Fledglings Remember to FLY through November...

[BlueEyeshadow]

If your 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 wine along the way.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in weekly designated zones of the house; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with more time to do other more interesting things instead! At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again anyway!

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 steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

• start or repeat 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.

[And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.]

More info here on getting started and Flying lessons. Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings. Don't be put off by the barf-tastic language of the site - the underlying system is sound (and you may discover a few of our subversions of the vocabularly along the way).

Many thanks to SC for leading the thread through October (and for such a good OP, which I've blatantly cut and pasted) - - and I'll post the first babysteps and mission tomorrow evening.

All welcome!!

SC arf
I used to dress like that when I was younger, that was actually my keynote style...only as I get older I now realise the necessity of twinset and pearl[ish] effect.

done
Beavers/Nativity rehearsal
online Xmas shopping - only be spat out at the end and card rejected (probably a good thing)
one load of washing
supper reheated stew
ds1 in excellent mood, as I predicted the punishment had the opposite effect

Feel completely exhausted, and have a cold sore[yuk]. Ds2 is still going to be off tomorrow...dd refuses to do any homemade xmas cards at all...[sigh]
but the good news is, Ds2's godmother has sent us a Star Wars Advent Lego calendar to brighten up the dark days. DarfMaul as Father Xmas! Sacrilege!

I'm supposed to be getting an early night, but I seem to be making the ILs a photo book. Computer is running so slowly, it may be a plot to get me to switch it off...

Get well soon to your twins, swan.

*
Babystep 29 check out the pampering mission.

Mission - 27 fling boogie.

Morning!

Right another full of madness kinda day here. Got family over at the weekend. So today is tackling the cleaning and laundry. And any spare energy on paperwork sorting and making my room accessible without breaking a leg. Also got a christmas present to get made so that can go with them. So a completely full on day here then. Tomo is a decorations go up kinda day. I have been over ruled on it. Will be sick of the bloody things by the time they come down.

ta da
School run - it's freezing out there!although probably colder with madwoman
lose time on fb/mn
check email
DW on

To do:
many loads through washer
Fold the many loads washed yesterday
hoover and dust downstairs
sort the slight mess in the toy corner
pick up ds a christmas decoration for his room as promised
drop stuff off for the christmas raffle
finish christmas shopping - including figure out what has been got and what is needed. (although some can be picked up later this month thank goodness)
Finish new baby present needed for tomo nearly forgot about that.
Wash and wrap said present
make christmas present.
Scanning.

Hello girls, I spent the day at my nan's yesterday as I had to pick ds3 up from play school as he had some sort of fit apparently but ds3 says someone (another child) had hit him, so I have been keeping an eye on him, he seems absolutely fine, still full of his normal beans, he doesn't go today so I've had a lay in while dp takes the boys to school. The house is still remarkably tidy, so all I really have to do today is washing, loading the dishwasher, and running the hoover around :) and the scrap man has just taken the cooker on my lawn !!!!!!!

Afternoon all! Hope everyone is well and keeping warm.

Crikey Bitchy you are organised [sticks fingers in ears at mention of Christmas decorations]

Wow Gossip congrats on being so on top of things (glad your ds3 is ok too)

Swan yes, wish I could wear any sort of bohemian clothes ...love those colours ... bought a pair of Brora fingerless gloves a while back (echoes of Scottish moors, woodsmoke, lingering mists etc - or so I thought) looked in the mirror and saw I was chanelling "bag lady" instead!! Was being serious about the horse though - Lauren and Castlelough look away a*s I think your level of riding is much higher than mine - simply love big hairy ambling weight-bearing armchair cobs ...tis my dream to own one.

Photo book sounds great Blue

(Have cold sore too btw - first time ever)

Just returned from hair cut + school meeting. Slightly bemused by latter as went full of dread (last time was expecting a good report and we were ambushed with reports of doom and gloom - dd really struggling in French and maths and everything was dire - extra lessons and work required etc etc) and I sat there wanting to say "she's lacking in confidence, she's tense and anxious about this and this steam-roller approach isn't helping" And this time apparently all is improving and the head of primary said "she's tense and anxious and we need to build her self-confidence"!! Still, things seem much more positive so that can only be good.

