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!

SillyBillyBob/Trazzle

Well I've opened the floodgates, I asked for some Christmas music, as I didn't want to hear DD & DH whilst they wrapped my present, and now he's talking about getting decorations to put up!

Had a very long lie in this morning ahem afternoon

Done
Beds
Lunch
Washing up
Dry laundry away
Dinner prepared for tonight
Blanched leeks and celeriac

To do
Make more beetroot chutney
Maybe bake/make sweets -depends if DD's bottom lip stops dragging on the floor.
Reboot laundry
Cook dinner & roast some peppers whilst oven is on

Must go, sounds like they are arguing again.

Ta da
TREE UP not decorated but hey

Second load of laundry on ! Dp has decided to cook, again! I have literally just finished washing the pots from this morning ! And I'm leaving the kids to decorate the tree, ill retry in a bit :)

Complete failure on the Xmas-tree trip. Real trees were everywhere, but the affordable artificial tree we found on display was all sold out. Going to try again next week. Am reassured to see that I'm not the only one who has an artificial one (and have already worked out that we can store it in the loft, Engels).

However, I did lock myself in our bedroom for some time and sort out stockings and various presents. I have actually filled the DC's stockings, so they are ready to put out on Christmas Eve . Also wrapped and labelled several other presents and packed one box of presents which need to be posted next week.

Very little else on my list achieved. Am going to attempt ironing and card writing this evening.

Gossip - am very amused that you found another bedroom . Wish we could stumble across an extra room one day (a second loo would come in very handy).

ta da
deal with virusy no voice can't breath wheezy sneezy snot boy
1 load of washing on
sort out the rest of the plan for finish making a clock ds has designed and been making
internet admin
sort out stuff for ds' going away at end of week
replan how tomo is going to work - ds not going to be fit to send to school
2nd load of washing on
boil up hand warmers
collect laundry from around the house
discover leaning tower of cds that need de scrathing and putting away - watch in horror as disks are sent scattering down eerywhere
45mins in my room
put 3rd load washing on
find a small no mess science kit to keep ds occupied
4th load of washing on
get ds to drill hole in clock face
get ds to paint clock face
30mins more in my room
Juggle furniture in my room again
help ds to tidy his room
folding
ironing
teach ds how to iron t-shirts (he did two and got bored)
find a tub to contain the random stationary collecting in my room
drink far, far, far too much coffee
sort out some christmas decorations in ds' room
stand on scales and go urgh
find out how heavy ds is
mark ds' height on wall
look at mountain of paperwork on bed and sob
discover access to desk.
start dealing with paperwork mountain.

Ta da
3rd load of washing now in td
Washing up (DH cooked)
Daily episode of Doctor Who

Now off to put DS to bed, shower and get Christmas decorations down.

Hmm...reckon if I put all my ta das from today together I may have a bitchy list

Why don't you try it engels?

There is so much to do BUT I almost have something that resembles a bedroom more then it does a bombsite to sleep in Only taken a week just paperwork and craft projects that is causing the most mess now

Ds is busy with some crappy children's tv program I don't like down stairs so I am in theory now paperwork tackling let's see how long that lasts and I can discover something more important to do

OMG haven't you all been busy.

I went out dancing and drinking last night, out until the early hours, then got up early for Rugby.

I have done NO flying whatsoever. So much to be done but actually having a bath and going to bed, after watching films all afternoon...

Would sit in the naughty corner but it's Sunday, so think I can get away with it .

Feet thank you for your best wishes. But due to the virus that won't leave me, I have cut back haven't done any exercise at the moment. So didn't take part.

Aha, the tree is finally decorated and I found it extremely hard to not stress over it, for a start I went mad with tinsel, I normally can't abide it on a tree but I let it this year, also its uncolor co-ordinated, normally I'm particular on a theme and colour but it has pink blue pearlescent black and silver baulbles, with red and blue tinsel. I did find myself moaning at ds2 as he'd decided to go under the tree to decorate, and missed a massive chunk out in the middle.

