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.

Yikes, my foot was getting better but now I'm hobbling round like an old woman - doctor and no house bleugh tomorrow, I think!

Get well soon to Bitchy and DS.

Waves to all.

Going to have to have another go at that bedtime babystep. half managed it. Was in bed trying to sleep, but didn't manage it at a reasonable time. But that is a start. Am about ready for bed already so here's hoping sleep arrives when i look for it.

Ds is back to school tomo.

Hope you are all ok. Blue - hope the foot is better soon.

Night.

Have to get DS1 and his friend (sleeping over) to bed, so very quick post while they watch the end of their film (and if it's not finished in five minutes, I have to turn it off to screams of outrage ):

Learn how to build your control journal is the babystep for tomorrow.

Tomorrow's mission is to dust in your master bedroom. The mission and the day's routines are here.

The kid's challenge is here. I presented DS1 with a list of 'to dos' in his bedroom today (he earnt computer time for doing it) and I do sometimes remember to give him one of these challenges too.

Right, I am steeling myself to be a disciplinarian and get those boys up to bed now, in the face of pleading and protestations. Wish me luck...

Am very impressed with the long ta-da lists today!
Only managed half a home blessing yesterday and
barely got through my routines today. Hope I can do a bit
better tomorrow!
Just discovered the cat sleeping in the hot press
amongst yesterdays freshly laundered towels.
Grrrr! How did he get in there ?

(I know it's a ridiculous time to post but I woke up and can't get back to sleep...

Not a great ta-da list from yesterday;
Mahoosive ironing pile (I actually really enjoy it - bonkers I know..)
Clean bathrooms - Nope
Hoover through - Nope
Sort out paperwork - Nope

So todays to do list is (not suprisingly..);

Clean bathrooms
Hoover through
Sort out paperwork

and also...
Walk dog before work
Eat well (by that I mean no crisps, biscuits and choc to stave off work boredom)
Go swimming tonight - 50 lengths

Night all!

Wow. I slept so well last night! Possibly coz DH and I were in the same bed without DS screaming for us! however this usually means a crappy day for some reason

No plans for today.

Sun is up, so probably will end up outside with DS - not much help with flying, but have to make the most of these things while we can!

Have a lovely day everyone!

the visiting dog is here again today, and I am feeling a bit worried as to if I can get anything done with him around. He is lying at my feet eating a squeaky auk, blocking the door, so I can't get out
Kittens have had a lovely romp in the garden this morning, and are now safely ensconced upstairs with all mod cons.

Plan today!
reorganise playroom now that piano has gone to front room
take dog for lovely walk
dig out vegetable area
what's for dinner - something needing chicken stock...
order some plants for new flower bed
book plane tickets
unload dw

done
piano
laundry
three kids to school
bike to school for cycle training
ironed a terribly crumpled school shirt for ds1 (never usually bother
dh did recycling

SC I can never get anything done with builder in house either, puts me right out of kilter. Only solution is to go to another part of house entirely, or GO OUT!

Quick list:

Ta Da:
Washing up away
Dry clothes folded and put on massive ironing pile
Washing hung on airer
Washing load on
Beds made
Blinds opened
All dressed
At work at reasonable time

To do:
Struggle through course at work
Mid week shop (buy 1 set of summer work clothes)
Pot up 2 baskets or pots
Water baskets, pots & plants in greenhouse
1 hour of ironing.
Be in bed by 9:30...

Work all done. DS cleaned up from his colouring pens attack (thank god for practical but slightly naff wipeable tablecloths!) and now can go play outside if he wants... but he wants the TV coz it's Mr Tumble

Ah well, more coffee time for me!

Been to the dr. Have to rest my foot so flying will have to take a backseat for a while. Also have a ton of paid work to do...

Waves to all and leaves a tray of on the bar.

You are still welcome to stick you head in an chat you Blue.

Done absolutely nothing today.
Did manage the sleep babystep last night. was asleep by 8am. Struggled to get up this morning, and then went to bed post school run. Would like to just go back to sleep.

My problem is that if I don't take something to help me sleep, i don't sleep and if i take it i do nothing but sleep. there seems to be no in the middle unless i survive on caffine. which i suspect is part of the problem with not sleeping. So trying to be good and stay away from that.

Oh and it is too bloody hot. I don't like the heat. Don't mind cold. Just not fond of rain.

Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine.

I've done some gardening (although dog and bedding plants are not a good combination, he kept nicking them as I was planting and running off with them
watering with bucket
long and lovely walk with dog
and now trying to tidy the Augean stables [aka playroom)
A little girl recovering from a serious illness is coming round to visit, and I feel terrible that everything looks so bad, but I thought it best to invite her whatever house looked like.

I think next week I am going to have to stop all these extracurricular things (dog, library, Beavers) as I just can't catch up. I just need a week to deal with the wretched garden!!!!!

Bitchy ask your GP for a mild sleeping tablet for a week or two.

Mine did this when I "unset" my body clock after a bereavement and needed to reset it to want to sleep at night not at 11am. 10 days of sleep at the proper time made it much easier to continue it IYSWIM. You have to not day nap either!

But that was pre-DS so don't know if you'd want to try it when you have your DS. Maybe if he's away for a few days?

carpe. Tis what the gp did.

