April Fledgling Flyers: April Fools we are not, babysteps and decluttering makes our thread hot, step right in and mark your spot.

[NettieSpaghetti]

Welcome, come away in you?ll have had your . This is the April Fledgling Flyers Thread.

Thanks to WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes who was champion at leading us through March.

We are trying to stick to the Flylady © Website and her baby steps and routines to help keep our houses out of C.H.A.O.S and ready for everyday, maybe the odd visitor or two.

Check her website out but don?t sign up for emails as they are likely to inspire but fill your inbox so full we might not see you till August.

The principles are:

Babysteps (one at a time)
Babysteps and 15 minutes daily decluttering
Babysteps and daily missions.

This month I will be posting the links and leading you down the road to building a routine and keeping your house under control.

It is amazing what you can achieve in a simple babystep,15 minutes a day and a little chat.

Good evening

Quick update from my list

Read all about what you guys are doing-done
Drink coffee-done
Finish rearranging Scotland trip-done
Change dc beds-done [phew] at last
Finish putting away clothes-almost still got some in my room to put away
Change milk order-done
Tidy whole house -done
Mopped kitchen floor
Rearranged new to us dining room suite
Bathed ds
Jigsawed with dd
Cleaned kitchen other part of yesterdays mission
Cleaned out kitchen bin, inside and out.

Ive had quite a good day and am proud of me

myhouse well done on getting rid of cardboard. I still have some sitting in full view of all the neighbour at side of my house definitely need an iphone, everyone should have one, just don?t dip it in coffee. Well done on ironing.
linzer iphone still brill, definitely need one for your birthday. I pay £35 pm over 24m.
makingchanges well done on last minute easter bonnet making. Best of luck for your exam tomorrow.
chb glad ds feeling bit better. Passes some to the naughty corner.
cheerful did not let ds sleep in clothes [boo] but has been flying in a different time zone.
feetheart has failed definitely totally failed flying but has done tons of really productive helpful and quality times things instead
swan had a huge proud mummy , did loads of laundry and made me giggle with girls creating pavillions and not kennels like the boys.
darts has been used as a pin cushion. She gave blood and her dh gave her clean floors and beds.
who knows has been the very scary [can see you bellowing in my minds eye voice of reason to lotsa sponsored walkers.
cyberwebcinders hiya come over to the dark side, we all get some flying done too
blueeyshadow managed to get everyone where they were supposed to be, flying and a new sink in.

Sorry to anyone ive missed today.

Im off to finish putting away my clothes and maybe empty the dishwasher as it would definitely make me smile in the morning.

Back with links in a mo.

Wednesday is Zone Clean and partial Desk time day (in office all day so total desk time for me)

a quick one just hoping you havent decluttered the old toothbrushes

hotspotting ( ive just created one huge hotspot in kitchen on the basis that i thought it looks better in one place)

And a little something extra for those ahead of the decluttering game deep clean

have lovely days on wednesday.

Thanks Nettie

I completely forgot to post my list on here yesterday but suffice to say I only got about half done

Tomorrows list

Morning routine
Arrange flowers into 2 vases
Paid work for two hours
Pay online bills
Take bins out
Change Ds2's bed
Sort clothes for friend
Get out mat clothes and list for sale
Fill charity bags
Evening routine

Thanks for the round up, Nettie. Pleased you had a good day.

Well done with the ironing, MHWBCTY

I've been working my way through Home Routine's Zone 2 (Kitchen & Dining Room). Today I took everything off some stainless steel shelves I have and wiped everything down. It was a mammoth task as I have all my utensils hanging off the bottom shelf, so I had to take them all off and wash them, as well as the hooks, which were quite grotty!

Anyway, all clean now and although I'm sure no one will notice I feel better for knowing it's clean and one more part of my house under control.

Ok, here goes...

Do a sort of superficial blitz so that things look tidy to the casual viewer!DONE
Tackle the monstrous pile of dirty laundry - Started - to be continued
Put away the clean clothes that I folded up about a week ago DONE
Hoover through DONE - upstairs anyway*
Make beds DONE
Make packed lunches for tomorrow - Will do in a minute after Holby
Cook dinner - something easy, maybe tuna bake? DONE
Do reading and homework with DS's - DH read, no homework tonight

Not a bad start (will shine sink after I've made the packed lunches). Suprising how much better the house looks (and I feel) even after just a small amount of work. Roll on tomorrow - although working all day so won't be that impressive.

Well...actually Nettie he did sleep in the shirt he wore today. :o He just had to take off his pajama bottoms and put on trousers and boots, brush his teeth and he was good to go!