Now have to:
finish morning routine which got interrupted by a phone call inc. dw, wm, s&s
tidy kitchen and playroom
let out rabbits
eat calorie light lunch (I am huuugggee atm)
more laundry
more on-line parcels
make pasta sauce for tonight
school & tennis run
write definitive Christmas card & present chart - what I've got - what I need to get
update calendar
bit of work in boudoir & general tidy up

Huge wing flaps to all!

Just sorted out my ravellry profile, with all of my recent knits and crochets :) if anyone wants a nosy

That link takes me to a log in /register page. Would love a nosy at the knits and crochets although probably best if i don't I have waaaaaaay too many projects on the go/waiting to be done atm.

I'll put them on my profile here then :)

Ooooo thank you.

I am working my way through my to do list. But multi tasking and not got around to updating it yet.

Dont worry I've only dried two loads of washing and loaded the dishwasher, I've just been fannying around on the computer instead today :), they're up now btw.

ta da
School run - it's freezing out there!although probably colder with madwoman
lose time on fb/mn
check email
DW on
4 loads through washer
Fold the many loads washed yesterday
Finish new baby present needed for tomo nearly forgot about that. - 4m of handstitching of the binding done!!
Wash present.
Watch rented film so it can be returned.

hoover and dust downstairs
sort the slight mess in the toy corner
pick up ds a christmas decoration for his room as promised
drop stuff off for the christmas raffle
finish christmas shopping - including figure out what has been got and what is needed. (although some can be picked up later this month thank goodness)
wrap baby present
make christmas present.
Scanning.
Ironing

Please insert to do into the line space between 2 blocks of lists. not that much of a super woman...

Well I have been very lazy today then got bored of being lazy, then decided to carry on with my glitzy granny blanket.

feeling v v tired this afternoon.

SIGH.

Horrid morning with dd screaming at me and vice versa. Over colouring. She hates it. prefers telly

However, things have slightly improved. I have made a decision. My children hate toys/craft. That is the end. I am making no further attempts to get them any for Xmas, and will concentrate on that golden sunbeam called FAMILY LIFE instead.
In that spirit dd and I made a whisked sponge which looked like a dogmess but we will pass over that. She has iced it. And no doubt will eat it shortly.

Had meeting this morning (like SC) with school teacher. They seem to like ds1, all very sotto, and I'm wondering whether this is all school policies etc the heavy heavy bit, and they are backtracking fast back into peace and love What a lovely teacher the HOY is.

SIGH. returns to own family. The bearded one upstairs has had a good morning in Hampstead.

Oh dear, cat eating cake. Clearly not enough like aforementioned dog etc.

I have also come to the conclusion that dp's procrastrination issues may have something to do with me, if I get on with doing decorating, he will too, if I'm out with kids he goes straight to work, (self employed) if I'm cleaning he does some too. But if I dont do the school run as ds3 only does 3 days he seems to be at home more on those days (unless I physically kick him out), he seems to loiter more when I'm mooching around doing nothing, bummer.

Gossip - you pictures are private btw. i am assuming it is a conspiracy to ensure I get my to do list done. Working my way through it still. Going to be a late one.

Hi all, had a bit of a wierd last few days! Found things out about date that he should probably have told me when we first started dating and it's left me wondering what to do about him

sc at the horse, I did look and he/she is lovely! I must admit to instantly thinking it needed hill work to build it's back end up a bit though

Ta da:
swept kitchen floor
routines
school run
visited a friend this morning for playdate
visited toy shop this afternoon
walked dogs

Off to make thread, it will have a terrible title because I'm not creative

New thread for December is here

Quick dash in. Am still doing my best to keep the house tidy. My fortnightly cleaner was here today, so house has all been hoovered and mopped again, plus she did ironing and sorted out the cupboard under the sink . MIL was here for her birthday tea this afternoon and commented on how tidy everything was .

Sorry for those of you with cold sores. Horrible things. I have suffered for years and was finally saved by Aciclovir tablets which you can get on prescription from the GP. If I start taking them the instant I get the tingle, I can cut down the sore to just three days or so and it isn't so bad (ie. can be covered with make up), not like the horrendous 10-day hideous things I used to get .

Hope things with your date work out, lauren. I had high hopes of you two.

