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.

Hello to *Sc, Nettie, Linzer, CHB, Cheerfulyank, Toffee, Whoknows (or is it witch now, I can't keep up), Ellie, and everyone else.

This has been a manic week for me. Lost use of PC as DP brought work home (lots of), and any time I had was spent searching for holidays. We've booked a cottage in June for Dorset.

Kids started Easter Hols on Monday, but was at work until Weds. Come Thursday, well... Loads of washing done, emptied kitchen cupboards and spring cleaned, getting rid of stuff I no longer use in the process. I can see my worktops now, cos there's room in the cupboards to put things away .

More of the same yesterday, and also stuff like mending a lovely basket bag with a drawstring lining that I use as my summer shopping tote bag. I've promised myself to finish off my outstanding craft projects, and so far, so good.

Today, I went shopping with dcs, left ds with his grandad (and nana, she's stayed home with toothache) and went into town with DD. She had some money for clothing, and at nearly 11 is beginning to show some definite preferences (I steered her away from some stuff.....). We had coffee with cousins etc at the coffee shop, and got some bits before collecting DS from grandparents after a chat.

Mum is going to come up to my house for the RW, as dad will most likely be glued to sport. A couple of my close cousins may come up for coffee & cake too, so I'll have to get the baking stuff out .

I am now waiting for the freshly mopped floor in the kitchen to dry so I can go back and prep tea (crackers, cooked meats, cheese, salad, nothing special but I CBA to cook today).

Tomorrow, we'll be going to a local National Trust place for the Easter Egg hunt. The only reason DP will be off work tomorrow is because of the Sunday Trading laws (size of business). I have to say that we regularly drive past places like Tescos, and DPs work on Easter Sundays and there are still people who don't seem to understand that they are shut by law on these days, they are still driving in especting them to be open! Despite the big signs up!!!! [bushock]

And now DD is crying because she bounced me into letting her try her hand at making cookie so she could use the cutters that nana bought her. Unfortunately, she involved her friend who was also here earlier, and started making a dough too soft to use the cutters for! The dough is now in a sausage shape in the freezer firming up, and I'll cut it into slices to avoid wasting it... I was otherwise occupied with tasks around the house.

I'd already told her I wasn't baking today, but I've now promised to look for a more suitable recipe (for another day, it's way too late now). However, I feel the cutters are not really suitable at all.

Hello everyone. Hope everyone is having a good easter weekend.

Ive not been on for a what feels like ages as Ive not done anything. Yesterday I couldnt find the salt crystals in the supermarket, but did buy some washing machine cleaner so used that instead. Im still going to keep a look-out so if anybody can help me in the right direction, I would be very appreciative.

Ive not any laundry at all so will be having a catch-up. I have however, been upto date with wiping down sides so still have a cleanish house, just need to get some more stuff done. Ive still not done the back garden, Ive decided to wait until the kids go back to school next week till Ive do that, its much much easier.

I have a small list for tomorrow:

1. wash and dry towels
2. iron my backlog
3. bedding.

Thats it. I still wont be doing any washing of clothes as such as Im not in most of Monday so wont be able to get them all ironed and dried.

On Tuesday I can get some more things onto my list as the children are back at school, only for 3 days, but I might be able to get a lot of stuff done over those 3 days. Here's hoping anyway.

Will be back tomorrow (assuming I manage to do things that is)

I need some inspiration!

Is there anyone here whose house used to be a complete tip and is now lovely? There's just so much stuff in this house and no one picks up after themselves and there are dishes and laundry everywhere and torn up linoleum because we're redoing the floor and I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack.

HELP!

Good evening everyone.

We had a lovely day, lazy morning, trip to garden centre, home and I successfully packed up the tent myself [proud of me emotion]. Had friends over, swim, dinner, play park. I have so far tidied the garden. (Lotsa stuff dumped in conservatory), washing machine on timer to be ready first thing, dishwasher emptied and restocked, washing folded. DC went straight to sleep and im about ready for one too. [bugrin]

My list
Sweep floors-done
s/s-done
Wm/hang out-done
Dc dressed and me-done
Trip to garden centre-done
Home to play in garden and probably pack up tent. I need the practise but I think ds is going to protest very loudly about it. Maybe a trip to the park after that.-done-done
Must make dinner hmmm or try and find some rolls and chicken for bbq.-take away.

