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!

Well done on your impressive list Coffee and on liberating the chaise!

WhoKnows it sounds like you had a lovely family day out!

Oh heavens, Bitchy in scanning everyone's post, I missed your reference to pumpkins! eeeeeeek!

Just checking in. Thanks for the book info sc :)

5 bin bags gone from our bedroom today. It wasn't easy though - there were tears. Mine. Found some stuff that brought up more bad feelings than good. So I binned it.

Oh and we have totally managed the daily focuses (foci? :o) this weekend. Family fun yesterday as I took them to the art event and then to the park with the football.

Today we tried geocaching for the first time as a family, which was great despite only managing to find one out of four caches due to technology failing! It seems we stayed out a bit too long as DCs were rather stroppy on our way home, so we will remember that next time. But actually my spirit does feel renewed by the fresh air - and the fact we discovered parts of our local area we never knew existed in 6+ years living here!

fuzzpig sounds pike you had a great day. We definitely have to head out for a family walk if it's dry on Sunday.

castle my edd is so close to Christmas I'm sure we'll have a newborn by Christmas day! And I resent paying extortionate postage rates so have tried to limit this year by handing everything over already. Normally we're back closer to Christmas but no chance of that this year!

Have found a lovely bracelet bead for my best friend...a blue and silver tulip so she can have a little piece of Dutchland on the other side of the world.

Just need to get things for DH's stocking now. He is impossible to buy for! I can even stuff it full of chocolate since he's counting calories (well, he does have a selection box and a Terry's chocolate orange put by). Atm I havethe hairy bikers diet cookbook for him and that's about it. Going to get some mini travel toiletires as he always ends up taking full size stuff to the UK, a Kellog's mini cereal box for Christmas day (have them for us all). Maybe some fancy coffee or tea. He doesn't read, listen to cds or watch dvds, has enough books/accessories for his hobbies (photography and guitar) that either he doesn't use the things I buy him or will moan I got him the wrong thing. Men! Woman are so much easier (and I rather enjoy buying my own stocking presents!)

Fuzzpig - we love geocaching, DS has a real eye for finding them, found our first for ages in London today (haven't been anywhere new recently).

On the subject of pickles and chutneys I made a huge jar of pickled onions yesterday, yum! My contact lenses make me impervious to the tears, fortunately.

Ironically in all the chaos earlier I forgot to take the Jar of chutney I was rehoming, forgot to give the ex some more of ds' sleep meds and he forgot to give me the pumpkin. in the grand scheme of things I have done the best out of this mix up. I am not sure whether I am supposed to be feeling sorry for ds or ex. Poor ds really does need his sleep meds :( I think i am going to have to swallow the bullet and next day him some down or something.

Engels ds has asked if he can sort my stocking out this year. So goodness knows what i will get. But as he is a never believed and a don't be so bloody stupid that is just nonsense kinda kid. I suppose that it will give him a bit of christmas magic for him. Hard to remember though and only remembered after I have picked up a few bits

Not sure what exactly has gone on today. Absolutely shattered and have stinky kit perfuming the lounge. It will have to do so until tomo as I am going to get an early night. loads and loads of stuff to get done tomo. Not even going to think about it. What will be will be. nighty night

Hmmm from my list I have only managed the magazine purge. But I am really thrilled about that! although I have a heap of cut-out photographs to file now for future interiors/garden plans The pile was oppressive, so glad it's gone. Not going to allow that to happen again! This months habit accomplished - paper clutter!

Will tackle the rest of the list tomorrow, but now...to treat myself to a missed episode of Downton and a cuppa!

I started so well but fell off the thread - started again this weekend and will dive in again tomorrow

I went to bed early, but now I am wide awake I cleaned my car out and it looks so much better. I also decluttered the cupboard under the stairs and binned 3 black bags full of rubbish - it looks so much better and we can actually find the shoes we are looking for again. I am aiming to deep clean the bathroom tomorrow.

Fuzzpig we love geocaching, in fact if the weather is nice I might take the dv this week.

