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!

Right, I am back again! Sorry I went AWOL for a few weeks, just as I decided to do flylady, DD decided to go through a severe bout of seperation anxiety and would literally scream blue murder unless being held and then only by me (poor DH), this meant all I could manage for a few weeks was to get dressed and load and unload the dishwasher - not good. Anyway, she is a bit happier now and accepting DH as a responsible adult, so hopefully I can get back with the programme :o
Got caught up a little yesterday and have even managed to do the zone mission today (cleaning out the kitchen bin - I used bleach and everything!!) so feeling pretty chuffed with myself :o
A question for you, do you all have a control journal like she suggests? I'm thinking of doing one so that I don't get distracted by technology Also I like crossing things off a list :)

Anyway, sorry again for deserting you all, I hope you are all ok :) I will try and keep up this time!

sc glad you're feeling a bit more positive. I'm sure "good enough" will be fine!

LOK hello

right...afternoon all!

DS2 seems to be more or less totally fine however he has been quite content pottering round with me so I have got some stuff done....just on (yet another) coffee break, quick list update then back to it!

Done:
DC up and to breakfasted etc
Stripped ds2 bed after he was sick , bedding in wash
Rang work to inform I wouldnt be in oops!
School run (Forgot to return travelling crib - major bad mummy alert )
Ordered hot dinners for dd2 and 3 for tomorrow (but had no cash so have to call back into office - second bad mummy alert of the day!)
Popped to morrisons on way home from school as ds2 seemed OK and was worried he may deteriorate as day went on!
Home, shopping away
rebooted laundry
BLITZED dd1 and 2's room which was a TIP - despite me sending them to tidy it at least 4 times this weekend
stripped dd1 and 2 beds
rebotted laundry - bedding in wash
washed window frames in dd's room and littlies room
hoovered dd's room, littlies room,stairs and landing
S&S bathrooms
lunch - me and ds2
rang parents

still need to :
hoover lounge
sweep and mop kitchen, dining room and hall
make dinner ??? and extra to freeze for week ahead....maybe
Fill in parents views form for DD3 assessment
reboot laundry
re-make dd1 and 2 beds
get cash on way to school (forgot when at morrisons )
school run
pop into office and pay for dinners
home briefly with dd4 and ds2 -
back to collect dd2 and 3 from singing club
home - dinner
reboot laundry
kitchen rescue.....

right, best get on then LOL BBl

oh, and I REALLY need the snow to stay away until I have got this week over with....PLEASE!

Thanks OM gosh you have done loads already today!! Wishing you power to your elbow for the rest of the list!!

Hello to LifeofKate I think quite a few of us on here find a cj quite useful. here's the relevant info page from Flylady site.

Mine contains baby-steps, morning and afternoon/evening routines, weekly, monthly, quarterly, bi-annual tasks plus menu planning, various lists eg packing, important 'emergency' addresses/numbers, and I find it most valuable when I go away (I can just hand the whole thing to house/pet-sitter without having to write out any extra info). It contains more categories/ stuff but er, my home office is such a mess I can't quite put my finger on it at the moment so I'll post later if I think of anything important ..!!

Just popping in briefly to say hello. Hope to get back later for a proper read through of the thread. Took DS1 to his CBT appt this morning, then worked with DH for the rest of the day. Managed to do two loads of washing, washing up and swish and swipe in between working (the advantage of working from home), but the rest of the home 'blessing' will just have to wait this week, as making money is more important than a tidy house at the moment. Just off to the PO to post some parcels for work, then off for the school run.

MNet ate my post again. I need to copy the text before hitting preview as it seems to be that action which makes it go "num, num"

Anyway, ta/to do list
Washing last load on
DW on and then emptied with only 2nd degree burns
lunch
Go out to get boxes and slow cooker
Prep for dinner
Crisis Hoover downstairs to remove traces of DS's biscuit rampage

And I'm officially back at work - I miss sick leave!

