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!

Engels - I was just thinking that it's easier if whoever runs the thread can be around all of August, as their posts will be highlighted and it makes it easier to see the daily Flylady links. Sounds as if later in the year might be better for you.

Negative. Thank God. Now sitting down with a celebratory cream cake.

I'll do September then toffee unless someone else already has their name down - am only away for 4 days in the UK for a hen do.

Phew trazzles !

I'm in denial. I'll poas next week if I need to - coil came out on 8th and I had the effects of that just after, so theoretically I'm not late until next week. But it should be now in my cycle IYSWIM?

And I'd like the worst of it over before guests arrive. My DF & SM have invited themselves up as well. Despite us only having 1 spare room, and DBIL being in it

I need to cancel Christmas now don't I?

Glad you had the right response from POAS, Trazzle!

That's fine, Engels. Thank you.

Carpe - sorry you have too many guests coming. Could you just say there's no space to your DF and SM and suggest a b&b?

ta da

Breakfasts
Dressed to flipflops
Another attempt to persuade DS2 to go to art club this summer (failed)
Downloaded stuff on times tables to practise with DS2
Washing on
Washing hung out on line
D/W on
Extra washing up done
Kitchen counters tidied and wiped down
Delegated finding overdue library books to DS2
15 minutes peace whilst he re-read some library books
Phoned DM and DH

Am about to take Ds2 out to the library, then we need to do some food shopping. Am still feeling achy today, so have dosed myself up with paracetamol and hope it goes away soon.

Any ideas on persuading reluctant children to attend holiday clubs? I seem to be useless - or maybe I just have very antisocial children. Having an older brother who spends his entire life in his bedroom probably doesn't give DS2 a very positive role model, sadly. I would really like DS2 to try this art club - five minutes' walk away, they are doing loads of fun stuff, he can go with a friend and it will give me four hours' a day free - but he won't go. Incentives haven't worked. He says he just doesn't want to go .

I was the same when I was his age. Maybe it's genetic.

carpe I would tell them there's no room at the inn (my DM and DF always stay at a hotel now).

Ta da
My wardrobe done and small clothes boxed up
My wardrobe in DS's room done (linen, tiny clothes etc).
DS's wardrobe done
Changed beds

Tomorrow I will choose form the following jobs in the morning while I have peace and quiet:
tackle stuff under the upstairs landing (bags of clothes for DS that I've been given and old toys)
move my stuff from the old office/to be baby's room to new office room
sort out the remaining cupboard in DS's room
Rearrange storage space in attic for mine and baby stuff (all mixed together right now).

DH will be home on Thursday as well (his daddy day) so I can also take some time then to get a few things done for a hour or so.

Phew! Hot upstairs now so have retreated downstairs for lunch. Now need to decide what to do this afternoon. Iron or finish photo album in front of film? Go into town for errands or wandering? Try and do some more decluttering downstairs? Read?

Decisions, decisions!

Helloooooo!!! Hope eveyrone ok! Lurking from afar!

Just dropped in to say I think it was Mercury who volunteered for August (see my post 23:19:55, Sat 31, May thread) but only on the understanding that things were manageable in rl which they may not be gvien everything she has on her plate! (Sorry - haven't had time to catch up with thread properly.)

Engels thanks for volunteering for September or October. Hopefully I can do one of those too - will check hols/travel.

Hope everyone ok! Will be back soon to catch up once home - and once dd and dh packed off to pastures new!

Carpe sympathy re: impending visitors. Literally, the day after everyone back home I have my brother and family passing through on their way to their holidays, a friend's daughter staying for four days and then my dsis (1) staying. Just wish it wasn't consecutive visits one on top of the other! Whole house a mess. One cleaner on maternity leave, the other back-up (office) cleaner ill. Leaking roof ... etc etc. Will need another holiday after that lot.

Tally-hooooo!

aCtually, now I've referenced that post, I can't actually find it!! But definite mention of Mercury and August somewhere in either May or June thread!! Sorry!

Can't really offload them to a hotel. I have FOG.

Toffee - thinking about stuff in the spirited child book - does DS2 tend to be wary of new things in general? If so, could you go along with him and let him watch from the edge to get an idea of whether or not he'd like it, kind of warm up to the idea gently?

Trazzles - phew!

Carpe - hoping for similar results. My cycle is so irregular I'd have to be about a month late to consider POAS. Can the coil muck things up like that?

Ta da!
Shredded/recycled about half the contents of the filing cabinet
Got the rest of the filing in
Made resolutions about which bits of paper we actually need to keep
Dealt with quite a lot more paper clutter
Been to Homebase
Fixed fly screen on back door
Bleached bathroom grout
Cleaned dishwasher (again)
Put de-gunker down kitchen sink

Now I'm going to sit in the garden with my book and a .

Anyone else want one?

Blue it can take months for your fertility to come back after having the coil out ( or no time at all). Guess who is currently investigating alternative contraception! Have been told recently in higher risk for a stroke on the pill so am thinking about getting the implant, don't really want to turn in to a raging homicidal maniac though...

