Fledglings polish their pumpkins and do their best, it's time for a Fling Boogie Octoberfest!

[Stewedcoot]

Heartfelt thanks to Engels (and Bitchy!) for leading the thread throughout September (Sept always being a busy one) despite feeling a bit poorly and despite being pregnant. Hope beneficial effects of injections kick in soon!

If you are strugging with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of chat, support and and along the way.

Flylady link here.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in zones of the house which are designated weekly; defining and minimising housework, which in theory should leave you with loads more time to do something more interesting instead!

At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again!

It's up to you, but we advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's steps and routines using 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 if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.]

More info here on getting started and Flying lessons . Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings.

Don't be put off by the barf-tastic language of the site - the underlying system is sound!

Three key points to keep in mind:
(1)No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine
(2)You are never behind just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
(3) It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy over night - accept it will take time to get on top of things and you will be happier.

If you are new; then trying to spend 15mins decluttering daily and doing the babysteps is a good way to start. Some of us (mentioning no names!) can have scary looking lists but don't let that worry you! Do what you can, anything is better then nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

If all else fails, a brew + the power of three technique + a bit of support on here can work wonders!

Oh and don’t let it put you off if we appear a bit cliquey – some of us have been on here for years – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers very, very welcome!

Blue Thanks! I shall add scones to my list of things to do then. I can make them in my remoska while the other stuff is in the oven. Ah, multitasking.

I have been debating making some dough and freezing it to. Some for things like cinnamon rolls and some pizza dough. The dcs have been rhapsodising about making their own pizza lately, so having the crust ready to go would be nice.

argh... freezing it "TOO" ... I hate it when I make spelling errors.

Reporting for duty again
DPs have gone back today so not an enormous list. I think we've all had a good time, DM & I spent 2 afternoons finally finishing a jigsaw we started last year It has been under the sofa for 12 months.

Done
Aired laundry away
Made packed lunch for parents train journey
Hung out washing
Litter tray
Went with parents to station
Helped DD spend some of her birthday money.
Bought present for another of DD's friends. Her party is on Saturday.
Vacuumed up
Brought laundry in
Ironed today's & yesterday's laundry
Dinner

To do
Washing up & SS
Laundry for hanging out tomorrow

Back to normal-ish routine tomorrow.

Managed all except planning hour and gathering laundry (well I took the basket upstairs but I don't think that counts)

DD having another bedtime meltdown :(

I feel you pain Fuzzpig, I feel your pain.

Cheers Bitchy. Am now sitting in her doorway while she finally dozes off (earlier than yesterday, yay!) - eventually she settled in bed reading her new junior dictionary?! :o A girl after my own heart in so many ways. Bless her.

Childcare issue for Saturday resolved too, and talked through finances a little, so feeling a bit brighter. AND I have chocolate waiting downstairs :)

Wednesdays are going to be difficult to Fly on - I drop the DCs at school then head straight to work. Hopefully a lot of the laundry will be dry tomorrow, so putting stuff away can be an aim after school, as well as more washing of course. Probably not much else as I've been really dizzy today.

Pleased with my decluttering though :) I really don't think I'd have bothered if I wasn't trying to Fly - it was brilliant having the list telling me where to focus.

I am listening to child cackling and speaking in silly voices whilst ranting that I shouted at him I didn't I used a stern voice I have a to do list that is far too long, a bed that is covered in paperwork and stuff and am quickly losing the will to live after accidentally walking into a quogmire of politics. It has been complete nightmare. thank fuck for hash browns and ice cream (but not together because that would just be weird)

I'm sure someone somewhere likes to eat them together :)

Hopefully your DS will quiet down soon!

Oh I can happily ignore ds it is the mountain of paperwork on my bed that has to be dealt with before i can go to bed that is the problem. That and politics. Hobby related politics, family politics, play ground politics. fed up of the whole bloody lot of it!

I didn't get any baking done tonight as by the time I finally settled ds1 to sleep, it was almost 9pm and I wasn't about to start baking then. (besides, the Apprentice was on then and that takes priority! )

I cba with a ta da list. I did stuff, i have a bed. I also have a moutain of important stuff to do Wednesday that didn't get done today. And I am brewing sinusy type problems. Not sure if cold or dust related. Could be either or both. But feeling suitably miserable.

My list for antiprocrastination day is as follows:
lunch and ds to school
hit local shop to run errand for dsis
read through paperwork and ring through corrections
Important phone call 1
Important phone call 2
Sort out form to be submitted

I predict that will take most of the day. Which is a right royal pita as there is so much that needs doing but that is the way it is.

Am up at this silly time because DS1 woke me up at 2.30, requesting a snack. He thought it was about 11pm. (I've chased up his melatonin twice now - could really do with him getting back into a normal sleep routine again). Anyway, he's now in bed and I'm here wide awake.

Sorry for you two, Fuzz and Bitchy, having difficult bedtimes with your DC (and a late one for you, Alice). This is when I think children should come with an 'off' button.

Goth - glad you had a good time with your parents.

Welcome back, Shannara. Sorry you had a rough start to the day (I used to hate those early-morning wake ups from young DC). I see you are another fledgling with a child with ASD. (Have we ever worked out how many of us on this thread have a child with ASD? It must be a very high count).

