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.

Yesterday I did
trimmed lawn
barbecue in garden (kind DH)
watched Mamma Mia with children - what a lovely snuggly film(ds2 got bored though)and went off and danced to music of MM for an hour I want to go to Greece! Am I alone in finding MM better the second time? Perhaps the older and saggier you get the more it makes sense.

Also bought new book called The Pile of Stuff at the Bottom of the Stairs by Christina Hopkinson (?)which dh had alerted me to I was crying with laughter. It is about a woman who decides her husband never does his fair share of housework. There is a brilliant parody of the Flylady website too. And all my friends seem to be satirized there in one way or another... Read it if you dare!

Today
house a mess but determined not to let it get us in a pickle
have been in garden already to get good karma
plan to go to Church
do SATs revision with ds1 whilst DH is here to stop him refuseniking
go for long walk in park somewhere anywhere (Kew or local not sure)
try and extract some summer holiday plans from dh (like pulling teeth)

toffee getting slowcoaches out of house is our bete noire at moment

Good morning everyone,

Sorry for lack of round up last night. I had a diva fit (my corset wouldn?t fit) and wore my dress to the murder mystery, it was scened for the award ceremonys so I didn?t feel out of place. Lovely meal and some booze and I am the murderer. It was a laugh.

My list for today

Washing x 3 full baskets
Find somewhere to put all the stuff that i have left in the kitchen and on top of conservatory couch!
Look at old pictures unearthed
Sort out memory boxes for dc as currently clogging mine
sort out and clean and put new sand in sand tray
Play with dc in the garden.
Try and tidy up somewhat
Dinner at mil today
Dc fed/bathed/bedded
Out at murder mystery party first ever one.

swan one of my friends has a hornby room, he is 50 and has been hoarding all the bits and pieces for years and now has his hornby room. A shed sounds much better to me.
janey brill response from your mum to all your hard work

Be back later to catch up with everyone, enjoy your sunshiney days.

Todays babystep now thats not long is it?

Its also Renew your spirit day

This week we are moving to the Bathroom and laundry room (if your posh) or one other room

Morning all! Have been a very good girl so far this morning!

General tidy downstairs done
Breakfast done and washed up done
DC's beds stripped done
WM on done
Kitchen sink bleached done
DS to dry up voluntarily done
Ironing doing

Rest of list today:-

Finish ironing and put away
More Washing
Mow lawn

Have to get things done this morning as at lunchtime we are going to friends for a BBQ and will spend most of the afternoon there generally having a lovely time.

Makingchanges you are not a million miles away from me. I love York, both mum and dad's family are from there and used to go nearly every week when my grandparents were still alive. It is a beautiful place although never used to see that much of it because we were visiting relatives although I always used to get very excited when my Grandma took us into the city centre and we always had afternoon tea at Betty's. I am guessing your visit to the seaside must involve Scarborough/Whitby somewhere. My mum owns a caravan near Filey and we are going up there for a few days on Monday. Lovely part of the country!

nettie hope you are not toooo hungover!

sr I watched Mamma Mia with DS last night, he loved it and spent most of it dancing around the living room!

Must go and crack on with the ironing before I lose my motivation. Have a good day everyone!

I too love mama mia (have the dvd) .
swan that book is on my must read list .

Yest was very busy. Dh had a much needed day to himself (and his motorbike) , so I cracked on with homework, swimming lesson (including replacing lost swim kit before swim lesson) and ballet class.

Today, however dh has taken dc to the beach to give me chance to catch up . Can't remember the last time I had the house to myself. I'm going to alternate 15min housework/laundry with 15min reading the paper in the garden (as is the flylady way) .

Hi everyone. Sorry I just disappeared. Just returned from Disneyland which was absolutely magical but very hot (brought no sunscreen with us and so burnt ) Am frantically catching up on washing, drying and ironing - thank goodness the sun is still shining! House looks untidy but not unduly dirty as been away but still needs a good declutter. Easter holidays now so FLYing will be sporadical i'm afraid to say but will do my best. Haven't read this thread as so long so no personal messages but hope you are all okay and enjoying this gorgeous weather where you are

Hello, Ive had babyfly steps buzzing in my head for weeks as the house has descended into CHAOS. I am hosting playdates and having family member over in the next two weeks and need to get sorted. I have no excuse I am SAHM but frequently get sidetracked. So crisis cleaning for today (not sure how close to flylady rules but havnt got time to read as have made a start)

Feed DS done muller rice for breakfast anyone?
Engage DS (so I can get one) done - note this included glitter glue on carpet, sequins spilt and paper areoplanes made (blood agent OSO had them) and now 'doing easter pics' [smiles]
Washed and dressed - laters

Room 1 - Our room!
Sort washing into baskets
Clear out stuff for charity
Clear out stuff for chairty (textile recycling too worn clothes)
Remove rubbish
Change bed
Sort through toiletries (must say this has been propelled by the fact I look like a bright red chiney pepper with folds and bumps as I burnt yesterday - house such a mess couldnt find suncream )
Dust windows and two bedsides
Clean windows
Hoover floor
Hoover edges !

