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!!

So last night after shining my sink I went into the kitchen to find DH had rinsed something and left it on the drainer - water everywhere. How do you train your DH's to become flymen?

Done so far:
Made sandwiches for DH & I lunch
Written birthday card
Got out of house on time to get to work
Bought homeroutines app

To do when I get home:

Empty dishwasher
Put washing on (meant to do this morning but forgot)
15 mins declutter
Sink shining
Lay tomorrow's clothes out
Put some bits on eBay
Write a sympathy card
Write a letter re. a legal wrangle
Do today's mission?
Set homeroutines app up so that it reflects my routine

Okay, time to get on with the other work in my life.

Ok so today is the day of my dad's funeral and the funeral tea is being held here. SO - how many to cater for, that is the question? Estimates range between 30 - 80 !!
To Do
Buy LOTS of cakes!
Declutter a bit more
Clean toilets

Thanks to this thread and FL the house is looking respectable. Yesterday my brother said the house is much cleaner since we stopped having a cleaner.

Cuddledup so sorry for your loss and I hope everything goes as well as can be expected today. Can't believe you are catering yourself - well done!

So, I came home after the ballet run last night to find my husband flying - he was actually doing the jobs on my list he isn't usually back until the kids are in bed, so it was a nice suprise all round! I'm sure it won't last, so I am making the most of it!

To do:
S&S
DW
make beds
wipe sides in kitchen
order food shop
put washing away
put new load of washing on
Make a lasagne (to last 2 days!)
Ironing x 15mins
Daily mission
school runs/nursery runs etc
Not spend all day on here and actually DO some work! (am beginning to enjoy my cleaner home!)

Cuddledup - best of luck today . The fledglings will be thinking of you.

Cuddled - hope today goes as well as can do. The lunch/tea afterwards can be very therapeutic, and good step in the grieving process, especially if you can both mourn the loss yet celebrate the life of someone. (Oh, and make sure you buy lots of cakes that can be frozen afterwards!!)

Snow - I think they need to get used to the sink being shiney, and to see you going over it with a cloth as you finish using it on a regular basis.

Last night I did a quick shine of the sink and laid my clothes out before going to bed. This is a step that I always mean to do, but usually spectacularly fail to...!!!!

My ankle is feeling the effects of yesterday, but I'm really pleased with the kitchen. Will work on the dining room today after I finish the last of the kitchen bits, as it is also housing my ironing pile. DS1 is under my feet, and I think it's best to leave the lounge/toy area until he's not!

Will come back with tadas, later.

Thinking of you cuddle
snow re husbands, it'll come. When I'm doing my kitchen 'close down' I clean and dry the sink and then hang the t towel so if he does anything I can just dry it off and I get the Window cleaner on it either when he goes to work or I go to bed.
He tends to now empty things in the bathroom sink though. The children (3 and 5) are good at putting their plates and cups in the cupboard under the sink.

I didn't do the ironing last night. Might do it tonight but might not we still have clothes to wear.

Will be back later to report my tadas.

Gossip Good luck for the test.

Silvery the 10 mins at a time sounds like a good idea to me. Much longer than that then you might start to lose attention with them a bit as what children tend to class as fun can be boring as sin to adults. I might do something similar, though DS is never one to do anything with other people.

Cuddled hope today goes/went as well as it could do.

So time for a quick tada to see how well (or not) I am doing today.

tada

• turn on washing machine
• Dry laundry
• Go to town for bits and pieces esp need to go to the poundshop for cleaning stuff as I am running out not that I had much to start with
• Wash up

todo

• Put laundry away
• Fill machine for Wed
• Wash up 2X
• Shine Sink
• Running Club
• lay out clothes for Wednesday
• baby step no 8: Write up routines. Can I do that on a word doc or spreadsheet on my laptop? DH is a bit hmm at me shining the sink.
• Ring up adult learning services to check Im on level 2 of one of my courses as Ive had no confirmation regarding that have tried, but got answering machine, will try later as it was 10 mins ago, probably all at lunch and Id rather ring them when its convenient to me

Still a bit to do then for me. Though nothing is going to take me that long.

Hope everyone is having a good day.

Hello everyone! I'm toddler-free today so have had my driving lesson (two failed tests behind me, third and hopefully final one is at the end of the month), now I've got to go to the post office and then get lasagne ready so it can go in the oven later, as we have friends coming over.

Snow My DP does the washing up whilst I'm putting DD to bed, but he leaves all the worktops swimming in water, I don't know if he wipes them or just throws a jug of water over them! Then you go and put your book / phone / biscuit down and it's soaked! I try to grumble silently though, as I am grateful that he washes up without being asked.

am on phone so have not had chance to read back. sorry

well I knew it would happen whilst tidying kitchen ds1 woke having a night terror which is awful as he is on top bunk and starts trying to run away from whatever is scaring him. also went to toddlers this morning so now I am falling behind.

ds1 did say this morning that our lounge looks so lovely that it looks like a new house.

must get on have a meeting tonight so that will push me further behind.....