Last night I slept 8pm-8am, and then 9:30-2:30pm today. i could have literally just rolled over and gone to back to sleep. I think tbh, it is no so much a disrrupted sleep pattern but more complete and utter exhaustion atm. Which i have been covering up with caffine. My body has now said fuck off and sort it out. I am ready for sleep again.

Well, I would try not to have the naps. It does kill you, but it will impact your sleep at night as our bodies aren't programmed for it (unless you have a regular siesta - which is how the continent do it; our customs are not set up for this!).

Can you tell I did a bit of research before resorting to the GP?!

Perhaps, but I suspect that long timers on the thread are not surprised about the crash and burn that has occurred. They have witnessed the build up to this point.

Am off to bed. see you all tomo. night.

Slight name change as previous name was similar to another.

Blue what's wrong with your foot? I've been hobbling now for two days. Have decided that running is really bad for me as every time I try it I always end up nursing some kind of injury. I'm going to try swimming twice a week instead - I used to love it when I was younger.

Ta da's

Two loads of washing

Not great really is it? Must try harder

Hope tonight brings sleep Bitchy

swan I'm envying you your piano! Am currently practising on a borrowed keyboard. Then when I try to play my piano teacher's baby grand half the notes don't come out properly. Exam next wed morning!
blue hope your foot improves x
swan I'm envying you your garden this evening. I have a small veg patch dug in the middle of our building site. DH let me spend 9 hrs digging it before deciding that he was thinking of building a shed on that spot....

Then his cows broke out twice and clobbered all over
my little patch, turning my potatoes and onions and strawberries upside down not to mention the two large cowpats they left behind through which some potatoes are now struggling
Oh for our house to be finished and a proper garden :-(

Anyway I am not doing as well as you this week
magnolia - half heartedly attempted morning routine (forgot about what's for dinner? and we ended up with quick fix frozen pizza

Right, I am definitely avoiding the job in hand.

To-Do:

piano - 1 hr (lesson tomorrow)
Strip beds (2) and remake.
Wash bedlinen and tumble dry.
Finish cleaning ensuite bathroom.
Three things from my anti-procrastination list.
Make a shopping (grocery) list for tomorrow.
Do a bit of control journal (today's BS)
Before bed routine.

Tired just looking at the list :-(
Before-bed routine.

Should I buy some flylady tools?
Some of these magic purple rags?
Have any of you bought her tools?
Think all the emails are brainwashing me!
Keep thinking about that water bottle....

I haven't bought any Flylady tools. However I am totally in love with my acquisitions this week [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Electrolux-ZB2803-Unirapido-Rechargeable-Cleaner/dp/B00577X8FK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337802905&sr=8-1 Cordless Vac]] and Squirty mop.

Back later!

Cordless Vac

castle you don't need purple rags you need micro fibre cloths!! They are the business right there!!

Yes indeed, microfibre cloths and Magic ERaser Block

Castle - it's definitely the emails! Quick, unsubscribe!! Thanks for the concern re the foot...

Maggie - apparently I've got plantar fasciitis, which sounds rather sinister but means the tissue from my heel to the middle of my foot is inflamed. Hopefully it'll get better of it's own accord but I need to rest it. Also to exercise it, hence sitting here with a rolling pin under my feet - rather a nice massage actually!!

Hope you can get some good sleep tonight, Bitchy.

Right, really must get off the computer - been on far too long. Night all.

Fell asleep with DS2, so now I am up with the birds and online shopping for my holiday catching up on jobs.

We are going on holiday to Spain in a week and, having wilted in today's heat, I'm now a bit apprehensive about how I'm going to cope and whether I will want to spend the entire holiday indoors. (I know, I know - in the grand scheme of things to worry about, this does not count as one of life's major problems ).

The solution to DS1's worries about flying turn out not to be hypnotherapy, but Phenergan . It was recommended by the GP and we tested it on him the other night to make sure he wasn't one of the 10% who become hyperactive instead of sleeping . He went out like a light and slept for 12 solid hours, which is unheard of. He is now delighted that he can sleep through something he's so scared of - and we are delighted that we should be able to get to Spain.

Maggie and Blue - sorry you are both nursing painful feet. Hope you get better soon.

castle - cows in the vegetable patch? Are you living on a farm by any chance? And I would also be furious at my DH if he let me dig for nine hours for nothing! Grr.

carpe - interesting about the sleeping pills. My sleep is also all over the place at the moment and I can't seem to get back on track. Mind you, having seen the effect of Phenergan on DS1, maybe I just need to take one of those...

Bitchy - hope you are catching up with sleep.

swan - sounds like you are enjoying your menagerie (I mean the animals, not the family ). I am actually quite excited about getting a dog now that we have made the decision. We are taking every opportunity to visit people with dogs and we are still walking our neighbour's dog. To my surprise, I have enjoyed it immensely and discovered a whole new doggy community!

WhoKnows - very exciting about those new acquisitions. My DH has hidden the Magic Eraser - I think he wants the pleasure all for himself .

lauren - yes, yes, yes to microfibre cloths!

Flying - good to see shopping for summer clothes on your list. I'm impressed at your 9.30 bedtime - did you manage it? I only do that if I pass out with one of the children and then I wake up in the early hours and can't sleep (like tonight).

DS1 has just joined me, so had better post the links and scarper.

Today's babystep is to establish your afternoon routine.

The flight plan and daily mission is here. Today is errand day, by the way.

Kid's challenge here.

Someone wants cuddles and attention, so have to go now...

Hope you all have a good, productive day.