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!

ta da
sleep all afternoon.

Yay, Bitchy!

Another quick post as I want to get to bed at a decent time again tonight.

Babystep Number 21: ask Flylady a question. Or not, as the case may be.

Thursday is errand day.

Tomorrow's mission is to clean your bedside tables.

And the flight plan is here.

Night all.

what an early night toffee !

Hopefully last day of painters at ours. Living room window is out at the moment, lots of noise and dust. Looking forward to it being finished so I can tidy up!

oh god I missed my coffee! ahhhhhhh

I actually went to bed around 11pm, which is early for me. So I'm feeling pretty good this morning.

ta da
tidied up living room
put dishes away that were drying on rack from last night
usual morning routine
walked to corner shop with dcs and picked up milk

to do
finish coffee.. possibly have another
make pumpkin bread (dcs have requested it)
finish shopping order online
finish putting all the magazine pages in plastic sleeves in my binder
empty sideboard
put wooden cabinet and sideboard on freecycle (I think. Unless I ring a local charity furniture recycling place and see if they'd like them, as they can pick them up)

Isn't it great having enough sleep, Alice? Makes such a difference the next day. Not that we always get a choice in the matter.

Engels - hope the painters finish quickly, so you can get on with tidying up.

Managed to get to bed at just after 1am in the end (thanks, DS1), but slept in till 8.30, so not bad at all. Came downstairs to the Kitten Show: they are both bonkers first thing in the morning. I managed to shut them in the dining-room cupboard by mistake - they were so quick and must have shot in and I only found out because DS2 spotted their paws reaching out from underneath the door. They ran out like streaks of lightening when I opened the door!

to do

usual chores
go shopping to buy sticky labels etc
sort and price up goods for stall on Saturday

Found you all again! Just done a quick scan (as I should be working) and can I just at the kittens? Made my morning more bearable.

Anyhoo... family is gone. Life is going on as normal. I got the job that I went for last Thursday... BUT... I interviewed for another on Tuesday (I forgot to cancel the interview! ) and now I really want the Tuesday job. Except it's for a local authority and they are never prompt at letting you know. Oh me, oh my.

Oh, and my managing director blindsided me with the direct question of "are you leaving" yesterday - and I couldn't lie. So we had an "interesting" chat, and I am now leaving with his blessing. I'm a bit about it, but that's life.

Flying has been non-existent. So hoping to get back to it today - and then work has dumped stuff on me. Grrr...

Anyway, must off and sort washing.

Crap - that was a bit me, me, me wasn't it?

Sorry!

Toffee yes, it does. I still get up in the middle of the night a few times, due to ds1 - he struggles to sleep and even with meds is up a few times a night. But as his meds usually keep him sleeping until about 1am, if I go to bed earlier I get more sleep. I just sometimes don't want to sacrifice that quiet evening time to do things either, as he's up for the day at 5am. There's precious little time to myself over the summer. It will be different once school starts - then I don't mind going to bed earlier as I have time during the day while he's at school. (wow, that sounds so very convoluted!)

lol at the kittens though. They sound so cute. I'd love that part, but having been there before, I detest cleaning out litter boxes.

Window is in. They're still working outside but will probably move round to ILs this afternoon. Currently watching Dora while eating a coffee fairy cake or three with buttercream coffee icing.

Ta da
emptied kitchen scraps and bin
made 12 coffee fairy cakes
washing up

A bitty night's sleep. midnight-4 7-10:30. I have a cracking head ache this morning. Hoping pain killers, early lunch and a coffee will cure it.

Need to get on and get the laptop stripped so I can drop it off for repairs. Due out for a meeting tonight too. somehow I don't think it will be early night. Might also go look at matresses. I do need a new one.

Sorry you have a headache, Bitchy. Hope the pain killers do the trick.

Engels - any spare fairy cakes going?

Alice - the 5am start is awful, isn't it? At least my two sleep in now, but I do remember those early mornings. There's nothing good about them.

Carpe - I hope you get the job you want. FX. Am attaching more photos of the kittens for you!

ta da

b/f
fed kitties and cleared litter trays
dressed to shoes
swished and swiped
emptied d/w
wiped kitchen counters and cooker hob
let kittens roam freely round the house
did all the ironing
put ironing away
played with kitties

Quick cooking question....

I have a package of lamb meatballs that I've just taken out of the freezer and put in fridge to thaw for tomorrow's supper. I was thinking of browning them in chopped onion and peppers and garlic (I have them frozen in little packs) and then putting them in the slow cooker with some chopped tomatoes. Then serving them for supper with some rice. Thoughts? Does this sound feasible?

I've not bought lamb meatballs before and they just sounded good. Been lazing about in the freezer for almost a month and figured they might as well be used.

Ta da
check internet stuff
log out of almost everything
clear out book marks
clear out 99.9% internet history

Am going to be internet free for a week so will have to catch up when I get back. A week in the house and no internet. That is going to be interesting....

See you all on the other side.

Alice - that's making my mouth water just thinking about it.

I'm going to attempt stuffed marrow today. Haven't done that for years.

That will probably be good for you, Bitchy, but it won't be the same here without you.

oooh I've never had stuffed marrow. Is it good?

oh and thanks for the feedback on my plans for the meatballs. Hope the dcs like it. LOL

ooooh Bitchy - we'll miss you. But looking forward to your return. Have a good week!

hmm... I'm very "oooh" today, aren't I? It's an exclamation kind of day, I guess.

Not a chance toffee

Painters have moved next door though still need to do one more coat on our lounge windows outside. They have to replace the frames on 3 of ILs downstairs windows and I think MIL is going spare at the dust. DH is just putting the front door back together.

Peaceful here now. Cars is on TV and having a lazy afternoon. Waiting to hear from my Dsis who is having her 12w scan about now.

None left!

Engels are those the coffee fairy cakes ? And you didn't save any for US???

they do look nice.