August fledglings fly over here - chatting and Flying will help us persevere!

[ToffeeWhirl]

Here we go again - another month for us to tackle our clutter and get on top of our housework!

If you’re struggling with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun), 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).

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!

I'm back . Haven't read the full thread, just wanted to say to Toffee sorry about the LEA, the same happened to my friend, she won at tribunal and got the SS place, two years later and it has made a huge difference to her DS. I'm still hoping my LEA will back down over the refusal to assess, it is such a slow process.

Anyway, arrived home yesterday morning, 6 loads of washing done and line dried, thankfully the weather was much better than it is today. House is a complete tip though and we've got back to back sets of overnight guests at the end of the week .

Rainy day in Glasgow but we're off to an arty thing. Dd is going to help make a papier mâché elephant and I'm doing a jewellery workshop.

However the main theme of this morning has seemed to be "leave the cat alone" poor animal just wants to sleep and DD will keep bothering him. She's going to get scratched.

It's alright SC toffee did them (post above) Good luck with lunch for 8.

Ds is home. it is raining. In theory i am being productive. In reality I am back in bed. I could murder a coffee today. Am shattered. Ds has big plans that are going to be expensive and time consuming. I am a bit stunned tbh.

ta da
un load dw - ds did cuttlery
start re loading dw
cook pancakes for breakfast
put a load of washing on
curl up in bed and catch up on internet stuff.
Sign ds up for a sport activity later this holiday
sort out emails
sort out ds' targets and goals

Realise this post is hideously out of date but hit post anyway

Goth sometimes they have to learn the hard way

Thanks for all the well wishes. I am feel much better thank you. Not 100% but getting there. Side effect from the ABs is feeling sick which has made me lose my appetite but I need to take the tablets with food so it's a vicious circle.

Also, I'm a bad bad person. I'm judging someone I've not met but will soon. It's my brother's gf. I've only seen photos on FB of them and she's not what I imagined him to be attracted to. (Younger brother, first gf serous enough fur family to meet). She's very different from me, wears very heavy make up, huge false eyelashes and v long fingernails, very high maintenance outfits and self obsessed FB updates (though very gushing about my brother). She's also a bit younger than my brother so works out she's about half my age! Help me not judge!! I feel rotten, but she looks like my nightmare. I'm evil aren't I? Shouldn't judge someone by their looks. I just can't see we'll have anything in common. Eek! Shake some sense into me. :(

Tricky one Nick, but she might be lovely, try and keep an open mind. I have been very wrong about people on first impressions in the past. Glad you're feeling better.

Goth - I learned a lesson about my cats yesterday, which is to wear protective clothing when I'm getting tortie-cat into her travel cage thing, went to pick them up from the cattery yesterday, feisty-cat went in no bother, tortie-cat (who is gentle and aloof and has never so much as raised a paw to me) went mad and I ended up with scratches on my hands, arms, chest and shoulders. She climbed over my shoulder and her claws have got very sharp after being confined to a run for a fortnight. She is not speaking to me today.

I've just rearranged my kitchen and have been able to put the Kitchen Aid in a position where I can casually stroke it

Nick keep an open mind and remember that even the first time you meet her isn't the best time to make a definite decision on her. She may be terribly nervous and come out w complete crap by accident.

One of my best friends is a woman who, when I met her I thought we would have nothing in common. She always looks amazing (the day we met she had done her own nails complete with Christmas trees AND BAUBLES!!!). I always look scraped together!!! However, I have a professional job and she assumed I would be snooty and think she was beneath me because she's in to clothes nails etc... Neither of us could have been more wrong!!!

Anyway, she's your brother's choice so even if she's mind- bendingly awful, you may be stuck with her. I'm sure you'll find common ground somewhere.

Also if she is nearly half your age remember that society has trained them to think that they have no worth if they don't go in for all that nonsense. It is possible that beneath the cover of trying to fit in with the really bizare apparent expectations of society, that there might be someone lovely and nice beneath it. Personally I am glad i did not grow up in the era a lot have done. I was allowed to be me and not judged into submission.

Car is still with the mechanic. it is going to make tomo's planning a right nightmare. otoh i have done more washing and currently about to start to tackle the doorway to my room which appears to be a pretty big hot spot atm

Thank you all. Yes of course you're right. And I suspect part of it might be my own insecurity. I'm not into clothes and make up and I'm old. I shall wait and see and as you said , she will probably be nervous. My brother is nice so I should trust his judgement. :)

Well, that was silly of me. Half an hour ago it was dry, bright and breezy here, so I put a load of washing on the line. Cue rivers down the street, hail, thunder and soaking clothes. .

