The Fledglings' nests will be clean in 2013!

[superfluouscurves]

(With many thanks to Jdub for title inspiration!!)

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 (although some Fledglings find the compilation e-mails helpful)! 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 vocabulary along the way).

Huge thanks to Lauren for being our incredibly reliable and organised shining star in the East and leading us throughout the very busy month of December!!

Happy New Year Fledglings!!

All welcome!!

[TrazzleMISTLEtoes]

HAPPY NEW YEAR! (Ooops!)

[superfluouscurves]

Yay Trazzles!! In the circumstances I think you definitely definitely deserve a special 'intermittent' Flying pass or that should probably be a "no-Flying" or "totally delegate Flying to someone else" pass!! Use whatever spare second of time you have to pamper yourself girl!!

[SpanielFace]

Hello! Can I join? I am so bad with housework, my DH tends to do most of it - but as I am on maternity leave until August, and then returning to work only 2 days a week initially. I feel guilty that the house is always a mess when he gets in, but I seem to be incapable of getting myself organised to get on with it, and I seem to create clutter around me all the time! I know having a newborn is some excuse, but DS is now 4 months and has started to nap regularly, so I do have free time in the day. But I was just as bad before he was born - I always seem to end up on MN or Facebook, drinking tea and eating biscuits, instead of getting on with jobs! We also have a springer spaniel and a cat, who add to the general mess.

I have read the Flylady stuff (never heard of this website until today!) so will start the baby steps (although a slightly modified version - slippers in the house for me, and getting dressed first thing doesn't really work when you have a baby to breastfeed first!).

Looking forward to getting going - so all I have to do today is clean and shine the sink, right? I feel like I want to be doing more than that!

[TrazzleMISTLEtoes]

pull up a pew!

Yes, all you need to do is shine your sink. It's all about setting up routines and that is the first step.

sc we actually have a couple of weeks at home before DS becomes an in-patient for months (hopefully) so we desperately need routines in place!

[elliepac]

Happy New Year everyone . No hangover but am ridiculously tired as I can't seem to sleep for love nor money at the moment.

Thank you Lauren for last month and to sc for taking over this month. I am going to start the year exactly how I don't want to carry on by having a lazy PJ day today .

[Cuddledup]

MOrning all! I slept like a baby last night - thanks to a little pill ! and now for the first time in a week or so I feel human and up and ready to go.
Here's the link for today in case anyone (i.e. me) needed reminding: www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=0
(I know it's not in the right format)

Ta da:
UP and dressed to shiny shoes
Washing on

To do
Meditation
clean kitchen
Go for walk and pub lunch
Plan rest of week
Tackle ironing mountain
Clear hall of crap
Get to bed at decent hour as it's back to work tomorrow

[droitwichmummy]

happy new year fledglings! am thinking about hopping back onto the branch (or making dh do so by proxy!)

[IWipeArses]

I'm in. I'm only going to 'do' babysteps and decluttering. Everything else fly can be as and when, I have endless lists, but getting the babysteps in place is pretty essential for me and where I always fall down.

Happy New Year fledglings, here's to a productive year!

[TrazzleMISTLEtoes]

IWipe - I'm with you - baby steps are crucial for me! I NEED to get them sorted!

[SilveryMoon]

Managed to get a couple of Hours, but now dp's up, everyone knows about it.
sc I'm a bit of a sad loser like that. Am sure that clearing the meds is a mission in zone 3, it sticks in mind because my meds are kept in the kitchen so was always a misplaced mission.
Hi Trazzles this time of year always brings loads of us newbies. I am determined not to fall off thread again.
spaniel the good thing with this system is that everything is timed and is such a little amount of time. In the years I've followed this system, everytime I've looked around in a depressed panic about how cluttered or untidy the place has got,
I just remind myself that it didn't get that way in a day and set my timer. Jump right in if you want to, do the sink shining and 15 mins decluttering in the hall/entrance. But absolutely no more than that
ellie a pj day sounds good. I'm going to run a nice hot bath, take my book then put pj's back on.

Dp is cooking a roast today. He cooks a mean roast, excited! I always mess up the potatoes
Feeling a bit guilty about not doing much with the dc's this school holidays. Need some inspiration on what to do with themthat won't cost much

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Morning all,

I slept like a log last night (finally got the DCs to bed at about 12.45). DS got up at 8.15, I got up at 9.30, DD at 10, DH is still in bed, he is the biggest lier-in in the world. I have been sleeping really badly for the last couple of weeks, so it was great to finally get a solid sleep (only had one glass of wine last night).

We're away until Thursday, in a cottage on the Isle of Wight, so no proper Flying for a few days, just washing up etc. Weather looks much better today but think it will be a lazy one, the DCs are on the sofa with duvets watching Muppets Christmas Carol for about the 20th time this holiday.

Welcome to all the new faces/returners, it is very motivating to see so many posts so soon.

[swanthingafteranother]

Hello [waves feebly from corner] a very very late night last night...

Just to say SC I have eaten two slices of oaty bread, a kiwi and a black coffee so far. Don't over do the dieting please! The quickest way to fall off the wagon imho. Once I decide I'm fine, and my only method is to cut out snacks and alcohol. It worked last time, it WORKS!

I was going to give myself a challenge, only go on Msnt when I have done a morning run. But maybe this morning doesn't count

Spaniel hi, I love Springers, at least you don't suffer from lack of exercise

My resolutions this year are:

socialise more
write more letters
walk more dogs
swim more
read more
and Sew More (also to finish those blasted curtains ) and generally start enjoying being middleaged instead of being in denial!

