Fledglings “March” 31 steps away from CHAOS and mess towards domestic success...

[sanguinechompa]

... well, a shiny sink at least!!

Welcome to the March 2012 Fledgling Flyers thread. Park your mops, buckets and microfibre cloths here!!

A huge "thank you" to Linzer for steering us all through February - not a small achievement Linzer considering your school run/teaching commitments and with your dh travelling so frequently.

If you're house is a mess and you are strugging with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of chat, whinging (in my case anyway ) and support along the way.

We advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's tips on restoring order to our homes, and as we are all at different stages we will be using one of the following methods:

Here you can, for one month:

• repeat or start baby steps

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

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

More info here and here!

All long-standing members, intermittent returnees, lurkers and newcomers welcome!!

Morning this seems to be the time for posting early hours of the morning!

I managed to tidy house, cleaner cleaned. Looked quite respectable. Ran round lighting shops, our house, caravan, bathroom shop, tiling shop (still not chosen) electrical shop, lunch, caravan, b&q, school pick up, swimming then we came home again, bathe dc bed, meeting attended.

Whilst at meeting mil noticed her rather crushed velvet cushion. (the one their cat peed on) she was not happy that we had washed it as it had a special coating in it and now the warranty is invalid as dh said we didn't know and could have left it stinking of cats piss for 2 weeks.

I had owned up to one broken plate but the broken door catch and iron will have to wait till another day.

Oh whilst I'm digressing majorly could I ask, Got kept behind after school as ds had asked another boy to touch his winkle!!!! Then he tried to make out he thought he was at the doctors any advice ? I am at a loss. It's not the first incident he has dancing around waving his winkle when getting ready for pe another time. I have done appropriateness talk!

Sorry for lack of personals, catch up properly tomorrow

Morning All

Coost - can only suggest you keep on with 'appropriateness' talk and perhaps speak to his teacher so that you can work together to give DS the same message.
Oh, and hope you will soon be settled back at home, work completed.
cq - interested in your new filing/admin plan. Am going away to find out more. I tend to deal with paperwork in fits and starts and always feel there must be a better way of filing so procrastinate for ever (well numbers of years on occasion).

To Do:
Morning routine
More shower renovation on reducing limescale - Cillit Bang is my friend, hope the septic tank is OK, hence little and often so as not to overwhelm the tank's working bacteria.
Planning - really must invest the time today.
Work

Have a good day

Morning
Blue you are right, it's naughty of me to have thought of my disgusting maternity bras so I shall force myself to go shopping

To do:
Bathroom, well just the bath really.
Hall - woodwork, radiators etc.
Paint 3 fence panels if they dry out (the drought-ridden South appears a little damp this morning)
If I can't do that then I shall go to a garden centre for hanging basket equipment

Morning all. Lots of early birds about I see [SC distributes tender worms in to open beaks]

Whoknows but looking at your list, you did loads!!! Credit where credit's due and all that

Ouch Justgettingonwithit that sounds painful (and frustrating when you are living up to your nickname and trying to make progress). Hope it mends quickly!

MummyNickleby Phew and thanks Think I beat you on the norkage front then . If I had to jump out of an aeroplane mid-flight, my standard bra would easily double up as a parachute

Ditto Blue!

cq Good luck with "Getting Things Done"!!!!

Nettie Glad you managed to get everything clean on time but sorry about the cushion! As I only have one dd, I'm not sure I'm the best person to dish out winkle advice but I'm sure others will be along soon!! Perhaps he was playing doctors ( dd - who has active imagination - really 'believes' her own made-up scenarios) so he might have really thought he was at the doctors ifyswim ...

JWIM by some sort of miracle, think this is the first time Cillit Bang has been mentioned on this thread!! (I always think whoever named that product needs some serious help!!!) Hope it does the trick anyway. I bore for England on this subject but I find white, distilled vinegar excellent for eliminating limescale (use it everywhere on tiles, shower doors, in appliances etc etc). Works v. well if you don't object to fish and chip aroma!