DS1's new therapist came to meet him today. The meeting went really well and he seemed to warm to her. I like her too. She'll be back next week.

Spent the afternoon creating a model of the solar system with DS2. We had so much fun ! We cut polystyrene balls in half and painted them and we're going to mount them on black cardboard tomorrow.

Had a phone call from the doctor about DS1's blood test: he has very low levels of Vitamin D (no surprise, as he won't go out and often refuses his vitamin tablets), low iron and a slightly low white blood cell count (possible virus). She wants to see him for a check up on Thursday and is going to prescribe high-dose Vitamin D to get his levels back to normal. It's horrible, though not surprising, to find that his mental issues are now affecting him physically. Of course, if he'd been referred back to a therapist when I asked for it way back in December, he may not have spent the last 10 months in his bedroom and this could have been avoided, but that's CAMHS for you . At least we are getting the help now. Whinge over.

Should go back to bed now, or I'll suffer tomorrow. Am tempted to make myself a hot chocolate first, though...

Salut/Dag/Hello!

Hope everyone OK; it certainly looks like you all had v. productive Tuesdays!

Cream-crackered this morning but had absolutely great horsey day yesterday (catching up with Dutch friend with whom I used to house-share in London 24 yrs ago!!).

Going to post links now and then tackle the kitchen that dh has left in disarray then do volunteering slot and I'll be back after lunch to catch up with personals.

Baby-step no. 15 for Wed 15th Oct is here. Add bed-making to your morning routine.

We are in Zone 3: the bathroom and one other room here. Declutter for 15 mins in this zone.

The detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 3 is here.

Wednesday's mission can be seen here. Decluttering cosmetics, toiletriesand expired medicines from bathroom and spend 5 mins in other area putting things away.

The daily focus for Wednesday is: anti-procrastination. Do that dreaded thing you have been putting off!

The monthly habit for October is getting rid of paper clutter: www.flylady.net/d/habits-of-the-month/october/ .

For a summary of the above, see the flight plan : www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-120 which should update itself daily.

Have a good morning everyone! BBL!
*

I almost forgot that you are an hour ahead SC I was going to say that you are up very early. Somehow that extra hour between 5:40 and 6:40 makes a huge difference to perception.

Morning and hope you have a good morning!

Top of the morning to you too Bitchy!

It is amazing the difference one measly hour makes actually and why I am hardly ever posting links and doing round ups at a time convenient for you UK fledglings

SC I have yet to go to sleep. I am completely in the wrong time zone. I love when you post links and round ups. It means i get to properly read them! And i am always in awe at your attention to detail.

Toffee He DOES have an off button... it's labelled "Melatonin" but sometimes it's less effective if he's a bit ramped up in the evening. And with him getting up numerous times in the night and then his usual 5am wakeup... well, let's just say I'm already on the coffee.

to be fair, he gets up a number of times during the night every night, so I'm actually used to having broken up sleep (which is good as I've been doing it for 8 years now). I can generally drop off the sleep quite quickly now, as my body knows it may not be for very long. Although when I'm stressed, I tend to have trouble sleeping, which then is awful as I get practically no sleep at all.

Ughhhh. Dreading today. Woke up with a sore throat, epic dizziness and a crushing feeling of dread

Not too sure about Flying today - hopefully DH will be getting the afternoon off (instead of tomorrow as he's got a meeting then) and picking up the DCs which would mean I have more energy.

ta da
Managed NOT to fall over when I got up! Was a close call though...
Helped DH with breakfast

to do
Survive work
White wash
Normal wash including uniform
Anti procrastinate - even ONE thing would be a miracle

That's all I'm attempting today. Don't think I can manage any more than that :(

DH is doing the washing up, ironing and bath time tonight.

Apologies for whingey tone of my post, feeling wallowy today!

We all feel wallowy sometimes fuzzpig. Adjusting your expectations is a wise move and very fly lady like. We also like the power of 3 trick. This is a list of 3 small things that can be done easily.

My power of three list for first this is:
get dressed
make lunch
get ds to school

ta da
usual morning routine, school run x2
chicken in remoska cooking
stock take of baking supplies done, and recipes adjusted to fit supplies
butter out on counter softening
appointments made for flu jabs
finished meal plan for next week
finished shopping list for Friday

to do
bake! (gee, I feel like Sue should be saying that so I'm on GBBO or something)
tidy dining room
washing up
laundry

Sorry you feel rough today, fuzz. I agree with Bitchy that adjusting your expectations accordingly is wise.

Alice - yes, you're right about melatonin being an 'off' switch as DS1 is usually asleep within an hour of taking it. I wish we'd had it years ago. Could also do with a supply right now, but I requested a repeat prescription five weeks ago and I'm still waiting.

Morning SC. Thanks for posting the links. Sorry you came down to a messy kitchen this morning . But how lovely to catch up with an old friend yesterday .

DS1's teacher will be here in a couple of hours (hope I can wake him up in time ). In the meantime, I have a solar system to make...

Five weeks ago?? Unbelievable.. that's ridiculous. Why is it taking so long? Is the delay with the chemist or the surgery?

ta da
pumpkin bread in the oven
laundry washing
washing up done

Will get the chocolate cake mixed and in the oven as soon as the pumpkin bread is out. Chicken should be done at the same time as the pumpkin bread. My house smells of roasted chicken and pumpkin. Loooovely.