Fledglings dreaming of a FLY Christmas - December's fledgling flyers thread

[BlueEyeshadow]

Welcome flyers one and all, old and new, to the December thread! As the advent calendars go up, let's beat the CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and FLY through Christmas into the New Year (or have a go at it, anyway...)!

We take a three-pronged approach (and a large pinch of salt) to the FLYlady system:

-babysteps
-babysteps and 15 mins' decluttering
-babysteps and missions

The website is here: FlyLady - if you haven't had a look at it for a while it's worth a gander as the design and layout have changed for the better recently.

Whatever you do, though, don't sign up for the emails or your inbox will be bursting within seconds. Or so I'm led to believe... I will post the links to the babystep and mission for each day (the first ones to follow this evening) and there'll be plenty of chat, , and along the way.

A big thank you to Darkness for leading us through November with so much fun!

3inanBIRD Oh well:

A box of paper work, some needs shredding /filing - I hate hate sorting this
Easter decs - shove in understairs cupboard
Craft stuff - shove in understairs cupboard
DIY tools - I leave them out cos I know I'll need them for all those jobs...
Two baskets of toiletries that are occasionally used - face masks etc
DS - random toys inc iggle piggle (meh)

A basket of clean clothes that I live out of, sweaters and leggings, wardrobe full of dresses that I hand onto cos they is naice

Ice Cream Palour, opened but never played with (since last Christamas, should I put in for Charity I know DS would like it if I made the effort to do it with him but I never do

Pack the nice dresses in a box except your 3 fave. Put your clean clothes in the wardrobe. Stash the dresses box under the bed/ on top of the wardrobe.

Do the paperwork 15 min every evening in front of the telly. Set a timer. It will be finished within a week.

Put all your tools in the empty basket and store it somewhere out of sight.

Put ice cream game in ds room. Explain to him if he helps you tidy for 15 min a day for 1 week you can play with it at the weekend as a reward. Can he help with the shredding - kids love that!

Sorry that sounded bossy - all just suggestions!

Great suggestions, Bird - can you come and sort out my house next, please?

Agree that 15 mins at a time is the way to deal with paperwork. I've managed to get through quite an overwhelming pile without feeling too overwhelmed by using my timer.

Can i be in line for bird's approach to decluttering pretty please. You make is sound so easy and manageable

Ha, post your lists and I'll tell you how to do them! much easier than clearing up my own --
crap--

Your are an absolute treasure 3inaBird not bossy at all. Your question forced me think to think about my list of piles and it did become clearer, puts a stop to the procrastination.

I struggle with the dresses, some of which I havnt ever worn, they are all occasion dresses - I will return to this topic.

Just done a room rescue in Kitchen I think have de wrappered and crumbed benches, stacked dishes and washed half of them. Got rubbish and recycling to put out. Stuck washer on. Have decide what to do for tea - chorizo sausage casserole with rice, chop itall up n bung in approach me thinks.

This thread is great. Will do the shredding thing, I tried buring it in my hacienda thing on patio and it just kept blowing out! Yes DS will do the shredding he loves machines that make noise, and if I let him a sticker, well there will be no stopping him!

I think my biggest problem is that this is a shared household and there is a lot of working against each other going on, or i am just left to deal with it all. There is a forgetting i am not super woman, or a miracle worker. Today I feel like murder might be commited but have done the dumping in boxes out of sight thing and left the witch to get one with what she wants doing. Will shove hoover around later but hiding. Will probably be all wrong but fuck it.

So going to do:
put printers into office
clear enough space on desk for printers
put dirty washing into laundry baskets
grab shower - hot cold hot cold, feel like death might be improved by this
Finish wrapping presents and get them out of my room

As i have drunk best part of two litres of coke today i shall be flying late if not all night. So hoping that will do:
Get ds' room tidy
get christmas tree up and decorated in ds' room
Finish writing christmas cards
finish knitting scarf which is a present
Try to get ds to write rest of his cards
Rubbish out to bins
recycling out to bins

Declutter training stuff drawer. - essential can't get the blooming thing shut atm, sure i don't need half a ton of holey training tights either....