It's my "free" day today but I've been so slack with housework that I'm going to have to sacrifice some of it to chores. My own fault entirely - no excuses - have had time to do it - but have Nesbitted instead.

Take care everyone and have a good day!

Well this morning is the first morning i have woken up feeling like i have slept solidly. In fact i know it was a solid night's sleep as i woke up in the same position i fell asleep in. feeling a bit rabit in headlights now though.

Today's list? See yesterday's list. but add wash ds' bedding and duvet.

Hope you all have productive days.

cq - that's the same dinner my DSs had!

Coost - wow, that's a lot of running around.

JWIM - Cillit bang themselves claim its safe to use with Septic Tanks, so fingers crossed.

MummyNic - will join you in the painting!

SC - Phew, looks like I was late enough to miss out on the worms!! Sorry about your free day - I only have free days if I willfully ignore the mess around me.

Bitchy - that's great! Really, really positive - though your poor brain and body probably don't know what to make of it!

Toffee, Swan, WhoKnows - hope you have a nice meet up.

Need to get on with painting, but also have to get on with cleaning... what to do, what to do....

Right. Will do one paint job, then do a 15 minute blast on something, then next paint job, another 15 minute blast, etc, etc.

Well that's the theory, anyway .

Morning all.

coost how old is DS? My Ds had a friend who liked to compare winkies when they were 4/5 yr olds, his poor Mum was a nervous wreck over it totally grew out of it though. At the same age DD showed everyone her bum in PE (I'm laughing now remembering this), teacher was not amused.

linzer I am having a financial crisis too (no unexpected bills just poor budgeting). Suddenly I have to find money for after school club fees, tap shoes, brownie uniform, school shoes, DD birthday present etc.

toffee whoknows and swan have a good meet up. I know its a serious event but hope you have a good catch up too. toffee hope your dh is ok soon.

Today:
shopping done
banking
post MD card etc
post BD card
laundry
hoover
whats the zone .

sc sounds like you beat me, mine double up as a "mid week shopping" bag: just some milk, 4 pack of baps (pardon the pun) and a loaf..

chit I'll race you to the brushes.... After catching up on Corrie

Can I barge in and ask a fly question?
Do the zones start from scratch on the first of the month?

I've seen someone mark out the zones on their year planner for the whole year but can't see it listed on the flylady website, so rather than week per zone it's week of month per zone?

List update:

Load of washing on
school run
wash bedding (my bed)
try to sort and clear one box from storage
tidy bathroom floor
wash/bleach bathroom floor
wash/bleach cloak room floor
tidy clutter away from landing
tidy and sort box of clutter from landing
hoover landing.
clear bath/sink/toilet
file paperwork sorted one pile into like types - need to find files
tweak cv and write application letter and email
clear a box of storage from my room
lunch time school run
feed child lunch
Water plants
get ds to write last outstanding thank you notes.
Book doctor's appointment rang
wash kit + work on clearing washing back log
folding up to date
Take rubbish out
Take recycling out
Afternoon school run
Print ds' homework out to go into school
cook tea
Wash ds' duvet
Wash my duvet (not planned but accidently chucked coffee all over it )
Wash ds' bedding
Hand washing
remake ds' bed done except duvet which is in tumble dryer
clean all mirrors
4x 15mins work on my room

Scatty - this is turning out to be a very expensive month for me. Car needs an MOT, both cars need taxing, council tax, nursery fees, both DSs need new shoes, and organising DS1?s birthday party....

MummyNic -as long as you don?t have little ones ?helping? you?re going to be way ahead of me!

Bitchy - sorry, you?re standards are slipping ? I don?t see any chocolate breaks or MN thread terrorising on your list!

Ta Da
Catch up on MN
Arrange hedge pruning
Load of Wash through washing machine & in dryer
2nd load of wash on
Get blackboard out for DS ? mutter curses under breath when I realise the lovely scribbles on the black board have NOT been made with chalk
Cif the blackboard.....
Set DS up with CHALK and blackboard
15 minute blast in kitchen
Empty dryer ? fold dishcloths etc and put away
Touch up paint wall ? supervising ?helpful? DS2 who wants to help paint
Wash DS2 sized paint footprints and handprints from floor and walls, and wash paint out of sock
Reconsider my supervising abilities
Stick on Thomas the Tank Engine DVD to entertain DS2
Have a cup of tea and a nosey on MN ? after raiding DSs? sweet stash .

