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!

carpe there are a couple. My journey tonight was affected by tour traffic added 2hrs extra to the round trip. Made it a long ass drive. :(

Must go to bed at a reasonable hour but wanted to post that just skimming through this thread earlier motivated me to stop procrastinating and actually make a start on three of the big jobs I have hanging over me: an OU end-of-module assignment due on Thurs, a talk to write for church on Tues and a big heap of marking that needs doing asap. Not much progress made but a step in the right direction... Dh is away so I'm spending too much time faffing about on fb and mn and not getting anything done.

alice hope you can get through the next few days.It much be such hard work having to deal with him on top of everything.
It must make you want to scream with frustration.

Dd has just been lying next to me in bed ranting that she needs new fashionable clothes and that all the clothes I buy her are old Granny clothes (think denim mini skirts) I bit back the desire to tell her she was deeply ungrateful and spoilt and remembered how awful my mother's choice in clothes was for me, and how she insisted on buying me gathered skirts because they were flattering.. She has finally gone downstairs and is asleep I hope

Otherwise we have all had a very nice peaceful summery evening, eating broccoli fried potatoes and one steak between 5, drinking beer and watching football,mumsnetting, draping ourselves on various cushions...

Just about to head off to bed, but wanted to post my support for tomorrow Alice at least he is an ex and you don't have to deal with him everyday anymore. You can deal with him.

All our hard work paid off as DD won 3 Second Place rosettes at the Summer Fair! We spoke to one of the judges (a lady from the WI) who said that her shortbread won on taste so she was really happy.

Before that I had spent the day blitzing downstairs.

Ta Da

• Food and drink bought
• Downstairs cloakroom cleaned
• Dust and hoover dining room
• Dust and hoover study
• Dust and hoover hall and up stairs
• Dust and hoover lounge
• Swept kitchen floor
• Emptied kitchen bin
• Wiped down cupboard fronts
• Cleaned hob
• Empty D/W
• Laundry load in and hung to dry

DH cooked and as predicted the kitchen is now a pigsty :(

I have refilled the D/W as full as possible but there is still a whole heap of bowls/dishes/pots to be cleaned. I can't face washing them tonight and of course DH won't even think about clearing up tomorrow.

Good morning! Everyone still Flying very high!

Good luck today Alice! May the force of the fledglings be with you x

Dizzy congratulations to your dd (and you!) on all of her rosettes! And on your long list!

Swan having two older sisters, I was forced to wear all of their (far too short) cast offs. DD doesn't know she is born! I had three pairs of shoes: gym plimsolls, jodphur boots and school shoes (which were worn for everything inc church & parties) and that was it! DD must have about 10 pairs for various things! (We often do the one steak between three btw!)

Sorry about the interview Fraggle. Hope something else crops up soon x

Hyperhops aw to your dd's power point presentation!

Big waves to everyone else!

Like Newlark I have taken inspiration from everyone else on hre and (admittedly rather slowly) have managed to ease myself out of CBA-status to doing a reasonable amount.

(Swan you were right - should have just given myself two "official" days of 'hols' between end of school term and all that it entailed and starting on home blitz. I always make the same mistake!!)

Anyway, back on track now. Decided to write everything down just as I'd completed it, and kept going in the knowledge that I woudl 'declare' it on here - otherwise, frankly, no one ever notices (cue wavery violin music ). And in Bitchy-esque fashion, have included every single little thing to keep me motivated ...

Ta da Thurs:
emptied dw
stacked dw
emptied dw
emptied fridge of leftovers from Sun
bit of hand washing up
cleaned kitchen bin lid
tidied kitchen
wiped kitchen surfaces
pondered over and wrote two (nuanced/slightly difficult) e-mails in French
transferred dates from school brochure to main one
wrote e-mail to school sec querying mistakes in Xmas hol dates
faints (as usual) at list of 40 stationery items required
e-mail verifying date of med appt
on-line banking
treated tablecloths with Vanish stain stick
transferred frozen blackcurrants from open trays to freezer bags
dining room table hot spot
wiped down dining room table
carried box + 1 carrier bag + 4 pairs shoes upstairs and put away
changed flower water
watered plants terrace
ballet run
bought more hair pins, bun nets
checked on departed friends' cat
washed dd's lunch box
hung up dance clothes for tomorrow
sent dh e-mail re finances and bill reminders
carried ironed shirts upstairs and put away
carried paniers full of ironed clothes up from basement
washed 3 pairs trouseers (and hanged them out to grill on terrace)
treated dd's school art smock with Vanish stain stick
e-mail to vet about rabbit stitches
re-booted washing machine
healthy supper (home made chicken curry but loads veg not much fat)