Concurrent
Shove laundry through agressively I estimate:
Load 1 in and hung done - we will have towls!
Load 2 in and hung
Load 3 in and hung
Load 5 in and hung
Load 6 in and hung
Note will use 1 hour cycle program not the day for boilwashes and eek will be forced to hang outside and face the unruly disgusting state of garden - also to be sorted for playdate as includes easter egg hunt

I will see how I get on with my yuk out and maybe do another room - the thought of doing DS toys which are incestuous boxes of bob, thomas etc.

HELLO to all

P.S. dont feel sorry for me doing this today, we've had a holiday recently, and the last two days I have done utterly pleasruable things including eating out to avoid the CHAOS. right back in a bit.

That film is fab. Havent watched it in ages. might dig it out this week.

This morning has been spent relaxing and dealing with behaviour. Now that ds is being civilised we are about to go out and run an essential errand. Then i think we might take a detour home via the pet shop so he can coo and aw over the pets he is not allowed. Fur and feather allergies in this family.

This evening will involve laundry and more laundry. Tomorrow will involve crisis cleaning of the downstairs. Thank goodness we dont have Easter holidays yet.

Enjoy the sunshine

Just hung first load of the year out to dry. Rotary dryer fallen over!! can anyone lend me a husband who can set me up a dryer properly!! Please

Apologies for grumbling. I have moved it and fingers crossed so far it has stayed upright. I have only watched mamma Mia once on film perhaps i need to watch it again.

So far today I have

2no loads of washing, one hung out.
Cleaned all garden toys of bird poo and green sludge.
Swept decking
Played briefly with dc in garden
S/s
Cleaned sink
Tidied up all my debri from getting ready to go out last night.
Read a paragraph of a book. first book in over 6 m I wonder if I can get to the end?

Enjoy the rest of your afternoon. Back later for round up

elliepac i am sheffield not york - i think that was myhouse.

Not much flying yesterday boiler and oven now broke. Day have been to uni, been to park and now sat in beer garden supping pints

Ugh! What a day! Neither boy seems to have been able to do anything without falling over and nearly killing himself. All unbelievably tired and stressed. So much for a day of rest...

Still, we got to church if not quite as early as intended. DS2 fell over in creche and bled all over us both. Lovely. Bread, laundry and dinner were done and the hamper has been sorted. I'm rather scared by the idea of tackling the utility room as it's the worst dumping ground in the house. I might call my office/spare room "one other room" and do that this week instead.

Zumba sounds good - I love dancing and desperately need to get fit. Might have to give it a go.

Anyway,
tomorrow:
weekly shop
put away
washing
put away
shine sink
s&s
survive the first day of the holidays!

Nettie - I hope you do manage to read the rest of the book! Reading keeps me sane (ish).
Swan - will check that book out too. :)
scatty the house to yourself, how lovely!

Well, I have had a near perfect afternoon really. We went to a bbq at friends, lovely food, lovely company and lovely wine. . I cannot get over how hot it was today considering it is only early April. BF's garden is a real suntrap and i now have comical red nose syndrome. We left DS there to sleep over, DD is in bed, DH playing computer and I really should be flying but after a lot of food and wine I don't feel like it really so I am going to mnet and generally laze about all evening as I have no work tomorrow!!!!!

Have to be up and at 'em tomorrow as I have quite a lot to do before we head off to the caravan in the afternoon.

makingchanges of course i knew you were in sheffield, just testing you were paying attention . It is myhouse who lives in york you silly billy .

nettie reading is one thing which I absolutely love doing and am hoping to achieve much more of this year in the garden now dd doesn't need to be watched like a hawk. DH actually concreted my rotary dryer into the ground..it don't go nowhere . Covered the concrete up with chippings...you'd never know!

Better go DD is playing up.

