Fledglings Fly in Flaming June; C.H.A.O.S. will be banished soon!

[sanguinechompa]

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

A huge "thank you" to Toffee for leading us throughout May!! Hope you have a fabulous holiday in Spain!!

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, support and 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:

• 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, here and here

All welcome!!

x posts

Yes, hope you survive tonight Engelsmeijse!

Well done for staying strong Likelucklove and that's a good list you've crossed off there

Swan it's always the night before a child's party that I am fervently wishing "that I had one more day" to prepare. It's become a family joke now!! Sounds as if yours was a rip-roaring success!

Well done everyone! We've made it through another week!!

And for those of us who haven't flown very high and are just cruising at ground level - there is no shame in that - our dc have (presumably!) been fed and washed and dressed in vaguely clean clothes and (if not on holiday) ferried to school/nursery and back and that is no small thing either, week in, week out. So let's not be too hard on ourselves!!

Tomorrow's baby-step, number nine for Sat 9th June, is here continue previous baby-steps + add 5 min room-rescue to your mornng routine. This is really the start of regular decluttering

No zones or missions tomorrow because it is the weekend.

We are still trying to drink more water throughout the month of June.

Saturday is family fun day

Kids challenge can be found on launch pad as can daily flight plan which should update itself.

Have a good weekend one and all!

**

sc the vet thinks that she is lame from a previous ligament injury- she did her check ligament years ago and that never even crossed my mind. I just panicked as soon as the blacksmith said ringbone! Vet is very good though and says as she is pigeon toed on that leg he is happy to do MRI scans to see if there is arthritis if she doesn't come properly sound in the next month much better than what I was having nightmares about! She's only 14 and is a 3 day eventer and LE TREC horse as well as much loved pet (I've had her since I was 15)

Sorry everyone that doesn't like/ aren't interested in horses legs

That's good news indeed Lauren (and thanks for indulging sad, horseless person ). Here's hoping all sound in a month's time!!! Will have fingers and toes crossed for you.

Never done Le Trec myself (always thought it looked fab though and a great confidence-builder. Used to do endurance myself (many moons ago) when I wasn't rotund.

Hi everyone!
Fairly productive day here too:

Three loads of laundry washed and dried (I LOVE my tumble dryer now if only I had a dishwasher flying would be super easier! )

Car filled with petrol for my journey to Hen weekend tomorrow and also quite cleaned (leaving the boot for next week...) It took over an hour, and while I found several unpleasant things under the car seats there was no sign of the diamond that fell out of my engagement ring in March . Still, maybe I'll find it in the boot next wk ...

Ironed the must-iron items in above laundry.
Sewed a button on dh shirt.
Sowed lettuce, rocket and spring onions in my new salad patch.
Sink shining.

SC I think I'd like my tumble dryer even more if I was ferrying my laundry about in panniers like yours, they sound lovely and continental! And your house sounds huge!!!

Lauren Glad the lameness is hopefully not as serious as you had been told. Like SC i'm also very impressed at your LeTrec and 3DE. Maybe someday I will get to that level! Haven't been actually ON a horse in two years since I bought my TB - a bit counterproductive! But couldn't afford to have him in training and have lessons at the same time, and amn't confident enough to ride him now that he is home....

PA Wow at 85 cakes and also at 5dc - good for you! I'm still ttc #1!

Waves at everyone else! Hen party tomorrow, not planning on any flying til BB routine on Sun night, but I may drop in to the naughty corner to see how you're all going! Happy weekend! x

I have done fuck all too. But you have done less fuck all then me as ds is away and I haven't even put a load of washing on.

Today I have had lots of fun. Lots of giggles, but learnt that my pelvic floor is still not as good as it was pre-ds. Currently have spot test hairdye stuff as i will be dying my hair for the first time nxt wk. just slightly scared but was talked into it and it seemed a good idea at the time

Ds come home tomo and I can't wait. I have missed him!!!!

