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!

Marking spot for return from holidays, thank you Toffee for carrying on into August.

Welcome back, Who!

Am still a bit overwhelmed with paperwork here, but I do now feel I'm getting somewhere. As a result of spending the day concentrating on details, rather than the bigger picture, the dining room is still a complete mess - but at least the table is clearing and I now have neat folders of stuff.

Have mostly organised the home ed work and am now tackling DS1's SEN folders and my OU stuff.

Found a report on DS1 that made me quite teary: it was Year 5 and he'd had two brilliant teachers and an empathic TA. As a result, he had a wonderful year and the report is full of praise for him. It's so sad to think it all went pear-shaped after that because of a teacher who was as dreadful as the others were good . But it does at least show what potential he has in the right setting .

Waves to curiously and shit - I joined the fledglings last month and it is really making a difference , the thread is very motivating.

Does anyone else use the Home Routines app on their smart phones? I have it and it follows fly lady really closely which is great. Plus I like racking up gold stars for each completed task!

Going to Declutter purse and bag tonight whilst parked on thd sofa with

Meant to say, I'll gladly run a thread one month but have no clue where to find all the daily /weekly missions etc. if an experienced flyer could PM me I'll do a month

Sorry - with everything going on, I'm rather scattered. It's just occurred to me that it's August. I've been stressing over some stupid things today, but mostly agitated over some nasty accusations from stbx's family which anyone that actually knows me should know better than to even consider. But oh well, they have their opinions and they're not likely to change them, so I will need to just accept that they all hate me now and move on. They all ignore the boys anyway, except MIL, so it won't be that hard to ignore them I should think, once the chaos subsides a bit.

I've not done a whole lot today, tbh. I'm sitting here looking at my sewing machine, wondering if I've got the energy to put together a cushion cover. and fingers crossed it doesn't wake up ds2 or upset ds1 (sensory issues).

Hi to newbies, hello to everyone else. I hope everyone is good. I'll read more later, but my thought processes are pretty much fried at the moment.

Waving back to Coffee, hi Alice, families aye? The saying is oh so very true isn't it.

I'm sitting here shattered, kitchen looks tidy still yayyy. Saturday's are normally busy but for tomorrow my main aim is to strip my bed, love getting into a clean one

What's everyone up to this weekend?

A quick list dump for tomorrow:

All laundry!
Buy a card for DB
Dentist (again!)
Bro's party
Paint testers on sitting room wall
Drop bags at charity shop

.

Well done everyone - sounds like everyone has had a productive day :)

I managed to get everything done ( or delegated) and was 1cm dilated this am and have had twinges all day so really hoping this might be the start of labour!

Nothing planned for tomorrow - except maybe a long walk and a lot of bouncing .....

Excited for you Lairy! Lots of gentle walking but conserve some energy for the big event.

Alice, sounds tough. Families can be wankers sometimes.

I have done virtually no flying today. Oh well.

Oh wow Lairy, is this your 1st? Had dd2 4 weeks ago and the speed she came out after going on to my hands and knees with the ball will be forever etched in my mind, so glad you managed to get everything done if you are in labour x

1st natural birth hopefully - I have 4 yo twin boys too but had them by Csection.

All seems to have eased off now, except DS3 is doing the samba in there!

Oh no, I totally hated that, twice it happened to me, then my waters went, no confusion there lol.

Ooo, exciting, a Flybaby baby. I love 'nothing planned for tomorrow' except possibly bring a new human being into the world :o
Good luck with it all Lairy

Not a bad day for Day 1 of Being Organised:

• Work
• Change my Facebook photo to one of DS(8) and his new fund-raising hair-cut
• Order washout hair dyes for DS
• Buy swimsuit for DD on ebay (because no-one else seems to be selling them!)
• Lots of sorting in DD's room - it's starting to look good
• Make hedgerow jelly from last of last years frozen hedgerow fruit
• Clean bathroom and shower room
• Feed friend's chickens (no eggs today when apparently they are laying 6 a day between 4 of them )
• A few hours at the park with friend, her 3 DC and my 2
• Fed DC and myself (DH still working)
• Washed up and shined sink :o

Failing on early night but I blame Claire Balding again.

Ooh, I hope there'll be a Flybaby soon! Looking forward to virtual cuddles with MiniLairy.

Yes, this is a ridiculous hour. I've been busy writing stuff and my brain was too whizzy to sleep. Anyway, here are the links for Saturday:

Babystep Number 2: get dressed to shoes. Hmm. This is a controversial rule and not everyone follows it. The theory is that putting shoes on makes you feel as if it's time to start work.

Remember to shine your sink too.

