July 2014: fledglings follow Flylady's tuition (don't forget your pamper mission)

[ToffeeWhirl]

A big thank you to slackcabbage for superb thread leadership throughout June, as well as a great intro which I am going to shamelessly borrow from now.

Struggling with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun)? In that case, you need Flylady.

Flylady is a system for managing housework. Starting with babysteps, it builds up into a routine which becomes second nature. In theory, once you are used to the system, you will have a tidy house you are not embarrassed by and plenty of time to get on with more interesting things.

Flylady banishes the panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. If you fall off the Flylady bandwagon, it’s no problem: you just jump back in where you are and carry on.

Don't sign up for the Flylady emails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on this thread on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, Flylady's steps and routines will be listed here on this thread.

Flylady uses a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

1. start or repeat baby steps

1. repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

1. reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

(And detailed deep cleaning in each zone for those who have made real progress – not sure if anyone has reached this pinnacle yet…? I certainly haven’t).

More info here on getting started (but ignore step one!) and Flying lessons. Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings.

Try to ignore Flylady’s purple prose (hard, I know) - the underlying system is sound!

Three key points to keep in mind:

1. No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine.

1. You are never behind - just start where you are and anything you do is progress.

1. It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy overnight - accept it will take time to get on top of things and you will be happier.

If you are new, then trying to spend 15 mins decluttering and doing the babysteps is the most you should expect of yourself. Lots of us here like posting our ‘to do’ or ‘ta da’ lists and they can look quite scary. Don’t be put off.

If all else fails, try the power of three – just pick three things that most need doing and focus on those.

And if you have visitors coming over this afternoon and need a quick fix NOW, try Flylady's crisis clean.

We all know each other pretty well on this thread and some of us have been around for a long time, but all lurkers, oldies and newcomers are very welcome!

Congratulations alice

I have rung camhs. they were their usual helpful self. I think i am going to write off the day and do crochet project culling. I seem to lack the motivation to move and at least it could be considered to be productive. Finish this project and I can ship a whole heap out of the house. which will be a good step in the culling process. can't i can wait to be no longer tripping over the bloody things Also seem to be of that age where people are all settling down and having kids. It feels wrong to have done stuff for some and not others but right now it feels like they are all single handedly trying to increase the population significantly. I know it is not the case and it is just the stage in life but

Sorry - camhs is never helpful. Like our paed appointments, I just try to get that stuff over it, plan on that night to dull the annoyance and move on.

I'm envious of the crocheting. I can knit quite well, but crocheting has always eluded me. I can do the single chain and that's about it. I suspect there are not many projects that require only a single chain.

Lunch time for me; decided to go with the paving slabs, so have done about 1/4 of the drive; and I want to give up! I won't, but it's just so slow going.

Bitchy what the blazes do you do with all your projects?

Carpe well done - that must be heavy and hot work! I'm impressed!

So far this year there has been about 10 babies amongst family and friends. There are another 8 expected. Like i said it is the stage of life everyone is at but still feels like they are personally responsible for a population explosion

Learn a triple and that is pretty much all i use. triples and singles. very basic stitches can produce some stunning patterns if you pick the wool right.

Congratulations alice

Have pmed you carpe in tne interests of non-outing myself!

ta da
packed my stuff, ds stuff and communal food/kitchen/linen/sheets etc.
hair cut and last few bits from supermarket

to do
finish up last few bits on to do list for holiday, clear camera
unpack shopping
give house once over including, hoover, washing up and last wash
water plants
empty my car

Ok, I ended up cutting it. Just so I didn't waste an entire strip, I temporarily put up a strip about a foot long, and papered it OVER the plastic strip for the electric outlet. Just. looked. wonky. Wood doesn't fold, so it looked odd, and threw off the pattern. This looks much more realistic IMO to have it papered around it. So that's that, and I didn't have to waste as much paper that way.

Sadly, my old picture that was on that wall now doesn't match. I have an older wood frame, I'm going to paint it antique white (which is the colour I used on the fireplace) and paint the frame that colour and put the picture in that. (it's a Thomas Kinkade print - my favourite!)

Woohoo!! Gove's gone!!! Sadly too late for our school, and his successor doesn't look much better, but Gove's gone....

Where's the [champagne] emoticon when you need one??

In other news, have cleaned the bathroom and done the kitchen/dining room hotspots.

Sorry you're having such a tough time, Toffee and Bitchy, and others.

Yay for competition win, Alice.

And there it is. That wall papered. I still have to do the wall on the other side of the fireplace, but that will involve moving a huge tv and tv stand, and dismantling and taking down a shelf, so that will be work for hopefully tomorrow. I'm quite pleased with it.

"his successor doesn't look much better" this actually worries me tbh. Everyone is so pleased about this but ignoring the fact that the replacement wants Uni fees tripled and feels that the poor should find other ways to access education.

