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!

Linzer - for you about the friend's parents forgetting the arrangement with your daughter. I hate that sort of thing too. I do think one of them should have phoned to apologise for the mix-up. I have had similar situations. It's really annoying. I'm glad your daughter wasn't upset, though. Hope you get the MN wine through in the end - that'll cheer you up . Oh, and sorry to hear you have such a long document to proofread!

Still - welcome back and best of luck with the crisis cleaning.

Gone - sorry you are so tired. Still's plan sounds good.

Swan - love all the book recommendations!

Systems at the thread muddle. I am so envious of you feeling you've won the clutter battle. How did you do it? My paperwork is still in a muddle too, particularly now DH has hidden my box of recent papers.

Fun - am really glad the concert went well .

Nettie - how lovely to come back to fresh ironing!

Today's list:

Done:
Before-school routine
School run
Waved off MIL (gone home again)
Tea and catching up with friend
Unloaded d/w
Reloaded d/w
Wiped kitchen surfaces
Cleared out and cleaned fridge
Unpacked and put away Tesco online delivery
Lunch
Washing on

To do:
Work
Work
Work

A friend is collecting DS2 and taking him home to play with her son, so I don't have to interrupt work with the school run this afternoon.

Must get off MN!

Toffee I did it by switching from thinking along the lines of 'must find a home for everything, or get it to the charity shop or appropriately recycled' to 'just focus on one room and get stuff either put away or out of the room'. In each room I just did the next easy thing to put away out of sight, or to put in another room, and was left with not too many difficult things to deal with at the end. I still have lots of getting rid of stuff to do, don't get me wrong, but it's not all out and visible any more. Inside cupboards, tops of wardrobes, drawers etc are all full. But just the fact that it all looks so much clearer is really motivating.

I really shouldn't have said how much easier it is when we have friends over. DS objected to his friend refusing to play with him a bit earlier and stabbed him in the back with a pencil. You could see the mark in his T-shirt, although luckily nothing on his back. Sent DS to his room and eventually got him to apologise, so I'm hoping he'll behave himself for the rest of the afternoon.

The DDs have been equally difficult; DD1 has been in an awful mood too, so I sent her to have a rest in her room, and DD2 made a mess of her homework but refused to redo it (she eventually agreed to, but had only just started when it was time to pick up DS so I still need to get her to finish it). Thankfully, everyone is now in a much better mood after overdosing on jaffa cakes (or soft cakes, as they're appetisingly called here).

On a more positive note, I've just discovered the new Lakeland catalogue in the pile of post that arrived today so am off to peruse it. Actually, must do a couple of room rescues first and then I can reward myself.

SC / GHF I'm also suffering from a complete lack of motivation today so will join you in the 15 minute challenge!

Toffee Sadly, I don't think I'll get my wine - they did say they'd be happy to deliver to a UK address, but the wine wouldn't be much use to me at my parents' and isn't exactly the kind of thing they could send on to me very easily!
Good luck with your work; I think we'll both need a very large bottle of wine again to reward ourselves when it's all finished.

Right, off to do three five-minute room rescues before indulging in some kitchen porn.

Systems - ah ha, so you did what I did to clear the kitchen hotspot yesterday - swept everything into a big box and hid it in our bedroom. I feel so much 'lighter' not having to look at that big pile of clutter every day now. I think that is the answer. Thank you. I just need to get myself some more boxes.

Linzer - sorry you are having such a difficult afternoon with your DC. I'm glad the friend was unscathed - phew!

My work is sooooo boring and I keep getting stuck on really silly technicalities that probably nobody will notice anyway. Yes, Linzer, we definitely need as a reward later.

In the meantime...

Exactly, and I don't think it's a cop-out - just means it can then all be dealt with one box / cupboard / drawer at a time.

ds1 is doing Netball After School Club at school (tragic sight to watch him walking laps whilst everyone (superfit)else was running - he did occasionally break into a run, but he really is still much slower than everyone else since he broke his leg and has decided it's not worth bothering to compete)

twins in a good mood so far
piano lesson just told me that I need to practice more...15 minutes a day would really do something

I think I am now going to concentrate on tidying their rooms for 15 minutes whilst they relax for a while

P.S. I have selected 2 white jugs and a white butterdish from Jamie At Home Catalogue - to ward off any Lakeland cravings.

gnf teeter tottering car on the edge of a precipice
linzer and her kitchen porn
toffee and her home made ironing lady who comes for chats too. (my mum lives rather far away and certainly doesnt do ironing.

Updating my list as wont get a chance later as off out for meal.

get up, dressed-done
dc nursery me work-done
try and sneak out from work to go to new next store at lunchtime-done lush it is too, bought soon to be born new nephew a lovely trouser outfit and cardy
home to bathe dc and bed-still to
put away clothes (which will hopefully have been ironed by cleaner who promised today was the day)-still too.
go out for a nice meal with friends.-still to
home to bed.