Have wicked sore throat so I've been napping on and off all day instead of FLYing. But, I pulled out the stove and the little microwave stand/cookbook shelf in the kitchen to clean behind them. Apparently at some point a bottle of tylenol (like your calpol, right?) fell behind them long ago and spilled gunky purple goo all over. And I didn't know. And now there is all manner of dog hair, etc, stuck to it. And it looks like a science experiment gone wrong. Well. I wiped up quite a bit of it and dumped cleaner on to soak while we are shopping. I'm going to get some baskets and whatnot in an attempt to organize our entryway.

Also have done loads and loads of laundry and a 15 minute room rescue on our living room.

Have a great rest of the day everyone! Suppose it's late evening there...not quite 2 p.m. here.

Ugh...work tomorrow! I can't wait for summer vacation. That's the thing about working at a school; I count down to holidays just like the kids do. :)

Oooh, may get a clothesline today. We just have a dryer. Our summers are so humid and hot (upwards of 90 degrees...um, 32 your temp) that it usually takes awhile for things to dry, but still.

Hello eveyrone.. Just catching up. EVeryone very cheery on here ...

Had great weekend (bit of a party) catering for the masses. Bit cream-crackered now but house in lovely post-visitor state (fresh flowers and posh table linen) which won't last but nice while it does.

Managed (just) to whack the house in to submission last week (save for wreck of home office - although that is looking a little bit clearer). Have dry-cleaned/washed/put away all winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves etc and sorted out all of dd's summer clothes and given away items that no longer fit. Surface cleaned boudoir - all drawers and wardrobes emptied out, cleaned and re-filled - but needs proper clean now. have also scrubbed all laundry paniers, bins, drying racks, recycling containers. Garden weeded and terrace scrubbed - pots washed out - and replanted.

Oh gawd, home office decluttering now looking inevitable (dd school holiday allowing) ...going to need those tips you linked Nettie so thanks for all the round-ups. Drunken round-ups especially appreciated . Glad you sorted your rotary dryer and corsetry issues btw!! Have image now of very racy corset spinning around at high speed in your garden!! Arf at grandparents eating cats btw.

Swan at Monty poster

Good luck with the laundry CBH

LadyinPink absolutely boiling here today too!!

Ellie ooh, I love Betty's. Me and my fellow grooms (gap year job - a thousand years ago) used to compete at the Yorkshire show but never won anything (despite hours and hours of prep) so our slavedriver boss used to buy us an annual consolatory ginger cake from there!

Hope you enjoy your trip to N. France/Belgium. Visiting Ypres is an incredibly moving experience.

Facing exactly the same protect v liberate issue with dd atm (she is nearly eight) who wants to visit local (family run/artisan) tiny shop by herself about 3 mins down the road on foot...but she has to cross two small roads to get there ....and her focus is not good at the best of times!! Although I can see her for nearly entire way, friend of mine who lives around the corner has kindly volunteered to hide in her car about half way along!! She'll be wearing dark glasses and we'll be communicating by walkie talkie!!

BlueEyeshadow hope your ds oK!

Janey yay re your's mum's positive comments!

Hope you had a lovely picnic Toffee

Thanks for the inspiration CheerfulYank

Huge waves to Namechange100 Myhouse Makingchanges NicwNacw Feetheart and Scatty and well done with the Flying

Right, going to have the evening off tonight (House on the telly) to gird my loins in advance of office decluttering/dd entertaining tomorrow. DD massively over-tired tonight so hoping she'll want a calm day ...she loves Mama btw - she must have watched it 10 times ... I think an eleventh may be in order ...

See you in the morning!

x posts

Hope you feel better soon CheerfulY

Waves to anyone I've missed ...

Good evening, ahhh a nice seat.

ellie has had a wonderful flying morning and a fantastic bbq afternoon,including her nose enjoy your holiday incase I don?t catch up with you before.
blue had a tramatic dc falling over kinda day and is going to pretend she has not a utility room and go somewhere else instead. Best way if its going to frighten you don?t go there. Or just do 15 minutes debunking a day in the room your pretending not to have.
makingchanges is cold, dirty and hungry but she is having some beer. Good work enjoy.
chb relaxing, training and cooing over animals that have no intention of making it through the front door. My kind of animal. love other peoples pets, much cheaper too.
namechange welcome back with your ginormous list, love holiday and two days of ?utterly pleasurable things?
ladyinpink welcome back, we did Disneyland in feb, was fab and hectic, tooks weeks to recover. Glad you had a nice time.
scatty is truly flying, hope you managed to intersperse your cleaning with renewing your spirit. I think you deserve one of ellies flying stars of the day.
swan had us all humming abba songs all day. I also have a dh who shrugs shoulders at ideas of holiday plans.
my house has a broken fridge but ice cream at the seaside will solve that. Hope you had a fab day
janeyjampot Zumba does sound great but I always shy away from those things due to complete lack of co-ordination, am loving the fact that it has taken you so long to get co-ordinated.
sc has been flying, entertaining and is about to depart of freedom by walkie talkie. Lol at racy corset spinning round garden.
cheerfulyankhas been getting ahead of the school work by creating a science experiement behind her stove. Maybe the results will be some new wonder drug to cure sore throats. hope you have a good day.

