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!!

Hi kiwi

I think you deserve some descriptive praise after that impressive "ta da" list Toffee Brilliantly done! (oops - that was too generic wasn't it? ) Very good going none the less!! Brilliant big step by your ds1 too!!! What fabulous news! He really is making strides (literally!).

Your after school schedule looks v. busy today Swan Good luck with the run!

Flaps wings back at Foad

Thanks for MFP explanation Whoknows! It's a shame we can't all chat at a "central" spot on MFP (restricted to "friends") because it's going to be hard/virtually impossible to follow individual conversations isn't it? Although it's good we can chat on here of course (as long as we don't put off those on this thread without Body Clutter!)

NB - if you are not dieting or trying to follow an exercise plan - please forgive the constant chatter about it. Hope it is not putting you off the thread! There's bound to be more talk at the beginning whilst we sort ourselves out and then I am assuming it will calm down in to a more regular routine.

I have achieved very little of my list today because (a) a friend called around unexpectedly to borrow something and we got chatting (b) I got side-tracked doing various things including, looking for dd's elbow and knee protectors for roller skating which she needs at school next week (took 45 mins to find as had been pushed aside in cellar reorganisation), unpicked name tapes as instructed from dd's old school uniform ready for second-hand sale, frollicked with rabbits, bought lavender plants, dithered about on MFP.

Ta da:
doc appt done
morning routine inc s&s, dw, wm, hot spots, rabbits done
catch up with thread done
ditto MFP (albeit a little tentatively)
clean out late mother's chest of drawers and line
sort material and put in chest of drawers
paperwork of various sorts
sock drawer
pant/bra drawer
make up holder tray
think about teacher's presents
quick supermarket shop done
visit flooring shop done
evening routine in progress
prep money/notes for dd's teacher

So will repeat tomorrow and add in:
blue wash
white wash
buy netting for garden

On body clutter front, very disappointed that I am over my limit again. I made the classic error of missing lunch (save for handful of nuts) and then was so starving at dinner I ate too many pieces of frittata. Lesson learnt! Did go on 30 min power walk though (although for some reason MFP says I went at a "leisurely pace" My pedometer is already at 10, 890 steps and still a few more to do.

Also succumbed to one glass of red wine tonight [don't tell Linzer] and one cup of coffee during day. Btw, if anyone is looking on MFP... I don't really drink Norm's red wine or Mott's apple sauce - there were the nearest equivalents!

Going to post links early if no-one minds, and go and watch football with dh.

Hope everyone has a good evening!!

Huge wing flaps to all.

x posts

A very warm welcome to the thread Kiwi Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Lauren I've virtually moved my entire list over to tomorrow, so you have done v. well indeed today.

Today's baby-step, number twenty, for Wednesday 20th June is is a good 'un about including laundry in your daily routine

We are in Zone 4, the master bedroom Try and declutter for 15 mins a day in the current zone.

Once your master bedroom is decluttered, you can progress to detailed cleaning

Tomorrow's mission is here Definitely one I need to do - sort out shoes at bottom of wardrobe.

The habit for June is drinking water

Wednesday is anti-procrastination day so do the things you have been avoiding

daily flight plan and kid's challenge should update automatically with day.

Have a good one everybody!!

***

SORRY!! That should have read tomorrow's baby-step, no 20 etc etc

Who is "Norm" anyway?

Toffee I feel exactly the same about the screens except it is unremitting football!!!Aaargh, give me a nice imaginative computer game any day...
Fantastic that ds1 is enjoying getting out now.