Have lovely rest of the day

Not a cop-out at all, Systems. The only trouble is that I will probably completely forget about all the boxes I have stashed away. Nevertheless, I think I might have a go at decluttering tomorrow, before my very tidy mum comes to visit.

Swan - at the new jugs and butterdish.

Only 10 pages more to go. Will be pouring myself a very large glass of wine when I have finished .

Hope you have a lovely meal out with your friends tonight, Nettie.

Thanks, Toffee (and please avert your eyes from the split infinitive in the following sentence )

Only got two room rescues done, but did manage to persuade DD1 to redo her homework and DD2 to finally write to her penpal (she actually loves writing, but we don't seem to have had much time for it recently), so I think I deserved my Lakeland session. I now have a heavily marked catalogue and am dreading working out how much the postage will cost (in fact, how much the order alone will cost - if I allow myself to order all of it). I couldn't find the sink cleaner in the catalogue SC, but really want to try it out so will add it to my list if I can!

swan You've just reminded me that I should remind the DDs to do their piano practice (they have a concert coming up next month).

Nettie My mum doesn't do ironing either (she does even less than me). Hope you enjoy your meal out!

Toffee You're on the home straight - well done! Save some wine for me; I haven't even started my proofreading.

My mum has never ironed anything - I wonder if she once knew how...? We were a drip dry generation

Toffee you should feel proud of all your work by this evening

I am pleased to say that I have discovered missing file with birth cert, and even a photocopy, so I'm sending that off right now. decluttered the schools that ds1 didn't get into [hurrah - another bag of paper to throw out!)

Children are playing nicely

only now I can't find the blooming stamps [grinds teeth in frustration...]
will search handbag for emergency stash...

Yay! Always keep toothbrushes, stamps and scissors in three places!

What a day! I use Thursday as my errands day as i take DD swimming so we are always out of the house first thing.

So I did school run, and straight on to the retail park to collect my order from Next and the sports shop for goggles. They were kept upstairs and i had DD in her pushchair so i asked a guy if he wouldn't mind running up and getting me two pairs, he said he couldn't leave the ground floor. So i left! Their loss!

Leisure Centre next for swimming and bought DS1 his googles there. DS2 needs some too but he can wait at £10 a pair! I couldn't believe it!

Lunchtime we went to see my uncle to give him his birthday card and feed DD. Then back again to leisure centre to give DS1 (he won't swim without them) his goggles and watch his lesson. Back to school to collect DS2 and wait for DS1 to get back and now finally home. I'm shattered. Lots of in and out the car with baby is good exercise!

List almost done although the house is a bit of a pigsty. We all got ready and ran this morning and when we came in everyone has just dumped their bags and crashed on the sofa. Have got DH to get the dinner though as shopping not done yet.

BBL all!

swan my mum was the opposite and ironed everything including underwear - she had 6 kids too so don't know how she managed it tbh. Because of that I iron most things bar T-Towels and our sheets and duvets (iron DD's as hers always seems more creased) but iron everything else inc DD PJ's and vests (not undies though). Sure if i had 6 kids i'd dispense with most of it except shirts and school uniform!

Forgot to put the casserole on so dinner is going to be late tonight . In my defence, i was working and DD was at an after school club so lost track of time and thought it was an hour earlier than it was

Just popping my head in to wave to you all.

Day off paid work today so this morning I had a busy day of being creative and constructive planned. ie: making curtains for DD4s bedroom and also constructing a new rabbit run. All went totally to pot after i spent 30 minutes looking for the sewing machine, which I had "tidied away", another 20 minutes for scissors which had also been tidied. By the time I had done that I had lost the will to live to be creative and gave up for today.

Couldnt even be bothered to do any baking . I think I am having a little bit of a backwards step in the recovery department at the moment and seem to be struggling again. Not sure why, maybe I have been trying to do too much too quickly.
House had to be made presentable for a youth cell group here tonight, so that gave me the kick up the bum I needed.

Hopefully I will feel more energetic tomorrow.

I have finished!

Am now drinking a wonderful, chilled glass of white .

Hi, PA - sorry your day didn't go quite as planned. Hope the youth group goes OK tonight. It's always good to have visitors. That's the only thing that really gets me to see the house as others might see it and tidy up.

PA e eryone is allowed a cba day! its the law!!!

Drank enough coffee to function/find the will to live/not sleep tonight.

