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!

Still minimal flying going on here, as yet more urgent work arrived this afternoon. Have just finished it, but the house is descending from a mess into chaos. I haven't finished the flash cards for tomorrow's lesson yet either, but I'm determined to have an early night tonight so it can wait until tomorrow morning.

Took the DC out to the playground this afternoon as it was such a lovely sunny day. I'm not normally a huge fan of playgrounds but the DC left me in peace (most of the time) to chat to the two friends I met up with there, so it was actually a really nice afternoon.

Nettie How exciting - hope all goes well on Thursday. Re nappies: DS has been back in them for a while at night, but has suddenly started soaking them through. At least it's improved since I put him in pull-ups in that it's now just his PJ bottoms that are wet rather than all the bedding too. The amount of washing I had to do last week (before I switched him to pull-ups) was just ridiculous.

funambulist DD1 has her own laptop (on her desk upstairs) but still insists on using my netbook as it's downstairs...

Lost Hope you can catch up on some sleep tonight.

swan Sounds like rather a stressful day (for you, at any rate) but glad to hear the DTs enjoyed their birthday.

Celestial Happy birthday to your DS for tomorrow!

Toffee Glad your DS is on the mend. Sounds like a good idea to forget about work for the day - you'll be far more productive tomorrow after a rest (and with DS back at school).

SC A bit late now as you probably left hours ago, but hope you have a good trip! Found out from one of the friends I met this afternoon that her DH was on the same flight to Brussels yesterday as DH - it's obviously the place to be.

As an early night for me is anything before 9.30 pm, it doesn't look like I'm going to manage it tonight after all - but must at least make sure I still get to bed at a decent hour by switching off the computer now. Night all.

Evening everyone

I have slightly fallen off the thread with regards to posting as I haven't had much time for MN lately

But I've kept the good habits you've all helped me develop flyingwise, so the house is still looking pretty ok

Just wanted to pop in really and say hi

Nettie/Linzer - I am amazed at how much wee one little DS can produce during the night! DS is still has night nappy, PJs are wet probably 75% of mornings, and bed about 25% - and I haven't yet found a nappy/pullups to contain it all

Nettie I may well set up a lever arch file for the artwork, but unfortunately that will still leave all the oversized pieces (they seem very fond of A3 at playgroup) and the "creations" - two yoghurt pots attached to a loo roll middle = one spacecraft etc

Update before I head to bed

Morning routine done
DS to playgroup done
DH to work done
S/s done
WI paperwork done
Make beds done
Clean washing away done
Washing on line done
Zone cleaning done
Zone mission done
Filing done
Paper file item done
Seeds in pots - no, spent afternoon at playground instead
Collect DS done
Find alternative quote for car insurance done
Activity with DS - afternoon at playground
Washing on airer done
Cook tea done
Tea done
Bedtime routine done
Evening routine done

Well done for sticking to the Flying in spite of being off MN. Am never sure whether MN is an incentive or a distraction, anyway. (On second thoughts, I think I do know the answer to that ).

Managed to get the boys to bed at a decent hour tonight and am just off to get an earlyish night myself. As you said, Linzer, I'm hoping I will be able to be more productive workwise tomorrow with DS2 back at school and following a good night's sleep.

Have just finished planning tomorrow's home-ed routine for DS1 and clearing up the kitchen. I have shined my sink with a lovely new e-cloth from Tesco (still haven't done my Lakeland order). I'm hoping the tidy kitchen and shiny sink will get me off to a good start in the morning.

I have a list for tomorrow, but it's mostly wishful thinking, really. My priority for tomorrow is getting some paid work done. If I can just keep on top of the routines and get DS1 to do some work, I'll be happy. Anymore than that is a bonus.

See you all tomorrow.

Feet - THANK YOU! I haven't got an Apple button, but I have got a CMD button and it works for the Ctrl function.

