Fledgling flyers - it's the month of May: if your house is a mess, try the Flylady way

[ToffeeWhirl]

Welcome to the May Fledgling Flyers' thread. A very big thank you to WhoKnows for guiding us through last month.

Are you living in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)? Flylady's routines 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. On this thread, we do our best to follow these routines (although we also chat quite a lot and sometimes forget why we're here ).

There are three methods of the Flylady system, depending on whether you are new to it 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.

Today's babystep is to shine your sink.

Bitchy You deserve a medal. You are now officially My Hero for achieving so much by 1pm.

the cleaning lady has been so the kitchen is now tidier
and I've piled up the clutter elsewhere

however in usual swan fashion there were no hoover bags so I've spent most of morning trying to buy new ones from Argos, failing dismally and ending up buying a new upright hoover, bringing it home painfully on the bus, as a stopgap whilst I order hoover bags on the net for my slightly ropey old cylinder hoover (which can be used upstairs from now on)

cleaning lady has also cleaned bathrooms and done some ironing

which merely confirms how much more there is left to do HELP!

done
ds2 new school shoes (that's something)

todo
will contemplate sweeping encrusted patio now, and then mad rush to pick up twins and ds1 from his trip at 2.30ish
not looking forward to dealing with ds2 who is in a very difficult mood atm unless put in front of screen 24/7

what's for dinner roast chicken

Thank you all for birthday wishes. I had a lovely day, DH was working but lots of visitors came by to drop cards in which was nice.

Am looking forward to ds1 coming home from his school trip this afternoon. He's been away since Friday morning so he's very missed.

Today's jobs.....

Two bags to charity shop
One bag to school donations
All clean clothes away
Nice bath and early night for boys
Wash ds2 bed
Drop card by for DH aunt

Fingers crossed I get it all done :)

Foad mine all loved PGL {for those who dont know it, PGL means Parents Get Lost!) Hope ds2 has had similar good experience at Grosvenor Hall where he went this weekend with his school fellows. And I also need to tidy his room [tender maternal welcome]

[shock[ at bitchys list!! You must be like a whirlwind!!

oh it wasn't Grosvenor Hall it was Kingswood he was at, not sure where I got that name from..
He's back, but apparently didn't do half the activities like abseiling and zipwiring because he was afraid of heights Oh dear, but at least he liked the social side of it. He was fearless at 9, not quite sure what has happened.. Both his brother and I are not very good at heights, so I suppose vertigo is in the family. Dd has no problem with these activities, at least that is something to be grateful for.

done
swept mud from patio, finally
picked up ds1 in car with twins
ds2 playing cricket outside with dd (I fear not for long as they are already arguing)
ds1 has collapsed after full run down in car.

well done for starting C25K foad !

Just gave the lounge and kitchen a once over but it's so hot and humid here, I've now collapsed on the sofa and imagine I'll be here for quite some time

Ta da:
Early training
ds' lunch box
ds up and out
Shower
physio Sessions 1 and 2.
sort out ds' swimming lessons for this term
buy ds new trousers and top
sort out new training partner.
discover need to go clothes shopping. Arses.
Evict anything that isn't clothes and shouldn't be in wardrobe
put clothes away
look at mountain of freshly displaced stuff in despair
tidy porch
sweep porch
plant up hanging basket and tub
water both containers
tidy lounge
recycling out
tidy hall
hoover hall
hoover lounge
move furniture
Lift, turn and relay rug
rehoover lounge
return furniture.
1hr and 30mins work on craft project
Trip to tip
collect ds from school
ingrediants in bread machine for pizza base
wash car - with ds' help
Put towels away
2 loads of washing
Half clear out the inside of the car
clean the downstairs toilet room
clean the wash room
make up pizzas and cook
look at pile of stuff on bed and feel dejected. :(
lay out clothes for ds
make ds' lunch for tomo

can't be bothered to do anything more, but am going to go clothes shopping after i put ds to bed. And I will have to clear my bed of the clutter that was dumped on it when i removed stuff from the wardrobe. That will go on the floor and i will deal with it tomo. really can't be bothered tonight. That bedtime aim feels realistic and possible tonight.

Sorry for no personals but I have run out of energy and I am not drinking coffee so meh. Will just have to deal.

have good evenings. catch you all tomo.
Bar is OPEN!

Blimey, I can't top that Ta-Da list. Still, going to try.