Maybe back tonight to redo personals... but probably more likely to be collapsed on sofa!

hi everyone! We were supposed to have builders start this morning, but they've put the date back (again!) starting to get worried about it actually, and that makes me all stressed. Anyhow, tada list:

Breakfast washed up
Sink shined
Living room tidied
Dining room tidied
Kitchen tidied
Cleaned wood burner
Restocked wood basket
Went to toddler group (not much fun actually, ds was NOT a good boy...)
Went to bank
Posted letters
Bought bread for lunch

Dss both asleep and this is NOT GOOD - they won't sleep tonight, so must go wake them up. Will fix them a nice plate of snacks so hopefully they won't cry too much...

Next jobs:
Clear up from lunch
Shine sink
Tidy our room
Hoover upstairs
Catch up with laundry
Get control journal set up in Filofax

Thanks for round up blue and at everyone else

Hi eveyone,

Thanks for the decluttering link, slightlywrinkled. Will definitely have to start!!

I'm feeling so overwhelmed at the moment. DS2 is with the childminder today, and she will collect DS1 after school as well. So I've tried to concentrate on painting and everything has taken so much longer than it should have - so frustrating. I was hoping to have finished the room today but it looks like I won't be able to finish it until tomorrow, with DS2 under my feet.

The house is still a big mess, but I did get straight up and dressed this morning which has helped. Must go and shine my sink, just made myself a snack (missed lunch) and left it messy!

I only have 2 more CM sessions after this, so REALLY trying to get the grotty jobs done on those days.

Sigh..... back to work!

That's a great decluttering and control journal link slightlywrinkled. There is some really good stuff on the fly lady site, just a case of knowing where to find it in amongst all the crap lovey Dovey candyfloss.

I have utterly failed to do anything useful this afternoon, apart from wrapping my secret Santa gift for an event this evening. I tried to make paper chains with the dss and it descended into chaos, with me yelling

I'm going to put the dinner in and FINALLY get my filofax set up as a control journal. Actually a lot of the stuff fly lady suggests I already have in there - I already could not run my life without it.

Hiya all!

My list was a bit optimistic today given that I had 2 toddlers and a crawler all under the age of 3, and a freshly put up plaything christmas tree for them to redecorate!

However, Ta da:
Home bleugh
bin mission
washed and dried pots and shined sink
washed, dried and put away laundry *5
washed doors and lightswitches down
swept kitchen floor
nit combed mindee
painting tots

sc this year I have got my DP a photobook printed of DD as a present from her. Could this be an option for your pil? Who wouldn't want a photobook of their Grand kids

Glad to hear ds is feeling better ofm

Hope your painting is finished, or at least nearly! elf

Im off to sort party bags and write a food shopping list for the party, then it's shower and an early night for me!

What's a home bleugh?!

It's a home blessing ChitChat, someone said a while ago that the term home blessing was a bit puke-making, so it got replaced with home bleugh.

Well, I got most of my home bleugh finished today, also just about finished the Christmas shopping including all my own presents from DH well at least this way I get what I want. Just need to get some Waterstones vouchers and a few foody things from the farm shop now. Need to get started on Christmas cards next.

Abird - I've got one of the new Filofax Flex systems for my control journal, haven't got round to really starting it yet as I have only just got it, I am still working out of a couple of notebooks. I keep a separate address book and book with names of tradesmen etc in as I already had these going pre-Flylady, and I keep various lists (shopping, holiday) on the PC, plus a separate book for Chritsmas and birthday lists, I did think about combining them all but they work pretty well separately. I will have to see how I get on with the Filofax.

Fuzzled - you take it easy going back to work.

I need to get off here and get myself something to eat, DH is still at work, the DCs had tea early before Beavers and I have just realised I am starving. See you tomorrow.

evening all

elf I HATE decorating. Hope it goes OK tomorrow.
bird hope control journal is coming along well
toffee sounding busy today- hope all going well
fuzzled hope return to work was OK
lauren Don't think I'd have managed anything with 2 toddlers, a crawler + a tree - sounds a recipe for disaster LOL

OK...list update:
hoover lounge
sweep and mop kitchen, dining room and hall
make dinner ??? and extra to freeze for week ahead....maybe done
Fill in parents views form for DD3 assessment
reboot laundry done
re-make dd1 and 2 beds done
get cash on way to school (forgot when at morrisons )done
school run done
pop into office and pay for dinners done
home briefly with dd4 and ds2 - done
back to collect dd2 and 3 from singing club done
home - dinner done
reboot laundry done
kitchen rescue..... done

have done well with the cooking - made Chicken and mushroom pie for tonight, and have just simultaneaously made a tuna pasta bake and a cottage pie for Weds and Thurs LOL Tomorrow will be Spag and meatballs that I'll do in the slow cooker (well the sauce and meatballs - not the pasta)
So hopefully that will all simplify the upcoming evenings of chaos!