I did it I passed my bloody test (by the skin of my teeth) but I did it !!!!!!!!!

Cuddled thinking of you, hope it all goes well.

Gossip fingers crossed, will have or ready.

Quick half time list
Dd to school
Ironing
Washing up
Washed bird feeders
Bins out
Clothes away

To do
Post office
Bank
Pick up Dd
Help with howework (if required-sudenly aware how many teachers are on here)
Mission
Dinner
Wash up & shine sink
More applications (did 4 last night!)

cuddle hoped today goes as well as it can.

err... nope brain is dead.

ta da
get up for a stupid O'clock alarm
early training
trip over to sheffield
pick up ds' birthday present from dsisters
ring and double check an appointment time - for tomo
heat laminator up and laminate some charts

to do
sort ds' kit out for tomo
cut ds' stick down and tape
lay oud ds' clothes
lay out my clothes
tackle laundry mountain
URGENT paperwork/computer stuff.

Considering just doing early starts as have to do them 3 out of 5 days anyway. And a regular routine is always easiest.

Yay Gossip! Well done.

Thinking of you today Cuddled

Congratulations gossip

Spots with Gossip ( or else just blind)

Congratulations

Stupid iPad spots! WTF! X post! Grrr

well you just made me Goth

Congratulations Gossip Well done!

Yey well done Gossip A whole new world has now been opened up to you

While Im here:

tada

• turn on washing machine
• Dry laundry
• Go to town for bits and pieces esp need to go to the poundshop for cleaning stuff as I am running out not that I had much to start with
• Wash up 2X
• Put laundry away
• lay out clothes for Wednesday
• baby step no 8: Write up routines.
• Ring up adult learning services to check Im on level 2 of one of my courses as Ive had no confirmation regarding that. She said she couldn't see due to her computer being slow, but if Im not on she will put me on and Im to go next Mon night.

todo

• Fill machine for Wed
• Wash up
• Shine Sink
• Running Club

Ooh Im doing OK now. Can't do anything for the time being though.

Well done Gossip ! What an achievement! (I still haven't learned to drive ).

Hope it went ok today, Cuddled.

Am having a cba to Fly day today . There is a huge pile of ironing in my laundry basket and I keep putting it off. It's the monotony and repetition that gets to me. Might (only might, mind) try to do 15 minutes' worth later.

Have managed basic routines today. Had a long chat with DS1's Maths teacher to plan topics for this term. DS1 and I made cookies this afternoon.

Anyone been to the Isles of Scilly? Any suggestions / opinions? We are planning to go this summer. The tourist information film we watched said the islands are 'totally safe' for children, which we have been grinning about ever since (rubber rocks maybe? Fake sea? Special gravity which stops children falling over?).

Silvery Moon A late Happy Birthday! Sorry I missed the party.

Hello to Snowgirl

SC you are most definitely allowed to feel sorry for yourself. I have no energy at the moment and am just keeping going waiting for it to catch me up. You?re doing a fantastic job of round ups at the busiest time and helping motivate everyone, and that will come back to you.

Gossip well done!

Cuddled I hope today?s gone as well as it can.

Toffee too late for virtual cookies here, the real ones got gobbled!

Whole day?s been spent trying to sort out access arrangements for d/s exams, after they changed the rules which shouldn't have affected him but we've had to jump through so many hoops because the new ?rules? hadn't taken the existence of independent SEN candidate's into account, but most of it?s done now.

Still to do
washing
mangling towels
write up h/ed paperwork
eye up beginings of CJ cautiously
p/up food
roll wrapping paper into less rolls
check and turn sandbags
maths revision
dinner
eat up Christmas pud! (still)
Listen to friend
sleep

I assume that is the friend who was so rude to you recently, Just? She is very lucky to have you. Well done at sorting out your DS's exam arrangements. I'm not looking forward to having similar struggles on behalf of DS1 myself in a few years' time.

Am still procrastinating and eating cookies.

A relatively productive day so far!
Got up early enough to eat breakfast, put on a load of washing and leave five minutes earlier for work.
Work went well and just home, a little tired.

Made the important phonecall re college exemption application, which has now led to multiple other phonecalls, reference letters to be gotten from people and some written work to be done on my part.

Now for my other important phonecall and a cup of tea!

Congratulations Gossip !!!!!
Cuddled Thinking of you and the tough day you are having xx

Quick update

Dd to school
Ironing
Washing up
Washed bird feeders
Bins out
Clothes away
Post office
Sainsbury's - I love their petit pois
Pick up Dd
Cupboard doors wiped
Dinner
Turned leftover bolognaise sauce into shepherds pie for tomorrow
Wash up & shine sink
Dd in bath - must get her out she's started singing

Really should read posts, sorry you are going through this today cuddled, i do hope it goes ok for you.