A member of the household went away BUT left their alarm on. So at 5:30am this morning there was music playing through the house

As i was unable to go back to sleep I thought I would be productive. I haven't got far.

ta da
Unpick project started yesterday
redo x2 to get on right track properly
Start another project off
cooked breakfast - plus coffee
Find the paperwork that I was supposed to be doing this morning as need to be submitted by a deadline (fri) bugger
5mins going through important paperwork, checking have all bits for completing at work
8x squares for Christmas project no 1.

I need a list.

To do
finish off important paperwork
Get posted next day
important phone call
ring gp
wash ds' kit
laundry
make homemade lasagne
put in job application
work
create blocks for Christmas project no 1
finish off project which is present (part 1, part 2, check part 3)
Wrap up present and write card

Bitchy that is quite a list to manage before 8am!

Mercury well done on the declutter!

Bitchy - that's all you need! I hope that person will be suitably sorry.

Mercury - sorry you woke up so early, but well done on being so productive.

trainers - welcome back .

Have woken up with what appears to be a streaming cold after a rubbish night's sleep. I need Lemsip, but can't get that till I'm dressed and can't face the palaver of it all at the moment. The kittens are driving me nuts: one of them is obsessed with trying to bite one of my toes (it has a plaster on it and I suppose he thinks it's an animal ). I've tucked my feet under myself on the sofa and now he's attempting to burrow under me.

DS1 has (one of many) routines appointments at the drs this morning, but apart from that we have a free day. Am hoping to declutter another kitchen cupboard.

I received my copy of the Marie Kondo book yesterday and skim read it whilst I was eating lunch. Hardly any mention of kitchens! Why is that? Am a bit actually, very daunted at the thought of decluttering by category. My mind boggles at the thought of dragging everyone's clothes out in the open to sort through.

DH thought it very funny that I have bought yet another decluttering book to add to my collection in our very messy bedroom. "But this one will actually work!" I protested. He looked like this: .

Incidentally, I notice Marie Kondo actually contradicts Flylady, as she doesn't agree with the 'little and often' rule.

Two kittens now sitting on me, one has given up on my big toe, but the other thinks the computer lead is a mouse .

To Do: (before midday)
*Tidy kitchen/ make breakfast/ wash up
*Start some of the letters listed yesterday
*Reboot laundry
*Ironing x30 min session
*Go out for a walk
*Repair/sewing lining of handbag

Today is going to be a scary day. I was going to go into town, but I really hate paying for parking twice, as I need to go later in the week. So today is DIY day. I'm taking the dcs to B&Q and we're picking out paint, getting the wallpaper for my room, and picking up a sample of the wallpaper I want for the hallway wall. Then I will be ordering ds2's bed. And painting (I know! with the dcs home! what is my brain thinking?!??!) the boys' bedrooms! They'll have to stay out of them for the day but I think they'll be okay with that. I'll let them stay up later tonight, while I air out the rooms, and they can sleep in my room tonight (they usually end up coming in there in the middle of the night anyway ).

I wasn't going to start work on my room yet, but now I'm thinking I might. I'm going to make my room a "country cabin" look. Very rustic. I am really looking forward to it.

DIY bug bit hard this weekend.

Yes, she's the complete opposite in that respect Toffee. I think MK for decluttering and Flylady for maintenance is the way to go, having found FLylady style decluttering a bit half hearted over the years.

Toffee I have to admit that I do better with the "little and often" thing. I can definitely see results. Yes, I occasionally do an all out blitz on a room, but I think for me it's an ongoing thing. I'm also in the process of changing things from how stbx and I had them in the house to how I want them in the house. So that's a bit of an upheaval as well, along with general DIY and remodelling.

Plus I don't want to be completely brutal about getting rid of things - it's a process IMO. Get rid of some. Come back again in a month or two, see what's been used, get rid of what hasn't. That kind of thing. I couldn't just chuck it all out.

I agree with that too Alice , in as much as it is more practical, less drastic and has definitely improved things here. But it only goes so far for me, after 5 years of Flylady I seem to have reached a block, where I am only de-cluttering at the same rate as it creeps back in again, and I do want to take it on to the next stage now. I have found in the past I've thrown things away then regretted it later though, so it's a very tricky balance.