I need to:

Start Dinner
Make beds (forgot again this a.m. )
Finish scrubbing bathroom
Put laundry in dryer
Sweep downstairs
15 minute declutter in my bedroom

I have to be at my other job in three hours, so I better get crackin'! :)

Oh and am going to get a dumpster (skip) in a couple of weeks! I can't wait! It will be unimaginably liberating, I expect :o

Sorry - no time to check out thread in great detail - but just wanted to drop by to say hello. Been out of house most of Mon & Tues (work + school activities) and no flying done at all. Humungous amounts of basic tidying and rather more in-depth decluttering and organising to do in house before w/e. Like Ellie tis last week of school before term and so many events going on I should have just set up camp in playground. Then two weeks Easter holidays with vistors then travel then more visitors. Must make the most of my half free day tomorrow and full day Thursday and luckily have half day Friday too to get the house in reasonable shape. First floor was looking OK but seems to have gone to pot since my last trip.

Anyway, hope you are all OK!

Oh if only Nettie!! One day, one day in the distant future (said with voice full of yearning) I will be ahead of decluttering game .... but not yet

Linzer glad Lakeland sink shining stuff was up to snuff

Waves to myhousewillbecleanthisyear who I mistakenly thought I recognised way down thread - sorry about that - I'm hopeless with names and faces in real life - never mind names in cyber space!! I know EXACTLY what you mean about ironing procrastination. I have had the same conversation with myself for the past three nights.

Thanks for Woodland Trust tip Toffee- some really good ideas there for holidays

Waves to CBH in naughty corner. Glad your ds on the mend. I'm late joining you but have been working. Am sure it won't be long

Darts good for you donating blood

Welcome to NicWnacW

Well done to your dd Swan on her thespian success

Huge waves to everyone I've missed.

Right, it's after 10pm here and I'm ready to sit on the sofa and collapse but I'm going to beat myself with a large stick and force myself to complete my evening routine so everything is slightly easier in the morning.

Hello all,

Nettie I love your hotspot policy. Well done on a productive day.

Nicwnacw welcome.

my house congrats on the ironing (I hardly ever iron ) we live in crumpled clothes, save for DH who irons his own.

I'm finding the fact that I'm hosting my bookclub soon a huge motivating factor in getting the house straight so I know what you mean about not wanting to invite people round. If it is of any comfort I must say that I love going round to houses that are a bit untidy and cluttered. I don't worry about whether I can put down my coffee mug without a coaster or whether it's okay to dent the cushions by sitting on the couch. I feel more comfortable and welcome when a house looks lived in. I once went to a house where they had three small children and not only was the house very tidy and show homey, but there was no evidence whatsoever that any children lived there. It actually made me feel rather uncomfortable.

Darts you are so good to donate. Well done.

Makingchanges good luck with your exam.

I've been out and about a lot today and have tried to do chores when I've been in so haven't had time to post during the day.

done list

Top up shop
Shiny sink
Load/unload dishwasher
Swish and swipe
Hot spot (kitchen table)
Got DS2 to do some VR (and marked it)
Wiped down kitchen surfaces
Hung out wet washing
Brought in dry washing from outside
Hoovered
Mopped
Decluttered a corner of DDs room with DD
Bought petrol
4 lots of music practice by the DCs
Took and collected DD from a birthday party
Collected DS2 from post school play at a friend's house
Spent a ridiculous amount on parking, coffee and books whilst DD was at her party.
Partially sorted out transfer of mobile number to lovely new i phone. (Took ages )

Not bad given that DD and DS2 were only at school for the morning! I love the "accomplishments" bit of the home routines app. I seem to be getting more done than I realised which is really motivational (is there such a word?)

to do

shiny sink (again)
hot spot (again)
tea for DH and me
text music teacher (only seems to respond to texts)
sort out email for lovely new i phone
lay out clothes
bed at a decent hour

Thanks for the round up, Nettie and well done on your productive day.

Myhouse - I know exactly what you mean about getting the ironing done. It always makes me feel as if I am back in control of the house again. I'm glad you can feel a difference in your attitude already. I think it's the small steps that do it.

I've had a quick read through and would love to stay and do messages, but the one thing I didn't manage today was work. So I'm doing that now and will be in big trouble if I spend the time on MN. So, a quick update on today's list:

Get dressed, hair, face etc done
B/fast, vits, water done
Packed lunch, water bottle done
School run done
Post done
Empty d/w done
W/M on done
S&S done
Fresh handtowels out done
Home ed done
T/D done
Put laundry away nope, it's piled up on the chair and will stay there until tomorrow
15-min declutter - bedside table no
Order crafty stuff from Yellow Moon done
What's for dinner? DH and I are having something reheatable that he bought. Have no idea what to give the children. Pasta, again? yep, pasta again
Paid work - 2 hours about to start
School run done
Open classroom done - DS2 very proud of all his work
Make cheesy cakes at home with DS ( but I promised him) done - and was actually fun and they were delicious
Dinner done
Bedtime routine done
Lay out clothes will do
2 mins hotspots no
Shine sink might do
Tidy sitting room maybe
Face etc. probably
Bed at decent hour

Oh well, I may not have done the decluttering, but at least I've done the basics. And I spent lots of time with the boys, which is much more important.

