If tidying your home is your New Year's resolution, Flying with us could be the solution

[ToffeeWhirl]

Welcome to the January Fledgling Flyers' thread. A very big thank you to BlueEyeshadow and IceColdBitch for guiding us through the busy Christmas month.

Are you living in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)? We know the feeling. We follow Flylady's routines, which aim to help you take control of your home, tidying and decluttering and setting up daily and weekly routines that keep your home looking presentable. We also chat quite a lot and swap tips on coping with housework and mess.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's tips on restoring order to our homes. There are three methods, depending on whether you are new to the system or have been following it for a while:

1. Babysteps
2. Babysteps + 15 mins daily decluttering in current zone
3. Babysteps + daily missions

Following the babysteps helps to establish daily routines and build a weekly plan.

If you are overwhelmed by the mess in your home, start with just one thing: shine your sink.

Oh, and don't - really, really ^don't^ - sign up to Flylady's emails.

The first babystep will be posted on 1st January 2012.

Happy New Year.

Home routines for the iPad is an absolute godsend! It tells me I've completed 14 tasks today! Wow! I feel like I've hardly done anything! I'm finding breaking tasks into 10 minute sessions is really working!

Tomorrow I have morning routine to do plus 15 minutes in the zone which will be cleaning windows and door of porch and shaking door mats.

Have had a mixed day today - got dressed and shined the sink, it looks lovely. Also did some exercise and sorted out several boxes of old stuff that my parents gave back to me when they moved. Decided not to bother with the post-it notes, but have put reminders on my phone.

However, I deviated a bit from my original plan, which included cleaning out the fridge - one of my most hated tasks. Feeling a bit guilty because I know I was procrastinating.

Will definitely tackle the fridge tomorrow - will report back!

Focus on your achievements, not on what you didn't do, Honey. Cleaning out the fridge is boring and time-consuming. Can you make it more interesting by listening to a favourite radio programme at the same time or something?

at your HomeRoutines app, Thefoxsbrush.

Luce - four hours' ironing ! And I couldn't even manage 15 minutes

Recursive - am wondering if there is some special name for people who hoard receipts - a sub-type of hoarders...

dizzyday07 - try 51 uses for coca cola . It's good at cleaning, apparently.

Dharma - blimey, that's a list and a half for the morning. Personally, I would balk at the room rescues and hoovering first thing, but then I'm not a morning person.

OK, did I manage my 'to do' list?

Lunch for DS1 and me done
Finish AM routine (put 2nd load in w/m, tumbledry first load) done
15 - 30 mins ironing nope
Tumbledry second load of washing done
Put laundry away some
DS1 - write thank-you letters done
De-Christmas the house mostly
Room rescue - DS2's bedroom done
Paperwork - pay bills, post forms done
What's for dinner? Spag bol done and bunged half in freezer
Collect DS2 from friend's house done
Bedtimes done, but DC would not sleep. Driving me crazy
Before-bed routine done, including all the extra washing up DH and DC left out after I'd finished washing up the dinner things

Am finding I can't bear to go to bed without washing everything up and leaving a clean sink now, no matter how late it is. It is just so much better to start the day that way.

Back in a mo with Thursday's steps.

Thursday, 5th January - babystep: day 5. Stop criticising yourself and say something nice instead. Also, keep practising the first four babysteps so that they start to become routine.

Today's mission is to spend 15 minutes tidying up your porch/hallway.

Thursday is errand day, which means you try to save up all your errands to do today. I have done exactly that this week and tomorrow morningn I will be taking stuff to the dry cleaners, visiting the library, going to the bank and doing some shopping.

Thursday's reminders are here.

morning. Tsk.

Tidy? Which planet are you living on toffee? bedroom no longer houses washing awaiting folding and ironing pile which have been evicted back downstairs now we are post christmas. I have tackled windowsil, and a few small areas. there is still a whole lot of room that hasnt been touched

yeah yeah I know its stupid late too. soooo going to pay for this tomo

Blitz and burn specialist at your service. I soooo need to stop this stupidity

Morning .

Just posting a quick list before work. Catch up later.

Laundry
banking
declutter spare room

BBL

Hello, am still shining sink but it takes me ages because then I feel i have to clean the whole kitchen, make all the surfaces clear. However, i am listening to an audio book so I just put my headphones on and listen to it and it is all quite soothing. I am going to bed a bit later but much better sense of achievement.