I am tired now, and ate a pretty ginormous supper, in fact it was so filling I have no desire to do anything except lie down forever....snacking seems like hard work

However
have achieved
piano walk
ds1 run
ds1 footie in park
ds2 footie in park (under supervision)
fresh air
me short run (I was wearing flip floppy type shoes so that was extremely tiring
supper

now need to tackle
bedtime
ironing
washing up
whingy daughter

SC that is lovely that you can put your sewing material in your mother's chest of drawers - I'm sure she will be proud of your beautifully re-lined drawers. Was she very good at sewing like you?

oh dear, everyone is fighting, bettter go, snide comments from the football fans

Swan - thank goodness (with apologies to all footie fans on this thread) that we are a football-free household here. I used to take DS1 to football club every Saturday, but he couldn't cope with playing in a team and used to get shouted at so he gave it up. I was willing to take DS2, but he hates football with a passion. DH has no interest in the game at all. Am not sure that computer games are better though. At least football encourages physical activity. I hate the way computer games encourage a sedentary indoor life (hopefully, getting a dog will combat this). BTW, how on earth did you manage to run in flip flops?

Lauren - my advice is to keep your DD off computers as long as possible. Mind you, it seems to be mainly boys who get obsessive about them.

SC - I like the descriptive praise - thank you!

kiwi - welcome to the thread. Apologies for my rant about football - there are many football fans here though.

Another "stride" - DS1 has agreed to visit the barber with me on Friday . I have promised him it will only take about 10 minutes and I know the barber and he'll be lovely with DS, so I hope this is a solution to the hair issue. His hair is shoulder-length now, much to MIL's distress .

Managed to get DS2 to bed in good time, but he's still moaning that it's too hot, he needs a cuddle, his tummy hurts, etc. and my patience is wearing thin

Finished some more ironing . Am on an ironing roll.

Have made our bed and it smells of fresh air after hanging on the line all day . DH was very impressed by me untangling and bagging up his extensive collection of leads. We will have a joint session at labelling them next.

Off to read a comforting bedtime story to DS1 now - it's this . I have to confess that I'm quite enjoying it.

Night all.

No time to post properly as today has been manic, but just wanted to say to SC that there's no hiding from me: I saw you with that . If I'd known you were indulging, I'd have probably joined you. I was desperate for a glass this evening (last ever lesson with the kindergarten boys, who seemed to think that my instructions to open and shut the door involved banging on the glass panel as hard as possible) but DH sternly said no, not during the week.

Waves to everyone else (and spotted you too in the Netzblatt Blue, albeit with no wine in sight).

Evening all,

Another manic Tuesday out of the way, with the dreaded ballet/tap/football/Cubs routine, which I've actually got the hang of now. No housework though . To add to all that, DS was invested at Cubs tonight, along with quite a few others, so that took ages, my mum came over for it as well, then there was the football.

Tomorrow I am working from home, that saves me at least an hour of travel/coffee break/lunch break time, so hoping to catch up a bit.

MFP - I have investigated further, you can set up private groups of friends for chat but it isn't clear whether that would appear on the phone app or not, or just the website. SC - would you mind being a guinea pig and I will set it up with you and me and we can try it out? I have made home made waffles tonight with the new waffle iron I bought because I wanted one for DH for Fathers Day, to eat with golden syrup, so I have had to ditch out of dinner .

I'm with you swanthing if it's not the Euros it's the Fifa game

Hello Kiwi

Well done lauren, you've done more than me! Ditto with moving my list over sc! And no multi-tonal hair, I don't think gingers can get away with it, just a bit of blonde. DP remarked my hair looks darker

:O Toffee how do you do it?!

To Do
Morning routine
Get washing together for DMIL
Do hand washing
Clean out fridge
Plan meals for next week
Update diary for this week and next week
Sort out clothes pile in wardrobe - DD slept FOUR hours in the bedroom this afternoon do I was too scared to do anything
Do fitness DVD
Sign up to MFP thread - this might be a pipe dream
Do dinner for DP
Meet up with DFriends
Before bed routine

Body clutter alert
I would like a chat thing on there for a bit of motivation. Dusted off Got old workout DVD and only lasted 15 mins! But I think it might have been from the lack of food since I didn't have breakfast until 12.30, then skipped lunch, which lead to a munching session. I'm just glad I don't have any bad foods here! Having a day off from 'working out' except cleaning tomorrow because I ache! But been on Pinterest when I should have been working out for motivation.

