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!!

< hopes no one has noticed complete abscence from thread and therefore flying for several days >

toffee - glad holiday went so well i was thinking of you! Good luck with potential new doggie family member. This time last year we were doing same with new felines so that I could go back to truthfullly having more cats than kids. The 'boys' have been a great help to DD, though of course not getying her out of house like a dog would.

Talking of which DD spent Saturday out with a friend! Went to cinema shopping back to friend for meal. Not a single wobble. As if she did it everyday (for new readers DD has not been out with a friend at all since last August). Really proud but did not make fuss and I acted like she did it all time too.

Was a bit of anti climax as DD was a bit when got home 'i dont really like E' says she! Has discovered the only thing they had in common was school and DD doesnt go there anymore!

Also to my DD says 'E's house is really tidy and nice - i wish ours was'

So flying must be done from this moment onwards!

Well after some and lunch

Back later with a 'ta da' and personals need to get on the laptop

Hello All!

Back from Essex (half term visit to parents, then OH's mum in London whilst DD1 went to Harry Potter Studios with SIL).

What a lot has been happening on here!

SC hope you feel better soon. Also went shopping for dress for wedding on 7th July. Ended up with www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/product/warehouse/Dresses/Variegated-Maxi-Dress/201598287 after trying on 6 or 7. This was the best of the lot and seems quite flattering. Bought a large hat to go with to hide under and a posh cardi to hide in. Will also be buying hold-you-in-knickers. Am already wondering whether it's appropriate though...

Whoknows, laurenium what's My Fitness Pal? Should I join it? Need to lose at least 3 stone...

Right. I guess I'll go and look over the bathroom. Thanks for taking over Whoknows

foad My Fitness Pal is an app for smartphones (apple, android, BB, windows) that lets you bung in what you eat and it sorts out the calories. You can then set a weightloss goal and it tells you what you need to eat in calorie terms. You can "gain" calories by exercising.

You can also access it on the web, if you don't have a smartphone, but obviously that's a bit more complicated as you have to remember what you ate!

I'm a bit vague with it, but now have friends (thanks to MNet!) so hopefully will be more motivated!

(And I love that you can add ironing and playing with DC at the park as an exercise!)

I feel quite tempted to join My Fitness Pal just to see what everyone looks like. Nosey, me? (Although I already know what WhoKnows looks like thanks to a mini C25k thread meet-up.)

Carpe I like the idea of ironing as exercise - I've run out of DVDs to watch while I'm doing it and need something to motivate me!

foad Lovely dress; it looks very flattering.

I'm here and flying after a nightmare weekend where all of us were struck down by that vomiting bug which is sweeping the country. :( Ds2 is still of school today due to his last bout being yesterday at 8pm, he's of course, bouncing off the walls and eager to be back there.

So flying has been mostly laundry of beds and feeding of sick people, administering mess.

Tada list

Paid ofsted fee
Washed two loads , dried and folded
Emptied dw
Hoovered all downstairs
Tidied a bit

To do

Last load of washing
Dry and fold washing
Tidy sitting room properly
Order headed paper
Dust sitting room
Air downstairs

Waves to all!'

I fell asleep and have done precisely fuck all. just enough time to grab shower before school run. Oh dear the productivity stakes are a bit low today. Might have to try to get some bit done whilst ds plays on the wii.

Back from school all good! Plenty of supply going and they seemed please to see me. I also have a part time job doing the books for a small company so am going to try to juggle both for the time being - Dh has been off sick (cancer) for over a year and things are getting a bit tight now as he is only on 2/3rds wage. Just have to let them know tomorrow - I'm on flexible hours there so hopefully shouldn't be a prob as long as I keep track of when I'm in.

SC we have two gorgeous sows! They are about 4 now and living inside at the mo as one was very poorly recently - we hand fed her for about a week and she has since made a miraculous recovery, putting on weight like the clappers and shouting for food every time the fridge door opens - the other one's enjoying being indulged too!

Hope you feel better soon

I am really enjoying MFP - easy to use and not a time consuming as point counting etc.. Lost another 3 pounds this week and off to swim tonight - seeing how many cals you burn is very motivating
My MFP name is Neenook.

