December already! Fledgings will sleigh the pre-Christmas clutter (and eat all the mince pies)

[GoingGoingGoth]

If 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.

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 zones of the house which are designated weekly; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with loads more time to do someting more interesting 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!

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!

Thanks to BlueEyeshadow and SlimChance for the November thread.

All welcome!! And remember that December is the new January!

LINKS FOR 7 DECEMBER 2013

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Babystep 7 is to get your clothes ready for the next day before you go to bed.

This week we are in Zone 1 Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room. Detailed cleaning list for those who feel up to it here

No missions, as it's the weekend.

Saturday focus is Family Fun Day

December's monthly habit is Pampering.

Flight Plan for today.

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As there are only 15 Christmas Holiday Missions, I think we get a weekend break from them too.

Just about to put DD to bed, before tackling tonight's round up.

For teachers

I got slightly sidetracked on FB, and this made me laugh, hope it does you too.

SUMMARY

dizzyday had a productive day yesterday which included a spreadsheet (I lurve spreadsheets) and is being inventive with her Elf

SC doing a fantastic St Nicholas impression, hope the icing sugar swept up ok! Followed by being a domestic goddess in a good way and the experienced joy of realising that to sort out a fresh space means filling a just done area.
Hope the concert went well tonight.

rowingboat brought up the song sheet conundrum I think Bitchy's ring folder idea is great, (any excuse to buy stationary)

OddSocks did her weekly check in whatever works for you. And I know what you mean about tweaking ornaments. The time between putting the tree up and DD going to bed is sooo frustrating, one day I'll crack and just start sorting things out while she's still there.

Angry's Elf is getting up to tricks again and more chocolate has disappeared!

Re the rugby, remember "No, is a complete sentence"

Alice's elf played dress up overnight, I wish I heard of these years ago! I think DD is too old now

GossipWitch rejoined us, in a bid to fend off the clutter before it takes over. Lovely to have you back. Sounds like you had fun face painting. Not so good, getting that cold, hope you've warmed up now. < hot chocolate with marshmallows! cram and alcohol of your choice.

Bitchy has regained the list crown, and has joined SA stationers anonymous

Evening all,

Well, our school fair went really well yesterday, it is lovely seeing the whole school, staff, parents and children work together to make it into a lovely fun event. Wasn't as tired as I had thought I would be afterwards, so managed 90 mins worth of ironing (did 4 loads of washing in the morning) and application of glittery nail varnish in the evening too.

Today;

Morning routine, school run etc.
Phone vet about flea treatment
Popped to Sainsburys
Work
Home via Lidl, Pets at Home and town centre for errands
Clean out litter trays
Tidying, email etc
1/2 hour of OU work
Pick up DCs from after school club
Tea
Get DCs to empty DW and put clean clothes away. All of this is proving to be a struggle at the moment.

DCs to bed eventually - they never seem to tire at the moment. They spent the last hour before bed casting and scripting a household performance of A Christmas Carol.

Tomorrow is Christmas decorating day. Looking forward to that.

Semi productive day here

Ta Da

• Up at 6am for DD's swimming training
• DD to school
• Organised return of faulty xmas present
• Washing load in and hung to dry
• Recycling tub emptied
• Early to school for assembly where DD got Yr 4 Star of the Week (yeah)
• DD to swimming training (yes you read right - twice in one day!)
• DH cooked tea so I washed pots, cleaned grease off hob and shined sink
• Repositioned Elf
• Gathered bits together that we need for tomorrow

DD is in a swimming gala this weekend so tomorrow we are leaving DH alone in the house and he is supposedly hanging the outdoor xmas lights - Santa's Chavvy Grotto her we come!

dizzy are you in uk will be so glad if i'm not the only one up late

who knows for getting children helping out - I never consistently do this and I think its important but it just slows everything up!

Right not doing very well. need to be more focused tomorrow! Will be a busy day though - school fair party etc

DD was off playschool as vom'd last night so we spent a large portion of the day watching disney christmas movies

Fell asleep on sofa again so before bed I need to do the dishes.
One good thing is the christmas cards for posting are mostly ready to go. I aso untangled some decorations that hadn't gone up and finally took my £2.50 poinsetta out of packet, watered and potted and it looks lovely.