Urghh, I've had a week of non-flying and need to get back on track today. DH has taken DS1 to a squash tournament today and tomorrow leaving me with DS2. Weather is still VILE - have 3 damp patches on the plaster which are annoying me

Must catch up with;
Washing
Cleaning
Hoovering

To do's...
Make fairy cakes not 'cupcakes' with DS2
Online banking
Take advantage of DS1's absence to go through toy cupboard and sort out old/broken/babyish toys - any attempt to do this when he's around is met with cries of 'Nooooo! You can't get rid of that (broken plastic tat from Mcdonalds that hasn't seen the light of day for yonks) it's my FAVOURITE
Get off MN

Brices - I like the thought of being on top of washing and drying. My problem with doing a load a day though is drying it. We live in a small flat and I hate having the airer up as then I have to battle my way around it in the kitchen all the time. It's fine if I can hang washing on the line, but if it's raining, (which let's face it, is 50 weeks of the year!) I end up putting half the load on radiators, then the other half sits in the washing machine for a bit until I give in and put the airer up. Even then, it wouldn't always be dry by the next day to put another load on. The FlyLady website irritated me rather on this and washing up as she seems to assume everyone has a tumble drier and a dishwasher - we have neither.

So far today:-
Got up, got dressed
Drove DH to the station to go to work
Swept bathroom floor (scary how much dirt was there!) Haven't mopped it yet but will try to do that later.

Will also try to:-
Hang more washing up - see above!
Tidy up lounge a bit - odd bits of toys and paper everywhere - will try the 15 minute thing later, but I imagine DD will be getting it out as fast as I can put it away!

I so wish I had a tumble drier and dishwasher!
This is my first six months living in a house always lived on flats before so I appreciate I have more space but still without tumble drier my house seems to permanently have washing drying hanging over radiators and doors and I have two airers!

My system is to always do one wash a day which then gets put out onto airer. The next day I transfer from airer to radiators. Then the next day from radiator to wardrobes.

We have issues with damp and condensation on the windows but with two babies I find it's the only way.

Still to do:-
s&s
Sew a button (been on a sewing class recently buy this will be my first attempt!)

Morning! The sun is shining here (finally!) and I don't have much to do I can tell this is working, it feels fab

To Do
Get up and dressed
Get DD up and dressed
Put laundry on
Hoover roughly
Polish roughly
Baby step 8 - 27 fling boogie

My DM is babysitting for a few hours but we don't know what to do that doesn't cost anything. Any ideas? But she is watching her at our house so just going to sleep isn't an option

Hope you have a good day!

now, I really have to try a bit harder today [slumped in useless torpor]

DH fed up with my dejected mutterings, and has taken dcs to park (no easy task to get everyone out of house)

done
paid three bills
and written out a booking form for holiday cottage in Broadstairs
put some recycling outside

oh dear, too quick for me

need to
DO SOMETHING!!!!
back later

right, eaten two leftover slices of Green cricket cake from my handbag

done
cake leftovers in bin
another wash on
wash hung over bannisters
recycling sorted

this is five minutes away

Hi ladies,

Just flying by while DS plays with DH.

Re hanging laundry to dry, I have one of these and everything gets put on hangers and dries that way - I find it works better than an airer as nothing is flat IYSWIM. Sits in my dining room so it's out of the way. And then things can be stuffed straight into the wardrobe.

Thanks for the ideas about washing and drying. I like the drier to radiators system, and love the drying rack even more carpe - mentally searching the flat for a place I could put it! I bet stuff needs less ironing too - try to never iron if I can help it! By the way Brice, I didn't mean to imply that you had a drier and dishwasher, just that FlyLady seems to assume that you do in her suggestions.

done
Mopped bathroom floor
Washed up
Tried 15 minute tidy of lounge - it is a bit better, but DD definitely didn't help! Still, I did manage to do more than I thought I would in the time, so I will try again. To be fair, she's not really used to seeing me putting things away!!
Dinner almost cooked
Washing hung up

Rail is quite easy to move so if we are using the dining room, I just bung it into the bedroom - then move it back later.

