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!

Thanks, SC - I immediately thought of you when DH said he was going to Brussels! Have had a text to say he's arrived OK but have absolutely no idea what he's doing there (other than the fact that it's work-related)! A massive well done on the bedroom, btw.

Toffee I'm always losing my timer, so bought a replacement one a month or so ago - but it wasn't as good and died on me at the weekend. Finally tracked down another one (it's amazing how even big shops/supermarkets don't sell them), but my old one has turned up in the meantime. Hope yours turns up soon too!

The DDs are driving me to distraction with their constant demands, although at least DD1 has just started fetching her own food. DD2 wants money for school milk (she's working her way through all the drinks on offer at school, having had apple juice and cocoa the first two terms, but has decided she doesn't want to try fruit whey and I can't say I blame her) and DD1 keeps telling me that she needs a new exercise book (now! today!) and swimming cap.

The (German) translation website I'm using is unnerving me. Little adverts for a variety of Lakeland products keep popping up at the top. How does it know? (I could understand it on certain UK sites, but a German one?)

Linzer you're lucky you didn't hurt more than you're knee. I didn't fall down the whole lot just the last few and that was bad enough.

nicknacks hope your DD gets over the D&V very soon as so debilitating at that age all round.

Have tried to get DD to sleep by getting into bed with her and pretending to go to sleep myself. Thing is I was drifting off and she pipes up "I can't sleep mummy" and brings me back to earth. She has a temp still so has def got a virus of some sort but she has played all morning and seems so well - good old calpol!

Hello all,

I've just skimmed the thread briefly before cracking on.

MrsGangly welcome
Lady sorry to hear about your fall. That sounds really painful.
Cobwebs your lists are awe-inspiring. I'm always amazed at how much you get through each day.
Toffee visitors are a good incentive to tidy aren't they. Someone was coming this evening and the bits of the house they were likely to see look lovely (other bits not so lovely!)
Lost, Lady, Toffee, NickNacks and anyone else with ill DCs I hope they are better soon.
Still good luck with the FHC. My DD is making hers this year as well.
MrsMcJnr I am so sorry about the funerals you've attended. That must have been hard.

Some small successes here today. I found a "master" shopping list on the computer from the last time that I "flew" properly, I was able to print it out, check which things on it we needed to buy, highlight those items and have a very efficent (and expensive) shop. I menu planned for Monday to Friday this week so hopefully will avoid having to do so many top up shops this week.

I find that I do need to buy bread every second day though and am seriously considering buying a bread-maker. Do any of you have them? Do you use them much?

-done list-

swish and swipe - downstairs only
sink
hot spot x 1
houseblessing - hoovering and bins only so far
load of washing done and hung out to dry

-to do list-

swish and swipe - upstairs
hot spot x 1
houseblessing - some more but probably not all the tasks.
lay out clothes for the morning - DS2, DD, me
various emails
mission/15 mins declutter

Hi everyone, sorry been gone all weekend, still need to get caught up on thread.

not much flying done today as been nervous about my scan, which all went well and im having a healthy baby boy! i had to laugh when she told us as i already have 3 boys! lol. so so happy though as my boys are brilliant and dont think id know what to do with a little girl!

well my plans for the rest of the day

take ds1 to beavers

get wash on X2 (uniforms)

tumble drier loaded

pick ds up from beavers

sort snack (ds1)

baths and bed (ds's)

watch eastenders

catch up on thread!

shower and bed

back later to catch up hope everyone is having a good day

SDDB congratulations! Boys are lovely. I only have two but would be happy to have more. (Most days )

Linzer fruit whey! LOL whatever is that?

I am pleased with myself again [despite chaos all around] I have managed
to take:
dd to singing whilst feeding boys [chips
dts to ballet
do tesco shop whilst at ballet [yay]
drop ds1 bck to do his homework whilst going on tesco shop
pick up from ballet
despatch ds1 to football

now if I can just pull off the hat trick of getting ds2 to Beavers..

toffee no, not too much to do, just disorganised and not knowing what order to tackle things in

now to give ds2 proper tea of noodles/stirfry

swan Goodness knows - some kind of drink, but it sounds distinctly unappetising and I don't think I'll be trying it (I can still remember being made to drink school milk - horrible!). I had to look up Molke to find out that it was whey in English, which is when the translation website started trying to tempt me with Lakeland.

The DC are all in bed, the house is tidier than it was (not completely tidy, but I don't have the energy any more) and I'm about to start work for the evening, although what I'd really like to do is have an early night with my book.

