Flinging our way through the chaos: February’s Fledgling Flyers

[LinzerTorte]

Welcome to the February edition of the Fledgling Flyers' thread.

If you're living in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome), this is the thread for you! We follow the tips on the FlyLady website in an attempt to restore order to our homes, but advise against signing up for the e-mails; all the information you need is on this thread.

Each day, I'll be posting the links that will enable you to do any of the following:

• start or repeat babysteps

• repeat babysteps and do 15 minutes a day decluttering in the current zone

or

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

More information about the babysteps is here.

So please join us - there's always plenty of chat, , cake, encouragement and the occasional to help us on our way!

Morning everyone.

Yesterday I managed to get 2 blankets sewn and sent off along with my sister's birthday present. I made a stew for DD's dinner that was well received so my cooking must be getting better!

Been food shopping this morning and have planned out a few meals for over the weekend. Need to nip to school in a minute to give DD her antibiotics then I plan to do a bit more sewing before she comes home from school

Good morning. So sad to hear about the DC who are on their own at playtimes, Ellie and WhoKnows. DS1 had an awful time with football. During Year 5 and the start of Year 6, all the boys in his class would play football at breaktime and DS wanted to join in, but they used to get cross with him for not understanding the rules. We bought him a proper football to take in with him, then discovered that the boys were only asking him to join in just so that they could get hold of his ball, then excluding him from the game. And sometimes his ball went 'missing' . The last time DS joined in with a football match, I watched him withdraw from the game until he simply walked away and said, "I'm never playing football again". And he never has.

Washing, tidying and packing today. Have just printed out my packing list, which is getting significantly shorter as the children grow up. It's so much easier once they are out of babyhood and you don't need potties, sleeping bags, nappies and all the other paraphenalia that goes with babies.

I have a label maker. It is bloody marvelous. But i dont have an all singing dancing one, it's just a basic one. My hand writing is shocking and I am a perfectionist so it keeps me happy.

I have the amazing non-sleeping child back. And yes swan I am very lucky he is self entertaining but that would be because I have placed no restrictions on tv or ds games this week. He will wonder off and do other stuff but as he needs to be still for his arm and I am stupid tired I really can't be bothered picking a fight over the two things that keep him calm and quiet.

I haven't got up yet. Failing at the babysteps. Been awake an hour and half but tbh am ready to go back to sleep. But as i don't think i have anything i really have to do I am very tempted. Not very productive I know but I have CBA-itis

Dizzy do you have a slow cooker? We got one for Christmas and it is so easy to make really yummy stews.

Today I have bought myself a 2012 diary with a page for each day, so I can write all lists/routines/household numbers in. My 'control journal' if you like :o

Has no one been on this thread since 12.38? What's going on?

I'm here!

DD had an awful night last night so I have felt like a zombie all day!

I'm a bit cheesed off because one of my mindees mums has only just remembered pre school is shut and so needs me to have her dc all day which ruins my plans for my dcs inset day.

Tomorrows list

Buy DS1 cub uniform
Morning routine
Book restaurant- still not done it!!
Finish filing
Buy a doorbell
Fit doorbell
Hoover stairs
Mop bathroom
Clean clothes away
Buy a shredder
Shred massive box of paperwork!!

Oh dear, did I kill the thread?

I had plans for doing paperwork this evening but after looking after my friends 2dc this evening I am knackered! I can't even remember what I have done today for a ta da list.

Dedalus - yes, you did kill the thread . By the way, you do know that looking after a friend's two DC counts as a very good 'ta da' list though, don't you?

NickNacks - poor thing. Hope you get some sleep tonight.

Had a phone call from DS1's school today, asking if he would like to come on a trip to Chessington World of Adventure. It was sweet of them to ask, but I had to say, er, not really, as he can't even leave the house at the moment, thanks .

I had booked the boys in to have their hair cut this afternoon, but DS1 went into a panic just before leaving and couldn't go. I must have been mad to think he could do it, considering how he's feeling. I will have to try and cut his hair myself tomorrow, poor boy.

Ta da list

Room rescue in our bedroom
Kitchen sorted again (and it was looking so tidy yesterday)
DH reminded to clear up after himself
Packing done
DS2 taken to hairdresser
Visited MIL for tea
Helped DS2 with Mathswhizz

Running late with bedtimes, so must dash.

Dedalus - we haven't and as I'm a veggie and DH is away working during the week I'm not sure it would be worth getting.

Did a bit more sewing this afternoon. Had to alter dinner plans when I realised the beef I had needed a longer cooking time that I thought so I made pasta bake tonight and the stew has been cooked and will be reheated for dinner tomorrow night with added dumplings - which I've never made before!