Off to do my work now. Goodnight and see you all in the morning.

Evening all

I've been swimming and managed to get my 20 metre certificate!! - I'm so pleased with myself, I couldn't imagine 2 months ago being able to swim 2 metres never mind 20

Also managed to complete my list. I'm just finishing off last of revision then off for a reasonable night. Aiming for 10pm!

Tomorrow I am at uni all morning at in exam in afternoon but need to seriously have a tidy of the lounge and understair desk area tomorrow evening so my list is:-

• Post office for parcels x2 again
• DD to school
• Me to uni
• pick DD up from GPs and call to shop for bread on way home
• Sort and file uni session notes
• Sort and file school placement notes
• Sort library books and take back what finished with - renew others.
• Sort out my books and find somewhere to store the ones I don't need for a while - Maybe need some boxes
• Find out ballet clothes for Thursday
• Recycling and normal bin out
• Hoover understairs and lounge.

Back tomorrow

Well done makingchanges ! You really live up to your name. Did you choose it with goals like the swimming in mind? Hope the exam goes well tomorrow.

This evening I have:

Shined the sink
Done lots of laundry (with lots more to come b/c I'm decluttering my bedroom...I don't know how it got so bad!)
Hot Spot
Put out clothes (DS happily asleep in his, bless him)
5 minute room rescue

Hooray! :)

Swan - you are very kind but I don't think I have been Flying without noticing it :)
However today that will change as it has been allocated as 'Sort out the house after all the madness' Day. Crisis Clean is calling:

• All up and out - DH already gone
• Back home for man who is coming to clean suite chairs - bstard local boss cat came in at 3.30am last week and crpped on them and on girl cat who was sleeping there
• Morning routine
• 5mins in living room
• Hoover downstairs - living room, hall and stairs
• Mop kitchen floor
• Crisis clean in all 3 bedrooms
• Hoover upstairs - 3 bedrooms and landing
• Clean bathroom
• Prep dinner - leftover roast from Sunday

Will need regular posts to keep me on track so bear/bare(?) with me - it's probably not 'bare' is it? :)

Back later

Good morning

Today's list

Get up, dressed, hair! (one day maybe I'll do face as s matter of course)
Make bed
S/s
Wm/td on
Emptied dw last night so fill dw with breakfast stuff
Get dc breakfasted and dressed for nursery
Drop off
Me work
Pick dc up, home bathe dd
Ds parents evening
Gym
Try and deal with hotspot of paper in kitchen
Deal with unwanted ornaments. Try convince dh that his bogging old men ornaments have no place in our home.
Try and force myself to wrap up and store my incense dragon and wax candle innthe shape of doc Martin boot! (can't bring myself to part with them but don't want them on display.
Ask nag dh to move computer desk to new home
Oh yes better eat dinner in there too.

Hope you all have a lovely day

Morning all! Didnt get back on yesterday as i spent all night working! Did manage to achieve most things on my list apart from the ironing but the facg that it even made it on a list is progress so am not too bothered .

I have a late meeting until six tonight so not entirely sure how much i will get done so no list posting i shall just fly by the seat of my pants (geddit?) .

linzer i pay 35 a month for my iphone on contract with 600 mins and unlimited messages and internet. Couldnt justify to dp spending hundreds on a phone, 35 a month sounded far more reasonable .

X-post with feetheart.

We have a magnetic cat flap so no other cats can come in unless wearing a magnet. at pooing on girl cat!!!

Good luck with your crisis clean.

cheerful my bedroom gets really bad because I used to go to bed with my eyes half closed. Dh side is still bad! !

I somehow managed to get up at 5 am this morning - didn't realise until I was eating my breakfast, looked at the clock and saw it was only 5.30 am. Still, at least it gave me time to wash my hair; I was complaining to DH yesterday evening that I wouldn't have time to wash it this morning, so someone must have heard me and made me dream that my alarm clock went off (I'm convinced it did, but checked it and it was set to the usual time).

Despite my early start, I'm off to a late Flying start as DH and I have just been to the notary to sign some house-related documents. He missed his train afterwards by about half a minute so we then went for a quick coffee at the station (am still waiting for the caffeine to kick in, though).

