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.

Well done Ellie!

Ds was a fucking nightmare to get to go to bed.

Personally am knackered so here is final list up date and tomo's list.

List for Wednesday:
Urgent paperwork
meeting in next town
finish off my floor
button and loop on bag
fasten off ends on ufo *just about to do
DW - unload and reload
Washing up filled draining board and stuff in sink to soak overnight
Work on craft project
turf
Load car with stuff for tip moved to location easy to grab from
tip run tomo
bonfire - Too tired tonight.
Clean bath
Stones
Food shopping
Pick up new school bag for september
Kitchen 15mins decluttering

Thursday's list.
Up and functoning
make lunch for ds
clean ds' shoes
ds up and out
Load charity shop stuff into car
Finish washing up
finish kitchen
Stones but i don't want too
Finish my room
laundry
iron craft project
Craft project - edge and prep for hand stitching
Craft project - more 9 blocks and edging blocks
Cut more pieces for project above
make up ds' training kit
ds to training?
bonfire
finish making ds' bag for wkend

Right going to try to sleep. Back is very sore though so not sure how much I will get. Night all.

Tomorrow's babystep is to start exploring the Flylady Big Tent Group. (Can't say I ever have). And keep practising the first two babysteps - you are establishing new habits.

I hope tomorrow's Flight Plan and mission will be listed here by the morning (still set to Wed at present).

Can't keep my eyes open, so am stumbling off to bed. Night all.

Finished the book but i have a good excuse. my back hates me. it's going to be a long day. must try to get me some sleep.

Morning! (waves)

My progress is thus:

Shining Sink:

My sink is made out of some kind of granite effect hard plastic so don't think it will ever shine. My equivalent of sink shining will be simply to clear out and wash dirty dishes and give it a little wipe over. (this is significant progress for me ) And I've managed it both days so far, so Yay Me!

Wearing Shoes:

Yes! Both Tuesday and Wednesday have seen me going into work with shoes on! I will be expecting great things in my next appraisal

Generally Being on Top of Things:

OK, I realise most people probably do this anyway and you've got to understand what a complete slattern I usually am to see why this is impressive BUT.....

Both yesterday and the day before I have:

Straightened the Living room and Kitchen on getting in from work
Taken the rubbish out

And yesterday I also:

Cleaned the kitchen surfaces
Swept (but not mopped) the kitchen floor
Hoovered EVERYTHING!

And today we're in the front porch are we? Hmm. Don't really have one. Am slightly temped to clean down my portion of the deck access walkway and be proper old school like this lady but suspect neighbours will think I have OCD.

Neeeigggghhhhhh.... [Canters in stage left, snorts loudly through nostrils, paws air with hoof....]

Still on the run here. Haven't had time to catch up with thread except wanted to say to Justgettingit sorry to hear you are still having such a rotten time with horrible landlords - must be so stressful for you - hope legal situation resolves in your favour x

We're here today then off again for the weekend. So much to do ... so little time ... let's just say my former procrastination is beginning to catch up with me - need a humungous day's effort today to just keep pace. Arrggh!

Thanks for round-up Toffee , arf at your picture of me scrubbing woman Dashoflime (and congrats on your Flying success!)

Huge waves to Ellie Whoknows Bitchy Carpe Honu¨Swan Trying PA Scatty and anyone I've missed

oh and "tot ziens" to Engelsmeijse

[canters off stage right, mane flying and fetlocks um, er, fetlocking ...)

Oh dear forgot to wave to lots of people including Trying Feetheart MrsUrsa Linzer MummyNickleby and newcomers ... sorry!!

Flaps wings at all!!!

Am failing to set a good example as thread leader as I overslept this morning and staggered down to a very unshiny sink and piles of washing up . However, DH saved the day by giving me and DS2 a lift up to school (we were on time ) and then loading the d/w on our return home (it was actually his job to wash up last night, but he'd watched a film with DS1 instead).

Have to pull myself together today because my fortnightly cleaner is coming at midday, which means I need to tidy up first.

Hope to be back later to report on tidy and shiny house.

Tsk, tsk.

Been completely distracted this morning by a bird-box webcam set up by DC's school - baby Bluetits anyone? V cute :)

Really need to hoover throughout and do food shopping to allow time for a long run tomorrow but procrastinating . Maybe a list will help:

• All up and out - done
• Washing up, S&S, kitchen floor swept, cat litter sorted - done
• Rhubarb on to make jam - done
• Menu plan - mostly done
• Shopping list - mostly done
• Hoover downstairs
• Hoover upstairs
• Shopping
• Make biscuits for meeting tonight
• Put dinner together
• DS swimming
• School Assoc meeting

Sorry for lack of personals, haven't even looked at thread today but will try later.