It is mufti day at school tomorrow so I've put in a load of uniform to wash and it will be hung before bed.

No flying here today apart from morning routine, I need to start some ironing.

bitchy what do you label? Can see use for pantry and maybe plugs, the phrase 'bloody marvelous' is making me want one! Not sure i'll be labelling the Hoover tho linzer

May try a quick wipe of oven on way to get iron,

Ooooo due to the unusual quiet day on here I can do personals

Hope your do gets well soon swan!

dizzy I hope you got lots of seeing done

Your football story made me toffee, and it's a lovely thought from ds friend! Nice to know he's being thought about if nothing else I suppose!

at mindees parents nicknacks, I'm sure that sometimes they forget we have lives!

So yesterday when I popped to the shop (no makeup unbrushed hair- as you do) the lady at the till commented on DD then looked at my fat stomach and said WHEN IS YOUR NEXT ONE DUE?!!! I told her I was just fat as I was too lazy to lose the baby weight from DD, and then she went on to say "oh yes I can imagine- its hard to even find time to brush your hair with a young child" - I had to physically stop myself from throwing the tinned soup at her smug little heAd ...so I'm back on diet/ Zumba/ and attempting to run and I'm not going to that shop again until I look like Megan fox least I'll have to walk further for my chocolate so will burn the calories off...

Ta da:
School run
Zumba
Jingle tots
Hoovered
Cleaned kitchen and shined sink
Laundry washed dried and away

Not much but I spent most of my day sulking

I think if I had a label maker I would label bloody everything; appliances, food, children.... :o

lauren what a Bitch! She was obviously just jealous of your aura of calm and capable :)

Think I might have a bath and bed, snowing here again.

Bitchy - I'll raise you a laminator! Tis lovely. And you can warm your hands on it while it laminates.

Lauren - if I lived near you I would boycott that shop. And tell all my friends to.

Nicknacks - is DS going up to cubs after half term? My DS is too, he is very excited, I helped at Beavers for the last time this week, he has gone from being the youngest to the oldest in the blink of an eye. I also need to get to the uniform shop, there's one fairly near where I work.

I decided a while ago to try another Flylady strategy for keeping clutter at bay, which is to clear your hotspot and then put something beautiful there (Flylady recommends twee vases and stuff). So, I am keeping a non-twee vase of flowers (daffs or tulips) on the kitchen table and it does seem to repel clutter somehow. Also I got DH to buy me a sheepskin rug for Christmas and I have put it by my bed for my feet to land on in the morning and I don't dump big piles of clothes and books there any more - result!

Off to watch telly for a bit as DH is out, night all. Might laminate a few lists while I'm at it.

Oooo laminators now you are talking my language! My new one just came today and it's still in its box

I'm definitely getting quite tempted by the idea of a label maker now. Saw one I liked the look of on Amazon, but unfortunately they won't post to Austria.

WhoKnows I love my laminator too and can't imagine being able to teach English without it (I use it to make flash cards, etc.). The DC are also fascinated by it and also often ask me to laminate things for them

lauren Oh no, poor you - although I'm sure the woman in the shop was just being insensitive and wasn't making a comment about your hair in particular; it was probably just the first thing that popped into her head.

dizzy I was going to say that I have a slow cooker and I'm a vegetarian - but then remembered that I've only ever used it to cook meat-based meals for the DC. Apparently it's good for lentil soup though, which I keep meaning to try out.

Toffee Sorry to hear that your DS is finding things hard at the moment. It must be very hard for you too.

Dedalus Even if I've just been looking after my own DC, I'm usually far too tired in the evenings to even think about paperwork.

Nick Hope you get a better night's sleep tonight.

Bitchy I usually lift all TV/screen restrictions when the DC are ill - or when I'm ill - sometimes it's the only option.

Jax Where is your DS going skiing? I'm glad we decided not to go this year (by we, I mean DH and the DC - there's no way I'm venturing onto the slopes) as the weather has been ridiculously cold.

swan Hope your DD is better soon; how disappointing for her about the trip.

Lifebegins Hope it gets less hectic for you soon; I've also been managing to burn the candle at both ends too what with half-term and DH away.

ellie I'm looking forward to half-term being over. Although I must say it hasn't actually been too bad and it's definitely been good not to have any activities to go to, especially with all the snow and cold weather we've been having.

Friday's links

Today's babystep is all about FlyLady's mantra: you can do anything for 15 minutes.

The final mission in the kitchen is to sweep and mop the floor.

Friday's daily focus is to declutter your car and handbag.

Finally, here are Friday's reminders.

I also love my laminator. As for what do I label? Toy storage, files, file dividers, storage boxes etc.