Ta da Fri:
re-booted laundry
put more washing out to grill on terrace
clean basement loo
order nieces b'day present
wipe down kitchen surfaces
6 x 15 mins boudoir sorting and tidying
phone French tutor
hang up clothes that had been left draped everywhere
clean out 2 winter handbags and put away
talk to dsis1 on phone
3 min lunch with dh
carried two paniers washing downstairs
e-mailed ed psych
checked bank balance on-line
carried grilled washing downstairs from terrace
put away laundered pjs/nighties
sort bags in dd's wardrobes: wash bags, laundry bags, swim bags, sports bags etc
sort dirty laundry
reboot wm
empty bathroom bin
empty bedroom bin
clean laundry away
quick supermarket shop
ballet run
check departed friends' cat (who is always out but appears to be eating!)
dd healthy gouter (melon and strawberries)
hang up ballet clothes
washed dd's school coat
fished for misc clutter under bed
supervised dd cooking supper (we made veggie burgers)
re-booted laundry

The slightly depressing thing is that the boudoir still looks as though a bomb has hit it ...oh well.... must keep going!

On the positive side: dh and I, very unusually, have a free day together (until 4pm anyway) because dd's ballet workshop includes today! I must admit this is very welcome as I have literally seen him for 5 mins in the morning, 3 mins at lunch time and 20 mins in the evening (and then he is on the phone)! Urgently need to discuss house renovation and dwindling finances (fil and sil requiring more and more funding).

Have a good day everyone!

Well done to DDdizzy !

Wishing you strength Alice

Is it just dh's family in Yorks carpe ?

Well done for a successful day newlark - one step at a time!

I actually managed to go out side last night and spent 30 minutes on our neglected garden and water it. Heading out now (a lot cooler today) with the hedge cutter. No plans for this weekend so going to get the house and garden in order. Only 4 more days left of work

Just been wondering what to get DH for his birthday, he's so awkward! For father's day he got an ice cream maker and for Christmas (we don't do Christmas presents but since ds I make sure we both have a stocking so I can feel the magic of Christmas again!) Some foodie stuff (a milk frother and pizza cutter). He's just seen a sort of pedometer thing which might be handy since he's started walking at lunchtimes to get moving and try and deal with his diabetes diagnosis.

to do
gardening - hedges, sweep patios, cut back hideous creeper that I hate and have been meaning to get rid of for years
pop to blokker to look for dh's wristband thing
sort yesterday's washing
ring dm - she had her last day of horrible job with horrible hours yesterday and starts her new job on Monday

To do

Xpost sc

Very impressive lists. Enjoy your day with dh!

Fraggle just seen your list of delicious baking! [impressed emoticon]

Engels a bit cooler here too although still humid. Hoping to get back in to garden too although raining atm. Pedometer sounds like a great idea for dh's present! Have a good we!

morning all
alice good luck today.thinking of you and sending good vibes
swan your evening sounds lovely yesterday. I have to let dds1 and 2 buy there own clothes now (with some supervision for dd2) I can also remember my mother's choice in clothes and how bad it made me feel and don't want to do that to my girls. to be fair dd1 chooses well and dd2 mostly does with the odd very strange choice that I have to vito!
dizzy how fabulous for your dd. well done to both of you!
carpe me! I'll be your friend!
blue sorry to hear school situation not getting any better. hope it doesnt turn out too bad for you

right, well, DD4 was up V early this morning (why do they do that?? I have to drag them out of bed on weekdays and at weekends they wake up at crack of dawn???)
have so far:
washed etc and Got properly dressed
eaten shreddies
made coffee
tidied bathroom
put on load no1 of laundry

not planning too much today as I am on call so not sure how the day will pan out I think it is the unpredictability I hate most about being on call. The actual work bit is fine its just that sense of not knowing what is going to happen when (doesn't sit well with the control freak in me LOL!)

so short to do:
ring switchboard at 9am to confirm contact numbers for on call
littlies washing in next
then dd1 and 2 washing
then towels and bathmats
all clean washing away
persuade ds1 to tidy out his wardrobe (may not be able to face that today!)
quick hoover throughout
attempt to entertain 6 dc in the rain
go to bed and sleep as early as I can in case I get called out in the night

tomorrow is school summer fair (please stop raining!) in the morning
not sure what else...hopefully will be a quiet day.

BBL

Forgot to say - enjoy the grand départ Carpe!!