If anyone is interested in birdcam distraction PM me and I can send you the link.
Just another quick look before hoovering.......

Yes to the link, please, Feet. I'd DSs might enjoy it .

Spent four hours of this afternoon getting ready for the cleaner. I do love the transformation of my house from pit to palace on the day that she comes. We have agreed that she will do some ironing for me instead of wiping down windows and mirrors (which I quite enjoy doing myself anyway).

Thanks to needing to sort out the ironing, I have finally tackled the huge laundry pile.

DS1 has been left to his own devices, but genuinely seems to have spent time doing Maths and English on BBC Bitesize .

I see that today's mission updated OK and that it's to wipe down your front door. I will tackle that after the school run and I can polish the door brass at the same time. I think I'm the only person in my road who actually polishes the brass on her front door. The neighbours must think I'm barking.

Speaking of barking, no dog walking today, sadly, but DS1 seems quite cheery anyway, so the magic lives on .

Flying...what flying.....

Been out all day...got to make soup for tea and then do the hellish ballet run...joy.

Done
Dog walk

To do
Soup
Snack
clean surfaces
wash up few items
1 x load in washing machine
do not surf and skive

Knackered before I start...I can do this

Been out all day at the zoo so my list is super short today...

Done

Breakfast stuff washed and away (so came back to a clean kitchen this afternoon)
One lot of washing done and another on now.

Just going to do washing up, put DS to bed and then head out for a run. Should really push the hoover round downstairs as well.

List for tomorrow....

dig hole for roses!
15 mins hotspot
food shopping

I know there's so much more that I have to do, but that's a start.

Hoi sanguine!

Been a busy day today.

Up, feed DS, me, get all dressed, out to hairdresser with DS to get his mop hair cut.

Then toddlers, back, nap (him, not me sadly!), up, lunch, supermarket, back, in house, make dinner, eat dinner... And then collapse on couch and let DS have his fill of CBeebies!

Will have to go and vote later once DS is asleep too so can't even get into slobby gear

Ds is in bed already.

list update

Thursday's list.
Up and functoning
make lunch for ds
--clean ds' shoes
ds up and out
--Load charity shop stuff into car
Finish washing up
Finish kitchen
Stones back is sore so having day off
Finish my room
laundry 3rd load done
maintenance wash
iron craft project
Craft project - edge
Craft project - more 9 blocks and edging blocks
Cut more pieces for project above
make up ds' training kit
ds to training? not going, in bed already
bonfire
finish making ds' bag for wkend
button and loop didn't get around to
annoyingly lose zipper foot for sewing machine I had it ten mins previously.
Quilt topper and stretch out ready for applying the edging.
pin edging strip
machine stitching of edging strip
pin ready for final hand stitching
find zipper foot inside bag needing mending
Hot bath to try to ease back

I have pjs and I aint going anway. might potter. But focusing on crafting tonight and thus hopefully decluttering various in progress projects is so too still flying must go sort some tea out. ds is suffering for having refused to eat lunch at lunchtime. It has now been eaten and he is starving Needless to say tea is late tonight and i am taking my time about sorting it. The more complaints the longer it is taking. fed up of him raiding cupboards and not eating at meal times so being uber strict again. Will catch up later.

hmm was going to do stuff but actually really tired. Sleep is a good thing. Allegedly.

So list for friday:
wash last bit of membrane
tip run
charity shop run
pick up prescription and request meds
load car for evening's excursions
stones (still don't want to but need to)
move bag of soil ready for leveling
Level and add edging strip to ground
soak in bath in peace
drive stupid mileage
training
iron craft project
cut pieces?
laundry.

Saturday is going to be a simple house rescue. And Sunday is going to be operation evict stones from hall. So I am planned out in brief. Will have to see if that is the way things go. right turning computer off and just waiting for ds' bedtime. can't come soon enough tonight

Evening all,

Haven't read all the thread yet, I was out last night and been out most of the day today as well. I will be catching up later.

I'm not feeling too cheerful right now, I have developed a prolapse which is making sitting down very uncomfortable (feels like you do about 3 days after giving birth). The GP has referred me to the gynae dept, I will need surgery . I also have to be very careful not to make it worse, which means no more running and no more lugging the vacuum cleaner around (so there are some pluses!). Otherwise just carry on as usual for now. However it is very uncomfy sitting up at the computer desk, so I probably won't be posting as much as usual for a while, or I will be on the Ipad which means not too many personals. None of this was totally unexpected, it has been on the cards since DS was born TBH and it started getting worse about a month ago.