I'm loving the change of pace - it is so nice to be able to potter
Sorry you are feeling unwell Toffee

Ta da
My bed made
Dc fed
Washload done and out
Some school bits completed

Dp has started a new job and has the car today so I will be spending the day at home. I plan to:
Walk the dog
Empty and sort my bag
Tick something off of my work to do list
Half an hour ironing
Put laundry away
Change dc bedding
Empty and wipe out the kitchen cupboards
Steam clean the bathroom floor
Read

I think that is enough to be getting on with.

I have found in the past I've thrown things away then regretted it later though, so it's a very tricky balance.

So so true. I have done that. Very annoying!!

Morning all, taking it easy-ish today, as I cracked my head last night. DH found me moaning and groaning on the bedroom floor. Completely freaked him out as he's not good with blood, and scalp wounds never look pretty.

I feel surprisingly good this morning, as long as I don't bend over. So will probably put back weekly bleugh until tomorrow.

Despite that (and the unremitting rain) had a good weekend,a managed to visit my neighbour in hospital and did my first session running the craft group at the Art Village. Not that many turned up, but DD had a great time.

Done
Beds
Packed lunch
Litter tray
S&S
Laundry on (bleach wash)
Dry laundry folded & away

To do
Ironing
Laundry
Paperwork (where does it all come from?!)

BBL

Ouch goth !

Get well soon toffee

Good luck with your scary day Alice

I haven't read the MK book, but agree doing a massive blitz doesn't help me in the long run as everything just creeps back in. I need to do blitzes and then have small routines to back them up. ATM don't have the time or energy for blitzes though!

Ta da
-5.30 nappy change (nothing like hearing, "mama, I've done a poo" when it's still dark out)
-supermarket
-batch cooking for freezer
-wash #1 in td
-wash #2 lined up
-yesterday's last wash away
-online banking
-Bought best friend's christmas present online
-spend copious amounts on myself for Christmas at the Literary Gift company (I bought some truly hideous Christmas presents for my parents when I was a kid bitchy so hope DS has better taste than I did!). Had a discount code which was half wiped out once I paid for postage here but am too impatient to wait till NYE when my parents visit.
-Bought 2 more Christmas books (Cops and Robbers by Allan Ahlberg and Christmas by Dick Bruna). If DH wants Christmas books in Dutch or Sinterklaas books he can sort them out himself.

To do
make pizza dough for this evening
wash#2 on
visit friend this afternoon

Need to check my to do list that I wrote yesterday! Still, am happy with what I've done so far today. back to work tomorrow

Afternoon all! Can't keep up with the natter! Bit of a slow start today despite dh getting up at 6.45 to make shepherds pie for some incomprehensible reason

I am being a horrible strict mummy today ... .

First mission complete: to chase dd around the house with large net until cornered, capture, dunk in shower (preventative nit shampoo), then dunk in bath, then nit combed (nothing to declare!), then scrub face and back of neck vigorously, then cut finger nails and toe nails and stand beside her with timer set to 5 mins while she cleans teeth thoroughly. At least we then start the holiday clean!! And yes, this is for an eleven-yr-old not a three-year-old [sigh]

Just about to tackle the beds ... .

Lovely sunny day here which is unfortunately highlighting all the dust and grime on our very high cornices.

DD bewailing the fact that her friends are all in Rome, Paris, Siciliy and Barcelona for the holidays (her friends aren't particularly swanky btw, they are just normal expats who go home to grandparents/relations for hols). We are going away tomorrow for a short trip but duty visit so admittedly not exactly fun trip for dd. Nonetheless I reminded her sternly that she went on three trips during the summer, that the office has to stay open long hours to pay all the bills, and that we should all be grateful we are not battling Ebola, or finding ourselves in a sinking boat off the coast of Calabria somewhere, having fled worn torn Syria... don't think it has gone down too well... [hmmm]

Back in a mo to catch up with personals!