Ouch, never mind the other person/ people you share with - you want to feel calm and in control in your own home, right? So you are doing it for you and your ds, not anyone else.

Right, went to bank and post office (EPIC queue!) and also bought TIMER!!! Very flylady

So just going to finish my cuppa and then the Dcs and I will do some timed flying:

5 min living room rescue
5 min to put way dishes
5 min on our bedroom
10 min on laundry.

Slightly easier said then done when one of the people has had another nervous break down recently, refusing any meds to help and is a vicious bitch at her worst. Sometimes things are lovely. Today she is in bitch mode.

In the meantime, poor ds has got caught in the middle of the shouting and is hiding in a corner watching tv, I have gone on strike but sorting tea for me and ds, and the witch is finishing tidying everything she wants done to her very precise analy retentive levels. Tbh i don't think there would be this level of anomosity if it wasn't for the attitude and approach taken to the situation by the other people involved. You organised this party weeks ago why the fuck are you only sorting things out the morning of the party and yelling at me about stuff you havent done? Especially when i have been doing everything i can to help you?

Seeing as i am banned from downstairs later, i will have plenty of time to get stuff up here done. Will focus on getting that done and the fact that after today alot of downstairs will be tidy, decorated for christmas and clean. Then the upstairs can be focused on later this week.

Aargh, my lists just seem to keep getting longer and longer. So I am havinga 5 minute break. I have been out for 3 hours, shopping, getting quotes for new tyres for the car, getting the DCs from school, more shopping (presents for their teachers, for each other, and complicated procedures involving a helpful lady in a toy shop to buy a present for me (awww!).

Welcome back Bigeyes, it's always nice to see people come back to the thread but there are so many of us now I don't always remember everyone, I was here a year ago but I have namechanged (was Mrs DInky). And yes, this wins my vote for nicest thread I have ever been on.

Got to go the DCs are yelling at each other. anyone?

We did a 5 min rescue in living room, another in dining room, now had to stop and watch cars cos little one was yelling - but bigger one loves the timer and helped really well!

Right just using a bt of affirmation here, I get to do some 'done's'

W & D (me plus DS) done
Breakfast done
School run done
Checked all finances online done

Main Bedroom
Declutter main bedroom done only things that room in there now
Dust high and low, polish drawers done
Clean windows done
Change bedding done
Hoover done

School run pick up done
Extra - Take rubbish to tip done
Extra - Take bag x3 to Charity Shop done

DS Room - no chance today
Declutter and straigten up a bit
Dust high and low
Clean windows
Change bedding
Hoover

Bathroom
Tidy done
Change towls done
Clean tiles to shoulder height
Clean all fittings
Clean window and mirrors

Landing
Dust high and low
Hoover
Straighten airing cupboard
Make note of light fittings bulbs (grrrrr)

Spare room/Nursery
Store baby clothes done
Store any clutter not able to be allocated - trying to avoid achieved

Kitchen - There is still much more decluttring to do in here
Dishes done
Clear out fridge done
Shove laundry around 2 loads done and hung
Put out rubbish done
Put out recycling done

Made casserole done

On the up side I have wrapped and delivered most family presents, All DS and DH present shopping done, tree is up done but still have to do cards for posting and two parcels for posting.

You'll think im nuts but I have a small amount of decorating and DIY jobs to do, I am nesting afterall and have two baby stuff orders to chase up! and err if I can get a dishwasher fitted I will be laughing!

Right rest over, onward and upwards....

Hi everyone (hugest waves)

Right list up date:

put printers into office done
clear enough space on desk for printers done
put dirty washing into laundry baskets done and decluttered the clutter being stored in one of laundry baskets (light/dark separate bins)
grab shower - hot cold hot cold, feel like death might be improved by this done and it did make me feel a bit better.
Finish wrapping presents and get them out of my room
Get ds' room tidy decided ds could do this himself and he has done over half tonight and pulled out a load for stuff to be rehomed
get christmas tree up and decorated in ds' room - promised for tomo when his room is finished. found tree and decorations for this to happen
Finish writing christmas cards
finish knitting scarf which is a present
Try to get ds to write rest of his cards -hahahahahaha fail
Rubbish out to bins
recycling out to bins
Declutter training stuff drawer.
Put ironed clothes away
take bed apart
put box of cards away
put bed back together.