My master shopping list has 5 columns headed Fruit/Veg, Meat/Fish, Chilled, Grocery, Non Food. Each has the stuff I buy regularly eg apples, onions, butter, cheese, washing powder, toilet roll, cereals in it. I make a meal plan for the week and add anything I need onto it by hand and go around the kitchen crossing off anything I don't need that week from the pre-printed part. Once I've been shopping I start a new one, stick it on the fridge and write on it anything that runs out during the week that isn't already printed on (eg ketchup, spices, toilet cleaner, the things that are more infrequent). And so on. Even when I don't get round to menu planning, I find if I take the list every week and buy a few random veg and meat/fish I generally can make decent meals out of it because all the store cupboard stuff is always there.

Right, what else?

Swan oh dear for you and SIL.

Toffee - hope you manage some work tomorrow

Nettie - each DC has section of wall in the hall for their artwork and certificates. Everything else is subjected to fairly rigorous quality control, the stuff I want to keep is kept in a flat plastic under bed box in my room, when it is full I take it all out and cull a bit more. The 3-dimensional stuff they each have a shelf for in their rooms, if the shelf gets too full I cull, but they are much more attached to the models and stuff, so I have to be careful. One of my friends takes photos of her DCs stuff. I also make a book for each of them at the end of the school year with that year's best art, certificates, programme from Nativity play, letters about projects, school trips etc, in one of those slim plastic folders with lots of built in clear sleeves. They also each have a boxfile for other non-school stuff, swimming certificates etc.

Welcome to Veg2Grow, please ask if you have any questions.

Busy day here again, work, followed by Flying, organising stuff, 1/2 hour run (part run part walk, am on Week 5 of Couch to 5k and really starting to feel as though I am making progress now), ballet, 2 x parent evening meeting, collapse on sofa.

Links to follow.

Wednesday

Babystep REad an email from Flylady, if you don't get the emails, go and have a quick look at the website

Mission

Morning all,

Crisis cleaning is on the agenda today - am keeping my fingers crossed that no work arrives, as I'll be out for over an hour at the English lessons anyway. DD2's friend's mum phoned to ask if her DD could come after school as she has a meeting at work, which means I don't even have to think about whether to cook or not - will just take a pizza out of the freezer for lunch (at least I won't have gone to any trouble over it if she won't eat it).

WhoKnows Thanks for the links. Must admit I've decided to ignore the missions and decluttering this week, and focus on work and keeping my routines going.

Toffee I haven't done my Lakeland order yet either - work keeps getting in the way. Really need to get it done before the voucher expires (again).

cobwebs It's good to hear DS isn't the only one causing lots of extra washing - I never had this problem with the girls, although they weren't dry at night for quite a while.

No list today - will just make sure I've got everything ready for English later, and then start on my crisis clean.

Good morning everyone

whoknows thanks and love your shopping list. I remember you talking about it before and thought I ought to get me one. In awe of your school year achievement books! How on earth do you fit it all in?
cobwebs I fold a3 over twice to fit them in. We don't have much model art to worry about at the mo.
linzer hope you have a good day and pizza goes down well.

Today's list

Dc despatched to nursery
Me to work
Monsoon sale order if cheap enough
Sort out final loose ends for insurance claim on phone
Routines
Clothes w/f/i/d
Transfer more data from old phone
Check slow puncture tyre.

I think that'll do.
Enjoy your days

Morning!

Haven't been on for a few days as trying to get everything sorted for our building work startng (now delayed until 28th March) and DS has got Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.

Hope you're all well. Will catch up later, but thought I would try and post my to do list today (Let's see if this gets me motivated!)

Strip Bed
Wash Bedding
Iron Bedding
Make Bed
Morning Routine
Visit from my Mum
Hoover through
Mission
Send RSVP
15 mins decluttering
Clean one oven

I went out to the pub last night with people from our village (don't really know them all that well) and won £50 on a raffle. So feel very upbeat today (would feel more upbeat if I had laid off the G&Ts!)