You could always stick it in a bedroom during the day and then the living room or kitchen overnight?

Hello everyone

Hope you will forgive me if I post and run tonight without personals. Feel a bit dejected as I have tried on 8 dresses for a wedding today in the first week of July and not one of them fitted. I looked absolutely revolting in seven of them, and I looked fat (I am fat) but vaguely respectable in the last one. But it was very boring. DD's outfit sorted though and she looks absolutely beautiful in it I think from now on I shall dress vicariously through her and remember with nostalgia the days when I was skinny (Jurassic era) Only have a month left to find something ...

On the positive front, student came again this morning and we did 3 hours of decluttering in cellar again (well, he did most of the hefting about tbh) Now have one beautiful cleared room in which I can create a bunny haven. (Sadly student has decided to go back home to E. Europe for the summer and doubts if he will be back in Bxls again on a permanent basis. Oh well, it was good while it lasted.)

Hope you have all had a good Saturday. Will catch up with eveyrone's activities tomorrow ...before I do though ....Curlyfrizzball any good? (Depending on ceiling height)

Back home. Half unpacked. Should be getting the house straight but playing with photos is much more fun.

Will catch up properly tomorrow.

Tomorrow's baby-step, number ten for Sun 10th June, is the power of 15 minutes Quite a useful one to adopt!

No zones or missions tomorrow because it is the weekend.

We are still trying to drink more water throughout June

Sunday is renew your spirit day

Kids challenge can be found on launch pad as can the daily flight plan both of which should update themselves.

And for those of you who like to get ahead: next week we shall be starting in Zone 3, the bathroom + one extra room more info here

Sleep well everyone!

*

Curly I have a cheap airer from Sainsburys and I love it. We don't have a drier, but I find it much nicer and it flattens the clothes out so I don't have to iron.

sc Don't beat yourself up too much! These bloody clothes shops always have different sizes and I find what is 'in' in fashion never suits me. Can you look on the Internet? Or let us know what you'd like? I love a good hour or five looking at things I can't afford for someone else's help!

To Do

Get up and dressed
Get DD up and dressed
Put laundry on
Hoover roughly
Polish roughly
Baby step 8 - 27 fling boogie

Didn't do baby step 8 as I didn't have any time. I went to DBIL's house and spent 3 hours cleaning his kitchen! It was gross, but told him about a new tea towel and dish towel everyday. I thought it would be better with two of them there (me and DP lived there in my first trimester) and I would clean everyday which made my sickness twice as worse. I don't know how people can live with dirty plates, cutlery and glasses everywhere with stains all on counter tops

Sorry, having a bit of a judgey pants moment Will focus on my house tomorrow! Have a good night

SC I have a worse tale of woe than wedding outfits...putting on my new swimsuit in the communal changing room I felt v hefty.
However this spurred me on to swim four lengths.
Anyway, no-one looks at your figure at weddings! Only your face! I would wear something a bit bling at a wedding anyway, it never goes amiss even if less than flattering. Last wedding I went to, I changed outfits half way through coward's way out emoticon and I was complimented on embroidery! Embroidery!

I did some cleaning today
I mopped the kitchen floor
I hung out washing, and picked up some dirty laundry from ds1's floor
I wiped worktops
I threw away some dead food from the fridge

then I gave up and ran away with dd to a cafe, and back to garden centre

then we went off to swimming pool with boys, and they played tennis, and we swam. Since then...screens...

lots of sibling rivalries atm - however then we watched Man In Iron Mask, which made dd realise she loved her brothers really

Hello everyone. We are back from our holiday in Spain. We enjoyed the sunshine and it was a to come back to wind and rain. Seville was beautiful and the beaches on the coast were everything we could have wished for. However, it's nice to be home again. I think getting to Spain has given DS1 a confidence boost and he says he's going to go out more now . It was a strain for him to be so far out of his comfort zone, but he managed it, which I would never have expected a few months back.