Things have calmed down here. I am hiding out up stairs and final preps are being made down stairs. Looks nice so at least that is a good place to start with from tomo. Post party tidy up is not my problem and i won't be doing it.

evening all
am still here...just! not much FLYing for past few days and hanging on by a thread really....
DC all so ridiculously over tired and grumpy. DD3 in traditional total meltdown mode due to all disruption of this time of year....
Just dealt with horrendous poo incident with ds2(will spare the details) and as I was showering him dd2 was downstairs throwing up having said earlier she didnt feel too good....sigh...
Ds2 and dd3 and 4 really need an early night but are refusing all attempts to persuade them to go to sleep.....
Work still TOTALLY chaos.....
Have had enough really.
I do love Christmas on many levels, but I always end up just a bit overwhlemed at this time of year and wishing it was all over.....
Am going to ignore chaos of house tonight and have early night with my book as I am feeling too fed up and emotional to tackle much else...hopefully tomorrow will bring a calmer more motivated me.
Will try and catch up with you all....hope everyone doing OK...

Hiya all!

Im back!

I wont do personals as there has A LOT of chat since I have been on! But i have read the thread and I must say birds advice has been very impressive!

DD's birthday party went well! And I'm just about on top of the bomb that my house turned into during preparations and the aftermath of it all!

Got back from painting tots to find the dog had ripped up the hall carpet and was starting on the underlay I need to buy him another dog cage have been avoiding it as I liked the idea of him being normal enough to be left in the house for a whole hour without him redecorating appears not!

Ta Da today:
food shop, and cleaned out fridge
cleaned bathroom
hoovered
cleaned kitchen
washed up/ shined sink
washed and dried laundry *2
went to painting tots
walked dog
tidied toys

I felt like I had done loads until I wrote that list! Still to do tonight,

Put shower curtain up
Sort toys
put mine and DP laundry away
dust
shower and bed!

Tomorrow there's gunna be a HUGE list!

BB tomorrow!

Evening all

List update except to say hope atmosphere improves at home ouch and hope DCs get better OFM and others don't come down with it.

I'm exhausted from my un-flylady attack of my lounge but feel better for it too. DD told me that it looks lovely when its tidy (I think shes implying its usually not didn't manage to finish it but gave up at tea-time and am leaving it to finish tomorrow.

• Sort Wii games and put away - Done
• Tidy off craft table and put away - Done
• Sort and declutter toys - hopefully make some room for new ones at christmas - Done two black bags full (Evil mummy)
• Declutter hotspot at end of settee done
• declutter dds chair of dumped rubbish from DHs tidying done
• print out instruction manual for carpet cleaner and clean the two rugs - Printed instructions but didn't clean carpet
• Tidy top of fish tank
• Mop and hoover all wooden floors - Done
• Find somewhere for floor lamp to go so xmas tree can go in its place - done
• Where will playmobile go??????????? Done

So tomorrow I need to tidy tpp of fish tank and clean carpets with carpet shampoo thingy. I've also got Brownies Christmas Party and DDs christmas performance so tomorrow will be busy.

Ok off for a bit of a relax - Night all

woaa, super huge lists from everyone.
I worked this evening so now house is messy and I must at least sort out kitchen before bed. DH taking dc1 to preschool tomorrow so means morning routine's a bit easier. Have lost track of what baby step I'm supposed to be on

Evening all,

OFM - hope the DCs are better soon.
Lauren - glad the party went well
Abird - you have inspired me to do 15 mins worth of shredding tonight
Ouch - I also placed the word FAIL against "get DS to write the rest of his Christmas cards" today.

A busy day here, I didn't post a list so will do a quick one here to see if I actually got very far.