Ta da's today then...

Online banking and budget for month
Booked campsites for July

To do's
Walk dogs - have my Mum's for a while as she is away
Ironing mountain
Change DS's beds
Take DS1 shopping for a new wetsuit - junior sailing starts tomorrow
Sweep hard floors/vacuum carpets
Swish and swipe bathrooms
Cook tea - cheese and onion pasties (homemade) and salad/veg/bbeans
Plan food for week

NickNacks - I don't like the sound of that vomiting bug. Sorry you were struck down - and on holiday, of all times. Am actually quite scared of getting a sickness bug again, as it was so awful last time.

SC - hope that's not what you've got and that you're feeling better now...

Quite a constructive day with DS1 today. After his English lesson, we went through the information and video tutorials for his online teaching. He prepared his own lunch , then we worked on a doggy budget together. People warned me it would be expensive, but - OMG ! Am still reeling from it. Our conclusion is that it's about half the price to buy from a rescue centre, like Dog's Trust, but then we may have to wait forever to get Collie puppies (DS1 has set his heart on a Collie).

DS1 is very keen on training and going to the local vet's 'puppy parties' though, so that's going to be good for him.

About to catch up on housework now. It doesn't get any less boring even after a week off .

Evening all,

Toffee - sounds as though you and DS1 are doing a very thorough job in preparing for dog ownership, it sounds as though it will be just the thing for DS1.

Maggie - I have just sent you a friend request on MFP. Spectacular fail for me today, it always takes me a few days to get going when I restart. Not being able to exercise properly is going to be really hard though, I loved going out for a run and then logging it and getting 300 more calories. My 20 mins on the Wii Fit his afternoon probably used about 20 cals. That's good news about the supply work, sorry about your DH though, that must be hard for you all.

Bitchy - you seem to be in the wrong time zone again.

NickNacks - oh no, yuck, glad you are all getting over it

Linzer - thanks for the tip

Carpe - I'm scrolling backwards, see you have already thought of that one!

Foad - yes, do come and join us on MFP

Tuesday Links

Babystep No 12 Daily Routines a real foundation for organised living.

Our Zone is the bathroom and one other room

Tuesday's Mission is Check Bathroom Supplies and Do a 27 Fling Boogie in the Other Room

Daily Focus For Tuesday is Planning

The Launch Pad is here if you need to check anything else Launch Pad

Happy Flying!

Spent most of the afternoon in the garden. I have cut all the grass and taken it to the tip and then emptied the shed, and got rid of crap. Lots of crap. Including a bench - which was brilliant fun dismantling with the hammer; really got my frustration out!

Then a quick trip to the tip (again!) and off to DIY superstore to buy shelving for the shed - just a couple of cheap plastic shelving units to put plastic plant pots on to store. I've also strung string on the back wall and aim to move the garden equipment like forks and spades in there too; and hopefully the string will stop them falling forward.

Then went swimming after DS went to bed.

Now I can't move. My joints have all seized up!

Oh, and if anyone is interested, I'm on MFP - CarpeJugulum as on here

Blooming 'eck carpe you obviously don't live anywhere near me - we could swim IN the garden today - it's been raining cats and dogs all day

Get well soon SC and thanks to WhoKnows for taking over!

I did manage a tiny bit of tidying up while DS2 was at playgroup this morning, but have mainly nesbitted today.

Tomorrow I am going to be grown up and professional and go on a train to London for a conference-type thingy! Eeek!! Haven't done that since pre-DC so I'm all jittery tonight and driving DH nuts with 101 things to fret about... He's taking the day off to look after the boys, so it'll be interesting to see how they all get on!

Just dropping by briefly to admit that, after a slow start, I have ground to a halt already with flying! Absolutely nothing at all done around the house over the past two days. Oops! However, I have:-

• been to cousin's daughter's 1st birthday party
• done supermarket shop
• done a very full day at work today
• read lots of paperwork (I'm sitting on a panel tomorrow and have had loads of paperwork to read)
• sent e-mails
• general looking after of toddler

Doesn't sound much when it's written down, but I feel like I've been busy. Another long day at work tomorrow, but will try to get some flying done - not a very good start.