Hope you all have a fab night, will try to sign in tomorrow.

extensive collection of leads Toffee Arf! Sounds like a dog loving household already..
Ds1 would love that book too, he seems to have stalled on his reading and just keeps re-reading easy stuff, also hates me reading to him

Dh has had a frustrating day. Our Wi-fi is not strong enough for his new computer, so the installation man could not connect it to internet, could not install printer due to lack of USB cable (I was out) so I can forsee a lot of glitches with the computer and working from home. Friend has recommended a nice IT person, but now what we need is a proper connection in his study, new phone line etc..

done
ironing Yay, I'm on an ironing roll too...if I can just keep up to date all will be well...
cleared supper, kitchen, dw on, washing on, washing out, ironed clothes upstairs
called kittens in from garden, this is getting more difficult, they are trixy willothewisps - a shake of cat food seems to do the trick though. Funnily they don't like the cat food much, but they seem to already formed an association with me shaking it, and rushing indoors Clicker training no less!

Evening all. Working all childfree hour I can get this week now so flying will be minimal to non-existant.

I was under my calorie limit on mfp until I added 3 squares of Dairy Milk... Doh! Took hours to plug in tonight's recipe & can't get phone app to work at mo but hope it'll get better!

Good luck re barber Toffee. boys need haircut but 1st available appt was same day as dentist - can't deal with that level of trauma so it'll have to wait another week!

Waves back to Linzer - forgot you'd see the Netzblatt. Are you on the email list too?

at "duster onna stick" Carpe

Yawn, better get to bed. Night all.

OMFG. Ouch. In a fit of grump i went out for a walk. the initial plan was a 3 mile round trip to the local shop to get a small orange juice. 20miles, 4 hours and 3 villages later... I am not going to be able to walk tomo. Was nice though.

Although coming back to find that something smells vile in the bathroom and I can't locate it is not good. Although now I have evicted the bin to the porch and aired it seems to have abated

Ta da list goes like this:
make ds' lunch
sleep
wash hair and get cut
Panic when school rang to say dsis had forgotten ds and he was still there
collect ds
run a few seems up on sewing machine
put ds to bed
decided to go for walk
kept walking.
shower

and now heading for bed.

night all.

Oh dear, oh dear. I think there is no hope for me other than to skulk off to naughty corner with a giant bar of Dairy Milk. Despite my best intentions for flying 10 days or so ago, DH then had a week off and I obviously forgot that this does not in fact allow me with a whole heap of extra time while not supervising DC to get things done around the place. instead it basically means there is another DC to attend to . If I was ever on it by virtue of a shiny sink and staying on top of the washing, I think I have fallen off the wagon well and truly. Can't seem to find enough time to do all the bits of flying until both littlies are in bed, have cooked and eaten with DH and then it's getting on for 10pm and I am too shattered to make a genuine start! Any tips, how do others with toddlers/babies do it? It probably doesnt help that it's too tricky to have them with me anywhere other than lounge/playroom so that limits what I can do where whilst they are awake. Oh, and to be nosey, and help identify mine given so many options for dumping zones, what are your hotspots please?? maybe I could get on top of this bit if I stopped deliberating as to what to clear!
Oh but aside from that, you are all amazing me with what you're getting done and the fitness/weight loss! Note to self, must try harder!!! Waves to all x

Bitchy . Surely you'll sleep tonight....

likeluck - am only achieving so much because DS1 is now having online lessons, so I'm getting 45-minute slots to get things done. And DS2 is at school. No young children at home - I could never get anything done then.

Swan - I'm hooked on this book too - it's a real page turner. DS1 still loves me reading to him - it's getting him to read to himself that's difficult.

Blue - no, hair and teeth on the same day is definitely too much!