cheerful I would love to say mine is wonderful now but its not. it?s a work in progress and I reckon it always will be. We have so much stuff too but in the 15th months since I started flying things have definitely improved. For a while when I felt like decluttering was going nowhere. I used to do a cleaning mission so I could be proud of that little difference each day. Baby step [bugrin] stick in there.
goddesstoffee cool lie in. I?m sorry so funny goddess has thing to do. [bugrin] I dream of child free time to sort it all out. Only ever get it if im sick [buhmm] Gotta love the ooo can we keep him he is cute.
chb wow well done on early night and lie in. It was good, I think I am almost confident to take both dc away one my own. Which is my aim as dh works all school holidays and ds starts school next sept so I hope to take them away from time to time.
ellie lovely to see you, yes holidays are for rest is a load of blueberries [bugrin] sorry washing machine is on the blink. I would recommend kicking it just for a bit of relief. Or you could use the to burn the dirt off clothes. Hope you have nice time with uncle and at 40th if you go.
darts nice to see you. Well done on kitchen cupboards and craft projects. Sounds like a busy house. DH works all easter almost every night and everyday too. Hope you have alovely day
myhouse I always use soda crystals,can get them at the range or I think I found some in a pound shop.

I wish you all a Happy Happy Easter,[bugrin] with easter egg hunts and family galore. Have a fab time.

If you get too much chocolate you could always use my little friend her to melt it down and turn it into crispie cakes [bugrin]

can i win a prize for using the so often but never in relation to the patron saint of england? [bugrin]

Linkie McLinkies

love it swishing and swiping

Sunday is renew your spirit day so no missions.

We finally managed half a batch of cookies (still made 18 though). At this moment in time, there are 4 left [bugrin]

They taste alright (double [bugrin]).

Anyone for [bubiscuit]?

yes please and what recipe did u use? the only recipie i have is for gingerbread men or cinnamon men and they get a bit boring after a while.

Been decluttering my room and the office. unfortunately couldnt do one without the other. Not great and neither finished. I have yet to find my bed under the clutter so it wont be an early night tonight. but progress has been made in both areas.
Hope the weather holds out for all but hope the promised thunderstorm hits here overnight to shift some pollen out of the air. Cant beat a good thunder storm.

Evening all, lovely day here, spent all afternoon at dneice's 7th birthday party in GPs garden, which luckily has plenty of shade. DCs ran themselves ragged grownups all sat in the shade.
Cheerful - my house is still prone to untidyness but is HUGELY better than it was 18 months ago when i joined this thresd. decluttering on a regular basis makes a lot more storage space available for ttidying, plus I have enforced a few rules on my untidy family which are all shoes on racks, no clothes to be left downstairs, all crockery to be taken back to kitchen by the user the next time they leave the room they have taken it to. Also one for me as I do all the paperwork, which is to deal with it all the day it appears, even if it only means opening letters and putting them into a to do or filing tray or recycling/shredding bin. i have found this all really helps.

Off to bed now, night night.

Morning.

Looks like it could be another lovely day here. Not much sleeping again last night and about to hit the coffee via an iv not doing anything proper until 9am. am on strike until then. After then the list looks like this:

bathroom - toilet, floors
landing - remove recycling, put away bag
lounge - ironing, folding, put clothes away, return laundry basket to bathroom, return stuff dragged out to be dealt with back to its hidey hole
Kitchen - make rhubarb crumble, make sure it is tidy
My room - finish dealing with the floor
office - just more bits done
Garden - sweet peas tied up and out for hardening off
Laundry

which is far more stuff then i can be bothered with tbh. I NEED coffee.

Have lovely days. Happy Easter!

Ok, have been working and mumsnetting all day and night. (It's 1 a.m. here)

Bathroom totally tidied, scrubbed, mopped, everything in its proper bin
DH took DS and did the big food shop and took him for his hair cut
Got the Easter oufits laid out for tomorrow (well, today actually(
Beds were made but people are sleeping in them now
Washed, dried, and put away something like 7 loads of laundry
Cleaned living room, organized bookshelves, dusted, swept, mopped
All garbage taken out and bins wiped
And of course in there somewhere were meals, bedtime routine etc.

Whew! I can do this. I can do this. 15 minutes at a time. :)

Happy Easter everyone!