Toffee - my DS has been hungry all day for several days now, drives me dotty! Now, though, he has decided he's full and doesn't want the rest of his tea (breath and count to 10).

Funambulist - I don't have a breadmaker, but make bread by hand every couple of days - the actual making doesn't take very long, but it seems to take most of the morning, from starting to getting a loaf from the oven.

DH has hassled me for ages to set up a FB account, so I did it over the weekend. It does have it uses - I've just been on and found that DH is at the airfield, so is not likely to home for a couple of hours - but I wish he would let me know!!!

Morning routine done
Hotspot done
DS to playgroup done
Green bin in done
DH to work done
Washing up done
RR house - living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms done
WHBH done
Washing on line done
Clean washing away done
S/s done
Casserole from freezer done
Wash dusters done
Washing in machine for tonight done
Look up missions done
Zone cleaning - will do tonight after DS is in bed
Missions done
Collect DS from playgroup done
Playgroup paperwork done
Post letters postbox & village done
Take DS to playground done We were the only ones there so he had the whole place to himself for over an hour
Garden done
Phone insurance company done
Sow seeds in pots - after DS bedtime
Handwashing - after DS bedtime
Activity with DS done cutting out pictures to make a scrapbook - I'm trying to encourage him to use scissors
Cook tea done - though DS didn't finish the casserole and didn't want any of the fruit pudding
Tea done
Bedtime routine - next
Evening routine - after DS bedtime
Our finance - after DS bedtime
Something from paper file - after DS bedtime
Check bills to pay done

Wow Cobweb you find time to make bread from scratch too. Impressed!

to do list

swish and swipe - upstairs - done
hot spot x 1 done
houseblessing - some more but probably not all the tasks. just did more hoovering have now done the whole house including stairs (save for DS2 bedroom.)
lay out clothes for the morning - DS2, DD, me done !!!
various emails not yet must try and remember what they are.
mission/15 mins declutter done

I also got DS2 to do his room challenges so far:

1 Put his clothes away
2 books on shelves
3 make the bed (he needed 3 attempts at this.)
4 put Geomag away
5 find 10 things to throw away (mostly bits of packaging.)
6 put 15 pieces of Lego away

and a new challenge

7 sort through his games and get rid of any he doesn't want. (I don't think that he found any he didn't want but the stack looks a bit tidier and he really got into challenge 5. He found 15 things to throw away.

I just need to do tea for me and DH (he works long hours and isn't home yet) iron DS2 karate kit, make sure everything is ready for the morning and get to bed at a decent hour. (I really struggle with this last one.)

Thank you for your kind words, funeral was very sad but went well, was so proud of DH´s eulogy, he did our friend proud. We had a nice time at the Wake toasting his memory and remembering the funny and happy times. He´d bought his wife a gorgeous pair of red suede designer heels and had left her instructions to find them and wear them to his funeral, he had thought so much through, he has taken care of the next 5 years for her, what a thoughtful man he was.

Linzer ? I´m with you on the more frequent toothbrush changes, I am particularly harsh with mine and they are useless after a month.

Toffeefudgecake ? hope DS2 feels much better soon. My DD had a lurgy the week before last which lasted a week. Poor little thing was so sick and not herself

MissJulie ? wow! You did loads! 70 meals and 38 puds!!!

Systemsaddict ? enjoy your new work space!

Hello MrsG

Funambalist ? poor you, what a fiasco!

Done today: morning routine, changed all beds, washing done & dried, dishwasher filled & put on, vat of soup made for lunches, DS´s school registration pack filled in, 3 woollen jumpers handwashed & hung out, all fed & watered, pre-dinner routine, DS´s nursery bag filled & snack prepared, DCs & my clothes laid out for tomorrow, DD´s snack bag filled, errand list on Launch Pad...
Still to do: 15 mins sorting bottles etc in main bathroom, what´s for dinner tomorrow? (something including chicken thighs), my bath. House Blessing Hour postponed until tomorrow.

Evening Ladies

SC for you on completion of the decluttering of the master bedroom!

Black hole in no doubt about who you are X!

Not too much achieved here today:

• washing on and DH hung it out
• swish and swipe
• tidy kitchen after DH cooked dinner
• passport photo, bank other errands
• time off for good behaviour (!) - lunch out and a massage for my aching back!

Still to do:

• shine sink
• mission
• update DS1's nursery contact book

Tomorrow (DS1 at nursery so might get something done):

• babysteps and mission
• washing
• general tidying
• cupboard of doom (yes it is the pantry again, 3rd decluttering since originally joining this thread)
• online shopping
• driving licence renewal!