Tomorrow DH will collect DD1 and DS1 from school after dd1 rehearsal at 4.45, then return home, collecting babysitter on the way....meanwhile I will collect other 2 dc after school (dd2 and 3 will be at the Arena rehearsing for sho) and feed/bath/prepare them for bed in very efficiant manner, ...so that I can pursuade DS2 to go to bed at 6pm so that we can leave without the babysitter having to cope with putting him to bed.I will also clear away all dinner stuff and have in a reasonable state ready for arrival of babysitter at 5.45. Must remember to leave some dinner for DS1, DD1 will have a hot lunch at school and will take packed tea to eat in car on way home as she is coming with us to DD2 and 3 concert.....
Right, all good LOL

Then Weds is first night of DD1's musical.... my parents and sister are coming to see it and we are leaving house at 6pm....only problem being I wont get back from work till 5.30 LOL

Roll on the weekend!

DS2 is I think better, so will be back at work tomorrow, but at least I have got a bit organised today....will hopefully fit in sweeping and mopping at some point tomorrow but other than that I think there will be very little FLYing between now and the weekend!

Hopefully BBTomorrow at some point!

whoknows Xposts - Hi!

Thanks slightlywrinkled, that's a great link and good to see what's in your CJ too :) I am also greatly amused that you're unable to find your CJ due to clutteredness :o

Is home bleurgh the home blessing? I haven't got to that stage yet, I am still jumping around all over the place doing random missions and haven't even looked at the baby steps yet :( I think that's why I want to get the CJ sorted, I need direction! If I end up on the flylady website I just end up hopping from one page to another trying to read and understand everything all at once...

Hope everyone's ok :)

Ooo, crossposted with a couple of people, hello :)

I posted a message on here at lunchtime and now its gone. I must stay after I click post and make sure it works.

Anyway jist was that had a great weekend in Lincolnshire,fab concert last night except from snow on way home and a terrible meeting this morning with horrendously rude Headteacher. Today have booked a holiday at Eurodisney, done 2 loads of washing, been to post office, done shopping, cleaned kitchen, DD swimming and sorted two hotspots.

Tomorrows list to be organised (or try to be)

• Call new headteacher about visit to school and paperwork
• Chemist for perscription
• Post office to post more parcels (disorganised)
• wrap christmas presents
• Cleanbathrooms
• Master bedroom hotspots
• Me to brownies

Wow what a busy week OFM

I'm so sorry. I'm having a majorly busy week and will be back soon.

Thinking of you all.

NN.

Hi all. Busy here today with work, ferrying small children and friends round. No flying though.

Glad yesterday got better Swan. Happy birthday to your DH.

Ouch and Linzer had bad nights.

OFM had an unexpected day at home and was super-productive!

SC was having present trauma but feeling more energised.

Kate rejoined us as her DD will now accept her DH again!

Toffee is finding work more important than tidiness ? me too!

Fuzzled is back at work and still having posts eaten?

Bird was being stressed by builders and setting up a control journal.

ChitChat is still struggling with decorating ? have a or as you prefer!

Lauren had an optimistic list and still got lots done despite small children everywhere!

WhoKnows has done house bleugh and Christmas shopping ? way to go!

MC had a great weekend and been very busy. Sorry about horrid meeting.

StNicks popped in to say hello ? don?t worry, we won?t be offended with you for being busy!

Big waves to everyone else.

Quick links:

Babystep: hotspots ? this is a really important one!
Mission: kitchen counter tops.

Tuesday is apparently Plan and Play Day. Make of that what you will!

Right, I?m off to bed. See you all tomorrow!