WhoKnows - congratulations on surviving your manic Tuesday.

Linzer - sorry you are only enjoying virtual wine at the moment . Am impressed by your will power.

Was on my way up to bed, but DS1 interrupted me to say he'd pulled his back tooth out (wobbly) and now there was blood and it hurt. Several glasses of warm salt water and another chapter of his book (to calm him down) later, he is back in bed. And now I'm wide awake.

Night all.

Bloody hope so toffee although I have horrific cramp in my legs atm. I am out of the habbit of 4hr walks.

Scruffy - you are right - it's really, really difficult to keep on top of the house with young children! I never cracked it. Everything takes twice as long and you are constantly interrupted. Plus young children make a lot of mess! Flylady has some tips here. I think the best thing is to keep on top of the basics as much as you can and accept help whenever possible. How old are your DC? I would say it's only been in the last year that it's been significantly easier (my youngest is now six).

Ow, Bitchy . Any meds you can take?

Or have a gin and tonic (it's the quinine in the tonic that works - the gin just cheers you up).

if it gets too bad I'll go sort out a hot water bottle, but i fear I might be glued to my bed due to seized muscles do you think that fat fairy would take that as an excuse to not fly tomo. sorry oh fat one i went a bit over board with the body declutter and now i just couldn't possible manage to move to doing any actual flying

Yes, I do think the Fat Fairy would let you off Flying tomorrow...

Hope you feel better soon. Night.

Bitchy poor you :( Hope you feel better this morning, but well done!

Scruffy I have a 14 week old so I find flying a lot easier than you with a toddler! But I tend to put her in her playmat and work around her, trying not to nap when she does, and I get DP to take her out for a walk when he gets home since the Hoover sends her berserk. How old are yours? Also, I have trouble with hotspots but I have one in the kitchen with post, 1 in my desk tit tat, and one at the bottom of the stairs with things to take up.

Toffee Ah I see, still I wouldn't have the motivation, well done!

Not much to do today but thought I would sign in before I go back to sleep. I was out until late at my friends, then DD up every 3 hours so I'm knackered.

To Do
Morning routine
Hoover
Sort out clothes pile in wardrobe
Put away washing
Do a hand wash
Do some things to make me beautiful :)
Dig around in clothes for an outfit for Saturday night
Before bed routine

Hope you all have a good day, be back later!

Busy morning, so haven't caught up with the thread - other than to check that Bitchy hasn't given herself a life threatening injury Hope the legs uncramp soon!

Right today:
WAH job - mostly done, just waiting on work to catch up
Playdate at softplay with DS for morning
Morning routine - done
Washing for DH & I - in machine, and should finish before we leave

No clue what this afternoon will bring - mostly will depend on when DS wakes; but if it stays nice, then I hope to do more garage clearing.

Right, off to finish up the DW emptying and to eat cereal for me and make toast for DS.

Morning all,

Scruffy - I can sympathise with the two small children thing although mine are 6 and 8 now. It definitely gets easier. My only tips are to make use of every moment you can, waiting for the kettle to boil etc and just keep clearing stuff as you move around the house. Never leave a room empty handed, always look for something you can take with you. I have a load of those coloured plastic garden tubs in the house which are really useful for sorting, carrying etc, although might just get pulled over by toddlers.

I have too many hotspots to mention, basically every flat surface in the house, but I would say the priority ones are the hall table, the radiator shelf in the lounge, the two coffee tables, the bathroom vanity unit and the bit of kitchen counter around the fruitbowl where all the craft stuff and stuff that isn't meant to be in the kitchen gets dumped.

Bitchy - here, have some Deep Heat.

OK, DCs despatched to school, need to make my list:

Gas/elec readings
Clean shoes
Washing on line (in WM now)
Dishwasher empty/refill
Sweep/mop kitchen floor
Hotspots
An hour of paid work
At least an hour of OU work
Clean bathroom
Tidying
School run
Rainbows.