Mad Fledglings March through the Spring cleaning

[BitchytheGreat]

So here we are, March already.

So for those who don't know the fledglings is a long running thread. Some of us seem clicky but that is because we have been chatting on these threads for nearly half a decade makes everyone feel old we quite like fresh blood though so feel free to jump in and join us.

Three key points to keep in mind:
(1)No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine
(2)You are never behind just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
(3) 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.

If you are new then trying to spend 15mins decluttering and the babysteps is the most. Some of us Bitchy can have scary looking lists. One word of advice ignore them. Do what you can, anything is better then nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

That's brilliant Toffee. When can he start?

I know, I'm so happy about it, feet . There will be a place after Easter, but possibly even earlier. I think if it's after Easter, I will take him out of the present school before the end of term and let him just relax at home for a few weeks.

Woke up at 6am, which is very annoying as I could have had a lie in. No big plans today, thank goodness, so I'm going to catch up on OU work and go to the library to photocopy a load of info for the statement application.

Also need to go back on MFP as my weight has shot up . Anyone know any easy ways of losing weight?

less stress?
Good news about ds' school toffee

Sorry to hear ds is ill again sillybob

My computer seems to have a grudge against 1am. 1 min it was 12:30am and then the next it was 2:30am.

Right there is a long list of things to do before we need to leave and we need to leave in just under an hour and half.

Great news toffee .

Off outside today to work in garden. First daff in front garden (that I planted in October) is out

Toffee - bitchy is probably right!
I know different things work for different people but DH having to reduce his cholesterol level meant both he and I went low fat half way through last year. I was still scoffing cakes, biscuits, chocolate, etc out of his sight but was eating the same as him for main meals. We both lost weight and he got his cholesterol down to a safe level.
Lots of porridge for breakfast, salad and veg with/in everything so reducing meat content and snacking on nuts, seeds, fruit instead of cheese and crackers (mainly DH there!) SC was a great source of low fat recipes :)
Tried very hard to replace nice things with nice alternatives - e.g. ice cream with sorbet, cake with Hairy Dieters tea-loaf, etc so didn't feel deprived and, for the most part, we have changed how we eat without it seeming too painful.

Right, need to:

• Get dressed
• Put washing on
• Remove DS from Paralympic winter games viewing before he wants to take up sit skiing
• Take him to buy Cubs jumper
• Take him to gymnastics
• Get petrol
• Get shopping

See for me losing weight is triggered by cutting out wheat, gluten, and lactose. But I have intollerances. However, it always comes back to drinking more water. When I was young, super skinny and eat everything and anything that would be considered unhealthy I was drinking 4-5ltrs of water through the day. Mind you that was before i discovered the amazing powers of coffee can you tell i am now on my third cup of the morning and finally developed the need to be busy twitch? I do think it is about finding what works for you. for me BIWI's bootcamp really works but then it is because it cuts out stuff I know i shouldn't be eating and makes me eat the stuff I don't like eating vegetables But be careful about when you weigh: time of day and where you are in your cycle can make as much as 2kgs difference!

I am procrastinating. I don't want to be anywhere but in bed asleep. I am booking a lie in morning on monday! won't happen but i am seriously considering it. might bribe ds for a lie in tomo.

Bitchy! .

feet - thanks for the tips. I could definitely eat less meat. I think my problem is snacking on the food that I make for my two underweight, fussy children. I have to add extra fat to everything they eat - and then I end up eating it too . For instance, I make pancakes for DS2 for breakfast every day (made with full-fat milk) and I always end up eating the last one with maple syrup. It's there in front of me, whereas porridge requires effort.

Am logging back on MFP today and will start calorie counting again. It's so boring though.

Engels - that sounds lovely .

This week has been manic and stressful. The teacher I am working alongside is very disorganised and difficult to work with, but after a bit of a whinge to my tutor I now have some strategies to use going forward and finally feel more positive.