Oh and hid DS's Easter basket and whatnot [busmile]

Happy Easter everyone.

darts that?s a result on the cookies [bugrin]. If there are only 4 left they must be good. [bugrin]
chb hope the thunder came and systems are a bit better and I hope you found your bed again at some point last night [bugrin] I?m on my scond
whoknows sounds fab, dc get to run round and adult get to chill.
cheerful gosh girlie you were busy [bugrin] 7 loads of washing

I made a start last night on the dreaded bookcases. Need to do more tomorrow. Got to make it at least presentable by Tuesday evening as I am hosting a meeting and all these people have never been to my house before. (if people habve been at least once I just to a quick tidy up but for the first time I stress myself righ t out. [unconfused]

So todays list

Washing hung out already
Dw to fill
Clothes to put away in every room of the house
Tidy conservatory removing remainder of camping stuff
Toys tidy up required
Find somewhere to put dc fancy books for supervised readings.
Put up easter pictures [bublush]
Find instructions and make braised beef for dinner, roast potatoes and carrots etc.
Attend easter egg hunt on the park
Try and limit how much chocolate ds eats and discard uneaten chocolate left all over house by dd who tries but really doesn?t like chocolate. If I don?t get shop of it either ds or myself end up eating it.

I think that is enough to be getting on with. Time to nag dh out of bed and to work.

Happy easter [bugrin] [bugrin] [bugrin] [bugrin] [bugrin]

Well done Cheerful, it can be done. You too CHB - busy, busy day [busmile]

Very little done here yesterday as spent 4 hours in middle of night awake for no reason at all [busad]. However did make Hedgerow Jelly with frozen fruit from the Autumn, houmus and a roasted tomato/pepper thing - had to do something to keep awake and it was too hot to garden [busmile]
Seems cooler today after the thunderstorm during the middle of dinner yesterday - carried on eating under the parasol, very British!

Not sure what today will bring, apart from chocolate.
Need to sort Olympic tickets, make meringue (have many egg whites), plant things and go for walk with SiL. Better do a little Flying as well just to keep on top of things.

Have a Happy Easter [bugrin]

hate to admit it Nettie but i havent had any sleep yet [bublush] very awake and in a good mood. Just need another to motivate me to tackle the chores. I a very very good mood though. Its all good and gravy as dsis would say. [bugrin]

Happy Easter Flybunnies. Lots of chocolate has been eaten here. DS2 is running round in a chocolate-stained vest, looking very uncared for, but happy. Mum is here and we are all going out somewhere soon.

Hope you all have a lovely day.

[bugrin] [bugrin] [bugrin]

You are all obviously far too busy in RL to be posting here!

We did go out, but DS2 has been a pain all day, so it wasn't exactly the relaxing idyll I'd imagined. Huge reserves of patience were required. I wonder if his booster jabs have made him feel rough [buhmm]. Roll on bedtime...

My kitchen hotspot is out of control and my ironing pile has suddenly taken over the bedroom again . But at least my kitchen cupboards are tidy .

Off to serve dinner now.

[bugrin]

Ooooo thank you toffee.

I havent been busy in rl - well unless you call filling the washroom with soap suds and water busy. I have been doing a good impression of the walking infection. Fecking hayfever.

Hope ds2 gives you a peaceful evening.

right that's it folks I am off to bed. completely knackered. night.

Evening everyone!

I have absolutely no flying to report whatsoever but have had a lovely family day! We did Easter Egg Hunt at unmentionable o'clock this morning, then out to the Lincolnshire Steam Railway and a walk round a gala with mini engines etc. Followed by a picnic in the sunshine and then on to a local nature reserve to get up close and personal with all manner of birds and have a general wander. We all then went to mum's for tea and general fun and got back here about 7 having left about 8.

I am fecking knackered [bugrin].

Would it be very very wrong of me to nick some of DD's chocolate based upon the fact she has shitloads and won't be able to tell I have nicked some. I am saving her from childhood obesity, it's all about the love you see. I'd post in AIBU but have not had enough wine yet [bugrin].

chb hayfever sucks, I am only allergic to a couple of things mainly rapeseed and that funny grass/weed like thing whose name I know not. Get some sleep!

toffee sorry DS2 has been in a PITA, jabs can do funny things to people.

feet we had a huge thunderstorm here last night too, right in the middle of DBIL's 40th bday bbq!

Got to dash, DD playing up, how she has got the fecking energy too I don't know!