Bitchy oh I know. But to be honest, we can always hope for a conversion ala Saul/Paul, right? (yes, we're hearkening back to my sunday school days for THAT reference) Maybe she'll mellow a bit? I'd have rather seen IDS removed, but we'll take what we can get.

We can only hope blue, we can only hope

Dh has just helped me buy 3 sacks of purple slate for the garden, which I had been putting off for ages due to the sheer weight of lugging it from garden centre.
done also
recycling
ds2 to school by car
dd to school first thing
watched a youtube of Choir singing at Menin Gate in Belgium (ds1 looked very cross in it as it must have been just after he had been told he was sharing a room with the "wrong" people)
made a cake for ds1 return this evening
washed up
lunch and chatting with dh
oh yes and went to hairdresser this morning and dyed my hair, two years since last time I tried that, very worried I was going to have an allergic reaction. The grey is gone now

busy afternoon ahead, need to put petrol in car, buy some nice food for ds1 return late night supper
think about de-registration letter, yet again [sigh]
register passports in Catalonian authority data base thingy
try to stop boys arguing this evening and avoid tears when ds1 returns (he will be soo soo tired, but school tomorrow)

Almost finished!

Last bits to do, but having an hour to myself to relax and mn before dh gets home and I go and pick up ds.

ta da
sorted out camera/memory card
packed!
backed up laptop files
emailed friend whose wedding we're missing this weekend
emptied upstairs bins
hoovered downstairs
watered plants
tidied toys
written cards for dm/wedding

to do after dinner
washing up
sort out fridge
post cards and give post to ils
sort 1st aid kit (it's in dh's car)
Shower
make rolls
do one last wash once I have ds's dirty clothes from today

And relax! I'm on holiday!

Indeed Bitchy - the more I leaen about Nicky Morgan, the faster the euphoria subsides. But we'll keep the party supplies - sounds like people need them...

Hello. Just logging in to say I did read your message about yr ds at the theme park yesterday Swan and that all relatively OK. Sorry didn't reply but intermittent access to dh's laptop! Hope he has a safe journey home!

Waves to everyone else!

Having been in UK briefly (just on way back now) now know why - of course - holiday cooking is so onerous at home. Tis the absence of an M&S!! [wink

Hello everyone, can I join you?

I have an 18mo DS and a ditzy DH so I feel I need some organisation at home! Hoping to find some motivation and tips here. I've read most if the thread and think I get what you're all on about!

So my 'ta-da' list today:
Posted eBay parcels
Returned library book
Took a box of out grown toys to charity shop
Cleaned a bunch of old toys to sell on eBay
Cleaned and packed away old high chair
Recycled glass at bottle bank

To do:
Unpack tesco delivery when it arrived
Make inventory if freezer so I can menu plan
Repair rip in bean bag whilst watching film after dinner.

Welcome Coffee, sounds like you got us sussed! Ask away if you have any questions.

Pottering day today, day off work and DCs at school. Been just generally tidying, sorting clothes, doing washing etc. Also cleaned bathroom properly, it had been existing on swishes and swipes for a couple of weeks .

DD had a friend round after school and DS has now gone to Cubs, just about to head off to the allotment with DD.

Tomorrow is more wall papering, mainly. But I need to move the tv and tv stand and clean the dusty mess of wires and stuff (stray toys and god knows what else) that is behind it all. Ugh. And I have to take a shelf down that I strongly suspect my ex "no more nailed" to the wall when he put it up. I sincerely hope I don't end up bringing half the plaster down with it.

Had a horrible situation today. MIL looks after my ds at my house. Downstairs is usually presemtable ish and theres no reason for her to go upstairs. (Toilet is downstairs). Today she had to let a workman in to bleed radiator. I wasnt expecting this. They had to go into the bedroom which is a tip. Shes had a right go at DH and I dont know how I'll face her tomorrow. Sat here in tears, I'm failing at everything

Doodlekitty - how bl**dy dare she have a go. Not her place AT ALL..
You are NOT failing. You are on here as you want to tackle things (as are we all). Some of us have been on here for possibly four/five years and still struggle. If anyone saw my bedroom they would be shocked and I think DstepF would have heart attack (rather OCD) but that is MY business.
Very on your and DH's behalf.

Well, driveway is weed free apart from the big buggers that need proper weedkiller - and DH finished it off so it'll have to be done at the weekend. It looks really brilliant though; but it took me about 6 hours and a load of arm work so I can barely stand and typing is not very comfortable! Tomorrow should be... interesting.

House however is still a tip.

Right, sausages cooking and beer in the fridge - see you all tomorrow!

doodlekitty what in the blazes is she having a go about?? My bedroom is ALWAYS the last room to be cleaned, so it's always the messiest. Priorities. Tell you DH to stand up to her and tell her it's none of her business.

Carpe oh goodness, hope you're okay. So what if the house is a tip? You've done a HUGE amount of work today. It's something I need to do on my patio - and I'll probably not manage to get it done this summer at all, much to my shame. Well done to you!!!