Ta-da!
Morning routine
School run
Pilates class
Shopping
Got car washed in car park
Shopping away
Clean bathroom
Two lots of washing clean, dry and put away
Clean kitchen include mop floor with new mop
Hoover downstairs
Lunch
OU work for an hour
Get DS from school
Gardening
Get DD from school
More gardening/play with DCs
Tea made, eaten, washed up
Clothes out for tomorrow
Football and ballet kits and Cub uniform ready for tomorrow
Chase up gynae appointment
General tidying
Lots of time on MN in between everything else
Packed lunches made

I left DS (8) home alone for the first time tonight, while I went to get DD from her after school club, 20 mins or so. We've been talking about it for a few months but he had never quite been ready. He has been practising by taking my front door key from me half way home from school, scootering back quickly and letting himself in 5 mins before DD and I get back. It feels like quite a breakthrough and he was fine, I am looking forward to not having to drag him out quite so often to go to and fro from DD's activities (she does more than him).

Foad - if you're doing C25K, can I recommend this thread C25k ? I've been on it for about a year and it is very friendly. I'm not running at the moment because of gynae problems but I'm keeping in touch with them all on the thread. There have been lots of new starters joining it recently and you would be very welcome.

Ok, not much of a ta da list really, but here goes;

Hoover lounge, stairs, landing and bedrooms - Nope - will do tomorrow
Clear bottom stair of stuff on it's way up
Empty DW
Ironing - waiting for me to do in the morning
Sweep hard floors

Have also put away piles of non-iron stuff, it usually sit around for ages looking untidy. All in all the house does look a lot tidier already, DH came home today and NOTICED!

Happy birthday nicknacks hope you had a fab day
toffee ooo bottle of champagne now that would be a result.
whoknows sorry you have been having gynae probs. hope they getting it under control for you.

Huge hiya to whoknows swan lauren blue sc bitchy linzer ellie

a big hello to maggiemagnolia castlelough engles foad just (majorly wayward flyer)

Everything going well in coostoonettle land. Been having a blast running myself ragged and doing some running too. Was very chuffed to run 1.5k without stopping.

Today I home blessed dc bedrooms, changed bedsheets, laundry x infinity. Put away ironing done by ironing lady. Took dd to gymnastics, visited friend with new baby, went to governors meeting. Dh did swimming lessons. Put dc to bed.
Ds had major meltdown about us not paying him enough attention. Dd at totally horrendous 3 stage and taking up too much time. I will try and be more attentive tomorrow. Maybe take him for cake after school!

Right off to sleep. Run in morning then work. Must have a look at missions for main bed. Could use an overhaul.

Sink looks good. Please if I'm a good girl can I stay this time.

Night all.

Not much flying done, but DS2 had a lovely afternoon covering the floor with one completed jigsaw after another and we survived shoe shopping with DS1 - just! Between the cost and the stress of DS2 constantly trying to leg it into the car park it was a bit hairy...

Tomorrow's lists depend on whether or not I need to be working so will have to wait and see.

Impressive lists today Bitchy and WhoKnows!

Well done to your DH for noticing Maggie - mine usually needs a few hints before he'll comment, even if he had noticed...

Again, a quick dash in and out with the links, but just wanted to say:

SC and NickNacks - (belated) Happy Birthdays to you both!

Maggie - welcome to the thread!

Castle - Flylady doesn't expect us to iron. She has a section on laundry here. However, I'm pretty sure she mentions somewhere that if you do have to iron, then you should do it in 15 minute bursts. I do this now and get much more done than before, when I used to feel overwhelmed at the overflowing basket and therefore not even make a start. Like everyone else, I avoid ironing if possible, but I do have some clothes that have to be ironed and I do like sending DS2 to school in ironed white shirts .

Tomorrow's babystep is to read 'Ask Flylady'.

Tuesday's mission is to chuck out old socks. The flight plan and mission are here.

Night all.

Morning all!

Thanks for the links Toffee - I may actually do the mission today as DH's sock drawer is stuffed full to breaking a bit overpopulated.

Anyhoo, decided to bugger off up to the local Argos as soon as it opens and buy DS a water/play table as it's roasting and I can't be bothered playing with him, so hopefully he'll play solo! and he'll dry quickly

Trying to get my work done, but failing miserably as office isn't co-operating with my desire to work before our other branches open so I'm a bit scuppered. Still, one of our branches took a £10k deposit... so that's their bonus sorted out!

Today I will:
put out washing to dry
tidy kitchen (DH cooked last night )
take DS to baby gymnastics
apply sunscreen so I don't burn again

Terrible flying day yesterday. For only the 2nd time in 3 weeks I didn'ty do the washing-up after dinner so was greeted by a pile of dirty dishes this morning. 25 degrees here and really humid.