What is this home routines for ipad that you talk of? Must have a look!

I did do a thorough (and I mean thorough) menu plan for the next ten days on an excel spreadsheet during my lunch hour, to coincide with my Sainsbury shop. It includes
Morning - what to take out of freezer
Lunch for kids (pack lunches next week for DD1)
Lunch for us (usually leftovers)
Dinner for kids, us (hopefully the same thing, not always - AND trying to cook quite large quantities so some can go to the freezer)
Evening - what i need to cook/ prepare in advance so I can hopefully cook two things at once in the evening

If it works, it means that my normal shop which lasts six days should last ten. I really hope so as I need to save money!

I wondered, is there a moneysaving thread here? I desperately need to save. I was thinking about small steps like changing electric kettle (which is a cheapo one and probably v inefficient) for a hob one with a whistle. And I would like to find out how much difference there is running the economy cycle on dishwasher/ washing machine - all it seems to do is take longer?

Morning! Waiting for tesco delivery (to be del before 11) then off to work.

Am dressed to shoes. Before I leave will attempt to:

Shine sink
Swish and swipe downstairs bathroom.
Swish and swipe upstairs bathroom
Put dinner in slow cooker
Hoover
Do some decluttering in utility room
Put away dry washing
Make dd4s bed with clean bedding
Put on washing

Hope everyone has a productive day and the storms have died down.

Cristiane I would be interested in a moneysaving thread too. I do find meal planning and doing the weekly shop online saves me a fortune.

So glad I've found this thread, now all I need do s get dressed!

Toffee Thanks for the explanation re babysteps/missions/houseblessing.

I managed to empty the d/w before bed last night so breakfast was easier and calmer. Also got up before DH and DC so got everything organised in peace and quiet. BUT DC2 who is 2 and 8 months had a horrendous nights sleep again. I'm lost as to why it's all gone so wrong, ended up in our bed just to get a tiny bit of sleep. I'm so tired today that I ache. Need motivation to get through the day.

I've read today's babystep as saying nice things? Is that correct, doesn't seem to have much to do with cleaning but I'm glad it isn't too strenuous as I'm ready to zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Simply, Scatty and Jas hello, didn't realise you were on this thread, Happy New Year, I've missed you all. Scatty hope work is alright at moment. Simply I was thinking of your son and his singing, and the video of him in the competition a while back or was it just a concert?

Haven't read thread properly just noticed your names. Will read through properly later, for inspiration, as feeling so completely disorganised at moment!

My head feels in a muddle this morning, along with the swirling winds outside, tossing flotsam and jetsam this way and that... However,

todo
take car to MOT. that will suffice for today's plan

done
what's for dinner - leftovers and soup
children to school with everything they needed including homework

I laughed when I read this morning's Baby Step. I was being a right cow a couple of months ago, snapping at everyone and feeling grumpy. I admitted to a friend that I wanted to be nicer and she bought me a little plaque which says "TODAY I WILL TRY TO BE NICE" which sits in my (much tidier) kitchen! Funny that it fits into FLYing. I do think that starting to be tidier and changing our habits has helped my mood!

Well today is my 'at home day' with DS.

Not having to do the school run has made it more difficult to get dressed to shoes. Normally we are both slopping around in our PJs till lunchtime.

Today I managed both of us (to socks as it still too weird to wear shoes indoors) by 9am. It is a bit liberating as if we need to pop out somewhere now we can, no having to get dressed first.

However, not many jobs done this morning. One load in the washing machine and one load folded. Dishwasher not done yet. Not had a chance to be nice to anyone yet!

Am thinking of tackling the box on the end of the sofa. No idea what's in it, but it is stuffed to bursting.

Just popping in quickly before DH notices before I go out to brave the storms and do my Thursday errands. Cristiane and openyerlugholes - there is a January money-saving thread here. I haven't had time to read through it properly yet, but it looks promising.

FleeBee - today's babystep is motivational. You are in this for the long term, so the idea is that you are encouraged to feel more positive about the state of your house and what you are achieving so that you don't give up on your new routines.

BBL.