I have done nothing. I didn't even bother to get up and did go back to sleep. About to curl up and go back to sleep. Am hoping for a better night tonight. Or just to feel slightly more human tomo.

Tomo list:
laundry
Ds to hospital
pack stuff for weekend away
banking

Hope you all have good nights and productive days.

I def need the daily focus - my car needs a major clean and tidy. Handbag i do a tad more often but not much.

Tomorrows list:

Go to the gym after school drop off
Hoover
Wash floors
Clean bathrooms
Food shop (big one to last all through half term so don't have to drag DD out)
Pick up DD and friend and get them ready for an afterschool party
Clean sinks and taps
Clean out car
Washing

Bet i only manage half of it as i have to work tomorrow too (although from home)

Have a good evening

oh linzer had I known that you wanted a laminator I could have got DS to bring it over to Austria when he goes tomorrow!

Or, you could buy it, send it to me and i will send it on... that sounds like a roundabout way doesnt it? Dont they sell label makers in Austria?

So, after doing all the things I did earlier, visiting friend etc I took DS for a haircut, DD collected from school, packed ALL of DS things for his ski trip - tried to get him to help, but in the end sent him to tidy his room. He then came upstairs I got him to check off the kit list and we are ready for tomorrow.

Snowing again here.

Evening! I have done a reasonable amount of flying today, but can't remember what, so no ta-da! list... I should be able to manage tomorrow's mission, at least.

I've been feeling a bit unsettled today because I bumped into a friend we haven't seen for over a year - things got a bit weird when DS1 hurt her DS1 in a bit of rough and tumble - they were both 3 at the time. Anyway, she seemed pleased to see us and we talked about trying to meet up again, but now I'm all insecure and worrying if she meant it or if she'll go back to not returning calls... But that's all beside the point really.

Toffee - yes, totally understand feeling bereft at the loss of Borgen! A whole year till the next series!!

Waves to everyone else and leaves and on the bar.

Just checking in. No real flying today as I worked from home this afternoon. Just did a load of washing and cleared my small ironing pile
Went for gym induction today I want to lose 2 stone by December as I'll be 40 30 then and I can't be a fat 30 +10 something...

Tomorrows list:
Clean bathroom
Dust
Hoover
Change sheets
Clear & clean fridge (American style one)
Take DS swimming (last ever with Waterbabies )
Weekly shop

Oh, and see my osteopath to fix my back so I'd best do the house blessing before as I'll be in agony after!!

Have had a bit of a blitz on the house this evening, once I'd put the boys to bed, so 'ta da' list is as follows:

Unloaded and reloaded d/w
Tumbledried laundry
Dry laundry put away
Washed vest for DS2 for school tomorrow
Decluttered and wiped kitchen surfaces
Shined sink
Hotspot sorted
Swept and mopped kitchen floor
Room rescue - sitting room
Room rescue - hall
Dining-room table cleared
Clothes laid out for the morning

Have now failed at my 'going to bed at a decent hour' babystep, but at least the house looks respectable again. Very tidy friend coming round for tea tomorrow morning, which is always a good incentive to tidy.

Morning all

Failed at get dressed to shoes already, dh still in bed, so can't make it, swiftly collected ds from his room to stop his wailing waking dd.

To do today
Get dressed and make bed
S and s
Laundry on
Put nappies away from airer
Order some material for ds room (to then pass on to mil as I am not blessed in sewing department like dizzy
Mop kitchen floor
Emptied DW last night so no need for that today
Clean microwave
Make a risotto that doesn't 'taste like sick' for tea
Stay awake during dvd hired for tonight, managed 5 minutes before passed out last week
Ohhhhh, need to do purse and car too

swan that was a heartbreaking story about ds and football

lauren the comment about the hair I don't think was directed at your unburushed state, more a throw away comment, however asking you about expecting, what a cow, no wonder you were sulking all day, that type of comment would set me back weeks and echo round my head, quite right to boycott. If you were wanting to exercise anyway I would recommend the 30 day shred dvd, although it may have given linzer bad knees......its only 20 minutes a day and increases in terms of difficulty, I think it works because it doesn't require you to do much, but doing something every day makes a difference - a bit like flying I suppose. I'm still doing it, although with a toddler and small baby, impossible to do it every day, but trying to get to the 30 days worth of doing it

Happy Friday flying everyone

Morning! Last day before half term makes a happy elliepac, snow makes an unhappy elliepac. We had a fair bit last night which has fallen on top of the stuff that came at the weekend. All this will manage to do is make driving/walking difficult and the kids at school hyper. Grrrr.

Better go. Back tonight to drink wine.

As you are all waking I'm off to bed (8 hrs behind you).

I am inspired by all the tada lists! I will go empty dw and shine sink then into bed. Dream feed lo before sleep.

Good night!