Good evening CHB, Toffee and Feetheart. Everyone else must be enjoying the festivities.

I am going to make this short as have a hundred and one things to do and starting to feel a bit panicky [buconfused] although i cant get myself to put my book down long enough to get on with it.

Maybe and accomplished list might motivate me.

Washing hung out already andother load done and dry.
my bed stripped and made. still to do ds and dd.
Dw to fill-done x 3
Clothes to put away in every room of the house-nope done dd
Tidy conservatory removing remainder of camping stuff-nope
Toys tidy up required-nope
Find somewhere to put dc fancy books for supervised readings-squeezed into already crammed bookcase.
Put up easter pictures -done
Find instructions and make braised beef for dinner, roast potatoes and carrots etc.-done not bad if i say so myself
Attend easter egg hunt on the park-done
Try and limit how much chocolate ds eats and discard uneaten chocolate left all over house by dd who tries but really doesn?t like chocolate. If I don?t get shop of it either ds or myself end up eating it.-done
also thoroughly cleaned bathroom this morning.
had inlaws over for dinner alfreco on clean chairs and table. [bugrin]

so still to do the above, plus sweep floors, mop floors, clean any slobbers off couches, tidy kitchen remove any lingering clutter and chuck in spare room. Pray spare room turns into spar oom to hold all clutter. Also have to go to the shops tomorrow, need wine and cake and crisps. Hoover stairs and hall. bathe filthy garden playing dc, plant some seeds in dc new plant pots, occupy dc with something other than tv. Have a lie in till 9.

feetheart thats wierd i was awake for 3 hours last night no reason at all. mmm love meringues but never make them. I never do anything that means i have leftover egg white. Hope you had a lovely day
chb hope you get a good night sleep tonight. Hope hayfever improves. I dont know how you function on no sleep, perhps i better switch back to caffinated coffee. would it help progress? [bugrin]
toffee mmm virtual mini eggs thanks, do they have virtually no calorific value? Sorry ds was a bit trying, dd was here too. ooo patience is not a virtue i have loads off. After almot 3 solid days of garden time i have hotspots going off all over the place.

Huge easter bunny waves to anyone popping in the rest of the night. Im off torun round like a looney trying to be productive [bugrin]

Linkie McLinkies
Home blessing hour Monday, on easter monday good luck.

Homework is reading today, there will be a test later bugrin

off to the living room

sneak peak when it updates tomorrow is here

have good monday see you tomorrow night if not before

Hello, and happy Easter if it's not too late [busmile]

I seem to be falling off the Flylady wagon, but I hope to be able to get back on it on Tuesday when everything gets back to normal.

On the upside I have not stopped swishing & swiping, I have no outstanding ironing, and the garden looks a lot better.

On the downside the kitchen hotspot, which all belonged to other people, is now on the bottom step, the kitchen is a bombsite of dirty dishes, the washing needs putting away and the whole house is in urgent need of a hoover.

FLYing is extremely difficult when the normal day-to-day routine is disrupted. I think the biggest problem is having DH around instead of at work, because we want to do things together and I don't have time on my own to deal with the domestic chaos that gathers around us all the time.

Other than that, it's been a lovely day, and we are really enjoying the Easter break. I hope everyone else is also having a good time.

Just checking in, got back from ILs this afternoon and the house is a right state, the DCs are chattering away and I need some food. Just been out for a run in order to justify the amount of chocolate I have eaten today. I am now on week 9 of the Couch to 5k, which mean I ran for 30 mins tonight, I would never have believed 3 months ago that I could do this .

Will catch up properly tomorrow, hope you have all had a good day today.

Right, no cookies left from this batch, I managed to get the last one

We've had a lovely day, went to our local NT place for the easter egg trail and a good walk through the gardens, a good lunch, play in the adventure playground (well, I didn't play, too fat to get on stuff) take a trip through the house, leisurely drive home and a relaxing .

Good evening to CHB, Toffee, ellie, nettie, Feetheart, janeyjampot and anyone I've missed.

I did manage to shine the sink this morning, before going out , and also got a load of washing on.

Tomorrow will be a more usual day as DP is at work.

So:
some shopping
last of the washing
cooking/baking (some bread this time, and the home made pasta sauce that everyone likes as I will freeze some)
finish mending bag as first attempt didn't look right (fave bag, don't want to chuck it if it can be mended)
Etc, etc.