Anyway, off to put my feet up and watch a bit of telly, DH is out (gone round to a fellow hi-fi geek's house to compare woofers and tweeters or something).

Please keep a pile of very soft cushions plumped up in the naughty corner for me!

Oh whoknows that doesn't sound good, I hope you are seen quickly x

Just marking my spot really. Didn't finish work until 6:40
I've loads to do and am away next week... So I need to bleughhh tomorrow and Monday to ensure the house is fairly presentable until my late return on Friday (I don't work Fridays normally )

Never mind, think of the... The... The... Oh yeah, flexi time I'll build up. I shall put it towards my Olympic week that I'm hoping to take off so I can watch men in tight shorts support Team GB

Also hoping you get seen quickly.

early night fail. Issues of parenting. Stupid tired but brain wound up now so expect it will take a while to wind down :(

Oh, WhoKnows, that sounds grim

Mummy - sorry you are in the midst of such a busy time at work.

Bitchy - oh dear, that isn't a very early night after all. Hope you managed to get to sleep quickly.

Trying - I am actually missing walking the dog . Am hoping this is a good sign and means I am cut out to be a dog owner.

Engel - a day out at the zoo sounds great .

Carpe - your post reminds me of toddler days. Can't say I miss them! It's such incredibly hard work. Thank goodness for CBeebies...

On Friday we are on Day 4 of the babysteps: write the first three babysteps on sticky notes as reminders. This is far from essential, in my opinion, but might help some people . (Don't worry, the babysteps get more interesting soon).

Friday is 'declutter your purse and car day'. ('Purse' means 'handbag'). Today's mission is to dust your dining room. The rest of the week's missions are listed on this page too, for those of us who haven't managed to keep up.

The kid's challenge is to declutter surfaces. I did manage to get DS1 to do one of these challenges this week. I asked him to empty his bin. He carried it all the way downstairs, emptied it into the kitchen bin and then carried it all the way back up to his loft room - where I discovered that it was still half-crammed with empty crisp packets that hadn't budged. Mean mum that I am, I made him do it all over again and told him to check the bin was empty this time (important life lesson learnt ).

Off to bed now, failing miserably on the 'bed at decent time' rule.

Perhaps toffee but you probably always in bed before me. Issues of parenting had some light shed on them when ds go up a bit ago. Long chat had and then some food and he is now back in bed asleep. As for me sleep wtf is that?

Morning all! Two days on the flipping trot. Completed my list yesterday! And i know i will be able to say the house is clean and tidy today because the cleaner is coming.

Quick post as i have to get ready for said cleaner.

whoknows that sounds horrible. You can have my naughty corner cushions. I don't need them, my fat arse should be cushion enough.

Better go and get ready for work but am buoyed by the fact it is a long weekend!

Whoknows - that's not good news, even if you were expecting it. Make sure you take care of yourself and let DH and DC (and everyone else) look after you until its sorted. You know we are here for a moan whenever you want. Hope you get a quick referral.

Toffee - PM me for birdcam link. Its educational don'tcha know, I'm sure you can fit it into DS's science somewhere :) Let me know how many you think are in there as DD and I disagree!

Bitchy - hope you got some sleep eventually and DS is a bit more sorted. DD is having a bit of an emotional time at the moment - Yr4 girls and their friendships grrrrr - and sobbed her heart with DH last night:( We have a whole girly day tomorrow as DS and DH are off to Beavers 'camp' so hopefully I can get her to open up a bit - slightly too secretive self-contained for her own good sometimes.

Need a list:

• Urine sample from DS - what a way to start the day
• All up and out
• Yr1 parents' coffee morning with head - all positive from me as DS is doing really well inspite of headaches :)
• Run
• GP with DS to start investigations into migraines/headaches

I probably should include some Flying in there but have a feeling I will be fretting about appointment so it will be scappy Flying at best

Few minutes watching birdies then need to start the day......

Good morning all.

Well, DS slept from 7pm until 11pm, then needed settling (2 min job), then slept until 4.30am when it got a bit too cold, so we both snuggled back down until DH woke me at 6am. So, not perfect, but 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep plus another dozy hour and a half and I'm more of a new woman.

Slightly excited for DS to go down for his nap today, as I have a new iron to try out. One of the steam tank variety Oh, how low have I sunk that an iron will be the highlight of my day

Then out this afternoon to soft play to try to knacker DS - pre arranged with a friend so not on my own at least - and it's fairly easy for a wee toot, but still challenging enough that I hope he won't get bored or need me too much!

Off now to knock up a batch of rock buns and maybe coffee buns before starting my WAH job.