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!

Eh up everyone. Don't want to go (it's a gloriously sunny 16 °c here) but I'm all packed so just popping in to say quick "hi" and "bye" and to post a few replies:

Thanks for MiniM -much appreciated - although sadly am on the wagon for Lent .. so I'll take it in cranberry juice form if I may ... Lol at time off for good behaviour

Nicknacks glad to hear your dd is feel a bit better

Snot congratulations on your scan!

Yay Ellie me old mucker - lift that chin up girl -sounds as if you have a lot on your plate - wishing you strength for this evening. Great news : Pushme had a baby ds last week - both doing well!

at Lost and waves in a nonchalant way that doesn't remotely indicate knowledge of identity ...

Respect to MrsGangly for Flying/studying with baby

Linzer/Feetheart hope you can catch up on sleep tonight

Hope you are feeling OK today Swan x

MrsMcJnr glad funeral went as well as these things can. You obviously gave your friends huge support

Waves to Whoknows Funambulist Ihate and everyone else. See you next week!

Just sticking my head round the door for the first time this week

Have been more or less good with the flying but have a cold which is just zapping energy levels. Can't seem to get going today.

Dishes done, bed stripped, load in the machine.

Can't even be bothered making a list.

Guess that has to be the next task though....

I'm rubbish at guessing who people used to be- I'm so sorry Lost !

If I'm allowed to know, would someone mind PM'ing me and putting me in the loop! Ta!

No problems if I can't know- I completely understand.

morning everyone or is it afternoon already

wb mm
ladyinpink glad your bum is feeling better. I have fallen foul to stair debris before, a glass coffee cafetiere which I put there as I was going to put it in the loft until decided whether to keep it or not. I was carrying ds 4m old down stairs, he tried to do a backflip, I caught him lost my footing and kicked the glass cafetiere and then sat on it!! Huge gash on bottom, cue trip in ambulance and 13 stiches on my big bahookie! Hope DD feels better soon.
toffee hope you managed to do all those things whilst providing a steady stream of food. My dc nag me from the moment they finish one snack/meal until they get their next hit. I never know what to do. 3 meal and 2 snacks plus at least 2 bowls of cereal!?? I think it should be feed them once and that you done
linzer good luck with work

Still on Sunday catch upi think. My replacement phone delivered sobeen faffing around with that!

I know ive been here for a year and things have improved but some days like today especially after being out all day yesterday leave me in complete chaos again! I don?t do 15 min at a time and I know I should. don?t feel like spending any time with dc just washing, cleaning and tidying up. Despite many activites we do which is my way of squaring the time I don?t spend with them. moany moany moany

Kickup backside needed.

Please Please can I join?

Skip on the drive, working my way through all the rooms in the house. If its not worth keeping it moves to the skip, if its worth keeping freecycle or charity shops.

I've been working on DS's bedroom this morning (my "other room"). Question - what do you do with all the creations/pictures etc etc that your DCs come home with from playgroup/school? DS doesn't make something every day (depends on what it is and who is there - he can't cope with "mess") but I still seem to have loads of things - some on display, some integrated into his toys, some stashed, others in piles of "what am I going to do with these?". Suggestions please - and although he has a very short term memory re taking shoes off at the door, putting coat away etc, he has a very long term memory re things he has made, and will sometimes ask where "x" is that he made last term, last year.

Have PMed you, NickNacks.

Welcome veg2grow - just jump on board and ask if you have any questions.

Another hectic day here, but I've managed 20 minutes of work on non-urgent job (not very impressive sounding, I know), have prepared both English lessons (though still need to laminate 10 flash cards) and am now trying to persuade DD2 to do her homework and DD1 that she does need to go to the IT lesson, as it's part of school (though I do wish they could integrate it into the school day, or rather school morning).

Cobwebs I feel your pain! I am drowning in paper here, much of it artwork created by the DCs. It does get easier as they get older but they do an awful lot of pictures at nursery stage.

Something I used to do was bestow them on doting grandparents and relatives. GPs etc are often pleased to receive them, DCs feel that their genius is being given a wider audience and it got some of it out of the house! We would send paintings to anyone with a birthday, who was sick, at Easter, Christmas or for no reason at all. Few visitors to the house escaped without a sheaf of artwork.

My problem now is the various certificates they get at school for "great listening" "taking part in cross country" "good topic work" etc. I now have what we call A Wall Of Glory in my kitchen where that term's certificates are displayed for general admiration and I have a bulging file that I transfer them to at the end of term.