Evening all,

Going to start with my list today, as I am still sitting in a messy house, but have been very busy all day, need to justify the mess!

School run ? done
Speak to another parent about gardening club ? done
Speak to teacher x 2 ? done
Swish and swipe ? done
Room rescue lounge ? done twice am and pm
Washing ? done x 2
Hairdressers ? done
Sainsburys shop ? done
Lunch ? done
School gardening club ? done
Open new ISA ? done
Switch gas and electricity supplier ? done
Email some info to a friend ? done
Update Ipod with next stage of Couch to 5k ? done
Make a list for a meeting tomorrow ? done
DCs to basketball club after school ? done
Dinner ? done
DS to Beavers ? done
DCs to bed ? done
Make paper hats for school project ? half done

Now I am starting to see why things are still messy!

What has everyone else been doing? I?m just going to do selected highlights, it is taking too long to mention everyone individually, but I am reading them all. (Linzer can?t do any of the Ctrl C stuff on this computer, it is a Mac and I know they are supposed to be so much better but this one is really doing my head in as a lifelong PC user until 2 months ago).

We have a new incarnation of an old friend (shhhh, you know who you are) and hopefully you are getting some sleep

We also have a newcomer, MrsGangly ? welcome on board.

Funambulist?s family had an embarrassing mixup with a concert

Feet was relieved to hear from a Japanese friend who was safe

MrsMcJ - sorry to hear about the funerals, the baby story is so sad.

Toffee ? hope DS2 is feeling better and your DS too NickNacks and your DD LadyinPink

SC ? have a good trip

Funambulist ? I?ve got a master shopping list too, it is brilliant, I have much better organized food stocks now, used to have duplicates and running out of stuff all the time. Am about to get rid of my bread machine I think! The loaves are too small and it is really hard to get them out of the tin. I am experimenting with doing it by hand, apart from organizing the timings so it is ready when you want it it is pretty easy. The DCs needless to say prefer shop bought.

Snot ? congratulations on your little boy. See, if you?d said it was going to be a girl I would have wondered if you were Victoria Beckham (can?t really imagine her swishing and swiping mind you).

Tuesday

Babystep Make your bed

Mission

Awake stupidly early as my brain was whirring. thought I should just get up and do stuff but seem to have only managed to check on here so far!

Who - do apple C instead. Most things you use Control for on PC can be done with Apple key (the little Apple on left of space bar)

I keep thinking about a master shopping list but not sure where to start - all tips welcome Who and Funambulist

Snotdrool - congratulations on baby boy, SO many more cuddles for you in future :)

Will disappear to do some school Assoc stuff and hopefully re-appear with list later.

Morning feetheart and everyone else,

Have been awake since 5 again this morning, as DS woke up complaining he was wet (I changed him and he went back to sleep afterwards, but I didn't). I really should have had an earlier night - I finished work at about 9.30 pm, which wasn't too bad, but somehow ended up on MN and then remembered that I still had wet washing in the dryer...

Anyway, am keeping my fingers crossed that no more urgent work will arrive today so that I can get on with things.

List:
DS to kindergarten with savings book and piggy bank done
DD1 to school with money for swimming course done
DD2 to school with money for school milk done
Morning routine
Mission: bathroom
Mission: home office
15 min decluttering
Finish planning English lessons
Paid work
Send DD2's letter
Recycle paper, metal and glass
Afternoon routine
DD1: letters x2
DD2: letter
DS: postcard
DD1 to IT course
Playground with friends
Evening routine

snot Meant to say yesterday that I'm so pleased your scan went well. After two girls, I found having a boy quite strange at first (and kept calling DS "she" for the first few weeks as, to me, babies were automatically female - well, mine were!) but can't imagine having three girls now.

Another one who should have had and earlier night. Had a very very early start. feel shocking but ds is ready to go to school - just about to do school run. Although as my hearing is super sensitive and i am about to rip everyone's heads off for shouting this morning, i suspect that i am going to have to write my day off when i get back and sleep it off. So looking forward to it being lighter earlier. I really do hate mornings.

done
pre school run stuff for ds
training
not kill anyone
have major arguement with ds over cake for breakfast - i won but have shouted and lost my voice.

About to do school run.

perhaps back later having done something. Have good days.

Thanks for the welcome and for the edited highlights. Things certainly move fast here but I'm sure I'll catch up. I might need to become even more organised as, although I've left my university post, my supervisor has asked me if I want to write up my research for a Masters. It would be hard work, but might be possible with a little baby (she says optimistically!)

So yesterday, I managed to get everything done. We've had another full night of sleep so here goes for another day...