Ta da

Washing-up (that should have been done yesterday )
cleaned shoes that I ordered last week and wore once then realised that they're too small so am going to send them back
Sunday's washing is finally out of the tumble drier, folded and waiting to go upstairs
washing-on

To do

Go to post office to return too small shoes and bridesmaid dresses that look like a sack of potatoes (plus, DSis has decided to go with a different colour)
go into town with parents and get treated to lunch
pick up contact lenses
maybe get some more summer friendly T-shirts for DS
hang up washing outside (I will be struck down if I use the td on a day like today)
put another load of washing on
dig out bath support and parasol for DS

DS is just starting to crawl and also has really bad nappy rash so am trying to give him nappy free time, but he's pulling himself all over the place - not a good combination!

I also rarely iron. I only do what's necessary. At the moment I have a laundry basket under the attic stairs which has about 6 things in it. I guess I will get it done this week at some point!

sorry for lack of personals. Awaiting the parents (and trying to get everything done before they get here today)

Yay - WAH job done, so not forced to sit and wait any more even if that does give me more MNet time Has meant that I've missed going to Argos though but will pop up this afternoon after baby gym.

Last washing to be hung out is in the machine on final spin - I do have an undies/towels wash to do, but I refuse to hang them out as I'm terrified someone will judge my undies or worse knick 'em (no pun intended!) and I hate crunchy towels.

Kitchen is about to be tidied.

Gymnastics is after nap/lunch.

And I've applied sunscreen to my slightly red face.

And now I have no excuse not to go play with DS. Which sounds horrible, but I've got a bit of a headache due to slight sunburn, my skin feels all tight due to sunburn, and I just want to fall asleep - and DS wants to romp. I'd chuck him into the garden, but sun hasn't come round yet so grass is still damp and it's chilly in the shade. Maybe it's time to get the duplo out...

Kitchen done.

Washing out.

Other washing on.

I'm so unmotivated...

Ok, I'm at work (shh...) so a quick drop and run...

To do;

Mahoosive ironing pile (I actually really enjoy it - bonkers I know..)
Clean bathrooms
Hoover through

Not much but I'm at work all day and am working on the principle that if it's achievable I'm more likely to do it!

BBL!

Oooh, and tonight, DH and I are going to sort out all our paperwork - livin' on the edge!!

Just flying past - have been reading thread but too busy to post - when will these A-level exams finish???

Sunburn - sun only been out for the past hour here; cloudy and v misty yesterday and this morning. Anyway - Aloe plant is miraculous! Break a leaf off and smear the juice on all burnt skin. Every house should have an aloe plant!

Bring forward file still doing well. I can feel a modification to HelenaGrace's instructions coming on - towards the end of the month the 'next month' file gets very full so I think in the middle of the month I shall fill the front of my daily file with the first fortnight of the following month IYSWIM. I have also created an extra category in the concertina file for vouchers (eg IKEA lunch vouchers given after a complaint but no idea when I shall go there again) which is the only type of paper I have so far been unable to file somewhere!

OK another pupil in 5 mins. BBL.

Eh up lovely fledglings!

Getting a bit intimidated by the long lists appearing on here but only cos I'm Flying woefully low atm You really must stop being so productive everyone !!

Feeling a bit frustrated today because I have plenty of time in which to crack on but decorator is still here and - lovely chap though he is - his presence is starting to irritate me rather. Especially as he is in hall, so can't avoid him.

Don't know why - but I find it hard to get on with stuff when someone else is around - although you know me - any excuse to Nesbit!! Very heavy weather here not helpîng. (There you are - three excuses in under 10 seconds - long lists, decorator, weather !!)

Please someone aim a well-aimed kick up my rear!!

Whoknows dd (8.75 yrs) has just started coming back from tennis by herself (it's across the street) She's usually with a friend, three quarters of the journey is within a huge school campus, and there's only one (one-way) road to cross, so I'm not too worried. But she takes my mobile phone with her and calls me when she is on her way! (I'm ridiculously paranoid!) I occasionally leave her in the house when I pop to the office or the post box, as they are literally one minute away but she wouldn't tolerate 20 mins as she likes being with people every second of every minute of every day. It's just her personality!! I hope your ds is enjoying his new-found independence! It's an exciting age for them I think - when the world starts opening up!

Congrats on your 1.5 k run Nettie Brilliant stuff!!

Congrats on your mega-Flying Bitchy and Whoknows

Huge wing flaps to eveyrone else!!

Better go and and set the timer and force myself to stroke the bunnies do something productive

[passes paracetemol, glass of water and floppy straw hat to Carpe]

Good luck with all the stresses of exams Honu and Justgettingonwithit

Still in bed.
ds up a lot in the night with fever.
CBA has kicked in big style. might try a shower and lunch/breakfast to see if it helps.
ds is just being. not really poorly poorly but not right either and don't want to risk the almost defeated virus getting another chance. So he is home and watching tv. He should hopefully be back at school tomo.

being quiet, still and just reading is kinda nice.

[fluffs up cushions for Bitchy and her ds and serves freshly squeezed oj]

Hope you both recover soon x