Fledglings don't makes resolutions in January, they fly through the babysteps.

[BitchytheGreat]

So here it is the dreaded January thread. The thread of resolutions and good intentions for the year that you are lucky if you see through to the end. Welcome to the start of 2014!!

A quick note for newbies, this is a long running thread. We do like new blood around here. However, we do ask you to be respectful that for a lot of us just getting off our arses is not going to help and to avoid suggesting this. We all know life is more complicated then this. So here we do things a little differently. A little bit of flying and a lot of chatter and moral support. Feel free to jump on board and join us in flying.

For those who are new to fly lady she recommends a three step program:

1. Get those babysteps into a habbit
2. Get rid of the clutter.
3. Get that deep cleaning done.

Don't worry if you think you not doing it right but not getting up to it. Some of us have been here for years and we are still decluttering. Because clutter has a nasty way of multiplying if you take you eye off it, especailly if you have kids.

Fly lady ethos tells us a few things that I want you to remember:
No perfectism this is harder then you would imagine
You are never behind just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy over night accept it will take time to get on top of things and you will be happier.

So jump on board and lets get started.

Oh and I forgot the proper introductions. "I'm Bitchy and I shall be your guide to the fly lady system for January" better buckle up as things normally get a little crazy when it is my turn to take control. good luck

Well as I couldn't sleep I have been productive and killed off a load of emails that needed sending urgently and I have been procrastinating over.

Am going to write the to do list for tomo and hope that this permits me to sleep.

To do
recycling out
laundry
My clothes away
towels away
ds' room - lego
Set up ds' present from grandparents
Sort out dvd return
Work on blanket gate
Collect ds from his dad
check school bag
write note for teacher
Make lunch box
Early night

Mostly a quiet day today. DD has been watching YouTube whilst attempting a 1000 piece jigsaw she got from Santa, DH watched TV and I pottered about on the laptop whilst packing xmas away!

Ta Da

• DH took down outdoor lights
• Trees stripped and put in boxes. Baubles packed away with other xmas bits and pieces.
• Laundry load in and hung to dry
• Dry clothes away
• DH cooked and kindly left a HUGE pile of pots for me to wash up!!!
• Collected bits together and packed bags for gala
• Cooked pasta and sorted food for gala
• Printed off directions on how to get to gala! (DH not coming but he can watch via live streaming)

Forgot I had also emptied the kitchen bin and loaded and set off the dishwasher!

Bed now. Night night x

Ta da from yesterday

Took ring to be resized
Painted cellar - need to give it another coat
washing -up mountain

.
That was it!

Up with ds, he's watching Dumbo whioe I MN. We're dressed and have had breakfast. Waiting for DH to get up so we can go for a walk as the sun is shining and the rangers will be handing out free hot chocolate at one of our local woods to children /families later (as good an excuse as any!).

Off to catch up with thread. Hope you managed to get some sleep bitchy and dizzy

Am up! Drinking tea and pondering the week ahead! Back to work tomorrow. At least it helps with the routine!

To Do:

1. Shower etc
2. Breakfast for DM and DH
3. Drop DM into the city for the train
4. Continue into the hospital to see DMiL, who is no better (has now been in there for a week)
5. Aldi shop (third grocery shop in 3 days )

Swan that doesn't sound like nothing! You went to a meeting, made a lovely dinner and went for a walk. And getting rid of family sounds very sensible...that was my birthday wish (that came true).

whoknows I know excatly what you mean Bout outisde time. I will be taking ds out shortly as soon as DH is up.

Castle I made it out! Took me 2 and a half hours to do the cellar. DH took DS to ILs as they had asked him to help them with a small job in house, so MIL watched DS while he was doing it. Need to give cellar another coat. I'd like to try and do it today as tomorrow have tog start getting back in workmode for Tuesday. Have done no schoolwork over holidays and have a lot to do!

I think sc was off visiting FIL and SIL.

whispers I don't have a smartphoneand only a recent convert to tablet so a total app dunce. Will check it out though.

bitchy haven't seen that film...any good? Sorry you got cancelled on.

nicknacks sounds like a lovely start to the day yesterday. My day started with DS kicking me in the back and then trying to jump on my head

merry glad that we are all so inspiring! not sure I should take the credit but hey

Omg!

Ds2 sleepover did not go well. I was warned that he wasn't a great sleeper but we've had him over before and it's been fine plus all sleepover go on a bit late don't they?
Well my boys were asleep for 10pm, fairly respectable. Our little guest did not drift off until 1am and then woke me at 3.30am and 4.30am. Dd went to be at normal time and so was ready to get up at 8am and ds1 and 2 joined us whilst our little guest is still snoozing. I am exhausted and have a ton to do today. :(

Xpost. Sorry to hear about your MILcastle

Yes, all very inspiring!