Thanks for all your iPhone help; it's interesting to hear what everyone pays. DH seemed very relieved that my iPod is working again, but has agreed that I can ask for an iPhone for my birthday. (I think he's hoping I'll change my mind in the meantime.) I have already been looking into contracts and have helpfully found the best deal for him (?250 for the phone plus ?20 per month, which actually works out slightly cheaper than the free-phone-but-?30-per-month-deal) but he was annoyingly ungrateful and said it will all have changed in six months' time anyway.

Have a hectic afternoon ahead as I have somehow managed to arrange for three of DS's friends plus one of DD1's to come over. In a further moment of madness, I offered to pick them all up (from three different places - and I need to pick up DS from kindergarten too) at around 2 pm, which only gives DD1 and DD2 an hour to have lunch and get all their homework done. What was I thinking?

Right, must try not to think too much about this afternoon and get on with this morning's list instead:

Buy kindergarten lunch tickets done
Notary done
Morning routine
15 min decluttering
Mission done
Polish mirrors
Purge magazines
Finish preparing English lesson
e-mail hotel for confirmation
Find hotel in Chester
e-mail friend re hotel
Check UK bank balance
Pay membership subscription and PII

Love the sound of your Doc Martens candle, Nettie. And lol at us all baring ourselves, feetheart.

Morning .

LOL Linzer at accidentally getting up at 5am . Hope you have plenty of stamina to get through your hectic afternoon!

DS concert was lovely .

Today:
school/work
laundry
beavers/rainbows
buy food
tea
load/unload dw

BBL

Eh up pop pickers

Beautiful day here. So much to do I daren't post a list else I will scare myself silly so going for Nike approach. At least tonight's dinner is marinading in fridge so that's one less thing to think about.

Courage for this afternoon's multiple school runs Linzer
Good luck with your list Nettie and thanks for steps
Hope you weren't working literally ALL night Ellie but wouldn't surprise me
Feetheart oh dear about boss cat, that's what you call an "unfortunate" incident
Yay Makingchanges congrats on your swimming certificate!!
Funambulist couldn't agree more about feelling uncomfortable in eerily neat houses
CheerfulYank I have dumpster
Myhouse well done on getting your ironing done, I'm still battling with mine
JaneyJampot and NicwNacw well done both on your productive days yesterday

Waves to Toffee Whoknows Swan Nicknacks PA Ihate Darts Scatty CBH Blueyeshadow and everyone else I've missed

Now going to follow the advice of Cybercinders in her superlative post yesterday (20:04:13) and step away from screen ...

I think I'll just return to yesterday's list and add "recycling"

Beautiful day here. Mamma Mia is playing but I'm feeling a bit ill and generally worn out by yesterday's late night/ morning after shenangins [sp?), so I need it.

Thoughts of Easter Hols and organisational backup therewith are motivating me. Friday is last day. Then off to Eire on Tues, which is another organisational feat, involving cat sitting, house tidying, fridge sanitizing before we leave.

Ds2 demanded a Reward Chart this morning WhoKnows and Toffee! His morning routine has deterioated so much that I may try it again. He's always in an excellent mood until we ask him to get dressed or get ready for school. It is like dealing with the Old Man of the Sea. Who then sits down politely and plays the piano (he likes that bit of the routine, just not the socks etc....

list
recycling
dishwasher

then everything else....

Feet how awful, good luck with day of cleaning. Hope you buy yourself a big bar of chocolate for afterwards.

I seem to have done lots

but missed lots

stuffs puter under sofa

Well, I came down this morning to find that the freezer door had been left open all night after the DDs had had an argument about ice cream

On the upside, cleaning out the freezer was on the Home Routines schedule for the week, so I can tick something off!

Morning everyone

Off in to work with the boy for a meeting this pm. DD at grans so going to try and do a bit of flying before I go. I am another one who definitely needs to step away from the screen

I started writing this at 9 by the way, and am still sitting here

My list today is therefore short and sweet!

Dishwasher
Washing
Unpack and put away online shopping
Sweep and mop kitchen floor
Take out living room bin
Make packed lunches for DH and I
Organise myself and boy and go to work!
Make soup and savoury scones for tea

Last night: put away washing - no, will do today, honest!
tidy dining room
bins out
clean downstairs loo ready for plumber - new hand basin yay! (hand basin isn't in yet cos he's got to deal with the mess the last people made of the pipework first!)

Tomorrow:
Read book bag book - no - it was so mangled we couldn't read it (and not by DS either)
Strip beds, wash bedding, change beds, put away laundry
Swish & swipe x2
Clean bins
Shiny sink - not a chance - currently covered in brick dust :(
Paperwork/filing - maybe later. Have ordered a letter rack after minor disagreement with DH about filing stuff he still needed
Hotspot on piano - not a chance till plumber's gone
Work!! - about to start

feet - ew! I hope the man does a good job!
janey - :( re freezer. Can you rescue anything?

Waves to all. I really am going to go and do some work now.