Hope you all have a lovely, no-procrastinating Wednesday!

Hmm, house is a mess, not helped by my faffing about on here. Am off to sort it out. Wish me luck :)

okay

I have walked the dog
hovered three rooms
been shopping three times
changed ds bed covers
two loads of washing
baked cookies
cleaned out the rabbit

and I have now keeled over

Nettie and Cobweb and someonelese? I just sort everything into three piles, and put it in the loft at the end of the year Not a particularily good method, but a bit like WhoKnows we do scrapbooks which have included lots of their artwork/certs going back from when they were little. Yearly ones sound brilliant Who I might try that this year! We put things like postcards and some photos in, bus tickets, zoo tickets, certs, some birthday cards.
They love looking at their old stuff, especially models, but I tend not to keep it in their bedroom or playroom, but in loft after 6 months. Otherwise they get bored of it too.
I also "sample" the artwork, so I keep a selection rathe than whole lot. I keep projects in box in children's rooms. They enjoy looking at them.

But I've started being a bit more ruthless about their school books, and am chucking things like the maths from two years ago..

off to do recycling, then will read more and post more!

Today's plan is to declutter one of the areas I've been avoiding. I've decluttered all the easy bits, enough so I can zone clean, but have been avoiding some of the cupboards, drawers, shelves etc. I really need to get myself in gear and get some of these sorted, but I know that they are full of "difficult" stuff, do I keep it? where shall I store it? etc etc.

I've put the washing out, taken DS to playgroup, bought the milk, done the menu plan, and I'm waiting for DH to get up, so I can get on with s/s and beds. I'll need to prod him soon, as he's supposed to start work at 10.

Morning routine done
Washing on line done
DS to playgroup done
Buy milk done
Menu plan done
Shopping list
Clean fridge
Washing up
S/s
Make beds
Clean washing away
Washing in machine
Zone mission
Declutter
Shredding
Clean windows outside
Playgroup paperwork
Collect DS
Lunch
Activity with DS
Mending
Paper file item
Cook tea
Tea
Bedtime routine
Evening routine

OK, so today I will get a file for DS's artwork, cull some and put the rest in it - and WHOO that should help some of the decluttering as well (as lots of artwork is currently stuffed out of sight in a cupboard). Thank you ladies.

Feeling much more energetic today, thanks to going to bed at a decent time last night. So, today I have:

Done:
School routine (DS2 is at school again )
School run
Swish and swipe
W/M on (white wash)
Empty t/dryer
D/W - unload. Reload with b/fast stuff
Put recycling out
Empty kitchen bin
Kitchen hotspot

Am now starting home ed with DS1 and hoping to start work myself once he is set up with some work.

Like you, Linzer, I'm only doing basic routines whilst I have paid work to do. Decluttering and missions will have to wait.

WhoKnows - Your master shopping list idea is excellent. Must do it myself.

Linzer - good luck with your crisis cleaning and I hope no more work arrives.

Nettie - have a good day.

Longtime - good luck!

Cyberweb - here's some to help you get up again .

Swan - am so about your scrapbooks. They sound lovely. All my children's stuff is in random boxes in the loft.

Ihate - good luck with your decluttering today. Use a timer, maybe?

MrsSharp - at your winnings! I hope that your DS gets better soon.

See you all later.

oh my goodness! 3 pages to catch up on! going to make a for this one

ok, back and caught up

thanks for all the messages about scan funambulist, whoknows, feetheart, linzer, celestial and stillchucking it.

swanriver hope the twins had a lovely bday and that everything goes to plan on sunday. i dont you though, i find bday partys so stressfull

celestial happy 18th to your ds1

ladyinpink i love when i get all the ironing done the wardrobes always look much more organised. my iron is broken though so thats my excuse for not doing any

nettie hope all goes smoothly for you sis tomorrow.

whoknows you sound very organised when it comes to shopping. i do a super market sweep with the 3 boys dragging behind me demanding this n that.

