systems I am well impressed you're all an inspiration
WKWTTG thank you

frantic last minute to everyone else before returning to FLYing

kick me up the bum!
i have done nothing this morning but have a lie in

i have come for some inspiration and think i have found it, i am going to rush like a mad thing to get it all done before i go to work at 5

well done to all of you that are doing well, i don't have time to name personally as i am off to clean stuff and make my sink smile :)

Sorry meant to say PMPY hope you're having a much better - and more relaxing - day.

right not much done yesterday but today so far I have

done
dishes
1 load washing
wrapped ebay parcels
general tidy of living room

Still to come I will be doing another washing, listing on ebay, putting dry clothing away and then up to partners to do dishes and cook dinner.

Not bad considering Im very tired at the moment.

PA - that car incident sounds like the sort of thing you do when you're not getting enough sleep. It's not funny at the time, I know, but will probably keep your family amused for years. My mum managed to reverse into a friend's wall one year after a Christmas party (she hadn't been drinking). DS2, who was about three at the time, was overheard saying, "Oh bugger, Granny's knocked the wall down." (I don't know where he got that language from ). Anyway, Mum was mortified, but everyone else, including the owners of the wall, thought it was hilarious. She has never been allowed to forget it.

MissJ - Glad you had a happy day yesterday. It's a lovely idea to write down your husband's lullaby on manuscript paper. You must definitely record him singing. at him singing you lullabies when you were pregnant.

Linzer - good luck with your hectic day. Thanks for the spider-catcher tip. Does it really work? [nervous emoticon]

PMPY - Wow, you will have a baby on Tuesday! Make sure you REST this weekend

Alice - where is that spider?

Still - good luck with your busy day and the big clean-up tomorrow

Molly - enjoy the cinema

Swan - congratulations on your World Book Day costumes. I am truly impressed (I can't sew at all).

Fun - that's a long list - good luck!

Simone - what a start to the day! Lack of sleep makes everything 10x harder to deal with. Hope your day improves.

Colourarc - at you including your row with DH on the done list! (Might put it on my to do list ).

Systems - excellent decluttering. Glad it's working!

Snot - great list! You are definitely Flying today!

It is much more peaceful here today because DS2 went to school today. Also, he's being collected by his much-loved childminder this afternoon and playing at her house with a friend till 5.30, so I don't even have to do the school run and I will have time to work .

Still no car .

I can feel a Lakeland order coming on. Anyone got any suggestions of 'must haves' from Lakeland? I was thinking of: new e-cloths, new bathroom bin; and a new dustpan and brush (burnt our old one sweeping out the ashes of our fire).

So, today:

Done:
B/fasts
Lunch box for DS2
School run
S&S
Folded and put away bathroom towels
Wiped bathroom floor
Replaced loo roll
Unloaded d/w
Reloaded d/w with breakfast stuff
Shined sink
Home ed with DS1

Have a friend coming over at 1.30, then I'll do some paid work. It makes such a difference not having to break up the day with a 45-minute trip up to school and back.

Back later.

Sorry, I've missed some of you out, but no time to post anymore.

Toffee - I love this from Lakeland, saves space and is very handy

Pick a bag.

Busy day so far, half an hour at school after drop-off to get ready for gardening club, then home and do a ground floor room rescue (mainly lounge) for friends to come for coffee at 11, then out for a run, just had lunch and off to the shops and hope to sort out a bit of paperwork before school pick up, phew.

See you later

Oooooeeeeerrrr! I seem to be flying well today, not sure what's happened

washing done & now tumbling

shopping done

lunch done by DH

15 min declutter of bedroom ~ hmmmmm

15 min declutter DD's toys ~ being sneaky on this one ~ I've just covered a couple of small boxes & made trays for DD to put all her bits into, here's hoping I don't fall over buttons & beads when I get home tonight!

tea

meal/shopping plan for next week done ~ should only need top-up shops thru the week!

off to get a

catch y'all later flyers

Completely forgot that I'm taking kids to a family first birthday party after school. Got an hour 'til pick up.

List

Strip 2 beds, wash and dry bedding - in dryer
Breadmaker on - done
Make soup - weekend
Make scones (DH is going to faint!) - done
Tidy livingroom
Hoover
Post DD's enrollment form done
Take DD for a walk now going to party instead
Blitz hall and porch. now a minor declutter of hall and porch