Ps Welcome veg2grow. How lovely to have a skip! Mind you I'm not sure how much the DCs would let me put in it!

Waves to all, off to get through my list and think about what to cook for dinner - meal planning fallen by the wayside this week.

Just saw news about PMPY - congratulations xxx

It is the twins birthday today! They are 9

presents opened first thing.

feel absolutely bleugh again, trying to stay calm and enjoy today. will press on...

bbl when achieved something

waves white flag at Nettie* who seems to be suffering from out of the house rushing around itis yesterday like me! You should be proud of all you've done. [whispers - you are allowed to moan too!]

Actually, I have achieved something, I was reading
How to Talk so your Children Listen, and How to Listen so your Children Talk
it has reduced me to tears...it is so sad [sometimes]

oh dear

my energy has vanished.

waves to all.

right,
done
sink shone
floor swept
afternoon arranged - sort of
family party food done

I think the best thing is to get out of this house! Various errands to attend to...so I'm off now.

ihatecobwebs, my baby is too young for me to think about this but a decluttering blog I read had a few suggestions a while ago:

unclutterer.com/2010/05/08/using-dynamicframes-for-childrens-artwork/

In the comments, I really like the idea of taking pictures of all the artwork then making them into a photobook.

nettie there seems to be a theme going on with us ladies falling down the stairs (felt a bit admitting it but so glad it's not just me with deadly stairs - a valuable lesson to the rest of the thread posters about not leaving items on the stairs!!

Happy birthday to your twins swan

DD is still off school. She managed to break a thermometer, cue mercury all over the kitchen floor. Went to replace it at my local chemist and they don't do those kinds anymore and have now got a fancy encased digital one (unbreakable - just as well as when i opened the packet it spun across the kitchen)

Have just popped her on sofa under a blanket watching a dvd while i mn iron my mountain of clothes from a week ago!! That is about all i'm able to get on with though have done :

2 loads of washing and hung it outside
lunch for 3
changed beds
washed up twice (no dishwasher)
Dashed to chemist
prepared evening meal

Happy holidays stillchuckingit and catch up with the rest of you again soon

I have only one word for training today. OUCH. Just going to get ds, who will be late and thus making it a panic for swimming later. counting down to bedtime. I am tired tonight.

Thos who dont recognise me dont worry. it isnt an issue but i have a fairly recognisable list generally and aparantly posting style. So if you do that is ok, and if you dont that is ok too.

DS2 is still off school, although he seems quite lively now and should certainly be OK for tomorrow. Once I knew he wasn't up to school this morning, I decided to write off paid work for the day, as it was stressful and exhausting trying to get it done yesterday. Plus I'm tired after a late night, so probably won't do a very good job. Frankly, the day has been busy enough without trying to fit work into it too.

Have kept to my routines, but nothing else is getting done . The laundry basket is filling up, as usual.

Linzer - congratulations on fitting in paid work and preparing the English lesson as well as everything else. It's certainly not easy when you have DC at home too.

Swan - happy birthday to your boys! Hope you have a lovely party.

LadyinPink - hope your DD feels better soon.

Veg2grow - welcome. The skip sounds like a great start.

Cyberweb - me too. Have some .

Ellie - good to see you.

PMPY - hope you are enjoying those new baby cuddles .

.

Ironing now done phew what a mountain there was too!

Happy Birthday to Swans twins

It's DS1 18th birthday tomorrow. I really should be tidying the house for tomorrows party guests but I still can't seem to muster the motivation today. Procrastinated by going for a swim while DS3 was at nursery, wrongly hoping that I'd be rejuvenated and ready to go following a leisurly swim and sauna. But sadly it's had the reversed effect and now i'm feeling seriously guilty about doing no housework and beginning to panic slightly. I still have to wrap presents and decorate house with banners and balloons too [cba emoticon]. Think I'll make a start following dinner

I know how you feel, Celestial. What about trying to do just one thing for 15 minutes? It might get you in the mood.

LadyinPink - well done on getting all that ironing done! It must feel good.

I have no energy today either. Have just woken up from a nap . I think I need to do dinner (chilli con carne), get the routines done, get the boys to bed and then get an early night myself and start again tomorrow.

Happy Birthday to Swans twins!

So tired today but have managed a list of sorts.

dishes done
laundry - three loads washed, dried, ironed done
Rest of ironing done
Shower wiped down done
Dinner on done
Hotspots x 2 done

That's not too bad actually!

we have had loads of birthday fresh air today, but no party - that's not till Sunday.