Saturday is Family Fun Day. There are no missions at the weekend.

The flight plan is here.

Sleep well, fledlings.

Morning everyone

Well today I will be food shopping, then bbq later, I've even sort of meal planned and wrote a list, feeling very proud, tomorrow is my lie in day but whether it happens or not

I've told the dcs we're having a "kick back and relax" day. It's a bit foggy, overcast, and drizzling outside. I have some paperwork and sewing to work on. Ds1 will most likely spend a lot of time on screens today or playing outside if/when the weather improves. Ds2 is stretched out on the sofa watching television, looking half asleep, although his sinuses are bothering him, so I suspect he didn't sleep well last night and is tired.

So... I'll do what needs to be done, such as washing up, laundry, sweeping, usual daily stuff. But around that it will be:

• sewing
• paperwork (sorting out budget to take into account a few upcoming expenses like new school supplies and such)
• possibly tidying up the dining room

I had considered doing a bit more painting today, but I think I'll wait for a nice breezy day to waft the paint fumes out of the windows.

Hello!
It's been chaos yesterday, I worked really really hard and then I went to an art exhibition. We stayed for drinks after most people left, collected the child from friends (haven't seen her the whole day, the child looks and behaves ferral). So my to do is:
Wash the child, the bedding and her clothes, attempt to brush her hair and cut her nails. service her, as it were.
She's in no need as such, of physical exercise, she's been on a farm. She just needs a wash. But I will take her swimming and roller skating and to the library. Maybe feed her too.

I must batch cook for next week, it is going to be very busy again.

I also must iron a basket of clothes and sort out her uniform for september, we're going away the last 2 1/2 weeks of holidays. She needs schools shoes, I think.

I also must return some Boden stuff my DD doesn't like
And drop a birthday card off too, but that's on my way anyway.
Oh, and a food shop.
My reward would be a glass of wine in the garden tonight.

My friends and family day is tomorrow, we're visiting friends.

Have a lovely weekend every one!

Ha KiaOra sounds like a Friday night in the Lairy household - boys are tubbed, scrubbed, hair washed, nails cut, clean beds and PJs - I think of it as a 'service' too!

All gone a bit quiet on the baby front - I have pressure but no pain so I am going to go and get my hair cut in the hope that gets something started :)

Ta Da
Swish and swipe in bathroom
Up and dressed

To do
Have baby ;)
Get hair cut

Lol at 'have baby' Lairy! I was almost two weeks overdue with DS when we went to the cinema to the the first Hobbit film. There was me thinking a three hour film in a packed cinema would make the bugger shift. Nope!

It's DHs turn for a lie in this morning so I've been up and pottering for a few hours:

DS up, teeth done and fed
Wash load in and hung up
Dishwasher unloaded and dirty bits in
Hand washing up done
Sorted through DSs toy box, weeded out random bits of rubbish, took out toys he doesn't play with, made a seperate book box for him

To do
Collect eBay purchase
Replace blown light bulbs
More dining room decluttering
Meet friend for coffee who I haven't seen for waaaay too long

Alice what sewing are you up to? I bought the ikea sewing machine for £45 a few months ago and I love it. Have made some cushion covers and am hoping to do some Christmas presents for friends too. I'd like to make a 'washing line' of mini Christmas stockings as an advent calendar for DS with fun size chocolates in

Morning all, super lay-in here today so haven't got started yet.

to do
clean up decluttering mess from last 2 days
Clear bookshelf so dh can fix it
reorganise bookshelves
ironing
photo album
dining table hotspot.

Lairy, good luck, hope he/she arrives safely and painlessly. They smell sooo good! Broody? Moi? Much?

coffee, I have a new-ish sewing machine too! What shall I make? Your christmas presents idea sounds fab!!! What else?

KiaOra YouTube is your friend for sewing projects. Cushion covers are the easiest things, and make nice gifts.

I was going to try to make one if those carrier bag holder things from an unused pretty tea towel. I'd like to have a go at making DS a soft toy, but I'm not good enough for that yet!

Fx lairy

alice being able to sew is one of my daydreams, though ptobably something I won't get round to for at least 10 years

Ta da
cleared bookshelf
bookshelf fixed (by dh)
Sorted washing from last week and put away

now a little break (getting hot here) before I reorganise the bookshelves

coffee just some cushion covers, if I ever get to it. always distractions. I've spent more time breaking up disagreements with the dcs than doing my sewing tbh. Frustrating.

Engels I'm not that good at it, but I firmly believe practice makes perfect. We all have to start somewhere, right? I used to be better, when I was younger and had my mother nearby to rectify mistakes. Pretty sure my mother could sew anything. But I'm determined to improve my skills.