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.

Sounds like you are having a fab time, feet. Glad you're having such good weather too.

Have done most of my packing. Still have a few things to buy tomorrow morning, which I didn't want to do, but it's inevitable, I suppose. Cleaner is coming tomorrow afternoon, which means we'll have a lovely clean house to come home to after our holiday .

Better get on with stuff, so here are the links...

Babystep Number 30: start creating your weekly plan.

Thursday is errand day. The flight plan and mission is here.

Kid's challenge is here.

Final ta-da list!
Rescue house - ish
house bleugh: hoover and mop, dust
ironing
work
make lists
call Step-MIL
blog
What's for dinner?
Cancel veg box for next week

Apart from that, I've figured out that it's probably the ibuprofen causing my massive mouth ulcer :( decluttered a few of DS1's less impressive artworks and done a little light exercise on the Wii.

I need to go and do a bit of online window shopping to work out where to get various holiday things.

No rain here in Norfolk Feet - how about shooing it up this way for the garden?

Just whizzing on to say have a wonderful holiday toffee

Day off here today, so lots to sort out in the house. DH is off too, which I am not sure is more of a help than a hinderence, but we shall see. I am determined to sort certain areas of the house before DH gets to them because his "sorting" takes on a different meaning than mine! (ie: he just chucks everything out! )

No time for a list, so massive waves to everyone and "see" you later!!

Have a lovely holiday toffee

It's pouring with rain today, but we're "toddling" this morning, so will at least get DS out for a bit. No clue about this afternoon though.

WAH job done (my boss started early coz he knew I was out this morning - and he has a funeral so he was making up time, but still a lovely gesture!)
DW emptied (by DH)
Off to S&S

Dinner will be chilli from the freezer.

No clue what else to do today. I just seem to be stuck in a perpetual rut of CBA. I can see the clutter, I just have no motivation to do anything about it. Maybe get stuck in after toddlers while DS naps... or sit on the sofa and sigh!

No personals again as am on phone - seems to be a usual thing for me!

Have a nice day everyone!

Morning all!

I am interpreting the relative quiet on here to mean that no-one else desperately wants to run June thread (hope I am not stepping on your toes Ellie) and so have started new one here!!

Thanks again for leading us throughout May Toffee and hope you have a brilliant time in Spain!!

Huge waves to everyone else!!

We are condemned to "damnation without relief" this morning as water being cut off in both office and at home (ie no lavs working!!) so had better go and fill a bucket or two in case of emergencies ...

Ellie have pm'ed you!

Thanks sc just a list dump for now...

To do:
Wash kitchen floor
Home bleurgh
Clean windows
Clean doors
Tidy playroom
Put DD washing away
Paperwork
Phone national insurance people
Bake brownies with DD
clean bathroom

should be achievable As no work today and I'm in hiding...my lips look like Pete burns

Quick list dump, then back later to catch up...

To do;

Put washing away - am trying not ironing as it always gets left for ages in a towering heap anyway
Walk dog
Tidy/clean bedrooms
Swish and swipe bathrooms
Plan dinner for tonight and tomorrow
Hang out load of washing in machine (and pray it stops drizzling)

Oh, and also...
Find library books and take DS's to library after school
Take DS1 to cubs

Sorry for not being around much, I am still lurking, just busy. A big thanks to Toffee for leading this month and hope your holiday goes well.

Toffee hope holiday is wonderful. Fingers crossed ds1 makes a home from home and also notices how much you like being on holiday. Great to go with friends too.

My computer is playing up again, and deleting things so sorry if this is abrupt...

done
kittens to vaccinations (second) major headache with dog arriving, ds2 refusing to go to school, and me headache/morning mist, but YAY I got there, and ds2 really enjoyed going to the vet

todo
a whole host of things, which for some reason I'm finding it quite difficult to do with visiting dog around - I can't seem to tune out...as I sense that the dog wants me to take him on a lovely walk. He has has already been for a long walk with his owner this morning, but being a springer he is insatiable for action..He has also started being quite naughty and jumping up which I'm trying to extinguish. His owner is taking half term off to re-train him, which sounds very good!!!!!

