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

Our hall is pretty much non existent so clutter doesn't rally build up there and our dining room is my playroom plus a dining table for childminding. We ate in there for Christmas Day so I completely emptied it of posters, labels, loose junk and use pretty table cloths to cover the book shelves and toy kitchen it looked so pretty that I'm loathed to put it back but I must. :(

X posted.

How lovely engels

Oooohhh fuck fun Friday ! Think I might run off into the shower then wake up dp in a nice way its not like I need an excuse...

Glad todays a car clean day, I've been waiting for that to come around, plus it goes to the garage next week for fixing so it could do with a clean. As for my handbag its one of those things that I leave until I lose stuff in it and can only find Batman figures and shoe laces instead of car keys and purses. And I tried it last week although I still have shoe laces in it.

Everything is still pretty tidy downstairs, sink is still shiny! Kids have managed to keep it tidy even when there isn't an adult in the room! Which is impressive.

Back on plan with sw, put on another 2lb which isn't awful but definitely need to lose it.

To do
Get a shower
Either wake dp up in a nice way and/or get dressed
Phone old council about money they owe me !
Wash few pots
Shine sink
Do 15 mins of decluttering in the dining room (hallways fine and dining room has paper clutter)
Do laundry
Clean car
Go to granmamas and into town there.
Drop ds1 off at his dads
Possibly drop into my dads
Possibly do weekly shop on way home.

Yep that should do it.

Have no idea if anything will get done today.

Up early, dragged dd out of bed then drive to Birmingham. She's doing a ballet class I'm drinking tea in a cafe trying to wake myself up

Morning all!
Just about to get up, have been catching up with the thread on the phone app!

Had a busy day yesterday.

*spent most of the afternoon in hospital with DMiL, then had my hair done (highlights & cut, feel fab!)

and then I joined Slimming World, like you Gossip* . Feeling positive that I can do it! Aiming to lose 3 stone! Really need to be motivated...

*Very little flying achieved as I was more or less gone all day and evening, but I did leave my sink shining and reboot laundry .

To Do:
*Morning routine
*meal planning & grocery shopping
*ring DM and find out whether she has decided to visit or not
*if she isn't coming I'll visit DMiL
*if she is coming I will be tackling CHAOS in the guest bedroom and in the bathroom!
*Exercise

That will do for now!

Belated birthday wishes Engels!

ta da

dw on
all signs of Xmas and decs have gone to loft
sink
decluttered in dining room

to do
One load of laundry
Kitchen hot spot
Sweep out porch - it was far too wet to attempt this yesterday
Car needs a hoover and I need to check the tyres, so thank you fat fairy - this was a timely mission.

And once the to do list is done I have to get my head out of the sand and address the massive pile of marking that needs to be done before Monday :(

What a lovely birthday gift Engels - lucky you!

Oh Engels enjoy it!
When I first got mine I almost crashed the car several times whilst admiring the sparkle! Tis very distracting while driving!!!

I am NOT meh about shining my sink. I CAN'T shine my sink. That stupid rubberised coating on it means I just can't. You don't know how many times I've glared at that sink and thought how much I'd rather have a nice shiny sink instead. So I'm with you in spirit on the shiny sink, just not in reality. Although, if it helps, I cleaned both bathroom sinks so they're all nice and shiny. Do I get a gold star Bitchy?

I tidied up the car a few days ago, right before the stupid thing went on the blink. Now I am going to have to get it checked and possibly fixed, which I can't afford. So long walks to school will be the order of the day for the next week. I am dreading it. Do you think the rubbish I tidied up in the car was holding it together? And now I've gone and removed it!!! What have I done?!?! Yes, I know... I need more coffee, don't I? I'm losing it this morning.

ta da
2 loads of laundry, now hanging up to dry
Christmas decorations all down, boxed up, just need to seal boxes and get them up into the attic
Christmas tree dismantled and boxed
Living room vacuumed
Washing up done
Rubbish taken out
Food bin taken out
Recycling taken out
Electric and gas prepayment meters checked and usage calculated (keeping a running tally for budgeting purposes)
Diary updated
Yesterday's laundry folded and taken upstairs

to do
meal planning
put away laundry
tidy up DCs toys and rooms
change sheets on beds, wash sheets
I'm sure there's more but I can't think of it right now. Again, more coffee.....

I'm listening to Whitesnakes greatest hits as I clean, on my iPhone. I clean better to music.

Have no idea why I've decided Whitesnakes a good idea though? Haven't listened to it for years. Obviously need some cheese

hehehehe Whitesnake. Met them years ago. Declined an autograph as I only went because a friend asked me to go along with her. I think they thought I was a big odd because I wasn't really fussed. Didn't really know who they were at the time though.

Ha! You weren't star struck with David Coverdale? He was quite good looking with his fantastic 80's hair.

I admit 80's cheese is a guilty pleasure of mine Despite Whitesnake being formed the year I was born, but I have a lot of happy memories of dancing about the lounge to 80's rock with my big brothers.