Have just realised the pharmacist is trying to poison DS2 ? have penicillin, each bottle lasts 5 days. Given 2 bottles, 10 day dose. But.... bottles can only be kept for 7 days once made up..... Hmmmm, lucky I read the bloody fine print on these things. Not impressed.

Now DH has asked if I would mind if he went awol on Mothering Sunday (for work). Cheers, DH!!!! For that you get to do all the messy crafts with the DSs at the workshop on Saturday!!!!

chitchat there's time...

List update:

Load of washing on
school run
wash bedding (my bed)
try to sort and clear one box from storage got 2 done
tidy bathroom floor
wash/bleach bathroom floor
wash/bleach toilet room floor
tidy clutter away from landing
tidy and sort box of clutter from landing
hoover landing.
clean bath/sink/toilet
file paperwork sorted one pile into like types - need to find files
tweak cv and write application letter and email
clear a box of storage from my room
lunch time school run
feed child lunch
Water plants
get ds to write last outstanding thank you notes.
Book doctor's appointment rang
wash kit + work on clearing washing back log 1st load on
folding up to date
Take rubbish out
Take recycling out
Afternoon school run
Print ds' homework out to go into school
cook tea mash and onion gravy gone on
Wash ds' duvet
Wash my duvet (not planned but accidently chucked coffee all over it )
Wash ds' bedding
Hand washing
remake ds' bed
clean all mirrors
4x 15mins work on my room
Put box of stuff into office
Move box of fabric to be rehomed out of office
check pe kit sizes
make up shopping list for later
play hunt the coffee
easter bunny marshmallows bought for ds
relocate dvds from cases into folder
Ironing up to date
Wash pillows.
drink far far too much coffee
make up lego minifigure and add to town
Hoover matress
gather stuff for bonfire by back door
meeting with ds' teacher
Fish summer bedding out of cupboard
Hunt for summer duvet and then remember it went to the tip last autumn thus needs replacing
Find ds' inhalers and discover he has destroyed all spacers and new one is needed
Locate box for temporary storage of files to enable filing, until office has been tackled
bleach bottom hem of trousers by accident bugger
10mins knitting
evict lego men and monsters from pine cone basket and top up with pine cones

Oh dear... Have failed in most aspects today.
Weather too damp & cloudy to paint fence which is upsetting as I really do love painting (you win chit)
Cleaned bath (loo & sink were done yesterday.
Popped in to see bf & goddaughter.
Bought bf's DH's b'day cards for tomorrow.

Had a revelation: Cillit Bang Grime & Lime is utterly superb on lime scale ridden shower screens - totally clear of water marks and no scrubbing!
I never bought it before due to the price but it's brilliant. I am a convert and what's left of my Mr Muscle will be used on the sink until its finish and will never be bought again

Just to say - I do not work for Cillit Bang and it is working but slowly - very hard water and very little effort to remove for several years. I may also give the distilled viegar a go.

Tada
Morning routine done
More shower renovation on reducing limescale - Cillit Bang is my friend, hope the septic tank is OK, hence little and often so as not to overwhelm the tank's working bacteria. WIP
Planning - really must invest the time today.- More nesbit than action, but will get on with it
Work - made some progress, awaiting responses to drafts/proposals sent out

To Do
Supper DC
Supper me/DH
Laundry away, last 2 shirts to iron
Homework supervision

Yoohoo! Hello Toffee and Whoknows it was truly lovely, if a bit nerve wracking to meet you. I only wish we could have run away from the workshop and gone off somewhere to chat a bit longer... but as there was only one other lady there, I think it would have been very rude,and anyway it was workshop wise, very useful... will hope to pm youboth. Hope rest of day answered the rest of the questions, as always I hope I didn't talk too much !