mrssharp congrats on the £50 win! hhope the side effects from the G+T's wear off soon

longtime good luck!

cyberweb you have been busy today! well done

ihatecobwebs good luck with the decluttering! i know what you mean re the 'do i keep it, dont i keep it' on the rare occasions i declutter i usually say to myself if i havent needed it in the last 6-8 weeks i most likely wont miss it.

toffee well done on your 'done list'

hope the sicky lo's are feeling better.

ok now lists!

morning routine done

school run done

new glasses picked up (dog ate old ones done

wash put on X2 done

Tumble drier loaded X2 done

dishes done

downstairs hoovered done

dogs bathed done

thats as far as ive got. i need to do an evaluation report for another assignment that i got done yesterday so will put a to do list up after that. hope everyone is having a good day

Done so far:

Essential bits of morning routine (emptying dishwasher, making beds, etc.)

Finished preparing English lessons, making flash cards, etc. - all very time-consuming. My only consolation is that I should have very little to do next time round, when DS starts school. And that DD1 will have moved on to secondary school by then, so I'll only ever have a max. of two classes to teach.

20 minutes paid work
1 hour of English lessons
10 minute room rescue (office/guest room)

About to serve up pizza, then will continue panic cleaning crisis clean so that I can have a lovely relaxing evening before DH gets back (work permitting).

Apologies for lack of personals - will try to come back later to catch up properly.

have now cleaned three more floors,

and downed mop.

Going to try drinking no more coffee or tea

wanders off to search for missing feather duster

Well, quite a good morning so far
done
made contact with long lost friend - long chat on phone and will meet on Friday when looking after niece
nice chatty day with ds1 who is at home with upset stomach (too much fizzy lemonade yest?)
tidied up his room and thoroughly decluttered it again whilst chatting to him
tackled garden for 15 mins removing some rubbish
recyling all done
SIL seems none the worse for her ordeal yest and has suggested braving another meetup She is clearly a WALKER
bathroom swished
washed bathmat and a dressinggown

todo
piano
lots of washing up from garden old pots and pans and cups and saucers etc
hoover ds room
tidy the other rooms/deal with out of control laundry situation

dh said he was concerned at my anger management issues - something is certainly not right as I am feeling crosser and crosser. Hope tidy rooms will untie the knots amd general feeling of panic/frustration at everything being pearshaped

snot you have three boys, another little one expected, a dog, and you are doing an assignment too! Hats off to you!

Ihate- model art get photographed in this house and then the model put out after 1 month. There is an exception rule but 90%-95% of art work made over the years has gone. it is a space saver and you still have the pictures to look at. I then you power point and shove loads of the pictures onto 1 slide which i will then print of when the slide is full.

Not been productively flying today, but did have and early night and hopefully will get one tonight. The sleep pattern seems to be getting itself straighter which is helping me sort myself out. Need to tackle my bedroom tomo as i cant put my clothes away. Ds' room is not much better but furniture arrangement is better. iyswim. Thus my room is priority of his. Makes a nice change.

Ds goes through a couple of nappies a night generally and at least one set of pj's and 1 set of bedding. Although he likes to sleep on a blanket so mid night beds get the towel fresh blanket treatment unless really bad. Especially as often it is damp again in the morning. He forgets to wee during the day so unless i nag him about going he saves it all up for the night

More dones:

Provided pizza - eaten by all
Supervised homework x3
Picked up DS and friend
Made hot chocolate x5
5 minute room rescue in kitchen

About to do:

Take DD2 and friend to ballet
Go to stationery store (DD1 has announced that she urgently needs a new maths exercise book, by tomorrow if not before)
Continue crisis cleaning (don't feel like I've really had a chance to get started yet)

Cinders I wish I'd had more time to drink tea/coffee today - a rushed coffee before English was all I could manage.

Toffee Glad to hear you're rediscovered your energy - an early(ish) night really does make a difference (must remember that tonight!).

MrsSharp Well done on the win!