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!

Roller - do not feel rubbish for not doing more! Nature intended us to nurture our babies, not spend hours washing up, loading the washing machine, tidying and all the other stuff we waste our lives doing. What really struck me when I had DS1 was the isolation of being stuck at home with a small baby and housework to do. It was soul destroying, so I learnt to go out as much as possible and meet people. We should be part of a community, nurturing us whilst we nurture our baby.

If your baby sleeps, you must catch up on sleep. I know you have loads to do in the house, but sleep comes first. And eating.

(lecture over )

Angry - sorry you are feeling so ill . Hope rest and pills sorts you out quickly.

Bitchy - well done for tackling paperwork

Couldn't understand why I felt so rough today and was all blocked up, until I realised that - duh! - I have a cold. So I allowed myself a nap this afternoon and have taken Lemsip capsules. Came downstairs to find that DH had done all the washing up .

Thanks ToffeeWhirl - you are right, it is quite isolating. I have a cou

Argh phone!

A couple of groups I go to / am planning to go to. I agree housework can wait but also know it makes me feel low if I let it get too bad so have to get a balance. DH does a fair bit but has crazy hours at the mo.

Ta da
My list except dinner, wash up (to be done later), and posting cards. Also forgot to exercise prior to shower so will do tomorrow!

Up at 6 .30 and did usual million jobs before OH saunters in from the gym at 7.45 am!! But was impressed with myself as babe and I in the supermarket by 8.30. Shopped and home by 9.30. Whole she napped I cleaned 2 bathrooms hoovered downstairs made bread and scones and did 2 loads of washing ! Afternoon off as visited friend and her twins then home to do supper ferry DD1 to guitar and bathe the babe. Off to bed soon so will make my action plan for tomorrow as day at home. Is it weird to enjoy reading other peoples achievements and to feel inferior !

Oh well tomorrow is another day.
Keep shining them sinks. !!

Signing slightly late but better late than never with a quick post before Masterchef. Feeling much more positive than last week. Onwards and upwards and all that.

Flying:- done a bit
Xmas shopping:- done a lot
Relaxing weekend:- done a lot
Moved classroom today and spent all day lugging boxes:- done a lot
Drinking:- about to do a little.

Will catch up and be back properly tomorrow.

Ta Da
Slept until 2.30
Showered
School run
DS4 HW
Dinner
Tidy up kitchen
Laundry put away
W/M
T/D
D/W
DS3 Christmas list completed
Sorted returns of clothes.
And item from Amazon, which was not what I ordered.
Planned this weeks menu.
Ordered food shopping.

Should do
W/M
T/D
packed lunches
sort clothes for boys tomorrow

But actually going to make Elf Door have a Tia Maria and a Mince Pie. Think I am starting to feel better. Hooray!!!

LINKS FOR 3 DECEMBER 2013

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Babystep 3 is to check out the Flylady Site. There are some interesting bits amongst the tweeness, but I wouldn't bother unless you are feeling brave or running the thread.

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

Sneak Peek for the week's missions, today's is to put out the Hot Spots in the Front Porch, Entrance and Dining Room. Clearing away shoes by the front door, the junk mail pile and put away the magazines and school papers. May take longer than the usual 15 minutes.

Tuesday focus is the Planning were we sort out meal plans, etc.

December's monthly habit is Pampering.

Flight Plan for today.

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I got ahead of myself with Christmas Holiday Cruise, we were only meant to start today so back to Mission 2 for tomorrow, which was to check your linen.

SUMMARY

Dizzy started the day asking how we could be on page 3 already, not sure as Bitchy has only started on the uber-lists today! But I can cope DH has just handed my a beaker(!) of mead

Anyway...

Dizzy has a happy DD, thanks to shamrock deedy boppers, an Elf, and a Brownie trip to Peppa Pig World

Engels has a typical 2yo. It does get better (just not sure when).

Just, Buddha & Toffee all sound really ill AND NEED TO TAKE IT EASY!

Pictures has set me right re the Christmas missions , has got her tree and is now automatically doing her morning routines. You are now fully "one of us"

WhoKnows has veg bag angst. Swap you you squash for some cabbage? I stick small amount of any unwanted root veg in stews, soups, curries, etc.

Rollermum is NOT being judged, get dressed if/when you feel like it, I'm sure your friends will spend more time looking at the baby than the house.

MadHouse does not need to feel inferior! I had to double check you said am and not pm. You and Alice have done very respectable lists (throws out hint for cookies for naughty corner [tchgrin])

Elliepac has moved classroom today, because that's what you need, in December!