Feel a bit journied and statemented out now (why am I always racing to get back to pick up kids? hrrm) But, drum roll,managed to pick up next size up violin for Ds1, on way back from Twickenham, as there was a violin shop next to the busstop!! So that was fantastic - no more wrangling over violins between ds1 and dd. Also ordered Harry Potter Hedwig theme score for grade 2 from violin shop. So I've achieved a lot today, not to speak of meeting some Flyladies at very long last

Yesterday Ds1 took it to school for his lesson and failed to bring it back for dd who had lesson today in school (although luckily it was only the group lesson so she borrowed someone's)

Very busy week compounded by Mum's ankle op yesterday and Twins birthday on Thursday...so I need to recover some of my executive function which has gone AWOL.

Chitchat reconsider my supervising activities LOL! I think anyone who can supervise paint and small ones simultaneously deserves Senior Supervisor of the year...

I am soo soo tired. Just dropped and picked up dd at piano lesson. Supervised ds2 making his own cheesy crumpet. Stopped dcs fighting. Chatted to friend on pavement. What's for dinner? Baked potatoes.

I'm just back too, it was lovely to meet my Flylady friends at last, we didn't let on till lunchtime, was quite funny when we confessed to meeting on a thread about housework (glossed over the fact that we had been talking about housework for 2 years now ). It was very informative, I just wish there had been more time to chat too. Glad you got the violin sorted Swan

I'm whacked, it was quite full on plus an hours drive each way, plus my back is aching, can't rememeber the last time I sat still so much in one day so I'm going to potter round the garden with a cup of tea for 5 minutes, while the DCs watch telly, back later to catch up.

Hello everyone

Swan Toffee Whoknows great that the meet-up went well!! Here's some for you all.

Bitchy so glad you got some proper shut-eye at last and congrats on that humungous list

JWIM not sure why I mentioned 'distilled' vinegar this morning ... just meant ordinary white, clear, industrial stuff (looks like water or vodka). Can buy it in large bottles over here in supermarket (Belgium) It does really work. Also bung it on underarms of dh's work shirts ...has deodorising effect.

MummyNickleby arf at mid-week shopping analogy, especially baps !!!

Chitchat arf at raiding sweet stash - I have a tendency to do this too - dd always outraged!! Well done - you've done loads today!

Timewasting I hope this link here will answer your question. So, yes, zones do start on 1st of month and then correlate with successive wks if that makes sense (like baby-step 1 always starts on 1st of month). It's good because you know that the same areas will always come around again, thus hopefully removing "rabbit in headlight" feeling - if overwhelmed with too many chores at once - not knowing where to start etc. (Other fledglings will come in and correct this answer if it is wrong I hope!!! Or add further info ....)

Scatty (and chitchat) sorry this month proving costly - sympathies with car expenses - they are soaring year on year. (Had controle technique done on my car today - for a shocking price - and there wasn't even anything much wrong with it.)

Sorry if above personals seem a bit rushed. I've got rather a lot of unexpected office related things to do tonight by tomorrow (thanks dh!) and I want to watch Masterchef so going to post links early and may not be back til the morrow.

Flaps wings at everyone and hope you have a good evening!

*

Baby step number forteen for tomorrow, Wednesday 14th March is

here One to be ignored. It's about maintaining current routines (except big tent) and then reading about calendars - so you can pass on that bit!

Mission for tomorrow here cleaning bathroom mirror

We are in the bathroom + one other room all week (zone 3) here

The daily focus for Wednesday is here anti-Nesbit day

You can do it fledglings!
*

arrgh - rushing

that should have read 'fourteen' sorry

Timewasting also - just wanted to add - you can adapt Flylady routines to suit your own schedule - so you can pencil in zone cleaning wherever you like and what suits you best!! Good luck with it! Any other questions - don't hesitate!