Wingflaps from Portugal, where it is very warm but a lot less humid than it was in the UK. Sorry there are so many Fledglings nervous about their AF.

Toffee - DD's best friend is a very reluctant activity joiner, the thing that helps her most is finding one where a friend is also going, then once she's been with a friend she's usually ok.

Re September, I'm around 9th to 22nd, so could jobshare with Engels.

I decided to spend my afternoon watching Dherlock, eating choclate ice cream and browsing pinterest for organising tips.

DH has just got home and I'm way too stuffed for dinner. My trousers don't fit me anyway.

It's stupidly hot outside so am enjoying our cool downstairs instead!

Trazzle phew! Hope Carpe gets the result she wants too [fingers crossed emoticon]

Engles I was going to say sit and read or do your photo album. I have one I bought to do of DSs first year, he's 19mo and I still haven't started it...

ta da:
Made two beds
Done two wash loads
Yesterday's wash load folded and waiting up go away
DW unloaded and reloaded, hand washed wok
Hoovered lounge and landing
Booked car service and checked insurance renewal details
Sorted out all DSs clothes, pile to be sold on and a list made of what he has in the next size up

Now considering doing to gluing business properly and going the lounge Declutter missions....

Not sure what glueing business is! That was meant to say flying business

I need opinions!

We are decorating out sitting room including new furniture. At the moment we have built in shelves which have all our DVDs, books, CDs etc and a large sideboard thing with drawers and cupboards which holds paperwork, wii stuff, ps3 stuff, catalogues, stationery, board games etc etc you get the idea. Well the sideboard has to go because it's falling apart and I've managed to rehome it all fairly sensibly (yes toffee into the understair cupboard ) so if you were me would you replace it or enjoy the floor space. I worry about not having somewhere to 'put' stuff, is that a hoarder's issue? Is that why I have so much crap? Wwyd? Thanks :)

ta da

Returned overdue books to library
Food shopping for next few days
Cleared out fridge and cleaned it
Put all the shopping away
Lunch
Letter to LA about statement - done
Washing
Hung washing up outside
Watered all the plants and neighbour's plants (they're on holiday)
Dinner

Thank you all for your advice about getting DS2 interested in art club. He won't budge, whether I go with him / he goes with a friend/ whatever - so I give up. However, interestingly, I told him I hadn't signed him up for the Library Summer Reading Challenge as I knew he wouldn't want to do it this year. Suddenly, he's all keen! I must remember this.

DS2 is very taken with a new bathroom spray we bought today and is now cleaning the bathroom. Result!

Will BBL with linkies.

DS2 also fell for this. I spent 10 minutes getting him running around, playing 'Simba Says' this afternoon and he had no idea it was a Good Thing. And he's really looking forward to his new stopwatch.

A stopwatch has many uses Toffee - DS likes to time himself getting showered, getting dressed, hoovering his room, etc, etc. He is a competitive soul but I use it to full advantage :o

Am lurking but not really posting much, trying to establish a summer holiday routine that includes working, spending time with DC and Flying as cleaner hasn't happened (:()

Good point, Feet . I will make full use of the stopwatch.

Sorry the cleaner didn't work out .

Tomorrow's links:

It's Babystep Number 30: check your calendar for next month's birthdays.

Wednesday is anti-procrastination day.

Tomorrow's mission is to spend 15 minutes redistributing stuff that has been left in the living/sitting room.

The flight plan is here.

Night, fledglings.

So having decided to have a quiet afternoon, a ton of work came in! Ended up flat out. Hey ho.

Went out for dinner with DH this evening, which was lovely. The boys are back tomorrow, but I have work to finish and then a hair appointment first so still busy, busy. :)

Horrible night's sleep - so hot and dh turned the ceiling fan down to the lowest setting so it was having no effect (he says the swooshing keeps him awake ). Been up with ds for an hour and shattered.

Plan for the day:
Morning - tidy understairs on landing. May take a while as there are clothes to sort and toys to be donated.
Afternoon - was planning on going into town. Have a list of things to get, but at this rate I will be having a nap instead!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/a1373827-to-ask-how-you-become-organised-and-together-Seriously-how

Ta da
Grabbed secateurs out of garage on way back from dropping ds and spent 20 mins deadheading roses and buddhliea (sp?)

Re-reading this organisation thread froma fewbyears back and getting new inspired! Not sure why my link always goes to the top on my tablet

Ta da
wash on
Emptied and hoovered out space under stairs to attic

Now I need to sort out the 2 bags of toys and 4 bags of clothes there. The toys are things we culled from upstairs and already asked DS's nursery if they would like them a few months ago But want to go through them before I take them over as there may be some ancient stuff in there that just needs throwing it away. Some of it was from DH and DBIL and a lot was dumped donated to us for DS from DBIL and DSIL.

The clothes were mostly donated from 2 of my colleagues. Again, I think I need to be ruthless and if I'm really not going to use it for DS or it's been in a bag so long he's already outgrown it then I need to drop at the clothing bank up the road.

Plus can see flippers and a snorkeling mask

Ruthless, ruthless, ruthless!