I have finally got my favourite boots re-heeled, posted my friend's birthday presents, wrapped some Christmas presents and made a paper snowflake with DD.

Parents' evening today. From 4pm (when Ipickedup ds2 at school gate), until 8pm when I arrived back home - meant to be 5-7pm and we still didn't get to see the History teacher, poor fellow he still had a long queue when we left. It was all fine, they said he was v enthusiastic and the D word was not mentioned. I love the Rugby teachers bursting out of their suits! Sorry tmi

Knackered, and still have to forge a short diary entry about life as an Anglosaxon peasant under the Normans

SC I am sending you virtual escapism.

And "asking for homework" NOOOO!

Alice I think my front door is a doorway into a parallel world anyway a world of topsy turvy muddledom with bells on

PS we have no decorations up atm or any thought of such alien objects!! For goodness sake, tis only the second day of Dec.

off to wash the rugby kit. No pun intended, it is lying around in mouldering heaps from last week.

Ds2 was very enthusiastic, not the History Teacher, could be misread!

Toffee ds2 sounds lovely.

Castlelough they are lucky to have you helping in choir

Just had an extremely tiresome exchange with Dh. I was watching some inane decluttering Estate Agent programme and I said to him, it would be too annoying to sell this house, declutter it, and finally realise how nice it could have been for the past 15 years without the mess. His response was, I will never declutter this house, even when I sell it. Even for ££££ profit?????Why not???? Because it is against my principles to get rid of any of my possessions Quite quite mad..

Ok do here where I admit my good start to the day didn't last

Did a load if work in the office writing letters about forthcoming exams then went to collect DVD of dds last stagecoach show. Got back from picking ds up from school & spent the evening watching said DVD

Mission didn't get done & Xmas tree didn't get planted or decorated. Tree is now in desperate need of water & shedding needles everywhere

TA Da

Hand washed dds leotard
Cooked tea
Sink is full of dirty dishes & def not shiny .

Gosh, it's only the 2nd of the month but I already can't keep up

Shined sink yesterday and got dressed today. It is about all I can hope for! Have had a bad cold for about 10 days now (although apparently DH's is worse ) following on from a combined ear infection/tonsillitus/conjunctivitis basically head full of pus bug that kept DS (and therefore me) awake and miserable for a good week before that.

Mostly better now though so am not really moaning too much

Tomorrow's big plan is to find some sort of playmobil storage solution - any suggestions very much appreciated! DD has just started to get into it and we have teeny tiny flowers, fairy wings and strange seed pods everywhere!

Need to go to bed but hello and good night to all

That's fine for day 2 pushme. Baby steps at a time remember.

I've list count of the tunes I only got as fat as Day 12. Day 23 last month is something if a record!

Have now loaded dishwasher so sink is clear if not shiny.

Thanks pictures, I'm all about the babysteps and still not in bed

Thanks ok PMPY early bedtime babystep is no 17 Your fine for a week or two on that one

That's not thanks.

Before bed yesterday my list included

• Washing load in and hung to dry
• Moved Elf and left him playing Scrabble with Teddy!

Today the house was still pretty clean and tidy from getting it ready for the weekend so did mini bleurgh

Ta-Da

• S/S x 4
• Hoovered through downstairs - including Elf glitter!
• Towel load in and hung to dry
• Dry clothes put away
• Emptied recycling bin
• Emptied D/W
• Swam 80 odd lengths
• Pots washed and sink shined

Am about to retire to bed so have moved the Elf for the morning and have left him watching DVDs with Teddy!

I have tons to do today:

Get DD to nursery
Liberate today's "gift" from advent calendar it's properly stuck
Call Hospital to arrange a letter from the Drs detailing DS' medical needs so can fly(!) next week and not get arrested.
Do trial run of getting me and him dressed in many layers of thermals.
Meal planned last night so write shopping list and go shopping.
Collect DH's repeat prescription from the chemists.
Prep dinner.
Order remaining Christmas presents
Order any remaining thermal requirements from m&s for pick up tomorrow.
Pay nursery.
Collect DD from nursery by that time!!!

Ta da :

Two school runs (mine and poorly DFriend's children)
Breakfast
Put laundry on (mission! Best duvet cover for Xmas guest)
Printed out Flylady routines to stick on kitchen wall

To do :

Loads

Signing in late as usual though I have sort of been keeping up.

PMPY - Playmobil storage in this house is a BIG box in each child's room containing most of their stuff plus a small box with tight-fitting lid inside to contain the little bits. It sort of works.

Buddha and others - hope you are starting to feel better?