List update:

Load of washing on
school run
wash bedding (my bed)
try to sort and clear one box from storage got 2 done
tidy bathroom floor
wash/bleach bathroom floor
wash/bleach toilet room floor
tidy clutter away from landing
tidy and sort box of clutter from landing
hoover landing.
clean bath/sink/toilet
file paperwork sorted one pile into like types - need to find files
tweak cv and write application letter and email
clear a box of storage from my room
lunch time school run
feed child lunch
Water plants
get ds to write last outstanding thank you notes. one done one to go
Book doctor's appointment
wash kit + work on clearing washing back log 2nd load on
folding up to date
Take rubbish out
Take recycling out
Afternoon school run
Print ds' homework out to go into school
cook tea sausage, mash and onion gravy yum.
Wash ds' duvet
Wash my duvet (not planned but accidently chucked coffee all over it)
Wash ds' bedding
Hand washing
remake ds' bed
clean all mirrors
4x 15mins work on my room
Put box of stuff into office
Move box of fabric to be rehomed out of office
check pe kit sizes
make up shopping list for later
play hunt the coffee
eat easter bunny marshmallows bought for ds
relocate dvds from cases into folder
Ironing up to date
Wash pillows.
drink far far too much coffee
make up lego minifigure and add to town
Hoover matress
gather stuff for bonfire by back door
meeting with ds' teacher
Fish summer bedding out of cupboard
Hunt for summer duvet and then remember it went to the tip last autumn thus needs replacing
Find ds' inhalers and discover he has destroyed all spacers and new one is needed
Locate box for temporary storage of files to enable filing, until office has been tackled
bleach bottom hem of trousers by accident bugger
10mins knitting
evict lego men and monsters from pine cone basket and top up with pine cones
locate place for temp file storage box to be
gather stuff for laminating together
Label new storage box
Fill bath and chuck ds in for a hot deep bath
try not to kill ds who has obviously missed being allowed to have a bath
update ds' calendar
update calendar
survey garden so aid to do list for that area
prep incinerator for bonfire later
find missing crochet hook
remake bed
spend half an hour crocheting
get ds ready for bed
get ds to finish maths homework
have bonfire

Bloody hell, Bitchy you're downright dangerous when you've had a good night's sleep.

I have gathered all my 'stuff' in one place. Chucked out a HUGE load of crap - kitchen gadget brochure from 2009 anyone? Boxes, piles and files everywhere.

Dear Mr Allen, when does the fun start?

Have 25 minutes till the school bus comes, need to straighten out the study a tad as that's where the dogs sleep at night and they are most put out that they can't get to bed at the moment.

Sorry cq perhaps i should look where i am dropping my list next time

MummyNic - I win! I managed to touch paint the wall, the skirting and DS2!!

Bitchy - HOW did you find time to spend 1/2 hour crocheting and 10 mins knitting in amongst all that????!!!! (And I saw those marshmallows being snarfed )

cq - you're scaring me

WhoKnows - glad the workshop was worthwhile

Swan - Oooh, I don't know! I'm not sure Green is a suitable colour for a DS - HOW he managed to step right into the paint tray I have no idea!!!

JWIM - glad the cillit bang worked.

Updated Ta Da list
Catch up on MN
Arrange hedge pruning
Load of Wash through washing machine & dryer
Load of Wash through washing machine & in dryer
Load of wash folded
3rd load of wash on
Get blackboard out for DS ? mutter curses under breath when I realise the lovely scribbles on the black board have NOT been made with chalk
Cif the blackboard.....
Set DS up with CHALK and blackboard
15 minute blast in kitchen
Empty dryer ? fold dishcloths etc and put away
Touch up paint wall ? supervising ?helpful? DS2 who wants to help paint
Wash DS2 sized paint footprints and handprints from floor and walls, and wash paint out of sock
Reconsider my supervising abilities
Stick on Thomas the Tank Engine DVD to entertain DS2
Have a cup of tea and a nosey on MN ? after raiding DSs? sweet stash.
Paint Skirting - room now ready for furniture to be moved and other side started
Wash out paint brushes and rollers
School run
1/2 hour playground
Spend time outside with DSs (discovered loads of frog eggs in the pond)
Dinner for DSs
Dinner for DH and myself

To do
Clean kitchen up after cooking
Ironing pile
Empty dryer
Load dryer and then empty again.....