I really ought to crack on. I keep logging into mumsnet

Sadly, in the 80's I did like KISS and Meatloaf and ACDC but hadn't really pegged who Whitesnake were, that's all. I'm trying to remember who else I listened to - Duran Duran of course (didn't everyone?).

Thanks to Bitchy for the links :o

I am also not Meh about the sink, I admit I don't do it often, but I did write a big explanation on the other page on what the thinking was behind it :(

So, fuck fun... I wasn't sure at first whether it meant fuck fun as in we are not going to have any fun today, or whether it meant having fun fucking... I am hoping for the latter :o well, if I can persuade DH, I think I broke him the other night

Ok, back to business, I have done my morning routine, and also the mission, 15 minutes in zone 1 and daily blessing (I haven't seen this mentioned, do we do this here, or call it something different?)
Need to do lunch with the DC, clear out bag, then meeting some friends at soft play, so I can clear out car later when we get back :) I was lucky enough to get a new car at the end of November, so it is not too bad, just needs a quick wipe around and then a few bits of rubbish bringing inside.

Hope everyone has a good day :)

Big day here

to do

Put on gammon in coca cola blame mumsnet if this is a joke
Make a roll out pastry bake thing following instructions on packet carefully
Move crap from living room into any other room it will fit
Clear table and lay out buffet
Wrap presents for in laws that aren't wrapped
Buy some more stocking fillers
Engage DS in creative and stimulating activities
Shower and brush hair
Follow fly lady routines to get house ready for 2pm visitors

Oooo kiss and ACDC I like. Never liked Meatloaf he gives me stabby feelings

All this talk of sex is making me green with envy being single.

well, if I can persuade DH, I think I broke him the other night

pmsl PLEASE warn of such lines coming up. Damn near spewed my coffee all over not only my laptop, but DS2.

Still it's not a joke, I know tons of people that have cooked gammon in coca cola. Does sound odd, though, doesn't it? Works well though.

Ta da
wash on
rescued my slipper from toilet (thanks ds)
Wrapped parecl and present to be sent
sorted bottles for recycling
changed ds bed
To do
Supermarket
bottles
post office

I adore ham in coke. It's one of my favourite meals.

Massive to do list today.

Re the shiny sink thing: we all know that some sink makers put stupid coatings on stuff that make them look nasty, you can only do the best you can. and i was teasing because normally January starts with lots of motivated people who end up with burn out and disappear by the 2nd or third week, however this more cynical approach is new and perhaps changes is good

Hope you had a wonderful birthday engels and congratulations on finally getting your ring. I know someone who had to wait 10yrs because of finances and her DH surprised her with a trip to a beach and renewing their vows when she got it.

Nice to see the sense of humour and Spirit is high. Does make all these blasted storms more bareable. Decided to sod the weather and put the recycling out in the bin anyway. And then tape the fucker shut! Bloody stuff is every where and it is driving me mad!

Still got three rows and edging of blanket gate to do...

Today I am going to be working by the power of three. It is something that we suggest you do when you are struggling with motivation/energy. A list of 3 easy to achieve things. When you have done that you make a new list of three things. You might not get everything done that you know needs to get done but you will get something done. and that is enough.

ta da
Internet admin stuff --mn/fb/twitter/email etc etc
Physio exercises batch 1.

To do
Drink coffee
get up must not fall asleep in bath
carry ironing back down stairs

Alice my mum had a ceramic-style sink. Not actual ceramic. Just some weird covering. She got so fed up with me bleating about a shiny sink she's replaced it with steel!

Silly I may get it replaced yet. Just don't have the money for it at the moment, so can't really justify it.

Today I am going to be working by the power of three.

I thought this might mean working while watching Charmed on the telly. Sounded good to me!

"working while watching Charmed on the telly" if it helps then it is an option. motivational music is always good. I am so much more productive now we have a radio in the kitchen.

Bit of a mixed day. Two separate orders that i was waiting in for (bin and bread bin) turned up at exactly the same time. Both set up and in the kitchen. Need to clear boxes from living room.

Went to polish the table and found a massive scratch on it. God knows how that happened. Probably from coins or keys.

Ta da

Bread is baked. Looks pretty good too but haven't cut into it yet.
Living room and kitchen tidy. Dishwasher done.
Washing machine on.
Furniture in living room dusted
Decluttered shelves. Stuffed loads of crap into drawer of dread under bed to be sorted later.
Made bed
Hoovered in living room
Cleared toys and general crud out from under sofa
Crap general dust, I.e. cobwebs and skirtings in living room
Mopped up flood made by very helpful toddler.

To do

Sort lunch for me and very helpful toddler.
Take toddler to soft play
Empty dishwasher
Mop the floor in the kitchen where the arsing 'rubbish bags' have leaked.

Oh bollocks, it's just started pissing down.

Would anyone volunteer to be an alibi? Alternatively to talk me down from stashing DH & DS under the patio?

The tree is down, the decorations scattered throughout the house are away and everything is back in the loft. DS has his toy rack back, so the dining room is tidy-ish again. Needless to say, this was not accomplished without major teeth gritting and muttering.

Maybe I'll let them live... for now