Today is going to be spent manically trying to catch up with everything:

Ta da:
3 loads of washing
Dw on
Dcs bathed and dressed
Potential jobs emailed
Shopping list written

To do
Bath and dressed
2 more loads of washing
Empty dw
Food shop (with dcs as dp is at work)
Buy present, card, balloon for baby shower tomorrow.
Pop to see dad to arrange him watching dds assembly.
Deal with dds tantrums as she keeps getting up at 5.30 and is overtired
Find and buy resources for masters module
Pop and see mum as I haven't managed to see her all week.
Make hm soup for my lunch next week
Clean out car/ bag
Plan observed lesson for next week
Write up this weeks lesson
Try to find time to do some coursework
Clean bathroom
Sort dried clothes and put away
Dust and hoover upstairs

Wish me luck. I will bbl to catch up with you all

X post. My grin was to your first message, Bitchy. Like you, I was always super skinny - so much so, that people would fuss over my weight and say I was too thin. Nobody does that anymore! When I had little kids, I was breastfeeding, walking everywhere whilst pushing a buggy or carrying a child and I was also active all the time at home. And I didn't drink alcohol. I'm sure that all kept the weight off.

I have already cut down on the alcohol, so I could try cutting that out entirely except for special occasions, walking more and swapping fattening snacks for healthy ones, eg banana instead of chocolate bar. I think I'm more likely to stick to it if I make small changes.

Good luck, Mercury. X posted with you too! Sorry the teacher you're working with is so tricky, but glad to hear you feel more positive about next week.

Toffee-great news about your son.
Mercury-my teacher needs organising too but I adore him so it's not too bad :-)
Washing done and hung outside
Shopping done
Bathroom bleached
Kitchen dresser dusted

Can i join?

My done list today
Hoovered and washed kitchen floor
One lot of washing in machine

To Do
Hang washing outside
empty dishwasher
hoover and mop lounge
hoover stairs
hoover landing
clean lounge windosills down
Dust lounge

I also want to spend 15 minutes decluttering my bedroom

Best get on with it :)

Hello and welcome Carriemoo.

Silly sorry your going through it again. Fingers crossed as always.

Toffee Good news, fingers crossed for you too.

Bitchy sorry about ds food issues resurfacing, sounds like another minefield to crawl over.

Encouragement to all, must run.

Am having very swift lunch break while panicking as still not packed and into flat and deadline was yesterday, but I just can’t do half of it on my own, and have hurt myself badly trying, We are days behind whichever way you look at it and now at the mercy of fate as to trouble, so must press on.

What is it with tired children? They are an absolute nightmare!
We have come home for a quick lunch break after traipsing round the shops trying to find a hinged box - it is proving tricky!

Bath and dressed done
2 more loads of washing done
Empty dw
Food shop (with dcs as dp is at work) done
Buy present, card, balloon for baby shower tomorrow.
Pop to see dad to arrange him watching dds assembly.
Deal with dds tantrums as she keeps getting up at 5.30 and is overtiredangry trying
Find and buy resources for masters module
Pop and see mum as I haven't managed to see her all week.
Make hm soup for my lunch next week
Clean out car/ bag
Plan observed lesson for next week
Write up this weeks lesson
Try to find time to do some coursework
Clean bathroom
Sort dried clothes and put away
Dust and hoover upstairs

I really just want to enjoy the sunshine

Have had a blissful day outside. DH was tidying the garage .....you can see the floor now! And he also took a full trailer to the tip and started filling it up for the next run. We were outside from 9.30 till 4 and it was beautiful and peaceful because ILs were down at their caravan

ta da
dug out horrible shrub
cut back reeds
quick call to DM
Began weeding and clearing patio
dinner (leftover feta and spinch tart from yesterday with potatoes)
Ds and I showered
Tried on new clothes...not sure about trousers (bit big) but rest was lovely
online clothes order...more tops and next size down for trousers

mercury my house is a tip, btuI decided just to make the most of the sunshine and deal with the house later. If I tidy it, it just gets messy again
1 load of washing

Carriemoo Welcome!

ta da
3 loads of laundry, washed and dried
washing up (twice lol)
attempt at toad in the hole (Yorkshire pud part was a bit flattish but boys ate it and loved it still - interesting as I was expecting them to complain! - must try different method next time lol)
checked bank
tidied kitchen

to do
finish decorating house "to do" list in order of expense and priority

I seem to be a day behind!