[ToffeeWhirl]

Happy New Year to you all. Had a lovely evening with neighbours last night, drank champagne and am not hungover today. Hurray!

Did a crisis clean before the guests arrived and even shined my sink, so I have started the New Year with the first babystep .

Going for a long walk on the Downs soon.

[swanthingafteranother]

Also to spend more time with 2 year old niece, despite family politics!

[laurenamium]

Hello all!

Just dashing by with a quick list! Not been back from the stables long so haven't done much yet!

To do:
sort horse, muck out etc
walk dogs
Clean walls and radiator in entrance hall
Sort bedroom hotspot
Visit family
Put wool jumpers away
Dog poo
Routines
Empty bathroom bin (should have done this yesterday)
Take snow flakes off windows and clean all inside windows
Put dry bedding away

BBL!

[laurenamium]

Ooooh New Years resolutions!

I'm going to carry on losing weight
End 2013 in a more financially stable position than I am now!

[laurenamium]

spaniel another springer owner here!

[PositiveAttitude]

Just want to pop my head around the door and shout "Happy new year" to you all. Sorry I have been missing, I am finding it hard to keep up with you all and once the thread gets too big it won't load anyway.

Just arrived back after a couple of days away relaxing and chilling. We are all totally sunburnt and exhausted now!! Not a morsel to eat in the house so just had to go and get some food in to get us by until the morning.

For those of you who remember me, I must tell you about our Christmas celebration here. Now remember the people here dont do Christmas, they don't know what is "normal" and most children have never seen Father christmas. So DH was asked to be santa for a show we held. He got into the role quite well after being called on for a couple of appearances. One appearance in front of 300+ people and on a large stage he jumped onto the stage and was dancing around rather un-father -Christmas-like. Unknown to him, but caught on video, his trousers ripped all down his front on his first jump onto the stage, so there he was flashing away all he has to 300 people!! I am sure the Cambodians now have a very warped sense of what a santa is!!!

I hope you all had a good Christmas and I wish you every happiness for 2013. Not promising to stick around too much for January as I know hte thread normally gets very full quickly, but I will try to keep up with you all a bit....

[ComradeJing]

:o positiveattitude that's fab!

The day is almost over here and I've finished quite a bit on my list. Sink is shiny and kitchen clean. Evening routine is working so far! Night all.

[laurenamium]

pa that is so funny! Good to hear you are well and enjoying Cambodia!

[BitchyDragons]

pa.

despite my fears that today was starting at 2am ds went back to sleep thus allowing me to do so. He crashed out at 7:30pm so it was early nights all around. Much needed tbh. And having had around 12hrs sleep in all, despite being awake for a couple of hours in the middle I am feeling more ready to deal with the challenges of the day. taking it at a slow pace atm though. might have to drink another coffee and get cracking. Got a huge list that needs doing today.

ta da
15mins in the hall
gather all recycling for going out
gather remenants of last nights party into kitchen/throw out party popper bits
try not to shout at ds
continue taking down the christmas decorations - 15mins done
not kill ds despite him having attack the jule log before i got up and being on a sugar induce madness spree
encourage child to eat lunch.
empty and move book case
1 load washing on.

[Jamillalliamilli]

Hello to * LadyDeidre, Pootlebug, I'mabadmum, (bet you?re a great one really!) Katy, and Spaniel, and great to see so many others.

LadyDeidre do you know if he?s hoarding them because he sees the medication as ?part of them? / ?all that?s left?, and can?t let go, or if he believes they?re useable/irreplaceable/ wrong to throw away?

PA thank you for updating us on Cambodian Christmas and your families influence. Maybe we should try and create a ?keep it slim digested events for PA in Cambodia thread?

Trazzles Hope you get your routines and wish, but you can only do so much in those circumstances.

Bitchy would he cope with 'not to be shouted at' written on his forehead? -Not that I once wrote ?I love you really? on one of my teens heads while she slept, so I could cope with the hormonal stropy madam.-

Hope to get back later and catch up with everyone.

Still to do
Washing
Try for orthodontist appointment -try not to chuckle at d/s Mick Jagger mouth-
Shopping
Launderette for drying
d/s English
d/s revision: core maths /mechanics/physics
De cluttering
Check flood defences
Make more cards for/and thank you?s
Planning
Listen to friend
Dinner
sleep

[BitchyDragons]

just I didn't laugh loudly at that. Oh no. Not me Bloody brilliant.

There is only just so many times you can tell someone to put some clothes on before you get bored. Today it took over 4hrs to achieve this. Have also been trying to get him out of the house to urn some energy. Still failing at that.

Working on growing that to do list. Although ds is telling his dad he had a brilliant night last night so I did achieve something. Always nice to know cos he doesn't tell me this stuff.

[bakerofcakes]

Happy New Year to all. Welcome to all newbies, I only joined for December, but had been lurking for a couple of months and feel I have now established morning and evening routines and have achieved quite a lot of decluttering. Still a lot more to go though.

Having a lazy day today, was at work yesterday, then went to a family party last night. Came home about ten though with 2 year old grandson, as the party was just too much for him. His dad picked him up about 11.30 this morning.

Ta Da

Morning routines
Monday's living room mission
Washer on
Planned finances and paid some bills
Emptied kitchen/bathroom and bedroom bins now dustbin has been emptied

DP is out playing golf, so am spending the afternoon knitting, whilst sitting on the sofa watching Great British Bake Off on Good Food channel. Might even have a glass of Bailey's

[elliepac]

just, you're a genius.

pa

Have actually managed to get dressed but dc's still in pj's and we are going to watch Annie.