I had a lovely dinner at in laws, followed by a play in the play park and two very tired, one highly emotional dd put to bed. Quite sweep hear and there, toys in from garden, couch straightened. Still cant see kitchen top which I suppose you could call my laundry area, but it gets so bad not ever laundry can fit, still have dislodged contents of conservatory on it. Ah well that all I can do today, washing on, hoping to put a load out on move rotary dryer, think garden might look like mole hole heaven when ive finished.

Tomorrow we find out where we are on preferred primary school waiting list nervous.

Anyhoo im off to find some lovely links for tomorrow. Hope you all have nice relaxing evening.

inspirational quotes, i think cheerfulyank will be brill at this love the mantras

This weeks zone bog down in the valleeoo

missions should update early tomorrow

Finally sneak peak, should update tomorrow too

take care of youse

Very quick check in to wave hello and see how everyone's getting on. Having my parents to stay is taking up a lot of time - especially as DH is away and I keep having to empty the bin myself

I am in Selby, myhouse so very near to you. My DDs go to school in York.

Good luck with the school waiting list Nettie. Will be thinking of you, having been through it with secondary last year.

today
bought picnic
park, long walk, dog indoctrination, picnic in park (is my nose burnt? will have to nourish it with rose night cream)
petrol in the car
children dance in garden under sprinkler
children to 6pm church, dd impromptu altar server a surprising reversal as she had a tantrum before setting off
children danced around for an hour after supper singing more Abba very raucously
read book on Knights and Castles to ds2
rescued hall, rescued shoes, rescued school bags strewn around
swept floors x 2
recycling out
a few old saucepans washed...
plan made for tomorrow (invited friend for dd = peace and happiness)
departure on Tues to foreign climes alarming me slightly (trying not to think about it overly, but I suppose I need to get some Euros.

long discussion with dh about homework, he believes in it, I realise I don't

otherwise given up on tidying house
I need a new book now! Preferably a long series so less decisions...

Nettie what a whirlwind you are.
Cheerful sorry you have sore throat
SC glad guests had a lovely time, well done on winter stuff away and cleaned

Blue oh poor you, hope other parishioners nice to you. The nice thing about church is that I arrive feeling like the worst mother in the world havign fallen out with kids in the battle to get them out of the door (like you wondering how this can possibly be a day of rest?), and then I see all my friends looking equally worn down (at 6pm especially!), and then we all cheer up It's a relief to be there.

Hi, just a quick update.

Today I have washed, dried and ironed a load (have got a bit more backlog from friday to add to tomorrows). DH washed the dishes and wiped the kitchen. Thats it as far as flying is concerned.

Tomorrows list:

1. start load that it is washing machine, hang it up
2. ironing for 1hr to do earlier load and backlog
3. towels washed and dried
4. short trip to supermarket to stock the new fridge
5. wipe down sides
6. load washing machine for Tuesday

Probably wont have much time to do much more due to kids holidays and keeping a 6yr old and 3 yr old entertained. In fact Im just going to work on my daily and weekly routines for the next 2 weeks then get back to decluttering once the kids are at school. So much easier to take them to school then do some before picking DD up at 12.

Anyway off to bed now. night night, will catch up with what everyone else has been up to tomorrow.

Today:
Scrubbed Tylenol goo from kitchen floor
Sorted all my cooking magazines and put some away for recycling
Wiped down my appliances
Still washing, folding, and putting away Mt. Dirty Clothing
Got cork panels to put up on the inside of my armoire doors for pinning up bills and schedules and such like (I feel so efficient!)
Went shopping for new shoes...got these , my absolute favorite thing ever
Picked up new underwear and shorts for DS...summer, here we come!
Found a smaller dish drainer that actually fits in one side of my sink, leaving my counter less cluttered
Baked a pan of brownies with homemade chocolate frosting and big happy bright sprinkles
Shined Sink
Decided I'm calling in sick tomorrow. My throat feels like it's been rubbed with sandpaper and DS is feverish. I'm going to sit at home and clean and mumsnet all day, and will I feel guilty? Noooooooooope! :o

Have a lovely morning everyone! :)