We're not far apart are we whoknows , the same thing has just happened here. :(

It did come from your general direction Nick. Brightening up again now but the clothes are drenched.

Would someone like to explain to me how I seem to end up with more and more paperwork. Thought the advent of improvements in technology was supposed to reduce the amount of paperwork not increase it [frustrated]

Just set up 2 files and a tracking book for one of the files don't ask, just dont'

ds is being pretty good. keeps needing a hug and is a bit mopey but mostly he is tired and has been away for a week. he'll be fine tomo. Which is great but he is spending the day with mum as I am in the office. And the new bus aspect means I will see even less of him. Joys. Just joys.

Right now to sort ds' paperwork out with him and get another load of washing on. Suppose i should fold some of it too

Motivational words or boot would be good right now. I have wanted my bed since waking up this morning.

Well I've shined my sink and dressed to shoes (without the shoes, does that count? )

Was supposed to be spending the day starting to pack some boxes for when we move with the stuff we're not going to need for the next couple of months...bought some plastic storage boxes, but that was as far as that plan went! Don't know where the day has gone, hope everyone else has managed to be more productive than me

coffee I just went to YouTube and searched something like "easy hairstyle". Lots of beautiful young Americans with gorgeous hair, but it has taught me a couple of nice, easy new styles without having to buy more than a can of hairspray.

ta da

Long walk in muddy fields
Lots of preparation for DS2's Titanic project (nice pile of printouts on the table next to me)
Small amount of sympathy meted out to DH who is hungover

No ironing, no cooking, no washing up done .

But it's been a nice day.

ta da
un load dw - ds did cuttlery
start re loading dw
cook pancakes for breakfast
put a load of washing on
curl up in bed and catch up on internet stuff.
Sign ds up for a sport activity later this holiday
sort out emails
sort out ds' targets and goals
speak to mechanic about car
set up numerous files for paperwork of various natures
do far more laundry than i care to think about
folding - numerous loads worth
write a to do list for tomo
get about half way through hot spot mountain in my bed room door
make homemade pizza for tea
Print out a whole load of stuff
research PC world's current computer deals
Catch up with a friend who thought had lost contact with (ah fb with a positive purpose for a change)
Have a good natter with a friend.

to do
more laundry
more folding
more clearing of doorway hot spot mountain
take out recycling
take out rubbish

DS2 has only just fallen asleep and DS1 is still awake .

The next babystep is number 11: add an inspirational page to your control journal.

Tomorrow's focus is the weekly house bleugh.

The sneak peak for the missions this week is here. We are in the bathroom and one extra room. Monday's mission is to look up high and clean up the cobwebs and the vent grill or the light fixture if you don't have a vent. Then wipe down the outside of your washer and dryer.

Monday's flight plan is here.

This week's pamper mission is to choose one mission out of all the pampering ideas on the website. You could start here, but there are lots more if you have time to read through them all.

DS1 is asleep now. I think I'll have to wake both boys up at a decent hour tomorrow so that they get tired earlier. That is, if I can wake up earlier myself .

Sleep has been an issue here Toffee, i have just read the entirity of the what to do about abiu thread. Amongst other threads. And realised that i don't venture into the greater world of mn as it really is a time zapper. Tomo is going to hurt.

Morning all!

Came on here for some motivation as don't even want to get out of bed this morning never mind anything else, but doesn't look like anyone else is up either.

Will take your advice bitchy and not start to browse on mn or I'll still be in bed at lunchtime . Will have another 10 minutes then I'll move...

Hope everyone is more motivated than me and has a productive day

Monday morning. sigh. Even when I don't have to start the week with school runs, I just have this mental thing about Monday mornings. Not sure why.

ta da
usual morning routine
tidied living room
checked bank
reviewed budget

to do
washing up
figure out how to fit buying a vacuum into the budget
drink lots of coffee
finish "to do" list

Morning Saturn Im up, although the only thing I have done so far is eat breakfast. Did you manage to get off of mn after just 10 minutes? I can lose hours on here and then wonder why I haven't got anything done!

Am at home today with both DCs. Survival is top of my list!!!

Otherwise:
Get DS to hygienist appt
Invite children to DS' birthday
Take delivery of online shopping and put it away
DS has asked to go to a local attraction this afternoon so try and sort that as well.

Oh yes. And bake banana cake.
And ciabatta loaf.

Off to campsite this morning for a short break (after we've packed!) so see you all on Friday and have a good week!