It is very reassuring that there are so many dog owners on here, actually doing housework...this particular dog keeps dancing into the kitchen with enormous branches in his mouth and then shredding them. Ah good, think he is finally settling down to chew my old leathery croc, as long as he thinks I'm not going anywhere...

yest helped at Beavers
did loads of gardening, finally finished the new flowerbed
did a rain dance and got completely soaked- it was heaven (Monsoon joy) but unfortunately just passing shower, despite covering lawn with lawn fertilizer Now it is DRY AGAIN, and so I'm back to the endless watering can shenanagins..

SC met a large rabbit in the vet this morning, his owner said he was v affectionate..

Thank ou very much for leading us toffee and hope the holiday is brilliant for you all.
thanks for volunteering to take over SC.

right need to move. cba. hmm. meh. school holiday can just take things easy so will do. Coffee then set the wii up. then ds will be happy and quiet and i can deal with mount washmore. Or something.

Where is all this rain of which you are speaking? Still bone dry here, although much cooler and more overcast.

Ta-da!
Booked ferry tickets for summer hols
General catch up of last night's evening routine - I was out and DH din't do much apart from get the DCs to bed.
Washing on line
Kitchen cleared up
Online chores (banking etc)

DS has said he doesn't want to give up tennis after all so we have had a talk about behaviour expectations. I think I am going to tell him that if he feels he is about to lose his cool he needs to ask if he can go to the loo and come over to the clubhouse for a moment and calm down. One of his friends from tennis came up to me in the playground this morning to ask if he was coming which was nice.

OK, I want to do a bit of exercise and then some paid work and some OU work. I have had to give up on the Wii for now due to absence of curtains in the lounge and living in a very busy street, so I am going to do some Pilates in the back room.

Carpe - your definition of Nesbit is spot on!

WhoKnows I see you are booking ferry tickets... Is that to here? If so is it before we leave? I ask because I have a voucher for 15% off, if it will help you. I dont know when it runs out though.

Pouring in NE Scotland.

And we have men filling in our hole dug up by the water men. Except not right now as they're on lunch. Which is good as DS has just gone for a nap, in his side less cot - coz I took it off just now.

And I can't get a hold of DH to tell him.

But! DS just bounced a few times and then stayed and fell asleep! and he looks so cute on the monitor!

Decided to do ASDA this afternoon. House is relatively tidy.

Same here Whoknows - overcast but no actual rain. I'm happy it's cooler actually as I can get more done. (Well, that's the theory anyway!) Hope your ds enjoys his tennis again - sounds like a good strategy.

Started the day feeling a bit ratty with sore throat, aching limbs, no hot water (no water at all at various moments) crowds of workmen banging and crashing and treading muck and plaster dust all over the house. But what a difference five hours can make! Now all beautifully calm, have brand new boiler, lashings of hot water and only one man here who is finishing the hallway which looks fab (can't believe it is my house!) Will finally be able to fling the front door open without cringing and trying to block the entrance so no-one can see behind me (door opens directly on to street continental-style). So happy with paint job I might have to start inviting passing strangers in for viewings

Swan Your visiting springer sounds lovely!! They are such gorgeous dogs.

"I can't seem to tune out"
I think that is why pets are so good for us. You sort of have to focus on them - and live in the moment like they do!! No worrying about tax returns, tonight's supper or tomorrow's meeting whilst in their company. (I spent a happy 30-mins gambolling with rabbits this morning (who are growing fast!! It was incredibly relaxing)) And with regards to branch-chewing etc, have decided I would rather have a few bits of straw here and there and some nibbled furniture, rather than be rabbit-less and live in a show home (highly unlikely that this house would ever reach show-home levels of upkeep/orderliness anyway!!) Same with dog-owning I think!!

for Bitchy

Maggie bet my towering heaps are taller than your towering heaps!

Hope your day gets better Carpe Have you tried the 15-min timer method?

I must confess to not knowing who Peter Burns is but bet your lips are lovely lauren Get thee out there and pout girl!!

Your holiday sounds idyllic Feetheart Nowt better than feral children!! Glad you and your dh are feeling better too (not much fun in a tent when you are ill).