School garden - 1/2 hour - done
Go for run - done
Shower and clean bathroom on return - done except bath, as I put all the stuff off the floor in the bath to clean the floor and then forgot to do the bath itself
Wipe kitchen counters and sweep/mop floor - done
Hoover - fail, lounge is covered with pine needles from puting tree up yesterday
Find somewhere to stash the toys that were moved to make way for said tree - about 80% done
Write DD's birthday invitations - done
Get quotes for new tyres - done
Get photos printed at Boots - done
Buy all sorts of odds and ends in town - done
Take duvet and suit to dry cleaners - done
Fetch DCs from school - done
Take DCs to do Christmas shopping - done
Get DS to write more cards - FAIL
Finish Christmas cards (me) - FAIL
Post parcel - done
Shredding - done till shredder overheated, will try and finish tomorrow

Tomorrow I need a proper list!

Good evening! I?m feeling decidedly sniffy and have far too much to do to be ill, so I?ll try and keep it quick and go to bed!

Linzer had an ill DS at home and was letter writing

Birds was having a moochy day and was full of excellent decluttering advice! You can come and do mine too, if you like?

bigeyes returned to Fat Fairyland ? seems a bit weird to say welcome back when you were here before me, but hey! She did lots of room rescues with bigger child and a timer.

MC had a busy day and has a lovely looking lounge. Hope all the parties and performances go well tomorrow.

Ouch reminded us of the power of 15 mins. Very true! Sorry you?re having a hard time with house-sharing. Would be of any assistance?

Fuzzled is sleep-deprived. Sorry, no advice but lots of sympathy, and as preferred!

WhoKnows had a complicated errandy day and overheated the shredder.

Did I see Nettle hiding in the back of the naughty corner somewhere?

OFM is feeling overwhelmed. ((Hugs)) An early night with a book sounds like an excellent plan.

Waves to Lauren - glad party went well and that looks like a perfectly respectable ta-da! list to me. :)

Waves to everyone else too.

Links: Babystep: Go and do a mission?
Mission: Bathroom surfaces and rescue home office.
*

To be honest, I could do with doing both those missions, but flying just ain?t gonna happen until this job is out of the way on Friday! Tomorrow we also have DS1?s nativity play. He?s suddenly had a burst of confidence and volunteered to be an innkeeper instead of ?shy shepherd hiding at the back?? Then there?s the Toddlers Christmas party, and goodness knows what else. Better go and see if I can find the camera! Night all.

bigeyes reckons i'm an expert . Welcome back to the thread . Have you namechanged since you were last here? Although my memory could just be crap. Always nice to see fledglings return to the fold.

I am merely swooping through in a haze of christmas parties, nativities and marking. I am merely surviving until the end of the week.

Big waves to everyone.

Morning!

I'm just popping by to dump a list, got a mindee turning up any minute!

To do:
( I did today's mission yesterday)
Finish home bleugh- wash down doors, polish door handles and light switches
Washing/ drying laundry
Put DD laundry away
Wash up/ dry / shine sink
Singing with kids this morning
Playgroup this afternoon
Clean out indoor rabbit

Tonight when DD is in bed:
Hoover
Wrap Christmas presents
Do accounts
Write a list of all bits of paper work that needs doing and stick it to fridge

BBL with personals

DS2 off sick yesterday; both off sick today. And this week was supposed to be my child-free time to prepare for Christmas and do some work . DH groaned when I said they are both off today - he is trying to work from home at the moment. The annoying thing is that DS2 is actually quite bright and lively, compared to yesterday, but he has an upset stomach.

Halfway through the AM routine so far. To do:

Finish AM routine
Have friend round for tea
Do Christmas cards (still haven't started them!)
Baking session (for school tea party tomorrow)
Misc phone calls and suchlike

That'll do for now.

Hope you have a good day and that those of you who have been feeling under the weather are feeling better today.

Phone flying so again no personals.

Trying to get on with life, but not coping to well at the moment due to DS not sleeping well. 4am today

To do:
Washing - loads of loads
Wrap big presses so DS can't see them
Tidy dining room
Tidy hall & entrance way
Post office to post cards
Playdate for DS
Remember to breathe

Work will be done this evening when DS is asleep.