Get dressed done
Make bed (baby sleeping in our room so can't yet)
Bathroom done
Hall done (I've got this because we leave piles of things to be transported up and downstairs when we are going up anyway)
Laundry
Timetable today done
Quiet Time
Dinner done
Shine sink
Daily tasks done
Zone cleaning done (did my cleaning while in the shower this morning)
Mission
Emails
Exercise
Plan tomorrow
Lounge

Quick list:

• Work
• Morning routine - done some, will do the rest in between bouts of the above!
• Make huge vat of multi-purpose tomato sauce from end-of-day market tomatoes - already skinned, just need to throw together
• Bathroom
• 15mins in DD's room
• Order bathroom stuff for rental property
• Battle with friend over taps for above!!
• Asda for cheap biscuits for Parents Evening refreshments
• School early to put on urn and sort refreshments
• DS's parents evening - looking forward to it :)

Have a good day everyone..........drags heels towards SAGE

Oh bloody hell, where the hell did 2 weeks go? Apologies for being AWOL for so long. I would like to say I have some glamorous excuse but I don't. Work, work, children, work, work, children and that's all really.

I hope everyone is ok. Am not even going to attempt to catch up with everything as that would take me forever! Hello to all you new faces I haven't seen before (long term thread member gone bad here ). And hello to all you other lovely ladies. Most pressing question is has pmpy had her baby yet?

Promise to get back on track this week. Not today though as have full teaching day and then 3 hour parents evening!

Back later hopefully.

I have missed you all

It's a dreary damp cold day here - and I thought spring had come . I had thought of going up to the allotment this morning, but think I will push it to later this week and hope the weather improves again.

Morning routine done
DS to playgroup done
DH to work done
S/s done
WI paperwork
Make beds
Clean washing away
Zone cleaning
Zone mission
Filing
Paper file item
Seeds in pots
Collect DS
Find alternative quote for car insurance
Activity with DS
Cook tea
Tea
Bedtime routine
Evening routine

And that seems suprisingly civilised today, so there must be something I have forgotten

Morning all. Just a brief visit to say hello to everyone. Envious of all you early risers.

Snot I?m so pleased your scan went well.

Lost I share your pain of sensitive hearing. Arrgghhh to the woman in the call centre that phoned me at 9am and whom I promptly cut off because of her uber fake cheeriness.

MrsG I have a hallway just like yours. Although I have come to conclusion that laundry piles waiting in hallway to be taken upstairs are invisible to everyone but me.

Oh no reading this back I?m sounding very grumpy indeed. I?m not...honestly

I haven?t done any housework today and don?t know if I can really be bothered. I?m sitting with a and staring out of window at heavy snow fall. I definitely think weather plays a huge part to my mood! Pesky snow has gone and scuppered all my plans for today grrrr

Good luck with todays flying all. Toodlepip

Too awake and making most of it. heading back to training. Flying wise day is now a write off

Hi all! Hopefully I am back on track today- DD seems better - still has explosive nappies but I'm hoping that's just teething - she's 6 months so that seems possible, right? Both Ds's were 8mths+ when teething so I'm not sure....

Anyway she's still quite clingy (that's her in general though) but down for a nap atm so will whizz round and do a few things.

welcome back Ellie Don't won't about your filthy house, some of us me have been here throughout and still have a filthy house! PMPY had a boy about a week ago

My list

Catch up on washing- DD's bed has been changed lots due to illness and DS2 wet last night. DH also mentioned he has no pants or socks this morning and also on his last shirt

Good clean of bathroom- Doesn't really need decluttering as it's a small bathroom and we only keep the essentials in there.

15mins de-clutter of boys bedroom - my 'other room' in the zone this week.

And that's it!

Short and sweet because I'm going to enjoy lots of cuddles with DD. She's such a mummy's girl and happy and smiley child but is just having a hard time with seperation anxiety atm so trying to minimise this.

BBL

Good morning all,

I feel like I'm not doing so well with flying today as I've been on the computer since getting back from the school run. However much of the time has been sent trying to sort out DS1's birthday party and childcare for this Friday so I am trying to (though not so far succeeding in) getting things done.

I think that a to do list might get me moving till lunch time.

done

washing on
dishwasher unloaded and restacked
shiny sink

to do

swish and swipe
more of the house blessing
declutter and/or mission
hang out wet washing
hot spot x 2
shopping (only a couple of things I couldn't get yesterday)
find out what time overnight visitor is arriving
sort out Friday childcare
sort out DS1 birthday party
call shop re communion dress