Waves to Toffee (good luck with last minute prep) Flying Morecats¨and everyone else!! Off to make a Red Riding Hood costume ...

aw at your ds Carpe

I second no show homes with a springer about!! I had my carpets cleaned in April and already there are paw prints and random drip marks (I dread to think) all I over it! Mine is currently chasing his tail around the house

My to do list hasn't got very far, mainly due to me falling asleep when DD napped so...
To do:
Wash kitchen floor
Home bleurgh: dusted, high dusted and changed DD bedding
Clean windows
Clean doors
Tidy playroom
Put DD washing away washed another 2 loads so waiting on dryer
Paperwork- when DD is in bed
Phone national insurance people done
Bake brownies with DD done and shined sink
Clean bathroom

Also need to make spaghetti bolognaise for tea, better get a move on!

PA - it's not till after you have gone I'm afraid. Are your vouchers Wightlink or Red Funnel? We stick with Wightlink because it's a shorter crossing and closer at both ends, also I know my way round Portsmouth far better than Southampton. They are expensive though.

Lauren - I'm curious about the lips?

SC Pete Burns lips WARNING A BIT GRIM

whoknows I managed to forget sunscreen on my lips when the weather was lovely, and I've got a cut straight down bottom lip that reopens randomly...a combination of burnt lips and that cut has made my lips- particularly my bottom one 3 times the size as normal and covered in blisters, with a cut to finish off the look thanks for linking to sc, I can't as I'm on my phone!

Right. Kitchen totally wiped down and mopped - cooker even finished off with baby oil for a streak free finish!

Bedding from DS' room bed for us in machine, wash for DS done and ours organised to be thrown in in about um... 15 mins. I love that my washing machine has a count down timer.

sc I do use a 15 minute timer linked into the Home Routines app but to be honest, sometimes even that isn't enough to motivate me. especially at certain times of the month IYSWIM

Thanks for the good wishes for my holiday, everyone. I'm still packing (meant to finish it last night, but it never works out that way), but should be done soon. The house looks all tidy and clean, thanks to my lovely cleaner, so it will be nice to come home to.

DS1 and I have been watching this online fear of flying course, which I hope is helping to address some of his worries. It has taught me a lot too.

Readymeals and then an early night for all of us tonight. Out the door at 3am tomorrow morning!

Final babystep here.

Friday's flight plan is here.

Kid's challenge here.

Not sure if I'll get back here tonight, so hope you all have a happy week. See you when we get back. Adios!

ta da
set wii up
take bed apart
put stuff into storage in middle gap
put bed back together
stick good but no where to live until can get to bad matress on top of matress currently on my bed
wash my bedding
remake my bed
work on a project that is part of the clutter
Sort out ds' kit for training
sort out sponserhip money to give in

still to do:
ds to training
wash training kit
general laundry
repack ds' bag for going away
sort out ds' father's day present and card ready for tomo
finish seam on an all but completed project
wash project
dry project
wrap project and write card

So i think a large coffee is going to be the next plan.

Pouring with rain here in Holland.

Not much flying done today as have been at work ?and my husband is a lazy arse?but am going to bed with a clean kitchen in any case ?no thanks to lazy arse husband?

Thanks for your great leadership toffee ! I have finally made it through a whole month of flying, though may have to look at the last few babysteps again!

Yay to hot water sanguine

at Suffolk buttercups feetheart

Now swooping onto new thread?.

Today's ta da's...
Put washing away - am trying not ironing as it always gets left for ages in a towering heap anyway
Walk dog
Tidy/clean bedrooms NO
Swish and swipe bathrooms NO
Plan dinner for tonight and tomorrow
Hang out load of washing in machine (and pray it stops drizzling) it didn't so it went in the TD instead

Oh, and also...
Find library books and take DS's to library after school
Take DS1 to cubs - he didn't want to go and it's a pretty crap cub group tbh so I'm not too worried

Organisationally things are sliping a bit, so I'm looking forward to a fresh start and a shiny new thread tomorrow. Thanks Toffee have a good holiday