I'm a little in shock about the other bedroom, its says in the tenancy agreement that we aren't to use the loft, now we know why, hed be in all sorts of trouble if he let it out as a three and we used it as a 4 plus there is the whole council tax issues aswell.

Right off to put little one to bed.

Is the extra bedroom in breach of planning permission Gossip? because that is a whole another can of worms.

ta da :

Artificial tree and wreath ordered from Homebase and due for collection on Tuesday

TLINKS FOR 9 DECEMBER 2013

*
Babystep 9 is all about decluttering for 15 minutes a day.

This week we are in Zone 2 the Kitchen. Detailed cleaning list here for those who feel up to it.

Sneak Peek for the week's missions, today's is to wash the kitchen bin. DH has just taken our rubbish out, so off to do mine in a minute.

Monday's focus is Weekly Bleugh Remember this should take an hour maximum, no getting distracted!

December's monthly habit is Pampering.

Flight Plan for today.

*
Christmas Holiday Cruise Mission 6 is Baking Needs, work out your supplies on hand and know that you are prepared BEFORE you start baking. I know I've been guilty of this

Going goth thanks for the links, this thread is helping me feel more positive. Some of those babysteps etc look a bit more likely to happen than clearing cobwebs in porch

bitchy I will join you in sobbing over paerwork mine is scattered hidden all round the house in cubby holes, cupboards and carrier bags.

gossip I let my dc decorate the tree, its not very symetrical, kind of looks like they threw the box of decorations at the tree.
Well done for saturday declutter angry you def earned a a nice early bed and bath tonight (that sounds lush but i need to spend time with dp and do dishes - snore)

We have been at my mums today but still a tada - Ds had his ds confiscated by dp for messing aorund this morning when he should have been getting dressed. DS used inability to find a matching pair of socks as an excuse. i suggested he ask daddy if sorting out his socks could earn back the ds, as a result he has helped me:

1. find matching socks in drawers and put odds in a bag
2. hang out a load of laundry including all his undies
3. put away dry clothes and sort his drawers

We still have 25 odd ds socks!

SUMMARY (2nd attempt, I accidentally deleted the 1st)

Gossip is getting on with her blanket. Then found an extra bedroom kind of, could you use it as storage or is it a total ban from using it?

WhoKnows had a Christmassy day decorating yesterday. I try to get a couple of new decorations each year usually in the January sales to keep it fresh without breaking the bank.

dizzy had a mixed day! Your poor DD, but well done as well. Hope today went better.

Engels must be nice having that sense of family history in your house. Sounds like you have a plan, you have to stick to it now we all know

Sillybillybob has a computer desk of doom, I have a piles of stuff stacked on ours and hidden in drawer I think we all have give our DHs a kick up the backside occasionally, they just seem to think the there's a housework fairy.
So pleased J's treatment is at an end, you know we're all hoping it goes well. Getting the bin must be such a relief.

Toffee stated her day with a pampering session, good for you. And has her tree arriving on Tuesday. We also have an artificial tree, means I know exactly what it's going to look like, and how much space it needs.

Bitchy had a rough night with a poorly DS. AND still produced an über list

Alice is getting organised re Christmas

Blueandwhitelover rejoined us! Welcome to the madness geocaching sounds like fun! there's one near us, so I have no excuse not to take DD

StillWearingOddSocks has the right idea, a bit of flying followed by fun. We sometimes forget the second bit. I have noticed the repeat check in.

Angry embraced the 'Renew your Spirit' day and had fun. [Gold star]

pineapples has a helpful DS, amazing how a confiscation can make them more helpful!

Hope I've managed to get all the main points, sorry if I've missed anyone out.

bitchy I don't think it is, it has a velux window so would definitely need planning permission to put that in, I think its just to avoid the higher tax if used as an additional bedroom, plus the extra house insurance as it hasn't got built in heating iyswim, Im not an expert on these things but my dp used to do loft conversions for a living and says that this might be the case for the loft/bedroom.
managed to get the older 2 lazies to wash the pots, and dry them and put them away although it did take dp to shout at them to see the error of their ways, and get their bums of the sofa!