Oh dear, DS2 needs attention, so no more time for personals, but am sending lots of Flylady inspiration to you all.

I have failed miserably this month. I cannot FLY and write a novel at the same time. Happily NaNo is almost over...only 1200 words left to go so will be rejoining you all for the December thread once I have finished this bloody thing

(and who knows, might get it all finished tonight so I can be ready to fly tomorrow )

Evening all!

Thanks for the new thread, Lauren and hope things work out with date.

Engels - good luck with getting NaNo finished off.

Glad school meeting was more positive, SC.

The house is going to pot here, but work is going well, which is more important! Will try and whizz round with the hoover at some point tomorrow though, and did put out a few hotspots today.

*
Not quite sure where November went, but here's the last babystep - checking for birthdays. Is this a new one? I don't remember it...

Mission - quick vacuuming, aha, so my plan above is actually the mission. Yay!
**

Big waves to everyone and a tray of , and as preferred on the bar!

Thanks Lauren.

ta da
School run - it's freezing out there!although probably colder with madwoman
lose time on fb/mn
check email
DW on
4 loads through washer
Fold the many loads washed yesterday
Finish new baby present needed for tomo nearly forgot about that. - 4m of handstitching of the binding done!!
Wash present.
Watch rented film so it can be returned.
wrap baby present
make christmas present - topper complete done ready for quilting tomo
Make christmas biscuits
Yet more washing
Ironing
Put ds' clothes away
figure out what has been got and what is needed in terms of christmas shopping. (although some can be picked up later this month thank goodness)

just didn't happen so starts off tomorrow's list
hoover and dust downstairs
sort the slight mess in the toy corner
pick up ds a christmas decoration for his room as promised
finish christmas shopping

Scanning.

also tomo to do
Quilt present and apply binding
print out present pattern and make up
Put up christmas decorations ready for 'the gathering'

Right another crazy day tomo. After a very productie day today. must sleep. night!

Oh my.

So tired.

Laundry day for me today. I have a busy 10 days ahead. DH and ds1 birthdays next week so celebrating hard. Plus the start of panto trips and festive preparations.

Did I mention I was tired?

Bbl.

Phew, kids all in school. Finally.

Lost the computer. Found it under dd's duvet, just now when I was making her [unmade ] bed.

done
put some toys away in dd's room - brief Buildabear frenzy there
collected some rubbish from her room
put our clean laundry in our room
dressed
3 kids to school - attempts to find a coat for ds2 (he has lost two navy schooly ones) and matching gloves. Ds1 also has no coat, or jumper (he has lost both (two jumpers so far)at Secondary) so I had to put him in a shortsleeved vest under his school shirt. Maybe I should just invest in silk thermals for him, it might be cheaper than endlessly buying warm outerwear for him that he loses. He says school is terribly hot, as a result always takes off his jumper, and then loses it in the locker room.

So, I am hosting Xmas lunch for my family in UK, it's official. Mum and Dad and Brother and SIL and two littlies. So can at least plan that. Have done it for several years now, so will tweak arrangements to suit. At least bro has become a pescatarian now instead of straight veggie.

todo
quick/slow tidy of children's rooms
attempt to hang up my clothes
pile of ironing to consider
go to library to drop back books
quick shop to top up fruit and cheese/cereal/ham
diary dates thick and fast and none of them put in Another party invite.
We've already had an almighty clash this weekend. I am meant to be snowboarding in Milton Keynes, attending a Mass in Chancery Lane, and minding ds2 whilst Dh at a Bookfair, all simultaneously. So will mind ds2, obviously and cancel the rest. Dd is going snowboarding though. Ds1 will have to miss his Mass; I think teacher will understand because of this week's upsets.

Nicknacks Dh has a birthday on 5th. It is his 50th. We are going to the cinema with kids... that is all we can come up with, as neither of us are really razzle dazzlers.

Hi all! Quick list dump, I've read the thread though congratulations on the cleaner nicknacks, it's an excellent idea, will take the pressure off your relationship with DH a bit too

Todo:
DD and mindee to playgroup
School run
clean bedding away
Routines
Nails done
Paperwork
Girls night

Body clutter: I've lost another 1.5 pounds which takes m to 31 pounds since February slow and steady!