Ta Da (yesterday)

• DD to early morning training
• Caught in traffic so DD late for school
• Went to bank to deposit cheques
• To Tesco for a few bits
• DD to training
• No tea to make as had fish & chips takeout!
• Laundry load on a hung to dry

Ta Da (today)

• Had a lie in - though DH seemed to make a point of slamming every cupboard and drawer when he got up!
• Watched the Para-Olympics
• D/W on and unloaded

DD is busy cooking so I may have to clean down the kitchen later

ta da

Breakfasts
Bath, hair wash
Swished and swiped
Stripped DS1's bed
Put washing on (bed clothes)
Set up new coffee machine
Delegated washing up to DH
To library with DS2 - photocopied documents for parental statement
To local nature reserve with DS2 - lovely walk in spring sunshine
Visited MIL (the unexpected arrival of DS2 brought a big smile to her face)
Home
Put chicken in the oven
Drank coffee to stay awake
Phoned DM
Downloaded photos and emailed some to DM

Carriemoo - welcome to the thread . Have you just started using Flylady or been doing it for long? In my experience, the system does work if you stick at it and life or MN doesn't get in the way .

Hi Carriemoo.

So glad DS2 likes the new school, Toffee. I briefly logged back in to MFP last week but plugging in all the weights etc again seemed like too much faff. Will try again... Stress driving overeating here too, and portion sizes have crept back up again. Need to curb grazing and shrink meals.

Alice - equal quantities by volume eggs, flour & skimmed milk and Yorkshire pudding always rises like a dream!

Mildly of blissful sunshine, Engels. Had all the males in the house frowsting indoors while I tried to kick them outside this afternoon! Boys did go out in the end though.

Sorry to hear about stressful week Mercury

Ta da!
Got to bottom of laundry basket
Shopping in town
Bought new watch after mine mysteriously died yesterday
DS1 to birthday party
Gardening: pruning, tidying & planted a few seeds
Cleaned cooker hood
Baked beetroot and chocolate cake - yummy but not helping calorie-wise!
Made beetroot pesto
Cooked tea
Cleaned up kitchen
Guardian crossword with DH

DH and DS2 are sniffing for England at the moment and heard some horrible coughs coming from the boys' room just now so looks like we're heading for a lurgy. Joy.

Waves to Dizzy, Just, Blueandwhite, feet and everyone else. :)

survived road trip but emotionally and physically exhausted and the pain levels a high

So with not much ado here are the linkies for tomo:

Sunday is renew you spirit ie take some time to do something for you that you enjoy

no missions it is the weekend

babystep 9

Now to find my bed.

Bitchy, really sorry you’re in pain.

I hardly know how to say this, when I said about things being down to fate, I meant about getting everything packed in time, not this. We’re sewage flooded again, and no one knows why and everything’s come to a grinding halt.
We got emergency services as it was happening (Huge thanks to them for coming so quick and busting a gut to save us from worse) and they did everything to minimise it, so It only got to a couple of inches high and not everywhere at least,which I’m trying to tell myself makes it more dealable with, but it was still stomach churningly disgusting and is unsafe and lots of work and materials ruined again, and we have to move everything somewhere and we hadn’t even got it all boxed up and in. I’m out of resources, can’t even cry.
Resorting to alcohol and going to knock myself out and hope tommorow somehow brings something positive to us, because right now I feel I'm done.

Oh just
:(

Just I am so sorry to hear your awful news

Sorry to be so down over it all, it just seems never ending. Trying to make a plan but not getting very far.

Just - don't you dare apologise for being down. NO-ONE could cope with what you are having to deal with and feel anything else. Sending as many positive thoughts as I can for you today.