Amazingly, I was persuaded to take up running by the friend we went with and I have continued it since we returned home on Friday. It feels like a good way to cope with stress, as well as shed some weight.

Flylady would have been proud of me on our return. I set about unpacking and washing straight away and, by the end of Friday, the suitcases were empty and the first batch of washing had been done .

Curiously, we are all feeling absolutely exhausted. I though holidays were meant to re-energise you?

No idea what's been happening on this thread. Are you all OK? Have I missed anything?

Must go to bed . Buenos noches, fledglings.

Ah, thank you, you lot, you really are lovely ...!! (More of squeezing wobble in to shantung later ...

But - on to more important events!! Welcome back Blue and Toffee!!!!

Blue hope you had a great time!! [snaffles rock]
Toffee that is so brilliant about your ds!! Well done him!! And all of you!! That is bound to give him a huge confidence boost. Hope he is very proud of himself. (Congrats on running and unpacking 101 btw!!)

As for thread, don't think anything too dramatic has happened, but we've been joined by three more newcomers , PA made her 85th birthday cake (can be viewed on her profile!) and Lauren's horse is undergoing tests for lameness with relatively good outcomes so far, like you, many fledglings have taken to running and everyone had lots of damp Jubilee celebrations!!

Swan thank you for commiserations - much appreciated - and agree trying on swimming costumes even more tortuous!! Have been there!!! And think you are very brave to do so in public (I wouldn't want to traumatise the punters ) Well done for all your sporting endeavours ....!! Really good going.

Likelucklove Well done on the Flying for your dbil!! That deserves a special Purple Feather Duster and Lace Up Shoe Merit Award!! Thanks also for your kind words - But really this has gone beyond shop sizing issues. Have to be honest with myself and acknowledge that I am fat and nothing is going to look how I would wish (used to be thin until relatively recently so this is a bit of a sea change)!! I am starting to look on the Internet now. Have been considering this on the grounds that although rather conservative, it is fairly plain and I could wear it again for loads of other things. However, I don't think the neckline will suit me because I look better with a collar (despite large norks) which goes against all style rules [sigh]

Have to dash now as we are eating breakfast together as a family today for once prior to dh dashing off to catch a plane. I will be sticking to fresh oj blueberries and oatcakes... .

Yet another example of Chompa hopelessness this morning though. Joined 10,000 steps a day thread on here to get myself in to gear and said I would start today. After 20 mins,found Omron step counter but unfortunately battery is flat ... Not many shops open here today that sell them. I am going to try but oh dear ... MUST DO BETTER!!!!

Hope you all had lovely Sundays!! And thanks for cheering me up!!! BBL!!!

Hola Toffee, glad the holiday went well, yes, the weather here hasn't been great and it's supposed to get worse today. Well done on the running. I think everyone in this thread is going to be running except me soon .

SC - sympathies re the dresses, I always have problems dressing for weddings. My plans to lose two stone this year have taken a hit with the gynae problems as I can only do minimal exercise at the moment and am comfort eating. I'm going to try swimming this week. but I don't enjoy it very much at the best of times.

I've had my gynae appt now and been put on the waiting list for surgery, so I just have to take it easy and wait now, it has been pre-occupying my mind somewhat. Flying has taken a bit of a back seat, so the house is a mess again, but we're having a stay at home day today, so a chance to tackle the worst of it before we all go back to work and school.

Went down to the beach yesterday, boy was it windy! We had a nice pub lunch and then the DCs ran around for a while, bracing was probably the best description. Although it's only about 45 mins drive away we don't go all that often now, I used to work down there and miss being able to go the beach in my lunch hour.