And a warm welcome to Sonnet!

oh, Xposted with sc and engels

sc wow - amazing ta da lists.
engels yay for nearing end of term

I have been into work and taken hand over from last night's on call. Touching lots of wood but all seems ok at the mo!

back home and have:
hung out washing (rain has stopped an sun is appearing)
put littlies washing in
hoovered downstairs
made another coffee and eaten toast (wasn't hungry - stress eating again )

To Do:
Mop floors with new steam mop
wipe down doors (again- how do they get sooo filthy so quickly!)
hang out littlies washing
put in dd1 and 2 wash
hang out dd1 and2 wash
wash towels/bath mats
plant up plants (maybe )

ok...hope all having good Saturdays

Hyperhops your job sounds very reponsible (trying not to be nosy emoticon)! Hope today goes ok for you and you are not too stressed. (Esp bit about entertaining 6 dc in rain!!)

Toffee happy holidays!

SC well I think you've done yourself proud with those lists!

Dizzy mmm shortbread! well done to DD.

Engles pedometers are addictive, DM has one and she now averages 12,000 steps a day. I have an app on my phone (which isn't as accurate) but it has really helped me up my walking levels too.

Hyper to help after the godawful early start

Done
Repaired selection of DD's dragons whose wings had come off. 1st time I've used superglue gel, would recommend it, less drippy and sets really fast.
Hung out 2 loads laundry
Morning routines

To do
Visit farmers market
Visit craft event in park
Go to Yestival at Govenhill Baths (community centre)

Bit worried, today started off sunny and it's meant to be dry all day, but a really big black cloud has just appeared.

Thanks Goth Makes a change doesn't it Hoping to make more inroads today but have had bit of a slow start! I like the sound of your 'to do' list! Hope the weather holds for you! (And glad mini-dragon can now fly again )

So much for quality time with dh... . He has so far spent 2.5 hrs in the office doing finances and then came home, shot to the fridge like an Excocet missile, prepared stack of sandwiches and glass of beer and is now installed - eyes straight ahead - in front of the football. I have given up trying to converse! (To be fair to him, he has been working horrendously hard and has had no time at all to relax, so I am going to leave him to it ...).

DD (who tends towards hyperbole) has texted to say she has picked up ballet related injury but like a true pro is struggling on

Right, given the rain, think I might actually pick up a paint brush ... .

Blimey, some long lists here today!

Having a difficult time with DS1, as his anxiety has rocketed since we arrived. He wanted to go home with DH, but we wouldn't let him as DH has to work non-stop over the next week. Now he's furious with us and refusing to speak to me. Not sure how I can help him.

DS2, however, is thoroughly enjoying himself. It's been especially fun for him to have a big garden to run around in. We have been playing frisbee and football in the rain this morning .

BBL with links.

Well, that was an hour and fifteen minutes of my life that I won't get back. sigh.

Sorry to hear that Toffee

Your poor ds. I'm sure he'll come around in the end ...even if he feels very anxious now. It might be good for him to know that he is safe, even in a different environment although terribly hard for him and you x

Hope you are Ok Alice

SC yes, but he barely lasted that much time. Honestly - long silences, he kept trying to drag me into conversation, bought me food even after I told him not to and then kept trying to push me to eat and asking why I wasn't eating, he barely understood half of what the dcs said. Everything was "ooooh" and "wow" and "that's nice"... no actual ongoing conversation at all. They got more conversation out of one of my friends that we bumped into while we were out. Not much interaction for someone who hadn't seen them for ages.

Then he tried to hand me money to give them treats so he could make a quick exit, and I said "I don't want your money. If you want to buy them a treat, buy them a treat while you're here." When after an hour and fifteen minutes, one of the dcs said "is it time to go home now?" I agreed it probably was, and stbx was quick to say yes as well.

Oh dear, that sounds incredibly tough on you and on the dc Alice [proffers another ]

The dcs are actually fine. I was very careful to be civil, without being drawn into any conversations. I dealt with the dcs time and again when he simply either didn't or couldn't as he didn't know how to handle them. He hardly knows them.

and oh yes, a glass of ... well, actually lager, will be on the cards for tonight. Thanks.

Sounds as if you are handling a horrible situation in a really prudent and positive way Alice [cheers] Can't be easy though x

Gearing up for big match tonight (Whoknows and did I see Feetheart sporting a Belgian flag too?)

For anyone who is supporting Belgium btw, [http://www.belgiumizeme.be/ this]] has been sweeping the office

Just posting that link again

here