Good luck at being grown up and professional tomorrow, Blue (though looking after DC is about as grown up as you can get, I'd say).

WhoKnows - thanks for all those links. And yes, we are doing our best to prepare for dog ownership. I really don't want us to regret our decision.

Carpe - I second foad re the rain - it has been pouring here today. The only swimming taking place was on the school run!

Maggie - so sorry to hear about your DH's illness and the resulting money worries. I missed it further up the thread. I hope the supply job works out well for you.

Am just drinking hot chocolate and printing out instructions for DS1 to start his online lessons tomorrow. He has Citizenship, Art and Design, Maths and English. I have to say, I'm quite looking forward to supporting his learning for a change, rather than having to plan what we do every day.

Night all.

Curly - don't worry, we all have weeks days like that. Just pick up where you left off. It is sometimes impossible to manage all the routines, particularly if small children are part of the equation. Looking after a toddler is a full-time job in itself.

Oh bugger. Namechanged and forgot to change back.

< puts out night light in naughty corner, have been here all day... >

SC Hope you are alright? Get well soon, we miss you. I'm more than happy to combine flying and a bit of weight-loss/get fit motivation. Maybe we could pick a day for posting our weigh-in in our ta-da/to-do list so that we have a goal day in the week to encourage towards?

WhoKnows Thanks for taking over.

MyFitnessPal people I am well I used to be also on that....my name is sticky toffee.....I have no friends....and I'm in the naughty corner over there too ......

Toffee Lucky you getting a dog! I'm very . Must wait a while longer here til we are in our own house and not renting.......

Waves at everyone else. It's so late......I have to improve at this reasonable bedtime. Nite.

I hope all the poorlies are feeling better today!

Foad you must be near me. Piddled with rain all day yesterday and only just having a pause here now by the look of things.

MagicMutt I am now trying to work out who you are on here.

I am sat here wondering where the cat pee smell is coming from. I have just realised that the nice top I have put on for all the interviewing today is the offending article. Bloomin cats!!! I couldn't work it out because wherever I was the smell would suddenly waft to me. Must go and strip off and start again.......
Back later..........

Right, quick post before rushing to get ready.

There's a "once in a lifetime event" running through our little town today, so DH is working from home, but taking time off to take us to see it - if we can see it!

However, it does mean I have to try to distract DS so DH can leave for work, and sneak back in the back door otherwise he won't get work done!

Got baby gymnastics for DS this pm, then a friend popping round, so will spend the rest of the morning getting ready. Not a crisis clean, just a move toys so people can get in clean

Off to grab a hot shower to sort out my muscles from yesterday.

Indeed I was in the wrong timezone yesterday but had an early night. I actually think I was asleep before ds. Still feel tired but i think a coffee will help. Reckon it would take a few days before I am back in the normal timezone.

We have sunshine today, we had grey skies but no rain yesterday. Sods law that today is the day I HAVE to get the paperwork done. Might attempt to clean the car later. Right must move otherwise ds is going to be late for school.

Just posted a HUGE message and it's vanished

Will be back later but today's to do's are...
Walk dogs
Take DS1 to swimming club
Clean bathrooms
Sweep/vacuum
Tackle the ironing pile again

Hope all the poorly people have a better day today

Hi all! I didn't make it back on to post last night, snowed under with paperwork! Just a list dump and I will get back later

Whole day of work today so small list!
Clean bathroom
Routines
Shine sink
Today's missions

BBL- huge waves!

PA It's quite obvious, I think (even for me before my first coffee) - there are a few clues in the post. Unless someone else on the thread is also homeschooling and planning on getting a dog.

Blue Hope the day goes well - is it translation-related? The ITI often put on interesting sounding events, although too far away for me. How did the exam go btw? Good luck with the results; keep us posted!

Have finally managed to find my laminator (I'm losing track of where things are thanks to moving all the rooms around) so have just been able to finish making a few flashcards - today's two lessons are now done. Now time for a coffee while I ponder how to use my remaining 1.5 hours productively.