Done
stripped ds' bed.
Stuck bins and plastic sheet in bath to soak in disinfectant
15mins ironing -not even made a dent in the pile :(
made homemade pizza for tea ablely assisted by ds who preped all of the toppings.
Spent half hoiur tidying my room
found missing camera
loaded picture that was going to load weeks ago
sorted the playdough out
Decluttered the playdough and bits cupboard
removed stuff to be bined from fridge
cleaned edges of window and half windowsil
sorted and submitted school trip form (dropped off when collected ds late again )
washed ds' bedding
more washing
a bit of folding
a bit of hanging up clothes
decluttered the box of meds of old stuff
eaten far too much pizza and feel fat

Will tackle more stuff later when ds has crashed. Which reminds me...

Hope you have all had good days. I am truely crap at catching up. I do read through but forget by the time i get to the bottom and am ready to construct a post.

Although have to agree with whoever said keep toothbrushes in several places. You will never know when you will find dc trying to use theirs in the playdough cos it makes pretty patterns you'd think he'd know better at 6. Apparantly not.

Hi everyone

Apologies as I haven?t been posting much over last few days. My M.E has been playing up a bit and by the time all the important stuff is done I?m too knackered to post lists or do personal wee messages. I do try and keep up with the thread but it?s quite exhausting for me to keep track. So I try and do what I can posting wise although it isn't always much

That said though I?m keeping on top of the basic housework such as tidying, swishing and wiping and keeping my sink shining bright. Yesterday I managed to wash out the microwave and today I cleaned down the kitchen cupboard doors. Generally the house downstairs is looking quite clean and tidy Needless to say I?m dreading the weeks when we?re flying in the bedroom zones

I had planned to buy a cheap toothbrush for todays mission when I was in Tesco today but I forgot. Therefore no mission accomplished today but will do it when I remember to buy a toothbrush.

systems I really need to start some sort of diet. I?m loving the chocolate diet idea

Linzer I?m not surprised you were furious. That was a horrible thing to do to you both. How rude! Hope you are feeling better now and lol @ the Australia mix up and the pencil incident [shouldn?t really laugh at pencil incident emoticon]

Swan I?d love to learn to play the piano. It?s on my things to do before I die bucket list. But I never seem to ?afford to do it?get round to it

Lady at your mum ironing knickers

PA and Gone yy to the cba days!

Evening all

Am Edward Lear fanatic so am enjoying all the Jumbly speak on here today ...

Dong with the Luminous Nose is one of the saddest poems you'll ever read [sniff]

Love Akond of Swat too ...

Well anyway, my motivation lasted for precisely x2 bursts of 15 mins once back home. Then because we had been up at crack of sparrows, dd and I decided we couldn't do a minute more until we'd had an early supper .. which lead to a DVD .. which led to me snoring reposing on the sofa ...

Oh dear. Every room in house in desperate need of tidying (dh having been home alone for a day and a half unpacking and packing = tornado effect) and has to be done by 1.30pm tomorrow when we have friends stopping by. Think I might as well keep going as can't bear the thought of having to get up at crack of sparrows tomorrow ...

Hands over more to Gone but hope you sleep well tonight

Swan this home = "haven" as long as I don't put my glasses on - well done with piano practice!

Linzer I'd be miffed too about that last minute play-date rearrangement/postponement - very ungrateful of them

PA hey me old mucker!! Great to "see" you. Hope you are not over-doing it [stern look]

Have a lovely evening Nettie

Congrats to Systems on magnificent decluttering achievement!

And respect to Whoknows for keeping on top of this thread so brilliantly!!

Waves to Toffee LadyinPink Nicknacks Feetheart Funambulist and everyone else

[SC exits stage right waving microfibre cloth chanting "Far and few, far and few ...etc etc]

OK - I'll take more water with it - well I would if I hadn't given it up for Lent

Left you off list Celestial - apologies

Sorry to hear you are feeling under the weather.Sounds as if you are doing brilliantly nevertheless!

LOL at the toothbrush/playdough GHF

I've done some SATs Maths with Ds1. Neither of us can do long multiplication with 3 digits

more paperwork chucked too

hi all - still busy flying while getting DD used to patch. she has been great and only complains after 4hours - i would go mad myself .

have only been able to quickly read thread - i'm not great sorry all :(

Also now done:

ds bed made up
ds to bed early his request
school uniform laid out
Ds' calander updated

had planned to do but decided i am tired and want to go to bed so will have to do tomo instead.
tame bathroom.
Dryoff bins and plastic tubs
hang plastic sheet to dry.

Friday's to do list:
bleach bathroom floors x2
Clean bathroom x1
finish tidying landing and hall
finish washing
ironing
put all clothes away
hoover through
tip run
tame kitchen
pack ds' stuff for wkend at dad's
take ds to the contact transfer point
bugger off training if can get there in time from drop off
If not sulk hideously and eat cookies get sulk some more and mn.

i plan not to use the friday night backup plan.

right have lovely evenings.
night.