SillyBilly - think I've missed where you are going. If it involves lots of thermal layers is it where I think it is? If so I am jealous :)

I am supposed to be working at the moment but keep getting distracted (and cold). Need to run up and down stairs or hoover to warm up - might run upstairs to put away last night's ironing and get more layers.

Ta da:

• Lots of forms/money/etc re School Assoc Christmas crafts
• All up and out
• Monthly invoices
• Most of bank rec

To do:

• Warm up
• Rest of bank rec
• Christmas crafts at school
• Reading at school
• Letter to bank
• Buy nice bread for Tuesday's soup and bread tea
• DS and DH to Beavers
• Something with photos whilst DD finishes homework (tend to do photo-based 'newsletter' to go into Christmas cards rather than Round Robin thing)

To those with bread-makers - what make is it and would you recommend it? Have never wanted one as don't have the space and DS loves kneading but now have a HUGE cupboard in the hallway, can't always time bread-making whilst DS is around, we all love home-made bread and I love the idea of fresh bread awaiting us in the morning - is this realistic?

Feet - am taking Lemsip every four hours and it's really helping . We have a breadmaker. I don't use it, but DH goes through phases of breadmaking. When he isn't using it, I hide it away in the cupboard under the stairs, otherwise it takes up too much room on our limited surface area. And yes, you can come downstairs to the smell of fresh bread . In my experience, you will bake endless loaves to start with, then get a bit bored with it all. But that might just be us.

Ta da :

Wet laundry put into tumble dryer
Swished and swiped in bathroom
Wiped bathroom floor
Wiped bathroom mirror
Replaced broken bathroom bin with new bin (thanks, DH. Cost £6 from Aldi!)
Made beds
Washed up extra glasses and saucepans in kitchen
Wiped down kitchen surfaces
Put kitchen bin out, plus recycling
Wrapped broken glass, then dropped it again and had to sweep up more fragments
Hoovered downstairs
Mopped downstair's floors
Mission: tidied hall hotspot (piles of post and leaflets on floor)
Washed dirty cloths

Now starting work (am working at home, helping DH with his business)

feet I love my bread maker. It's a Panasonic I think. They normally come up well in reviews. Mine has a special drawer to drop raisins or bacon etc in to the dough so you don't have to do it manually.

I haven't really mentioned the trip for fear of jinxing it and DS becoming ill and hospitalised.

But it involves going a long way north, in a plane, to see a man with a beard at his home. I'm so excited I feel sick complete overreaction but trying to stay calm and be realistic that it might not happen.

Ta Da
Get Dressed (after waking up over a hour late)
Breakfast
Hair dresser for ds2/3
DS2 & friends to school
DS3/4/5 to school
(Hubby did packed lunches & d/w)
S&S x3
laundry away
w/m x2
t/d x2
stripped bed. (washing new xmas duvet as copied Who and bought the sameone off Amazon)
27 boogie
D/W
Drop money off for my son's friend at school, as he forgot it.
tonight dinner in slow cooker
drink my water & having lunch (both which I neglect, but am re-addressing to keep me healthy).

To do
15 declutter
Beauty appointment for eyelashes and brows
Doctors appointment
school run

x post
Silly I am sooo ious.

Hi everyone,
It's here! December aargh! This is where it's all gets crazy, but in a good way - I hope!
Have already had irate SIL emailing me about my Christmas list two days after she emailed me, at work before I met friends after work. That sort of thing. Bit stressed you think?
Hope all the tooth people are feeling a bit better or at least are on the road to feeling better. My tooth is stil feeling very sensitive, post- dentist so am planning to try sensitive toothpaste to se if it helps. Has anyone suffered from sensitive teeth? What is it like?

So had a look at the zone and I don't really have any of the rooms listed, apart from a hall, which doesn't have much in it. So quite an easy week from the zone for me. Hooray!

Slim any progress on the school issues?

Toffee how are things with your recently diagnosed friend? I've been thinking about you and her situation a lot recently.

So today I must find the tax disc which I have somehow lost in the house or see if I can get a replacement.
Make tomato curry (yes I'm not sure either - it's a Nigella recipe)
Collect DS and go shopping for birthday presents, envelopes to put cards in, sending lots to one relative to distribute to save on postage.
Buy bird feeding stuff, nuts, fat balls etc. they like a bit of variety. Don't want the pecking on the window because they want a fat block not peanuts!
Dismantle shelf
Tumble dry clothes and iron if they still look awful
Put away shop which is coming between 8-9 (just to save £1!)
DS homework and guitar and singing practice
Try to go to the park after school to decrease manic hyper mood currently pervading due to lack of exercise.
Still need to email about holiday accommodation for next summer then haggle (haha - I so can't haggle)
That's it for now...