Hi all,
Popping in to say good night really. Was at work today and then went to pick up Dp and DS from a craft fair and bought some posh shopping in wait rose. Was rather stunned at the extremely municipal and colourless (virtuous?) green grocery bit.
Slim I'm with you on the little bit a day approach to Christmas. My little bit was buying frozen, peeled chestnuts (?!) from Waitrose to go in my sprouts. I've made a menu, which I think nobody but me will like hehehe!
Veg is red cabbage with Apple and bacon, Parmesan parsnips (Delia) and chestnuts with sprouts.
Sorry two little bits today, I forgot! We got the tree out and the air is thick with dust. Cough cough! I got fed up and dumped it in the bath after I got out, so got to dry bit off tomorrow (it's a fake tree, not real tree in bath).
Flam in' kitchen, didn't we just do that?
How many zones are there?
Gossip amazing to find another room. That's something I dream about!

Evening all. Had rather a nice, quiet Sunday by our standards! DS1 was at a Beavers sleepover till lunchtime, did some art with normally reluctant DS2 and more craft projects this afternoon. Relatively few blazing rows, and then DS2 who is still rather under the weather fell asleep on a cushion in the middle of the sitting room floor, poor little guy!

Have also done the Christmas cards, woohoo! And can count them first, then go to the Post Office tomorrow, instead of the other way round and ending up with way too many stamps as we usually do...

Big waves to all and extra hugs to Silly.

Thanks for the links and splendid round up, Goth. The missions look very useful this week, including the Christmas one .

Have done my evening routines, but discovered I have no clean polo shirts for DS2. Not sure how that happened. At least I had time to do something about it, ie. quickly iron a white tee-shirt for him instead. Hopefully, that will do if he wears his school sweatshirt on top.

andgiraffe - I have given up on finding matching socks and now regularly give the DC odd socks. They don't seem to notice or care.

This week on blanketgate: finished squares: 37, in progress 14; total squares 51/100 so heading towards half way. tis rather depressing really considering how many hours have been spent on this already. Thank god for multi tasking. Have been crocheting and watching a film I have wanted to see for a while and happened to be on the tv.

Unfortuantely I am feeling the effects of accidentally double strengthing my coffee earlier was too tired and unable to sleep so will probably consider starting tomo's to do list as ds will be home from school and I doubt that I will manage to get much done during the day. Or I could carry on dealing with blanketgate...

DD came 4th. Bizarrely the other day we were just saying this was the worst place to be! Her time was 0.5sec slower than previously but she has been barking with a cough for the last week or 2. Have applied for another 2 galas to try to get nearer the County time before the deadline of 20th Jan.

After we came home she wanted to put up the tree (we have an artificial one) so we started that whilst watching Xmas movies before we needed to get to church where she was singing with the school choir.

DH has been at the rugby all day (getting pissed with BIL) so needed to go and collect him from the station. Tea was meant to be home made pizzas but the dough mix I bought just wasn't right and was to sticky to do anything with so we ordered a Chinese as the freezer was bare

Ta Da

• Gala with DD
• Popped to shops for bits for tea (use on Monday instead)
• Decorated tree (lounge now covered in tinsel bits!)
• DD to church for choir singing
• Ironed uniform bits for tomorrow
• Name tag sewn on to new PE tracksuit
• Washing load in and hung to dry
• D/W unloaded
• Tidied kitchen and shined sink

The late nights have finally caught up with me so logging off now and going to bed . Catch up later x

Limited flying today as DS and I are spending the day in hospital with him being tested for damage from treatment to ears, heart and kidneys.

However, he has woken up with a cold and if he gets a temperature we have to go in to hospital for at least 3 days on antibiotics. While nothing in the remotest bit exciting is happening tomorrow definitely not going abroad, not at all I would really like him to stay reasonably ok and out of in-patient treatment please.

Fingers crossed for you and DS Silly.

Hope today goes well Silly