Yesterday I went to my MIL's to get addresses and Birthday dates for the family (it didn't necessarily warrant a visit but she appreciated it and a new resolution is working on that relationship even though she can be ridiculously demanding and would drain the life from me if I let her) and one of my errands for the day is buying cards for the year. I suddenly feel much calmer.

I like the be kind to yourself aspect. I did loads of paperwork yesterday (including thank you letters for wedding gifts) and still had a bit to do today. I'm focusing on the 95% I did do and am now finishing off rather than feel bad about my failure.

Hmm, use of the word failure makes me sound like I have issues

Have done all I can do. Off to the office!

Shine sink - done
Swish and swipe downstairs bathroom.- done
Swish and swipe upstairs bathroom - done
Put dinner in slow cooker - done
Hoover - done
Do some decluttering in utility room
Put away dry washing - done
Hang 1st load washing - done
Make dd4s bed with clean bedding - done
make spare bed with clean bedding - done
Put on 2nd load washing - done
Hoover upstairs - done
Hang 2nd load

Ok have:

shined sink
Cleared breakfast pots in to dishwasher
Put load of washing on
Wiped surfaces and table

Last night I tested out my new carpet sweeper (£9.99 from home bargains!). I never get round to hoovering every day so wanted a quick way to keep on top of bits/dog hair/ crumbs from kids in between. It works great and picked up an embarrassing amount of dog hair

Will use it to flick round now and against as only takes 5 mins

Off to swish the bathroom...

Am trying to keep up with the morning routine. So far today I have
-washed up
-hung out washing
-kept sink shiny
-swish and swiped bathroom

• hoovered stairs

As today is errand day I will return DVDs to library and pop to superdrug for some bits I need.

Thanks Toffee

morning everyone, yesterday I emptied hoovered and cleaned the car, ready for back to school today.

today I have shined sink, made shepherds pie and one for the freezer, striped DD's bed (wet last night, she insisted she didn't need a nappy) put washing on.
moped kitchen floor and mucked out kitchen.
now have a all you hard working folks out there. I've set my timer and having 15 mins on MN

waiting I'm determined to do card thingy this year too. Also weighing up possibility of being a Phoenix trader myself, as it might be terribly handy to have all those cards in the house
Good luck with MIL, mine is not at all demanding but there are other members of extended family I need to be tolerant of and am not atm, including someone whose birthday is in next few days.
toffee I am failing miserably on Errand day, I seem to do them every day except Thursday, so I am trying to mark it by taking a library book back (overdue since last Jan I thought I had paid the fine but it has turned up so I might return it)

done
MOT and service, and scary convo about £900 fan belt or suchlike
walked back and spent taxi money on some plants from B & Q for kitchen window box to cheer myself up/Be Nice to Myself

Babystep for today - focused on dates going on calendar whch is Good.

I had a fairly productive day yesterday and still have a shiney sink. but today all I've managed are some Xmas thank you cards so far.
So to do list
Washing
Declutter utility (15 mins and see what difference it makes!)
Sweep front porch and if not too windy I will clean front door and the dirty looking paint work.
Empty dw when finished
Make dr apt
Make optician apt
Need to call ds school as I'm not happy with a couple of things there - I really don't want to make the call though!
Chuck food in slow cooker for tonight

Good luck everyone!

Slow day here today. I got a good book from charity shop and can't put it down.
but, I have:

made kids packed lunches and got them out of door intime for school bus (just)
made cup of tea for window cleaner
booked DDs birthday party
sorted out an irritating problem caused by DH

Still to do
dw
washing on
15 min tidy in hall and porch (missed yesterday)
shopping
call plumber about leaking taps and loo

Happy Epiphany (Reyes) to all of you who celebrate it, I hope the kings bring you something nice

I've just used up all this weeks 15 minutes to clean my hallway! Took me 1.5hours but have washed down the smudged walls and doors, hoovered throughout, tidied (and partially emptied) the shoerack and even used some spot treatment on undefined marks on the carpet!

Off out now to look around a Junior School for DD

Someone mentioned buying a floor sweeper, and finding it really useful. We bought a GTech rechargeable hoover a year or so ago, and find it fab. We aim to use it very night in the living room, then to use the E-cloth mop afterwards. It literally takes 5 minutes, as you don't need a bucket of water with the E-cloth mop. We dig out the proper Hoover at the weekend.

Our Flying is going okay . Thanks to everyone on the thread for motivation.