Ta da from yesterday:

Sink
Quick dust sitting room
Dust hall
Floors, all
Rubbish out
Bag
Wallet
Dark wash
Dry laundry

Didn't do:
Ironing
Vacuum rugs
Change bed
Wash and dry bedding and put away
Wash cushion covers and laundry basket thing
Recycling

Today:
Morning routines (doing SB easter renovators thread)
Whichever of the things from yesterday take my fancy (in the spirit of not getting burnout )
Do roast chicken for lunch
Clean up all traces of said lunch
Make a stock from it
A long walk
15 mins decluttering

At some indeterminate point soon:
Buy sports bra (failed to do this on Friday, got distracted by sales but on plus side managed not to buy anything)

I can feel the positive effects of this already, because when I was cleaning the floor near the big pile of stuff to be sorted in the bedroom, instead of feeling I wasn't doing a proper job by not moving it and cleaning behind it, I just thought: "This is a hotspot, and it shall be dealt with accordingly. Now, you are doing the floor - move on!"

So thank you!

Yeah, rugby has been cancelled so back to room painting.

To do
Paint bedroom
Morning routine
Rugby practise at park
Roast dinner
Order food shopping on line

I'm still here, dudes. Just way too busy with childcare and house cleaning to do regular lists... Sink still shiny, I've found our computer desk under an actual mountain of crap, the hall is clear and tidy... I'm not so scared of being reported to social services tomorrow when the community nurse comes back :)

toffee rest assured I wouldn't normally have got so much done on a Saturday morning...not sure what came over me! This thread is definitely a motivation. Today I am still in my PJs and very pleased to see that Bitchy has reminded us that Sunday is a day of rest...or in my case a day of catch up. I still haven't done the ironing...

Ta da
Zilch so far!

To do
Ironing
Marking and going back to work / school routines...check bags etc
Declutter in kitchen

Well, started this morning with still a lack of AF, so sent DH for a test and ran a POAS thread.

It was negative which was the result that I was hoping for, so bit of a relief, but if nothing appears then I'll have to test again on Wednesday. So different from this time 4 years ago when I was testing and hoping for a positive!

DH has now taken DS out to the park in the big city, so they'll be out for a while so I can get a chance to relax for a bit.

My list today is to finish up the washing including our bed which I didn't get a chance to do yesterday, do a bit of ironing, organise dinner, and some other crap I can't remember.

Right, coffee and chocolate now!

Bitchy I am highly relieved to be excused from post its, as I bought what I thought was a huge stack of them, only to discover they were, in fact, a memo pad .

I managed to come home with a diary that was actually a diary though, so not all bad!

human at memo pad! I always think post it's everywhere would make the place look cluttered.

Yesterday was weird, we were all snippy at each other, I think we need our routines back, although the alarm going off at 8 this morning wasn't good.

Done
Beds
Laundry on
Dry laundry away
Tree down!
Everything packed away apart from nativity scene which I've just spotted
Bin emptied
Cat litter tray emptied
Rubbish & recycling out
DD completed thank you cards (after only hours of nagging)
Vacuumed through flat

To do
Windows
Laundry onto clothes horses
Boil hand warmers
Washing up
Lunch

DD's friend & parents coming over this afternoon. They homeschool her, and operate on very different hours to us, so I'm hoping they don't stay too late.

Lurking today. Feeling a bit under the weather, so am just going to go in "damage control" mode today and do only what is absolutely necessary. It's been a long week.

I'm groaning today as i go back to work on Monday after a glorious two week staycation!

Is there anyone else here who works outside the home full time? I do condensed hours so work full time but four days a week.

I find it so hard to keep,on top of the house and feel v resentful that DH (who is not working and is looking for a job) doesn't do more. We literally have mornings when I'm scrambling around to find a pair of tights or a cleanish top! I'm hoping this can be a new start...with the help of you lot!

I also use the home routines app....

To do today
Get blinking passport photos for DS
sort out emergency clothing to go to launderette
Buy some roots cover up hair dye
Sort out handbag and school bag for tomorrow
Work out uniform and outfit for tomorrow
Have boring shaggy activities with DH as desperately trying for number 2

Look forward to reading ta dahs later from you fab lot...

Well, Sunday is not going to be a day of rest here. Have spent all night in A&E with DH, who has suspected appendicitis and has stayed in hospital for an operation today. MIL came over to babysit for the boys late last night whilst we went to hospital last (when I realised that DH being doubled over with pain probably wasn't down to man flu this time).

Arrived home at 5am this morning and have managed three hours' sleep, but my brain is buzzing with adrenalin. I was meant to be cooking for my ill friend and her boys today, but have had to phone to warn her that I may just need to drop off the food instead. She is so ill though (chemo making her feel sick and tired), so will try to fit that in too. Feel so bad for her.