Ooh I also bought a cuddly elf so need to figure out how far to take elf on shelf thing (children are 3, 6 and 8) or whether to save for next year

sorry who knows - I left out the well done. I blame the mulled wine I had earlier.

Right dishes and bed and no shilly shallying with cups of tea at the same time.

Giraffe I am up late too.... Definitely do the elf thing this year! I am having a blast with ours!!!

Morning all. Didn't make it back yesterday.

Goth that link made me laugh.

sc s7nterklaas arrives rhe 3rd weekend in november and then leaves 6th december. Presents canbturn up in shoes during the whole 2-3 weeks, and most families have a "pakjesavond" (Packages evening) when piet has delivered a big pile of presents(kids hear a bang or knock somewhere in the house, but piet has scarpered by the time they get there!).

whoknows, bedtime is usually DS's cue to start jumping up and down on his bed.

Right OPERATION CELLAR starts shortly. Just have to drop DS at ILs then we're off to tip to emoty the trailer, then it's downstairs into the basement of doom to clear it out, clean it, prep/paint a alls and buy shelving stuff.

Will bbl with cobwebs in my hair

Had lovely evening out and DH and I were able to nip into our local for a quick drink after the film. Off to have hair cut and coloured today, which is always like a mini holiday, then doing some Xmas shopping.

Hope you all have a good day. Will be back to catch up on thread later. Have to spend time plastering on some make up now, so that I don't look too ancient in the unforgiving hairdresser's mirror .

Giraffes - thanks. I keep telling myself "short term pain for long term gain" WRT DCs and chores, it really is so much easier to do it yourself. But I don't want to still be doing that when they are teens and beyond (they're 9 and 7). I am getting tough with the clothes at the moment. I cleared the entire laundry basket on Thurs, washed, dried and ironed. Then braced myself for Friday morning, knowing that all their school uniform was scattered dirty over the spare room floor (their wardrobes are in there). As predicted, hysterics at 10 past 8 when neither of them could find a clean jumper or trousers (poloshirts and underwear were available as they have lots of each). They had to dig through the piles to find wearable stuff. Hoping they start to get the message eventually, but it is painful.

Engels - good luck with the cellar.

Toffee - enjoy your pampering.

Toffee nice to hear you were feeling better and was able to enjoy your evening out. Hope you have a good day today too!

Good luck in the cellar Engles ( always want a cellar).

Only had 3 hours broken sleep last night, had legs that wanted to run. But feel fine this morning suprisingly!

Ta Da
Finish Rugby rota
Sorted PC

To do
shower
S&S
Make bed

Hey everyone!

I won't be doing much if anything this weekend as I have pleurisy. I feel like crap and can hardly catch my breath so I won't be exerting myself!

DP has decided to buy an Xmas tree today (hmmmm....not sure this is the best plan!) so will be supervising the decorating and obligatory cleaning up of pine needles!

Well my plans to get up early and do shopping/cleaning are utterly thwarted, for a start I got up about 3 hours late as the kids decided to be quiet this morning, I mean what is up with that! Ds2 made ds3 breakfast so ds3 didnt even wake me to eat, and they have sat in silence with the volume down on the computer! Then the moment I did get up I wobbled to the loo, and then was sick! I think I may have picked a bug up from one of the kids yesterday, and as a result of being sick I think I've pulled a muscle in my leg as I keep getting cramp, and busted all of my tasted as everything tastes rank. I hope it goes quickly, my mates had a similar bug since Thursday, but she is also on the Cambridge diet so I think that might have something to do with it as well. So my list for today

get dressed

make shopping list

send dp to shops as I can't possibly go if I'm sick

do as much of mount washmore as possible

wash pots

tidy kitchen

tidy and Hoover lounge/ diner

tidy our room and bathroom

#cook tea

try and do as much of neice blanket as possible between jobs

Let's see how much of this list goes to plan ...