I (and my cousin(birthday girl's godmother) and SIL) managed between us to make a complete hash of meeting up in freezing park with assorted dogs and dcs. Cousin had changed her mobile no in 2011 without realising I didn't know, so my text saying I was late didn't get through. Ds1 was late getting back from some wretched school outing, cue three 9 year olds hopping around on pavement outside school for 30 mins cue us late for park meetup, then SIL was late too, but decided to meet us anyway, rang from home number, walked miles with her pram, but then her mobile didn't work - needed topping up(arrgh) but by this time the rest of us had decamped to cafe (which she didn't know about) because my cousin hadn't brought a proper coat and was too cold, and park cafe was closed.....AAARGH catalogue of disasters really. Oh yes and dd's special birthday friend turned out to be allergic to dogs.

but I don't think kids noticed
poor SIL walked all the way to the park 25 mins with baby and all the way back without finding us I feel so guilty as I didn't have her mobile number thinking she would phone me...

home again, exhausted - dd now playing with her birthday friend, and dss have gone to football

NEVER MAKE A PLAN WITH TOO MANY VARIABLES which involve DOGS, RELATIONS, children and mobiles

dd seems happy though. Perhaps adults' arrangements seem mad to children generally.

OH dear swan. SOunds like a bit of a nightmare for the grownups involved in the plan. Glad dd seems to be enjoying herself. Happy birthday Swan twins!

babystep following tonight - early night. although feel slightly more human for a 20min power nap in the bath. Ds is already asleep on the sofa so it will be an early start.

Leaves , and s for everyone.

night.

Hello all, on the computer briefly while DCs have tea and will then have to relinquish it to DS1 for his homework. Beginning to think that it is time we bought a laptop. We often have 4 of us wanting to use the computer at the weekends.

Just reminding myself where I've got to.

to do

swish and swipe - done x 3 today as I've done the guest bathroom too.
more of the house blessing - done the sheets but nothing else
declutter and/or mission done
hang out wet washing done
hot spot x 2 to do before bed
shopping (only a couple of things I couldn't get yesterday) done
find out what time overnight visitor is arriving o/n visitor still vague on this!
sort out Friday childcare waiting for friend to reply to email earlier
sort out DS1 birthday party proving tricky
call shop re communion dress no

Have also

Taken all 3 DCs to swimming lessons and put wet swim things in the wash.

Need to write article for parish magazine tonight, bit pushed for time especially with visitor arriving.

Also need to lay out clothes, cook tea for adults, sort out DS1 PE kit.

swan happy birthday to your twins hope you all enjoy the celebrations.

evening all

Welcome veg2grow
welcome back ellie was thinking about you the other day
lost
sc have lovely time, totally missed where you were going- maybe i will find it in my late night trawlings now my phone is back in order.
mrsmcjnr glad it all went well and that happy memories were shared.
linzer i think you are supermum, i still have ds in pj pants as he is more often wet than dry, saves all that bed changing
nicknacks my dd started drooling and having funny tummys fromabout 4 months, im never sure if it was teething or not, but think probably is.
cobwebs i have 2 lever arch files fullof the dc painting etc including nursery notes. im rapidly running out of space and these day i also have a plastic folder too but might just have to start being more selective.
swan happy birthday swantwins. Ive heard of that one before, ill keep an eye out on our next library trip. bummer about park trip hope sil is ok.
mrsGangly welcome and thats a brill idea of making a photobook out of childrens artwork.

right to motivate my grumbly bumbly my accomplishments today.

dc dressed,fed and watered
ds to montessori
dd and me home to await replacement phone
written out all calendar app from old phone
ridiculous amount of time spent setting up new phone
dw change about
wasking on
dd to swimming
picked ds up
home to more phone faffing
Beds stripped and remade
dc clothes put away and clothes laid out for the morning.
dw and wm on ad finitum
all classes soaked in vinegar and scrubbed-rearranged in cupboard
dc bathed
beef in red wine casserole (dh turned nose up, dd ate all) [smug couldnt have been that bad emotion]
dh despatched back to work.
been trying to catch up with all you lovely ladies

had some exciting news dsis is going into be induced with her first ds on Thursday. Im so excited and very apprehensive, wish she did have to be induced, baby very small and they want to get him out sooner rather than later. dsis seems so laid back! Trip to scotland here we come, just need to tie dh down and i need him too share the driving.

right off to tidy up kitchen and put away some of my clothes, sort out supper and relax with some demon hunting on tv.

night all humungous waves.