Ohh, LOK I do the same thing on the flylady website, hoppping around everywhere. PLus I'm on what - day 5- of the baby steps, and so far the only 2 that have been remotely useful have been shining the sink and getting dressed, and today's hotspots. So I'm going to take an ad-hoc apprach and do the bits I like and actually help, rather than the stuff which is clearly Not Cleaning The House, and is instead Faffing About On T'internet.

at OFM simultaneously cooking 3 dinners

whoknows glad to find another filofax fan on here, thought I might! Have looked at Flex online but did not really get it - maybe need to see one in person. I have a pocket filo, which is small so very FAT to fit everything in. But it does mean I take it EVERYWHERE - (like, really everywhere, from room to room in the house and out whenever I go!) I find when I do not have it somethig inevitably happens that I need to write down or look up. And I have a terrible memory. So without it I am truly lost. In it already I have sectons for:

• diary
• addresses + phonenumbers (vet, hairdreser etc)
• emergency contacts
• Scrap paper for shopping lists etc and other spare pages
• Lists (at the moment a to-do list, stuff to buy (llike lightbulbs, children's socks, and random things like that), birthdays, local places to visit on Saturdays, books to read, etc)
• University
• Work
• Financial records (I record everything we spend and add it up each week - scary!)

And I'm going to add:
-Home (where I will put routines and schedules a la flylady!)

Phew! Actually now I see all that's in it I don't mind it being so fat :0)

just came back from lovely meal out with friends, but house a bit ! So will have a busy time tomorrow - not going to do it now, too much .

And builder coming tomorrow - horray!

Oh and thanks blue for roundup, you're a star

LOK and ABird - I spent about 18 months aimlessly hopping round the Flylady website whilst tinkering round the edges and doing a few babysteps (and chatting a lot on here!). It was only when I bought the Flylady book about 6 months ago and read it from cover to cover that it all fell into place, so I have been recommending it to people ever since. It is called Sink Reflections, and it is quite gushing but also quite heartwarming. Put it on your Christmas lists!

ABird - I didn't really want a conventional Filofax (although my address book is one of the tiny ones and it's great) but had a look at the Flex in Selfridges and decided to give it a go. It is a bit plasticcy though, wish there had been a leather version. I have a diary and two notebooks in it, I am planning to write my daily to do lists in the diary part (as well as actual diary items) and use the small notebook for routines etc and the big one for general notes. I won't carry it everywhere, too heavy, for anything I need while out and about I put a note in my phone.

Thanks for the roundup Blue - I am struggling to keep up with the thread this month, so it really helps.

Morning all. Trying to keep up with the pledge of keeping up with the thread, not keeping up with the flying. I do have a good excuse though miss. Last night ds was singing with his school choir( and 4000 other children) in a young voices concert at Sheffield Arena so that took over whole evening. Twas brilliant though. I managed to get a glimpse of ds for a whole 30 seconds .

Am pooped this morning and have full teaching day ahead plus swimming though may give that a miss.

Will try and fly tonight!

Morning all, posting from phone as waiting for DS to move.

Today's ta/to do list:
Wait for plumber to sort bath taps again
Work
Wrap two pressies and put in envelopes for posting
Go to post office with said parcels
Playdate for DS
Look at dining room as can't get in right now
Empty hoover
Tidy up hall paper hanging wire (wire with mini clothes pegs above hall table that important things get clipped to - great for not losing stuff, but a bugger as I keep forgetting to clear it!)

On the up side I've ordered this for my hall as the main coat cupboard is a bugger to get into and required hangers which with DS just isn't happening so we end up with coats on the floor, stairs or dining room chairs. Not conducive to flying!

Off to poke DS awake now as plumber is due at 8 and I want DS fed before then.

Blue- thanks for the roundup!

ABird - I completely agree with you! I've been looking at the FlyLady website for quite awhile, and have been receiving grouped emails for ages (most of which just get deleted unread TBH, but do occasionally read through some).

I do NOT want to dedicate a day to perusing the website!!! So jumping to the hot spots.

I ended up doing some more painting before I went to bed, but does mean I have had a 2nd night with only 5 hours sleep.

Today's list (If DS2 lets me!!!)

Shine sink
2 2 min hot spots while DSs having breakfast
School run
2 hrs crisis clean - 15 min each

• kitchen
• dining room
• kitchen
• kitchen
• dining room
• lounge

Then quick 15 min blitz making other areas look acceptable lunch and with friend Pick DS1 up from school Some time with DSs Make dinner Feed boys Bedtime routine for DSs IF I have the energy, do some more in the spare room