MIL has gone home to fetch her teeth, which she forgot in the drama last night . She'll be back later, so in the meantime, I have a long list of phone calls to make and things to do -not least, have a bath and take yesterday's make up off.

The boys are very concerned, but I think I've reassured them. Interestingly, DS2's imaginary friend has come back this morning, after being absent for over a year.

First, am going to have breakfast, which I seem to have forgotten about this morning...

Oh no toffee I hope your dh is ok and home soon. Did have to laugh at the mil forgetting her teeth though How lovely of you to be helping your friend out like that. Look after yourself too with all that going on :)

My ta da list

Decluttered our room for 2x 15 mins
Found 3 more items to eBay
Packed up our guest ready for home in an hour
Breakfasted everyone
Started a little charity shop pile
Sorted DVD shelves
Stripped beds
Found a bookshelf for ds1
Tidied dd's room

To do

Lunch for all
2 loads of laundry
Shower dc and cut nails
Empty dw
Tidy breakfast things away
Lay out uniforms
Pack kits for school

Toffee hope your DH's appendectomy goes well and he is home and recovered very soon

oh dear, Niknaks, it's horrible when you don't get a decent night's sleep. Can you fit in a nap sometime today?

doris, that's a good sign. Keeping fingers crossed, here.

toffeeswirl, hope your DH is okay and feeling better soon.

It sounds like it's been an eventful weekend. All quiet here. I booted my dh out of the house with dd, so I could relax and get some stuff done.

ta da

Tidied living room
Put washing machine on
Made bread (roasted garlic bread to have with tonight's dinner, Spanish chicken pot roast)
Added water and sugar to the limoncello I'm making as dh's Xmas present.
Decluttering in fridge and cleaned four shelves.
Made bed
Gathered laundry from around the house
Quick Hoover downstairs

to do

Put clean laundry away
Make dinner and rice pudding
Take down decorations and put Xmas tree away

Time for a break now though. I don't know where the time's gone this morning.

Thank you, Nicknacks and Alice. The funny thing is that none of us would have noticed MIL's teeth were missing, except she kept showing us! Not pretty! (Look after your teeth!).

ta da

Room rescues downstairs
Hoovered throughout downstairs
DS2 made a card for DH
Printed off card for DS1 to give to DH
More phone calls
Ate porridge
Found clothes to wear today
Discovered PE kit still unwashed and threw in washing machine
Where are all the school socks?
Unloaded and reloaded d/w
Spoke to DH at the hospital. He is waiting for the results of his scan. Still in pain, but high on morphine
Ran a bath for myself
Persuaded DS2 to write his thank-you cards

Feel very weird. Sort of edgy and jittery. Couldn't sleep even if you put me to bed, so had better make the most of it.

to do

Bath
Make sure uniforms, PE kits etc are ready for back-to-school tomorrow
Polish boys' shoes
Coats and gloves - sort
Ring hospital again to find out the latest
Lunch
MIL back
Put Xmas decs away if time (have taken them down. Just need to put them in cupboard upstairs)
Visit friend with her dinner
Get boys to bed at decent time because of school
Visit DH in hospital

Very worried about managing DH's work on my own, but can't do anything about that till tomorrow, so need to shelve that worry for now.

X-posted, Aliama. Thank you.

Another one here hoping your DH's op goes ok Toffee, so impressed you are still cooking for your friend. Hope you get chance to have a nap this pm.

OddSocks personally I think your DH should be pulling his weight more, when I'm looking for work, I do the majority, but when I'm working full time, he does quite a lot. (He works from home) but I'm not saying he doesn't need a kick up the backside sometimes.

Updated Done
Beds
Laundry on
Dry laundry away
Tree down!
Everything packed away apart from nativity scene which I've just spotted
Bin emptied
Cat litter tray emptied
Rubbish & recycling out
DD completed thank you cards (after only hours of nagging)
Vacuumed through flat
Windows
Laundry onto clothes horses
Washing up
Lunch
Washing up
Cook beetroot

To do
'Skin' cooked beetroot
Wash up & remove beetroot stains (there's bound to be some)
Boil hand warmers

My sleep pattern is fucked up big style. 4am asleep, slept through 6 alarms with repeating snoozes and have only just woken up.

I think i can safely say that I am not going to manage to get done what was needed to be done. Not quite sure of the best method to get my sleep pattern fixed because I lay with my eyes shut staring at my eyelids for over 2 hrs before I got back up. The night before it was nearly 4hrs beofre i fell asleep because i refused to get back up. I am tired but i can't settle. Once i am asleep I am out like a light. It is very annoying. And I want to get babystep 17 sorted!!!!

needless to say my to do list is a big altered. I will do what i manage to do. But in all honestly I could roll over and go back to sleep.