dizzy ds2 got star of the week this week too, its something that im still getting used to as ds1 rarely got star of the day due to his adhd and so far this term both of the little ones have got a star of the week. Ds1 however has been put on report twice and has had a written warning for bad language from the bus company. But after the amount of upheavals he's had to deal with I'm happy he's not been excluded ...yet.
paintyourbox I do hope you make a speedy recovery, a little chest infection hurts like crap so I can't imagine the pain your in right now, I hope you have plenty of painkillers to hand, and people around you who can cook etc x

I have decluttered and deeped cleaned the twins bedroom, which is by far the the worst room in the house. (Imagine Illegal immigrates hide out ) This wasn't the plan, but after I found they had glued pictures from a magazine all over the walls and bed. I just went in and guttered the room, then move all the furniture Hoovereed, washed the skirtings, windows etc.

They currently have bunk beds and a full book shelf. All toys and teddies have gone for a holiday.

Think I may and try and paint it later this week!

It is I Engels - cleaner of cellars. Spider flee from me, cobwebs tremble in fear and clutter is banished to the garage

Ta da
Tip run to empty trailer
Cellar emptied
Cellar hoovered
Trailer refilled for next tip run
Trip to DIY store for cellar supplies
Cleaned hoover
Washed kitchen floor

DS was apparently as good as gold for ILs.
Found some ridiculous junk in cellar and some gems - including an old milk churn. Will look lovely in the garden one day

Gossip, hope you're feeling better.
Paint take it easy
Toffee I am dreaming of a few hours to myself in the hairdressers chair and shopping without a toddler (it'll have to stay a dream for now!)
Angry, that sounds likesome serious decluttering!
Whoknows, they'll thank you for it one day!

Bloody hell you have all been busy. As it is family fun day. ds and I have been out in the hills getting very cold, very wet, and very muddy. Was brilliant. He is now decorating the tree. I am considering evicting the creatures from the bath and having a soak. if I can be bothered. This fun thing is exhausting!

Ya sq

got dressed

shopping list

#i went shopping
#dp tidied kitchen

dp washed pots

And I'm going to get off and cook tea, toad in the hole tonight, I'm having a lower fat version which should cost just 6 syns for the entire meal.

That was supposed to say ta da not ya sq ?

going wrote: Swan has a salt dough advent candle holder! We did letters one year, which DD insisted on keeping, they were all mouldy when we unpacked them a year later!

Haha this made me laugh as this year, half way through unpacking the decorations, I screamed, convinced I'd touched a dead rat. After DH investigation it turned out to be a softly disgustingly disintegrating salt dough decoration DS had made in reception last year!

Phew Angry, I thought it was just me who kept late hours! I some times feel less tired on 3 hours sleep its v weird.

Hope your feeling better Paintyourbox

Yes stillwearing we have had mouldy salt dough decs too!

calling cleaning the hoover - that gets you monica from friends cleaning status You don't have special guest towels do you

Not so much done today dd was even more poorly, her cheeks are red so it may be slap cheek, she just wanted me all day..
anyway sort of tada
Took older dc to christmas fair for an hour
wrapped presents for relatives (about 9)
Posted christmas cards
Couple of washes (but no putting away of dry clothes; eek a mountain is building)

Best bit though is that although the house is messy my draining board is clear and sink is clean

[Grin] giraffe

unfortunately I used the hoover to suck up decades of dust, cobwebs and flaking plaster and the dear old thing was none too happy not part of my dastardly plan to end up with a dyson oh no

Oops

LINKS FOR 8 DECEMBER 2013

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Babystep 8 is the start of your Control Journal. I did do this the first time I started Flying, but there days and just rely on this thread.

This week we are in Zone 1 Entrance, Front Porch and Dining Room. Detailed cleaning list here

No missions, as it's the weekend.

Sunday's focus is Renew Your Spirit Day

December's monthly habit is Pampering.

Flight Plan for today.

*
As there are only 15 Christmas Holiday Missions, I think we get a weekend break from them too.

Will be back in a bit with the round up.